Maybe It’s a Good Thing…

by ~ April 24th, 2008 at 11:13 am

Maybe it was a good thing that we did not acquire Frank Thomas. According to one scout, “His bat was so slow, he was missing 85-mile-an-hour fastballs. Everything looked so slow, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I didn’t see him drive one ball. Not one. Even in [batting practice], he wasn’t that good. So I’m really not surprised [he got released] at all.”

Said another scout: “What he became was a complete guess-hitter. He has to gear up for the fastball. If he gets it right, he can still do some damage. It’s just not as regular, as predictable or as likely to happen as it used to be.”

Maybe his age was catching up to him, I’m not quite sure. I’m in no place to talk, considering that I’m no expert scout. I wasn’t for signing Thomas, but the reports from these scouts make me even happier that we didn’t waste a roster spot on him.

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  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Interesting.. good info Dustin. But still, for that price I’d sign Thomas’ little cousin who just got promoted to coach-pitch. Maybe he’s done, but I still think Seattle missed a chance at taking a smart risk with a potentially nice reward.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    I’m still convinced that he would have been a waste of a roster spot, especially since this whole Safeco Field being our home field tends to destroy right handed power. Along with his slow start and age, I am convinced giving him the roster spot that Clement is deserving of, I couldn’t let myself life with it.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    I’d love Clement’s bat in the lineup, but I just don’t know if it’s going to happen. Seattle probably wants Clement to be ready to catch next season, which is why he’s not up already. If Clement is slotted into the full time DH spot this season, it will be out of pure desperation. I’m hoping Bavasi can pull some strings and bring in a bat without killing what’s left of the farm system.

  • Brian

    I think it’d be good for Clement to tear it up down in AAA until summer call-ups.

    On another note do you think it’s time to call up Balentien a few weeks after he gets healthy again? I don’t think he could do any worse than Wilkerson/Bloomquist.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    I’m not so sure now is the time to call up Balentien. He wasn’t hitting the ball all that well to start the year, so I think they will give him some time to recover fully, and then get his stroke on fire again before they call him up again.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Yeah, Wlad hasn’t been doing too well. He’s not nearly as advanced at the plate as Clement is. Keep in mind that these guys are rookies, so they’re not going to produce like they’re projected to down the road. I wouldn’t be the least surprised if Wlad puts up Sexson type numbers his first time up (low .200s average, a few dingers and a bunch of Ks).

  • Brian

    Yeah I see what you mean. My thinking is a few weeks from now if Wilkerson is still struggling that Wlad probably couldn’t do any worse.

    However, now I’m starting to really wish we had Adam Jones back.