What do you think of Willie Bloomquist?

[Mariner Fan]

Willie Bloomquist just signed for two years.

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060117&content_id=1297126&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Blogs hate him. We love Mark McLemore but hate Willie? Every team needs a utility player that can fill in like he does.

[leecemark]

--Willie is an okay utility man. Nothing more.

[Edgartohof]

I like him. He's not the greatest player out there, but he has spent the last 4 years filling up holes for the Mariner's, without complaining (as far as I know). He can play multiple positions, which is very handy, and he is very good on the bases - he's 34/39 over the last 4 years, and went 14/15 last seasons! I'd love to see him get more playing time. I'd like to see him play everyday - maybe get the starting 2B role this season, or at least split it half time with Lopez, which would still allow him to be our utility guy. I'm glad we signed him, and I hope everything works out!

[johnny]

Willie-Local Boy makes Kinda Good...

If he can play half the ball McLamore played then I say keep 'em 'til Robert Swift proves he is a legit first round pick and not a 7 ft stiff...but that is another blog!
Willie hopefully understands his role at this point.

[Edgartohof]

'til Robert Swift proves he is a legit first round pick and not a 7 ft stiff...but that is another blog!

Didn't you see him the other night, when he shoved a couple dunks down Shaq's throat? Last year, he looked absolutely lost out there, but this year, he's starting to pick it up. He's still a ways away from starting, but he's picking it up pretty quickly. Anyways, enough of that.

[Zito75]

Love the guy... Then again, we hail from the same home town, so maybe I'm a little bias. He could start stealing some bases, that'd increase his value.

[KillaK]

it's tough to get too excited when he's out there, but he's done a helluva lot better job than alot of the stiffs they've picked up recently (spezieo, cirillo, boonie, olivo, pokey, etc)

[whatlyahave]

He plays hard. As a fan, I really appreciate that. He was having a good season last year before he got hurt, or at least a good stretch. Great guy to have on the bench.

[KillaK]

Question: What does this mean for my main man Mike ("Modest" or "12 Ounce" or "Mighty") Morse? (yeah i know, lame nicknames, I tried) With that kind of contract, the M's seem really committed to keeping Willie as the main utility infielder. Does this mean Morse toils as a backup's backup, or do they move him to OF (Where they already are pretty deep with Ichiro, Reed, Ibanez, Lawton, Snelling and technically Everett, not to mention Shin Soo Chin and Adam Jones waiting in the wings)

[Edgartohof]

Question: What does this mean for my main man Mike ("Modest" or "12 Ounce" or "Mighty") Morse? (yeah i know, lame nicknames, I tried) With that kind of contract, the M's seem really committed to keeping Willie as the main utility infielder. Does this mean Morse toils as a backup's backup, or do they move him to OF (Where they already are pretty deep with Ichiro, Reed, Ibanez, Lawton, Snelling and technically Everett, not to mention Shin Soo Chin and Adam Jones waiting in the wings)

We'll probably see him as a backup backup outfielder last year - and to pinch hit. He couldn't cut it at SS, and with Betancourt there, the only place he can go is to the OF.

Is Snelling still with us? He hasn't done anything, with all of his injuries - I'd say no to him. And we'll see who's better come spring training in the OF - Everett or Morse, but I could see Morse out there ahead of Everett.

[ichiro262]

I like Bloomquist for what he is -- a solid, all-out backup. He's got pretty good defensive skills and he can run a little bit too. Every team needs a guy like him.

[Naliamegod]

A player who's value is sadly so overrated by casual fans that his actual usefulness is easily forgotten.

[Edgartohof]

A player who's value is sadly so overrated by casual fans that his actual usefulness is easily forgotten.

Well do we have anyone better to do his job? Do we have anyone else who can play anywhere in the infield, or outfield on moments notice? Not that I can recall.

No one here is saying that he's an amazing player, but we do say that he has decent skills, and plays with determination. We like that he is willing to go out there day after day, even when he doesn't know where he is going to play, or if he is going to play at all, and do it to the best of his abilities.

[Mariner Fan]

Well said!

[Rennie Stennett]

Bloomquist

I love the way Bloomquist plays. He plays hard all the time. He should get plenty of playing time. On the depth chart, the M's have him:

#3 in center behind Reed and Lawton. #2 at third behind Beltre. #3 at short behind Betancourt and Morse. #2 at second hehind Lopez and #2 at first behind Sexton. I hope he continues where he left off last year.