Justin Smoak Will Start Immediately
by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 9, 2010 5:29 PM PDT
in Seattle Mariners Regular News
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PrintAfter the trade first went down, I wondered if the M's might send Justin Smoak to Tacoma for a little while so that they could sort out the playing time situation in the bigs. Todd Dybas throws water on that idea:
Wakamatsu says Smoak will be every day first baseman. #Mariners
I'm not entirely sure how this is going to work, but I'm leaning to some sort of job rotation between Michael Saunders, Russell Branyan, and Milton Bradley through left and DH. You can't sit Saunders too often. You have to try to get Bradley going, since he's still here next season. And Branyan's not going to want to sit on the bench.
Who knows. I'll worry about the playing time another day. For now, hey, the M's have Justin Smoak. This'll take some getting used to, but I'm pretty sure that's neat.
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And now for an unrelated poll!
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Well now Branyan or Kotchman will HAVE to be dealt (or Kotchman could be DFA'd, but I doubt it)
Having all three of those guys is unnecessary.
Kind of too bad, too
He has played ok over the past couple weeks. I don’t dislike him – seems like a good guy. I assume that they will DH Branyan, and one could see them keeping Kotch as a replacement. Maybe Bradley is the odd man out in that case, but his contract and reputation make him too hard to move. I’ve not seen Sweeney mentioned – he could be gone as well?
Sweeney is - for all intents and purposes - gone already.
by seattlesundevil on Jul 9, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Sort of?
He’s definitely taking up a spot on the 40 man roster, but he’s also taking part in one of his tri-annual DL stints. So there’s no need to purge him necessarily at the moment, particularly if he’s still providing his usual “intangibles” from the bench.
(And we also still have 38 of the 40 man roster occupied, presumably with one slot reserved for Bedard’s eventual return.)
Wow, I'd totally forgotten he was still on the team.
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Kotchman certainly had his chance.
But maybe that’s the story of his life. I was rooting for him, but he just didn’t take advantage of the huge opportunity given to him here. Given how poorly others have hit, if he had just had a first half of say .240 with 9 hrs and 36 RBIs he’d have looked like gold.
ignacio
Worth a bullpen arm, maybe.
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 9, 2010 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Move a couple of them into the bullpen
It wouldn’t make it any worse. Could you imagine the look on Bradley’s face standing on the mound in the 8th?
Age him about 15 years and that's spot on!
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Hugh Laurie. C'mon now!
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 9, 2010 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Wakamatsu says that we've always been at war with Eastasia.
Everyday baseman does not mean a new first baseman everyday.
by Janic on Jul 9, 2010 5:36 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Wak said Branyan was the everyday first baseman when he got here.
Then a couple days later Casey Kotchman was back to being the everyday first baseman and now it’s Justin Smoak’s turn.
Maybe we can put Branyan at third.
I’m not sure I wouldn’t mind punting defense there just so I never have to see Lopez play again.
by Mariner John on Jul 9, 2010 5:38 PM PDT reply actions 11 recs
The problem is
Bradley has sucked all season. I don’t see how the M’s can justify keeping the only legitimate slugger they have on the bench, when you look at how anemic the rest of the team is hitting.
Given how worn-down or vitamin-deficient or whatever Guti has looked lately
that may well be in the cards.
ignacio
Looks like Smoak is slowly getting comfortable in the big leagues, at least
Or maybe it is his low BABIP turning around.. But he OPSd over 850 in the month of June. Promising after an abysmal May.
Interesting piece at Fangraphs on Smoak this season
by seattlesundevil on Jul 9, 2010 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Great article... don't like this part though
His BABIP on the season is extremely low, at .234. Among big league hitters with at least 250 PA, Smoak has the fifth-lowest BABIP. Part of the reason for that low BABIP is that he’s hitting a bunch of pop-ups — Smoak’s infield per fly ball rate is 18.6%, the third highest rate in the majors and far higher than the 7-8% MLB average (for reference, Smoak hit pop ups 9.2% of the time in the minors).
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Adjustment to the league.
It’ll pass.
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 9, 2010 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
True, and SSS
I just hope the trend doesn’t continue.
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
The most logical solution is to trade Branyan, I'd think. Bradley's salary gets in the way.
The White Sox were/are hot for Adam Dunn – perhaps they’d like Branyan at a lower price.
Unfortunate move if that happens
I have viewed the Branyan move as a move to get some power back in the lineup – for this year, and for a reasonably inexpensive amount of money next year. On that premise, I don’t see him being dealt. But, hey, until I get a significant pay raise and find my name changed to Jack Z, my view really doesn’t mean much.
What's the alternative? Taking ABs away from Saunders?
Because they aren’t going to simply eat Bradley’s contract and sit or trade him.
Well...
Saunders can get some AB’s by resting Guti – isn’t like Guti is tearing it up. Also, Bradley has averaged about 120 games a season for the past few years. So, you are still platooning – but the AB’s might come more at the expense of Guti.
Depends on what he could return.
I like that this trade and the decision to make Smoak the everyday 1B gives the team the flexibility to move Branyan if there’s something interesting to be had for him.
by Aaron Campeau on Jul 9, 2010 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions
He's one of the only players on the team I'd actually contact the Rays about
by Aaron Campeau on Jul 9, 2010 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions
...Brignac?
Actually, though, I don’t think they’d give us anything of much value for Branyan, and he’s a pretty easy solution at DH next year (and by solution I mean “not a black hole”).
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 9, 2010 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
They could use him and it's worth inquiring.
They’re smart enough to overlook his flaws and probably know well enough that they’re not going to Zduriencik.
by Aaron Campeau on Jul 9, 2010 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions
If I may suggest.
A similar rotation that includes Franklin Gutierrez getting a day off to rest on occasion (with Saunders playing CF)? That’s if Bradley’s legs can hold up. This certainly is a logjam that’s developing. It will be interesting to see how this will be handled.
Adding Guti off-days into the player rotation seems to be the way to go
Standard line-up:
1B: Smoak
DH: Bradley/Branyan
CF: Guti
LF: Saunders
Against RHSP with strong platoon splits, give Guti a day off, move Saunders to CF with Bradley in LF.
Against LHSP with strong platoon splits, give Saunders or Smoak the day off and play Bradley/Branyan in the field accordingly.
You don't really want to platoon split with these guys tho.
Especially not the developing players. Give Saunders all the chances in the world to prove he can’t hit lefties before you declare he can’t. Same with Smoak, who’s a switch hitter. Bradley is also a switch hitter, so he “shouldn’t” have a split. Branyan has been showing he can handle lefties effectively enough.
So who do you bench? If you’re going to do anything, it probably shouldn’t be for handedness of pitcher yet.
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 9, 2010 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions
2011
1B: Smoak
2B: Ackley
3B: Figgins
Shortstop: Question mark – can’t rely on Jack Wilson and Josh shouldn’t be a starter
LF: Saunders
CF: Guti
RF: Ichiro
Rotation: Felix, Pineda, ???, Vargas, Fister?
Catcher: Question mark
DH: Maybe Branyan, Maybe Bradley, Maybe neither
All things considered, doesn’t look all that bad.
My Mariners blog SodoMojo, My Twitter Feed
I'm still not sold on the fact that Ackley is on the team at the beginning of next year
But you’re right, it doesn’t look too terrible.
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't like our options at second base (or third base) if he isn't
My Mariners blog SodoMojo, My Twitter Feed
by Griffin Cooper on Jul 9, 2010 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
But, but...
You don’t like Loafie there!?!?
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Ackley will get the standard Memorial Day/Early June call up at the earliest.
Putting him on the roster sooner would cost us service time and make him a potential super-two.
Even still, the Ackley hasn’t exactly proven to be MLB ready yet. Over reactions to his first month were completely knee jerk and would never haver arisen if it had happened as a mid-season slump. Nevertheless, I think he has some things to work on, like a line drive percentage north of 19% (currently, 12.5%) before he’s ready for the show.
Of course, I don’t know shit about player development.
SS and #3 starter appear to be our top priorities this winter
With Catcher and the Relief Corps also in the mix for some revamping.
Dissenting opinions are welcome, and should be encouraged, at Lookout Landing. -LL Style Guide
I would like to get Moore some more time in the Majors this year.
Gotta have Josh Bard.
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 9, 2010 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
With the season lost they might as well cut Bard and just throw Moore in there full-time.
Dissenting opinions are welcome, and should be encouraged, at Lookout Landing. -LL Style Guide
FUCK ROB JOHNSON
Every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten? Fuck kittens.
by Matt Erickson on Jul 10, 2010 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
If this hasn't been said yet....Poor Mike Carp.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Went from catch of the day to bait.
I think he’ll be dealt to be blocked somewhere else.
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 9, 2010 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Destined to be a career AAAA'er
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Jul 9, 2010 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions
When writing about this trade at USSM, I did not remember that Carp existed.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 9, 2010 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions
With regard to the poll, I don't want the Rangers to win the World Series
But I want them to get to the playoffs so much more than the Angels and this only makes me want it more.
...and now I'm here
Justin being such a black person name and all.
Right up there with Blake, Keith, Jake and Chone.
...and now I'm here
I did the same thing with Alex Gordon.
I WOULD RATHER BE WATCHING SOCCER -- Jeff Sullivan
Kool Keith?
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 9, 2010 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions
What, why?
Because smoke is supposed to be black?
Only if his name was Swisher!
I fucking hate you Mariners
Tempted to try to get tickets for tomorrow night, now.
Smoak should be here by then I assume.
I have a couple extra
If you’re looking
by Snuffleupagus on Jul 9, 2010 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
So we called up French to take Lee's spot instead of just putting Smoak on the active roster
Does this mean Kotchrocket’s days are numbered?
Determined, Jonesing Commentor
What prevents in game platoons?
Is it the lack of bench depth? If we have three players rotating through two positions, what prevents pinch-hitting situations that allows players to regularly play half games?
Injuries and long extra inning games can happen, but they don’t seem to be common enough to prevent this from working.
For the next 4 years
The Mariners have Dustin Ackley, Michael Pineda, Justin Smoak, Felix Hernandez, Franklin Gutierrez and Michael Saunders.
No matter what happens, this team is going to be a lot more interesting to watch than it has been in a while.
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 9, 2010 6:43 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
And only Guti is over the age of 24.
Youth!
Dissenting opinions are welcome, and should be encouraged, at Lookout Landing. -LL Style Guide
And Ichiro!
Probably.
I WOULD RATHER BE WATCHING SOCCER -- Jeff Sullivan
I just can't root for the Rangers
That would be like asking your friend to try and get that really cute girl’s number before you do.
Carlos Silvelite
I do enjoy the fact that they've won one playoff game ever.
Makes the Mariners seem slightly less pathetic. But I could care less if they make it to the Series before us. If Mariners fans are going to bitch and moan about how terrible our franchise is, may as well be the most futile.
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 9, 2010 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Could someone give me some comparisons?
I’m not very up to date on minor league baseball, could you guys possibly give me some major league comparisons for the guys we just got? I do know my major league players, so if you believe one of these prospects won’t pan out feel free to compare him to a lesser known player.
I'm probably way off
but I’ve heard Smoak could become a poor mans Texiera.
by Hancock.Brett on Jul 9, 2010 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Will Clark was the best player in my first pack of baseball cards
Therefore, I approve.
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 9, 2010 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
I hear lots of Will Clark and John Olerud comps.
John Olerud immediately makes me think “very solid, but not great.” Then I realize that Olerud twice put up 8.4 WAR seasons.
But seriously though, John Olerud sucks.
by Fuckmikereilly on Jul 10, 2010 2:38 AM PDT up reply actions
I've never been in love with that swing in terms of power potential
But if he’s Nick Johnson 2.0, that’s still a pretty good player.
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
(Not that I'm saying he will be, but I think that's a better comp than Tex)
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.
I’ve heard “switch hitting Justin Morneau” in terms of ceiling. I like Will Clark. I’ve heard people go straight to “Texeira” and leave out the “poor man’s” .
If you look for guys that are actually switch hitting 1Bs, Eddie Murray seems closest to me. But actually finding guys that fit the switch-hitting 1B profile is harder than you’d think.
Realistic projection: .270/.365/.480
Opticmistic projection: .300/.410/.550
I’m more bullish on Smoak than many. I see a guy who’s shown very legit raw power that hasn’t totally translated on the field, coupled with advanced plate discipline and good pitch selection for his age. It reminds me of (final comp:) Joey Votto.
by philosofool on Jul 10, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
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