Jack Z has dropped the ball with M’s left fielders
A GRIP ON SPORTS • There is a classified ad I expect to see soon, either up on Craigslist or the local Seattle newspapers. Read on.
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• Yep, what I’m expecting should read something like this:
Wanted, veteran leftfielder. At least 100 games experience at the position in the Major Leagues a must. Speed, power optional but highly recommended. Must be able to track a fly ball, hit a cutoff man and hit successfully at a better than .250 average. Salary negotiable but applicants willing to work at a discount will be considered first. Full benefits package, including paid sick leave. Equal opportunity employer (see previous employees who have held position). Contact: Seattle Mariners, Safeco Field, corner of Dave and Edgar.
• Isn’t it about time the M’s are in the market for a real leftfielder? Heck, for just about any outfielders. You think James Jones might have had a shot at Brock Holt’s line-drive double last night? Maybe not – Lloyd McClendon didn’t think so, but he’s prejudiced; he’s the one who put Rickie Weeks in left field in the top of the ninth – but he may have cut it off and held Holt to a single. And I’m darn sure Jones, or any other number of Mariner farm hands, would have caught Mookie Betts’ fly ball, even if very few could have thrown Holt out at the plate. But it isn’t just last night’s ninth inning, though Weeks’ adventures highlight a problem. The M’s have pinned their championship hopes on a team that features Dustin Ackley in left field. That hasn’t worked out. So now they are trying Brad Miller there. A lifelong shortstop asked to learn a new position at the major league level. And, hopefully, in the heat of a pennant race. That’s not a recipe for success. Let’s face it, Ackley isn’t cutting it. He’s so discombobulated at the plate he’s less of a threat than Brendan Ryan was a few years ago (OK, that’s too harsh – but it’s close). And Ackley is even worse when there are runners in scoring position, when his anxiety to deliver a season-changing hit has him jumping at the ball, pulling pitches he should spray all over the field. Jay Buhner is probably right. If – or when – the Mariners part ways with Ackley, he very well could blossom somewhere else, where the pressure to live up to the hype doesn’t exist. But he’s not going to do it here. And Weeks isn’t the answer. Maybe Miller is, at least offensively. He’s a good hitter who was just an OK shortstop. Now he’s a good hitter who is probably going to be less than OK in left field. Meanwhile, you’ve installed Chris Taylor, a decent fielder but a Ryan-type hitter, at short. The trade-off doesn’t seem to have a strong enough upside. It’s time to change direction in leftfield, either trade for someone who can improve the offense at the position or dip into your system for a guy, if there is one, who can catch a fly ball. Move Miller back to short and live with the defense. If not, you may see another classified ad soon. It will be advertising for a new general manager.
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• EWU: The Big Sky will hold its track and field championships at Eastern this weekend, with the Eagles having a good shot to make some noise. Jim Allen has an advance. ... The multi-event titles have already been determined. ... The Sporting News released its 2015 FCS top 25 yesterday. A lot of Big Sky teams are ranked, including Eastern. ... Montana State dismissed a player yesterday.
• Whitworth: The Pirates lost in their first game at the rain-delayed NCAA Division III baseball regionals.
• Preps: Lake City couldn’t get the bats going and fell in the first round of the Idaho State 5A baseball tournament. Greg Lee has the story. ... Tom Clouse was at the District 8 4A and 3A track meet yesterday and has this piece. ... Shadle Park won the District 8 3A softball title yesterday and Chris Derrick was there.
• Seahawks: This Hawk off-season has been filled with more piddling dramatic moments than any I can remember recently. But, hey, Kevin Williams would be open to coming back. ... Robert Turbin had hip surgery, but is expected to be ready sometime in the upcoming season. We’ll see. ... Pete Carroll has a big weekend ahead of him.
• Mariners: Maybe the 2-1 loss to the Red Sox wasn’t as bad as it seemed. After all, Roenis Elias pitched well, Miller was able to get through his first-ever game in left unscathed and the M’s did rally to tie. But Fernando Rodney once again lost a game in a non-save situation and the M’s fell to four games under .500.
• Sounders: So what’s up with Obafemi Martins? The high-scoring forward had an X-ray yesterday and missed practice. What for? Sigi Schmid was not saying. ... The Sounders have had some issues at midfield. They need to get them fixed before playing Vancouver. ... A little this, a little that from practice yesterday.
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• A quick day today, as I am on the radio this afternoon between 3 and 6 p.m., joining Dennis Patchin and Rick Lukens. You can listen here if you like. Until then ...
