NewsInbox: What does the future hold for Ackley?
Beat reporter Jim Street answers Mariners fans' questions
By Jim Street / MLB.com
11/04/09 12:19 PM EST
Recent moves created five openings on the Mariners' 40-man roster and it will be interesting to see how general manager Jack Zduriencik goes about filling them. Meanwhile, there are many other questions that need to be answered and I'm here to give you my take on what might happen. So, if you have a question, send it in.
Dustin Ackley seems to be doing well in the Arizona Fall League. Will he also play winter ball and where might he start come the 2010 season?
-- Duane J., Cour d' Alene, Idaho
Ackley, the second overall selection in June's First-Year Player Draft, has been steadily improving with the Peoria Javelinas. He was recently selected to the West Rising Stars roster for Saturday night's game in Surprise, Ariz. He went into Wednesday batting .333 (12-for-36) with three doubles and three RBIs. That's not too shabby for someone who hadn't played a competitive game since the College World Series in June.
He will finish out the Arizona Fall League on Nov. 19, take some time off from the game but continue to build his strength and presumably gain some weight during the offseason.
He will attend Spring Training with the big league club, play in a few Cactus League games, and possibly be assigned to Double-A West Tennessee. My guess is that he's a year, maybe two, away from becoming a fixture in the Mariners lineup.
What's the latest on Endy Chavez? Will he be able to return to the team or is he a free agent they wouldn't have interest in anyway?
-- Ron C., Beaverton, Ore.
Chavez is eligible for free agency and he continues to recover from a devastating right knee injury suffered in a collision with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt at Safeco Field on June 19. He underwent reconstructive surgery on the knee and the last time I saw it -- on the final day of the regular season -- the knee was still swollen.
Chavez did an excellent job handling the leadoff spot while Ichiro Suzuki was on the disabled list for the first eight games of the season, and I hope he has a 100 percent recovery and he can find a job somewhere.
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Is there any chance the Mariners will try to get another pitcher like John Lackey this offseason?
-- Dillon C., Longview, Wash.
After perusing the list of potential free-agent starting pitchers, Lackey is the only one that really stood out. He would be my first choice. Among the others expected to go on the market are 35-year-old Jarrod Washburn, Erik Bedard (31), former Mariners player Joel Pineiro (31) and Rich Harden (28). That is not a very impressive bunch if you ask me.
Like many Mariners fans, I think Edgar Martinez was the most loyal, most dependable, and most productive of anyone to ever put on a Mariners uniform. I loved Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez when they were Mariners, but Martinez was a cut above in many ways. Is there anything fans can do to help get him into the Hall of Fame next year?
-- Dennis W., Tucson, Ariz.
Well, Dennis, unless you are a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, there really is nothing you can do. The voters consist of BBWAA members who have covered baseball for a minimum of 10 consecutive years.
That includes me and I intend to vote for Martinez next month when my Hall of Fame ballot arrives. I expect it to be a close call for Gar, mainly because he spent most of his career as the designated hitter and National League writers seem to be reluctant to vote for a DH, which does not exist in the Senior Circuit.
It seems fitting that Martinez would become the first DH inducted into the Hall of Fame. After all, the award is named: The Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter Award.
It seemed that one of the reasons catcher Kenji Johjima left the Mariners was lack of playing time. But how did he handle the situation the past two years? What did he say about it to you guys?
-- Bobby B., Seattle
To his credit, Johjima never openly complained about the reduction of playing time. It was unfortunate that he was injured much of last season, but I think it bothered him more two years ago when the Mariners went through the 101-loss season. He never got back on track offensively and was finally benched.
Playing is more important to him than how much money he makes and I believe that the potential of 25-year-old catcher Adam Moore, and the way Rob Johnson caught ace right-hander Felix Hernandez this past season (Hernandez was 15-2 with Johnson behind the plate), convinced Johjima that it was time to go back home where he presumably can play regularly.
Would the Mariners bring up a young talent at shortstop, like the Rangers did, or go after a free agent besides Jack Wilson?
-- Kyle G., Vancouver, Wash.
Keep your eye on Carlos Triunfel, whom I consider the team's future shortstop. I think he has what it takes to become a big league star and his maturity has grown tremendously in the past year.
If not for the broken leg he sustained during the second game of the season while playing for West Tennessee, he might have been the Mariners' starting shortstop at some point during 2010, but my guess is that he will start the season at either West Tennessee or even Triple-A Tacoma. He just needs a lot of at-bats to make up for the time he lost this past season.
Exactly what is the difference between a base taken by "indifference" as opposed to a stolen base?
-- Randy N., Boise, Idaho
When the defense makes no attempt to prevent the runner from advancing a base, the official scorer almost always rules "defensive indifference" rather than giving the runner a stolen base. This usually happens when the run the "basestealer" represents would have no outcome in the final score even if he does score.
This is not a question, just an observation. I sure appreciate our announcers, especially after listening to the ones leading up to the World Series the past few weeks.
-- Neola S., Seattle
I will be sure to pass that along to Dave Niehaus and his broadcast partners.
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
