. . . swing a bat again for the Mariners, I'll die a happier man. I don't care if he rebounds somewhere else. I'm not sure how little you're actually able to pay him next year. Do they still have the rule specifying maximum salary cut? In any event, I wouldn't want him at the MLB minimum. As far as I'm concerned he was stealing at bats from better hitters every time Llyod wrote his name in the line-up - essentially sending Saunders or Ack to the bench. . Except for one or two games, he was a black hole when needed most.
And, yes, to Morrison. Emphatically. He's your dice roll next year, for once a roll that favors the M's. I think we've seen his bottom. As Gordon and Doc say above, need to get a big stick, a real one, in the trade market probably, cuz there ain't much in free agency.
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Gordon sez,
Gordon Gross: LoMo is locking down first base at this point (with both Peterson and Kivlehan pushing for consideration in about a year). We need a DH and a corner OF. LoMo doesn't seem really comfortable DHing (and as an NL dude I don't blame him) so I don't want to make him. Saunders, Brooklyn and Austin Jackson can cobble together a CF/glove OF look. But Kendrys as a 2 year proposition? MAN would he have to be cheap for that to happen, and as a Boras client, cheap isn't exactly the phrase that springs to mind. Just trade for Kemp in the OF, and let Dustin and Saunders split DH and OF at-bats to keep everybody healthy. ;)
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Q. How do you figure that Morrison is locking the position down?
A. Morrison's stats from August 1, 2014 to Sept. 25, 2014: .313/.368/.513, in Safeco. Normal BABIP.
Also, his August-September numbers pro-rate to 45 doubles and 21 homers. We hear that Lloyd McClendon likes doubles. IN THIS BALLPARK, a topspin lefty with 40 doubles and 20 homers would be quite the ride.
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Q. Who are other players who might reproduce those stats here?
A. If Prince Fielder had done exactly this, for $180M, we'd have been delighted.
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Q. Why isolate two months? Why don't the first four count?
A. They do, but.... we'll guarantee you that BaseballHQ will split out Morrison's second half and issue a BUY, BUY, BUY order on Logan Morrison.
He's only hit 300 AB's once in his career, before his 324 this year. He's a "camouflaged" injury case who is age 26 with experience.
From a national, objective point of view, he's certainly on the watch list next draft.
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Q. Does SSI really like Morrison going into 2015?
A. Yes, because of his plate coverage, his competitive attitude, his natural size, and his swing shape for Safeco.
His EYE ratio is 0.45 the last two months and his SwStr% is very low. He's solid up there. And when he squares the ball up, he's got far more power than Justin Smoak will ever dream of.
You don't need him to be Prince Fielder. Here is where Stars & Scrubs comes in: like Gordon says, get you a single REALLY GOOD bat to play corner OF or DH. Get one, and make sure he will actually deliver. Enough of these piecemeal attempts at Corey Hart, Justin Smoak, Kendrys Morales, etc etc etc, none of whom are worth two snaps against Jered Weaver.
In that scenario, sure, I'm great with Morrison for 2015 and 2016.
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Q. Meaning you steer clear of Kendrys Morales?
A. He's the anti-Stars-and-Scrubs at this point. He ossifies your DH with a player who is (now!) truly mediocre. DH is not a slot you want to ossify.
No, thanks.
........
Zduriencik has had a long run of bad luck, trying to pull face cards from the deck. If Logan Morrison finally nets him a picture card, good. If Morrison's hitting 7th instead of 5th next year, great.
BABVA,
Dr D
Comments
There's not a whole lot out there in free agency. My move this offseason is to sign Jason Hammel and then dangle Elias+ in a trade for Wil Myers. Myers was injured this year and may not look so shiny to the Rays at this particular moment in time. I would take a deal for Matt Kemp in a heartbeat, but I doubt the Mariners and Dodgers will be able to agree on the amount of cash moving with the player. Also, the Dodgers would likely insist on Taijuan and I don't think the M's will do that in a Kemp deal.
.......that I do not want to see Kendrys anymore. I'm also not convinced that we don't dangle Ackley, while he's at the top of his trade value.
I was curious about Morrison and his twitter antics so I followed cupoflomo on twitter. Nary a peep out of the guy. That 27 and experience thing goes beyond baseball. If he's bearing down and focusing (as it appears) I would bet on him.
Michael Cuddyer.
I understand the age...I understand the Coors factor...and I understand the recent injuries. But the man can rake...and once he becomes a full time DH, body wear will be less of an issue.
There's no room for him in the Rockies outfield...there's no room for him in the NL. He's the Clemente Award nominee for the Rockies, so perfect for our front office.
But most of all, he can hit. Platoon splits are not an issue. wrc+ of 138 last year playing full time. 152 this year when off the DL.
