Return Of Cliff Lee Sends Shawn Kelley To AAA

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 4:13 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Transactions

Shawn Kelley optioned to Triple A.

I know the Mariners have a reason for doing this. I know they have a reason, and while I don't know what that reason is, it's probably a pretty good one.

I also know that, when you already have a bullpen like ours, sending Shawn Kelley to AAA doesn't make much of a difference. He's not one of our high leverage guys, and his spot isn't going to some steaming pile of crap.

But what I submit to you is that, given his ability to throw strikes, miss some bats, and pitch to both lefties and righties, you could make the argument that Kelley is our best reliever. I'm not saying you'd necessarily be right, but you could make that argument, and it would be reasonable. Shawn Kelley, in the Majors Leagues, has allowed a lot of fly balls, but he's also whiffed 48 batters and issued 11 unintentional walks in 53 innings. Brandon League's better when he's at his best, but he's not currently at his best.

Maybe the M's feel that Kelley wouldn't get enough playing time in the bigs, and would prefer to see him get regular multi-inning action in Tacoma. That would make sense to me. But I know that I would so, so much rather it be Sean White or Jesus Colome going away, because Kelley's lack of playing time so far has been of Wakamatsu's own doing, and getting him more innings would be an easy fix.

Again, without knowing why the M's are doing this, I can't say whether I think they're right or wrong. They clearly have a thing for Colome, which, whatever, I'll have to defer to them. I just really like Shawn Kelley. He's a good reliever. He should be in the Major Leagues.

Note: as Matthew points out, most of the bullpen can't be optioned. Shawn Kelley has options. Sean White has options. Jesus Colome has thrown six regular season innings since signing a minor league contract on February 10th.

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Comments

Would Colome have to pass through waivers?

Also not surprised it wasn’t White. Obviously Wak has some fascination with him.

Everything is Rob Johnson's fault.

by the other side on Apr 30, 2010 4:15 PM PDT reply actions

I don't know if Colome would've passed, but it doesn't matter

I personally don’t see the appeal.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

As long as you're making roster moves

This was the perfect time to go to the 11 man staff, send down Colome (and Kelley, if they insist), and get us another bench player capable of playing the field. This matters.

by vitalogist on Apr 30, 2010 4:16 PM PDT reply actions

I think Cliff Lee should get a couple of starts and get stretched back out before the M's go to 11 again.

It doesn’t make sense to go thin when Lee has had all of one rehab start to get his endurance up.

I'd sleep at the Internet, but I've found servers don't make for good pillows.

by thehemogoblin on Apr 30, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Clifton Lee says we musn't tarry on his account

by lemonverbena on Apr 30, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I think everyone else in the pen is out of options

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

But who cares about Jesus Colome?

He’s a nobody with a powerful arm.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm not defending it,

just betting on the why.

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Sean White has options

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Wak has some fetish with him.

Everything is Rob Johnson's fault.

by the other side on Apr 30, 2010 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe Z didn't want your Jesus Colome poll to be moot?

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Now you can skip Shawn Kelley's!

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

White should have one left

Assuming he went down in ‘08 and ’09, unless there’s some weird 2 option year clause.

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Apr 30, 2010 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Unless he was on the Braves' 40-man at some point

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Apr 30, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

That would be weird since we Rule 5'd him

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I can't imagine why that would have happened

But we’ve had guys like Renee Cortez or Mike Wilson go on and then be pulled off without being claimed

Maybe he was on it in 2006, then dropped at the end of 06- it would be a weird circumstance but it is possible

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Apr 30, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

You can Rule 5 guys that were just signed to minor league deals

The Phillies did that with Chris Gomez a couple years ago

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Apr 30, 2010 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

We did it with Dickey?

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

by JY on Apr 30, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

What the hell

That seems like a useful move

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by Corco on Apr 30, 2010 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

This team is dedicated to trying my patience.

by Sec 108 on Apr 30, 2010 4:19 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

This is troubling.

I’m really starting to worry about the front office’s judgment on smaller moves, because right now, they’re killing the M’s.

I'd sleep at the Internet, but I've found servers don't make for good pillows.

by thehemogoblin on Apr 30, 2010 4:20 PM PDT reply actions

No they aren't

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Okay, so I was being a little melodramatic.

… but they’re not helping the team at all.

I'd sleep at the Internet, but I've found servers don't make for good pillows.

by thehemogoblin on Apr 30, 2010 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

This is closer to being irrelevant than it is to being meaningful

The team clearly has a stronger belief system in White/Colome than I do. That’s all it is.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

But isn't that belief objectively wrong?

