It's getting to be that time of the year.  When players are starting to get desperate for any sort of deal that the 600 pound chick looks like J-Lo.  Or, as the Nationals call it, shopping season!

Hudson wants more money from Nationals

Since becoming a free agent, Hudson has asked for $9 million, but the Nationals are not willing to give him that kind of money.

This past season, Hudson, 32, made a base salary of $3.38 million, but with incentives, he received close to $7 million as a member of the Dodgers.

 

According to a published report, the Nationals have offered Hudson $3 million, with incentives that could bring the value of the contract to $4 million.

 

Nationals are the leading candidate for a consistent 2-3 win player and they're offering $3 million?  I wish we didn't already have a 2B.

Marlins offer Branyan a 1-year deal

ESPN.com is reporting that the Marlins have offered free-agent slugger Russell Branyan a one-year contract "with a low base and lots of incentives." Considering the Marlins were looking at a Spring Training competition of Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison for the starting job at first base, those incentives probably hinge on games played.

 

So luckily, it looks like Branyan has a major league offer out there.  Unfortunately, it looks to be a one year, largely incentive-based deal, with his job constantly threatened in a place where he can't DH to stay healthy.  I've heard rumors that the Mets might be interested.  Hopefully they get desperate and don't make him take a physical.  Except I wouldn't wish the Mets on anyone.

Elsewhere, Johnny Damon, John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez and Adam Kennedy (1.5-2.0 win 2B/3B?  Anyone?) remain teamless.

Lugo DFA'd, Sox will eat salary

I'm sure I'm not the first to see this and ponder the idea, so I thought I'd compare him to Cedeno and see if Lugo would be a better option going forward.

Lugo clearly has a large advantage at the plate.  Though he has never been all that good offensively, for the rest of the season, ZIPS projects a .324 wOBA.  Over ~320 PA, this would put him at -1.7 wRAA.  Ronny is (very generously, in my opinion) projected to have a .286 wOBA.  Over the same amount of PA, that puts him at -12.2 wRAA.

So, does Ronny's defense make up for the 10.5 run difference?  Depends on how optimistic you are on Lugo's defense.  Lugo, since coming back from surgery, has been terrible.  His -43.2 UZR/150 is a product mainly of SSS, but closer examination shows that his range just hasn't come back.  While his range is generally worth around 5 runs above average, it has dropped to -5.3 since his return.  Over at Fangraphs, R.J. says he expects -10 UZR/150 to be more realistic.  Ronny meanwhile is on pace for 11.1 UZR/150.  Over roughly 75 games, this would put the difference in defense at about 10.5 runs.

Essentially, it looks to be a wash.  This is assuming, of course, Ronny lives up to his optimistic ZIPS projection and Lugo's range hasn't deserted him completely.  Also, I am not educated in park factors, but I'm assuming Lugo's switch from Fenway to Safeco may actually give Ronny the advantage.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/mariners/2009/04/05/aumont_to_bullpen_role.html

I feel like this has to be some kind of joke.  Late April Fools joke?  If not, I see very little reason for optimism for this team for the next few years.  Do you think this is purely a GMZ decision or more an inevitability caused by the pick of Aumont?  We now have three potential power relief aces from the last 3 drafts.

A few relievers were non-tendered, many of whom have once had moderate success and could be cheap options.  I know little about any of them though, so I don't know if any are better than internal options.  Here's a list of non-tendered relievers:

Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor, Yhency Brazoban, Clay Hensley, Charlie Haeger, Chris Britton, Matt Belisle (has been starting mostly), Gary Majewski

Also, Jonny Gomes, who kills lefties, was non-tendered, but I don't see where he'd fit if he can't platoon with Branyan at first.

To take Bedard's spot.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/archives/136675.asp

He was having control problems at AA, so this should be fun.  McSquinty will probably use him as our closer...the bullpen is a mess.  Two relievers with frequent control problems (Green, Morrow), one underused lefty (RRS), one with an extreme case of old (Rhodes), one career AAAA'er (Baek).  When I have the most faith in Roy Corcoran, something is wrong.

Per News Tribune

Clement, Jimenez, Huber and White.

Gives a slightly clearer picture of the bullpen anyway.

One-line diaries are prohibited on Lookout Landing. Give your diary a bit more thought, then give it another shot. If you have nothing to add to your proposed diary, then it probably belongs as a comment under another appropriate thread.

The minimum is 300 characters.

According to Hickey at the PI...didn't see this anywhere else.

Shhh don't tell Peter Angelos.

He also maintains that it is 5 players for Bedard...in which case I'm reeeeeally not happy about this trade.

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If Mickolio isn't going to the O's, how does he compare right now to Morrow, as a reliever?

Is he significantly worse, or is keeping Morrow in the pen over him doubly stupid?  I heard last year he was nearly ready, but is he ready to be an immediate impact reliever in the mold of EOF/Lowe/RRS?

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http://www.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/10/30/yankees.girardi.ap/index.html

To tell you the truth...I'm utterly disinterested.  But it will be weird.  I started watching baseball in 1995, so seeing anyone but Torre manage the Yanks is weird for me.  Buck Showalter seems like a long time ago...all I really remember is him looking pissed off in Game 5 of the ALDS.

I know I need this after a pathetic two days.  Quick, before anything has a chance to crush it!

-The Angels suck on the road!
-The Mariners are amazing at home!
-The Mariners are way better in night games!  And there are TWO of those this series!
-John Lackey has been perfectly mediocre lately!
-So has Jered Weaver!
-Ervin Santana has sucked all year!
-Jeff Weaver has been amazing since coming off the    DL!
-Good Felix was out last start!
-Reggie Willits has regressed!
-Chone Figgins is day-to-day!  Could be out all series!
-Horacio isn't starting this series!
-The Mariners marketing team is clever!
-Scot Shields has dead-arm!

Keep it going folks!

Miguel Batista on May 12-6.98 ERA
Miguel Batista since-3.04 ERA

Jeff Weaver on May 10-14.32 ERA
Jeff Weaver since-3.16 ERA

Essentially we've had two aces since that turn in the rotation.  But, interestingly enough:

Jarrod Washburn on May 11-2.64 ERA
Jarrod Washburn since-4.86 ERA

Horacio Ramirez on May 8-7.62 ERA
Horacio Ramirez since-7.24 ERA

Oh wait, that last one's not interesting...

So yeah, when's the game start?

I just wanted to hate on Horam some more, as he may be my least favorite player ever.  So I wanted to make a list of my most hated Mariners, year-by-year.  Some of these will make more sense than others.  Feel free to make your own list.  I can only go back to 1995, as thats how long I've been watching.

1995. Felix Fermin
      
1996. Bobby Ayala
      
1997. Paul Spoljaric
      
1998. Bobby Ayala
      
1999. Jeff Fassero
      
2000. Jose Mesa
      
2001. John Halama?
      
2002. Jeff Cirillo
      
2003. Jeff Cirillo
      
2004. Player A
      
2005. Joel Pineiro
      
2006. Eddie Guardado/Joel Pineiro
      
2007. Horacio Ramirez
      

Always a vulture:

"Mateo (BS, 2)(W, 2-1)"

300 char fact: Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA Please stay in AAA

Let the crazy speculation begin.

Call up?  Trade?  Injury?  Coincidental two days off?

On a day like today when its sold out, how overpriced do you think tickets will be from the people down at the ballpark?

300 char: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz

Would be worth taking a flier on, if only for the jokes.

I seriously believe he's better than Baek/Weaver/Fierabend(right now)/Batista/Horam.

Also, its a shame the Cards snatched up Ohka because I could say the same for him.

Moves like this is what will really shore up our rotation.  Sure we probably should go out and get a #2 type, but we need to add stability.

Also, Steve Traschel would probably come really cheap from the Orioles.

Dumpster diving!...sort of.

"Manager Mike Hargrove said RHP Mark Lowe, on the 60-day DL following surgery on his right elbow, will throw two more bullpen sessions and one or two simulated games before beginning a minor league rehab stint next week."

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Good to see he's at least beginning to make his way back after some thought he'd never pitch again.  Can't wait to have his presence back in the bullpen and, more importantly, can't wait to see him healthy .

Lets not rush RF like livingston, blackley, nageotte.  and lets please avoid woods and baek.  sure, they're better than weaver, but so is WFB.

On another note, Wlad still owns.

300 char. fact:
From Wikipedia on Jeff Weaver:

"Was guest security personnel on an episode of The Jerry Springer Show"

At least he has a job waiting for him...

Anyone want to give a quick rundown on this guy?  Seems to be doing good in AAA, but he's 31, out of the indy leagues I hear.

Better than Mateo?  Does he have a shot to crack the big-league club as a desperately needed righty reliever who can go a couple of innings?

300 character fact:
I miss Mark Lowe.

Per ESPN

300 character fact: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061104&content_id=1733239&vkey=news_mlb &fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Near the bottom, under the Mariners section.

Don't know if this has been posted, but it doesn't seem like any sort of surprise.  Unless some team throws way more money out than both the Giants and the M's, he'll stay a Giant or become a Mariner.

Campillo is starting in Inland Empire tonight.  I've heard that he won't make it back to the majors this year, which doesn't surprise me, but does anybody else think he'll make a good BOR starter for next year?  Has anyone seen him since the injury or know if his stuff is worse than it was last year?  If his stuff wasn't affected we could pull off a nice rotation with him at the bottom:

Felix
Matsuzaka
FA(Padilla, Lilly, Schmidt)
Washburn
Campillo