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Merks axs a very good question:

merks: I know it's not ideal but I would rather have Franklin as my DH 4 times a week with a game or two in the field than trade him or send him down to Tacoma. Am I missing something here or has this been talked about?

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SSI is all about creative thinking, but .... Let's start with an understanding how how most ML teams view reserve infielders (which is, like it or not, how they would view Nick Franklin if he were on the 25-man roster).

They view it as a VERY difficult, you could almost say near-impossible, assignment:  Your Willie Bloomquist, or your Mark McLemore, that guy is there to raise the manager's comfort level.  He has to sit on the bench, and be ready to play:

• Second base, maybe
• Shortstop, maybe
• Third base, maybe
• Other things too, maybe (pinch-run, fill in a double-switch, etc etc)

And he has to do so at a time when the manager is frazzed out.  The regular third baseman is drunk and hung over, let's say, and you got CC Sabathia in New York, and he looks down the bench, he doesn't want to see a kid with eyes like saucers.  Willie is there to jump into SS for one day and -- say it with Dr. D, now -- Not. Hurt. the. Team.

The reserve infielder is there to FEEL very reliable -- and to do so as a second baseman.  Then to feel very reliable as a third baseman.  Then to FEEL very reliable, as a shortstop.

That's why you hear people saying "It wouldn't be fair to Nick" to ask him to sit on the bench for 4 days, and then come in and play a reliable 3B.  What they mean by that is, "It wouldn't be fair to Lloyd McClendon's nerves."

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Sabermetrically, this idea has traction.  If Dustin Ackley's bat suffered by having to think about defense so much, just because of playing 2B vs LF  ... well, how tough a position is it to play > ?  How much would that affect Nick's bat?

Quick-scan back through the Oakland A's, for example, and even there (the Grand Central Station of creative baseball thought) it's always Grizzled Vets playing backup infield.

• 2013 = Alberto Callaspo and Adam Rosales
• 2012 = Stephen Drew* then Cliff Pennington, and Kila Ka'aihue (Jemile Weeks was a regular)
• 2011 = Mark Ellis, age 34
• 2010 = Still Rosales

In fact Beane's teams don't tend to give many AB's to the backup infielders.  Beane likes for his DP combo to play together every day.

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You wouldn't be quick to put any young infielder up from AAA into the backup role.  Now what about when it's an MLB-top 100 prospect?  Even Billy Beane would probably not do that - maybe ever.

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The original question was, Well, how about DH.

Now, let's start with the observation that the Seattle Mariners have paid Corey Hart $10M, for one season, to drive in 90 runs for them Right Now.  (He'll make the $10M, if he drives in the 90, which they need him to.)

It will be a miracle if Hart plays 100 games in the outfield, much less 140.  The Mariners are well aware of this.

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All that said, Lloyd McClendon is showing remarkable friendliness toward the concept that is Nick Franklin.  If and when he goes in there and sells them on Nick Franklin as part of a competition and jobshare, then Zduriencik would probably acquiesce.

All that said too, I think I remember Shannon Drayer characterizing the battle for the last roster spot, as one between Stefen Romero and Nick Franklin.  ... Supposing I remember that right, wouldn't even WE prefer to see Stefen Romero hit, and Nick Franklin build some experience in AAA?

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Would Franklin himself be okay with playing 2-3 games per week?  Hey, every ballplayer would do an MLB(TM) anything, rather than going to the minors.  It's big league carpet in the clubhouse, big league chow, big league service time.  Franklin will argue long and hard that he's fine as a backup.

Personally, I would enjoy seeing Nick and Brad Miller (and others) compete all year at Safeco.  Yes, between DH and IF you could get him 300 AB's, and for Earl Weaver, that would be just fine and dandy.

But know how unorthodox this would be.  If McClendon is willing to manage that, he deserves a SEEERRrrrious standing O.

Enjoy,

Dr D