Jack Hannahan was designated for assignment just now. The purpose was to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Eliezer Alfonzo who was added to both the 40 and active roster as Josh Bard has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Mariners had some easy fluff to trim off the 40-man if they felt the need so hopefully this is more about their view that Hannahan is not going to be grabbed by anyone. That's not a terribly unlikely scenario as he has battled some injuries and would need the ball to have a severe head cold for him to come anywhere near hitting the snot out of it.
Still, it's a blow to his chances of making a big league appearance in Mariner slate gray/royal blue this season since he would have to stay with the organization through this DFA and then eventually get re-added to the 40-man roster.
Alfonzo has previously spent time with, who else, the Padres. He's been mildly decent at hitting in Triple-A and a borderline national emergency when trying to do it in the big leagues. He's 31 and isn't a switch hitter. I don't know how his defense rates, but he strikes me as Josh Bard if you removed all the endearing parts. Also, Alfonzo has no semblance of plate discipline. Or contact skills. And pretty middling power. This guy has shuttled around the PCL for a reason and unfortunately that reason has nothing to do with his personality and everything to do with lackluster baseball skills.
0 recs | 66 comments
All hail the dawning of the Eliezer Alfonzo era
lemonverbena - May 28, 2010
I pray this era lasts no longer than the Lou Bega era did
Matthew - May 28, 2010
That era was far too long for my tastes.
Fuckmikereilly - May 28, 2010
Hey, Lou Bega is awesome.
The Alfonzo era is like…the Britney Spears era.
Coach Owens - May 28, 2010
I hope not.
JonBBT - May 28, 2010
Well that is certainly news
pdb - May 28, 2010
Worst day of the season.
Jack Hannahan forever.
JonBBT - May 28, 2010
I will miss him so much
royalcurve - May 28, 2010
I liked the goofy way he talked.
Decatur - May 28, 2010
Hopefully no one but us loves him.
msb - May 28, 2010
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I hope Hannahan doesn’t go away.
Time for Jack Z to go out and get a catcher. Alfonzo and Johnson won’t cut it. Shouldn’t be too hard. Josh Bard was freely available.
Fuckmikereilly - May 28, 2010
Goddam pen
Bearskin Rugburn - May 28, 2010
Theoretically we're on track to break the 7 catcher carousel from 2005
Sweet
Corco - May 28, 2010
Updated with commentary
Matthew - May 28, 2010
Day suddenly got worse.
Slurvey - May 28, 2010
At last, a reason to have posted this!
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/12/14/1200171/welcome-veteran-catcher
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Oh god worse plate discipline than Vladimir Guerrero
Fuckmikereilly - May 28, 2010
Funsies!
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
They should have just used Hannahan at catcher
:(
Matthew - May 28, 2010
Sweeney for everything
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
If you put Sweeney and Bloomquist on the same team...oh I can't even ponder the awesomeness
pdb - May 28, 2010
Should be interesting to watch.
Welcome back to your full-time job Rob-job.
Kenneth Arthur - May 28, 2010
Alfonso better be careful.
All of our non-Rob Johnson catchers seem to be getting hurt this year.
Kirk - May 28, 2010
Yes, it would be a real shame if Alfonzo got hurt
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Then we'd HAVE to trade for Buster Posey
seattlebruin - May 28, 2010
Tui for catcher!
Kirk - May 28, 2010
No worries on that front.
Adam Moore and Josh Bard both got hurt on the basepaths. I doubt we’ll be seeing much of Alfonzo out there.
Matthew - May 28, 2010
Trotting, motherfuckers
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
remove the comma and that's an awesome band name
keep the comma and it’s beat poetry.
pdb - May 28, 2010
/snap applause
tootthekazoo - May 28, 2010
I hope he makes up for his lack of ability by adding a ton to clubhouse chemistry
Because that’s what this team really needs.
Captain Lurker - May 28, 2010
Even in Bard's 2006 he only batted 280 times
plenty of time to catch up
Poochie - May 28, 2010
When does Adam Moore get off the DL?
C-Nage - May 28, 2010
I don't know and I don't care.
Adam Moore needs to be in Tacoma.
Matthew - May 28, 2010
In Alfonzo's ML career against left-handed pitchers, he has drawn zero walks
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Well he can't get doubles or homers by watching pitches go by dammit!
ToddK - May 28, 2010
That's the same amount of walks that I have drawn against ML left handed pitchers.
Kirk - May 28, 2010
I call bullshit
Matthew - May 28, 2010
You think I have more than zero?
Kirk - May 28, 2010
You should be starting.
Coach Owens - May 28, 2010
I think you're right.
But then I’d have to be scared of the curse of being the M’s second catcher.
Kirk - May 28, 2010
I wish he were starting today now
Matthew - May 28, 2010
This is for all the people who think our lineup needs more power
Power’s the only thing Alfonzo’s got.
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
At least it's usually fun to watch someone new.
chezbergrur - May 28, 2010
He will probably get on your nerves almost instantly
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Do you think he'll be more annoying than Griffey or Lopez (at the bat)?
lailaihei - May 28, 2010
He's fresh, so yes, for a little while
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
We didn't have anyone in the system we trusted more than this guy?
Thingray - May 28, 2010
He is the fourth catcher on the depth chart
Aaron Campeau - May 28, 2010
The Angels have gone through five!
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Boy do the Angels suck.
Coach Owens - May 28, 2010
Until Moore and Bard come back he's second on the chart, isn't he?
Thingray - May 28, 2010
Yes, that's why he's here
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Exactly.
But we don’t have anyone floating around in our own system that could fill that role? Maybe they don’t want to mess with anyone by moving them around. Who am I thinking of, Quiroz down in AA?
Thingray - May 28, 2010
Generally speaking, when you're down to your fourth-string catcher, you're no longer picking from a desirable pool
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Because why DFA Jesus Colome when you have Jack Hannahan?
Fuck.
harkening - May 28, 2010
Who the heck is Edward Paredes? Why not move him from the 40-man?
Coach Owens - May 28, 2010
Twenty-three-year old relief pitcher in West Tennessee.
Currently posting a 1.99 FIP despite a 1.53 WHIP due to a 3.4 K/BB ratio. SSS: 68 batters faced in 15.2 IP.
Spent last year in High Desert and still managed to post a 3.42 FIP in 69 IP.
I’m, uh, not quite ready to cut ties with the guy.
harkening - May 28, 2010
Is he middle relief or what?
Kirk - May 28, 2010
Dunno.
I just looked him up on Baseball Reference and First Inning, ran the numbers myself and looked at his history. I’m by no means a minor league maven. From what I can glean from his game logs, I think he’s more late relief/setup. He’s never thrown more than 2 innings in a game, and almost all of his appearances are 1 inning or less.
Um…Jay? Marc? Someone?
harkening - May 28, 2010
I thought Matthew made the most interesting point in regards to Hannahan.
Said on twitter that basically Hannahan’s career is on the line because of his injury, no wonder guys did steroids (I’m paraphrasing, probably poorly).
kkobers - May 28, 2010
That was both of us
but it’s about time Matthew gets credit for someone else’s work.
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2010
Whoops. Sorry about that.
Great point by both of you guys then
kkobers - May 28, 2010
No, just great point by Matthew
seattlebruin - May 28, 2010
So who does Tacoma have to catch? Jim Horner?
Corco - May 28, 2010
Lack of catching
I mentioned this on an earlier post… JR Towles has been awful for the last 2 years with the Astros but has done well in minor league action. He can’t be THAT expensive and is a damn site better than R Johnson. He is currently injured but should be ready in 2 or 3 weeks (broken thumb). Hopefully the Mariners will give him a look.
algionfriddo - May 28, 2010
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