nick franklin

Escape the Cage: The Mariners’ Quest for .500

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Seattle Sportsnet

boratIn the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, the title character, Borat Sagdiyev, imparts the story of his younger brother Bilo, a tragedy-stricken young man who lives in a cage. For years Bilo is taunted by his sister, Natalya, the No. 4 prostitute in all of Kazakhstan. Natalya, who has even earned a trophy for her whoring efforts, often dances before her confined sibling, flashing her “vazheen,” shouting, “You will never get this, you will never get it, la la la la la la!”

Restricted to a life behind cold, metal bars, Bilo cries. He cries, says Borat, as everybody laughs. And as they laugh, Bilo’s older sister issues a firm decree: “You never get this.”

As far as the Seattle Mariners are concerned, a .500 record might as well be their mystical “vazheen.” Like the cage that imprisons Bilo Sagdiyev, the M’s are seemingly bound to a certain cosmic futility that prevents them from achieving so much as sustained mediocrity. Forget division titles, wildcard berths, playoffs, or championships. No, the immediate goal should be much less than that. Every team has to start somewhere, and for the 2013 Mariners, success commences with a balanced record.

It’s almost cruel the way equilibrium toys with the Mariners. The last time the team had an even mark was way back on April 8, following a 3-0 disposing of the Houston Astros that brought the ballclub to a stable 4-4. Since then, the M’s have lost 20 of 36 games — bad enough to not feel good about things, but not so bad that par can’t easily be attained.

On May 16, just a few short days ago, the Mariners cut their win-loss deficit to a mere one game for the first time since a defeat on April 9 dropped the team to 4-5. Entering a weekend series in Cleveland, the team was poised to level its record anew. What happened next? If you’ve been following the fate of the club, you know all too well: three consecutive losses at the hands of the Indians, dropping the Mariners to four games under .500. It seems like every time the team chips away at their debt to victory, a losing streak rears its ugly head and sends the organization spiraling back down into the red.

For fans, remaining bullish despite such a bear market is difficult, to say the least. While some may write the team off in the heat of the moment, however, there are few who have truly given up on the Mariners. Hope springs eternal…at least through May, I suppose. Pessimism may surround losing, but there are plenty of reasons for fans to believe in a more optimistic future.

For starters, the Mariners have gaping holes at a number of positions. And while the holes themselves aren’t cause for celebration, the imminent patching of those holes should bring about a few smiles.

The most glaring void is at shortstop, where Brendan Ryan and Robert Andino have combined to hit the weight of a supermodel. Neither player has emerged as a winner in this slapfight for playing time, leading to public outcry for alternate solutions. Those alternatives can be found at Triple-A Tacoma, where Carlos Triunfel and Nick Franklin wait patiently for an opportunity with the big club.

Though fans ooze enthusiasm for the left-handed-hitting Franklin, the team may wait on their uber-prospect in favor of the more seasoned Triunfel. Once an uber-prospect himself, Triunfel has had his cup of coffee in the bigs and can provide serviceable ability with both the glove and the bat. Triunfel may not hit .300, but this lineup would be markedly improvement by even a .200 batting average at the shortstop position.

Catcher is another area where upgrades need to be made. Jesus Montero simply isn’t cutting it in the majors, whether as a starter or part-time backup. Montero has struggled all season with the bat (he’s currently hitting .210 with a .596 OPS), but it’s his defense that has warranted the most criticism of late. The 23-year-old has trouble making the routine plays behind the dish, which presents a whole new set of problems since the Mariners are oddly committed to Montero as a catcher.

The M’s stubbornness to keep a mitt on Montero’s left hand seems like it might be a ploy to boost his trade value. Long term, Montero has no future donning the tools of ignorance for Seattle. But with another organization? It’s possible. Hence, the franchise continues to believe in Montero, the catcher, rather than just Montero, the hitter. Either way, Jesus has not earned his roster spot with the bat nor the glove, so what’s he still doing here? It’s a question that has yet to be answered.

Finally, the back end of the starting rotation continues to be an area of weakness. Between the inconsistencies of a rookie (Brandon Maurer), the road woes of Joe Saunders, and the perpetual sadness that is Aaron Harang, the team could use some stability beyond their one-two punch of Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma.

If a move is made in the near future, expect Harang to be the departing party. The 35-year-old right-hander appears to be in the twilight’s twilight of his career, and frankly if Harang can’t succeed in the pitcher-friendly confines of Seattle, where can he succeed?

The M’s have their share of Harang replacements grooming in Tacoma. The most immediate option could be 30-year-old reclamation project Jeremy Bonderman, who, if promoted, would essentially serve as a stopgap until a younger arm proved worthy of a call-up. Bonderman has been good, not great, in Triple-A; the same could be said for his more youthful teammates. Undoubtedly, fans would like to see top prospects Danny Hultzen or James Paxton make their Mariners debuts, but Hultzen has been on the disabled list since mid-April, while Paxton has had an up-and-down year.

Right now, the Rainiers’ best starting pitcher is probably 26-year-old right-hander Andrew Carraway. Carraway is as unassuming as they come, blessed with a low-nineties fastball and ho-hum off-speed pitches. He gets outs, though, and that’s all that really matters. Once upon a time the Mariners had another minor leaguer in the Carraway mold who you may remember, a guy by the name of Doug Fister. Carraway may not turn out to be a Fister clone, but if he induces blanks on the scoreboard, he could ease the pain of having to watch a pus-throwing Harang every five days.

