Jim Hendry, Cubs GM, recently introduced their big outfield acquisition of the offseason - the supposed gap-hitting-machine of Kosuke Fukodome.  Fukodome's career stats in Japan are impressive - .305 batting average, .397 on base percentage and a .593 slugging percentage - thus, the Cubbies sent him $48 million U.S. dollars (yeah, that's 5,420,469,100 yen...cha-ching!) to do his thing in right field for them for the next four years.

I've always been a little curious how things will turn out when hitters are brought to the MLB from Japan.  Ichiro has obviously worked out nicely, and I suppose you can say the same for Hideki Matsui, although he hasn't produced like the "Godzilla" he was in Japan.  But anytime I think of the difference between the talent level in Japan and the MLB, I think of Tuffy Rhodes.  

Continue reading "Chicago Cubs Introduce Finley er Make that Fukudome"

As I continued to read, I was struck by this comment from his agent, on why Mark Prior wants only a one-year contract:  "we're planning on him being good."  Which, should really be in everyone's plans, really - to be 'good', right?  So, with that line of reasoning in mind, does that mean that those pursuing multiple year contracts with a suspect history are worried about being "good"?  Is Kyle Lohse's agent (yes, Scott Boras) admitting to everyone, in his argment for a five year contract for Lohse, that he really doesn't plan on being any better than he has been in the past - and he needs the security of a long term deal because who knows when he's just going to suck beyond all degree of well, "suckiness"?  I digress...

Continue reading "Grade Inflation in Assessing Major League Pitchers"

Now that he's struck out on Hiroki Kuroda, it appears that he's willing to simply go down the logical list of free agents and blow cash on the next best thing. 

I have an alternative to suggest.  Why not gun for a risk-reward type of player, and attempt to sign them in the short term?  The beauty of such a deal allows the M's to stay competitive in next year's much, MUCH better free agent market as well as retain the potential to contend in 2008, provided the choices are made prudently.

Continue reading "The Case for Thinking Outside the Obvious for Pitching Help"

I lead with this largely because of recent rumor that the Seattle Mariners are in serious discussions with Carlos Silva and the clan of Silva representatives who are giggling in the corners of their offices at the thin market for pitching and how it will make them all rich this year.  The thought is the M's have extended an offer of "at least" 4 years, $44 million dollars.

That, if true, is unequivocally a complete and utter disaster.  I beg you Bill Bavasi, I implore you to reconsider.

Continue reading "Seattle Mariners In Negotiations With Mediocrity"

Ismael Valdez, Jose Guillen, Todd Williams (what, you don’t remember Todd Williams?  Shocker.), Glenallen Hill, Josias Manzanillo, Ron Villone, David Segui, Fernando Vina, David Bell, and Conan the Barbarian himself - the beefy Ryan Franklin (who stands 6’ 3” and weighs 185lbs sopping wet.  If I were Ryan Franklin, I’d start asking questions about what kind of steroids I was taking…).

Looking at this list, it’s pretty obvious that HGH and steroids in general really enhance ones performance (insert cheesy 80’s laugh track here).  I’m not sure that Fernando Vina or David Bell used to strike fear in the hearts of pitchers everywhere.  And I’m not convinced that Todd Williams nor Ryan Franklin were able to miss more bats because of bigger biceps. 

Continue reading "Former Mariners Named In the Mitchell Report"

The Seattle Mariners recently decided to tender a contract to Horacio Ramirez.  What I’ve seen time and again as a rationale for bringing him back to Seattle is the skill of Mel Stottlemyre, as “one of the best” pitching coaches in the business and that the feeling of the front office is that he can turn Horacio Ramirez from Ho-hum back into Ho-Ram.

Continue reading "The Art of Fooling Oneself - The Seattle Mariner Way"