Hot Stove

chasenally?

You're alive?



Frank let you out of his basement?

Seattle has no idea how to build a team for their park. As long as that works it wont work in Sleepless in Seattle. Its a joke. I wonder what the heck is going on there and then I remember oh yea they sighed a 2b to mega money. They thought they were the Yankees of the North

I've never been a Zdurencick fan, but he's done an excellent job putting together the current Mariners team. A GM shouldn't just build his team to maximize success in its home park; it has to succeed on the road, too.

Firstly, that 2b they signed had a very impressive .314/.382/.454 line with 14 hrs and 82 rbis, played outstanding defense, and was the undoubted leader of the team. In Zunino, they have another leader with power and excellent D. 3b Seager is powerful enought to hit 26 hr for them. And if he can hit 26, Nelson Cruz hitting 30 is probable. Austin Jackson gives them needed defense in Safeco's cavernous Cf, and Seth Smith brings his on-base skills and lh extra-base pop to Rf. So, they do have a sound lineup for their park

And their pitching is in even better shape. Hernandez, Iwakuma, T. Walker, and Paxton form one of the most talented front fours in the leauge, and 3 of them throw extremely hard. Rodney, Wilhelmsen, Farquhar, and Medina all form the basis of an excelllent bullpen. So, the M's also have the excellent pitching a solid Safeco team needs.

So, it most likely won't be "sleepless in Seattle." Very likely, it will be division champ or Wild Card team in Seattle. Considering they also have blue chip prospects like Alex Jackson and D.J. Peterson on the way, the M's should be competitive team in Seattle for a while.

Seattle has no idea how to build a team for their park. As long as that works it wont work in Sleepless in Seattle. Its a joke. I wonder what the heck is going on there and then I remember oh yea they sighed a 2b to mega money. They thought they were the Yankees of the North

I've been saying this for years. They keep getting right handed power hitters who all fail in Safeco!

I've been saying this for years. They keep getting right handed power hitters who all fail in Safeco!

Not really. First of all, right-handed power hitters can succeed playing in Safeco. Sexson, Beltre and Guillen all did; Sexson hit 30 playing there twice. Zunino hit 22 last year, and his power is just developing. Nelson Cruz should hit more than that. Secondly, they're more weighted with left-handed hitters with power like Cano, Seager, Smith, and Morrison.

And as I said in my last post, the M's certainly have developed a strong pitching staff for Safeco. Considering all that, Chase and Steve's indictments of the M's aren't accurate.

Jack Z does have a lousy history of team building in Seattle but for 2015 the Mariners have a good chance to win their division and even a Pennant.

They are only really relying on right handed power hitters in two of their lineup spots in Cruz and Zunino, although every team needs at least a little bit of that. This group's best hitters are left-handed: Cano, Seager to complement some valuable lesser players like Smith and Miller.

Thanks, TN. That's exactly what I said in my post above:

Secondly, they're more weighted with left-handed hitters with power like Cano, Seager, Smith, and Morrison.

They are only really relying on right handed power hitters in two of their lineup spots in Cruz and Zunino, although every team needs at least a little bit of that. This group's best hitters are left-handed: Cano, Seager to complement some valuable lesser players like Smith and Miller.

Don't get me wrong, I like what they've done for this year and I'm excited for the season. I also think they have a playoff caliber team. OTOH, I do think Cruz will be one of the big free agent busts of the year.

chasenally?

You're alive?



Frank let you out of his basement?

My Keepers are about to start.

I still live with Frank as he doesn't charge rent. There is however a hole in the shower wall and I cant figure out why he hasn't fixed it yet. I have told him about it many times.

I have been following my throwback SOM teams much more than real MLB teams. Is there any chance Brandon Moss will have a good year in Cleveland? Can either Nick Swisher or David Murphy be of any value? I think Jason Kipnis will rebound and hopefully Michael Bourn.

What will Ichiro Suzuki do in Miami? Would you like to have Ichiro as maybe the 3, 4 or 5th outfielder on your favorite MLB team?