Dickey Time is over

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 3:40 PM PST

The TNT Blog says that the M's moved R.A. Dickey off the 40-man today, and he has a right to refuse assignment to the minors in order to become a free agent. The M's also took off Sean White, because I guess they forgot to do it two weeks ago. These moves bring the total to 36 of 40 players on the roster, none of whom are sucky Rule 5 picks by Bavasi.

Wasn't Dickey supposed to be working with Nierko on figuring his knuckler out? Maybe that's not working out so well. Still, guy with no UCL, throwing butterfly pitches while making scary faces... I'm going to miss the guy if he does leave.

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I wanted him to succeed.

Nuts.

One of the few things the previous regime did right was to manipulate the rules to keep him in the org.

by JI on Dec 5, 2008 3:47 PM PST reply actions

Wasn't really all that much of a manipulation

Technically, we traded Jair Fernandez for him. I liked Jair Fernandez, not that he had any place in the organization, what with all the catchers we have.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 3:49 PM PST up reply actions

Sean White, yeah, we... got creative within the rules.

I’d still say they merely followed the letter (if not quite the spirit) of the rules.

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 3:56 PM PST up reply actions

We could still pick Loek van Mil...

then act shocked when it appears that he needs elbow surgery and stuff him on the DL for the majority of the season.

I’d support it.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:21 PM PST up reply actions

Does the Rule 5 draft keep going until nobody makes a pick?

If so, we can fill those four spots for only $200,000.

The “keep player for the whole season” rule really means 90 days on the active roster, so DL time does not count, but the team can split the 90 days over two seasons (the Red Sox did that with an outfielder a few years ago). Sean White was the M’s active roster for something like 60 days, went to the DL for the summer with an “injury,” and then was activated in September.

by G_ on Dec 5, 2008 4:30 PM PST up reply actions

That assumes a lot.

For one, other teams will obviously be picking, so there’s no telling if there’s going to be anything genuinely worth having by the time it comes around to us a second time.

The kind of roster manipulation that would be required in keeping four Rule 5 kids on the roster would be enough to drive someone insane, unless it was readily apparent that the team was going nowhere. I wouldn’t suggest the M’s are making the playoffs, but I’d say they’re closer to doing so than most 101 loss teams are.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:39 PM PST up reply actions

The draft four of them was a joke

by G_ on Dec 5, 2008 4:45 PM PST up reply actions

I've seen crazier propositions.

The internet is serious business.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:46 PM PST up reply actions

I could see the M's taking two

(or taking two but trading one)

by G_ on Dec 5, 2008 4:55 PM PST up reply actions

I've already advocated signing Van Mil.

I think it’s a steal, unless it’s specifically prohibited by Rule 5, uh, rules. I guess he couldn’t spend the requisite amount of time on the active roster, but if DL time doesn’t ‘count’ than yeah, do it!

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 4:32 PM PST up reply actions

One other wrinkle

is that the last amendment to the CBA allowed teams to send DL players to the complex league, with the player’s permission, and not have that time count against the time limit for minor league rehab assignments. When he’s ready to pitch, he can spend some time in Peoria and then a month in the minors before adding him to the active roster (where he would have to stay for 90 days).

by G_ on Dec 5, 2008 4:44 PM PST up reply actions

I think we were the runner-up when he was originally choosing where to sign.

Funny how that works. I also read in the BA chat (where I got a rare question answered) that Halman originally signed with the Twins, but the contract was voided.

If you’re a player out of the Netherlands, odds are you’re going to be a Mariner or a Twin.

If you’re from Italy, Mariners or Cubs.

With South Africa, Royals, Brewers, or Mariners.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:44 PM PST up reply actions

But we got Russia! Woohoo!

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 4:46 PM PST up reply actions

Not true!

The Twins are invading our territory there too, and now they have two rookie league pitchers from Moscow.

It would be awesome if, instead of that team affiliation map of the US that they had going around last year, we did the whole world. It would be an interesting battle for some territories, and Pirates have the sole claim to the Indian subcontinent.

Going over some other countries… China is Yankees or M’s in all the five signings that have been made, and the M’s have a pretty strong hold on Nicaragua lately.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:49 PM PST up reply actions

BOOOOOO!

So the goddamn twinkies took Russia from us?

Yes, we’ve got Nicaragua, and had a grasp on Colombia (although that’s probably changing)…

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 4:54 PM PST up reply actions

Who signed the cricket player off the game show in India?

Or was that just a story I read in the Onion?

by G_ on Dec 5, 2008 4:56 PM PST up reply actions

Pirates.

Two responses up, they signed both the lefty and the righty.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:57 PM PST up reply actions

Disney movie forthcoming

by G_ on Dec 5, 2008 5:02 PM PST up reply actions

"Slumdog Millionaire 2 - 'Electric' Slider"

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 5:09 PM PST up reply actions

I think the Braves beat us out in Colombia

They’ve had a lot of the signings lately. The Indians and the Pirates also had some six-figure signings from there this past period.

Panama and Brazil appear to be up for grabs. The latter has had a surprising number of signings the past few years.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 5:04 PM PST up reply actions

Also...

I find it interesting that, since Baek and Choo, who both turned out to be major leaguers in some capacity, we haven’t touched Korea.

We pretty much abandoned Australia too, but I think JH talked to the scout there about that and the M’s were of the opinion that it was getting overexposed.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 5:06 PM PST up reply actions

Too bad we didn't get Andruw Jones in his prime.

by Wilder. on Dec 7, 2008 8:32 PM PST up reply actions

Best of luck to you, R.A.

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 3:48 PM PST reply actions

DAMMIT LARUE IT'S NOT THE RULE V DRAFT!!!

Although, admittedly, I call it the “RV Draft” for kicks…

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Dec 5, 2008 3:51 PM PST reply actions

I really do think this argument is retarded.

V is the roman numeral for 5. No, there is no roman numeral letters on the keyboard. Get the fuck over it.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Dec 5, 2008 4:32 PM PST up reply actions

In the name of diversity...

I think I’ll call it the Rule 五　Draft.

by EA on Dec 5, 2008 5:48 PM PST up reply actions

Good luck Dickey.

I really wanted you to be good.

by Sec 108 on Dec 5, 2008 4:04 PM PST reply actions

Nooooooooooo :(

I wanted to see him succeed so badly.

by BrianL on Dec 5, 2008 4:24 PM PST reply actions

Win 20 games for the Marlins next year, RA!

Indie.

by .Taylor on Dec 5, 2008 4:38 PM PST reply actions

So, tell me again why we let EOF get claimed off waivers?

by Matthew on Dec 5, 2008 4:41 PM PST reply actions

Perhaps we plan on using our draft picks on 4 major league ready players.

by Robert on Dec 5, 2008 4:44 PM PST up reply actions

The only thing that makes sense is that he's seriously broken.

Which is a possibility.

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 4:47 PM PST up reply actions

Rich Hill-esque, maybe.

Indie.

by .Taylor on Dec 5, 2008 4:47 PM PST up reply actions

His back continues to be a problem.

That could be it, but it still seems like a dumb move. I could’ve predicted that the Braves would’ve picked him up the second he was available, and I have one, maybe two contacts in all of minor league baseball.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Dec 5, 2008 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

Right, the point is that they knew he'd be picked up and didn't care.

I don’t get why they’d think that unless the M’s think he’ll really be healthy again. I think that’s doubtful, but I’m just a guy on the internet. They’ve got doctors and shit.

by marc w on Dec 5, 2008 4:55 PM PST up reply actions

If this were a Bavasi move, I would be 100% convinced that it was sheer incompetence.

Since it’s Z, I’m willing to give benefit of the doubt for now, but even if he’s seriously broken, they have plenty of room on the 40-man so it seems premature to give up on him.

by Matthew on Dec 5, 2008 5:12 PM PST up reply actions