Chat: 12/7/15 2:14pm
Chat: 12/7/15 2:14pm
Shouts
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<p>With the number of articles and comment threads running around... it sure would be nice to have the "Recent Comments" section back so we can keep up with on going conversations without having to re read through the comment thread to see if we missed anything, or have to commit # of comments to memory so we can quickly see if there is something new...</p>
<p>diderot - yes, I would with certain stipulations about his behavior (I'd want to amend his contract to offer him the chance to earn more #Money if he behaves well, but cut off his #Money if he gets in trouble again) and under the scenario where I could get him extended beyond 2016. I, however, am not Dipoto, and I have a feeling that he's the type that focuses heavily on character.</p>
<p>There's no doubt in my mind that Dipoto's goal was to convert risky, high upside scrubs into less-risky civics to surround the stars. (which is why this is clearly not a stars and scrubs orientation). Elias becomes much more expensive, stabler Miley. Rookies become safer-feeling glove-whiz Martin, high K, high BB relievers become more expensive, rubber-armed pitch-to-contact relievers. Trumbo/Morrison become Lind. Character tops the chart for which scrubs he is choosing for the fill-in slots, etc. It's all about feeling secure now and clearing the decks for HIS development program with HIS prospects done HIS way.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - OBF - 12/9/15 12:43pm<br><p>It is still Stars and Scrubs if you are willing to churn through civics like you would scrubs... Which come to think of it is how rich teams like LA and NY operate...</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - csiems - 12/9/15 1:56pm<br><p>The real problem with Civics is that they tend to ossify a roster, block new talent, and prevent superstar contracts by soaking up chunks of the payroll. Lind on a one-year deal is not preventing us from signing a Heyward-level player, and he won't block Montero if he suddenly realizes his potential. I'm A-OK with this.</p>
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<p>Morality question:</p>
<p>Given his recent problems, if you could get Aroldis Chapman at a steep discount...would you make that move?</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - OBF - 12/9/15 12:37pm<br><p>After the Lueke hullabaloo, I don't think it is possible... and honestly if there is any truth to the rumors I wouldn't want him even if it was for free... Was Greg Hardy worth it for the Cowboys?</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - mojician - 12/9/15 1:19pm<br><p>Chapman wasn't charged with anything, even though the police investigated the night of the incident. If there was a domestic assault, he would've been arrested and charged.</p>
<p>This isn't Milton Bradley or Floyd Mayweather we are talking about. For aliens like Chapman, domestic battery is a deportable offense.</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - mojician - 12/9/15 1:23pm<br><p>Deej and fillers for the 105 mph fastball? You don't even see my hand move.</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/9/15 3:42pm<br><p>Mariners have nothing of real value to trade at this point outside of Walker, Marte, Jackson, and Paxton. That is pretty terrible for an organization. All these moves have made for an interesting offseason, but I'm very concerned about this organization going forward. The minors are quite depleted and it's not like there is a lot of cost controlled young talent at the MLB level. It's basically Marte and Walker. All those years of Jack Z and the man produced little in regards to homegrown talent and he left the cupboard empty. </p>
<p>Drafting and international signings are going to be critical over the next couple seasons because man are we void of young talent.</p>
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<p>After ruminating on it for a while it sure seems like what Dipoto (not back to JeDi just yet) is trying to do is replace "COULD BE's" with "ARE'S". Of course as fans we are highly attached to our "could be's", especially the ones with fun back stories, and have no visceral connection to the "are's" that are coming in so this is a painful process... Hopefully in the end though we have better ACTUAL #Baseball team. Of course in the process we are shredding some of our THEORETICAL stars...</p>
<p>When the dust clears, wins and loses will tell us if he was right I guess… Still doesn’t feel good to lose our guys, but in the end we will all be happy if it translates to wins, even if that means we do see some of our Could Be’s become Are’s for some other team…</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - SABR Matt - 12/9/15 12:24pm<br><p>My problem, other than throwing away Kivlehan after a bad hitting glove specialist CF, wasn't the prospects...it was giving up valuable, cheap AREs like Carson Smith and Tom Wilhelmson.</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - OBF - 12/9/15 12:36pm<br><p>Well, you have to spend some hard cash at SOME point... and even with those two... Carson IS a great setup guy no doubt, but he is still just a COULD BE dominant closer (who failed in his first audition), and Wilhelmsen COULD BE a starter (but hasn't really been given a chance, and USED TO BE a closer, but is now just wandering through the middle reliever wilderness... and seems to be happy to be there...</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/9/15 4:45pm<br><p>Exactly.</p>
<p>And Carson Smith is a great setup man. But, DiPoto already filled that hole with Benoit.</p>
<p>So he turned Smith into Miley rather than spending $50+ million to do so on the free agent market. Plus, it sounds like he got the guy he wanted.</p>
<p>The final piece of the puzzle will be the closer. Say we do end up with Chapman/Benoit in the 8th and 9th, this will all just be spilt milk.</p>
<p>Once the closer is in place, this team is ready to rock.</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/9/15 4:46pm<br><p>-bpj</p>
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<p>Not quite...he's gonna need to get a steal on a top-flight closer first. :)</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - OBF - 12/9/15 12:15pm<br><p>Yup still need some more bullpen help. And it wold be nice to have some Rotation depth. Relying on Paxton and Walker to both break out and stay healthy all year is worrisome...</p>
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<p>With the trade of Lind for some low minors dudes, can we change the name back to JeDi?</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - DaddyO - 12/9/15 12:49pm<br><p>My friend, you can change it to anything you wish. Except Clyde. For some reason Clyde just seems out of bounds.</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - DaddyO - 12/9/15 12:53pm<br><p>I proposed below that we move him from JePot to JeRy after the Lind move. To get back to JeDi, which symbolizes our hope that he would be a true wizard that restores our faith in Mariners GM's, IMO he would need to further bolster both starting rotation and bullpen.</p>
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<p>I'm a little worried about counting on Marte without a viable backup plan...the rest of the line-up is almost bullet-proof from catastrophy other than injury or, in Ianetta's case, aging out. Very little reason to believe the Mariners won't score runs in 2016 unless disaster strikes with Ketel Marte and we can't find other good table setters.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/9/15 12:00pm<br><p>Aren't Sardinas and Taylor the backup plans for Marte? I don't have a problem with Taylor. ~G</p>
</div><div class="indented">Reply - SABR Matt - 12/9/15 12:23pm<br><p>I do...don't believe Taylor can hit in the big leagues.</p>
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<p>I for one am looking forward to a full year of Marte at short. Let's see if the kid can play so well that there's a buzz about him around the league, like happened with Seager after he moved to third.</p>
<p>Anonymouses, please identify yourselves so we don't have to guess who you are! Hey! Lind! Like it. Looks OK with the glove, too, metrics-wise.</p>
<p>So, who around here is left from the offensive juggernaut Z was trying to build. Montero?? Who'd a thunk it? and Seager. Gone are Ackley, Smoak, Miller, Saunders, Zunino demoted to maybe fight later. A whole lot of second line replacements like Kivlehan and Jones being cleared out as well. It's kinda like how the Brooklyn guy and the jittery kid were all that survived the Saving Private Ryan platoon. Well, let's hope when the dust clears, we do indeed save Private Ryan.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - diderot - 12/9/15 12:31pm<br><p>Private Brendan Ryan saved by the Cubs...</p>
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<p>Vs. RHP looks like this: Aoki, Marte, Cano, Cruz, Seager, Lind, Smith, Clevenger, Martin. Not bad!<br />
Vs. LHP looks like this: Aoki, Marte, Cano, Cruz, Seager, Guti, Montero, Ianetta, Martin (?) Not bad.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/9/15 10:58am<br><p>I like our lineup heading into the year. At this point the concern is clearly bullpen and then rotation health. The rotation is fine if Paxton can find a way to stay healthy but he appears incapable of doing so.</p>
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<p>NOW, you can QO Lind after the season if Montero sticks, or if DJ is ready.</p>
