Zduriencik on Left Field, “Big Bat”

by ~ January 14th, 2009 at 11:02 pm

GM Jack Zduriencik did a great hour long spot on KIRO’s Hot Stove show this past Saturday, revealing some very interesting info.

“If we opened tomorrow Chavez would be in left field, Gutierrez in center and Ichiro in right,” Zduriencik said early on in the show.  Later on he added that he really wants plus defenders in left and center, considering how big the ballpark is in those areas.

He didn’t seem very high on Wladimir Balentien and seems completely content with fielding a defensive outfield.  Wlad is out of options, so he’ll either make the team or find himself on the trading block.  I can’t see him as the fourth outfielder because high-strikeout power hitters such as himself tend to require consistent playing time in order to produce anything offensively.  I think that if he’s going to supplant Chavez as the starter he’s going to have to have a monster Spring Training.

It makes sense that Wlad (along with Rob Johnson?) could be part of a trade that nets Seattle another piece of the puzzle.  That piece of the puzzle could be the “big bat” Zduriencik keeps publicly coveting.

He brought it up yet again in this spot, and I believe he’s going to get it.  Based on his comments on left field defense, I would now assume this bat is to play 1B/DH.

We’ll see what happens on that front.  Nick Swisher?  Micah Hoffpauir?  I guess it depends on what “big bat” means.

A few other notes from the show:

  • He seems to prefer Brandon Morrow as a starter.
  • Ken Griffey is only an option for Seattle as a last resort.
  • Zduriencik wants Lopez to come to camp in shape so he can stay at 2B.
  • Yuniesky Betancourt is said to have gotten into decent shape this offseason.
«
»

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    Both Swisher and Hoffpauir would be great. I would rather have Swisher, because he brings so many things to the table, he can play in the OF as well as 1B. Switch hits, and has chemistry with all his teammates in the clubhouse. He is a team leader on and off the field and that is something the Mariners need with Putz and Ibanez gone.

  • SABR Matt

    Any reason we can’t have both? :)

    Trade Heilman to the Cubs for Hoffpauer
    Trade Saunders/Johnson/Washburn/a bit of cash to the Yankees for Swisher
    Trade Johjima to the Red Sox for whatever we can get.

    RF) Ichiro
    CF) Gutierrez
    LF) Swisher
    3B) Beltre
    1B) Hoffpauer
    2B) Lopez
    C) Clement/Burke
    DH) Branyan/Shelton
    SS) Betancourt

    Bench is Chavez/Corona/Burke/Shelton

    Rotation is Felix/Bedard/Morrow/Rowland-Smith/Silva

    Bullpen is a hodgepodge of random stiffs.

  • bakomariner

    Matt- you didn’t identify what to do with WLAD…substitute him with Saunders in your Yankees trade…the rest looks pretty good for all parties involved (except trading Joh…not gonna happen…he needs to opt out for Japan)

    I’ve longed prayed for Swish to be a Mariner…love that guy…

    If that happens, Z will get a free-pass from me for a while…that would be awesome…

    And if the double-play turds can turn it around defensively, and if Yuni learned how to take a pitch, we’re looking pretty good for this season and beyond…

  • ernier

    I really like the idea of trading for Swisher too.

    I also like the idea of trading for Rick Ankiel. I’ve read that the Cards are looking for pitching and we have pitching depth, so we seem to be a good fit for a trade. The Cards are also ready to bring up their top prospect Colby Rasmus who plays CF. Ankiel would give us one of the best defensive outfields in basball plus he is a lefty pull hitter with power. I know he might only be a 1 year rental, but that’s ok because he should be at least a Type B and possibly a Type A free agent.

    I don’t like the idea of Chavez playing everyday in LF because we need 1 of our outfielders who can hit 20+ home runs. In my opinion he is a 4th outfielder. If we don’t pick up another outfielder I’d rather give Wlad the chance to start in LF and use Chavez as a late game defensive replacement.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Scott Weber

    Ughhhh I want Swisher SO BAD. He’s a good defender in the corner OF spot too if need be.

    And ernier, Ankiel has a cannon in the OF but he’s quite bad defensively.

  • ernier

    Scott – I was thinking tht a move from CF to LF would benefit Ankiel defensively. Do you think that would make much of a difference for him?

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Ankiel was supposedly playing with a ankle/knee/leg(?) injury last season.

    Considering we’re working with very little data for a recently converted pitcher, I wouldn’t be surprise if he outperforms his recent bUZR and +/- ratings. I’m inclined to think he’d be a + COF.

    Having 3 plus-plus arms in the outfield would be awesome, too.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    An idea:

    Get Swisher and use him as the starting LF against RHP and starting 1B against LHP (replacing Branyan). Chavez is used as the starting LF against LHP. DH is used for.. whatever (Clement/Johjima, another player, etc).

    Hmm?

  • bakomariner

    Having Swish, if he rebounds back from a down year, would be huge…would help in many areas…

    Make it happen Z!!!!!!

  • ernier

    Jon – I’m assuming for your idea that Wlad is not with the M’s. Based on Chavez’s splits the last 3 years he’s not too bad against lefties. I’d still like to see him as the fourth outfielder because he can play all 3 outfield positions, can pinch hit against lefties and righties and can pinch run. I hope Chris Shelton finds his stroke and can platoon at 1B and get Swisher and let him play regularly in LF.

