Vidro To DH

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 13, 2006 10:06 PM PST in Regular News Comment 123 comments

Via a number of places, the most linkable being here:

After receiving the news from his agent, Seth Levinson, Vidro spoke to Mariners manager Mike Hargrove that same day on the phone, and the skipper told him that he would be a designated hitter and a backup at third, second and first base.

I don't think I need to delve into all the reasons why this is stupid. DH, because it requires zero in the way of athleticism or fielding prowess, is the easiest position to fill on the roster. Anyone capable of holding and swinging a bat in a circular motion is more than qualified. Every year there are a number of minor league journeymen who could come up and hit .275/.330/.450 for the league minimum without batting an eye. Look, there's one. There's another. Hey, a third. These guys are incredibly easy to find if you look for them. Sometimes they fall in your lap.

And other times you might not even need to go digging. Between Chris Snelling, Ben Broussard, and Mike Morse, the Mariners already had 2-3 perfectly fine designated hitters on the roster. You could put Snelling there, or platoon him with Morse, or platoon Broussard with Morse, or do whatever, and at the end of the day you'd come out looking pretty good. Nothing fantastic, but it's production, and more than a lot of other teams are going to get from their own positionless bats. I didn't wake up this morning thinking "the Mariners need to get a DH," and I don't think anyone else did, either.

So they went out and got one anyway. For Snelling, Fruto, $12m, and a vesting option. And they didn't get a slugger with bad defense - they got a slap-hitting middle infielder with bad defense and an assload of injury problems. Yeah, RFK was a bad environment for Vidro, but Safeco's not much better, and it's not like there's any reason to expect a rejuvenation. Vidro's declined from his peak, and even if he's able to remain steady for as long as he plays in Seattle, he's a .270-.280 EqA who doesn't play the field. That puts him in Jay Gibbons territory, and Jay Gibbons was one of the worst DH's in the AL last season.

I'm running out of words to say about this, primarily because the English language isn't equipped in such a way as to describe such brazen incompetence. Bill Bavasi dealt a young, cheap, good hitter for an old, expensive, arguably worse one, tossing in a talented young arm and a vesting option for good measure. In no way, shape, or form could this ever be mistaken for a good idea. It just couldn't. There's no way.

In less than one week the Mariners have dealt away considerable young talent for a pair of useful but eminently unnecessary spare parts. It's inexcusable, and this staggering inability to understand some of the most basic tenets of proper roster management is a fireable offense. I've tried my hardest to give Bavasi the benefit of the doubt after jumping all over him way too quick back in '03/'04, but his time is up. He's hurting the organization, and the sooner he goes away, the sooner we can start working on getting this team to where it needs to be to compete for a title.

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DH vidro

Well this is just another bad thing. Mike morse would be a better fit. Its just to pricey. 12mil and fruto and SNELLING.

by ZeZetheX on Dec 13, 2006 10:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well said.

I'm so angry about this. I NEED to show my disgust, but the best way for fans to show their displeasure en masse is by not buying tickets. I hate that option, though, because I want to be able to take my son to big-league baseball game.

What do we do? How do we let M's management know it is time for a change?

UNITE, M'S FANS!! UNITE!!

by tait644 on Dec 13, 2006 10:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Slap-hitting?

That seems like an unfair characterization to me.

Sure, last year he was, and kinda the same in 2005.

But before that, 2000-2004 he was a .160-.200 IsoP hitter with 15-20 homers and a .370-.400 OBP who could hit for average (.300-.330 ish).

I think we need to differentiate the 2000-2004 Vidro from the 2005-2006 Vidro. The former was a very good hitter, while the latter wasn't so great.

Which one will we get? Time will tell.

Personally, I think getting out of the field will turn him back into the Vidro of 2000-2004.

Others will likely vehemently disagree. :)

by worley on Dec 13, 2006 10:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't care which Vidro we get

Losing Doyle is not worth it. Ever.

by Graham on Dec 13, 2006 10:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

What possible argument can you make that Vidro will all of a sudden go back to his old self?

It's possible, yes. But there's nothing to suggest it is going to happen.

by tait644 on Dec 13, 2006 10:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Naive optimism

In 2005, Vidro's OPS was about 190 points higher on the road than at home.