<p>And in case you forgot, Lind does really smash RHP. Career .350 OBP (last 3 year's low is .380) and .509 slug. Limit his exposure to LHP and he's a bomber.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mojician - 12/9/15 10:27am<br><p>That's what they say about Jesus Montero vs. Lefthanders. :)</p>
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<p>Whew! But I will tell you what, it is still a very nice haul for #Milwaukee. Assuming that just one of those guys gets to the bigs (a fair assumption considering that all had very impressive starts), then 1 year of Lind for several years (perhaps) of a "good" young thrower is still a good get for #Milwaukee. If two of those guys get to #Milwaukee, then this will be a major Brewer victory......unless we get all the way to the ALCS. I am not confident Lind will resign with us (unless we offer a bunch right now). A lot of teams would like his services. I am especially impressed with Herrera. He was 17 and K'ing older folks while not walking anybody. I know, he was essentially a high school junior last year, but I like his numbers. All the same...this trade makes us better.</p>
<p>The Lind add is a good add so far as I can tell. I criticized DiPoto for the Miley trade, changed his nickname to JePot. This move may not be JeDi, but it rates a solid JeRy.</p>
<p>would be nice to extend him early if he looks like a nice fit. Mariners reportedly still interested in Mike #Napoli as well...so may not be done upgrading 1B. For a GM that claimed his main focus would be on upgrading the pen, it sure seems like he's focused on lots of other things. :) Scribner is hardly a marquee addition. We need to do better for the back of the pen.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - bpj23 - 12/9/15 10:19am<br><p>Jack Z leaning over, whispering, "How many 1B/DH types do these guys need, huh??"</p>
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<p>Fingers crossed that he's an Ibanez for sure. We can't handle a lot more failure at the 1B position.</p>
<p>Lind's OBP should be high even if his power falls off some. But he's a topspin hitter...I don't expect Safeco to crush him...a little like Ibanez with his swing, but more patient.</p>
<p>Adam Lind is not Cliff Lee. That said, I expect to keep Lind after this year if he's even moderately successful and get him to stick around a while (since platoon bats can remain good into their mid-30s), so this is the price of starting that negotiation. Hopefully he can hit outside of Miller Park, where his .926 home OPS carries his stat line.</p>
<p>Lind himself is somebody we've been interested in at SSI for a year or two. DiPoto essentially traded 3 "I don't care what happens after 2020" players for a guy he hopes solidifies 1B as part of a platoon (I assume, since he can't hit lefties AT ALL). It makes sense - he has time to restock the system and he added Lind without losing anyone he plays to deploy in the next couple of years. I still would not have traded Missaki, even if only to recover his trade value after TJ, but DiPoto's not scared of breaking eggs to make omlettes. Hopefully he doesn't break the pan too.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - anonymous - 12/9/15 10:01am<br><p>Missaki didnt have much value to begin with. He's interesting but likely never amounts to anything. He wasn't cracking a Top 10 prospect list at any point in the near future so his value wasn't going to be much.</p>
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<p>Remember when we traded Phillippe Aumont, JC Ramirez and some other schmoe for Cliff Lee? Did any of those guys do anything you regret missing? :)</p>
<p>Not going to be sad about those names...it's a 10% proposition at BEST that any of them will ever make the big leagues. Good trade.</p>
<p>Peralta is a teen who struck out 11 per 9 in rookie ball (8 walks against 67 Ks), Carlos Herrera hasn't made the States yet but wants to be the next Edwin Diaz (and started off just fine in the Dominican for a 17 year old) and Missaki was essentially the best low-minors arm we had before he blew out his UCL last year. TJ surgery isn't a guarantee, but this is one of those trades you make thinking it won't matter if you blow it because by the time those guys succeed or fail in the bigs you'll either be a successful GM or canned. ~G</p>
<p>Missaki had TJ surgery last summer. Recognizable name, but who knows what he'll be.</p>
<p>I hope the games this team plays are as entertaining as the off season.</p>
<p>I'm seeing 3 lower level pitching prospects, Matt, not two. As long as it's not Daniel Missaki... IT IS DANIEL MISSAKI... ARGHHHH...</p>
<p>Daniel Missaki (19), Carlos Herrera (18) and Freddy Peralta (19).</p>
<p>Two LOWER_LEVEL prospects going out for Lind per Heyman...neither is on 40-man. Eeeeexcellent.</p>
<p>The only thing about trading for Lind...Hyun-Soo Kim is available and could easily give you a cheap facsimile of Lind at half the cost in #Money and no prospects lost...so...there's that.</p>