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You know it's a dark day at the Think Tank when the Mariners are connected with an NPB player and ... Dr. D throws a tantrum, holds his breath until he turns blue, and passes out.

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YOU TELL ME

Okey doke.  Here is a 4.5 runs per game corner outfielder (erf) who's there for defense.  Except, John Dewan has him at -12 the last time he played right field and as a completely separate issue, the WAY he botched it was anti-Safeco.  Aoki was neutral on shallow fly balls and medium fly balls, and got royally :- ) torched on everything over his head.  Just like the 2015 Mariners.

He is a mediocre player who is turning from age 33 to age 34, normally the point at which you fall off a cliff.

This is not Marcell Ozuna, not by a long stretch of beans.  You will have to tell me what the idea is here.  If it is "role player" then you could view him as an Ichiro Lite, maybe the 39-year-old version of Ichiro.  :: shrug ::

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ON THE GOOD SIDE

Aoki's EYE ratio is unquestioned; he's got (two) more walks than strikeouts lifetime.  He rarely does either one, getting about 50 of each per full season.  With his legs, this keeps his OBP up around .350 even in a big park.   (Well, fifty walks a year is hardly "rare" walks.  But Aoki puts the ball in play.)

Bill James just named ".360" as the beginning point of a good OBP.  Now, .350 is better than Your Favorite Mariner probably does, and it's nothing to sneeze at. but don't confuse .350 with Rickey Henderson.

....

Aoki does run very, very well.  Still.  And this means two things:  first, he can get you some RC/27 by going first to third.   He has averaged 80 runs per season, playing on dubious teams.  He can bat second and do an OKAY job.

Second, a very fast Right Fielder should, theoretically, be able to get you +10 runs with the glove.  So -- and this is the QUESTION -- why did it get you -12 the last time he played it?  I dunno.

....

Aoki's thing is contact, muy muy contact.  :: befuddled look :: Look, guys.  Are the Kansas City Royals really THAT!! smart?  They're going to revolutionize our sport?  Will it stay revolutionized after their 83 wins next year?

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COMPS

No, not his own comps.  Those would be Kiddo Davis, Morrie Arnovich, and Bob Seeds.

We're talking about every other RF option available to the Mariners:  Marcell Ozuna, and Nelson Cruz RF with a booming DH bat, and whoever played RF for all the other AL West teams.  Shin-Soo Choo, Kole Calhoun, Josh Reddick, George Springer.  Seems to SSI that a comp to Aging Ichiro Lite is the equivalent of hurling the white towel in from ringside.

Doesn't say much about your farm system, either, that you can't get developmental players in a 3-to-make-1, like Beane would do.  Ay caramba.

But hopefully the comments thread will steer me back on track,

Dr D