Dustin Ackley, Mariners #2 Overall Pick Options

[CrustyJuggler]

Something written by Peter Gamons yesterday.

He has played first base because the Tar Heels don't have a viable alternative and because he is less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery. It is anticipated that he will play center field in the pros, although Carolina coach Mike Fox insists, "Let him put in the time, and he will be an outstanding second baseman." Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who was in Boston (along with Pittsburgh's Neal Huntington and Washington's Mike Rizzo) to see Ackley against Boston College on Friday, liked hearing that.

Ackley, the son of former Red Sox minor league catcher John Ackley, might be a Chase Utley at second. Or a Darin Erstad in center. "I don't know if I'll ever coach a better player," Fox says. "Or a better person."

Now *THAT* is an interesting twist ladies and gentlemen.

Doubt he puts up Utley-esque power numbers but Ackley at 2B would force Lopez to 3B and allow Gutierrez to stay in CF and shorten up on the LF--Balentien/Saunders logjam.

Question is, how long would it take Ackley to become a ML calibre two-bagger? An extra year?

This post has been edited by CrustyJuggler: Jun 16 2009, 04:40 PM

[JOlderdude]

Something written by Peter Gamons yesterday.



Now *THAT* is an interesting twist ladies and gentlemen.

Doubt he puts up Utley-esque power numbers but Ackley at 2B would force Lopez to 3B and allow Gutierrez to stay in CF and shorten up on the LF--Balentien/Saunders logjam.

Question is, how long would it take Ackley to become a ML calibre two-bagger? An extra year?

According to phredmojo, the FO has already decided to turn him into a reliever.

[JFromSeattle]

Incidentally, Utley is the player he comps himself to, which is a nice aspiration.

[CrustyJuggler]

Incidentally, Utley is the player he comps himself to, which is a nice aspiration.

Never heard of players comping themselves.

And yes.. that would be friggin' awesome if realized.

[JFromSeattle]

Never heard of players comping themselves.

And yes.. that would be friggin' awesome if realized.

Here's the article. It talks about others comping him to Jacoby Ellsbury. I've also heard LH Andre Ethier and Todd Helton, I think.

[MtGrizzly]

How long would it take a college senior that has played 1B/OF in college to learn to play 2B adequately, if he has the skills? 2 years? 3? More? I say leave the kid alone. He's the perfect Safeco left fielder, IMHO.

[Yuni]

If he is legitimately a good candidate for a position change to 2B then I doubt it'd take him 3 years. He probably wouldn't be a regular until 2011 regardless of position, so that's plenty of time to see if he has what it takes or not, assuming he signs right away and plays in 09. If he didn't show flashes early in the transition I'm sure they'd abandon the whole idea together pretty quickly.

This post has been edited by Yuni: May 17 2009, 05:05 PM

[Gomez]

Encouraging, since we've already got a lot of outfield prospects and he would join a crowded group... but the pickings are slim at the infield positions and he would vault to the top of the prospect heap in this org at 2B. And of course, if he doesn't work out at 2B and/or the herd thins out in the outfield over time, you can just move him back to the OF.

[CrustyJuggler]

Encouraging, since we've already got a lot of outfield prospects and he would join a crowded group... but the pickings are slim at the infield positions and he would vault to the top of the prospect heap in this org at 2B. And of course, if he doesn't work out at 2B and/or the herd thins out in the outfield over time, you can just move him back to the OF.

That's how I see it. Get him signed quickly and started on the conversion to second. If at any point down the road it doesn't look like it will work, I'm sure they could plop him back in the OF the next day without a whole lot of negative effect on his overall progression. Especially as far as the big club is concerned.

[muddyfrogwater]

Is there any indication that Ackley may not sign, and stay for his senior year in NC?

[CrustyJuggler]

Here's the article. It talks about others comping him to Jacoby Ellsbury. I've also heard LH Andre Ethier and Todd Helton, I think.

Markakis is another name I've heard bandied about. Less raw power and slight worse arm than Nick was a precursor though.

[CrustyJuggler]

Is there any indication that Ackley may not sign, and stay for his senior year in NC?

Very doubtful Seattle would select him then. Rumor has it that the Mariners are already in contract talks with Ackley and Boras. The one thing good about the Nats absolutely taking Strasburg is that the Mariners can concentrate fully on the guy they want and make sure and agreement can be met long before they are on the clock.

This post has been edited by CrustyJuggler: May 17 2009, 05:25 PM

[Hotwheelz]

As excited as I was about Strasburg and the past comment that the Nats might pass.....I really think Ackley is a better fit for this club, both in the future and the short term. Sure, Strasburg could turn into the pitcher we all envision him being. But he is a pitcher and that is a lot of money tied into a player that has better odds of making the big leagues quicker than most draft picks, but in the end he is still a college pitcher. It might sound strange but I might just take Ackley over Strasburg, even though that is not a decision we will have to make.

[Hotwheelz]

I just don't think Washington can afford to NOT draft Strasburg and then NOT sign him. While I might take Ackley over Strasburg....I feel Strasburg is the absolute best player the Nationals could take. As a pitcher he has a good chance of flaming out but in the eyes of the masses he is the best player in many, many years. Nationals fans would be beyond upset if he was not chosen.

[muddyfrogwater]

Very doubtful Seattle would select him then. Rumor has it that the Mariners are already in contract talks with Ackley and Boras. The one thing good about the Nats absolutely taking Strasburg is that the Mariners can concentrate fully on the guy they want and make sure and agreement can be met long before they are on the clock.

Thx.

[phredmojo]

I just don't think Washington can afford to NOT draft Strasburg and then NOT sign him. While I might take Ackley over Strasburg....I feel Strasburg is the absolute best player the Nationals could take. As a pitcher he has a good chance of flaming out but in the eyes of the masses he is the best player in many, many years. Nationals fans would be beyond upset if he was not chosen.

the nationals have fans?

[Hotwheelz]

the nationals have fans?

Good point.

[CrustyJuggler]

The backlash the Nats would get for not drafting Strasburg would be unbelievably huge. He is far and away the best player out there and possibly the best pitcher to *ever* come out of college. They have to take him regardless of Boras's 50 million dollar threats and Strasburg's wanting to stay on the West Coast.


This post has been edited by CrustyJuggler: May 17 2009, 08:36 PM

[MfaninAlaska]

The backlash the Nats would get for not drafting Strasburg would be unbelievably huge. He is far and away the best player out there and possibly the best pitcher to *ever* come out of college. They have to take him regardless of Boras's 50 million dollar threats and Strasburg's wanting to stay on the West Coast.

So basically... Strasburg is to the Nats, what A-Rod was to the M's when he came out of high school.

[greatdane1984]

short clip of Ackley
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=3996577