Michael Saunders promoted to Seattle

by jibs on Jul 25, 2009 1:27 PM EDT

The Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer has reported that Michael Saunders is being promoted to the Mariners today. Surprisingly, Wladimir Balentin has been designated for assignment as the corresponding roster move, especially considering some of the older veterans they're carrying (like Chris Shelton for example).

I'd guess they are intending to give him some serious playing time by adding him to the major league roster now, rather than waiting until September. Saunders was the #25 prospect on BA's recent midseason list.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

interesting

good to see the mariners might be giving a good prospect a legit shot.

by mjr20 on Jul 25, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

saunders projection

i think he can hit 25 homers and 25 doubles with a good amount of walks and not too many strikeouts

by mjr20 on Jul 25, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

yes

he will stike out a lot, but will be great

by LCT on Jul 25, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Corey Hart

What do you guys think about this comp?

A friend of mine mentioned it and I think it fits.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Jul 25, 2009 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

It's a possible outcome

Although for Saunders’ sake, I hope that his AAA gains in BB/K ratio don’t evaporate in the majors like Hart’s have.

by jibs on Jul 25, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Good. Now...

They need to cut ties with Griffey and call up Clement to DH. But I guess that won’t happen anytime soon. Griffey’s terrible and Clement is tearing up Rs in Tacoma.

by The Colonel on Jul 25, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Griffey has no business hitting cleanup everyday. Seriously handicapping the lineup offensively.

The order should be…

1. Ichiro RF
2. Lopez 2B
3. Branyan 1B
4. Gutierrez CF
5. Clement C
6. Griffey DH
7. Saunders LF
8. Cedeno SS
9. Hannahan 3B

It’s not sexy by any means, but better than what they are throwing out there right now.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Jul 25, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

has clement caught at all this year?

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Jul 25, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

A little...

He was just cleared to resume catching regularly in Triple-A. He’s been mostly a DH.

He probably has no future behind the plate, to be honest. His best bet to help the Mariners is probably in trade. He would be an upgrade at DH over Griffey/Sweeney/Shelton, though.

by slamcactus on Jul 26, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

That is still a terrible, terrible lineup.

by alskor on Jul 26, 2009 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions

It is a terrible lineup

yes it is, but their game this year has been all about defense not offense. Now their are changing from Endy to Langerhans, who BTW is very good, to Saunders whom although impossible to be that good with the leather will be better with the bat. Is like a neutral move for this year with JackZ probably thinking more for next year.

by LCT on Jul 26, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm trying to figure out what took so long

I mean, why now? They’ve kind of slid out of the race since Endy Chavez went out. Granted, part of that is good runs by the other teams in the division, but they weren’t doing themselves any favors by putting a B lineup out there.

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Jul 25, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Saunders was still nursing injury

The M’s didn’t want to bring him up until he was healthy and ready. Langerhans was a stop gap in the meantime. With the Angels now suddenly going berserk and not losing and us falling 6.5 games back, it’s time to start looking at 2010. Hence, Saunders.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 25, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, it would make sense if he was injured

by PaulThomas on Jul 26, 2009 3:41 AM EDT up reply actions

They...

were keeping pace before the Angels started playing like the best team in MLB. They also had a perfect stopgap in Langerhans (who i think would be significantly more productive over the rest of the season than Saunders, who I still think is a year away) who could keep the team competitive.

I think the move was made because Balentien was destined to be traded either way, and Saunders was the best of a limited number of options for the outfield with that understanding.

by slamcactus on Jul 26, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions