tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55730842009-02-21T06:26:42.514-08:00marinerbullpenA website devoted to serious bull on all things regarding the Seattle Mariners.
We invite interesting input: send your thoughts to rickmichels@juno.com - we also invite you to join discussion at thebullpen@yahoogroups.comRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1092955686986194902004-08-19T15:41:00.000-07:002004-08-19T15:48:06.986-07:00I happily retract all comments I made about Ichiro not being worth $11 mil a year.
If the M's had decided not to sign him, I suppose everyone would be saying he was motivated by this being his free agent year. Makes one wonder about those that people do say this about. Freddie Garcia comes to mind, although Freddie was turning it around by last September.
It's a real bummer about Leone's hand.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1092176909969129822004-08-10T15:26:00.000-07:002004-08-10T15:28:29.970-07:00It's strange to me to think that anyone would argue Edgar Martinez does not belong in the Hall of Fame. This is definitely the wrong way to frame the debate.
When Edgar is eligible, other great players will be as well. Sportwriters will vote for those they think are most worthy. Some will win, others wont. But the idea that a hitter as great as Edgar Martinez somehow is not worthy of the Hall ofRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1090305539536977902004-07-19T23:33:00.000-07:002004-07-19T23:38:59.536-07:00If you hadn't noticed by now, I'm doing all my blogging these days over at the caffeinated confines: http://mariners.mostvaluablenetwork.com/. The blog editor is a little more friendly.
Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1088787869708133312004-07-02T10:03:00.000-07:002004-07-02T10:04:42.160-07:00A long post on minor leaguers at the friendly Caffeinated Confines of Most Valuable Network dot com.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1088717919313765052004-07-01T14:33:00.000-07:002004-07-01T14:38:39.313-07:00I checked the baseball scores and saw that Thornton was pitching a shutout after three. This really surprized me. Then I saw it was Blackley pitching the gem (to date). Wow - that was a quick callup. That's great, but not as surprizing as Thornton would be. Blackley is probably more ready than Nageotte.
Nageotte's had a couple bad outings, but we need to remember that these were typical Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1088528946037943402004-06-29T10:06:00.000-07:002004-06-29T10:09:06.036-07:00Great, Great deal. Read my comments in the friendly and Caffeinated Confines.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1088140529721200182004-06-24T22:15:00.000-07:002004-06-24T22:15:29.720-07:00Out of town this weekend, celebrating my parent's 50th. See you all Monday!Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1088096375346912242004-06-24T09:36:00.000-07:002004-06-24T09:59:35.346-07:00Baseball Prospectus offers nifty stats that allow us to compare the runs above replacement value of current major league players to adjusted for major league equivalents for the minor leaguers. This allows us to see whether we would truly be improved if we replaced our current Mariners with guys from Tacoma (from an offensive prospectus).
Let's go position by position, with the big producers inRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1087753394405231872004-06-20T10:42:00.000-07:002004-06-20T10:43:14.406-07:00More postings on Roy Hobbs, and more by me at
the caffeinated confinesRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1087576073447895262004-06-18T09:20:00.000-07:002004-06-18T09:27:53.446-07:00A couple of strong impressions from last nights doubleheader in Tacoma:
Travis Blackley is one poised and impressive dude on the mound. The kid's only 21, but he knows how to pitch.
Greg Jacobs can not only hit, but plays a helluva good right field and has a strong, accurate arm.
more on these and other thoughts at the friendly caffeinated confines of mostvaluablenetwork.comRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1087506786792775812004-06-17T14:00:00.000-07:002004-06-17T14:13:06.793-07:00I'm heading to Tacoma tonight, to get a good look at this Casey Kotchman fella. Anaheim looks to be scary for the next few years: Kotchman, Dallas McPherson (20 homers in AA) and Jeff Mathis, the best catching prospect this side of Joe Mauer. Seattle's AA team is currently facing Anaheim's as well. Tonight would be a good game to catch, if San Antonio was sister city to Seattle instead of Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1087487780988635062004-06-17T08:40:00.000-07:002004-06-17T08:56:20.990-07:00Was anyone else surprized we couldn't hit Doug Davis? But there's something kinda cool about baseball in that a team like the Brewers can totally stink, maybe even for a whole decade, clean house, patch together a group of players from other teams castoffs, and become a contender. Last year it was Kansas City. Sure, it wont last, because the Brewers are owned by Bozo Selig.
Compare what theRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1087485623401375392004-06-17T08:16:00.000-07:002004-06-17T08:20:23.403-07:00There's talk on Leoneforthird (and Jacobsen for first I might add) and on insidethepark.com about keeping Garcia and signing him to a long term contract instead of trading him for lower prospects. The feeling is the M's wont get any major prospects.
It's a good idea. But what's wrong with doing both? Trade Garcia for prospects, low or otherwise, then go after him in the off season. The Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1087328494776277782004-06-15T12:33:00.000-07:002004-06-15T12:43:08.700-07:00Before I get too excited about some of these good Tacoma numbers (like Jamal's .420 or so OBA, and Leone's 17 home runs) there's a fella we all kinda remember named Andy Barkett, a 29 year old first baseman journeyman minor leaguer if we ever saw one, who is currently tearing up the International League for the Toledo Mud Hens. Look at these numbers:
203 at bats: .340/.394/.611 - 13 home runs.
Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086992938002871022004-06-11T15:24:00.000-07:002004-06-11T15:28:58.003-07:00There's been a lively discussion on the Bullpen newsgroup about Winn's abilities as a center fielder. His home run robbing catch of Wednesday has given credence to the idea he isn't such a bad fielder. Add to that his rocket shot that hit the Hitithere Cafe window, and there's talk that perhaps Winn wants to prove to the fans he's the true heir to Ken Griffey.
And there's interesting Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086992559148045352004-06-11T15:20:00.000-07:002004-06-11T15:22:39.146-07:00Luis Ugueto is making some noise down in Tacoma. Moving this light hitting infielder to the outfield seemed utter folly, except to perhaps increase his ability to do utility work on a bench somewhere. But check out these numbers in 139 at bats:
.295/.368/.468
I read somewhere Luis has been working hard on his stroke. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain this kind of production. Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086799000899653812004-06-09T09:23:00.000-07:002004-06-09T09:36:40.900-07:0019 innings against a formidable Astro lineup, and the Mariners give up 1 run - zero if Wilson holds the ball. I'm feeling a little better about the M's now. Sure, we're out of it. But our young pitchers are looking real good right now. Blackley is handling AAA just fine, Madritsch did as well before his oblique strain. And there's always the possibility Rhett Johnson will return, Soriano Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086680766433926272004-06-08T00:43:00.000-07:002004-06-08T00:46:06.433-07:00Boy, was Clint something. I feel much better about dealing Freddie. Imagine making your first start in the majors by striking out Biggio and Berkman each twice. Nothing wrong with this kid's command tonight. The Mariners have something special here. Of course, he'll have his bad outings, where the slider wont find the strike zone, and he'll get lit. But this is one special pitcher we have Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086680577278328992004-06-08T00:19:00.000-07:002004-06-08T00:42:57.276-07:00Sunday, we looked at the famous Moneyball draftees. Today, we take a look at the Milwaukee Brewers' highly regarded triumphirate of top prospects. How do Prince Fielder, Richie Weeks, and Anthony Gwynn stack up?
The Brewers are in a hurry to get these kids to the majors, and after various amounts of time in the mid-A level Midwest League, all have been force fed into the AA Southern League, Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086643845719183832004-06-07T14:28:00.000-07:002004-06-07T14:30:45.720-07:00Mariners pick Matt Tuiasosopo with their first pick. I was just thinking this morning that if my beloved Huskies are going to lose their next great quarterback to baseball, I hope it is the Mariners who take him away.
At any rate, I think this will create interest and boost ticket sales in Everett this summer. Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086586273478428642004-06-06T22:27:00.000-07:002004-06-06T22:31:13.476-07:00More on the Moneyball class of 2001:
A reader asked about the ages of these guys, an important factor when discussing prospects. Basically, they are all 23 except for Teahen, (22) and in AAA, Kiger (24), and Brown will be a ripe 25 this fall. By Mariner prospect standards, these are all babies, but they are ripening quickly.
I'm betting Colamarino will be the best of the bunch.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086585194005726392004-06-06T22:09:00.000-07:002004-06-06T22:14:35.166-07:00Wow! First Boonie hits into the second deck in left field, and now Winn hits the hititherecafe window. Where's the power surge coming from? Bocachica has apparently set Winn free, returning him to left field where he can concentrate on hitting (we can hope). Meanwhile, Boca's getting on base for the M's (.455 OBP), and hit the ball real well a couple times today.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086584302985790262004-06-06T21:56:00.000-07:002004-06-06T22:01:07.513-07:00Well, well, well. Ryan Christenson not only played catcher for the Missions today, but he threw out a baserunner AND hit a home run. Ryan has already matched Ben Davis's home run output for the season. Aaron Taylor pitched a shutout inning in the game as well. It's nice to see guys like these on the mend and on their way back.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086567754109945582004-06-06T17:08:00.000-07:002004-06-06T17:22:34.110-07:00How bad was the Moneyball draft?
David at the U.S.S. Mariner called it a disaster. Derek simply said it was a "bad draft" but suggested it was no worse than what a pure scouting system would have produced.
Was the Moneyball draft really that bad?
Here are my impressions, looking at the very latest info:
Nick Swisher
AAA: .254/.376/.480 - still has a chance at a good MLB career, he Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5573084.post-1086541716777136712004-06-06T10:07:00.000-07:002004-06-06T10:13:23.126-07:00Interesting day on the Mariner farm - Roy Hobbs homers for Tacoma, and former first rounder Ryan Christianson returns to action as a DH for the Missions, going 3 for 5. It will be interesting to see if Ryan will be able to return to catching. What a bonus if so.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17210123062621100680noreply@blogger.com