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2019 Seattle Mariners Thread

MC Fresh Breath

By MC Fresh Breath
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miguelito

miguelito 11347

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1 hour ago, spystud13 said:

You kids still alive? If so, record MLBN at 9 tonight, it’s an hour about the ‘95 season. These episodes are usually pretty fucking well done. 

 

Yes, my DVR is set.  I'm not excited about Bob Costas, but this should be a good show.  Maybe it'll be the best thing about this forsaken season.

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to quote spystud from previous page
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miguelito

miguelito 11347

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I didn't move to Seattle till 1998, but I quickly became a big fan.  Ichiro and 116 wins certainly helped, but even in '98 some buddies and I would head down to the Kingdome, watch the game with a few dozen other fans, then go play pool in Pioneer Square almost till daylight. 

Edgar's Double in that game against the Yankees really is the defining play of the franchise.  It's comparable to Sean Elliott's Memorial Day Miracle.  Even fans who weren't around then know about it.  It's brought up in discussions, replays are shown for no reason.  It's in the very fabric of the city.  I've mentioned this before, but the statue of Dave Niehaus has his scorebook open, and you can 'read' it, and know that it was that game 5. 

My wife says she had a tshirt with a picture on it of the dogpile with Jr's smile at the bottom. 

The_Double.jpg

I still get goosebumps hearing Niehaus make that call (or any Grand Salami call, for that matter).  Even the text of it, man:

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Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball; they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior's speed. The stretch and the 0–1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martínez; swung on and lined down the left field line for a base hit! Here comes Joey! Here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in! The throw to the plate will be...LATE! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship! I don't believe it! It just continues! My oh My! Edgar Martínez with a double ripped down the left field line and they are going crazy at the Kingdome!

 

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Sundodger

Sundodger 66

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Great showing by Mariners fans in Cooperstown.   Far and away the second most represented fan base behind the local Yankees fans.  Brian Kenny even thanked Mariners fans for our impressive attendance after Edgar’s induction speech.

I’ll be back for Ichiro’s induction for sure.

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miguelito

miguelito 11347

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It has to be easy as shit to keep score of the Mariners.

The opposing team might be more difficult, with all those runs and hits and batting around in an inning.  (That didn't happen here, but ... well, the M's have given up 622 runs this year.  You do the math).

 

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MC Fresh Breath

MC Fresh Breath 4074

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Mariners beat the buzzer, trade Mike Leake to Diamondbacks for INF Jose Caballero

They sent him home.

By John Trupin@JohnTrupin Jul 31, 2019, 2:12pm PDT
 

Baltimore Orioles v Seattle Mariners A job well done. Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

It seemed like the clock had run out, but the MLB Trade Deadline plays on Rocket League rules - the buzzer doesn’t sound until the ball touches the ground. Despite the 4 PM ET deadline, just as folks were about to turn away and pack up their bags and head home from the fireworks, a discreet but unmistakable **pop** came from over the hill.

 

Mike Leake! Traded! To the Diamondbacks! What is this, May? But no, it’s real, and despite an earlier deal reportedly being scuttled, this one made it. Seattle’s return in the move is not extensive, but it’s a player with a possible future and that ain’t nothing.

 

While we’re not 100% certain on the prorated salary remaining for Leake, it looks like Arizona will be taking on $6 million of the remaining money owed to him.

 

That means the deal comes out to this:

Mariners send: RHP Mike Leake, approximately $12-14 million

Diamondbacks send: INF Jose Caballero

This is not an earth-shattering return because Mike Leake does not shatter the earth. Still, the 22-year-old (23 at the end of August) Caballero has had some success at every level, and has split his time fairly evenly between 3B, 2B, and SS. This year he’s been with the High-A Visalia Rawhide, meaning he’s faced off against the Modesto Nuts a few times. Caballero’s numbers are solid this year - a .268/.388/.396 line with a 126 wRC+ and 145 DRC+ is encouraging, particularly as Caballero has hit at each level he’s been promoted to.

Even more encouraging, his speed has become a weapon this year, with 28 stolen bases in 35 attempts. According to Baseball America, his arm is just so-so, making him likelier a 2B or UTIL than an SS at the big-league level, but he’s had a contact-rich profile that could play up as he gets stronger. Still, the body type isn’t one to suggest more power - Caballero is listed at 5’10, 185 and already has a slight leg kick to try and generate some more oomph.

Not to throw too much rain on this parade, but between the excellent baserunning, UTIL profile, pull-heavy contact, and baby leg kick, there’s a Taylor Motter-like profile here. That’s good in that Caballero could follow that track to the majors, but that’s about the limit of the comparisons you’d hope to see. Caballero has gotten strong reviews on his makeup and high motor, fortunately, and his move to Florida to be drafted out of JUCO Chipola College in the 7th round of 2017 after being born in Panama City, Panama makes his pathway an intriguing one.