    Chavez Splits last 3 years:
    vs Left .287/.315/.350
    vs Right .289/.333/.394

  • seasun62

    Swisher or Ankiel would be a decent answer in left. I’m not sure, however, that Ankiel’s defense is better in left than it was in center. While Center has a larger range of responsibility it is an easier position than left in many ways. An athlete like Ankiel could use his pure physical talent in CF to make plays as it is much easier to read the ball off the bat and to get jumps on the ball. In left, while being a much smaller range of responsibility, you have to be a bit more instinctive when playing the ball. Having said that, Ankiel is an extremely good athlete with very limited OF experience. I believe he’ll only get better and if he was less than 100% last year that would also help him to develop more.

  • SABR Matt

    Ankiel would die in the AL…die like a dog in the street.

    Check out his GINORMOUS K/BB.

  • seasun62

    I hadn’t seen his K/BB (100/42) but it is just crazy. I guess I got a little hung up on the ESPN hi lights. Ok, I’m off the Ankiel bandwagon…still on the Swisher bandwagon, with his career OPS of .805 and his 25 HR’s a year.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    I wouldn’t pay a lot for one year of Ankiel. I’ve never been a big fan and his story has made him way overrated, though he is still has some skills. Perhaps a B-prospect or Heilman or something like that (which probably wouldn’t be enough).

    He K’s a lot, but at least he walks at an average/slightly above average clip to help balance it out a bit.

  • moethedog

    New to the site….

    But the Ankiel/Swisher debate is one over the biggest upside vs. the safest bet.

    With Swisher…you’re going to get a .250 (give or take) BA and he’ll walk another .100 points and he’s gong to slug .450…He’ll hit 25 HR’s…30 doubles…Not bad. B etter than the average ML’er…even better than the average LF’er.

    I think with Ankiel..you’re going to get a better hitter against RH’ers…and the upside includes more slugging %…But the question is whether he is a bit more of a roll of the dice…

    I think he is…but I think the gamble is well worth it. He should be much more affordable than Swisher….And I like the upside…Doe’s he have the chance to be a 35HR guy…2 or 3 years in a row…I think so.

    Go for Ankiel….Get him on the cheap (if possible)….Watch him grow…

    Wlad…ship him out. He hasn’t proven…in numerous times up..that he is a major league hitter. Endy is a very serviceable 4th OF…

    moethedog

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    @ moethedog

    What kinda upside do you see? The upside I think you are referring to basically maxes out in his 2008 statistics. He’s a swing and a miss, or a swing and a home run. He’s not that great in the outfield, and has a plus-plus-plus-plus-plus cannon arm.

    His story overrates him.

    Swisher > Ankiel

    Plus Swisher is under team control longer…

  • moethedog

    Dustin,

    I think the jury is still out on how much of a hitter Ankiel can be. Think of this….He is really a 28 years old 2nd year player. Last year being, in some ways, his “rookie” year. First time he was a close to everyday position player.

    If he was a 24 year old rookie last year…with those numbers…His potential upside would be huge….

    I know that hitters tend to get to the majors in a hurry…if they are talented…But the fact that Ankiel is 28 hides the fact that he is really a 2nd year player. He wasted a lot of developmental years on the mound.

    I like Swisher, don’t get me wrong. But I think he’s shown that a monster year (or two or three) is probably not in him.

    We don’t know that yet about Ankiel….and I think the chance is better for that to happen than with Swisher.

    Ankiel has basically has one full year of position plate appearances. 653 PA’s and 36 HR’s. That’s one for every 18 PA’s.

    In a larger sample (2512 PA’s) Swisher has hit 104 HR’s. That’s one for ever 24 PA’s.

    If those numbers mean anything (and they may well not), Ankiel has a 25% better longball number.

    Swisher is the safer bet, and a good one. Ankiel has an largerupside. And, for now, he’s cheaper.

    I really like the fact that Swisher walks about .100, he demands lots of pitches.

    But….

    I’ld roll the dice, if I could. But, as I said, ether would be very fine additions….and I’ld dump Wlad in about 4 seconds….

    moethedog

  • Mr.Benton

    Ankiel is a huge ?. He is a free agent after this season, correct me if i’m wrong. He is as you said a 2nd year player, with small sample sizes to see what he has done. I would rather take a shot at Swisher, because he not only would bring some power, but would also bring some leadership to the club. I really hope we don’t “dump” Wlad.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Ankiel has more raw power and a better outfield arm, but is a K machine and is a free agent at the end of 2009. Swisher is a more balanced/valuable hitter and is signed (to a very cheap deal) through 2011.

    I’d take either, but their prices are going to be (or should be) way different. Ankiel would have to come relatively cheap, while Swisher would be worth giving up something of value.

  • SABR Matt

    Yeah…I’d consider giving up something I really valued for Swish…maybe even the good bullpen arm the Yankees need plus Saunders plus Washburn plus Robb Johnson plus a little cash to offset the salary difference in 2009…I don’t think I’d go tha far with Ankiel…maybe more like Washburn and cash plus one prospect they like from our B list. Wlad Balentien?