2014 Seattle Mariners

[kearly]

I'm not sure if the Royals can keep winning every single game but on the off chance they do, Seattle can still make the wildcard by beating out the Tigers.

It just so happens the very next series after this one is in Detroit. Could be a huge series.

After that the M's won't face another team with a winning record until the end of August. They need to take advantage, their schedule in September is probably the toughest in baseball (13 games vs. A's and Angels).

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

When Condor gets backs what are the chances that the Ms will opt to just put him at DH replacing Morales because 1) Kendrys sucks 2) as preventive measure to keep Saunders healthy by taking away opportunities to injure himself in the field.

3) Chavez continues to play well with his opps despite all the 4th OF at best comments, and the Defornia platoon project would still make sense.

Line-Up could be.

CF Austin Jackson
DH Michael Saunders
2B Robinson Cano
3B Kyle Seager
LF Dustin Ackley
C Mike Zunino
RF Endy Chavez
SS Chris Taylor
1B Logan Morrison

w/ Kendrys Morales getting ABs from DH, 1B, and PH situations.
w/ Brad Miller playing Infield Utility role.
w/ Chris Defornia playing Outfield Utility role.
w/ James Jones playing PR role (presumably when rosters expand)

If Saunders continues where he left off before injury, that's a line-up that can compete with the Pitching Staff and Defense M's have.

 

[kearly]

Saunders is a good defensive player so I'm sure he'll play RF. Saunders is going to be a really nice boost for our team.

Chavez has been worth -0.4 WAR this year. He's got negative ratings for hitting, defense, and even base running. He's kind of like Morrison in that he seems like a decent player but the stats don't bear that out. I don't mind him as a reserve outfielder, it's a shame that he's had to see the field quite this much though. I like Saunders a ton, but man he misses way too much time.

Morales has been a disaster. So has Hart. I think at the very least, McClendon needs to get Morales out of the 4 spot until he figures out how to hit again.

Morales and Hart have been so awful, Smoak is predictably bad with no real upside, Jones and Chavez are not really DH material, all these options are pretty bad. Honestly, I don't know if there is a good answer there, but I think the one thing I would like to see is Jesus Montero to get a shot, if only because he's barely played in the majors and is still an unknown.

My guess is that pretty soon you will see Morales and Hart "competing" at DH, I just hope they are moved to the back part of the order if this is to happen. As bad as Morales is, I have to think it is just a brutal slump, he's only 30 years old and is not injured. He was the M's best hitter last season, which is amazing considering how extremely terrible he's been in 2014.

But anyway, I saw this pic at LL and thought it was awesome:

 

[TXHawk]

Saunders is a good defensive player so I'm sure he'll play RF. Saunders is going to be a really nice boost for our team.

Chavez has been worth -0.4 WAR this year. He's got negative ratings for hitting, defense, and even base running. He's kind of like Morrison in that he seems like a decent player but the stats don't bear that out. I don't mind him as a reserve outfielder, it's a shame that he's had to see the field quite this much though. I like Saunders a ton, but man he misses way too much time.

Morales has been a disaster. So has Hart. I think at the very least, McClendon needs to get Morales out of the 4 spot until he figures out how to hit again.

Morales and Hart have been so awful, Smoak is predictably bad with no real upside, Jones and Chavez are not really DH material, all these options are pretty bad. Honestly, I don't know if there is a good answer there, but I think the one thing I would like to see is Jesus Montero to get a shot, if only because he's barely played in the majors and is still an unknown.

My guess is that pretty soon you will see Morales and Hart "competing" at DH, I just hope they are moved to the back part of the order if this is to happen. As bad as Morales is, I have to think it is just a brutal slump, he's only 30 years old and is not injured. He was the M's best hitter last season, which is amazing considering how extremely terrible he's been in 2014.

But anyway, I saw this pic at LL and thought it was awesome:

Morales wasn't hitting worth a damn before he was traded to the Mariners either. I didn't like the trade when it happened and like it even less now. He's a black hole in the middle of the lineup. These aging retreads that Z hopes will recapture their former hitting prowess he keeps bringing in to play DH never seem to work out. If the Mariners can ever get some production out of 1B and DH they might be pretty decent.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I understand Saunders is a plus defender probably our best in the outfield but at this point his Offense matters the most. I don't think his Defense will make that much difference in terms of winning compared to Chavez's defense.

And the fact that Saunders can't stay healthy, it just makes sense to keep him out of the field, no matter how good he is because if he can't play because he's injured what good is he anyhow?

With the DH blackhole, Saunders offense is the most important thing to this ball club and if 90% of his focus is on his bat, that will be a huge boost to making the Offense more consistent.

With Endy, he's neither good or bad, he's been serviceable, and solid in the aspects that he can hit for average (better than most on this team), he can be clutch at times, his defense doesn't hinder the team, and he has tremendous experience which in my opinion makes him one of the leaders in the clubhouse much like a Chris Young. He might not be good per say but still plays with confidence in knowing what he can do and has been consistent about being who he is. I wouldn't mind him batting 7-9 and platooning with Defornia.

Saunders is all-around a great player but if playing defense puts him at greater risk for injury just allow him to focus on his offense and get rid of the black hole that has been the DH position.

 

[IndyHawk]

Just wondering if it would hurt to have Montero try the DH spot...He can't hit any worse than Hart/Morales have..

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

Just wondering if it would hurt to have Montero try the DH spot...He can't hit any worse than Hart/Morales have..

I read a little bit back, the last time that he was recalled, that it was more to do with immaturity and general indifference, more than his ability to hit.

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

What a friggin' catch by Ackley to end the game. M's win again and are now in a tie for the second wildcard spot with Detroit and heading there this weekend.

 

[kearly]

Awesome. We jinxed Morales into a six base night by talking shit about him.

I understand Saunders is a plus defender probably our best in the outfield but at this point his Offense matters the most. I don't think his Defense will make that much difference in terms of winning compared to Chavez's defense.

And the fact that Saunders can't stay healthy, it just makes sense to keep him out of the field, no matter how good he is because if he can't play because he's injured what good is he anyhow?

With the DH blackhole, Saunders offense is the most important thing to this ball club and if 90% of his focus is on his bat, that will be a huge boost to making the Offense more consistent.

With Endy, he's neither good or bad, he's been serviceable, and solid in the aspects that he can hit for average (better than most on this team), he can be clutch at times, his defense doesn't hinder the team, and he has tremendous experience which in my opinion makes him one of the leaders in the clubhouse much like a Chris Young. He might not be good per say but still plays with confidence in knowing what he can do and has been consistent about being who he is. I wouldn't mind him batting 7-9 and platooning with Defornia.

Saunders is all-around a great player but if playing defense puts him at greater risk for injury just allow him to focus on his offense and get rid of the black hole that has been the DH position.

Crazy talk. Saying Saunders shouldn't play the field because of occasional injuries is like John Clayton saying Harvin shouldn't return kickoffs. You can't sit players out of fear for injuries. You play them and hope for the best.

Besides, most of Saunders injuries have occurred in the batting box, not in the field. His current DL and rehab stint was from a check-swing.

When Saunders is healthy he is our 3rd best non-pitcher by WAR (per game) behind Cano and Seager. Gotta have him out there, though obviously the missed games are annoying. Just more reason to get a decent #4 outfielder, which we might have in James Jones potentially.

Chavez has been slightly worse than replacement level, though I will agree that he looks better than his stats, kind of like Morrison. Morrison's line for the season is almost identical to Justin Smoak's, in fact his WRC+ is slightly worse, but he just looks so much more competent and hits so many more line drives. So I guess we all have our bad players that we choose to like.

Given Chavez's age I think he deserves some credit for not being extremely terrible with all the at bats he's had. I just think James Jones would be a marginal upgrade over Chavez as the 4th OF and with Jones being young and low cost for a long time he obviously has more of a future.

 

[Uncle Si]

Smelly... are you pleasantly surprised?

 

[Tical21]

When Condor gets backs what are the chances that the Ms will opt to just put him at DH replacing Morales because 1) Kendrys sucks 2) as preventive measure to keep Saunders healthy by taking away opportunities to injure himself in the field.

3) Chavez continues to play well with his opps despite all the 4th OF at best comments, and the Defornia platoon project would still make sense.

Line-Up could be.

CF Austin Jackson
DH Michael Saunders
2B Robinson Cano
3B Kyle Seager
LF Dustin Ackley
C Mike Zunino
RF Endy Chavez
SS Chris Taylor
1B Logan Morrison

w/ Kendrys Morales getting ABs from DH, 1B, and PH situations.
w/ Brad Miller playing Infield Utility role.
w/ Chris Defornia playing Outfield Utility role.
w/ James Jones playing PR role (presumably when rosters expand)

If Saunders continues where he left off before injury, that's a line-up that can compete with the Pitching Staff and Defense M's have.

So, umm, wait. Give up on Kendrys Morales and replace him with Endy Chavez? I'm sure Endy has a great SPARQ rating. If we want to win big, we have to take some chances. We have to bet that Kendrys is going to turn it around and solidify the middle of our lineup, because if he doesn't, we're as good as dead anyways. I love me some Endy Chavez, but that guy has never in his career been a starting caliber player on a playoff caliber team.

 

[dontbelikethat]

Kyle Seager & Mariners on the front page of ESPN lol.

 

[mbtitleist]

It's been that way the last two days I've been on ESPN during an M's game. We're up 2-0 right now in the 9th, looking for the sweep.

 

[SonicHawk]

SWEEP

 

[Smurf]

Detroit is probably the biggest series this ball club has played in ages.

 

[mbtitleist]

It was nice to see them finally play well at home, they went 8-1 on the home stand.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

It was nice to see them finally play well at home, they went 8-1 on the home stand.

They have to keep it up because September will be brutal.

 

[dumbrabbit]

Yes, but if we continue to have the best pitching in the league, then I can fully guarantee that we will keep winning. We have the offense we need. The pitching/defense is the one that needs to be as consistent as they have. If they do, then playoffs isn't that hard to imagine.

Just my $0.02

 

[Blitzer88]

10 games over .500........................Not bad, not bad at all.

 

[IndyHawk]

Yes, but if we continue to have the best pitching in the league, then I can fully guarantee that we will keep winning. We have the offense we need. The pitching/defense is the one that needs to be as consistent as they have. If they do, then playoffs isn't that hard to imagine.

Just my $0.02

We have enough hitting?Lmao..As long as we get over 5 hits I'm always happy..