Dustin Ackley Promoted To Tacoma
by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 14, 2010 10:23 AM PDT
in Seattle Mariners Transactions
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PrintEdit: bite me Matthew
Some fun offday news from our friends at ESPN Radio, home of the Brock and Salk show, who are soon moving to the 9am timeslot in case you weren't aware, which I don't think applies to anyone anymore since Salk has made it his personal mission to scream it from the mountaintops:
Mariners promote 3 players from AA West Tennessee to AAA Tacoma: INF Dustin Ackley, LHP Edward Paredes and RHP Anthony Varvaro
Paredes and Varvaro are interesting as strikeout-capable relievers who suffer through occasional bouts of wildness, but the real key here is Ackley, who, you'll remember, suffered through a miserable April before taking it up to 11. Since the beginning of May, Ackley has hit .304/.426/.439 with 42 walks and 27 strikeouts. It isn't a batting line that blows you away, but remember, this is Ackley's first year in professional ball, and he's also been dealing with a position switch. You shouldn't expect him to be a bottle rocket to superstardom. All the tools are there, and he's clearly had no problem at all controlling the plate. He'll be fine.
Interestingly, Ackley has amassed a groundball rate of 56% so far, with little deviation by month. Some big league bats with a lot of groundballs and a good idea of the strike zone: Denard Span, Derek Jeter, Casey Kotchman, Luis Castillo, and Elvis Andrus. People have thrown Chase Utley's name around a bunch of times as an Ackley comp, but Chase Utley hits the ball in the air. As is, Ackley can't be counted on to provide much in the way of power. Of course, this having been the first three months of his professional career, we'll see if these groundball tendencies stick, or if they go away as he becomes more comfortable and further adjusts to the wood bat.
Mike Curto may not have gotten Jesus Montero, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled to take this.
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I would have hoped for the 2nd overall pick and first position player taken to be some form of fast vehicle to stardom
Plus he tore up the college ranks but hey, steady progress and the position switch. Guess I’m spoiled by Griff and A-Rod. And Jose Cruz Jr., har.
Curto got Pineda, so I think he's good for a while.
And while Curto doesn’t have Chris Carter, Greg Halman’s production at the plate dwarfs Carter’s, so maybe he can be content with Pineda AND Carter2theMax.
I SHOULD BE GOING TO CLASS BUT INSTEAD I AM DANCING
ACKLEY!!!!!!!!!
by I Lick Squirrels on Jul 14, 2010 10:43 AM PDT reply actions
Tacoma is currently 8 games up in the division.
Do Ackley/Pineda stay down until their playoffs are over?
Wouldn't it make more sense just to mandate his innings in Tacoma until September
So they could not start his clock?
by seattlesundevil on Jul 14, 2010 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I might be misinformed here,
But I think that at some point they can bring him up without worrying about losing a year of control. Don’t know when that is, however.
It really depends on when Pineda starts with the big club next year
If he is on the opening day roster (and assuming he never gets sent down again), he is going to earn a full year of service time in 2011 and each subsequent year, which would make him eligible for free agency after 2016. In that case, bringing him up now has no real effect because he cannot earn enough service time this year to move up the 2016 date. And it would be late enough that he would not qualify for Super Two arbitration status (the date is variable but I do not think it has been less than two years plus ~125 days of service time).
If Pineda is not called up this year and starts next year in the minors, the M’s would only have to keep him in the minors for about two weeks to prevent him from incurring the 172 days of service time in 2011 needed to qualify for a full year of service time (while the actual season lasts 183 days or so, a player gets credit for a full year if he accumulates 172 days of service time). In that case, Pineda would not be eligible for free agency until after 2017. If he is called up this year, he would have to stay in the minors for that amount of time next year (in addition to the first two weeks) in order push off free agency until 2017. If the team waits two months to call him up in 2011, he would also likely avoid Super 2 status in the future.
Of course, the gaming of service time presents certain ethical issues, but if the M’s decide they want the extra year, and have no ethical qualms about getting it, that is how they could do it. And there is no guarantee that Pineda would not get optioned back to the minors based on performance at some time in the future.
by G_ on Jul 14, 2010 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 7 recs
Excellent! Well said
I wonder about the Mariners and manipulation of the service clock issue. They’ve shown no sign yet with Michael Saunders that they are thinking about his service clock. Even with his offensive struggles, they’ve kept him up in the majors for near 300 plate appearances so far, putting him very close to one year of service so far (something like 32 more days). If they send him down in the next couple of weeks and wait to recall him till after the AAA playoffs, we’ll know that they’re working it to delay his clock for another year.
by nathaniel dawson on Jul 14, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Good point about ethics
It’s too rare that people note that managing players service time fucks them outta lots of money. It’s -kinda- shitty.