From everything we have observed? What information could the team have that puts this to the side? White and Colome are not as helpful as Kelley. Until we hear information that suggests otherwise, I’m prepared to assume the front office has made a poor decision.

by Snuffleupagus on Apr 30, 2010 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions

The point is that the impact of the decision is very small.

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

White hasn't regressed to his numbers, and they think they can make an arm like Colome's useful

I disagree with them, but we didn’t really learn anything new from this move.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I feel like I should dislike this move more.

It’s an important point that the M’s almost need every bit of marginal help they can get. To demote one of their better relievers, theoretically at least, is stupid, but if they aren’t going to use him anyway, and he hasn’t been his usual extraordinary self, and he hadn’t had all that much experience in the minor leagues in the first place and could either start or work on his secondary offerings while there, the sum of those points makes me see a certain rationale in it.

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

by JY on Apr 30, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Fair enough

On all three points.

by Snuffleupagus on Apr 30, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm also a huge Kelley fan.

So this is weird for me.

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

by JY on Apr 30, 2010 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I think thats where a lot of our "what the" reactions come from

CougCenter

by Brian Floyd on Apr 30, 2010 5:58 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Son of a bitch.

Right now I'm dreaming of Carl Crawford. Maybe next year...(or this year at the trade deadline)...

by SeaKoala on Apr 30, 2010 4:20 PM PDT reply actions

Ok seriously people whats with the over reaction?

In the long run this affects the overall picture very little.

Everything is Rob Johnson's fault.

by the other side on Apr 30, 2010 4:22 PM PDT reply actions

Because we need every bit of marginal benefit we can muster

These decisions that affect the overall picture ‘very little’ add up. And, the more one run losses we pile up, the more they sting.

by Snuffleupagus on Apr 30, 2010 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish this team would just decide to make major moves.

These “minor” ones don’t often go our way.

Pro Ball NW

by JonBBT on Apr 30, 2010 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

This is what I was trying to say.

I no well make words.

I'd sleep at the Internet, but I've found servers don't make for good pillows.

by thehemogoblin on Apr 30, 2010 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Shawn Kelley has 80.1 total innings in the minor leagues.

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

by JY on Apr 30, 2010 4:24 PM PDT reply actions

cough Bullshit cough

by lemonverbena on Apr 30, 2010 4:24 PM PDT reply actions

When I first saw this I had a brain fart and though it was Sean White who had been sent down

I was really happy, then I realized my mistake and I was not…

by mebpenguin on Apr 30, 2010 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe he's going to try starting?

Someone had to say it. I’m kind of baffled by this move, even though it’s of little consequence. When trying to consider reasons for moving him, I thought of Jeff’s mentioning that they might want to stretch him out. There was a rumor about him starting when they stretched him out in spring training.

This doesn’t make any sense to do, and I’m somewhat positive they aren’t looking at him as a starter….but? We are a little thin for starters in 2011.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

This was my first thought.

The rotation is looking pretty thin in 2011. Maybe they think Kelley can be a #3-4 starter or something.

ROB JOHNSON IS THE WORST PERSON EVER

by I Lick Squirrels on Apr 30, 2010 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe they're gonna have him start

hell I don’t know

by Zack on Apr 30, 2010 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

Well he could be starting I guess.

Everything is Rob Johnson's fault.

by the other side on Apr 30, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

On the plus side

We have Cliff Lee.

by zeeehjee on Apr 30, 2010 4:36 PM PDT reply actions

I hear he's just holding the rotation slot down for Shawn Kelley

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 6 recs

Good.

Cliff Lee would make an awesome set up man.

by zeeehjee on Apr 30, 2010 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

LOOGY.

by danhutz on Apr 30, 2010 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Lou, is that you?

Hard work never killed nobody, but I won't take my chances.

by JAH on Apr 30, 2010 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Spider brain Z.

50!

by joof on Apr 30, 2010 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions

It's funny that a few of us had the same thought all at once.

Like it’s the only explanation that is even acceptable.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

They do have a glaring need for a fifth starter so...maybe.

Everything is Rob Johnson's fault.

by the other side on Apr 30, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

This would be for next year of course.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I came off like a dick.

It could be a possibility.

Everything is Rob Johnson's fault.

by the other side on Apr 30, 2010 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

No offense to Shawn Kelly

But I sure hope Z has something bigger in mind for the rotation.

by zeeehjee on Apr 30, 2010 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Most teams have glaring needs for fifth starters most years.

That being said, don’t we return all of Fisnelgas for next season, with RRS and the King?

