Most amigos here have noticed that Dr. D isn't always right, have noticed that he isn't usually right either, and have also noticed that he's unduly interested in Eastern spiritual mumbo-jumbo. With those caveats and quid pro quo's, here's a bit of what he sees on the Shrill vs Chill Mariner front these days:
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Dustin SHRILL Ackley - Deuce has his technical issues, such as the fact that he can't reach the outside edge, partly because his "chi" is generally to right field. This is particularly toxic on soft stuff away. Pitchers base their entire games around this - you probably saw Ackley swing weirdly through three straight Johnson fastballs in Baltimore to lead off. But this morning we're talking about state of mind. Ackley's flavor of "Shrill" is "Pear-Grape Greed." He wants too much, too soon, which is kind of a good thing. Every-body - wants - to - rule - the- world ......
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Mike CHILL Carp - His 2012 season has been like straightening curls, or chewing on pearls, or making Dr. D hurl, or something. Somebody give the guy a rabbit's foot. But his state-of-mind is loose, it's aggressive, it's focused and it's relaxed.
He's had several agile little shots to left field on pitcher's pitches. In case you forgot, the guy has a pretty good HIT tool along with that 425-foot power. Buy long on Mike Carp. He's been hurt. That's all.
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Mike SHRILL Saunders - Except that the Mariners looked deeeeeeep and saw something, the Condor might have been another casualty and might be home farming chickens... hold it, mining zinc, eh hoser. He's back to opening up the lead hip too much, swinging way too hard, just grinding generally. He's got 3 walks and 26 strikeouts the last 24 games.
::shrug:: He's shown he can do it, and for long stretches. I'd be moderately optimistic for 2013.
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John CHILL Jaso - He has that right cleat absolutely jammed to the floor, the '70's Camaro screeching around the mountain curves still at breakneck speed. His EYE is actually improving, is in Edgar Martinez territory - and he's letting the bat fly as though he were Abe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.
The intersection of Jaso's strike zone control, and the viciousness of his swings, well ... the entire ballclub could model him. Oh, wait. That's what Wedge is telling them to do. John Jaso is having one WHALE of a baseball season.
One thing that his superior state-of-mind should impact: his catching time. You've got an athlete here who is in control of his mind. He can relax and put complex thoughts together while he's behind the plate. ... the only rap on him, the only conceivable argument against his fulltime catching, is SB's. Which has not cost the Mariners a single base in 2012: the league CS average is 26%, Jaso's 28%.
I don't say that Jaso can catch full time. Simply that his arm has not cost the Mariners even one base in 2012. And, um, has anybody noticed that his OBP is .390 and his OPS+ 140? Nobody seems to have asked the question: is John Jaso a star? One who needed a year or two to jell?
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Other opinions, prevarications and noodlings forthcomin'...