Sorting Out the Offense

I talked about the pitching here yesterday, and today we switch over to the offense and defense. And just a heads up, I am not a huge fan of the moves the M’s made. I don’t like Jason Bay, Mike Morse or Raul Ibanez. Kendrys Morales was ok until the other three showed up. I will explain my feelings in a bit but for now, here is the roster break down right now.

To be clear, the Casper Wells vs. Jason Bay roster battle has not yet been settled. However, I watched Casper Wells play in a AAA game yesterday while Jason Bay is with the M’s in Salt Lake. Meaning that Bay is the front-runner there and Wells has not been cut in case of injury.

Sorry Casper, looks like you didn't make the squad

Here are the 13 players who are starting the year with the Mariners

C Jesus Montero

1B Justin Smoak

2B Dustin Ackley

SS Brendan Ryan

3B Kyle Seager

LF Michael Saunders

CF Franklin Gutierrez

RF Mike Morse

DH Kendrys Morales

C Kelly Shoppach

INF Robert Andino

OF Raul Ibanez

OF Jason Bay

To make this seem easier, I am going to break this into probable lineups against righties and lefties.

LHPS

Catcher	Montero/ Shoppach
First Base	Smoak/ Morales
Second Base	Ackley
Shortstop	Ryan
Third Base	Seager
Left Field	Saunders/ Bay
Center Field	Gutierrez
Right Field	Morse
DH	Morales

RHPS

Catcher	Montero/Shoppach
First Base	Smoak/ Morales
Second Base	Ackley
Shortstop	Ryan
Third Base	Seager
Left Field	Saunders
Center Field	Gutierrez
Right Field	Ibanez/ Morse/Bay
DH	Morales/ Morse/ Ibanez

            What really makes this situation super complex is the number of defensive options that actually exist and the variables that influence these options. Wedge has shown that he likes to play platoon splits, based off of how he handled the Jaso, Olivo, Montero threesome last year. But he also now has a lot of power at his disposal, which could lead him to ignoring splits and trying to get Morales and Morse as many AB’s as possible. Then there is Justin Smoak who is just the worst kind of baseball player. He is so teasing with his talent and then is awful. And all indications are he will get every chance possible to play regularly. Also, Morales is still not 100% in the field and Wedge has already said that he won’t get regular time there. And now we dive into the giant mess of GJMBSP (Giant Jumbled Mess of Big Strong Players).

"I have to play in the field? Thats totally not working out well"

            So if we are facing a lefty, we want as many right handed hitters in the line up as possible. Except Saunders, who actually is pretty even with his platoon splits. That means Smoak and Morales, as switch hitters, should start at DH and 1B. Morse will probably get the start in right field, which makes myself and every Mariners pitcher cringe in horror. Then there is Jason Bay who could step in for Saunders if the platoon splits are worrying or if they want to give Morse a day off. Or Smoak, or Morales.

            Now we get to right handed pitchers and the real dilemma of Raul Ibanez. If Ibanez gets a start now and then, as he should since he is on the roster and we don’t need another Chone Figgins-esque waste of a roster spot like last year, it gets weird. If Ibanez plays DH then Smoak or Morales must sit, a definite downgrade. If Ibanez starts in left, that means Saunders, Guti or Morse must sit. And if we start Ibanez and Morse in the outfield, I pray for mercy on that pitcher because those two could not stop a balloon filled with helium from falling for a single. 

Robert Andino= Total baller

            So in conclusion, we have about 5 guys who can play the outfield and 5 guys who can play 1B/DH. This leaves us with Robert Andino who is left backing up all three infield spots that aren’t first base. So pretty much Wedge has left himself a deep dark hole of roster confusion to deal with. Or, to look at it another way, he can play around with the lineups to his hearts content, just with positions that are often not messed around with. This team has a lot of flexibility at the 1B/DH/C/LF/RF spots, and very little flexibility elsewhere. Oh, and by the way, our first pinch runners off the bench are looking like Andino and Jason Bay. Who is excited for Mariners baseball?