Notes: AL West, Morrow, Sweeney

by ~ March 28th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

It’s been mentioned all over, but like last year our division rivals are struggling with injuries to their starting rotations, making it hard not to write that Seattle needs to get off to a quick start to take advantage.  Seattle messed it up last year, but this year LA’s ace John Lackey will be out for a start or two, Kelvim Escobar is out until at least May-ish, and Ervin Santana is out for a while as well, leaving Joe Saunders as their likely Opening Day starter.  In Oakland their staff ace, Justin Duchscherer, is out for a few weeks as well, leaving them with a bunch of question marks.   I’m not going to say Seattle needs to get off to a fast start if they want to contend, but it can’t hurt.

Some troubling stuff coming out of Mariners camp today about the future of Brandon Morrow.

Geoff Baker:

So, it’s possible, I asked, that Morrow could break camp in the major league bullpen?

“Oh yes, certainly,” Zduriencik said. “Without a doubt, that’s very much a possibility.”

That doesn’t mean they’re thinking about re-converting him back to a reliever, but just trying to figure out whether he’d be better off getting his work in in the minors or with the big club.  The answer is obvious to me (minors) because they have another power arm they could use at the big league level in Shawn Kelley if they really wanted someone.  I hope Morrow doesn’t find himself in the ‘pen again… not yet anyway.  Read Baker’s post and Shannon Drayer posted on the subject as well.

Finally, I say this everyday it seems but Mike Sweeney performed decently again and it seems like he’s a lock for the big club.  Most of us can agree that Chris Shelton should be the guy, but unless something unexpected happens I would bet on Sweeney getting first crack at Seattle.  He is basically Pepe Vidro without the paycheck, so I don’t really know if the team will be able to resist Shelton’s power a few weeks into the regular season, but we’ll see.

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  • SABR Matt

    I disagree…Sweeney has a lot more sting-ability than Vidro did if he’s healthy and IMHO, the Mariners need to see if they have anything worthwhile in Sweeney (see if he can stay healthy) before they cast him aside…they can stash Shelton without penalty…they can’t do that with Sweeny, and I actually like Sweeney’s presence in this clubhouse. He’s much more of a leader-type than Vidro was, he’s basically free, and he’s a better hitter than Vidro if he can stay healthy. If not, there’s no harm because Shelton will be a stone’s throw away in Tacoma.

    I do agree on Kelley though. He should be in the bullpen immediately…no waiting required.

  • http://www.marinercentral.com Lonnie

    I hate to say this, I really do. Morrow’s future in MLB is in the bullpen, preferably as a closer. Until I hear or see anything to change my mind this is how I see his career progressing.

    This diabetes thing is very serious, I know, I am one. Some diabetics gain a lot of weight, some can’t gain a pound if their lives, let alone thier careers depended on it. Right now, with the slight build that Morrow has, there is no way in hell he can be viewed as a starting pitcher in the long run. If he cannot complete a full season starting, or even come close for that matter, then why not do the sensible thing and put him where he can excell and be an asset to the team for not just one year but for many years to come?

    The thought of Morrow starting is seductive when you just look at the good side of the possibilities. Like any competitor, Morrow will push hard to prove to everyone that he belongs in the rotation. I’m afraid he may have more motivation then his body can endure. Morrow, if allowed to proceed as a starter, will no doubt suffer a serious injury within two years from pushing himself too hard.

    We diabetics often don’t even realize when our blood sugar is dropping, and when we do realize it we have passed a safe point to be performing anything physically strenuous. Like pitching into the sixth inning.

    Jon, I can’t understand why you would want to slap Sweeney with a Vidro comp. Maybe I’m blinded by my desire to see Mike make the team and do well, but I just don’t buy into the comp.

    Oh, one other thing, I don’t know if I would refer to Kelley as a “big arm”. He doesn’t throw it Morrow/Putz hard, he just has very good accuracy with his pitches and pretty good stuff.

    Lonnie

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Let me clarify that the Sweeney/Vidro comp was a very very loose one. I realize that Sweeney still has more thunder left than Vidro and I’d take Sweeney any day. But in the end he still is looking like a singles hitter, or very least a very punchless hitter for his position. The “without the paycheck” part of the comparison is the important part, as even if he did turn out to be Vidro-esque, the team should be able to dump him without much thought.

    I’m not angered by the probable decision to keep Sweeney over Shelton like some are. The difference between the two is pretty small, and Sweeney has the intangibles for whatever they’re worth. For all we know, Shelton flops on the big stage again. It’s not a big deal, and I understand that it’s easier to keep Shelton in AAA than Sweeney.

    I may have a post to clarify my thoughts on the issue.

    As far as Morrow goes, I’ve been thinking he’ll be a bullpen guy in the end– really ever since the transition to SP started– but I still think you’ve got to try.

    One way I would feel better about putting Morrow in the ‘pen for good is if we could get our hands on a young high upside starter that could slot into the rotation instead of Morrow. I love Jeff Clement, but he seems out of the loop this year and behind Adam Moore on next year’s depth chart. Could we attempt to package Clement+ to Boston for a Buchholz or Bowden? I know the Rangers and D-Backs have tried and failed, but it’s a thought.

  • http://mvn.com/marinermelee Mariner Melee

    Brandon Morrow is going to be the closer from now on. Per Geoff Baker.

    We have now wasted 2 number one picks on relievers.

    Go M’s…

  • Brandon

    I just saw what Mariner Melee said. Here’s a link:
    http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/mariners/2009/03/29/morrows_starting_days_done_–.html

    Not only is Morrow a wasted pick, but Walker got released….