Certainly objections will come because of the Sweeney/Griffey/Morse/Hart, etc., legacy.
But slot him into the cleanup position ASAP. Then you can go out and decide if there's a bigger play to make for a corner outfielder. If Cuddyer falls to sixth in the lineup behind Seager, so much the better.
But he's the perfect 'safe' move to fill the gaping wound between Cano and Kyle in the order.
(And as for Morrison--yes, absolutely. I can't even think of a scenario where we find a clear improvement in the offseason.)
One of the relievers like Medina for a year of Cuddyer would be fine with me and make a lot of sense for both clubs. Gotta make room for Smith anyway.
Cuddyer is a free agent so you wouldn't have to give up anything. I suppose they could make a qualifying offer, but if there's no room for him I'm not sure why the Rockies would do that. Man, what a difference that guy would make.
Cuddyer is very good at Coors but a solid player and a very class individual. He has struggled with injuries this season but has been very good the last month. Good leader with the younger kids. If I were M's, I would try to sign him.
It's time to spend some money. Morrison will save them a few million in the next two years. Two years will bridge them to Peterson, Kivlehan, Lara, Guerrero, et al. Want cheap, bring back Wily Mo, he's leading NPB in dingers while reducing his strikeouts and increasing his walks.
That's good enough for me. Too bad we didn't pry him away in mid season.
But the Rockies weren't quite out of it, and Cuddyer had broken his shoulder blade (OUCH - and you can't trade players on the DL without commissioner approval).
I still wouldn't mind Cuddyer on a flier (though don't count on him for a full season of at-bats) and for Morneau to play DH/1B. If we're gonna do a trade with the Sox I'm fine with shipping them Smoak and a 'penner or two for Morneau. They have Kyle Parker who can play 1st, but he can still handle the OF (kinda like LoMo when he first broke in). Maybe they want a bridge.
And they had an ERA+ of 89 this year: they need all the pitching they can get, even with Gray and Butler coming up through the ranks as starters.
Justin can't hit lefties for spit, but he never has. He's just a flat-out righty masher, and he's under contract for next year with a mutual 9 mil option for 2016. He knows the AL. He hit well outside of Coors. No reason he has to get 150 ABs against lefties - just let him pound those righties. He also knows how to DH (which LoMo does not).
If the Ms can get me Morneau and somebody like Kemp (or another serious OFer) to hit from the right side of the plate, we can really get going. Alternates include V-Mart and others, but they can't really be Willie-As-DH or some other nonsense like that.
I like that on the Ms broadcasts they were acknowledging the need for 2 plus-sized hitters this offseason, with Texas getting healthy and the need to catch the Angels and their monsters. The broadcasters rarely say anything that's not stamped with the approval of the front office.
As long as everybody knows what we need, and Jack can go GET it, I'll feel pretty good.
~G
Rick, where were you when I had to try selling stuff for a short time? I can't sell ice to Eskimos! Gordon had it, Cuddyer was injured for a lot of the year but did finish up solid. If M's had him rather than Morales, you are watching them tonight! Easily. And he really does seem like a class guy...right handed batter and can drive to all fields. Please don't remake the entire team.....just fix the flat tire! Tulo does not want to play first let alone DH. Justin Morneau was also solid here this year but M's need the other side of the plate covered.
Fun year Rick. I miss being away from the NW but good to see baseball back on the map at home!
Moe, Jeff, I have been out of town/country and finally get to see my son's team play this week!
Rick, where were you when I had to try selling stuff for a short time? I can't sell ice to Eskimos! Gordon had it, Cuddyer was injured for a lot of the year but did finish up solid. If M's had him rather than Morales, you are watching them tonight! Easily. And he really does seem like a class guy...right handed batter and can drive to all fields. Please don't remake the entire team.....just fix the flat tire! Tulo does not want to play first let alone DH. Justin Morneau was also solid here this year but M's need the
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How about Billy Butler for DH? KC has an option on him for next year, but it'd be $4 and a half million more that the $8 Million they paid him for last year. He had a down year (batted 271) but the last time he had those numbers he put together a 4 year span of great offensive production. He'll be 29 next year with, probably, several years of decent production left.
How about Billy Butler for DH? KC has an option on him for next year, but it'd be $4 and a half million more that the $8 Million they paid him for last year. He had a down year (batted 271) but the last time he had those numbers he put together a 4 year span of great offensive production. He'll be 29 next year with, probably, several years of decent production left.
Look at Billy's numbers vs. left handers this season, and compare them with Montero's lifetime numbers vs. left handers. They are practically identical right down to the PAs. I see absolutely no reason why the Mariners should throw a lot of money at Butler when they can have a plodding lefty masher available to them at no additional charge.
If the Mariners want Billy Butler, then they should fix Jesus Montero, which apparently is exactly what they are fixing to do.