[Schuxu]

Lately there is a lot of bad feelings toward management about the playing time for Olivo and Figgins. I am of the strong opinion that there is a reason despite for all those games those guys get which is not the veteran presence crap that Wedge talked about. Instead this is all about tradeability. There is still hope that these two might build some value such that we can dump them to somebody else without having to eat there whole remaining contracts. And this value wont build on the bench. I don't know how long it will last, but I guess as long as these guys are still on the roster they will get significant playing time.

[AlMoStLeGeNdArY]

Schuxu, on 27 April 2012 - 04:57 AM, said:

Lately there is a lot of bad feelings toward management about the playing time for Olivo and Figgins. I am of the strong opinion that there is a reason despite for all those games those guys get which is not the veteran presence crap that Wedge talked about. Instead this is all about tradeability. There is still hope that these two might build some value such that we can dump them to somebody else without having to eat there whole remaining contracts. And this value wont build on the bench. I don't know how long it will last, but I guess as long as these guys are still on the roster they will get significant playing time.

I really hope that isn't the reason. Sometimes you just gotta know when to cut your loses.

This post has been edited by AlMoStLeGeNdArY: 27 April 2012 - 08:43 AM

[Vidya]

Figgins is probably a lost cause, and will have to rebuild his career once he leaves the Mariners. Olivo could probably build some value, but that's not the way Wedge thinks. Right now he seems to believe he doesn't have better options than the two of them, but that will change quicker for Figgins that Olivo. Figgins has the burden of a big contract, but Olivo could have value for a team with a starting catcher out for the season.

My guess right now is that Wedge is keeping the guys in the line-up to motivate the younger players by making them prove they are better players. Eventually that will happen, but not soon enough for most of us including myself.

[Huindekmi]

The only thing saving Figgins right now is that his current batting line is as good or better than our starting C, 1B, 2B, SS and DH.

[6-pak-abs]

Figgins is getting another day off today ... I guess Seager and Jaso need some "veteran presence" with them on the bench.

[Vidya]

Huindekmi, on 27 April 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

The only thing saving Figgins right now is that his current batting line is as good or better than our starting C, 1B, 2B, SS and DH.

No doubt! Carp's return won't help much either, because he doesn't seem to be 100% yet. Figgins is very motivated right now. He's in a battle for playing time right now, but there are others doing worse. What he's really in danger of losing is the #1 spot in the order. It's only a matter of time before Ackley takes over. If he does really bad, like he did last year, he could find it difficult to get a job with another MLB team.

[Vidya]

6-pak-abs, on 27 April 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

Figgins is getting another day off today ... I guess Seager and Jaso need some "veteran presence" with them on the bench.

I was checking to see if anyone would comment on Figgins. I like this one the best, but I missed finding any comments about Wedge always benching guys after they have a good day. It seems they were right, but we do still need a little more data to be sure.

This post has been edited by Vidya: 27 April 2012 - 04:40 PM

[xarmyguy78]

Vidya, on 27 April 2012 - 04:40 PM, said:

I was checking to see if anyone would comment on Figgins. I like this one the best, but I missed finding any comments about Wedge always benching guys after they have a good day. It seems they were right, but we do still need a little more data to be sure.

I guess we'll know for sure if Wedge gives Saunders the day off tomorrow. With a RHP on the mound tomorrow MAYBE, just maybe Jaso will get a start behind the plate, even though Olivo did have a big hit and scored an important run in tonight's game

This post has been edited by xarmyguy78: 27 April 2012 - 10:00 PM

[M's Watcher]

Schuxu, on 27 April 2012 - 04:57 AM, said:

Lately there is a lot of bad feelings toward management about the playing time for Olivo and Figgins. I am of the strong opinion that there is a reason despite for all those games those guys get which is not the veteran presence crap that Wedge talked about. Instead this is all about tradeability. There is still hope that these two might build some value such that we can dump them to somebody else without having to eat there whole remaining contracts. And this value wont build on the bench. I don't know how long it will last, but I guess as long as these guys are still on the roster they will get significant playing time.

With Olivo hurt now he's not going anywhere other than the DL. If he's back by June, there's still a chance to trade him by the deadline. Offensively, he has been improving. On defense, he has been just as offensive. I'm sorry Olivo is hurt, but Jaso now gets his deserved shot.

[DocMilo]

M, on 01 May 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

With Olivo hurt now he's not going anywhere other than the DL. If he's back by June, there's still a chance to trade him by the deadline. Offensively, he has been improving. On defense, he has been just as offensive. I'm sorry Olivo is hurt, but Jaso now gets his deserved shot.

How about Montero? Here's a Larry Stone tweet:

Quote

A stat to ponder from my blog post: Montero hitting .450 (9-for-20) w/3 HR, 8 RBI when catching, & .197 (12-for-81) w/1 HR & 5 RBI when DH

I would like some more of that.

[Lonnie]

DocMilo, on 01 May 2012 - 07:16 AM, said:

How about Montero? Here's a Larry Stone tweet:
I would like some more of that.

What I don't want to see is more of Brandon League's splitters clanking off of Montero's glove.

[DocMilo]

Lonnie, on 01 May 2012 - 08:57 AM, said:

What I don't want to see is more of Brandon League's splitters clanking off of Montero's glove.

League couldn't throw his splitter very much the begining of last year because Olivo couldn't catch it either. Things like catching Leagues splitter take a bit of time getting used to. Not quite like catching a knuckle, but that thing drops a couple of floors.

[garbonzo]

Ackley 2B
Seager SS
Ichiro RF
Montero DH
Saunders CF
Smoak 1B
Liddi 3B
Carp LF
Jaso C

I wonder if Wedge would ever consider a lineup like this against a RHP.

Wouldn't mind seeing it once myself, though it would probably never happen.

[Chaos_Effect]

garbonzo, on 01 May 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Ackley 2B
Seager SS
Ichiro RF
Montero DH
Saunders CF
Smoak 1B
Liddi 3B
Carp LF
Jaso C

I wonder if Wedge would ever consider a lineup like this against a RHP.

Wouldn't mind seeing it once myself, though it would probably never happen.

That lineup looks like it could be fairly competent.

[Dag Gummit]

garbonzo, on 01 May 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Ackley 2B
Seager SS
Ichiro RF
Montero DH
Saunders CF
Smoak 1B
Liddi 3B
Carp LF
Jaso C

I wonder if Wedge would ever consider a lineup like this against a RHP.

Wouldn't mind seeing it once myself, though it would probably never happen.

So long as we're going to rosterbate, just turn that into a glove/bat platoon between Ryan and Liddi. With groundballers, Ryan's in at SS with Seager at 3B. With flyball pitchers, you go with Seager at SS and Liddi at 3B.

I don't know if there is a manager in MLB anymore that would actually run something like that, but hey. It's rosterbation, so nobody actually cares.