Hesitation to pull the trigger on any of these promotions hangs on a variety of different reasons. Promoting Triunfel or Franklin would likely result in the team designating Andino for assignment, all but ending his tenure in Seattle. Demoting Montero would mean promoting an unproven backup in Jesus Sucre, or rushing Mike Zunino. And bestowing the fifth spot in the rotation to anyone not named Aaron Harang would mean entrusting significant innings pitched to a call-up with whom the ballclub may not have much faith. Each move comes with a bevy of question marks, yet each move has become warranted.

Change may be difficult for this team to embrace, but it’s time for change to occur. The M’s have been staying afloat with four key contributors (or three-ish, if you count Ryan and Andino as a tandem) doing almost no contributing. It’s unfair to keep everyone wondering what contributions in each of those roles could do for this ballclub. If nothing else, we have to believe that positive changes would lead this team to a .500 record. And from .500, who knows what’s next? Getting back to even has a way of becoming something more, something greater. Division titles, wildcard berths, playoffs, and championships all start with a .500 record or better. But for now, our goals remain simple.

The tale Borat Sagdiyev tells of his younger brother does not end with Bilo sobbing behind bars. Like all good tales, this one has a happy ending. Amidst daily taunts of “You will never get this,” Bilo perseveres in his quest for both his freedom and his sister’s vazheen. And then one day, one magical day, it happens. “One time,” reveals Borat, “he break cage and he ‘get this.’ And then we all laugh!”

It’s about time the Mariners break from their cage and “get this.” We could all use a good laugh.


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Morning Links, Cinco de Mayo

Posted on May 5, 2013 by SoDo Mojo

Happy Mexican Independence day only celebrated in America, everybody! While you rise and shine to watch yet another 10:07 PT Mariners game north of the border (the Canadian one), here are some links from around the blogosphere for some good reading.

  • Mariners.com contributor Chris Toman detailed Michael Saunders’ successwhen he plays in his native Canada.

    May 3, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager (15) hits a 2 run homer in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

    Saunders hit two home runs yesterday and added an RBI double to raise his season average to .300.

  • In the same article, Toman discussed Kyle Seager’s success against lefties. He took lefty Ricky Romero deep in the fourth inning Friday for a two-run shot that gave Felix Hernandez an insurmountable cushion.
  • Larry Stone broke down Nick Franklin’s quality performance in Tacoma and discussed his readiness for the big show.
  • Stone moved the Mariners up to No. 21 in his power rankings this week. His tagline: “Felix and ‘Kuma, and the rest are a trade ruma. Har har.
  • In case you missed it, our very own JJ Keller considered Dustin Ackley’s recent improvements and whether he has actually become better. Mind you, this was before his grand salami yesterday.
  • Lookout Landing’s Brandon Gawlowski discussed Hector Noesi’s viability as a reliever.

Just like that, Kyle Seager has already doubled. Such a baller. Check back postgame for news and notes.

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Three moves to make the Mariners better today

Posted on April 29, 2013 by SoDo Mojo

The Mariners just won their first series of the 2013 season to improve to a lackluster 11-16. They benefitted from three great starts from Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Brandon Maurer and some timely home runs from Mike Morse, Jason Bay and Jesus Montero. Still, this team is a far cry from contending in the AL West this year. Here are three moves the Mariners can make to improve the team immediately.

1. Reinstate OF Michael Saunders from the 15-day disabled list, option OF Carlos Peguero to Tacoma

Michael Saunders could help the Mariners win today. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

This one’s a no-brainer and might actually happen later today. Saunders started the season hot, hitting consistently and stealing bases, before running into the fence while chasing a fly ball and injuring his shoulder. The Mariners missed his consistent production, going 7-10 in his absence. The outfield combination of Bay, an injured Morse, Endy Chavez and Raul Ibanez hampered the Mariners over the past few weeks.

Peguero went 2-for-6 with a home run since coming up for Franklin Gutierrez on Tuesday. His home run measured 451 feet, the third-longest jack in Safeco Field history. He hit it basically off of his shoestrings, too. Maybe he has a future in professional golf. For now, he’s the most expendable Mariner and can be optioned to Tacoma without consequence.

2. Promote 2B Nick Franklin from Tacoma, designate UT Robert Andino for assignment

The Mariners won’t make this move, but as far as immediate improvements go, Franklin would be a better complement to Brendan Ryan in a shortstop platoon than Andino. Andino has proved to be a non-factor in all facets so far, with a sub-.200 batting average and inconsistent defense. Just yesterday, Andino nearly handed Hisashi Iwakuma a loss with a horrible error that scored the Angels only run. Ryan can’t hit a lick, but neither can Andino, and Brendan’s Gold Glove-caliber defense should earn him the starting job.

Franklin isn’t on the 40-man roster, but Andino’s DFA would remedy that issue. He’s hitting .382 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He’s also stolen four bases. Running Franklin as a platoon spell for Ryan and Dustin Ackley in the middle infield would improve the Mariners offense significantly. However, even though the move would improve the team, the Mariners should (and will) wait to promote Franklin, so as to not start his arbitration clock early and to maximize his reps in AAA.

Woof. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3. Move to a six-man rotation where Joe Saunders only starts at Safeco Field

This one comes out of left field, and might not make a whole lot of sense on the surface. But look at Saunders’ numbers at home as opposed to on the road this year.

Home: 2 starts, 13.1 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 strikeouts, .90 WHIP
Away: 3 starts, 13.2 IP, 0-3, 12.51 ERA, 5 strikeouts, 2.63 WHIP

That’s absurd! Joe Saunders is an elite pitcher at Safeco Field in 2013 and a double-A pitcher on the road. Sure, small sample size, but if Saunders rolls past the Orioles tonight, this will make more sense.

Hector Noesi has pitched well out of the bullpen recently. Give him the starts. Or give them to Blake Beavan. Both guys need career salvaging after horrible stints in the Mariners’ rotation. Saunders’ road starts are essentially throwaways at this point. Might as well try and win now.

 

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Nick Franklin at the Top of Shortstop Prospects List

Posted on February 28, 2013 by SoDo Mojo

Nick Franklin just hit his first home run of the season in the Seattle Mariners vs. San Francisco Giants spring training game. It’s his first time attending spring baseball camp with the Mariners, and he’s been showing a lot of promise. He’s gained 15 pounds, and in his first season playing Class A Clinton ball, he hit 23 home runs.

What makes Franklin so special now isn’t just that he is ranked by MLB.com as number 47 out of 100 prospects, but that he’s in it for the game. Last year, he had a batting average of .322 in 57 games at Jackson and .243 in 64 games at Tacoma. So far in Spring Training, Franklin has a batting average of .143, getting off to a bit of a slow start. Hopefully we’ll get to see just what this 22 year old player is capable of real soon.

In the offseason, he’s had a .338 average with a .942 OPS in 20 games. Had the Justin Upton deal gone through, Franklin was one of the guys who would have been up for trade.

Whatever his stats are, Franklin is looking alive out on the field. In addition to his homer today, he has been at bat 6 times, hit twice, homered once, and had two RBIs.  His OPS is currently .429.

Keep an eye on Franklin. If he doesn’t make the Mariners’ final roster, it stands to reason that he may make a good player to trade. What do you think of his ball playing ability this season thus far?

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Seattle Mariners Top Five Prospects In 2013

Posted on January 31, 2013 by SoDo Mojo

Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

This week, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com compiled the top 100 prospects in the league. The Mariners’ farm system ranked near the top of both the American and National League, with three prospects in the top 25 and five players in all.

Here’s a brief look at each of Seattle’s top five prospects:

Taijuan Walker

2013 Top 100 Prospects rating: 5
2012 Top 100 Prospects rating: 4

The most lucrative name of the Mariners’ Big Four (Walker, Danny Hultzen, James Paxton, and Brandon Maurer), Taijuan spent his third MiLB season with the Double-A Jackson Generals. Over 25 starts and 126.2 IP, he finished with a 4.69 ERA, allowing 50 walks, 12 home runs, and striking out 118 of 550 batters.

CBS Sports highlighted the 20-year-old last August: “In the end, he knows the Mariners are looking out for his long-term success — something they believe will come. One scout told CBSSports.com, “I never like to anoint guys, but he’s special.”

Walker’s special because of his physique, the fact he throws an easy high-90s fastball and the curve and change up are developing. But more than that, the team loves his work ethic and his maturity.”

Danny Hultzen

2013 Top 100 Prospects rating: 18
2012 Top 100 Prospects rating: 8

Although Walker’s potential is considered tops in the Mariners’ organization, the southpaw Hultzen has been drawing attention as well. He advanced to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers’ staff in 2012, posting a 5.92 ERA in 12 starts and 48.2 IP. While generating a walk rate of 17.9%, he allowed just two home runs to 240 batters.

Mayo had this to say about Hultzen: “The biggest surprise was a loss of control (he finished 2012 with a 5.4 BB/9 rate), something that was a plus for Hultzen coming out of the University of Virginia. Most see that as a blip on the radar and still feel his stuff and pitchability should have him ready for the big leagues very soon.”

Mike Zunino

2013 Top 100 Prospects rating: 23
2012 Top 100 Prospects rating: 44

With the loss of John Jaso and Miguel Olivo this offseason, fans have turned an eager eye to the development of Mike Zunino, a hot-hitting backstop who jumped from short-season single A to Double-A in his first minor league season. At 21 years old, Zunino projected numbers like those of Jesus Montero (albeit at a bit slower pace), batting .333/.386/.558 in 15 games with Jackson, picking up 7 XBH, 8 RBI, and an OPS of .974.

On his mid-season call-up to the Jackson Generals, Prospect Insider’s Jason Churchill wrote the following: “Zunino, the top college bat in a class lacking depth in that area, generally receives average or better grades across the board, including receiving, blocking and throwing, and offers above-average-to-plus power with the bat.

He understands the game of baseball and knows how to catch. He has leadership skills, big-league makeup and as one scout put it early on draft day, “he has that vinegar, that extra gear of effort and feel that makes you want him on your team.”