A good way to avoid these problems is to offer players fair long term contracts. While the player can lose out by accepting $9M for a long term deal, it is something that they choose to do, unlike being forced to serve, and it’s pretty hard to feel bad for a guy that opts in to $9M bucks. (I’m not saying we should offer him $9m right now, but if he proves his worth and health over his first season or two, it’s good idea.)
I am very much against service time manipulation but I don't really like arguing about it
Because someone with zero understanding of what ethics actually means brings up the CBA and then it goes downhill from there.
It usually happens on Fangraphs, though.
Clock doesn't really matter in this case
he’s got to go on the 40 man this year anyway, and there’s no way he accumulates enough time this year to lose us a year later, or even become a super-two.
by seattlebruin on Jul 14, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Makes sense... I am 95% clueless on the workings of the service time stuff in MLB
It was meant to be formed more as a question than an asshole remark, if it came off that way… then… hugs!
by seattlesundevil on Jul 14, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
FO seems to be commited to a competitive team in 2011
I doubt AAA playoffs will stand in the way of getting potential contributors a cup of coffee in the majors prior to the off season.
De Gutibus non disputandum est
by Bearskin Rugburn on Jul 14, 2010 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Hehehe
“Why don’t you make 10 a little louder?” “But these go to 11.” Love that movie. Excited to see Ackley having a steady upward trend at the start of his career. Players with an extremely fast learning curve in the minors scare me at times because they run the risk of possibly becoming complacent once reaching the majors and not fully realizing their potential. I look forward to the solid young talent base that seems to be amassing itself in the northwest.
Over; in an effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, MaconDawg will be a consumer of Tennessee Oil (read: Jack Daniel’s) and will require approximately 3.5 barbecue sandwiches to remain spry and ready to cheer on the Dawgs. -hailtogeorgia
It doesn't mean he'll have a September callup, but he will
by lemonverbena on Jul 14, 2010 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions
At this point with the team in the state it is, pretty sure it would take something catastrophic to prevent it now.
According to my calculations, your problem doesn't exist.
by the other side on Jul 14, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
He's on the 40-man.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 14, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Son of a bitch
It figures he would get moved up two days before I fly to Tennesse for two weeks where my family is less than thirty minutes from Pringles Park. I was so stoked to see Ackley play while I was there.
Fear the NPE
by thewyrm on Jul 14, 2010 11:50 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Out in the absolute middle of nowhere, as well.
You’re driving along through Western Tennessee and there’s absolutely nothing but a tree-lined highway for half an hour and there’s a sign mentioning which exit to take to see it. Blink and you’ll miss it.
Pringles' parent company has a factory there in Jackson, TN
It’s actually a pretty nice ballpark. I recommend it to anyone who happens to accidently wander into rural Tennessee. Went there last year too. I got to see Halman strike out a few times.
Fear the NPE
by thewyrm on Jul 14, 2010 1:33 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Once Ackley's bat started to pop, he just couldn't be stopped.
by CMC_Stags on Jul 14, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 6 recs
If only someone from West Tenn was fat
I’d bet that person couldn’t eat just one. But, judging by the roster weights, none of them appear to be too portly.
I don't like any of those comps except for Jeter.
"If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, I hate you."
yep
That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog
by bestbostonsports on Jul 14, 2010 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
wow
Great News about one of Basbeall’s best prospects
That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
Join the Lacrosse community The Lacrosse Blog
by bestbostonsports on Jul 14, 2010 1:51 PM PDT reply actions
Casey Kotchman?
Seriously, Jeff?
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
Matthew probably snuck on and added that to spite Jeff for bumping his post about the same subject
I want to poop at your house - Thingray
by tootthekazoo on Jul 14, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Anti-jinx measure
It’s important to put Kotchman and Ackley in the same sentence all the time early on, in order to attack possible future jinxes with pre-emptive reverse psychology. Except, now I have to find a way to unjinx this post…
Not that I know shit,
But it seems like that would be best-case scenario and heavily dependent on his performance for the rest of this season and spring training.
Mariners/D Broncos/BSU Broncos fan in Seattle
The first rule of Lookout Landing is...
by appleshampoo on Jul 14, 2010 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
But mostly his defense.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 14, 2010 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
He has to be expected to be a bit enough upgrade over Figgins/Lopez
To make starting his service clock worthwhile. Lopez’s contract next year is probably cheaper than what we’d like to see Ackley get in free agency. Therefore, if Ackley’s future cost is much greater than Lopez’s current cost, it might be worth taking that into consideration when deciding whether he starts the year with the MLB team or in AAA.
If he forces his way onto the team, great, then hopefully Lopez or Figgins could be traded to make room for him.
Lopez could just be nontendered.
I kind of hope for a cheap stopgap 2B that can be dealt away whenever Ackley is ready in 2011.
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 14, 2010 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions
As was said further down this thread...
Parent clubs take priority over minor-league playoffs. And if the Rainiers can be in first place without Ackley and Pineda, then they can make it through the playoffs without them as well.
The Mariner front office can always say they wont call up Matt Tuiasosopo as a consolation.
I knid of like them getting to play in the playoffs.
They’ll probably get more playing time than in the majors, the competition will be of a high level, and it can’t hurt them in the future to have gone through the playoff format. And after it’s over, they get their cup of coffee.
by nathaniel dawson on Jul 14, 2010 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Plus it means a lot to the players.
Even down at the Arizona League level, they’ll talk about it. You’d be surprised.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 14, 2010 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Aww god damnit...
Colin Cowherd is far and away my favorite host on either 710 or 950… Now he’s getting bumped so I can listen to a show that’s 75% Mike Salk being kind of interesting and 25% Brock Huard demonstrating the aftereffects of concussions on former NFL players? Great.
Surely the “Mike and Mike talk about LeBron James for 6 Hours” show doesn’t need that much airtime. “LeBron is still going to Miami, Cleveland’s still pissed.” Hey, look, I summed it up in 6 seconds!
Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.
There's something in me
That gets really proud every time a national radio host, especially one working for ESPN, is willing to go on the record with “I’m from Seattle. I’m a Seattle Mariners fan.” He spent a couple minutes the other day talking about his first baseball game, back in the Kingdome in 77. I love that, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.
by seattlecougar on Jul 15, 2010 1:59 AM PDT up reply actions
He may be a Seattle guy...
but he’s about the least knowledgeable person on Seattle anything I’ve ever heard. He also flat out admits he’s not a Seahawk fan but a Husky football fan.
He’s also an elitist against fat people.
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 15, 2010 2:34 AM PDT up reply actions
What's wrong with him liking the Huskies and not the Seahawks?
(Aside from anyone liking the Huskies, of course!)
Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.
by seattlecougar on Jul 15, 2010 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Wearing his idiocy on his sleeve far, far outweighs where he's from.
Everybody’s from somewhere. He’s from Seattle. Doesn’t make him smart.
Then read Jim Caple, who is proud of being from Seattle and actually good at his job
by seattlebruin on Jul 15, 2010 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions
I do, and I enjoy Caple
Becoming apparent I’m the only one who doesn’t mind Cowherd, though.
Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.
by seattlecougar on Jul 15, 2010 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
What does this have to do with Ackley?
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 14, 2010 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Noooo
Salk is great.
And you just hate Brock cause he went to UW. Cause you’re jealous.
Rivalry!
by Karma Police on Jul 14, 2010 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions
True on pretty much every count
I’ve met Salk. I like him, not just for being a cool guy, but as a radio host as well. I just don’t understand why I have to put up with Brock Huard to listen to him.
As for who I’d rather listen to when my radio alarm clock goes off in the morning, it’s Cowherd >>>>>> Mike and Mike.
Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.
by seattlecougar on Jul 15, 2010 1:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Cowherd sucks and please post this stuff in an offtopic thread.
This thread is to talk about Ackley.
Well I did talk about ESPN Radio at the start
by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 14, 2010 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Comcast delivers their online stream with sparking clarity and magnificent high definition sound
Truly a wonderful product
by Kermit. on Jul 14, 2010 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions 7 recs
That note broke the news to me
At which point I felt an immediate need to react. But hey, Ackley, cool! Good for the future. About time. He’s earned it – doesn’t feel like a rush.
Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.
by seattlecougar on Jul 15, 2010 2:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Dammit. I thought I was one of the seven guys on the Internet that knows it’s ’you’re.’ Guess not. If you don’t want me to sit at your (got it right there) table, I understand.
volatilelyle.wordpress.com
by almost awesome on Jul 15, 2010 3:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Reviews of his defense
Are so far pretty ugly.
He was a plus outfielder at North Carolina. I wonder if center field could be his final destination if second base doesn’t work. He’d certainly be able to be the club’s starting CF in 2011 with the way the bat is coming around. He doesn’t have a plus arm, but should have the speed to handle center, no?
by superluminal on Jul 15, 2010 10:08 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
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