NB: Forgot DH. Jose Vidro last year, Mike Sweeney this year.
Last year there were 11 players comprising the bench and bullpen. Of those 11, just two, Mark Lowe and Ryan Rowland-Smith, are on the roster today. On the flipside, of the 14 players that made up the starting nine and the rotation back in 2008, nine return and it would be ten if you count Ichiro.
When was the last time we had any sort of useful bench?
0 recs | 40 comments
And you even managed to forget Sweeney and Vidro
Even more turnover!
Corco - April 5, 2009
Wakamatsu's new bold strategy of a 24 man roster does seem to be a bit of a puzzler
Let’s see if it pays off
Ezzra - April 5, 2009
I have a bad feeling about our bullpen this year.
I think it could be our undoing and I also foresee ‘walk the world’ being uttered rather a few times in game threads…
Good job we aren’t in the AL East…
EnglishMariner - April 5, 2009
That's part of the fun of this season heading in. Bullpens are pretty unpredictable in general.
I’d bet if you asked Rays fans (Paging R.J. Anderson to the teal and blue courtesy phone), they had similar concerns heading into last year.
abender20 - April 5, 2009
A Rays 2008 'pen would be awesome.
EnglishMariner - April 5, 2009
I hated the opening day pen.
You had injury risks (Reyes/Percival) guys in questionable roles (Howell as long-man), and questionable pitchers (Dohmann, Glover, even Wheeler could have went either way, unfortunately he went the bad way for long-term success). Add Trever Miller in as the LOOGY and that was that.
Having capable arms a level away is a must, and the Mariners seem to have that.
R.J. Anderson - April 5, 2009
Mark McLemore?
Wilder. - April 5, 2009
And Stan Javier!
Or maybe I’m just mentally overrating Javier based on a couple of memories.
bluemax - April 5, 2009
3 WAR in 2001.
Aaron Campeau - April 5, 2009
That team was incredible.
How the hell did that happen?
Wilder. - April 5, 2009
As incredible as it was, we couldn't get past the hated Yankees.
I had a lot of fun that season, but looking back on it is bittersweet.
JLProck - April 5, 2009
That's nuts.
2001 was awesome and winning 116 games is way cooler than winning a WS.
I did break lots of stuff during the ALCS though.
Aaron Campeau - April 5, 2009
I would trade 116 wins for a world title in a heartbeat.
Goose - April 5, 2009
Agreed.
I have a good friend that is a Yankees fan, and he mentions the fact that the Yanks pasted us in the playoffs every time I mention our 116 wins. Just once it’d be nice to be able to say that we went all the way that season.
I’m not saying 2001 wasn’t great. It is my favorite season to think back on.
JLProck - April 5, 2009
Not me.
Aaron Campeau - April 5, 2009
Me neither
Graham MacAree - April 5, 2009
agree
Edgar for Pres - April 6, 2009
I would trade 101 losses for a world title in a heartbeat.
ThundaPC - April 6, 2009
I would trade 2 wins for Strasburg.
Matthew - April 7, 2009
Who's Mike Lowe?
Some sort of ultra player that combined Mike Morse and Mark Lowe?
Coach Owens - April 5, 2009
Matt Clement's cousin???
PositivePaul - April 5, 2009
Seeing our 25 man is making me a little sad.
I’m having a tough time seeing a lot of upside in our season and we still have some pretty big weaknesses. To the future…
Edgar for Pres - April 5, 2009
Same
Corco - April 5, 2009
I would take this years team
over last years team.
SILVER LINING!
marinerdan - April 5, 2009
also coming off the books this year
are a bunch of crappy Bavasi contracts, so don’t fret. Chill, all will be cool in Marinerland, we just have to ride out the rehaul of the roster.
marinerdan - April 5, 2009
Beltre and Bedard leaving is a bad thing
The fact that Batista and Washburn are leaving helps but it will be hard to replace the talent we are losing too so its not all great. Hopefully we can find a way to turn this surplus of cash into high quality athletes but it isn’t always that easy when dipping into the free agency pool.
Edgar for Pres - April 5, 2009
There's always hope for Beltre...
If the M’s manage to compete and the rest of our division sucks, we might hold onto him. Z might also try to re-sign him anyway, since he understands how valuable he is. Whether Beltre has any interest is an unknown (especially as a Boris client), but here’s to hoping.
AtomicGarden - April 5, 2009
In all likelihood we're going to trade both of them if they aren't extended, though
And get some awesome young talent in return
OlSalty - April 5, 2009
I wouldn't bet on that.
Matthew - April 5, 2009
I guess the price for them would be a little high
Since it would just be a 6 month rental and they’d have to do better than the compensation picks. I’d be surprised if we didn’t get anything for Bedard though, assuming he can stay relatively healthy.
OlSalty - April 5, 2009
Bedard is not likely to garner Type A compensation.
And Beltre is near the cutoff and is undervalued by the league at large.
Matthew - April 5, 2009
Well, fuck.
OlSalty - April 5, 2009
If he's not likely to get Type A doesn't that make it easier to trade him though?
Not for his maximum value, but for something at least. Letting him walk as a type B would be kind of dumb.
OlSalty - April 5, 2009
No. That makes him worth less.
Matthew - April 5, 2009
Well yeah, we would get less for him but we could still get something useful
Not anywhere close to the amount of talent we had to give up to get him, though.
OlSalty - April 5, 2009
My original point holds
The future free agent class of Washburn, Bedard, Beltre, and Batista leaving will likely make this team worse even including any prospects from trades, possible draft picks and salary relief.
Edgar for Pres - April 5, 2009
I don't know if I would
If you would have given me the two rosters before the start of last year I would have taken the 2007 roster. Injuries and major collapses killed last year. That could happen to this team too. This roster is less risky but you’d only take this roster over last’s because you know how badly last year worked out.
Edgar for Pres - April 5, 2009
Was Mike Morse released, or is he in Triple A?
Fin - April 5, 2009
AAA.
He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Tacoma.
Teej - April 5, 2009
You forgot Phillpe Aumount
Robert - April 5, 2009
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