Tuesday Morning Tazoberry
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The idea was floated that the Mariners benched Dan Vogelbach because --- > they didn't want him to go 1-for-12 with 6 K's and scuff up the paint. Okay, that's probably what happened. If Dr. Detecto ever made GM, he would think of these cases as Moneyball opportunities. Sure, it's emotionally unpleasant to watch a AAA star fail in his cups of coffee, even if those are only 12 and 28 AB's long (which they were). But I'd like to let other teams bake the cake while I eat it ...
'Bach is who he is. He BB'ed 78 times this year, fanned 98, hit .290 with power, flashed some long HR's. He can move his weight (around in the batter's box, if not especially up the dugout steps) and flick balls the other way. He's Chris Snelling's biggggg brother, a DH.
Which, maybe the M's are clearing the way for a certain DH from overseas.
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The Mariners fired their bench coach Tim Bogar, who I think of as the consultation partner in a 2 vs 2 chess game. His job to make sure that no matchups or Run Expectancies slip past the Skip, to coordinate laptop info in-game. Also he needs to forward the Skip's manager with the players, as Mike Pence sincerely does for Trump and as Joe Biden sincerely did for Obama. Much of the time he winds up oh-so-subtly positioning HIMSELF for the job. Bogar's sabe skills are not lacking, so read between the lines here.
Zoom had not been gentle at all with Casey Candaele (base coach and baserunning coach) and ZOOOM, there it IS
Meaning they are going to go with a tightening-of-the-corset around Scott Servais, I guess. Dr. D's reaction: reasonable of course, but hard to get excited about. But for sure there is the plus that a new manager will not ask for 50 games in which to "see what he's got."
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Emerald City Swagger gave the Gold Glove to Jarrod Dyson. Dewan had him for +15 runs saved in part time play and we're sure it was in that range. Zoom predicted $10-11M times two for Dyson and I don't see a better option, do you? Through the heartless lens of WAR:
400 PA, 2.4 WAR = Haniger. Still an SSI Best Bet, to the hilt.
400 PA, 2.1 WAR = Dyson
550! PA, 1.6 WAR = Gamel
425 PA, 0.0 WAR = Heredia
For 2018, I'd be fine with those four players, tweaking Haniger and Dyson toward more PT and Gamel/Heredia towards limited roles - hopefully with an Otani into the mix. Best offensive opportunity fire may be at 1B. But this is a guess four trades away from the front of the bow!
BABVA,
Dr D