Sunday, December 07, 2003
I'M ON FIRE
Well, after finding out that USC will NOT play in the Sugar Bowl, I am.
But anyways, this is a Mariner-related post, fear not.
All offseason long, we've entertained the possibilities of the 2004 Mariner outfield. Any combination with Vladimir Guerrero would have ruled. But then reality set in. When Raul Ibanez was signed for his obscene contract, then we had to include the hack into the M's outfield.
So then the possibilities were Ibanez/Mike Cameron/Ichiro or Ibanez/Randy Winn/Ichiro. Obviously the first one is not happening, because I think Cameron is good as gone. Whether he's going to Oakland or to Flushing, NY remains to be seen. But he's gone.
As for Randy Winn, he's eligible for arbitration. I don't want to hear about him having a "great" second half in 2003. Boo fricking hoo. David's right, the guy is a ZOO in center field. I don't want Winn in center field next year. Furthermore, I don't Winn to be the reason why the M's can't sign Miguel Tejada. More on that later.
It is the Hot Stove League, and we all like to spew our thoughts on what our teams should look like for the upcoming season. Well, here's my 2004 Mariner outfield:
Chris Snelling
Ichiro
Raul Ibanez
That's right, Chris Snelling.
The M's are going to have give him a chance one of these years. He has been injury prone, but if healthy, he can be a solid player. In 2003, he split time between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma. Combining his stints in SA and TAC, he hit .316 in 65 games, hit 6 home runs, and drove in 35 runs. He was coming off of a knee injury suffered in early June 2002, when Dave Myers made Snelling overrun 3rd base in Oakland, ending his season. Snelling was hurt again during the final month of the season in Tacoma with a torn meniscus.
Come Spring Training in Peoria, Snelling is going to get an opportunity to earn a spot on the 25-man roster. I have no doubt that he can do that. If he does leave Peoria with the big club, then why not let him start in left field? It's obvious that the M's are not going to sign a free agent outfielder. And in due time, he will make people forget about the overrated player known as Randy Winn.
Is Winn worth 5 mil in arbitration, like Steve commented in David's last post? I don't think so. Is it worth it to give Snelling a chance to earn the starting LF spot in Spring Training?
That would be a yes.
As for Tejada...
I'm sick and tired of all the bashing of Tejada from some of the M's fans. Why bash the guy? Oh, because Carlos Guillen is the second coming of Ozzie Smith and they just can't get rid of him? Come on now.
Folks, I just want to see this team win. Not just win the A.L. West. Not just win the American League pennant. But I want to see this team win the World Series. I could care less about profit margins. Only suits care about those things. The players and fans care about winning.
Give me a Snelling/Ichiro/Ibanez outfield and Tejada at short, and I'll be very happy.
FIRE UP THE MIGGY HOT STOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But anyways, this is a Mariner-related post, fear not.
All offseason long, we've entertained the possibilities of the 2004 Mariner outfield. Any combination with Vladimir Guerrero would have ruled. But then reality set in. When Raul Ibanez was signed for his obscene contract, then we had to include the hack into the M's outfield.
So then the possibilities were Ibanez/Mike Cameron/Ichiro or Ibanez/Randy Winn/Ichiro. Obviously the first one is not happening, because I think Cameron is good as gone. Whether he's going to Oakland or to Flushing, NY remains to be seen. But he's gone.
As for Randy Winn, he's eligible for arbitration. I don't want to hear about him having a "great" second half in 2003. Boo fricking hoo. David's right, the guy is a ZOO in center field. I don't want Winn in center field next year. Furthermore, I don't Winn to be the reason why the M's can't sign Miguel Tejada. More on that later.
It is the Hot Stove League, and we all like to spew our thoughts on what our teams should look like for the upcoming season. Well, here's my 2004 Mariner outfield:
Chris Snelling
Ichiro
Raul Ibanez
That's right, Chris Snelling.
The M's are going to have give him a chance one of these years. He has been injury prone, but if healthy, he can be a solid player. In 2003, he split time between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma. Combining his stints in SA and TAC, he hit .316 in 65 games, hit 6 home runs, and drove in 35 runs. He was coming off of a knee injury suffered in early June 2002, when Dave Myers made Snelling overrun 3rd base in Oakland, ending his season. Snelling was hurt again during the final month of the season in Tacoma with a torn meniscus.
Come Spring Training in Peoria, Snelling is going to get an opportunity to earn a spot on the 25-man roster. I have no doubt that he can do that. If he does leave Peoria with the big club, then why not let him start in left field? It's obvious that the M's are not going to sign a free agent outfielder. And in due time, he will make people forget about the overrated player known as Randy Winn.
Is Winn worth 5 mil in arbitration, like Steve commented in David's last post? I don't think so. Is it worth it to give Snelling a chance to earn the starting LF spot in Spring Training?
That would be a yes.
As for Tejada...
I'm sick and tired of all the bashing of Tejada from some of the M's fans. Why bash the guy? Oh, because Carlos Guillen is the second coming of Ozzie Smith and they just can't get rid of him? Come on now.
Folks, I just want to see this team win. Not just win the A.L. West. Not just win the American League pennant. But I want to see this team win the World Series. I could care less about profit margins. Only suits care about those things. The players and fans care about winning.
Give me a Snelling/Ichiro/Ibanez outfield and Tejada at short, and I'll be very happy.
FIRE UP THE MIGGY HOT STOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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