The 25 Man, Now and Then

by Matthew on Apr 5, 2009 12:14 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Stats

NB: Forgot DH. Jose Vidro last year, Mike Sweeney this year.

Last year there were 11 players comprising the bench and bullpen. Of those 11, just two, Mark Lowe and Ryan Rowland-Smith, are on the roster today. On the flipside, of the 14 players that made up the starting nine and the rotation back in 2008, nine return and it would be ten if you count Ichiro.

When was the last time we had any sort of useful bench?

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And you even managed to forget Sweeney and Vidro

Even more turnover!

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by Corco on Apr 5, 2009 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

Wakamatsu's new bold strategy of a 24 man roster does seem to be a bit of a puzzler

Let’s see if it pays off

by Ezzra on Apr 5, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I have a bad feeling about our bullpen this year.

I think it could be our undoing and I also foresee ‘walk the world’ being uttered rather a few times in game threads…

Good job we aren’t in the AL East…

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Apr 5, 2009 12:39 PM PDT reply actions

That's part of the fun of this season heading in. Bullpens are pretty unpredictable in general.

I’d bet if you asked Rays fans (Paging R.J. Anderson to the teal and blue courtesy phone), they had similar concerns heading into last year.

by abender20 on Apr 5, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

A Rays 2008 'pen would be awesome.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Apr 5, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I hated the opening day pen.

You had injury risks (Reyes/Percival) guys in questionable roles (Howell as long-man), and questionable pitchers (Dohmann, Glover, even Wheeler could have went either way, unfortunately he went the bad way for long-term success). Add Trever Miller in as the LOOGY and that was that.

Having capable arms a level away is a must, and the Mariners seem to have that.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 5, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Mark McLemore?

by Wilder. on Apr 5, 2009 12:48 PM PDT reply actions

And Stan Javier!

Or maybe I’m just mentally overrating Javier based on a couple of memories.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Apr 5, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

3 WAR in 2001.

by Aaron Campeau on Apr 5, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions

That team was incredible.

How the hell did that happen?

by Wilder. on Apr 5, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions

As incredible as it was, we couldn't get past the hated Yankees.

I had a lot of fun that season, but looking back on it is bittersweet.

Throw the snacks in the bag and I'm ghost like Swayze!
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Apr 5, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

That's nuts.

2001 was awesome and winning 116 games is way cooler than winning a WS.

I did break lots of stuff during the ALCS though.

by Aaron Campeau on Apr 5, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I would trade 116 wins for a world title in a heartbeat.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Apr 5, 2009 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed.

I have a good friend that is a Yankees fan, and he mentions the fact that the Yanks pasted us in the playoffs every time I mention our 116 wins. Just once it’d be nice to be able to say that we went all the way that season.

I’m not saying 2001 wasn’t great. It is my favorite season to think back on.

Throw the snacks in the bag and I'm ghost like Swayze!
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Apr 5, 2009 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Who's Mike Lowe?

Some sort of ultra player that combined Mike Morse and Mark Lowe?

by Coach Owens on Apr 5, 2009 1:42 PM PDT reply actions

Matt Clement's cousin???

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Apr 5, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Seeing our 25 man is making me a little sad.

I’m having a tough time seeing a lot of upside in our season and we still have some pretty big weaknesses. To the future…

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 5, 2009 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

Same

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by Corco on Apr 5, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I would take this years team

over last years team.

SILVER LINING!

by marinerdan on Apr 5, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions

also coming off the books this year

are a bunch of crappy Bavasi contracts, so don’t fret. Chill, all will be cool in Marinerland, we just have to ride out the rehaul of the roster.

by marinerdan on Apr 5, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Beltre and Bedard leaving is a bad thing

The fact that Batista and Washburn are leaving helps but it will be hard to replace the talent we are losing too so its not all great. Hopefully we can find a way to turn this surplus of cash into high quality athletes but it isn’t always that easy when dipping into the free agency pool.

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 5, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

There's always hope for Beltre...

If the M’s manage to compete and the rest of our division sucks, we might hold onto him. Z might also try to re-sign him anyway, since he understands how valuable he is. Whether Beltre has any interest is an unknown (especially as a Boris client), but here’s to hoping.

by AtomicGarden on Apr 5, 2009 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions

In all likelihood we're going to trade both of them if they aren't extended, though

And get some awesome young talent in return

by OlSalty on Apr 5, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't bet on that.

by Matthew on Apr 5, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I guess the price for them would be a little high

Since it would just be a 6 month rental and they’d have to do better than the compensation picks. I’d be surprised if we didn’t get anything for Bedard though, assuming he can stay relatively healthy.

by OlSalty on Apr 5, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Bedard is not likely to garner Type A compensation.

And Beltre is near the cutoff and is undervalued by the league at large.

by Matthew on Apr 5, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, fuck.

by OlSalty on Apr 5, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

If he's not likely to get Type A doesn't that make it easier to trade him though?

Not for his maximum value, but for something at least. Letting him walk as a type B would be kind of dumb.

by OlSalty on Apr 5, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

No. That makes him worth less.

by Matthew on Apr 5, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Well yeah, we would get less for him but we could still get something useful

Not anywhere close to the amount of talent we had to give up to get him, though.

by OlSalty on Apr 5, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

My original point holds

The future free agent class of Washburn, Bedard, Beltre, and Batista leaving will likely make this team worse even including any prospects from trades, possible draft picks and salary relief.

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 5, 2009 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know if I would

If you would have given me the two rosters before the start of last year I would have taken the 2007 roster. Injuries and major collapses killed last year. That could happen to this team too. This roster is less risky but you’d only take this roster over last’s because you know how badly last year worked out.

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 5, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions