Pepper, Aug 1
Flip: The rotation is announced as Vargas - Felix - Snell - RRS - and either Olson or French.
Chop: Capt Jack was on KJR saying that he took the Detroit deal precisely because he got talent for NOW AND LATER.
Other packages offered nice talent that was a few years away, and that wasn't as appealing, sez he. The Detroit deal stood out because the Mariners got help for 2009 along with the minors talent. That was the swing factor: help for 2009.
Z went on to emphasize that they've got a full six years of Luke French.
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I don't get this, though, that they keep saying "Olson OR French." What's the decision here? They powerflushed Olson two cycles ago. They brought him back only because of injury, and then he got pounded again.
They regard Olson as unacceptable. Why the hesitation about replacing him with French? It's like you traded for an ML-ready third baseman, and then let everybody know that you were going to audition him against Jack Hannahan for a while.
Hm. So French is viewed as "rotation thickener," a #6-7 SP who will provide a stoploss for several years?
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Flip: M's watcher thinks the rotation has taken quite a hit.
Chop: My epiphany came when it was announced that Snell was starting Sunday, and Zduriencik on the radio spoke so optimistically of what they expected from Snell in 2009.
As opposed to two weeks ago, they've got Snell vs. Washburn, and all the rest is the same. Again, as a roto dweeb, I'll take Snell over Washburn right now, for the rest of THIS year.
I think Washburn is defying gravity to a certain extent, and Snell is the guy with the sky-high Shandler BPV's. I take my pitchers based on K/BB/HR. Gimme Snell.
So Felix-Bedard-Snell-RRS and then Vargas-Olson-whoever. What's wrong with that?
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Flip: Jason Vargas battles Texas heroically, but gives up two crushing dongs, a 2-run and a 3-run shot.
Chop: D-O-V's instant report was: quality offspeed stuff, good mound presence, but the LH fastball shows itself very early, and is as readable as a ball flung off an Iron Mike pitching machine.
His Achilles Heel has, indeed, turned out to be the two balls a game that get lost in the clouds. He has coughed up 13 taters in 72 innings, including 6 of 'em in his last 23 innings. The ERA has sailed up to 4.71 and the clock has struck 12.
A lefty with a very hittable fastball is out there trying to fend off Manticore spikes with a 12" wooden shield. It's just not a good way to try to slay the Texas and LA dragons.
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Vargas was a nice value pickup, a good soldier, but he's a bridge guy. Let's get Snell, Morrow, and RRS rollin' ASAP. I like STUFF, babe.
Cheers,
Dr D