More thoughts on Spring Training

Okay, basically Griffin said there should be more and more written on this subject. Not sure if that was sarcastic or in jest. It did however, lead me think about whats going on within Spring Training. Then I saw more mentions of Mike Sweeney.

At that point I went into a Sweeney rage. I simply became angry… or maybe more likely annoyed. But really I have this vague inability to distinguish the difference. It’s been 72 hours of hardly any sleep and the constant sound of a 5-day old baby screaming between feedings. This Mike Sweeny issue is like nails on the chalk board to me right now. It’s just so freakin’ iratating.

Here is Dave Cameron’s 25-man roster construction from Feb 18th.  

C:
1B: Casey Kotchman
2B: Jose Lopez
SS: Jack Wilson
3B: Chone Figgins
LF:
CF: Franklin Gutierrez
RF: Ichiro Suzuki
DH:

Backup C:
Platoon 1B/DH: Ryan Garko
Platoon LF: Eric Byrnes
Backup INF: Jack Hannahan

SP: Felix Hernandez
SP: Cliff Lee
SP: Ryan Rowland-Smith
SP: Ian Snell
SP:

CL: David Aardsma
RP: Brandon League
RP: Mark Lowe
RP: Shawn Kelley
RP:
RP:

With the question needing to be answered do you go with a 12-man pitching staff or 11?

Looking at this roster as constructed by Mr. Cameron. It’s missing both Milton Bradley and Ken Griffey Jr. Mainly because of the argument who is the DH, who is the left fielder?

For the sake of argument lets say that the Mariners go with an 11-man pitching staff, keep Griffey in the DH role and move Bradley to left.

That leaves a spot available on the roster. Who does it go too? A very odd amount of people at this point would say Sweeney. If that were a case in what capacity would he be used?

You have three different guys who can fill in at DH and do so adequately with Garko, Griffey and Bradley.  Why would you add a fourth? Then at first base you have two guys already in a platoon in Garko and Kotchman.  It gets even more complicated when you look at Tacoma with Mike Carp and Tommy Everidge who are younger and more reliable over a full season. Why do we need a third or even a fourth or fifth?

Then what if Eric Byrnes who has hasn’t been great this spring (again please reference the fact that spring training stats don’t matter) turns his performance around in the regular season. He’ll start siphoning those left field at bats from Bradley and force him into the DH role more than what he is already forecasted.

Even if Byrnes doesn’t turn out to be an every day out fielder, which is a complete possibility. He’s still out there splitting time the best available option outside of Saunders because Bradley is an injury risk and Griffey can’t play every day.

Where are these magic plate appearances coming from for Sweeney? Even if someone were to get hurt, God forbid, do you believe Sweeney has a better full season or even 300+ PA’s in him than either Carp or Everidge?

Sure, the sample size says he can do it…but again SPRING TRAINING STATS DO NOT MATTER. That said I know someone will mention his September. He was hitting pretty well at the end of last season. But, that doesn’t prove anything there is still a lot of what ifs for a guy that can barely play first base at this point.

Lets just say again for the sake of argument he again is platoon’d with Griffey at DH in between Bradley’s starts. Putting someone in a platoon detracts from the overall ability per The Book.  Sweeney doesn’t have the same split size to be profitable in a platoon. His splits actually work opposite and against where he would be most useful. Which is not the case for either Garko or Brynes who both have huge splits in their favor that make them worth a platoon.

You have USS:Mariner that can point out that statistically you need every possible added win for this team to compete for the division. Instead I’m trying to make an appeal to common sense. I know common sense isn’t common just stay with me.

Over 162 games you have about 700 plate appearances to give out to both the designated hitter and your first basemen. I just don’t see how your going to squeeze a sixth person into that equation. It doesn’t work and is worse when you add into the fact you have two younger guys waiting for their shot.

Mike Sweeney had a great time in Seattle. Jack Zduriencik totally did him a solid by letting him come into camp and allowed him to prove he stills has something left in the tank. I think he’ll find an employer faster than Jermaine Dye. I just don’t think there is a fit for him in Seattle.

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