Miscellaneous
by Jeff Sullivan on Jan 15, 2009 9:54 PM PST
in Miscellaneous
- GMs never die, and Woody Woodward is proof. I never thought the Mariners would ever seriously entertain the thought of bringing him back into the fold, but then I never thought the Mariners would ever go through the Bavasi years, either, and once those happened all the memories from the beforetimes kind of got lost in the fog. When Woodward needs help moving, I wonder if he calls Randy Smith.
- Pravda headline: Mariners hope to have Fields for camp. Pravda content: no such information. At no point have I seen or heard any indication that the front office is all that high on the idea of signing Josh Fields, and while there are open lines of communication between the M's and Boras, it doesn't look like Zduriencik is going to cave. This draft could be an awful lot of fun.
- Based on a number of things, but primarily on Zduriencik's Hot Stove radio interview last weekend, two things are becoming clear: (1) the Mariners still desire another bat, and (2) the organization doesn't seem that high on Wlad being a part of the future (or the present). Depending on the budget and how highly the remaining free agents decide to price themselves, the door's open for these two issues to resolve themselves simultaneously. Just because it's the middle of January doesn't mean the interesting part of the offseason is over.
- Baker wrote about it yesterday, but with the Mariners pushing up against their budget and RRS sitting in relief, evidence continues to mount that Armstrong's nixing of last August's Washburn waiver claim was an unforgivably erroneous decision. It was obvious at the time, and it's even more obvious now, and I can only hope that out of this mistake Armstrong has learned that maybe he should leave the baseball decisions to the baseball people he hires, rather than presumptuously and arrogantly taking them upon himself. It never worked, Chuck. I pray that you're done trying.
Swisher swisher swisher swisher
Matthew - January 15, 2009
Wheee!
JI - January 15, 2009
Yes yes yes yes
Teej - January 15, 2009
Andruw Jones!
JI - January 15, 2009
Buy buy buy.
(for cheap)
Teej - January 15, 2009
Not that I'd really touch him with a ten foot pole...
But for *free.
Might make a nice 4th OFer, but it’s possible he’d be a bad cat in the clubhouse, not that people here really care about such things…
PositivePaul - January 16, 2009
The rumor I heard is AJ isn't hitting in Winter Ball against AA/AAA talent.
The only AJ I wish the Mariner’s would go after is in Baltimore.
Swisher on the other hand could be awesome! Besides, the blog community liking him, the regluar fans know Swisher well enough that it would boost their support.
mark sobba - January 16, 2009
Exactly.
The reports out of Winter Ball suggest ’Druw Is Done…
PositivePaul - January 16, 2009
Should've traded Wlad for Octavio Dotel when they had the chance.
Fin - January 15, 2009
Zduriencik is having conversations with Fields...
probably to the same extent that he had conversations with Ibanez before he left.
JY - January 15, 2009
I would now like to draw everyone’s attention to my posting in the wrong thread.
JY - January 15, 2009
On the other hand
this makes me uneasy.
JLC - January 15, 2009
That sounds pretty P.R. oriented to me.
Aaron Campeau - January 15, 2009
Sounds like standard company line stuff.
He’s not going to say in public that they don’t want to sign the guy.
Happybelly - January 15, 2009
Translation Bot 6000:
We’re not interested and neither are they.
The Typical Idiot Fan - January 15, 2009
What's he supposed to say?
“I really don’t want to sign our first round pick from last season”?
BrianL - January 15, 2009
He doesn't have to say anything, really.
I’d prefer he just decline to comment or give some vague answer. He isn’t under any obligation to tell Hickey what he wants to do with Fields. And I don’t feel that saying, “I don’t want to sign him,” is horrible, either. Zduriencik wants to run the organization his way, and if that doesn’t include Josh Fields, then so be it.
He already let Ibanez go, fired Bob Fontaine, and has turned the thought process of this club around completely. It just seems unnecessary to emphasize how much they like Josh Fields.
More importantly, it sounds like if Boras brings his demands down, the Mariners will go ahead and sign Fields. I’m not sure I agree with that. Fields’ ceiling is an elite reliever. Given their volatility and ease of replacement, I don’t see how Fields even makes sense as a 1st round pick at all, and certainly not for a rebuilding club.
JLC - January 16, 2009
Zduriencik wanted Raul Ibanez more than he wants Josh Fields
There’s nothing to worry about.
ThundaPC - January 16, 2009
Hmm.
So you’re saying that he wanted to have a DH in his mid-30’s, taking up 10 million dollars annually for the next 3 years – which means sacrificing 2 extra draft picks in the 1st round of the 2009 draft – despite having emphasized the value of plus defense and cheap young talent this offseason, more than he wants Joshua Fields.
JLC - January 16, 2009
He didn't want to spend 10 million for 3 years on Raul...
…but that doesn’t preclude him wanting Raul more than Fields.
Besides, this draft is a bit on the weak side and if Raul would’ve accepted arbitration or something he could’ve quite possibly still gotten those draft picks next year. And stuck Raul at DH.
PositivePaul - January 16, 2009
Were you concerned about the following comments?
- Zduriencik on extending Raul past 2009 (offered arbitration):
- Zduriencik on Raul declining arbitration:
- Zduriencik, after Raul jumps to the Phillies:
————————————
Meanwhile, back in December
Again, don’t get too wrapped up in Zduriencik’s comments. According to “Quote-based analysis” he wanted Raul quite a bit more than he wants Fields.
Really, if anything, his current stance on Fields is a positive. He’d like to have him but he isn’t going to go out of his way to get him.
ThundaPC - January 16, 2009
his usual remark when asked about Fields
is to comment on what a shame it is to waste a year sitting at home when he could be playing…
msb - January 16, 2009
Exactly
Zduriencik is into getting players who want to play.
Fields seems to have done the opposite, twice now.
JY - January 16, 2009
Bear in mind
he said, “We’d like to sign Josh Fields,” not
“We’d rather sign Josh Fields than have the 21st pick in this year’s draft.” I’d like for us to sign Josh Fields, too, if he’d sign for $100,000 and we could keep the 21st pick. Neither is going to happen.
The Ancient Mariner - January 16, 2009
Thoughts before I go to bed:
1. I’ve never been more excited for a draft. I believe we could have five of the first 60 picks, including three in the first round. (The Phillies have zero in the first 60. Yikes.)
2. Fields has zero leverage. I really don’t think the new regime wants him, he can’t go back to college, and he has little chance of being drafted at No. 18 or higher next year. I don’t know if his stock will ever be higher. The M’s baseball operations team appeared to be the only one that was willing to take him in the first round, and that group isn’t around anymore.
3. With regards to MLB.com: As someone who has made a mistake or two in his years as a copy editor, let me say that it’s amazing how bad a headline writer can make a reporter look. Just a heads-up to those who don’t know: At virtually any media organization bigger than your local weekly newsletter (or a reporter’s blog), reporters don’t write their own headlines. Jackasses like me do. So rip their reporting/writing all you want, but give them a break on the headlines.
Teej - January 15, 2009
meh
5 relievers were taken in the 1st round of the 2008, so I wouldn’t say that the M’s were the only team willing to take him in the first round. And Josh Fields was a 2nd rounder the year before. You’re right that he probably won’t see 18 again but he shouldn’t be screwed going back into the draft by any means
Trenchtown - January 16, 2009
Fair point.
I’m no expert, but it seemed to be an unusually strong draft for relievers. (It was considered a below-average draft for players at skill positions, so it makes some sense.) But yeah, who knows, maybe he’ll go in the first round next year. But I don’t see him getting enough of a pay raise to justify missing a year in an MLB system. He has every right to hold out, but I just wonder if it’s in his best interests.
And for the record: I was wrong about Fields being taken at 18. It was 20.
Teej - January 16, 2009
On a personal level, this is worse than the time we almost signed Ng
Robert - January 15, 2009
Whenever I see Josh Fields
I think of this guy.
Fin - January 16, 2009
So do I.
And I live on the Southside and have seen the guy play, so the association is even stronger. It messes with my befuddled mind.
esoteric - January 16, 2009
re Fields
It’s hilarious they’re squabbling over 500k. I think what this comes down to is the Bavasi Mariners were so fixated on getting a player no matter what that Boras could stick to his demands and win in the end. Zed seems to be taking the Epstein route of here’s what we think is fair if you don’t good luck elsewhere.
Regarding Washburn, the sad fact is that at this point he almost certainly won’t get moved and won’t be worth the return at the deadline. In some ways his tenure here has strengthened my fandom because holy shit I will have followed a team he plays for for four years.
I still have some small hope that he can be sent away to some team with a sudden opening in the rotation (come on WBC injuries!) so as to open up the door for RRS. Not that I think RRS wil be so much better, or that there will be anyone left to sign at that point. I’d just rather not see his chipmunk face in Safeco any more.
Bearskin Rugburn - January 16, 2009
Maybe the way to move Washburn is
every time a Jon Garland rumor crops up, Zduriencik should call up that team and say “Whoa, hold on Jim Hendry. Instead of 20/3 for Garland, how about Washburn and we give you 3 mil?”.
Bearskin Rugburn - January 16, 2009
kinda entertaining to read all the metaphorical rending of clothes ...
… in the Times’ comments about Woodward.
Not quite sure how throwing a bone to Woodward is going to end the Mariner world…
msb - January 16, 2009
oh, and...
whatever Carmen Fusco wants, Carmen Fusco gets.
msb - January 16, 2009
if this is a reference to the Q/A
could you clarify?
Bearskin Rugburn - January 16, 2009
yup
I don’t think it is telling tales— Carmen emphasized a number of times (and pointed out it was a hallmark of the Carmen Fusco Baseball Academy) that he was a firm believer in the mental side of the game, and that he was agitating for them to bring in someone for that purpose.
msb - January 16, 2009
Last guy dat crossed Carmen Fusco ended up sleepin' wit' da fishes, capice?
Aaron Campeau - January 16, 2009
Hit f/x is coming (slowly)....(maybe)
link
Edgar for Pres - January 16, 2009
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