Hit it, LaRue.
The back-and forth career of Seattle right-hander Brandon Morrow – he’s a starter, no a reliever, no a starter – is about to take another turn.
It will land him, probably by the end of this week, in the starting rotation of the Tacoma Rainiers.
Morrow, the 24-year-old first-round draft pick in 2005, approached the team last month and told them he’d changed his mind about being a reliever. He wanted to be a starting pitcher.
Later on:
Morrow doesn’t doubt he can start regularly and wants the chance to prove it.
I'll repeat that in case you missed it:
Morrow doesn’t doubt he can start regularly and wants the chance to prove it.
This is the angriest I've ever been at good news.
0 recs | 210 comments
So his body can handle it when he wants it to, I guess
OlSalty - June 9, 2009
It's almost like he lied about not feeling right starting to stay with the big club.
Faux - June 9, 2009
So what the hell was with his "I've always wanted to be a closer" bullshit?
Obviously this is good news, but the dude can’t make up his mind on what he wants to do.
Benne - June 9, 2009
It's almost like you don't let a young player choose their own position.
Faux - June 9, 2009
What a douchebag....
ThundaPC - June 9, 2009
Buh?
BrianL - June 9, 2009
This is a good thing, right?
TRUguillotine - June 9, 2009
I'll refraining from any name-calling and just say better late than never
DKCecil - June 9, 2009
I hope they told him that he's no longer allowed to change his mind after this
JLC - June 9, 2009
Now they need to actually transition him correctly this time
OlSalty - June 9, 2009
Brandon Morrow has turned into my favorite mariner that I hate for some goddamn reason.
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
Good use of flummoxed.
Slow Country - June 9, 2009
I am so excited.
I love Brandon Morrow.
Kirk - June 9, 2009
I'll take this opportunity to re-state something I've mentioned a few times
Last year, Morrow’s body was absolutely dead after starts. Way worse than is the case for the average pitcher. Now we get to find out whether that was because he wasn’t stretched out properly, or because his body isn’t cut out for it. I’m very concerned that it’s the latter, but at least we’re going to find out for sure. Here’s hoping we give him as much time as he needs.
Jeff Sullivan - June 9, 2009
That's all I was hoping for
Was a chance to find out for sure, because I really don’t think it was done even close to properly the first time.
If he’s still dealing with those issues after we don’t rush him this time, then the bullpen is where he’s meant to be.
OlSalty - June 9, 2009
Are you saying that he was okay out of the bullpen?
d0nkey - June 9, 2009
Well if he can't start and he sucks in the bullpen he's completely worthless so where's the harm
But he was good out of the bullpen last year and some of his struggles this year probably are related to injury.
OlSalty - June 9, 2009
I'd like to know if he would still suck out of the bullpen if he'd had a real spring training
msb - June 9, 2009
I was just looking at his pitch counts for last year.
Of the five games he started, he threw 106, 90, 80, 113, and 114 pitches. He was obviously beat after the first start, and the results show it. He didn’t last long, and the Angels and Royals took advantage of him. He came back to last just over six innings for the final two starts of the season, with mediocre results, but he also did so against the pathetic Athletics’ offense.
I’m happy that he’s going to give starting another go, but unless the club discovers a method of keeping his body fresh, I don’t see him putting up the results we’d expect from a #5 overall draft pick.
katal - June 9, 2009
But he's out of options after this year.
So yay for that.
Mariner John - June 9, 2009
Hopefully after this year his position will be figured out.
Fin - June 9, 2009
Or he won't need any more seasoning/conditioning in AAA.
Mariner John - June 9, 2009
Who knows....
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
I don't know what to do with myself.
Brandon Morrow is likable again!
Mariner Melee - June 9, 2009
No he's not
Robert - June 9, 2009
It makes me want to punch him in the kidneys.
