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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Seattle Times: Mariners are lacking punch at DH

Seattle began the season with switch-hitting Jose Vidro as the designated hitter, then shelved him behind prospect Jeff Clement a few weeks ago. That trial run stopped with Clement’s demotion to the minor leagues Sunday, and manager John McLaren said the Mariners will go back to Vidro at that position for today’s game in Detroit.

“He’s here basically for his bat, so we’re going to try and get that going,” McLaren said.

...Clement spent some time as designated hitter at Tacoma while he was in a catching platoon with Rob Johnson, but McLaren said the adjustment to full-time DH can be a challenge for younger players.

“Some kids have some nervous energy,” McLaren said. “It took Edgar a while to find the niche.”

Ahem...Didn’t Edgar “nervously” bat around .400 over his first 150 DH AB’s?

Repoz Posted: May 20, 2008 at 07:00 AM | 15 comment(s)
Related News: General, Seattle

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1. Belfry Bob Posted: May 20, 2008 at 08:23 AM (#2787342)

Didn’t Edgar “nervously” bat around .400 over his first 150 DH AB’s?

Well, maybe...but he didn't feel good about it.

2. Marmaduchscherer Posted: May 20, 2008 at 08:28 AM (#2787344)

"Mariners Lacking Punch at DH" is a sentence that could have been written, oh, last year.

3. Mattbert Posted: May 20, 2008 at 08:42 AM (#2787351)

Is this the first article in a nine-part series?

4. frannyzoo Posted: May 20, 2008 at 08:56 AM (#2787359)

I guess the "what do you do with really bad fielding 2Bs...turn them into DHs" theory wasn't much of an idea.

This season, Mariners DHs have combined for two home runs and a slugging percentage of .289, both marks at the bottom of the American League.

I'm too lazy to look, but .289 has gotta be way, way, very much far and away "at the bottom".

5. bfan Posted: May 20, 2008 at 09:00 AM (#2787360)

Given that there are always poor fielding sluggers or aged hitters who may not play in the field so well any more, how can something like this happen (.289 slugging?). When the DH was put in, did anyone envision there would be a shortage of poor fielders who could hit the dang ball?

6. Robert Machemer Posted: May 20, 2008 at 09:27 AM (#2787386)

Ok, it's fun and all to mock Jose Vidro but really, given the home park, his numbers really do need to be put into context. If you look at his home/road splits...

Vidro:
.260 AVG, .309 OBP, .360 SLG at home
.167 AVG, .214 OBP, .258 SLG on road

...oh, whoops. Youch. Never mind.

7. 1k5v3L Posted: May 20, 2008 at 09:40 AM (#2787397)

The Mariners really need to trade for Eric Byrnes.

8. Brian Posted: May 20, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#2787786)

They pulled the plug on Clement awful quickly.

9. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: May 20, 2008 at 02:26 PM (#2787801)

The Mariners really need to trade for Eric Byrnes.

Still trying to foist off that bum horse, are we?

10. Dan Szymborski Posted: May 20, 2008 at 02:37 PM (#2787835)

Seattle Times: Mariners are Lacking Punch at Bill Bavasi's Face

11. Robert in Redondo Posted: May 20, 2008 at 02:43 PM (#2787850)

#3 - Very funny. Well done.

12. Paul DepoProvera Posted: May 20, 2008 at 03:34 PM (#2787998)

I love how the Ms are impatient with their newly-promoted kids from Tacoma, but are incredibly patient with vets who have sucked for years.

13. Srul Itza Posted: May 20, 2008 at 03:41 PM (#2788022)

“Some kids have some nervous energy,” McLaren said. “It took Edgar a while to find the niche.”

Didn’t Edgar “nervously” bat around .400 over his first 150 DH AB’s?

By the time Edgar was DH'ing more than a handful of times a year in the majors, he was no longer a "kid".

14. Srul Itza Posted: May 20, 2008 at 03:43 PM (#2788025)

Piazza just announced his retirement. Think he could have slugged something over .300 for the Ms?

15. Soul Man Posted: May 20, 2008 at 04:28 PM (#2788106)

Edgar Martinez as DH, 1987-2004: 6218 PA .314/.428/.532
All Other Mariners DHs, 1977-2008: 14800+ PA .252/.330/.410

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Seattle Times: Mariners are lacking punch at DH

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