Spring Training Talk

[Basketball Jesus]

Don’t know about you guys, but I’m pumped about the upcoming season…even more so that I got the MLB app for my iPhone and can actually follow M’s games this year without paying out my ass…

So far, the news of the day seems to be the sudden decline in OF depth and Feierabend’s season-ending injury.

[Ex-hippie]

I do feel sorry for Feierabend, who seems like a decent fellow and the kind of guy I can root for. From the team's perspective, I guess this is why they brought in Jason Vargas and Garret Olson and Chris Seddon, and of course they still have RRS and Rohrbaugh in tow. Already, Feierabend was at risk of getting lost in the shuffle of back-of-the-rotation lefties, and he probably needed to have a strong year to get back into the team's plans. Next year he'll be an afterthought, or possibly in someone else's camp. Maybe we'll see him resurface somewhere a la Travis Blackley or Bobby Livingston.

As for the outfielders, I'm just glad they didn't lose Mike Wilson. I was surprised they cut him because he was just starting to look like he could maybe, possibly, potentially, be a late bloomer and a future contributor.

[Sweezo]

Don’t know about you guys, but I’m pumped about the upcoming season…even more so that I got the MLB app for my iPhone and can actually follow M’s games this year without paying out my ass…

Which app is that?

So far, the news of the day seems to be the sudden decline in OF depth and Feierabend’s season-ending injury.

Neither of which seem particularly startling.

I think the position I am most interested in watching is the battle for who takes the first base gig. Certainly Branyan will be the primary first baseman, but he's going to be platooned. Shelton's apparently looked good in two games so far, not because he's hit the ball with a little power, but also sounds like he knows how to take a pitch and just get on base. Nothing fancy, really.

I also hope Cedeno gets a fair shot to unset Yuni.

[Basketball Jesus]

The MLB at-bat app. This is my first time with the app but I've heard from people that had last year's version that it's just amazing.

The one thing I'm really interested in seeing is how the rotation shapes up. Zduriencik and Wakawakawaka have no ties to Washburn and Silva. Yeah, I know outright releases aren’t going to happen but it wouldn’t surprise me to see either buried on the depth chart behind some of the homegrown talent. This new group is all about maximizing potential.

[Sweezo]

While I see your point about the rotation, at this point i think i disagree. I think much of the reason for improving the outfield defense was that it makes the flyball pitchers look good, which in turn can create the appearance of value for other teams looking to upgrade their rotation. Realistically, we're stuck with Silva, but if Washburn appears to have turned the corner some idiot might take him off our hands during the season.

[Ex-hippie]

I know, sunk costs and all that, but I have to believe the team will do everything in its power to rehabilitate everyone's trade value. If Washburn is even half-decent -- not fully decent, just half-decent -- then I can see a contending team looking for a healthy 5th starter paying his salary for half a year. That's not unreasonable. Silva might look completely untradeable, but if he can be competent for a season, then in a year we're looking at 2 years left, $24 million total, and if the M's can take back another contract that's equally bad but a slightly better fit on the roster, then who knows what can happen.

If Washburn and Batista completely flop during the season, then yeah, the team can and should do to them what it did to Vidro and Sexson last year. (And Scott Spiezio and Rich Aurilia and Quinton McCracken and many other Bavasi-era acquisitions.) Not Silva, though. Not yet.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

While I see your point about the rotation, at this point i think i disagree. I think much of the reason for improving the outfield defense was that it makes the flyball pitchers look good, which in turn can create the appearance of value for other teams looking to upgrade their rotation. Realistically, we're stuck with Silva, but if Washburn appears to have turned the corner some idiot might take him off our hands during the season.

This. If we're to believe that the Rockies almost traded one of their top five prospects for Jarrod Washburn, then his value (inflated as it may be) is not lost on the league.

Feierabend's injury sucks, but the Mariners are obviously exploring every option available. I have a tryout for a bullpen spot on Friday; wish me luck.

[Bulltalk]

What's the gameplan for Bedard this year? Trade him for prospects before the deadline? Attempt to resign him at some point? Keep him throughout the year?

What might he be worth on the trade market if he remains healthy and pitches well as the season progresses? What kind of compensation do we get if he gets signed as a FA after this season by another team?

[Ex-hippie]

I guess the gameplan for Bedard is the same as for everyone else: wait and see. A lot of it has to do with how the younger pitchers develop. If Felix, Morrow and RRS become a good 1-2-3, and one or more of those soft-tossing lefties become a decent #4, and Aumont, Ramirez and Pineda dominate in the low minors, maybe the resources are best deployed elsewhere.

If Bedard dominates, the team struggles and it looks like they can't re-sign him, the absolute best-case scenario is repeating the Sabathia trade from last year. Cleveland got a grade-A prospect, Matt Laporta, for a rental. Of course, Zduriencik was on the other side of that trade. But at least he can argue with a straight face that the precedent has been set. More realistically, the best we can hope for would probably be someone along the lines of, oh I don't know, Adam Jones.

[Sweezo]

For those in the region, the M's are on FSN tonight.

Olson is striking people out left and right...who I've never heard of. That's a nifty looking curve he has against lefties.

Snelling's up for AUS, and he looks like he discovered the joy of Krispy Kremes since he left Seattle. Jesus.

EDIT: Speaking of weight issues...Betancourt looks like he's in the exact same shape as last year. Go Cedeno, go.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

Bedard is lookin good so far this spring training. Regarding what to do with him; If we suck, try to deal him. If we're contending (somehow), hold on.

Olson has always had good stuff, he just couldn't put it all together over a stretch of time. I really do like giving the kid a chance though.

Yunnie sucks. Go Cedeno.

[Ex-hippie]

Either 3 years and $11 million (with 2012 buyout) or 4 years and $15 million left for Yuni. Sigh.

Say... it's not any more bizarre if a team outright releases a player with 3 years and $11 million left than if it releases a player with 1 year and $11 million left (Sexson, Richie)... right?

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Serious question: Does anyone really, truly care about the World Baseball Classic? I have zero desire to watch any of the games.

[Ex-hippie]

Serious question: Does anyone really, truly care about the World Baseball Classic? I have zero desire to watch any of the games.

*crickets chirping for three days*

*tumbleweed rolling down the thread*

I think that means we all agree...

[Basketball Jesus]

It was awesome to see Aumont and Halman and guys that aren't tied to a Major League team (like all the Cubans and some of the Japanese players). If you really like baseball, you'll find things to like about it.

[Sweezo]

What Aumont did was absolutely disgusting. It's the kind of thing that makes you stop thinking rationally about a prospect...

[BlackMamba]

well, félix had a huge game during the baseball world classic.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

In case anyone is still watching the WBC, Carlos Silva is in midseason form. Five runs allowed in one-third of an inning against a Korean team whose only major leaguer is...Shin-Soo Choo.

Bill Bavasi can go die in a fire.

[BlackMamba]

lol, silva blew it for venezuela.