In 2006, it was 100 points higher on the road.

The sliver of hope is that Vidro just didn't like RFK stadium.

by Rollo Tomasi on Dec 13, 2006 10:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was looking at that earlier.

RFK completely altered Vidro's approach. Check out these '05/'06 splits:

Home:

GB: 38.0%
FB: 36.7%
LD: 25.3%

Road:

GB: 51.6%
FB: 27.2%
LD: 21.2%

At home, he's a neutral guy who hits the ball on a line. On the road he's had better success turning fly balls into extra-base hits, but more importantly he's put the ball on the ground like a madman. That profile makes him look an awful lot like Ichiro. So tell me - how fond are you of a speed-less Ichiro as the everyday DH for the next 2-3 seasons?

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 13, 2006 10:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude

Consensus seems to be that Vidro's hitting has fallen off because of his various knee/hamstring/etc injuries. I don't know that for a fact or anything, but it seems reasonable.

The chain of logic would be:

If he's not playing in the field, he's not making those injuries worse
If the injuries aren't getting worse, and he's not all that old (32), his body will heal
If his body heals, he'll start hitting again

Seriously, is it that far outside the realm of possibility? I'm not saying it's guaranteed to happen, but in that light, I think we can understand the move. Vidro restored to his prime hitting self would be a good thing to have on a team. :)

by worley on Dec 13, 2006 10:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Now that I take a closer look

a lot of Vidro's peak was driven by the home park. Check out his 2000-2004 road numbers:

.292/.358/.464

(.338/.400/.519 at home.)

For a DH, that's okay, but it's not great. And now he's two years older.

I don't dislike Jose Vidro the player, but making this trade and then slotting him at DH just doesn't make any sense. Even at his best, he's only a very marginal upgrade over what we already had in house, and I doubt we're going to see him at his best.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 13, 2006 10:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

Was Olympic Stadium/Hiram Bithorn (or wherever they had that travelling circus play) a hitter's park?

by worley on Dec 13, 2006 10:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, definitely.

Hiram Bithorn was a bandbox, and while Olympic Stadium wasn't quite as bad, it was comfortably in the hitters' favor.

To be honest, it pained me to look up those numbers. I wish his peak were as good as it looked.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 13, 2006 11:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

was a schizophrenic park: the first year they played there, it was a major hitters park. The Expos yearly park factors were 118 (including the Stade Olympique). By comparison, Coors that year was only 112.

The next year, I believe that they made changes to HB stadium, or the weather was different when they played there. Either way, the Expos stadiums had a park factor of only 95. That's a huge shift.

by abelard on Dec 13, 2006 11:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PFs

Generally you need about 3 years of info for really good PFs. If you average those out, you end up about 110, so in the end, it's still one hell of a bandbox.

Detect-O-Vision

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Dec 14, 2006 2:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Part of the deal with park factors is that they need to be consistant.

by Graham on Dec 14, 2006 5:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like Vidro one bit

I have watched him play for the Nationals and he is awful. The nationals would have been happy to get rid of him for nothing, let alone a live arm with potential and our beloved Doyle. Vidro can't field one bit and is a slap hitter like the rest of our team. No patience at the plate--isn't that reason enough to keep Snelling?? Now our games will be over at an even more ridiculous speed. I used to just like watching Snelling swing, it was refreshing. This is depressing.

by burroughs on Dec 14, 2006 3:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess this makes sense, too

# If Doyle's not playing in the field, he's not making those injuries worse
# If the injuries aren't getting worse, and he's not all that old (25), his body will heal
# If his body heals, he'll start hitting again

by tyruschen in Taiwan on Dec 13, 2006 11:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

All true...

... but would Hargrove play him?

Sure, it sucks to be confronted with that question, because we'd all rather be living in a world where our manager didn't have a ridiculous preference for veterans, but we're in that world right now.

It's entirely possible (maybe even likely) Snelling would have gotten the Petagine treatment in 2007 with Hargrove at the helm.

I'm sure a lot of folks would much rather hold on to Snelling and wait til Bavasi/Hargrove get canned, and I don't disagree. Just saying there's some logic there from a "win in 2007" perspective.

by worley on Dec 14, 2006 5:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If the M's wanted to win in '07

Hargrove would have been gone.

by Graham on Dec 14, 2006 5:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

After getting called up last year

Snelling played in 36 of 42 games, and collected 119 at bats. That prorates out to 459 over a full season.