Faux - June 9, 2009
He would die.
royalcurve - June 9, 2009
(Faux is strong)
royalcurve - June 9, 2009
?
http://garfield.nfshost.com/1988/08/07/
Faux - June 9, 2009
(Specifically the last frame)
Faux - June 9, 2009
Hush, you.
royalcurve - June 9, 2009
I like SP Morrow alot more than CL Morrow
Mariner Melee - June 9, 2009
DL Morrow was okay.
CapSea - June 9, 2009
But NO Morrow would've been even better...
(in my non-Avatar life, I’m still wondering where 2006 went — why can’t it disappear in my Avatar, too?)
PositivePaul - June 10, 2009
I feel like by the time he turns into a useful player
club control will be over.
greymstreet - June 9, 2009
We have him for four years after this season.
There’s time.
Teej - June 9, 2009
Yeah and he's going to the minors...
so his service time clock stops. It’s all good. And hell, at this point if he gets good in a couple years it’s exceeding our current expectations.
gustafm - June 9, 2009
Even if he weren't going to the minors, we'
Teej - June 9, 2009
would enjoy an ice cold lemonade?
Faux - June 9, 2009
d still have him through 2013.
Teej - June 9, 2009
Lucky us.
By then, we should figure out where we want him.
Sinking Away - June 9, 2009
Having a guy with his stuff and paying him dirt is very valuable.
We’re not a third of the way through Morrow’s service time. It’s frustrating, but it’s not as if he’s not a big asset.
Teej - June 9, 2009
I was most responding to the events so far.
He’s been telling them where he wants to play or doesn’t want to play. What’s up with that? Where does that happen?
Sinking Away - June 9, 2009
I feel like my sympathy toward sick people is being abused.
Does this make me a bad person?
Slow Country - June 9, 2009
No, but these might.
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/4/8/826827/dear-lookout-landing#13858429
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/4/8/826827/dear-lookout-landing#13873460
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/5/13/874873/16-18-chart#15699135
Faux - June 9, 2009
Did Brandon Morrow really post here?
He should no this is nothing compared to the abuse Yuni and Rob Johnson get.
Slow Country - June 9, 2009
No, it was 99.999% likely to be some hack making a joke.
Faux - June 9, 2009
So.. it WAS Brandon Morrow.
CapSea - June 9, 2009
That would be hilarious
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
GOD.
But hey, at least he’s going to have to work on his secondary stuff, because throwing 97 somewhere in the general direction of home plate won’t cut it for starting.
eponymous_coward - June 9, 2009
Speaking of underachieving first rounders...
John Hickey on baseball america says:
“(Jeff) Clement’s troublesome knees had improved to the point where he was catching in the bullpen for Triple-A Tacoma. He had been confined to DH since early May.”
It’s almost like all of our bad positional decisions are starting to solve themselves. What’s next? Yuni goes on a diet?
gustafm - June 9, 2009
Loafie starts to not suck again?
eponymous_coward - June 9, 2009
Hey, let's not get crazy. Certain things are impossible
gustafm - June 9, 2009
Clement for bullpen catcher!
Eyebrows - June 9, 2009
You bastard.
Seeking joy in our pain!
marinerdan - June 10, 2009
You haven't caught on?
That’s like half the fun of hanging out here.
Eyebrows - June 10, 2009
How can this not have more rec's?!?
PositivePaul - June 10, 2009
I hope he's in Tacoma on his bobblehead night.
Kirsten Schlewitz - June 9, 2009
That would be kinda mean...
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
Sounds like he's going down to Tacoma at the end of this week
so good news!
BrianL - June 9, 2009
He can show up in suit and tie
like Olerud.
Paytheline - June 9, 2009
At least if he's in Tacoma he's safe from ruining his own bobblehead night.
::cough:: Yuniesky ::cough::
katal - June 9, 2009
I actually have Yuni's bobblehead.
Fin - June 9, 2009
And you haven't smashed it with a hammer after watching him in the field.
russak - June 9, 2009
It's appropriately dense
Jeff Sullivan - June 9, 2009
I hope he drives to Tacoma on the wrong side of the interstate on his bobblehead night
Robert - June 9, 2009
I hope his bobblehead comes with a finger tester and a little can of coke zero.
Faux - June 9, 2009
Aw, NOLA.....
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
It's funny because I was thinking the same thing.
That he wouldn’t be here for his night. And I too was at Yuni "bobble"head night.
Hopefulmsfan - June 10, 2009
I can't wait until he decides he's a third baseman.
craig3410 - June 9, 2009
Or CF.
He’s got the first part of Ankiel’s career arc down pat.
Faux - June 9, 2009
I think I'm more flabbergasted than flummoxed..
This makes Morrow look like a piece of shit, if you ask me. As Jeff says, it’ll be good to see if the divine-wrath-like pain Morrow was feeling after starts was a result of not being in starting shape, Morrow being a self-serving little bitch, or a legitimate limitation on him as an athlete and holyhellwhydidwedrafthimthenhe’sclosetouselesshisupsideisthesameasLopey’s.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 9, 2009
To be fair,
both of the upsides were pretty good at one point.
Faux - June 9, 2009
He sounds like a head-case.
Terribly handled, but still a head-case.
Sinking Away - June 9, 2009
Are you shitting me?!?
royalcurve - June 9, 2009
I think that fanpost from a while back was really him,
and this is payback for the diabetes jokes.
craig3410 - June 9, 2009
Motherfuck
Does this mean that he’ll be down in Tacoma for his bobblehead night? What an asshole. I’m not even sure if I like him anymore
tootthekazoo - June 9, 2009
You're kinder than I am.
katal - June 9, 2009
Just because Morrow isn't there doesn't mean you can't enjoy his bobblehead.
Mariner Melee - June 9, 2009
It you stick the head up your ass it is the body that bobbles.
CapSea - June 9, 2009
I'm going to tape a picture of Dustin Ackley over his face and sit him next to Ichiro! on my dresser.
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
I would worry that the tape would not hold from all the friction.
CapSea - June 10, 2009
This is so gross but very funny!
marinerdan - June 10, 2009
AGH
.Taylor - June 10, 2009
Speaking of that post,
did we ever find out that it was really him or not?
craig3410 - June 9, 2009
Over/under on the time before Morrow is 100% sure he has the body to play rubgy
Robert - June 9, 2009
THIS IS WHAT I WANT
royalcurve - June 9, 2009
He is a hooker
waldo rojas - June 9, 2009
When does the draft start up again?
And how many rounds will there be tomorrow?
DAMellen - June 9, 2009
Make up your fucking mind, douche.
Other than that…
YAAAAAAAY!
JLProck - June 9, 2009
What the christ is going on
Graham MacAree - June 9, 2009
YES!
This has zero chance not to add to our Brandon Morrow meme collection!
Matthew - June 9, 2009
I sense some sarcasm.
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
This was a rare sarcasm-free Matthew comment.
I am genuinely excited about this solely for how much fun it is going to be to write about.
Matthew - June 9, 2009
He and RR-S might end up in the same Tacoma rotation!
Matthew - June 9, 2009
If only i could watch Rainiers games. Do they have minor league game highlights on mlb.com?
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
No, but if you have Comcast, some of their games are on TV!!
GOD!!!!
Matthew - June 9, 2009
WHEN I AM THROUGH MURDERING MLB PEOPLE, YOU ARE ALL NEXT ON THE DATABASE BROADSTRIPE MANAGEMENT!
BETTER STAY REPENTING NOW
Matthew - June 9, 2009
Are you referring to the 'Extra-Ultra-Premium Sports Package'? Cause I'd have to give the blood of my firstborn to them to afford that.
I don’t even have kids…. yet
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Broadstripe refers to the trail of blood that Matthew and Graham will leave in their wakes.
Also they don’t carry anything of value, and suck in general as a company.
Faux - June 9, 2009
You can crash at my place
Poochie - June 9, 2009
Be faster for him to actually drive to Tacoma...
PositivePaul - June 10, 2009
I think the R's would beat the M's in a non Felix/Bedard night.
marinerdan - June 10, 2009
Morrow = House.
He wants off vicodin, no he doesn’t, yes he does, no he doesn’t, he likes cuddy, no he doesn’t, yes he does! Wait, no, he likes vicodin! No, he doesn’t!
Matthew - June 9, 2009
He likes Cameron! No he doesn't! Yes he does! DAmn she's hot! No he doesn't but still wants to bang her!
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
Sounds exhausting.
royalcurve - June 9, 2009
A little more miscegeny and some crack, I think this has potential
Kermit. - June 9, 2009
Sometimes you use words that I would never attribute to you.
And they’re always the best words.
Faux - June 9, 2009
Thanks Faux, I even checked to make sure I used the right one.
I’ve been looking for a spot to use misogyny
Kermit. - June 9, 2009
And you haven't found one yet??
On Lookout Landing? REALLY? Are you even trying?
CapSea - June 9, 2009
Half the time I think of something I'm a day late and a dollar short
Kermit. - June 9, 2009
Your mother said i was a dollar short, and i was broke.
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
She uses dollar bills as a measuring stick
Kermit. - June 9, 2009
I wish I could rec this more than once
abender20 - June 9, 2009
I unrec'd it a couple times just ot have the pleasure of reccing it again.
Faux - June 10, 2009
Jam's is a full 4 dollar bills stacked high!
CapSea - June 9, 2009
I'm glad SOMEONE has my back
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Yeah, stacked on top of each other.
Eyebrows - June 10, 2009
Try stacking dollar bills any other way.
CapSea - June 11, 2009
Go Kermit
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
YES
Faux - June 10, 2009
House always liked Cuddy and therefore has very good taste
Poochie - June 9, 2009
Well then
abender20 - June 9, 2009
The M's better draft some great international players with the below slot pick-ups at 27 and 33rd picks.
russak - June 9, 2009
Well I made this comment completely confusing.
russak - June 9, 2009
Especially since the "bitching about the draft" thread is not this one.
This is the “Brandon Morrow is a whiny bitch” thread.
Faux - June 9, 2009
Oh alright, what the fuck Morrow? You decions fluctuate more than you blood sugar levels.
russak - June 9, 2009
I know, eally?
Matthew - June 9, 2009
If the R was there this comment would have been really good.
marinerdan - June 10, 2009
International players aren't drafted.
And we get it, you didn’t like the draft. You don’t need to post the same comment 10 times. There’s a serious chance that Zduriencik and all the professional baseball personnel he hired might just have a clue what they’re doing.
Teej - June 9, 2009
Thats what got me about Bavasi.
Just because they’re ‘pros’ doesn’t mean shit. Not that Dr. Z Hasn’t been good with the decisions so far..
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Bavasi didn't have a 10-year track record of knowing how to scout out talent.
Teej - June 9, 2009
What do the have a serious lack of in the organization? Middle infield depth and left-handed hitting.
What did we get today? Two middle infielders, one a switch hitter and one a lefty. Oh, that and Dustin Ackley. And two of the best college hitters in the draft.
abender20 - June 9, 2009
we*
abender20 - June 9, 2009
True that, Teej. Don't get me wrong. I'm super excited about this draft.
This is the first one I’ve been able to follow, and I can feel the baseball fandom growing inside me with every new name I learn about!
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
I'm not Teej.
abender20 - June 9, 2009
Duh
I was referring to Teej at first. i guess i coulda posted twice… I’m lazy though.
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Please capitalize properly.
Matthew - June 9, 2009
I call bullshit.
CapSea - June 9, 2009
We also got arguably the best catcher named Steven Baron in the draft.
Humongo - June 9, 2009
Brandon "Shimmer" Morrow.
He’s both a floor wax and a dessert topping!
msb - June 9, 2009
There is nothing more awesome than hearing Brandon Morrow's name mentioned on draft day.
CapSea - June 9, 2009
Irony.
PositivePaul - June 10, 2009
Were either of Stassi or Bailey taken yet?
russak - June 9, 2009
Unless Brandon Morrow is looking to ask them out, I think the answer to that would be in the previous draft thread.
CapSea - June 9, 2009
Now placing orders at the team store for my "WhinyBitch" #35 jersey
Part of me wants him to settle in and succeed as a starter so we can have him up here as a #4 guy.
Part of me wants him to be just good enough to trade him away to a team that has infinite patience with headcases, in the hopes of getting back a quiet, self-assured middle infielder that can hit .260 and give a damn.
Spoomeister - June 9, 2009
Um no if he can stick in the rotation I'd keep him.
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
.
Aaron Campeau - June 9, 2009
What is it with being diabetic in sports and being a complete headcase?
Let’s recap:
Brandon Morrow
Jay Cutler
That is actually all I have i just wanted to note this.
Slow Country - June 9, 2009
Adam Morrison says hello
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
Morrison is bad, not a head case
Nate Dogg - June 9, 2009
I'd argue he's both
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
Pic to back it up
Pussy
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
God I hate Jay Cutler
appleshampoo - June 9, 2009
Ty Cobb
yugret - June 9, 2009
Adam Morrison.
Adam Morrison.
Slow Country - June 9, 2009
This makes the fact that the M's played Kate Perry for him on OD even better
Robert - June 9, 2009
He kissed a girl and he liked it?
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
I only hope that is true if the girl was a shotgun and liked it meant that it had a hair trigger
Robert - June 9, 2009
Rec'd because I hate that no-talent hack.
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Maybe that kind of thing gets him pumped up for the game
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
Yeah but that's a good song
Poochie - June 9, 2009
I know
Robert - June 9, 2009
Who's expected to get the call up when he goes down, anyway?
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
I think Baker said something about Corco being the man.
BrettJMiller - June 9, 2009
Yep. Corco comes off rehab and Morrow goes down to free up roster space
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
You've made David a very happy man today
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
Unfortunate side effect of that wording
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
I enjoy being right
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2007/4/23/172733/569#3491956
Robert - June 9, 2009
I think the mariners organazation has done a fine job of destroying his confidence.
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Has anybody here considered that diabetes might be a cover for something else?
Robert - June 9, 2009
Herpes?
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
AIDs?
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
hmmm
Why did he get so much worse? Why is the endurance more of an issue now? Why were there all those stories about him not keeping on weight this winter but not before?
Robert - June 9, 2009
Brandon Morrow has secretly been having sex with Magic Johnson???
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
You fucking copied this word for word!
Matthew - June 10, 2009
How does it feel?
Robert - June 10, 2009
Homosexual?
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
The pink backpack gave him away didn't it
Brian Floyd - June 9, 2009
Elephantiasis?
CapSea - June 9, 2009
Rotator cuff cancer?
JamMasterJesus - June 9, 2009
Turtle Cancer?
Slurvey - June 9, 2009
Cancerous turtle neck sores?
.Taylor - June 9, 2009
Black?
Jeff Sullivan - June 9, 2009
I don't think he is lazy any more so that can't be it.
Robert - June 9, 2009
He is unnaturally pale.
Poochie - June 9, 2009
Early onset death?
Jeff Sullivan - June 9, 2009
Griffey?!
Robert - June 9, 2009
He used to be a broad?
Poochie - June 9, 2009
Some suggest he still is
Jeff Sullivan - June 9, 2009
We need to draft a closer
Jeff Sullivan - June 9, 2009
Fourth round seems a better place to do so.
HARRYP09 - June 9, 2009
We did that last year.
And the year before that.
Wilder. - June 10, 2009
Brandon Morrow...Closing?
All is right with the world once again.
Ok, not really, but it’s a lot better.
Heydude - June 10, 2009
Fuck Brandon Morrow.
Goose - June 10, 2009
it'd probably just wear him out
pdb - June 10, 2009
Well,
I know this guy is pumped about this decision.
Sec 108 - June 10, 2009
Player BB has taken the first step in getting his name back.
This is a start, but I’d be much happier if he was sent way down and made to work his way through the system rather than simply dropping him in AAA.
EnglishMariner - June 10, 2009
Jack Z called into KJR 950 this morning
And after several questions about Ackley (he sees him in the outfield, 2011 isn’t unreasonable, hopes to sign him early so that he can maximize his development time this year), Mitch lobbed him a hardball question about Morrow. He asked him no less than 3 times, and in no uncertain terms, “did Brandon Morrow come to you and ask to start, and did you talk about him going to Tacoma?”
He artfully avoided an outright answer to the question beyond “we haven’t decided anything for sure yet”, but in his dodging around I came away with the following impressions:
-Morrow’s shift to the ‘pen was partly because our pitching was so suspect (he said worst ERA in baseball coming out of ST), and because he was the only guy on the team with some closing experience.
-Now that we have a few guys who have established themselves as capable of pitching in the late innings (he’s “tickled pink” about Aardsma, very pleased with Kelley and White), it gives more flexibility.
-RRS and Corco are the two names he threw out for pitchers we may need to make some room for.
-Kept stressing the BS about Morrow not getting enough innings in Spring Training still being an issue.
-No matter what happens, he’s going to make the best decision for the club.
-Morrow “just wants to play major league baseball”.
-Plan is to start stretching Morrow out into 2, 3, 4 inning outings and see how that goes.
-He’s talked to Morrow many times, about lots of things, but no decision has been made to send him down to Tacoma or convert him to a starter.
seattlecougar - June 10, 2009
.
`
Why do you call this BS? It pretty obviously is an issue.
Aaron Campeau - June 10, 2009
Because we're 2 months into the season
It’d be one thing to blame a slow start on not getting a lot of innings during spring training, but to say the reason he hasn’t gotten stretched out with enough innings in June is a lack of innings in March seems really far fetched to me. I have a hard time believing that they’ve given him all the innings they can now that the season is well underway and his non-Diabetes health problems are behind him.
Yeah the rotation has been pretty solid for the most part, but Miguel Batista has 27 1/3 innings. Olson/Jaku/Vargas have combined for about 20 IP of relief work in mostly 1-3 inning outings. Stark had 11. All combined, that’s over 50 innings of largely junk work, while Morrow’s had only 18 IP (DL stint notwithstanding).
If they think his problem is not having enough innings under his belt this season, they’ve had plenty of opportunities to get them for him.
seattlecougar - June 10, 2009
There's a difference between low-stress ST innings and high leverage MLB innings.
If he wasn’t stretched out in ST and didn’t feel comfortable with his breaking/off-speed stuff that could cause some serious problems.
Aaron Campeau - June 10, 2009
That's fair
I’ll concede that point.
Why not send him to the minors then? Or pitch him in low stress junk innings?
seattlecougar - June 10, 2009
That's precisely what they tried to do after it was apparent he wasn't ready
and sending him to the minors is exactly what they’re doing now.
Matthew - June 10, 2009
He's still under 25 IP total for the year, right?
msb - June 10, 2009
18 1/3
http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.aspx?team=Mariners&pos=all&stats=pit&qual=0&type=0&season=2009&month=0
seattlecougar - June 10, 2009
From Shannon Drayer:
“Talked to Morrow. He’s a starter. However long he needs in the minors, he is ready for it and wants to do it right.”
Matthew - June 10, 2009
No matter how annoying it's been, I can't be angry, because this is awesome.
Teej - June 10, 2009
Agreed. Better late than never, right?
PositivePaul - June 11, 2009
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