=== Doug Fister, Fizzler ===
First, the excuse: with men on 1B and 2B first inning, Fister induced a DP grounder to Jose Lopez at 3B, who whipped it over to Dustin Ackley ... who dropped the ball. Two guys on the infield you're experimenting with -- you don't have your battle-hardened troops behind him -- and the pitcher you're experimenting with, also.
Wakamatsu complained that Fister looked "nervous" during the game. Fister is known for poise -- remember his debut? -- but if you're a pitcher, an infield botching the key DP ball is going to rattle you. Tell me that the 3rd-year Felix wouldn't have rattled?
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Anyway, Fister (like, say, Brad Radke and Mark Buehrle and Jamie Moyer) needs to be razor-sharp, to compete with his minus fastball. Obviously he hasn't been. A Jamie Moyer has the luxury of working out the kinks, but Fister isn't at that point in his career. He knows this.
The second game of the year, they're starting to look at results, and the third game, they definitely will be.
He had 5K's in 2 innings his first outing, which was fine, but yesterday put a lot of pressure on Fister early. He needs a shutdown performance or two very shortly, or they're going to look elsewhere.
Tough when you're trying to break in, ain't it?
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Word is that the long man role is "NOT a consolation prize." The 6-7 starters will be in Tacoma. Which also reminds,that if French or Vargas or Fister fail to win the #5 right here and now, they'll get other chances. They're not pitching to avoid a French guillotine in town square.
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=== Matt Tuiasosopo, Sizzler ===
Bob Condotta with some reports that Tui looked good at SS, even showing range up the middle.
Ty Van Burkleo isn't going to say much that isn't on the same sheet of music with Wakamatsu's. He spoke in terms of finding a way to get Tui onto the 25-man, and implied that Tui's early hitting rampage matters.
Yeah, we know, we know, it's a "small sample size" (sic!). But have you ever been on the field in tryouts when one guy is crushing everything thrown to him?
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If Matt Tuiasosopo were an incompetent ML infielder, that would be one thing. But if he is a below-average infielder, or SS, that's just a question of plusses-vs-minuses.
Jack Wilson is your shortstop - at least in the M's minds. For Tui to be out there a game a week, against a LH-hitting lineup, isn't out of the question. Obviously the M's don't think so.
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=== Josh Wilson, Fizzler ===
Josh Wilson's established level of performance has been 2.7 runs per 27 outs, which is -20 runs below a replacement Tacoma Rainiers shortstop.
And if you had trouble hitting ML pitching at 27-28, at age 33 you are in biiiiiiig trouble. Mediocre ML hitters -- of which Wilson has not been one -- are liabilities in their early 30's.
It's fine to want a backup SS that you trust to bang a groundball back over to 1B. But where's the limit? We're talking about a .260 OBP here, and a SLG not much above that.
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Which is why it would be cool if Matt Tuiasosopo were to play SS well enough to raise their comfort level. When Wilson hits the 15-day, then you bring up a starting SS from Tacoma anyway.
Yeah, I know, whodat. :- )
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Prediction here is that IFF Tui rips up the Cactus League and looks mobile at SS, then they'll find a way to use 11 pitchers, keeping both Hannahan and Tuiasosopo.
Cheers,
Dr D
If Tui and Sweeney keep hitting the ball, I think they both go North with the club. I don't know how, but it just seems like the alternatives to them aren't much better than they are. Garko's younger and a similar bat to Sweeney, but Wak has a comfort level with Sweeney that Garko doesn't. And if they were OK with Tui on the club last year, why not this year?
Fister's got a little equity, He did quite nicely for the M's at the end of last year. I don't think he's got quite the short leash you're describing here doc. If he wraps up ST with a coupla three good outings, I think he's in.
It's also nice to have a coaching staff that I have confidence is looking past the stats, so things like a shaky defense aren't punishing the players. I bet the players appreciate that as well.
If Hannahan could play an above-average SS that would really help as a stop-loss.
The Lopez and Figgins experiment needs to end.
Taro, have you seen them yet? Just curious, I haven't had a chance to see them, and have only had the coach's comments to go on about how they are playing there.
Not yet, but I've heard several reports of him botching multiple plays at 3B over at LL and Geoff Baker. He'll likely get better with time, but will he be 100% by April? Unlikely.
This is just the Lopez to 3rd side of it.. no reports on Figgins to 2B (which I think is an even bigger deal).
So you're making a short-term position switch that will likely cost you defensive runs in 2010 and potential offensive swoons for both players (if they aren't in the right mindset, overworked dealing with new postions, and/or less focus on O).
I just have to wonder what the whole point of this is, if its not going to improve the team defensively.
I wonder if it just comes down to the scouting side of it. Figgins has better range, Lopez a better arm. A strong arm can make up for less range at 2B as it has for Lopez.
These guys are established at these two positions. It seems very likely that they'll lose some defensive value initially as they are adjusting (and early report confirming that). Being that this is only a short-term switch, I've got to wonder how wise this move is.
It seems very high risk and low reward, especially when considering how it could affect the two players' offensive mindset of the plate.. and Figgins' hammies (he could age earlier playing 2B).
Hm. I also wonder if this coaching staff is a bit over-focused on physical templates. Like, Lopez is built more like a third baseman therefore he will be a better third baseman. Which may be true, but we all know just because you're athletic doesn't mean you'll be a great athlete. I wonder what consideration is given to mental disposition. And, as you've pointed out, repetition is key to mastering any new skill... and ST may not cut it in this case.
They handled the sales-resistance by publicly soft-pedaling it... but politely insisting on it, and pushing through what is best for the team.
I believe that the feedback they are looking for now is not the players' preferences -- but the on-field results defensively. It says here that the experiment will run until the last 10 games, and if Lopez can play 3B, that's where he'll be. If it becomes clear that he can't play 3B, he won't.
Seeing that Lopez *has* played 3B, including in the majors, I predict this won't be an issue. :- )
Lopez showing up to camp at a chunky 220 lbs might have made the decision for the club. Dude is eating his way out of the middle infield.
Thanks for the reassurance. ;- )
Am guessing that they have some preference for the RH Fister to win the job, so ya. Hopefully he gets a long look. He probly will.
I'm JLo's biggest fan, but ya, at *some* point he was sure to move from 2b to 3b anyway, as many historical big leaguers. Age 30-31 would be typical -- Ernie Banks moved (to 1B?) at about that age IIRC.
This would be a few years earlier. No panic.
If I'm in JLo's shoes, I've got a sense of urgency about becoming a good defender at 3b, if I want the big contract.
One would think. He doesn't seem like the brightest bulb in the building, though.
At this point, the M's are in a tough spot. He's probably more valuable to the M's than any trade return they are likely to get for him right now. That is, if he can play 3b with some skill. If he can't (or won't) play 3B and he plays 2B with the range of Felix Fermin, then the team is kind of hosed.
Do you see this improving the team defensively though?
How many runs above-average do you see the new tandem producing (last year it was +15-20 with Lopez at 2B, Figgins 3B)?
Is he really that much larger?
What was his weight coming into ST last season?