I don't see why people think Hargrove wouldn't play him. He did last year.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 6:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, at the end when it was over

He would also pull him in those games too, to put in Bohn -- for "defensive" reasons

by ppl4life on Dec 14, 2006 10:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So you're telling me

if Bavasi dealt Broussard and left Snelling as the only DH possibility, that Hargrove would use someone else instead?

I'm sorry, but that's an awful big leap.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 10:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to tell

Who even knows if Bavasi has the authority to unilaterally trade Broussard and leave Snelling as the DH? It's entirely possible that if Hargrove expressed a dislike for the move, the FO would have nixed it.

You're right, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which Snelling doesn't DH if Broussard is gone. Having seen the machinations of this team, however, would anything surprise you, regardless of how outlandish it seems in the light of pure logic?

by worley on Dec 14, 2006 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be surprised, per se

but I think it's unlikely, and a pretty weak justification for the trade.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 11:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

While idiotic

I just can't get over the DH duties would be a platoon of Morse and Dobbs.

"The list of Mariners I'd go gay for seems to be growing by the day."

"You gonna start hitting on Gomez at the next LL night?"

by Christian on Dec 14, 2006 11:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, not saying that...

just saying that he used him sparingly at the end, even replacing him. Hargrove really didn't like him.

by ppl4life on Dec 14, 2006 12:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If you didn't give him a choice

it wouldn't matter. And it's not like Snelling as a DH would be vulnerable to defensive replacements.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 12:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mean to be snarky

but this would be a little different if we were trading for Vidro in 2003 or 2004. Two years is a long time, particularly when you're talking about a 32 year old whose body is beat up.

I hope he's able to re-discover some of his peak (if he doesn't, we're completely screwed), but I'm skeptical.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 13, 2006 10:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

I would rather have gone after Willie Mays on a 2 year incentive laden deal. From 1951-1972 he put up a .302/.384/.557 line! I know he hasn't produced much from '73-'06 but he may be worth a shot.

by DCMariner on Dec 13, 2006 11:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My new hat:

I'm still and will always be a fan of the Seattle Mariners. That cannot and will not ever change.I'll still be just as active at this place as I ever have been.

But it's time for crazy passion for this game to be divided into two sections. I already ripped the big Mariner sticker off the back window of my Explorer, and I think I'm going to burn my old Mariner hats that are sitting in a box in my closet.

I'm still going to go to at least 4-5 Rainer games this year, including LL night again if we have it. My interest in the farm system will not waiver.

It's time for the big league club to take a back seat. At least for the 2007 season. If/when Bavasi,Hargrove, Lincoln, etc. get the pink slip and team starts showing they have the slightest bit of competence, then maybe they will reassert themselves and the M's hat will take over again.

Besides, the new colors of the D-Backs logo looks pretty cool don't yeah think?

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 13, 2006 10:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

That is a nice hat

by Scruffy Lefty on Dec 13, 2006 10:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, I just checked out AZ Snakepit

for the first time since they got the new diggs. That place looks pretty kickass with those colors, and the logo is pretty sweet as well.

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 13, 2006 11:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Just noticed that this morning myself.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 13, 2006 11:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, Goose.

Two Words:

Bob Melvin.

Didn't he leave that "I just threw up a little" taste in your mouth? Did mine.

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Dec 13, 2006 11:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I never said the D-backs were perfect.

But at least Melvin is no Hargrove.

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 13, 2006 11:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember when Madritsch

Was a pretty good pitcher? Yeah, try blaming -that- on Hargrove

by Graham on Dec 13, 2006 11:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well he hasn't ruined any D-Back pitchers

yet.

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 13, 2006 11:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Arizona

Yeah, but the D-backs have a lot of talent. They are going to be really fun to watch soon. Byrnes and co. did a good job of rebuilding that club a few years back.

Maybe Chris Antonetti or some other new GM can do that same thing with the M's soon.

I have totally altered my hopes for this club. A few weeks ago, I was hoping that they would get back above .500 and maybe even contend. Now, I just want to see some signs that the club is getting back on the right track.

