Mariners in 2006

[ichiro262]

I know this thread has already been done a couple of times, but I want to know what people are thinking right now. As I listen to people talk about 2006 playoff teams, and especially the AL West, the Mariners are always at the bottom of the barrel. I know that the team has had two nightmare seasons in a row, but they are also three years removed from playoff contension, and a few more from the best record in the league. I know there are a lot of big ifs in the lineup this year, but I am still expecting a big turnaround. What do you guys think?

[johnny]

I know this thread has already been done a couple of times, but I want to know what people are thinking right now. As I listen to people talk about 2006 playoff teams, and especially the AL West, the Mariners are always at the bottom of the barrel. I know that the team has had two nightmare seasons in a row, but they are also three years removed from playoff contension, and a few more from the best record in the league. I know there are a lot of big ifs in the lineup this year, but I am still expecting a big turnaround. What do you guys think?

It's pitchers and catchers so I am sooo positive. Now come August I may have had an adjustment to my 'tude. So far, so good.

[ichiro262]

I should have added this to the intro, but I also want to know what you guys think about Johjima. Right now, everything I'm hearing is fantastic. One thing that's always confused me though is that they keep asking how he is going to communicate with pitchers -- when at least half of the catchers in the MLB are hispanic, and there's no guarantee that they speak english!!!

[SABR Matt]

I think Seattle will come back to respectibility this year...the big question mark is how Hargrove will manage his roster...if he's starting Bloomquist/Vina at second for long or failing to utilize Foppert (who looked outstanding in his first spring start) or Nageotte for a big chunk of the year...we may not win as many as we'd like...but if we can get the kids into roles with which they're comfortable and get them learning, we're a .500+ (maybe even .530) team now and a contender next year.

[johnny]

I should have added this to the intro, but I also want to know what you guys think about Johjima. Right now, everything I'm hearing is fantastic. One thing that's always confused me though is that they keep asking how he is going to communicate with pitchers -- when at least half of the catchers in the MLB are hispanic, and there's no guarantee that they speak english!!!

this is a great article on Johjima and may help give us all a warm and fuzzy on him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2356196&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2

[SABR Matt]

Johjima is IMHO a near-lock to win ROTY this year and has a decent shot of making the all-star team as the second stringer behind Varitek (just because catching is so darned thin in the AL...if the fans vote for Pudge I'm gonna be pissed)...I think we'll all be very happy with him offensively and defensively.

[johnny]

Johjima is IMHO a near-lock to win ROTY this year and has a decent shot of making the all-star team as the second stringer behind Varitek (just because catching is so darned thin in the AL...if the fans vote for Pudge I'm gonna be pissed)...I think we'll all be very happy with him offensively and defensively.

Sweet Sabr Matt.
Quick question: In your SABR opinion who was a better all time M second baseman Boone or Reynolds?

[SABR Matt]

Reynolds...and it's not particularly close. Boone didn't hang around in Seattle (productively) long enough to really amount to all that much more than a footnote in franchise history. Harold Reynolds was a very solid all around player for a number of years in Seattle...

The second base and third base positions are pretty weak overall if you go back and look through our history...it's really...really...sad that the best third baseman we've ever had was among the worst fielders and hitters ever to play third base as their primary position for more than 800 games (I refer to Jim Presley...GUH!!).

[johnny]

Reynolds...and it's not particularly close. Boone didn't hang around in Seattle (productively) long enough to really amount to all that much more than a footnote in franchise history. Harold Reynolds was a very solid all around player for a number of years in Seattle...

The second base and third base positions are pretty weak overall if you go back and look through our history...it's really...really...sad that the best third baseman we've ever had was among the worst fielders and hitters ever to play third base as their primary position for more than 800 games (I refer to Jim Presley...GUH!!).

jim presley!...the same jim presley who who kept edgar down on the farm or on the bench a couple seasons too long.
daaaaaammmmmnnnnn :grouchy :grouchy :grouchy

[Rennie Stennett]

Boone

Didn't Pinella trade Boone in like '93 because he (Boone) refused to stop swingin' for the fence all the time ? It's funny that he never stopped swinging for the fences. It didn't hurt him when he was on the juice and had a couple of big years. Hitting behind Edgar didn't hurt much either. When Boone struggled the past couple of years, you think he would shorten up, go the other way and go up the middle, more. His should have used his two strike stance all the time. The final chuckle is when he quit this year unless he could play every day at second base. What a team player.

I thought Reynolds was still a good ballplayer when the M's let him go, somewhat premature.

I best game I watched Jim Presley play was the one he hit a homer in the eighth to tie the game and he hit another in like the ninth or tenth to win it.
Presley often complained of the Kingdome Surface (basically playing on concrete) for his re-occuring knee problems.

[SABR Matt]

jim presley!...the same jim presley who who kept edgar down on the farm or on the bench a couple seasons too long.
daaaaaammmmmnnnnn :grouchy :grouchy :grouchy

Yep...among third basemen with at least 800 games played at third, Presley is 147th of 148 by PCA (my method for rating and ranking players)...OWCH!!! The only guy he's ahead of is Ken Reitz...LOL

[papa~smurf]

I know this thread has already been done a couple of times, but I want to know what people are thinking right now. As I listen to people talk about 2006 playoff teams, and especially the AL West, the Mariners are always at the bottom of the barrel. I know that the team has had two nightmare seasons in a row, but they are also three years removed from playoff contension, and a few more from the best record in the league. I know there are a lot of big ifs in the lineup this year, but I am still expecting a big turnaround. What do you guys think?

The way I see it, this will be an up year, but our chance to get back into the playoffs is next year. Some things we have to look forward to this years is a better hitting Beltre, Reed, Ichiro, and a catcher, a very complete bullpen with the addition of Soriano, more power from Jojima and Everett, and a better pitching Meche and Pineiro, as well as King Felix. I have a good feeling about .500, but I don't think playoffs will come till next year when Jojima has gotten used to American pitching, Jeremy, Morse, Lopez, Betancourt, and Felix will be in their prime, Sexon, Beltre, Ichiro, Ibanez, and the bullpen can still produce the consistancy, and we can aquire some key off-season pick-ups. I would like to belive that we can do it this year, but I'm skeptical.

[Rennie Stennett]

Moves

Greg Dobbs and Mike Morse Cut. Rene Rivera and Roberto Petagine keepers. Chris Snelling to 60 day DL.