Nick Franklin

2013 Top 100 Prospects rating: 47
2012 Top 100 Prospects rating: 29

Shortstop Nick Franklin is on the rise to the majors, completing his fourth minor-league year with half a season in Triple-A. In 2012, he hit .243/.310/.416 in 64 games and 296 PA for the Rainiers, collecting 7 home runs, 29 RBI, and 24 walks along the way. Although his starts were split evenly between second base and shortstop, Franklin has notched almost three times as many games at short in his minor league career.

Mayo’s analysis, per MLB.com: “A switch-hitter who has been much better from the left side thus far in his career, Franklin has a good idea at the plate with a good approach. The ball can jump off his bat thanks to his bat speed and he has more power than one would expect. His solid speed plays up because he has very good instincts on the basepaths.”

James Paxton

2013 Top 100 Prospects rating: 61
2012 Top 100 Prospects rating: 74

The Mariners’ last prospect on the list is LHP James Paxton, another member of the Big Four and the oldest of this group at 24 years old. He has two seasons of Double-A ball under his belt: from 2011 to 2012, his ERA jumped from 1.85 in 39.0 IP to 3.05 over his first full season of 106.1 IP. In 21 starts, he struck out 110 batters of 453 and allowed just 5 home runs to 54 walks.

An early report from Project Prospect projects Paxton as one of the Mariners’ regulars in the near future: “Paxton is raw for his age but he is also a rare talent. If he is able to harness his raw stuff, he could wind up being a No. 1-2 caliber starter and be a important part of a great future Mariners rotation. He could force his way up in 2012, but 2013 is a reasonable time to expect him to solidify himself as a big leaguer.”

Who do you want to see called up to Seattle in 2013?

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AFL Mariners Update

Posted on October 23, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The Peoria Javelinas have quickly ascended to the top of the Arizona Fall League with just over three weeks left in offseason play. While the collective progress of the club means little, the contributions by budding minor league Mariners continue to increase.

Current record: 9-4

Play of the week: Last Tuesday, Nick Franklin recorded his third consecutive multi-hit performance, going 3-for-4 against the Mesa Solar Sox with a base hit and pair of RBI doubles in the Javelinas’ 4-2 win.

Top player: Over 6.1 IP and four appearances, right-handed reliever Carson Smith has allowed three hits and a single run. He earned his first win in his AFL debut, shouldering a hit, a run, and a walk in the Javelinas’ 5-2 win over the Surprise Saguaros.

Honorable mention: Despite a faulty start against the Phoenix Desert Dogs on Saturday, with four hits, four runs, and two walks released in 1.2 IP, James Paxton racked up 13 strikeouts in his first two weeks—good for third-most in the AFL. Currently, he holds a 5.87 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in three starts and 7.2 IP.

For more information on the Peoria Javelinas and upcoming Arizona Fall League match-ups, follow @MLBazFallLeague on Twitter or swing by the official website.


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The Success of Past Prospects

Posted on October 16, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

Ryan Anderson, Ryan Christianson, Chris Snelling, Antonio Perez, Clint Nageotte, Jose Lopez, Travis Blackley, Jeremy Reed, Jeff Clement, Phillippe Aumont, Greg Halman, and Adam Moore. I’m guessing that you have heard some of those names, and I’m guessing you have never heard quite a few of those names. Is this just a random list of players? NO. It’s a list of past Seattle Mariner prospects that made Baseball America’s top 100 Prospect list.

That’s right, these names were once thought to be the future stars of the Mariner organization, yet as we know, none of them really worked out. Sure, Lopez had a few good years before dropping off the face of the earth, and a few other guys have bounced around from team to team and from AAA to the majors for years, but none of them have actually had good major league careers.

As fans, we often look at promising young players and simply expect them to fulfill their potential. I know that I am quite guilty of this. In some of my past articles, I have discussed prospects as if they were sure things, while in reality they are a long ways from being major league caliber players.

In this article, I am going to look at the prospects that we have in our system that have made the 2012 Baseball America top 100 prospects list, and then give a list of past prospects of the same position that have been at similar ranks on past Baseball America lists. This will hopefully put in perspective just how unreliable prospects truly are.

I admit, this is not a perfect analysis of how likely our current prospects are to make the majors, but it will still give a broad comparison to past players that you can use.

The Mariners to make the 2012 list were Jesus Montero (6th), Taijuan Walker (20th), Danny Hultzen (21st), James Paxton (52nd), and Nick Franklin (77th).

Jesus Montero (6th)

We know that Jesus has already made the majors, but that doesn’t mean that he will have long-term success there. Here is a list of catchers who cracked the top 20 from 2010 to 2000.

  • Buster Posey (2010, 2009)
  • Carlos Santana (2010)
  • Matt Wieters (2009, 2008)
  • Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2006)
  • Joe Mauer (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002)
  • Victor Martinez (2003)

As you can see from this list, not many catchers have been ranked in the top 20, but the ones that have made it that high have experienced success. That’s pretty encouraging for the future of Jesus.

Taijuan Walker (20th)

I will include all right-handed prospects that ranked from 15th to 30th.

  • Jeremy Hellickson (2010)
  • Casey Kelly (2010)
  • Kyle Drabek (2010)
  • Jacob Turner (2010)
  • Rick Porcello (2009, 2008)
  • Chris Tillman (2009) Note: The Mariners sent Tillman along with Adam Jones to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard Trade.
  • Jerrod Parker (2009)
  • Wade Davis (2008)
  • Nick Adenhart (2008) Note: Adenhart was tragically killed in a car crash after just four major league appearances.
  • Adam Miller (2008, 2007, 2005)
  • Yovani Gallardo (2007)
  • Mike Pelfrey (2007)
  • Matt Garza (2007)
  • Bobby Jenks (2006)
  • Chad Billingsley (2005)
  • Jeff Niemann (2005)
  • Jose Capellan (2005)
  • Edwin Jackson (2005)
  • Dustin McGowan (2004)
  • Gavin Floyd (2004)
  • Chin-Hui Tsao (2004, 2001)
  • Angel Guzman (2004)
  • Ervin Santana (2004)

  • King Felix. Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

    Felix Hernandez (2004)

  • Jeremy Bonderman (2003)
  • Adam Wainwright (2003)
  • John VanBenschoten (2003)
  • Rafael Soriano (2003, 2002)
  • Rich Harden (2003)
  • Dennis Tankersley (2002)
  • Nick Neugebauer (2002)
  • Jerome Williams (2002, 2001)
  • Jon Rauch (2002)
  • Jake Peavy (2002)
  • Boof Bonser (2002)
  • Juan Cruz (2001)
  • Bobby Bradley (2001)
  • Donny Bridges (2001)
  • Matt Belisle (2001)
  • Kurt Ainsworth (2001)
  • Josh Becket (2000)
  • A.J. Burnett (2000)
  • Brad Penny (2000)
  • Tony Armas (2000)
  • Ramon Ortiz (2000)
  • Francisco Cordero (2000)

This is a very large and diverse list of pitchers. Some of these guys, such as Gallardo, King Felix, and Wainwright are some of the best pitchers in baseball. On the other hand, some of these guys never did anything in a major league uniform. Most of them, however, have had decent major league stints which is encouraging.

Danny Hultzen (21st)

Here are all of the lefty pitchers from 2010 to 2000 that ranged from 15th to 30th on the Baseball America list.

  • Martin Perez (2010)
  • Aroldis Chapman (2010)
  • Tyler Matzek  (2010)

  • Multiple exposure image of Clayton Kershaw. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

    Brian Matusz (2009)

  • Jake McGee (2008)
  • Gio Gonzalez (2008)
  • Clayton Kershaw (2007)
  • Franklin Morales (2007)
  • Jon Lester (2006)
  • Jeff Francis (2005)
  • Mike Hinckley (2005)
  • Cole Hamels (2004)
  • Sean Burnett (2003)
  • Cliff Lee (2003)
  • Carlos Hernandez (2002)
  • Ty Howington (2002)
  • Chris George (2001)
  • Matt Riley (2000)
  • Wilfredo Rodriguez (2000)  Note: Wilfredo may be the coolest name ever.

Wow, that is a very strange list. Nearly all of these guys fall into one of two categories: 1) stud 2) total bust. Honestly though, can anyone say that they have heard a baseball player with a cooler name than Wilfredo? If you have, please put it in the comment section below.

James Paxton (52nd)

All lefty pitchers that have placed between 45th and 60th on the Baseball America lists will be included in this list.

  • Casey Crosby (2010)

  • John Danks. Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

    Ross Detwiler (2008)

  • Donald Veal (2007)
  • Chuck Lofgren (2007)
  • John Danks (2007, 2006, 2005)
  • Troy Patton (2007)
  • Jonathan Sanchez (2007)
  • Adam Loewen (2006)
  • Jeremy Sowers (2006)
  • Scott Elbert (2006)
  • Justin Jones (2004)
  • Mike Hinckley (2004)
  • Andy Sisco (2003)
  • Mike Gosling (2003)
  • Mario Ramos (2002)
  • Jimmy Gobble (2002)
  • Mark Phillips (2002)
  • Joe Torres (2001)
  • Wilfredo Rodriguez (2001)
  • Mike Bynum (2001)
  • Ed Yarnall (2001)
  • C.C. Sabathia (2001)

Well that list of players is downright disturbing, if not devastating. If you can honestly say that you have heard of over half of the names on this list, then I am impressed. Besides Sabathia who has had a great career, John Danks and Jonathan Sanchez who have had their ups and downs, and Wilfredo Rodriguez who has the best name in baseball history, there aren’t many bright spots on that list. This is not to say that James Paxton won’t be a good pitcher, but history certainly doesn’t seem to be in his favor.

Nick Franklin (77th)

I will include both shortstops and second baseman in this list, since it is unclear where Franklin will end up. All prospects that were place from 70th to 85th on past prospect rankings will be included in this list.

  • Jiovanni Mier (2010)
  • Adrian Cardenas (2009, 2008)
  • Reid Brignac (2009)
  • Jed Lowrie (2008)

Note: Carlos Triunfel was ranked 89th on the 2009 list and 62nd on the 2008 list.

  • Alberto Callaspo (2007, 2004)

Note: Current Pirates second baseman, Neil Walker was placed at 74th on the 2007 rankings, but he was listed as a third baseman. He was also listed as 81st in 2005, but his position was catcher that year.

  • Orlando Hudson who, like Nick Franklin, is a switch hitter. Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

    Dustin Pedroia (2006)

  • Cliff Pennington (2006)
  • Joaquin Arias (2005)
  • Brandon Wood (2005)
  • Jose Lopez (2004)
  • Chase Utley (2003)
  • Jake Gautreau (2002)
  • Orlando Hudson (2002)
  • Luis Montanez (2001)
  • Marcus Giles (2000)
  • Adam Everett (2000)

Note: Carlos Guillen was ranked 73rd on the 2000 list, but was posted as a 3rd baseman. However, Guillen played every infield position throughout his career.

This list has a couple studs scattered across a sea of busts. A lot of these middle infielders that didn’t work out never really made the majors, but since Franklin is already knocking on the door, that’s seems to bode well for him avoiding the same fate.

Mike Zunino

Mike Zunino was not a Mariner when the 2012 top prospect list was released by Baseball America, but MLB.com released an updated top prospect list in which Zunino ranked 44th. Therefore, I will list past catching prospects that ranked from 35th to 50th on Baseball America lists.

  • Derek Norris (2010)

  • J.P. Arencibia. Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

    Jason Castro (2010)

  • Jesus Montero (2009)
  • J.P. Arencibia (2009)
  • Jeff Clement (2008)
  • Geovany Soto (2008)
  • Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2007)
  • Russell Martin (2006)
  • Neil Walker (2006)
  • Brian McCann (2005)
  • Dioner Navarro (2004)
  • Guillermo Quiroz (2004) Note: Quiroz was in the Mariner organization, but not on the 40-man roster, until being traded for cash in September.
  • Jeff Mathis (2003)
  • Josh Phelps (2002)
  • J.R. House (2002)
  • Joe Buck (2002)
  • Ben Patrick (2000)
  • Matt LeCroy (2000)
  • Jayson Werth (2000) Note: This IS the same Jayson Werth that is now a star outfielder for the Nationals.
  • Steve Lomasney (2000)

The recent prospect to made this list have experienced quite a bit of success while the members of older lists struggled more. Hopefully this trend will benefit Zunino.

My purpose for this article was not to discourage your hope in our future, but to simply give some perspective of just how unpredictable these young prospects can be. As fans, we need to make sure we aren’t counting our eggs before they hatch and basing our future on kids that may or may not work out.


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Seattle’s Future at Shortstop

Posted on September 26, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

The typical reaction to a Brendan Ryan at bat. Credit: David Banks-US PRESSWIRE

The shortstop situation in Seattle is quite bizarre. We have the best defensive shortstop in baseball right now, yet the majority of fans would like to see him go due to the fact that he can’t hit. It’s true, Brendan Ryan is a miserable hitter right now, but I don’t think that that means we should just get rid of him as soon as we can.

I believe that Seattle has taken good defensive shortstops for granted in recent years. The Seattle pitching staff has been blessed him Brendan Ryan and Jack Wilson, who were two of the best defensive shortstop of the decade, play shortstop for the last few seasons. People don’t realize how important having that stud up the middle is until it’s gone. Just remember what it was like having Yuniesky Betancourt’s disastrous glove. I don’t want that.

My point is that we shouldn’t just throw away Brendan Ryan simply because he doesn’t have a great bat. Ryan should get the job out of spring training next year. If he can raise his average up to a semi-respectable .240, I see no reason to try to move him. His glove is too valuable. In a few years when this team is challenging for a playoff spot, Brendan Ryan’s glove is the kind of tool that makes a good team great.

At the same time, if Ryan continues to display Mendoza line production, the Mariners will have to start looking elsewhere. In this scenario, there are lots of good options in the farm system.

With the exception of starting pitching, the shortstop position has more farm system depth than any other spot.

Carlos Truinfel has been a prospect in this organization since 2007 when he was 17. He was considered an organizational top 10 prospect from 2007 to 2010 and was a MLB top 100 prospect in 2008 and 2009. Unfortunately, his bat has never been impactful above class high A. His frequent strikeouts and poor BB% have plagued him as well. At this point, he is no longer the heir to the throne due to the draft of Nick Franklin and Brad Miller.

These two new players are now the guys who are expected to be the future at shortstop, specifically Nick Franklin. While Franklin has been the front runner at shortstop and is currently the 29th best prospect in baseball, I encouraged fans to pay attention to Miller in my 2nd base article, and I will use the same argument here.

Here is a comparison between Franklin and Miller during their time in AA Jackson in 2012.

PA

HR

R

BB%

K%

AVG

OBP

SLG%

wOBA

wRC+

Franklin

239

4

25

10.0

15.9

.322

.394

.502

.413

155

Miller

170

4

21

12.9

15.3

.320

.406

.476

.409

152

 

Pretty similar huh?

As I discussed in the 2nd base article, 2012 draft picks, Chris Taylor and Timothy Lopes have both moved swiftly through the farm system in their first years in professional baseball. Taylor has the glove to project pretty well at shortstop, while Lopes may be forced to stay at second.

Another name that has been tossed around on Mariner top prospect lists is Martin Peguero. Unfortunately, the 18 year old has spent his first two years in rookie ball and has little to show for it. In the Appellation League this year, he posted a triple slash of .231/.269/.294. Ouch.

If you ask me, if we want an 18 year old shortstop from the DR with no power and no ability to draw walks, then we should look at Ketel Marte. Who? Ketel Marte. That name is rarely used, but he spent this year in Everett and put up numbers very similar to the ones Peguero posted in rookie ball. Only a month separates these two international talents, but Marte is a bit more developed than Peguero.

I have little hope for either of these players in the long run, but if you are a Martin Peguero fanatic, I would recommend you start paying attention to Ketel Marte, because he is a nearly identical player who has progressed faster.

Although 2012 2nd round draft pick Joe DeCarlo is listed as a shortstop on the AZL Mariners roster, he has little hope of sticking at short, so he is more relevant at third base than shortstop. If by some miracle he can trim down his 5’10” 205 pound frame, get quicker, and improve his glove, he would be an option at short. I don’t see that happening however.


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Seattle’s Future at Second Base

Posted on September 21, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

The next position I will analyze for the future is second base. While it seems like Ackley is the obvious second baseman of the future, it is important to look at other second base options in case Ackley’s slump becomes permanent or he is moved to first base or the outfield.

Some of the organization’s second basemen include Munenori Kawasaki, Kyle Seager, Nick Franklin, Brad Miller, Christopher Taylor, and Timothy Lopes.

Kawasaki does not have a place in Seattle’s future other than that of dugout dance and possible Mariner Moose. On the other hand, Seager has certainly proved that he belongs in the starting lineup every day, so he would be a good option to replace Ackley should he be needed there.

As for prospects, Franklin should be knocking on the door of the MLB within the next year. While normally a shortstop, he could find himself at second or third base depending on how he matures defensively and how the Mariners decide to address Brendan Ryan. Considering the hype surrounding Franklin and the offensive up-side he has demonstrated, he needs to get his shot in the MLB. It will simply come down to which infield position Wedge decides to play him at.

Brad Miller as an infielder at Clemson. Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Brad Miller is another option, and he is a player that I am very fascinated by. Miller and Franklin have taken very different routes to get to similar spots. Unlike Franklin who was drafted out of high school, Miller played at Clemson before becoming a second round pick in the 2011 draft. As a result, this is Miller’s first full year in professional baseball while this is Franklin’s third year despite the fact that Miller is a year older than his counterpart. Regardless, Miller has dominated minor league pitching during his stints in class A Clinton, class high A High Desert, and class AA Jackson.

Here is a comparison between Franklin and Miller during their time in AA Jackson in 2012.

PA

HR

R

BB%

K%

AVG

OBP

SLG%

wOBA

wRC+

Franklin

239

4

25

10.0

15.9

.322

.394

.502

.413

155

Miller

170

4

21

12.9

15.3

.320

.406

.476

.409

152

It would also be helpful to point out that Miller had an AB/HR rate of 36.75 during his stint while Franklin’s was 51.25.

I’m not necessarily saying that Miller is the same level of prospect that Franklin is, but there are certainly similarities in their plate production. Don’t rule out Miller just because he’s not the top shortstop in the farm system, because he might just force himself into the Major leagues weather that means he plays somewhere in the middle infield or he gets traded.

If you are skeptical of Miller, just remember Kyle Seager’s ride to the majors. He started the 2011 season in AA as an afterthought due to Alex Liddi’s prospect status. Seager earned a AAA call-up after a few months and proceeded to hit .387 and post a 1.029 OPS in his 24 game stint in Tacoma before being sent to Seattle in mid- July. The rest is history. To summarize this analogy: Teams like Seattle can’t afford to ignore big time minor league production so don’t sleep on Brad Miller.

Chris Taylor and Timothy Lopes, who were the fifth and sixth round picks in this draft respectively, are both guys who have progressed quickly in their first year of professional baseball. In Class Low A Everett, Taylor posted at .430 OBP over a 37 game span and walked more than he struck out before being moved up to Class A Clinton. There he hit .304 in 53 plate appearances.

Lopes, who was drafted out of high school, began in rookie ball, shined, and earned the distinction of Seattle’s 17th best prospect by MLB.com. He spent the last couple of games in High A High Desert.

Taylor is 22 and Lopes is 18, so Taylor won’t have nearly the leash that Lopes does, but both players have quite a ways to go before they are knocking on the MLB door, but they are names to remember.

There is a pretty good chance that Ackley adjust to the pitching and break his sophomore slump, and none of these guys will ever be asked to play second base in Seattle. That’s what I’m hoping for.

 


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Carp and Franklin Look Good in Rainiers 16-9 win

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Jeff's Mariners Fan Blog



I took a break from Mariners Baseball and drove down to Tacoma tonight to try to get a break from the angst that goes with being a Mariners fan. As it turns out it was a win-win situation as the Mariners beat the Rangers 7-0 while I was 40 miles away enjoying a fun 16-9 win by the Tacoma Rainiers over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

I’m sure plenty will be written about the outstanding job Felix Hernandez did tonight shutting out the Rangers while fanning 12 and going the whole way, so I’m going to focus on my experience at Cheney Stadium which was delightful and entertaining both on the field and off  as you can see above by none other than a dancing Rhubarb the team mascot for the Rainiers who was part of a fun overall warm night.

Things didn’t start out so well for the Rainiers who sent  Hector Noesi to the mound as he tries to figure out what went wrong for him in the Bigs. Noesi looked terrible tonight and fell behind 6-1 by the time the Sky Sox had batted through the third inning.

Fortunately for Noesi and the friendly and jovial fans on hand tonight at Cheney, the Sky Sox didn’t seem to want to win this one as they let the Rainiers chip away thanks to a 19-hit onslaught by Darren Brown’s crew. It also helped that the Sky Sox committed 6 errors l but with the strong bats of Carp, Franklin and Triunfel I think the Rainiers would have won this one anyway even if the Sky Sox would have played decent defense.

Mike Carp looked like he was ready to take his place on the Mariners 25-man roster driving in five runs including a bases loaded double. Nick Franklin contributed with the bat and his glove playing second tonight while Carlos Triunfel went 4-5 including a homer while playing short and drove in five runs for his nights work. From my point of view after tonight’s game I would love to see both Carp and Franklin come up and send Ackley and Smoak down to replace them.

The atmosphere at Cheney stadium is so much more relaxed and fan-friendly than Safeco which coupled with the five dollar parking and reasonably priced tickets helped make the trip down there more than worth it and I highly suggest it to any of you Mariners fans who like myself need a break from the Mariners.

I also got to see old Rene Lachemann the former manager of the Mariners in the early 80′s stick his head out of the visitors dugout a few times as he is now the hitting coach for the Sky Sox and is finishing out a long career as a player, manager and now coach in AAA.

Sometimes it may seem that I’m a bit sour about the game of baseball in some of my posts, but the truth is I love the game and tonight I got to step back in time to a simpler era when baseball was a game that was enjoyable for both the fans and players, I feel rejuvenated! http://jeffsmariners.com

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How Long Until We See Hultzen and Franklin?

Posted on June 21, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

There comes a time in every season when you start thinking towards the future. For some teams, that time comes after the season ends, and for some, the time comes in mid-June. I prettymuch threw in the towel for this season after we got swept by the Padres.

That doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore the Mariners for the rest of the season, but it does mean that it is time to start paying more attention to prospects in the farm system and potential moves at the trade deadline.

Just yesterday, top prospects Danny Hultzen and Nick Franklin were promoted to AAA Tacoma. The best part about the call-up is that Seattle natives can take a quick drive down I-5 to watch these two guys play. As exciting as it is to see these guys in AAA, the real question is, when will we see them in the MLB?

I can see Hultzen pitching for the Mariners by the end of the season depending on two things. First of all, he needs to stay healthy and succeed, but more importantly it will depend on his inning count for the year. Last season at Virginia, Hultzen threw 118 innings. Hultzen is currently at 75.1, so he is nearing his career high. His availability for the Mariners will be dictated by how many innings they decide to cut him off at.

Assuming that Danny Hultzen’s progress is not slowed, I would not be surprised to see him in a Mariner uniform during September callups, especially since he is already on the 40 man roster. Hultzen’s chance of getting a few starts could also be helped if the rotation continues to struggle or if Vargas is dealt at the deadline.

On the other hand, Nick Franklin is much less likely to be in the big leagues this year. First of all, he is not as far along in his progression as Hultzen is. In addition, he is not a current member of the 40 man roster meaning that the Mariners would have to remove someone from the 40 man in order to bring the 21 year old shortstop to the majors. While this is not undoable, it is less likely.

The matter of demand is also a main difference between Franklin and Hultzen. The current starting rotation could use some help considering that Vargas may be traded, Beavan is now in AAA, and Noesi and Ramirez have been less than impressive. Sure, Brendan Ryan has been incompetent at the plate, but the gold glove defense is worth the .290 OBP at least until the end of the year.

Keep an eye on the Rainiers to see how these two players are doing in Tacoma. Expect to see Hultzen in the MLB in September, but wait at least until late next seasons to see Nick Franklin at Safeco Field.


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Everything Kyle Seager

Posted on April 10, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

Going into the season, it looked like Kyle Seager would be a bench player/AAA guy in the Mariner’s organization caused by Chone Figgin’s massive salary and Mike Carp’s 2011 resurgence. However, on the first game of the year, Mike Carp suffered … [visit site to read more]


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Replacing Kuo

Posted on March 19, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

Well as Bryant just reported, Hong-Chih Kuo has been released by the Mariners. His struggles this spring are too bad, I and too wish the best for the guy.

Now … [visit site to read more]


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Notes on the First Round of Cuts

Posted on March 12, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

As Keith reported earlier, the Mariners made their first round of cuts yesterday. These included Walker, Paxton, and Hultzen, but there were twelve other players to be … [visit site to read more]


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Mariner Top 5: Tradeable Assets

Posted on January 29, 2012 by SoDo Mojo

 

I love Top-5 lists. I think I’ve had an affinity for it since watching High Fidelity as a high school junior. Sure, I should probably have read the unadulterated book. But, I’m lazy and the ability to have John Cusak deliver me his own take on world transported from London to Chicago. 

Maybe, that isn’t quite roots for where this weird obessesion began. But really that’s not important. Today, I wanted to have a little fun and do my very own Top-5 tradable assets. Now, the out come took sometime to develop and while you might not agree with my personal conclusion that’s kind of what makes it fun.

Game on.

… [visit site to read more]


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