Loss of Wilson
Dan Wilson sounds like a really nice guy. He has had a great career, and might very well be a future manager. I can certainly understand why the M's have probably made plans to keep him in the organization when he is done as a player.
All that being said, his loss this year due to a torn ACL will have no impact on where this team finishes. While Groz on KJR spouts off about the importance of Wilson, those of us that actually follow the M's know that Wilson has in many ways been hurting this team the last few years. His popularity has led to playing time his numbers have simply not supported. The fact he was hitting under .200 this year before the injury is hardly shocking- his slide has been as predictable as rain in the NW.
Not many catchers continue to play well in their mid-30's. In fact, if Wilson were actually effective this year it would be a minor miracle. Years of crouching and blocking balls take a well documented toll. The real problem for the M's is not his injury this year, rather it is the lack of ability to develop an alternative.
Ben Davis was obviously a massive failure. Spending your number 1 draft pick on Ryan Christianson and then getting nothing in return also grades as an F. The fact you are forced to bring up Wiki "Cirillo money" Gonzalez is yet another organizational failure.
After getting Olivo in the Garcia trade, the M's seemed to have gotten the successor to Wilson identified. Since joining the M's, now seemingly a death sentence for all catchers, Olivo has shown he can't catch or hit particularly well. His strong arm is his only redeeming quality, and is not enough to avoid being a back-up catcher. At any rate, he needs to show he can hit this year, or the M's need to go back to square one.
Dan Wilson on the 2005 Mariners was a safety blanket. While it kept you warm and cozy, it was supposed to only be used in emergency situations. The fact he will not be here will have little impact on wins and losses, and may very well help the club in the long term.
This team has automatic outs at SS and Catcher, whether Dan Wilson is playing or not.
Dan Wilson sounds like a really nice guy. He has had a great career, and might very well be a future manager. I can certainly understand why the M's have probably made plans to keep him in the organization when he is done as a player.
All that being said, his loss this year due to a torn ACL will have no impact on where this team finishes. While Groz on KJR spouts off about the importance of Wilson, those of us that actually follow the M's know that Wilson has in many ways been hurting this team the last few years. His popularity has led to playing time his numbers have simply not supported. The fact he was hitting under .200 this year before the injury is hardly shocking- his slide has been as predictable as rain in the NW.
Not many catchers continue to play well in their mid-30's. In fact, if Wilson were actually effective this year it would be a minor miracle. Years of crouching and blocking balls take a well documented toll. The real problem for the M's is not his injury this year, rather it is the lack of ability to develop an alternative.
Ben Davis was obviously a massive failure. Spending your number 1 draft pick on Ryan Christianson and then getting nothing in return also grades as an F. The fact you are forced to bring up Wiki "Cirillo money" Gonzalez is yet another organizational failure.
After getting Olivo in the Garcia trade, the M's seemed to have gotten the successor to Wilson identified. Since joining the M's, now seemingly a death sentence for all catchers, Olivo has shown he can't catch or hit particularly well. His strong arm is his only redeeming quality, and is not enough to avoid being a back-up catcher. At any rate, he needs to show he can hit this year, or the M's need to go back to square one.
Dan Wilson on the 2005 Mariners was a safety blanket. While it kept you warm and cozy, it was supposed to only be used in emergency situations. The fact he will not be here will have little impact on wins and losses, and may very well help the club in the long term.
This team has automatic outs at SS and Catcher, whether Dan Wilson is playing or not.
posted by Tom at
1:47 PM
