The adjustment period is Saunders shoring up that hole in his swing and therefore preparing himself to be a much better MLB hitter in 2010.

Last season Saunders played most of the year in AA and earned a promotion, but struggled in 100 ABs for Tacoma at the end of the year. The next year he destroyed AAA. Why is that any different? Destroyed AAA, struggled in 130 ABs at the big league level, and is now in a better position to perform in 2010.

You’re very right. Willie Mays, IIRC, was one of those guys who didn’t hit squat when he was first up.

Saunders does bring some defense to the party. I hope I’m wrong. I was one of the loudest advocates for giving him a shot last year.

But I didn’t like the idea of making major changes in his stance and approach. It indicated to me that he had a major flaw and those are hard to remedy. I hope his struggles were just an adjustment issue and not a hole in the swing deal.

I’ld be glad to eat my words in July!

Keith

I’m a huge Saunders fan and am quick to come to his defense to please to take my rebuttal as anything personal, but when you say “Saunders has given me no hope he’s the guy. None.” I have to point out several things.

First and foremost Saunders is a guy with average or better tools across the board and an excellent work ethic, which are prob requirements #1 and #2 for being a successful major leaguer. Secondly, its not even close to fair to judge him on his first 122 MLB Ab’s. Lots and Lots and Lots of very good players struggled in their first call ups, and need a good 300-400 at bats to amke the necessary adjustments. Speaking of adjustments, this is another reason why I think Saunders will be successful. Every year he’s made progress in improving and shortening his swing, and even did so in season this year working with Cockerill.

Saunders cam out crushing the ball to the tune of a .922 OPS at AAA fresh off injury, then struggled in 122 at bats spread over sporadic playing time , and since come down the the VWL and has continued to destroy the ball. He’s a big kid with solid power and above average plate skills, he’ll get there, but even if it takes him a little bit he still brings a ton of value in the form of defense and baserunning.

You are correct. DeRosa has lots of baggage. I didn’t advocate that the M’s sign him to play LFm or didn’t mean to. I don’t think they will. But he is a very versatile guy…and given the M’s supposed roster limitations with Jr. occupying a spot, a versatile IF/OF guy isn’t a bad thing. DeRosa is probably a better (in some ways….and more expensive) version of Hall.

And in 50 starts last year his OF UZR was pretty dang good.

I hope I’m wrong on Saunders. But he looked totally overmatched at the MLB level.

Keith

DeRosa will be 35 when the season starts, isn’t necessarily likely to see a huge rebound offensively and was not very good int he AL last year. Defensively, small sample sizes and sporadic playing time provide for unreliable UZR’s, rendering them somewhat useless. All in all, DeRosa is a n againg player, most likely on the decline, is a RH hitter who might not even be league average in the AL, can’t play the infield worth beans, may or may not be competent in LF at the safe, and prob won’t come cheap…No…Thanks.

M’s will sign a LF, unless they spend way big bucks on a pitcher AND a DH.

I can live with Hannahan as the backup SS.

I would love a Vizquel signing. Although the M’s would have to up there wheelchair and Geritol budget for he and Jr.

I sense that Bill Hall is going to be around next year but I certainly hope not. He can play the outfield and a bunch of IF positions but I think he’s doomed s far as reaching previous hitting levels. But, unless the DH guy we sign also plays the outfield well, then I think Hall is going to be on the roster. Drats…..

The Jr. sgning really inhibits roster moves becasue you basically have a guy to DH twice a week and PH the rest of the time. He can’t play in the field and he can’t DH full time.

So…..

1B/DH–Carp/Branyan/Jr. (I’m to the point where I wouldn’t invest in Branyan. Two years is a big risk, I think. If you’re going to spend the money go with a more durable guy…or overpay for Branyan for one year.
2B—Lopez, I suppose. But I’m still thinking he goes in a package deal for a pitcher.
SS-Wilson
3B–Tui. Although I will not be surprised if he ends up at 2nd base.
OF–Ichiro/Gut……and I think we sign a LF guy. Saunders has given me no hope he’s the guy. None.
C–Moore and Johnson
Util–Vizquel/Hall/Hannahan…take two of those three with one of them being Hall.
That’s 13. Signing Jr. means you can’t keep a pure back-up outfielder. Langerhans, for example.