The State of The Pile

by Matthew on Mar 17, 2011 3:30 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Transactions

The list of pitchers still in camp can be seen below the fold of Jeff's latest post concerning the demotion of Charlie Haeger and Manny Delcarmen. There are now 15 pitchers left in camp who already have a 40-man roster spot and seven pitchers left who do not. By all accounts, 12 of these 22 men will don a Mariners uniform in Oakland on 1 April. Two more will don Mariner uniforms in Seattle in a cruel April Fool's joke. One will experience a fugue and never be seen again. The other seven will cease to exist in a singularity of Minor League depression.

The Mariners' 40-man roster is currently full. That is not to say there isn't driftwood on it, but it does mean that for any of the NRIs to make the team, somebody else has to go. That might not present a hurdle for the management, but it is worth considering that it might.

Of course, despite my prior thinking that Dan Cortes was a lock to make the roster, we do have some actual people whom we are fairly certain will make the cuts. Felix, League, Fister, Vargas and Bedard are on the team if healthy. Aardsma will make the more exclusive 15-day disabled list team out of Spring Training so we can remove him from contention as well as Nate Robertson.

We know the fifth rotation spot is down to French, Pauley and Pineda. If Pineda doesn't win it, he'll go to Tacoma, but French and/or Pauley could end up in the bullpen. Tacoma needs a rotation too however. Removing the more sure bets leaves us with fourteen players for the six relief roles. Big thanks to Ryan Divish for the updated info.

39      PAULEY, David   RHP
69      FLORES, Jose    RHP
71      LUEKE, Josh     RHP
73      WILHELMSEN, Tom RHP
25      FRENCH, Luke    LHP
37      JIMENEZ, Cesar LHP
~~49      OLSON, Garrett LHP~~
77      LAFFEY, Aaron   LHP
(NRIs)
33      BAUTISTA, Denny RHP
41      MILLER, Justin RHP
46      RAY, Chris     RHP
50      WRIGHT, Jamey RHP
59      CASTRO, Fabio LHP
66      RING, Royce    LHP

A big majority here believes that Josh Lueke is going to survive and given the completely underwhelming nature of the other 13, I tend to agree. Personally, I think Aaron Laffey and at least one of the Luke French/David Pauley duo make it as well.

What that leaves for the last three spots is a mix of starters who failed, starters who failed worse and relievers who failed on other teams. The pile has turned from a metaphor primarily about the blandness and sheer size of the pitching camp into a more accurate description of the skills those who remain bring the team. Jose Flores versus Fabio Castro versus Justin Miller? Oh, Mariners, you so know how I get my kicks.

18 MAR UPDATE: Olson's gone

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I was just going to ask about this on the last post. You guys are awesome.

Chris Ray seems to be getting a lot of innings. Just an observation.

by Ballard Erik on Mar 17, 2011 3:42 PM PDT reply actions

He also seems to have his fastball back more or less

I’m guessing he makes it

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 17, 2011 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I saw him this Spring, his stuff looked pretty good.

Cortes looked all over the place. Of course I only saw two games, but maybe Ray’s showing has made It ok for Cortes to go down and work on whatever is causing his wildness.

by Ballard Erik on Mar 17, 2011 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Of note, Olson and Pauley are out of options while Laffey and French have one left

by Matthew on Mar 17, 2011 3:58 PM PDT reply actions

Do you think it helps Pauley that the other three you mentioned are lefties?

Seems like you don’t see a lot of teams with more than two lefties in the pen.

by Ballard Erik on Mar 17, 2011 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Also, I know Jimenez and Wilhelmsen are on the 40 man

But do either have a chance to make the team?

by Ballard Erik on Mar 17, 2011 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Jimenez is also out of options I believe

Wilhelmsen is not and JY seems to think he will start in AA. JY also seems to think TW’s still got a chance as a starter which would be awesome.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 17, 2011 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks.

From what I know, it doesn’t seem like Jimenez would be too terrible of a loss.

by Ballard Erik on Mar 17, 2011 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Jimenez is a mid-80s lefty with a good change and an okay curveball.

Those guys don’t tend to profile as well in relief as they do in the rotation because they rarely have an advantage over same-handed hitters, which is what you want in your lefty out of the pen.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Mar 17, 2011 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm pulling for Jimenez to make the team.

For no logical reason, he’s a guy I’ve always thought could help a Major League team out of the bullpen. He’s battling back from an injury, so it’s hard to say where he is right now, but I’m hopeful he makes the team. He’s a guy I’d like to see get a chance.

by nathaniel dawson on Mar 17, 2011 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Hope I wasn't putting words in your mouth re Wilhelmsen

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 17, 2011 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Nope.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Mar 17, 2011 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't he Felix's best friend?

Larry Bernandez.

by awilson11 on Mar 18, 2011 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Wow

I’m not sure I remember a time when so much of the pitching staff is so much up-in-the-air. Usually, it comes down to maybe 2 or 3 pitchers who might make it or not, given what the team’s needs are for the few open positions available. There’s just seems to be so much uncertainty about which guys the team will end up keeping.

by nathaniel dawson on Mar 17, 2011 4:13 PM PDT reply actions

I was thinking that too. Uncertainty beyond the obvious guys.

I am not sure it matters who they pick to fill out the opening day roster; we’ll see all of them in the 5 slot this year. The middle reliever rotation will likely include a good share of them. Hopefully we can shake out a few decent ones, who can cover Bedard when he throws 100 pitches in 6 innings while striking out 9. Plus, with our soft tossing back half of the rotation, there will be days when they get bombed and we need to fill the 5-6-7 multiple days in a row. Even with the uncertainty, I am excited to see some games that count.

I have a cousin with 1 testicle, when they yell play ball, he smiles.

by Montucky on Mar 17, 2011 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions