Do the M's move player positions more, less or about average as an organization. The main thing you notice is a string of moving players, including Ackley, Seager, Romero, Montero, etc. Part of it has to do with talent density, but part of it also seems like it's being greedy with what they can get out of a prospect.
Comments
I wouldn't worry about it too much. Most teams move guys around in the minors.
The Ms definitely aren't against moving a player's position, but part of that is because they're starting said player off at harder positions and then relegating them back to easier ones. Ackley's the only one who's stayed on a harder position. Seager was a 2B/3B in college and though he played far more 2nd, it was thought he might not stay there full time. He'd have been fine there IMO but yes, we slid him down the scale to 3rd. Romero is/was a 3B who was moved to 2nd (!) because of an injury that didn't let him throw across the diamond. Now he's out to the OF since we're cluttered in the infield. Marder's played everywhere, but he was doing that in college too Tenbrink is roving, but Tenbrink has to rove if he wants a major league career of any kind. Franklin's been mostly shifted to 2nd, but he had iffy defensive and athletic skills for Short long-term when we drafted him.
Montero was a C who's now been slid to 1B. Only Ackley and Miller have stayed at the harder position, and only Ackley and Montero have struggled much with the bat of the listed guys. Other guys who have struggled: Catricala, who is not a 3B but keeps trying. Liddi has labored under the same idea.
We have two issues as a team: First, we keep players at hard defensive positions for a while, maybe longer than other teams.
Second, more of our draft picks succeed as they climb levels than some other teams's, which means that when they pile up at the same position we have to move somebody. If we could maybe draft some outfielders who don't have to be bounced around that'd be great, but I can't really complain about Seager AND Romero AND Franklin all working out and needing to shift them to keep them on the team. Not if they actually help us.
Please help us...
~G
I bought Chris Crawford's draft handbook. Lots of good info for $3.99. Here's the link: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/
Based on what I've read in there, the guys I'm most interested in, that could be available at 12:
Reese McGuire, C
Clint Frazier, OF
Austin Meadows, OF
Aaron Judge, OF
Hunter Renfroe, OF
Dominic Smith, 1B
I'm sure more than one of those guys will be available at 12. Even though we have Zunino, McGuire is super-duper interesting as it sounds like he could be a guy that completely shuts down the running game like Pudge Rodriguez did in his prime.
2005: Clement with the 3rd pick
2009: Baron (supplemental 1st)
2010: converted our 2nd round pick Littlewood to C
2011: Drafted 5 catchers in the first 20 rounds (all of them suck as hitters)
2012: Drafted Zunino with the 3rd pick
ENOUGH WITH THE CATCHERS! Pick something else!
Ahem. Any non-catcher teenage hitter is welcome from the guys who should be available and worth the pick. I like Frazier best, but others should too so I doubt he gets to us. Talked more about it on a thread over on Spec's site Mariners Talk.
~G
It seems like there are a number of HS and college outfielders that should be available around 12. Guys always fall and some teams will probably over draft to sign guys below slot. Baseball America currently projects the Mariners as taking JP Crawford, a HS SS, which I hope doesn't happen.
I know we've drafted a lot of catchers, but McGuire seems like the type of guy that could be a game changer. Plus, he's local. Mainly, I would just prefer that they draft a position player rather than a pitcher and I hope they don't try to get cute and over draft a guy so that they can sign him below slot. I've seen Stanek linked to them, which worries me a bit.
Being that we think we are getting close, I would expect us to draft the most-ready-for-the-majors type player. This way at worst we have a trade chip, and possibly we have someone that could help in 2015.
Nah. We heard the same stuff when they picked Walker and Franklin - and the need for MLB ready talent was even greater back then. They will take the highest rated guy on their board, regardless of position or age. If it's a pitcher, then they will take a pitcher. If it's a highschooler, then they will take a highschooler. That's how Jack and Mac roll.