Unfortunately, Bill Bavasi has to go before that can happen.

by Jerry on Dec 14, 2006 4:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

His arm was going to explode anyway

Melvin just accelerated the inevitable.

by Gomez on Dec 14, 2006 9:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bob Melvin

Has actually been doing a pretty damned good job in Arizona.

by Trent on Dec 14, 2006 7:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

best part about living in AZ

is getting to watch Brandon Webb pitch.

I was at his domination of the Braves...it was awesome!

by MFAN on Dec 13, 2006 11:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My new hat:

(well, to be fair, it's not exactly new...)

I'm seriously considering just giving up on blogging about any baseball on this side of the Pacific.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Dec 14, 2006 1:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Sweeney!

Go Fighters!

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Dec 14, 2006 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, I know!

And Andy Green, too (from the Diamondbacks, the other hat in this thread).

Now if we could just re-sign Fernando Seguignol I'd be happy. We're still going to lose to the Hawks, but we're not going to suck while doing so.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Dec 14, 2006 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PECOTA projections

Vidro OPS: .758
Doyle OPS: .794

I just don't get this trade. Why bother? Why waste money (vesting option) and prospects to get Vidro, then DH him? Even if he goes back to his 2004 production (no sure thing), is he really better than Broussard / Perez, or Snelling? Or, given that he's DHing, some other lumbering slugger?

I could make a "Bowden managed to eat 30 suicide wings in 3 minutes without puking" joke, but I'm really puzzled by this choice.

Course, it hurts more cause it's Doyle. It really pisses me off that the M's will never get any production out of him, after all he's been through.

Shitfuck.

by abelard on Dec 13, 2006 10:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

differential

Bill Bavasi has taken up the challenge to single-handedly fix the talent differential between the AL and NL!

by South Pacific on Dec 13, 2006 10:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

But he's a vet!

Hargrove is LOVING LIFE right about now...

I guess I'll have to take this Hargrove shit much longer...ugh

by WAB on Dec 13, 2006 10:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Easier to make the lineup too

Hargrove doesn't have to worry about managing a platoon at DH either.

by nadzor on Dec 13, 2006 10:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

by Scruffy Lefty on Dec 13, 2006 10:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Very nice

The look on Bavasi's face fits pretty well.

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 13, 2006 10:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That mouse pointer totally makes it

by chaney on Dec 14, 2006 2:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is crap

I am faithful to this team when the stink, but not when they trade fun fan favorites for boring players with no upside. This year, I may end up being a Padre Fan.

by BlueBaron on Dec 13, 2006 11:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Our bitter rivals!!!

You wouldn't dare . . .

by DCMariner on Dec 13, 2006 11:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Naw

To be rivals we have to be on somewhat of the same footing. :) Right now, there's no rivalry but we are bitter.

by Josh on Dec 13, 2006 11:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey!

When the M's and the Pads get togethor you can just throw that record book out the window!

by DCMariner on Dec 13, 2006 11:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I just...

... wrote to the Mariners asking for my season ticket money back.

If others do the same, keep your results posted on LL or USSM. Given their open letter promise of "improving the starting pitching" as their primary focus, I plan on exploring legal action in the event they do not refund my money.

Screw this.

by BrianF on Dec 13, 2006 11:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

You'll more than likely get the same stock letter

everybody else gets.

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 13, 2006 11:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck

I think that that is a great idea.

I live in New York, and don't get the opportunity to see as many games as I would like. I usually see a handfull, but not enough to make a boycott meaningful.

I hope to move back to Seattle some day and buy season tickets. While the opinion of a season ticket holder may not make a whole lot of difference, teams do seem to take it a lot more seriously than the casual fan.

I have been writing letters to the local sports media as well. They cater more directly the public than the team does, and I usually get replies that are not just form letters.

If the fans want their voice to be heard, perhaps it is best to try to get guys like Larry Stone, Geoff Baker, Art Thiel, and others to speak out. Their opinions go a lot farther than ours. Obviously, most of those guys will recognize that this club is completely fucked. But perhaps a few hundred emails with the same opinion will make them more likely to bash the front office in print.

A waste of time? Probably. But it isn't much different than the ranting we do here. Why not?

by Jerry on Dec 14, 2006 4:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, okay, two at once won't post...

