What To Do at Catcher?
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ZUUMBALL
Obviously has the glove of a 1st-string catcher. Obviously has shown flashes of easy power. Obviously is well-liked by teammates, pitchers, and coaches alike. Obviously is working with one whale of a Cirque Du Soleil net, as far as the Mariners are concerned. Does this make his 3rd or his 4th turn in Tacoma dry dock?
Jerry Dipoto just gave Zunino a 72-hour leave of absence before his Tacoma report. This means he is probably sincere about repairing Zunino (again) as opposed to head-faking his fellow GM's. Besides that, it was just a great human thing to do.
But the M's have a serious problemo: if not Zunino, who? Tuffy Gosewisch is going to hit about .140 and Carlos Ruiz simply can't get into a squat for nine innings, more than about three times a week. The word "crisis" gets thrown around a lot, but ...
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ZOOMBALL
Billy sez,
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If you want a major league catcher, you are going to have to give up more than a bottle of rye.
I would prefer to give up Marteen or Powell or Volksenburger ... but, how "decent" a guy do you want?
If you want someone that can frame, call games, and manage .250 or better at the plate, you are going to have to find a budget based club that has someone about to pop a big contract number or is absoluely blocked.
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I was ready to cry, sigh, or take a good poke in the eye last year when they didn't go after Lucroy.
Supposedly the Jays have been trolling for what's out there with R. Martin's shoulder situation not closely defined.
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G. Money was on the money when he said Zunino's time here is done done. Each year the babysitting has failed. Neither Edgar or Brosius can get anything to stay stuck in his brain.
Get something while you still might be able to.
Here's another two step trade for DePoet ... depose Zunino for ???? just to move him and replace him the next day with ???
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But, you're going to have to give up one of the talented OF's (or Motter for that matter) to do so.
Notice that DePoet said yesterday they are gonna ride with the SP's.
That translates to "Surprise".
zoom
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DR'S R/X
Zunino has played three games in Tacoma and gone 5-for-10, two homers, a walk, no strikeouts. There is SOMETHING big league pitchers are doing to him that he can't deal with. Tough to believe it's as simple as good heat on the hands followed by sliders off the plate away; that was John McGraw's tonic for enemy cleanup hitters back in 1920. Besides, not every ML pitcher can throw good heat. At least not all of ours can!
The Mariners are apparently going to try One! More! Time! to get a 70 OPS+ out of their likeable young pitch framer. No word on whether they're going to try the Think Tank's idea of a 40-ounce bat.
Here is a light compilation of possible trade targets, including Billy's coveted Jonathan Lucroy. Hey, maybe we got a shot at Wellington Castillo or Chris Iannetta.
BABVA,
Dr D