25-Man/Spring Training Thread

[Basketball Jesus]

Looks like the M's are in danger of losing Cha-Seung Baek:

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... LB&id=3936

Cha Seung Baek said Wednesday that he'd likely opt to become a free agent rather than return to Triple-A Tacoma if he goes unclaimed on waivers for a second time.

Baek is out of options, so the Mariners would have to pass him through waivers in order to retain him and he would then have the right to become a free agent. "I don't know if they want me to stay or go," Baek said. "Maybe I will go to another team. There's no way I want to go back to Tacoma." Baek has already started 65 games and pitched 364 2/3 innings for Tacoma during his eight-year minor league career.

With the addition of Silva and Bedard, I think that ultimately heralded the end of Baek's chance of making the rotation this season, whether as an outright starter or spot starter. I still feel that Baek would make for a passable #5 starter if given the chance but it's hard to argue his case in Seattle.

[Basketball Jesus]

Also another "WTF McLaren?" moment courtesy of Rotoworld:

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... 10&id=4003

Yuniesky Betancourt went 3-for-4 as the Mariners' No. 2 hitter on Wednesday.

It wasn't a fluke, as manager John McLaren indicated before the game that he wanted to take a look at Betancourt there. Betancourt has a .307 career OBP that actually overrates him, considering he's been caught on 15 of his 32 steal attempts, and his swing-at-everything approach wouldn't seem to fit well with the Mariners wanting more steals from leadoff man Ichiro Suzuki. He belongs in the eighth or ninth spot in the order.

[Ex-hippie]

Looks like the M's are in danger of losing Cha-Seung Baek:

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... LB&id=3936

Cha Seung Baek said Wednesday that he'd likely opt to become a free agent rather than return to Triple-A Tacoma if he goes unclaimed on waivers for a second time.

Baek is out of options, so the Mariners would have to pass him through waivers in order to retain him and he would then have the right to become a free agent. "I don't know if they want me to stay or go," Baek said. "Maybe I will go to another team. There's no way I want to go back to Tacoma." Baek has already started 65 games and pitched 364 2/3 innings for Tacoma during his eight-year minor league career.

With the addition of Silva and Bedard, I think that ultimately heralded the end of Baek's chance of making the rotation this season, whether as an outright starter or spot starter. I still feel that Baek would make for a passable #5 starter if given the chance but it's hard to argue his case in Seattle.

I'm not deeply distressed at losing Baek (since "passable #5 starter" seems to be his upside), but I do wish they could have gotten something for him. Maybe they could have put him in the Bedard deal instead of Kam Mickolio or something. As it is, Baek seems destined to go his own way now, and I don't blame him.

[Bulltalk]

I really haven't been paying much attention to spring training yet besides checking the occassional box score. It seems that everytime I look Clement has at least one hit. Is he doing well this spring?

Throw me a hope bone.

[Sweezo]

I'm not deeply distressed at losing Baek (since "passable #5 starter" seems to be his upside), but I do wish they could have gotten something for him. Maybe they could have put him in the Bedard deal instead of Kam Mickolio or something. As it is, Baek seems destined to go his own way now, and I don't blame him.

Which is a shame, because Baek's at the very worse the type of player Bavasi has often seen fit to trade, oh, a Rafael Soriano type player for or give a 1 year, $8 million year deal to suck.

I which he would've been given more of a shot. He wouldn't be a bad #5.

[Basketball Jesus]

Throw me a hope bone.

Well, it is a Hope, and I'd sure like to...well, you know.

Clement's currently hitting 3 for 11 with two doubles. Not bad, not great, but nothing quite like Johjima's who's 4-9 with a .556 slugging%.

[Basketball Jesus]

I'm not deeply distressed at losing Baek (since "passable #5 starter" seems to be his upside), but I do wish they could have gotten something for him. Maybe they could have put him in the Bedard deal instead of Kam Mickolio or something. As it is, Baek seems destined to go his own way now, and I don't blame him.

The thing is, even if

[BlackMamba]

well, how has the preseason been so far?

as in player development, some new faces that might surprise us, etc?

[PhilipNelsonFan]

According to the Seattle Times, Mike Morse looks good this spring and Brandon Morrow didn't get an out in his last relief appearance.

I still say Morse should've been traded years ago...he's f**king tested positive for steroids THREE TIMES already. Not to mention he's a pretty poor fielder. But, as BBJ alluded to, a club starved for offense will seek it out.

Also, I read somewhere that Ichiro is hitless in the spring. He's mailing it in even more than usual this year.

[Ex-hippie]

But Sexson says he's "swinging good." (Apparently he studied at the Derek Zoolander Center.)

[Ex-hippie]

Here is a very good sign regarding our buddy Wily Mo Balentien. I have a good feeling about his future.

[Sweezo]

I still say Morse should've been traded years ago...he's f**king tested positive for steroids THREE TIMES already. Not to mention he's a pretty poor fielder. But, as BBJ alluded to, a club starved for offense will seek it out.

Wasn't one of his suspensions overturned because the positive test was simply residue from prior usage and the normal amount for someone slowly flushing it out of their system?

I'd rather have Morse as a bench bat than Balentien, because I want Balentien getting consistent at bats somewhere.

[Bulltalk]

But Sexson says he's "swinging good." (Apparently he studied at the Derek Zoolander Center.)

[Basketball Jesus]

Updated 25-man time (Hitters):

C: Kenji Johjima

With Jeff Clement and Rob Johnson optioned out, the Johjima/Burke tandem looks set for another season. It really didn

[Ex-hippie]

What do you think the trade market for Reed looks like? I keep reading that the team is likely to keep both Bloomquist and Cairo, and/or carry 12 pitchers -- meaning the team is sure to waste one or probably two roster spots, and Reed is likely the odd man out under just about any scenario. But I hadn't heard there were teams inquiring about his availability. Any chance we can parlay him into something useful or promising?

[Basketball Jesus]

Right now most of it seems more speculation than serious inquiries, but the Mets, Marlins, and Padres have been linked to Reed. I

[NateMustGo]

Right now most of it seems more speculation than serious inquiries, but the Mets, Marlins, and Padres have been linked to Reed. I

[Sweezo]

Looks like the 25 man roster has some surprises, as Baek's the long man out of the pen and Dickey's tossed to AAA. Would've preferred Dickey, but can't say I was excited about losing Baek.

Meanwhile, the bench features Morse, Bloomquist, Cairo, Burke...and Jimerson? And Morse will be platooning with Wilkerson? Despite Wilkerson hitting lefties better than he does righties? Brilliant.

[Ex-hippie]

and Dickey's tossed to AAA.

How is that possible? Do they have to offer him back to Milwaukee or Minnesota or whatever team it was they drafted him from?

and Jimerson?

I was afraid of that. Sigh. I'd much rather have kept Reed or even Greg Norton.

[Sweezo]

How is that possible? Do they have to offer him back to Milwaukee or Minnesota or whatever team it was they drafted him from?

They traded some stiff to Minnesota for Dickey's rights, waived him, and no one claimed him...so he's off to AAA. Yeah...

I don't get what Jimerson brings, unless they realize Morse is so horrible defensively that they know they need a good defensive OF.

I also don't get what Cairo brings. Or Morse. Or hell, anyone on the bench besides Burke. I don't know why you build a bench that can't hit.