So I'll just post the "after"

We'll Always Have the Kingdome:

by BrettJMiller on Dec 14, 2006 12:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

x

As a Ranger fan who just recently had to endure John Hart's reign of terror, I can almost sympathize as you wait for your incompetent GM's inevitable firing.

Almost.

by bmnguy on Dec 14, 2006 1:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Bavasi making a totally incompetent move?

by eponymous coward on Dec 14, 2006 1:34 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

On the twelfth day of Christmas,

Bill Bavasi sent to me
Twelve pitchers loosing,
Eleven thousand seats empty,
Ten dollar beers,
Nine ladies for the lineup,
Eight september call ups,
Seven trades in question,
Six million for Bloomquist,
Five DFA's!,
Four righties missing,
Three 5th starters,
Two games worth watching,
And whole lotta bullshiiiit!

by Emerald on Dec 14, 2006 1:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I hope the club loses

At this point, I am hoping that the M's fall flat on their faces.

I hope that the M's are 15 games behind the Angels and A's on July 1st, 2007.

I hope that Bavasi is fired by July 2nd, 2007.

I hope that Chris Antonetti trades Ichiro, Sexson, Guillen, Washburn, and (gulp) Vidro and Batista by July 30th, 2007.

I hope that Chris Antonetti fires Grover on August 1st, 2007.

I prefer to see the M's completely tank next season. It would force the club to make some drastic changes. After this offseason, combined with Bavasi's botched moves last winter, it is now 100% crystal clear that the club can't be turned around without a new front office.

In a lot of ways, Bavasi's idiocy makes Antonetti even more of a perfect fit for the M's. The Indians organization has shown an actual understanding of player evaluation and value. They have shown a willingness to make potentially unpopular moves for the long-term good. And they have demonstrated an ability to rebuild a franchise the right way.

Bavasi just put us back into 2004.

The M's are going to need someone bold to undo that damage.

by Jerry on Dec 14, 2006 4:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I just woke up.

Everything still sucks.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 7:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Today is worse than yesterday....

Yesterday is over....what the hell will he do today?

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 14, 2006 8:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll tell you what he won't do.

Trade Chris Snelling.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 8:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wonderful....

I was trying to forget about that.....pretend it didn't happen....I need prozac in a drum after this one.

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 14, 2006 8:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He won't sign Schmidt either

by Gomez on Dec 14, 2006 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

AAAAAARRRGGGHHhhhhhh........

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 14, 2006 9:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

which classic Jose Vidro season will Chris Snelling have this year: A) 2000: .330/.540/.919 B) 2002: .315/.490/.868 C) 2003: .310/.470/.867

by JoeyJoJoJuniorShabadoo on Dec 14, 2006 7:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Heh

those are some righteous OBP and SLG numbers. ;-)

We're doomed!!!

by Phildopip on Dec 14, 2006 8:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Snelling will be the breakout star of 2007

Calling it right now.

by Gomez on Dec 14, 2006 9:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What happens to a dream deferred?

Chris Snelling was a raisin in the sun.

And the Nationals are retarted-five-year old children that stick raisins in their noses.

I came home drunk and happy last night and saw the news and the little light in my heart went out.

And part of me died. The part that likes baseball, and wants to go on living.

Baby jesus sheds a tear.

by little joey on Dec 14, 2006 9:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It explodes.

by chaney on Dec 14, 2006 2:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bill did this

with no regard of the future. He has to win now and that might have been why he made the moves he did. He didn't think Snelling and Fruto could help him win now as much as Vidro could.

It's still a myopic, poorly thought out move.

by Gomez on Dec 14, 2006 9:23 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

exactly

he needs to win to keep his job. But he just made his harder if he does keep it

by Scruffy Lefty on Dec 14, 2006 9:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

prepare to vomit

Sorry, but I still like the deal!

by tkballer22 on Dec 14, 2006 9:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

We're all pulling for you, Chris.

Your hat's too big.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 9:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He looks good in red

by Scruffy Lefty on Dec 14, 2006 9:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

sniff

Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult.

by Goose on Dec 14, 2006 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Or this

by Graham on Dec 14, 2006 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

or even this...

by tkballer22 on Dec 14, 2006 2:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bad Photoshop.