Caballero has been on the injured list since the 31st of May with a hand injury but was sent to Arizona for a rehab assignment starting today. He should be able to just move a few doors down to the Mariners facility and continue there. Whether he is able to get back up to speed is uncertain, but he should either return to Modesto or move up to Arkansas next year. Caballero was not a top-30 prospect in Arizona, nor was he on any major lists, but he’s mildly interesting, young, and plays positions Seattle has not had prospects at in many spots through the minors.

It’s a fine enough return, sending Leake to the state he played college and as close as possible to his father, who is paralyzed and for whom Leake has prioritized proximity in the past. The deal came about as a reaction to the much larger move by Arizona of the day - dealing ace Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros for four notable prospects.

 

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MC Fresh Breath

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Mariners Send Elias, Strickland to DC, Acquire LHPs Taylor Guilbeau, Aaron Fletcher and RHP Elvis Alvarado

The Mariners have elected to trade relievers Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Top 30 LHP Prospects Taylor Guilbeau and Aaron Fletcher. They also received RHP Elvis Alvarado in the Elias deal

Guilbeau, 26, is unequivocally the anchor of this deal for Seattle. Ranked the 15th best prospect in the Nationals system by MLBPipeline.com, and 14th best by Baseball America, Guilbeau is a lefty-specialist coming out of the bullpen.

A two-pitch southpaw, Guilbeau has generally been regarded as a LOOGY specialist in the past, though his reverse splits this year suggest otherwise. He’s had a knack for stranding runners this season, holding opposing hitters to a .208 average with runners on.

Armed with a low-to-mid-90s fastball and plus slider, Guilbeau dominated the AA circuit this season to the tune of a 2.31 ERA with a minuscule 1.06 WHIP. Since being promoted to AAA Fresno, his performance hasn’t been quite as impressive, registering a 5.19 ERA in just over 7 innings of work.

This being his fifth year in minor league ball, Guilbeau will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft come December, so Seattle may elect to add him to their 40-man roster on September 1st for a cup of coffee, if not sooner.

He’s tried to work in a developing changeup this season that still flashes below average. If the slider continues to improve, and the changeup develops into average, all while maintaining control, Guilbeau could profile as a Sean Doolittle type.

Fletcher, 23, is another Top 30 farmhand from the Nationals’ system, ranked 21st by MLBPipeline, and 19th by Baseball America. He profiles similarly to Guilbeau, though he provides a little more deception in his delivery.

Armed with a mid-90s fastball and similar slider, Fletcher absolutely dominated lower-level ball this year, posting a 1.50 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 52 innings across A-Ball and High-A ball.

Since being promoted to AA Harrisburg, Fletcher hasn’t been quite as dominant, registering a 4.26 ERA in just over 6 innings of work.

The slider is the real prize when it comes to Fletcher’s arsenal. His funky delivery and natural deception makes the slider torture on left-handed hitters, while righties haven’t fared too well either. Lefties are posting a .173 average against the pitch this year, while righties are mowed down at a .170 clip.

A 14th round selection in the 2018 draft, Seattle can be patient in their development with the young southpaw. He’ll likely get plenty of seasoning in AA Arkansas this year, as well as in 2020. There’s no rush here.

Alvarado, 20, is a bit more of a lottery ticket. Not as decorated as Guilbeau or Fletcher, Alvarado signed as an international free agent out of Dominican Republic in 2016 for $700,000 — a high price tag. Originally signed as a big-bodied corner outfielder, Alvarado made the move to the bump in 2018 where he’s worked ever since. At 6-foot-4, 195lbs, he can really bring it on the mound.

An arsenal containing a mid-90s fastball and developing secondary pitches, Alvarado elected to move into a rotation spot for 2019, where he’s struggled thus far.

In 17 innings in the GCL, his 5.29 ERA and 1.76 WHIP won’t drop and jaws, but 24 strikeouts in that short sample size might. He’s really struggled with command and containing his stuff within the strikezone, but the power is there. He’s still working in the Gulf Coast League, and will likely be sent to the AZL to get more seasoning and experience for Seattle.

If Seattle elects to move him into a full-time bullpen role, he may see Everett this season.

 

https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2019/7/31/20748982/mariners-send-elias-strickland-to-dc-acquire-lhps-taylor-guilbeau-aaron-fletcher

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spystud13

spystud13 2371

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This part of the Leake article made me laugh. 

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The deal came about as a reaction to the much larger move by Arizona of the day - dealing ace Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros for four notable prospects.

This deal makes the Astros a true juggernaut this year, but can hardly be seen as anything but a win for the 2021 and beyond Mariners. Houston retains its top two prospects in Kyle Tucker and Forrest Whitley, but the chances the Astros regress to beatability by the time Seattle is ascending grew significantly today.

 

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