I'd sleep at the Internet, but I've found servers don't make for good pillows.

by thehemogoblin on Apr 30, 2010 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Probably not Snell

$7M option.

by Rollo Tomasi on Apr 30, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I won't flip out, but this is bullshit.

by Wilder. on Apr 30, 2010 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

May I change my Colome vote to hatred please?

by Omerta on Apr 30, 2010 4:45 PM PDT reply actions

I blame Dave Cameron for jinxing us with that "I Have A Complaint" post about the organization making all the right moves.

by Janic on Apr 30, 2010 5:02 PM PDT reply actions

What's most frustrating is, by and large, the acquisitions have all been right moves

It’s just the actual construction of the roster that makes no sense. And of course the Sweeney contract, but who seriously thought he was making the team out of Spring Training when he was a non-roster invitee?

by cwel87 on Apr 30, 2010 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Sean White is quickly becoming my most hated player and it's not even his fault

My Mariners blog SodoMojo, My Twitter Feed

by Griffin Cooper on Apr 30, 2010 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

Seriously this is retarded

My Mariners blog SodoMojo, My Twitter Feed

by Griffin Cooper on Apr 30, 2010 5:15 PM PDT reply actions

Should we fans be concerned

That our bullpen has no lefty option? My friend pointed this out to me last night, and I didn’t have a response ready, because I guess I hadn’t given it much thought.

by BQueezy on Apr 30, 2010 5:26 PM PDT reply actions

No

by Matthew on Apr 30, 2010 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions

No.

Don't worry; I'm a writer.

by harkening on Apr 30, 2010 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions

No, that by itself isn't a concern.

A bullpen full of Felix clones would be fine with me.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions

From what I've heard...

Through various twitter things, JAC, and blog posts, the pitching coaching staff isn’t happy with how Kelley’s been throwing the ball lately. A lot happens behind the scenes (side mound sessions, simmed games, etc.) and Kelley isn’t what they think he could be at this point. I could be way off base with the small amount of info, but I’m not at all surprised with the decision based on those couple things I’ve heard in the last week or so.

by dkulich on Apr 30, 2010 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah maybe he has some things to work out, even though it hasn't really shown up in a game.

He seems like a Major League reliever to me, but maybe the team has higher hopes for him than someone like Colome (an older stop-gap player) and want to develop him. He was a rookie who missed a lot of time last year, after all.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly...

I agree completely. Bullpen has arms like his, the difference between he and Colome isn’t that much, and the team sees things he may need to work on. I’m perfectly fine with the move.

by dkulich on Apr 30, 2010 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

The thing is though, his performance is still Major League caliber.

So I don’t understand why Wak wouldn’t just go to him as he continues to work some things out. There could be some more serious adjustments they want him to make that aren’t safe to make on a contending MLB team. I still don’t really believe any of this, but I’m just trying to speculate my way into living with the move.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Based on Wak's quotes today, this doesn't seem to be the case

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, it's all kind of strange.

Maybe, to contradict my above comment, they actually aren’t very high on him? I knew he wasn’t one of Wak’s go-to options, which was curious, but he is still very useful. If they were just considering him for Bautista-like mop-up duty, then I guess it’s just not the big a decision for the team. Whatever, Colome isn’t terrible.

by refuse2lose2010 on Apr 30, 2010 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I just saw those now...

Interesting. I’m a big fan of Shawn Kelley, so it kind of stinks, but I also figure he’ll be back and the bullpen will be ok without him. Maybe he’s not good at “Find Your Own Hat”, and the other bullpen games?

by dkulich on Apr 30, 2010 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions

This move isolated does not have a meaningful impact

However, the methodology behind the move does. It is why Mike Sweeney and Ken Griffey Jr. are languishing in the M’s lineup every night, it is why Milton Bradley’s knees are getting tested even after he’s already shown signs of wear and tear this season, and it is why Ryan Langerhans is playing in Tacoma instead of Seattle.

This is idiotic, pure and simple. Regardless of the negligible implications.

by cwel87 on Apr 30, 2010 6:15 PM PDT reply actions

Shawn Kelley is a pitcher.

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

by JY on Apr 30, 2010 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Still, I think he's generally right

Most of the dumb moves we’ve seen so far this year have been rather insignificant, bad lineups, strange roster moves, etc., but they can build up on you quickly and start losing you games

My Mariners blog SodoMojo, My Twitter Feed

by Griffin Cooper on Apr 30, 2010 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think that's what he means

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 30, 2010 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I know that.

It just seemed unusual to me to talk about methodology in a post about optioning a pitcher and then use solely hitting examples in support of that argument. Besides which, we can’t say that Sean White is getting innings because he’s a great clubhouse presence.

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

by JY on Apr 30, 2010 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions