12/11/13 Errata

Did you know:

Justin Smoak DESTROYED right-handers last year? It’s true. 134 wRC+ against last year and it might not be a fluke. Smoak has generally hit right-handers better than lefties. Sure, he had an even split in 2010 and the trend was reversed during his bizarre 2012. But, generally speaking, the platoon designation on Smoak could be appropriately applied. He could be a valuable player if deployed correctly.

It is time to stop thinking of Justin as a player who has a chance to ‘grow into his potential.’ Continuing to do this does both him and his team a disservice.

Deploy Smoak as the left-handed half of a platoon and your team could be cooking with some seriously undervalued gas.

::smug:: Well, it’s now obvious that the Mariners have learned their lesson about deploying resources appropriately. When it came to Mike Carp, they watched the BoSox turn a puzzling player into a key cog of a championship machine when they gave him a niche. But the cleats are on the other foot now because the Mariners have acquired Logan Morrison to platoon with Justi...huh?

What? Logan Morrison has the same platoon split? Only not as good against righties? And still terrible against lefties?

Oh.

Well crapbaskets.

 

AhCHOO!

Erryone’s saying, “Don’t sign Choo! 7 years, $140 mil. Is way too expensive!” ::fake swoon::

Look gobbledonkeys. Sign Choo, overpay him even, and don’t look back.

1)      The Mariners still have plenty of money to spend. Overpaying Choo would not hinder them financially now or in the future.

2)      What else are they going to spend it on? Three Brad Hawpes and a Jon Garland? You’ll still have plenty of room to extend Seager.

3)      Dude is money at the plate. He projects as a 130 wRC+ for next year and has a skillset that ages well.

4)      He sure wouldn’t be blocking anybody. We have no outfielders in the Majors OR the Minors. You want Abe Almonte holding down a line-up spot for a pennant race? Depend on Saunders or Ackley?

Sign Shin-Soo Choo.

Additional moves I would pursue as of today:

• Trade Nick Franklin for Country Breakfast (Alternatively, find a platoon partner for LoMo)

• Trade Erasmo Ramirez for Colby Rasmus

• Sign Tanaka
• Find a legitimate alternative to Zunino (???)

That gives us field of:

		2014 wRC+ (projected)
Ca	Zunino	90
1B	Butler	114
2B	Cano	131
3B	Seager	111
SS	Miller	104
LF	Choo	130
CF	Rasmus	110
RF	Hart	118
DH	LoMo	109

That's a lot of triple-digits in there. Tell me we couldn't go to war in the AL West with that.

Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano - Seattle Mariner

Heh. Heh heh. Hehahahaha. HAAAhaahhahahahah. HAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!11!!1!

Seriously, screw those out there that are wringing their hands at the cost.
::mockingly whiny:: "Nine years! $240 Million." ::Pretends to swoon::

1) It ain't your money. Why do you care?

2) It doesn't hinder their acquiring additional resources. They could, quite literally, make FOUR MORE of these blockbuster contracts THIS YEAR and still be fine financially. There is no salary cap. They have money coming out of their ears.

3) If Robinson gets bad as he gets older then you trade him or cut him and eat the money. It's been done MANY times before. That's how it GOES.

4) This move legitimizes the organization. Without hyperbole. They weren't a legitimate baseball club before. One day later, they are.

This is cause for celebration. Celebrate.

Domino Effect
Franklin will be moved as part of a trade package for a legit hitting outfielder. Giancarlo, I'm still looking at you.

Other free agents are about to be signed. Catcher, DH, SP, RP, and OF. The team missed out on the catcher train so there are only dregs left. That means that a minor trade for a catcher must be in discussion. Nothing that would block Zunino for a long time, just a guy that'll let him develop.

OMG

This is awesome. Welcome to Seattle, Robinson. Welcome back, modicum of hope. I've missed you.