Wow, we aren't fielding or throwing many starters this game...

I'm curious if Morse, Jimerson and Balentein are going to start getting less playing time in favor of the veterans. With less playing time they would start to disappear and then there won't be an outrage when they are demoted or claimed by another team in favor of veteran entitlement.

Do the right thing Mac, do the right thing. Oh, and in case you don't realize it, handing a job to Cairo isn't the right thing. Morse/Jimerson in '08!

How about a pre-2003 ticket sales comparison? Now that would be interesting. I will give the Mairners front office credit...they are talented spin doctors.

cool the game is on TV...and I don't have to work today, due to the fact that my boss is hungover and doesn't feel good awww (wuss)
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I still don't quite understand the Mariners love affair with Jose Vidro. Especially for a team that is lacking power. I believe that the only consistant reliable power source is Adrian Beltre and to a lesser extent Ibanez. Sexson and Wilkerson are huge question marks.
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We have a lefthanded power hitter in camp that, I feel will provide our offense with some pop and a youthful spark. Jeff Clement. What is the reluctance of the M's to give him the DH job? He has proved he can play at the AAA level, and from his late season performance last year, he has shown that he has a knack for the clutch hit. Clement could DH most of the time, and even catch a few games. This would give Jeff a chance to gradually learn the catcher position at the Major League level without the pressure.
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I have heard all the arguments for Vidro as our DH. I don't buy em'. A designated hitter should provide his team with power and knock in runs. Vidro, while being a solid contact hitter, has no power, zero, zip nada. Not to mention that he is as slow as two turtles Fu%#ing. Vidro would be a great role player, much like Mark McClemore was back in the day (minus the wheels of course). As a pinch hitter Vidro could be deadly. He hits both left and right handers equally well. The opposing manager would have no answer to his switch hitting bat. Vidro could also spell Sexson at 1B, Lopez at 2B, play a little DH (little is the key word) and maybe, maybe even learn some 3B.
But Vidro is not an asset to this team as a designated hitter. Not with our lack of power.
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The bottom line is that we are wasting Clement in AAA. He is MLB ready now. The Mariners stubborn reluctance to inject some youth into this team is flat out silly. Give Clement the job. If he falters, well hell, we still got Turbo.

and another thing, how is Vidro's nickname Turbo??? That is like calling Wayne Cody "Slim"

I think the name Turbo came from a USSM commenter early last year after watching him waddle to first base. Obviously it is tongue in cheek.

AK Dude - You ever read a corporate earnings report? Maximum spin short of outright lying is what all press releases by all corporate PR departments are. Would you really expect them to make a public negative comparison of any kind?

I like Morse, but I just don't see him fitting on this team, unless they do shorten the pen. I really like what we are seeing from Balentien so far, but he has options and he really shouldn't be riding the pine, so I think I'd start him in Tacoma with instructions to keep his apartment lease month to month. If one of these guys makes the team as a reserve, I think it is most likely to be Jimerson. His talents are more useful off the bench and less likely to atrophy without daily use. Besides, he has rookie grit.

What's the story on Brian Roberts? Are the O's going to hold out for July to trade him or what? Also, those who have been cracking wise about the M's bringing Tony Phillips in as a guest coach, check out who the Mets have in their camp:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1989516

Donovan-
How does Cairo fit the team better than Morse? I know that Morse is younger, which is a strike in the M's eyes, hits better, strike two, and can play both the OF and IF. The team needs energy and Jimerson does a great job of that, as does Morse. I think a bench with both Morse and Jimerson trumps a bench with Cairo and one or the other.

anybody know a radio station that is playing the game?

Barring a trade, Cairo makes the team because he's a 2B, end of story. Lopez is the biggest concern to the team in the IF, and needs backup. Morse just isn't that good defensively at any position. Defense trumps offense at 2B, according to conventional baseball wisdom (which I'm not necessarily defending here). Morse is PH of DH who can play the field in an emergency. I don't see him making the team unless the M's change their bullpen strategy from recent years. I'm not against that, but I don't view Morse as a difference maker.

I understand you point, and it makes sense. What I'm saying is that keeping Cairo just to play second and other positions is a poor decision. Willie can play second as well, Morse can play all other positions that Cairo plays and he can hit. Jimerson gives you more speed than Cairo. so you have the same things that Cairo is supposed to provide, but more speed and a lot more offense. But the biggest thing about it is if Morse and Jimerson play like this all spring and don't make the club for a vet who hasn't proven anything in his career, except that he's not very good, then there is something wrong here.

Good point Iowa. You already have a more versatile Miguel Cairo in Willie Bloomquist to push Lopez if that's what you think you need....but even the Jose Lopez that needs pushing is a better fielder than either Cairo or Bloomquist. And Lopez's horrendous offense last year is still a step up from Cairo.

Keeping both Cairo and Bloomquist is ludicrous. However a right handed bat to platoon with Raul would be smart. So would moving Raul to DH or 1B and signing a left fielder who can chase down balls. Guess which way the Ms will go.