Washington never draws that many fans.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 2:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

damn...it wasn't a bad dream

Chris is really gone.

by MFAN on Dec 14, 2006 9:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Jeff....check this out...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Everyone, even these schmucks know Bavasi got took, twice.

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 14, 2006 10:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

bile...

Bavasi has got to know that Chris Snelling is a blogosphere favorite, and had to know this move would completely piss us off!

The only thing I can think of is that he thinks Snelling is an injury waiting to happen and that Vidro is still an All-Star hitter.

But... damn...

by marineroptimist on Dec 14, 2006 10:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Snelling getting hurt at DH

Could only happen if he tripped over Grovers fat ass on the way to the bat rack.

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 14, 2006 10:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well

the last time Snelling tore his ACL he was just running to first. I was at the game and when they took him out everybody around me was wondering what happen. I said he probably tore his ACL and no one believed me at the time.

by Scruffy Lefty on Dec 14, 2006 10:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

he did it in the batter's box.

by chaney on Dec 14, 2006 2:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

On the plus side ...

you guys now have on of the best defensive DHs in the league. That could be helpful in interleague play and the World Series.

by devo on Dec 14, 2006 10:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

according to MVP baseball 06

Trading Snelling for Vidro was a steal for the M's.

Although this is the same game that has Willie B rated higher than JJ.

by MFAN on Dec 14, 2006 11:02 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Bavasi's a genius!

Next up...trading Yuni, Jose and Putz to the Giants to bring Rich Aurillia back to Seattle! It's 2004 all over again.

Damn, that's funky!

by Shazam on Dec 14, 2006 11:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

WFB at 2b?

Ok, so I've been trying to figure this out.

There are some in the M's blogosphere who think the only way this trade makes sense is if it is the precursor to a bigger trade. The hypothesis has been that Vidro's arrival allows the M's to trade Jose Lopez et. al. for a starting pitcher. On the other hand, Vidro tells us he's here to DH, leaving us with the impression that Lopez is staying and that there are no further moves to be made.

There is one sinister plan that I've not seen raised (maybe I haven't read enough of the blogs): Bloomquist becomes the regular 2B, Vidro's the DH and Lopez et. al. are traded for a pitcher. UGH!

Nah, couldn't happen.

by spokane dude on Dec 14, 2006 11:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

dude

Given Bavasi's moves this offseason and the apparent love for WFB, it easily could happen.

by batura on Dec 14, 2006 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If this happens...

If WillieB is the starting anything then I am burning all my mariners gear, end of story.

by burroughs on Dec 14, 2006 3:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Plausible but not likely

The next move will be Broussard for whatever Bavasi can get.

by Gomez on Dec 14, 2006 10:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Any clue

how his option vests for 2009?

by Edgar for Pres on Dec 14, 2006 12:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A vested option

means that he used to have an option of some kind, and now it has been vested, so it is already picked up. Vidro is a Mariner through 2009.

by I'm NOT Corco on Dec 14, 2006 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a vesting option.

Presumably it becomes guaranteed if Vidro gets like 1000-1100 plate appearances over the next two years.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 14, 2006 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

I think that's ok. I mean if he's getting that many ABs then he must be doing decent.

by Edgar for Pres on Dec 14, 2006 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He could have an Everettastic .730 OPS

which would be superficially "decent" ("OMG! 18 HRs and 86 RBI!") but still suck.

by eponymous coward on Dec 14, 2006 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you "OH NOES"-ing yet, EP?

We're doomed!!!

by Phildopip on Dec 14, 2006 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Erm.

EC...sorry.

We're doomed!!!

by Phildopip on Dec 14, 2006 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We gave away

Two young players for the rights to over pay an aging, broken down player. We bought a 12 million dollar Yugo. We could have picked one of those up of the list of knuckleheads DFA'd and paid less, without having to give up anyone.

Bavasi must go, with Lincoln and Armstrong in the back seat.

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 14, 2006 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate it with a passion

I was just trying to figure out how long he'll be around cause he'll be a reminder of what could have been.

by Edgar for Pres on Dec 14, 2006 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Man...

I just found out I'm getting a Snelling jersey for Christmas...

