Morrow's Done as a Starter?
by Matthew on Mar 29, 2009 11:45 AM PDT
in Seattle Mariners News, Awful
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PrintBig news out of camp. Moments ago, I spoke to Brandon Morrow after he'd thrown a bullpen session and he told me (and Shannon Drayer and Tim Booth of AP) that he plans to be a full-time closer from now on. Not just this month, not just this season. For good.
This just doesn't make any sense. None. Zero. Sure he was having some forearm issues, but unless there is a lot more to the medical side that we are not getting (possible), then this is just plain baffling.
"I feel good about it,'' [Morrow] said. "I feel back home.''
This also doesn't make sense. Morrow had been on record as wanting to start for a long time. What gives here?
If this were under Bavasi's tenure, I think our first thoughts would be that this is a knee-jerk reaction to the bullpen looking rocky out of Spring Training. But, we know the current front office wants Morrow in the rotation. Just a week or so ago they said that Morrow would be starting games somewhere for sure, whether it be with Seattle if his arm healed in time, or with Tacoma if it didn't. And now comes this?
Well, if you go by the context that Geoff Baker builds, this decision was Morrow's. I have to question a player telling the team where he can be used so the team has to be at least malleable to the idea, which irks me. This is not good for the team. This is another substantial blow to the team's ceiling coming mere hours after the news on Jeff Clement. Also, Tyler Walker was released.
The 2009 Mariners have gotten a lot worse today. Substantially worse. And what's most troubling is that the blight of bad news today is centering on two of the biggest pieces for future success.
Sure am glad we signed Josh Fields now...
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I was hoping I would never have to say this again but
LET’S BOMB SAFECO
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
I will gladly transport myself to Seattle to assist with such an event
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Just like cutting down a tree- you have to fire the bomb in a leeward direction FROM Qwest.
Also wait until there’s a nice southerly
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
*northerly
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Actually do the exact opposite of that
Fire the bomb in a windward direction from the Safeco Field Parking Garage
Wait until there’s a nice northerly
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Also why the fuck did we release Tyler Walker?
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Wonder what music he'll pick to enter from the bullpen.
Maybe the music from the Tim Lincecum MLB 2k9 commercial would be fitting.
I fucking hate you Mariners
This has 0 impact on our ability to get Strasburg
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
I have a theory
But it’ll take 2000 words to explain. And probably won’t make any sense. So I’ll just sit happy in my little bubble of ignorant bliss.
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Mar 29, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
We can package Morrow and Clement together!
Yay!
I cannot wait for our pick this year to suffer Carlos Beltran disease 4.3 seconds after he signs a contract.
My original comment was suggesting that we trade Clement, Morrow and Fields for Lincecum
but I didn’t want to kick the fallen.
That's the other possible explanation
But I’m 99% sure I don’t want anything to do with any trade involving Clement and Morrow unless it somehow involves Albert Pujols and Colby Rasmus
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
I would normally agree about it being backwards management to let the player decide his role...
…but I wonder how much of an issue Morrow’s diabetes is. If he’s worried that he can’t control his blood sugar, that could be a huge distraction for him and make him less effective as a starter (to what extent I have no idea.)
Still, it seems like the best course of action would have been to tell Morrow that we’d really like to have him as a starter, so spend a couple of months in Tacoma to stretch out and see how comfortable you feel and if you just can’t get comfortable, then we’ll consider putting you back into the bullpen.
Does anyone know how bad Morrow's diabetes is?
Cutler can play a full NFL game without issues. Adam Morrison was fine in College playing a full game.
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Mar 29, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Morrow knows better than anyone else, presumably
This seems like a somewhat different situation for Morrow than for Cutler. Suppose that Cutler was drafted with the intention of playing a more physically demanding position, but then things temporarily changed and he got to play a less physically demanding position. After playing the easier position, he might notice that he feels capable of doing a lot more and the idea of switching back to the more demanding position may be somewhat daunting.
To me, the bottom line is that we’re not even having this discussion if the Mariners had kept Morrow a starter from the very beginning and been patient working him through the minors. Having introduced him to a different role seems to have completely changed the way he looks at his career.
Speculation.
He pitched out of the bullpen in college you know. It’s not like it was a foreign concept to him until the Mariners did it.
Of course it's speculation
It’s not a completely foreign concept that he could start, but the conventional wisdom is that everything in major league baseball is much harder in the minors, let alone in college. Regardless of how you might feel about that conventional wisdom, he’s surely heard that more than once. His personal experience only reinforces this, considering how many runs he’s allowed as a starter as compared to as a reliever. He chose the role where he felt like he’s had more success and probably feels like there’s less uncertainty as a closer.
What's so hard to understand, Matthew?
Morrow is 25 years old and is probably just as unsure of what he wants to do with his life as the rest of the 25-year-olds in the world. That he got comfortable in his two years in the pen is very easy to understand, too. I practically abhor my job right now, but I’m very good at it, and I’ve been doing it for two years. Sometimes people stick with what they know they’re very good at instead of trying out something that they aren’t sure about.
I don’t find Morrow’s quick change of heart to be surprising at all. He tried starting, had an immediate injury setback, and realized he could make just as much money closing without all the stress on his arm and brain. Nothing to see here other than Bavasi’s stupidity coming back to haunt us yet again. Had we groomed him to be a starter from the get-go, none of this would be a concern. But Morrow has spent two full years in the big leagues as a reliever, and he has found his comfort zone there. He could have had a comfort zone starting, but we’ll never know since the organization mishandled him gravely from the start.
No.
Closers do not make just as much money. Look at this winter for example. K-Rod got half of what he thought he was going to get, Fuentes got just 2 years and 8 million per.
No he did not have an immediate injury setback.
No he did not spend two full years in the big leagues as a reliever.
Who cares though?
He’s a 25 year old under club control for another 5 years. His opinion should be a non-factor, or at least the organization should have the right to say “We’re going to try you in the rotation next year and if it’s really that bad we’ll move you back to the bullpen”
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
And fuck these officials in the Louisville/Michigan St. game..suck on a donkey penis.
I hate today.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Is that a symbol of our recent draft history?
I fucking hate you Mariners
by kentroyals5 on Mar 29, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
This is, in order,
my morning, our last three years’ first rounders, the season, future seasons, my enthusiasm for the new FO, my hope of passing the Angels next year… I’m missing a few things. Fuck this team.
by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 29, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Think about this: Miguel Batista wears panties
It could be true. Life is silly like that.
Everyone here is reacting with such alarm but we should understand that nothing is ever done – for good. Once a cookie crumbles, does not mean it dies.
We need a closer and no one stepped up. This is going to be great for us. All of us are uncertain about the bullpen and closer. Let’s move onwards and upwards.
The reality of this is, he is not a natural born starter. That will take time. Let’s have some short term pain for long term gain.
And remember, diabetes will be managed in our lifetime. In the meantime, don’t eat the aspartame and splenda.
Godspeed.
"short term pain for long term gain" = watching him be a sort of average starter for a couple years knowing that he has ace potential
This is indisputably short term gain for long term pain.
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Is this realy happening.
Or am i stuck in some weird Bavasi flashback dream
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
I blame Mark Lowe
He couldn’t just pitch well this Spring could he?
How does this affect our projected win total this season...Maybe another top 6 or 7 pick for next year?
I fucking hate you Mariners
So the only rational explanation offered for this move is the Morrow as a struggling diabetic story
which may well be valid. But what I keep thinking is that Morrow was taken over Lincecum because of health concerns. What the fuck? I mean, I know it’s old news to knock Bavasi and all that, but the diabetes cannot have been a secret. If a guy really can’t start on account of an autoimmune disorder why the fuck do you take him over another guy with better stuff and a hypothetical injury? You don’t. Even Bavasi wouldn’t. They’re lying,
by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 29, 2009 12:20 PM PDT reply actions
As was the fact that Morrow was only a starter for about half of his games in college.
Due to concerns about his shoulder and an injury in college.
This is one “I told you so!” I really wanted to be wrong about…
This signature space for rent.
by PositivePaul on Mar 29, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
So does RRS start now?
If it’s Batista someone is going to die.
I'd be shocked if it's Batista
It has to be RRS
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
It's RRS.
That’s been known ever since it was clear that Morrow wasn’t going to make the rotation out of ST
Please just be jumping the gun Morrow...
His ceiling is high and I’ve liked Morrow from draft day I know the FO/Coaches can’t really affect his decision to close now but can somebody talk some sense into him?
I’m a sad panda today…
You got slurved bitch.
Annnnnnnnnd normal Mariner fandom resumes once more.
IT’S MARINER MELTDOWN TIME IN MY BEDROOM.
I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.
by EnglishMariner on Mar 29, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions
Time to listen to power ballads all day now...
And I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
Its time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever…
How fitting…
You got slurved bitch.
I agree, this is been an all-around terrible day for Mariners baseball
But I don’t think we’ve gotten to the point where listening to REO Speedwagon is a valid option.
Lord knows I hope we never get to that point.
I get the feeling that this is more of a health issue that more serious than something that would effect his playing ability
I don’t think this team lets him do such a long term switch without being put in a situation where they have no choice but to let him move.This blows but I doubt there was anything the FO could do about this in particular.
Wish we were.
I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.
by EnglishMariner on Mar 29, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
This worked out well
The pup that laughs when you're down on your luck.
by Scrappy the Scapegoat on Mar 29, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions
Good to know you haven't left us!
This signature space for rent.
by PositivePaul on Mar 29, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Searching for silver lining...
Precursor to a trade maybe? Clement, Wlad, Yuni going away for a solid RH starter? I’m grasping at straws here, but I really want to think there’s a way this turns into just a bad idea from a horrible one.
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.
I'm sure another club would be eager to trade a prized asset for our junk.
by JI on Mar 29, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Just trying to cope...
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.
by BrettJMiller on Mar 29, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I am going to inject cyanide into my eyeballs, rip them out, and throw them at whoever is responsible for this
by Graham MacAree on Mar 29, 2009 1:32 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
What will you do when Clement is traded?
I fucking hate you Mariners
I disagree...
I have to question a player telling the team where he can be used so the team has to be at least malleable to the idea, which irks me.
I think this is a bit on the harsh side to assume that the organization is just capitulating to Morrow’s incessant whining here. I doubt that anyone came to an easy decision here.
As sad as losing him as a starter is….Viva awesome closer!
That's not what Jeff was assuming.
He’s saying that the team wouldn’t just bow to Morrow, so they must be somewhat OK with the idea of using him as a reliever.
Thank god. This whole "us being smart and happy" thing was starting to feel too weird.
The warm familiar blanket of fail has returned.
You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.
by Goose on Mar 29, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Silver lining?
Morrow as a closer doesn’t particularly hurt his trade value. He will probably be better than Putz. It just hurts the fuck out of our starting pitcher depth. We don’t have any righties who are MLB ready, except Chris fucking Jakubauskus.
It does hurt his trade value
and it hurts his overall ceiling.
All except Graham right
I think, I hope, otherwise, there is no hope of a silver lining.
The Seattle Mariners: A New Day, A Ne.....hahaha nope sorry, we're still fucked,
You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.
Yea with Morrow in my opinion.. he's being a wimp and taking the easy way out instead of
working his tail off to become a starter which is what the team needs..
I have an urge to go take a shot of vodka right now.
But I’ll hold off. Only because I don’t like vodka that much. If I had some scotch I might start working on the bottle. Curse my under-equipped liquor cabinet.
Hey wait, so we signed Chris Burke?
Goddamnit, I just got done having to put up with a season of his sorry ass.
You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.
Nothing wrong with having a bullpen ace and a stud closer... I would think
down the road I’d want Morrow as my bullpen ace given that he can hold velocity longer than 1 inning.. and Fields then becomes the closer..
Now that i’ve stated that, this news is horrible in every way.. I think Morrow is being a bit of a vagina wanting to go back to the pen… I think he’s just frustrated with some of the injuries and he doesnt want to go to Tacoma to start the year, so he’s like “F*ck it im just gonna be a closer cause that’ll be easy”..
Hard to believe, three drafts my Bavasi, and we end up with two relievers (Morrow, Fields) and a DH (Clement)
Silver lining
If Cordero, Fields, Aardsma, Lowe, and Morrow all turn into relief aces, we can pull off 4 more Putz-trades, rebuild our entire system and still have an elite closer.
I thank God every moment that I still have the Spartans to keep me from thinking too much about the M's right now
Because this just gets shittier and shittier.
I took up the Bills and the Rays last year to keep me afloat during Seattle's misery
but I’m fickle and will try anew this year.
How are the Columbus Blue Jackets shaping up?
I really hope
the Aumont to bullpen rumors aren’t true
But I just read it on LL...right there!
I fucking hate you Mariners
You mean the Mariners didn't win the world series?
Fool me once you dastardly dogs!
There are no good individual basketball statistics.
54!
I must say I look forward to this point next year when Morrow whines about not getting a shot at starting
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
From LaRue
“I really wrestled with starting or closing, and the bottom line is that after J.J.(Putz) was traded I wanted to close,” Morrow said. “But I’d made such an issue of wanting to start, I didn’t want to go back on that. Two weeks ago, I knew. A week ago, I told them.”
Morrow went to pitching coach Rick Adair last week and volunteered to close, then told the manager the same thing – making the decision far easier for Wakamatsu to deal with.
“I feel at home again. I feel like I belong in the bullpen, and I was to be the closer,” Morrow said. “I think I was built for the bullpen.”
What a wanker.
by Matthew on Mar 29, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Uh oh, sounds like Morrow doesn't like sitting in the dugout.
I bet it is because of Ichiro. Damn you, Ichiro! Everything is always your fault!
That implies that we haven't already
Today Brandon Morrow went from being one of my favorite Mariners to only being better than Silva and Washburn
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
I knew I was forgetting somebody
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Yuni is just fat- I don't hate him
But he’s down there
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.
by Sec 108 on Mar 29, 2009 4:58 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
Next time try this:
1. Put the glue in a bag.
2. Put the bag over your head
3. Pull the strings tight and tie them off in a knot.
4. Quick like a bunny before you can change your mind, hand cuff yourself to the pipes under the sink.
Or disassociate to your happy place and come back after Zduriencik’s draft picks have a chance to develop.
That last option won't happen until after Zduriencik gets fired and replaced by Pat Gillick
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
Silly Corco, Gillick doesn't get draft picks.
It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray
I can honestly say
I regret most everyone giving up on the season so early
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