I'm going to wear that to every Mariner Game from now on...as long as it's lucky.

We'll Always Have the Kingdome:

by BrettJMiller on Dec 14, 2006 9:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm getting my custom Doyle jersey...

by Graham on Dec 14, 2006 10:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We should all get Snelling jerseys

and wear them to fanfest for Bavasi's Q & A session.

We'll Always Have the Kingdome:

by BrettJMiller on Dec 14, 2006 10:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And the hits just keep on coming...

Between losing Doyle, watching the Hawks implode against the 49ers (?!?!), and seeing that the Sens got their ass handed to them yet again this is without a doubt one of the worst weeks I've ever had as a sports fan.

Haha... I guess it says a lot about how far the Sonics have fallen that I hadn't even noticed (or cared really) that they just lost back to back games.

Man, Reading better stick it to Blackburn on Saturday or I'll just about lose it.

by ningwers on Dec 15, 2006 1:02 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yesterday

sucked.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 15, 2006 7:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

At least

you weren't IN Seattle, and didn't get to experience 2 inches of rain in 90 minutes, then 50 mph winds.

by Gomez on Dec 15, 2006 9:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

God...

They've traded my two favorite Mariner's now. As compensation, we signed a prick, and someone who is old and might as well be another Rich Aurilia or whomever. This is the worst period as a fan since I started caring.

Henry Kissinger ist der Ubermensch

by spittle8 on Dec 15, 2006 2:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

This recent period..

this offseason has reminded me of the feeling I had the night they traded Joze Cruz jr for Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric. That was when the trade deadline was still at midnight, and I was giddy all day hoping they'd pull something off for the stretch run. that trade was a kick in the nuts, because I figured there was no way they'd let Cruz go, as he was going to be the left fielder of the future.

This is like that feeling every day.

by BrianV on Dec 15, 2006 7:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh

Well, atleast Jose Cruz Jr. wasn't particularly good for a long period of time. His career seemed rather short.

Your fandom predates mine. I came along prior to the 2003 season, fell in love with prospecting, and fell into a dark place as we fell off the Earth in the latter half of 2003. That was a brutal period. I've watched guys I've watched since I came aboard; Blackley; Nageotte; Snelling and Soriano either leave us or fail to develop. This is a depressing sport.

Henry Kissinger ist der Ubermensch

by spittle8 on Dec 15, 2006 8:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lol screw reading

blackburn will stuff them, savage will own as always

by dust on Dec 15, 2006 2:34 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

What's that?

You may have to speak up. I'm having trouble hearing you up here on the upper half of the table ;)

by ningwers on Dec 15, 2006 8:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and one more thing

vidro will be better than Aurilia, you can bet on it

by dust on Dec 15, 2006 2:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

well

That isn't saying much. It isn't saying anything, actually.

by BrianV on Dec 15, 2006 7:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Willie will be better than Aurilia

by Gomez on Dec 15, 2006 10:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

More Vidro BS....Aaargghhh!!!!

From Fox Sports:

The Washington Nationals' impending trade of second baseman Jose Vidro to Seattle for a pair of prospects will hold for at least another day as Vidro's physical was set for today in Miami. The Nationals are set to receive outfielder Chris Snelling and reliever Emiliano Fruto for the 32-year-old Vidro, who has spent his entire career with the Montreal-Washington organization. Snelling and Fruto also must pass physicals for the deal to be approved. As part of the deal for Vidro to waive the no-trade provision to Seattle, the two sides negotiated an option for 2009, essentially extending Vidro's deal. Terms of the extension were not available. According to a source with knowledge of the contract, the Mariners also increased to 15 the number of teams to which Vidro could refuse to be traded.

So, we have a piece of crap, paid more for said crap and limited who we can give the crap to....Vidro is this years version of a fruitcake

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 15, 2006 9:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Fail that physical.

Give me a merry Christmas.

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 15, 2006 9:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If the baseball God's....

smile upon us, Vidro will fail miserably, be stamped "return to sender" and Snelling will come back, prepared to prove the M's wrong. If it is truly a glorious day....Bavasi and Hargrove will go missing, their faces appearing on milk cartons at the QFC....

I killed a 12 pack just to watch it die...

by Dollar97 on Dec 15, 2006 10:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs