With Chone Figgins all but announced as a Seattle Mariner, one of the questions bouncing through the lobbies in Indianapolis is this: Wouldl the team hit Figgins in the leadoff spot and ask Ichiro Suzuki to move.
Blasphemy? Ichiro has batted first almost exclusively since coming to the big leagues in 2001, with a handful of experimental lineups that had him hitting third.
Would the Mariners ask and, perhaps as importanly, would Ichiro agree to move?
The answer to the latter question is ‘yes’ – Ichiro would bat third if manager Don Wakamatsu asked. But will he ask? That depends almost entirely upon what happens at the winter meetings and in the weeks that follow.
If the Mariners re-sign Russell Branyan and, for instance, land another bat – left field, anyone? – the Seattle lineup might begin with Ichiro and Figgins hitting back-to-back.
The bottom line? If the Mariners believed their besst chance to score runs was to hit Ichiro third, they’d ask and he would comply. Wakamatsu’s challenge again in 2010 is going to be comping up with a lineup that produces.
Ichiro hitting first, Figgins second, would put a lot of speed on base early and often. Turning that into runs is the issue, and if the Mariners don’t add offense, they may have to rearrange the offense they do have.
And now, a few early links. More later:
- Gil Meche has two years and $24 million left on his Kansas City contract, and the New York Mets are among the teams talking to the Royals about a deal.
- George Sherrill, who was a setup man in Seattle, an All-Star closer in Baltimore and a setup man in Los Angeles may be traded again by a Dodgers team trying to cut payroll.
- Faced with the possibility of losing Jason Bay, the Red Sox are discussing a multi-year contract extension with catcher Victor Martinez - this after picking up his $7 million 2010 option.
- Oakland free agent Justin Duchscherer has drawn the attention of the Colorado Rockies, who have asked for his medical records. The Rockies will meet today with the agent for reliever Rafael Betancourt.
Hopefully we acquire a bat or two and this won’t be a consideration. I would assume you would have to be pretty down on your 3 and 4 hitters to ask the one of the best lead-off men ever to move down into the 3 hole. On the other hand, you know he has the skills to do it.
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According to yahoo sports rumors Bay is targeting the M’s as his #1 choice.
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Interesting choices. Where does Gutierrez fit in the line-up if Figgins is signed?
How about this?
1 – Ichiro – RF
2 – Figgins – 3B
3 – Lopez – 2B
4 – Sweeney/Griffey – DH
5 – Jason Bay – LF (sounds like it could happen)
6 – Branyan or Mike Carp – 1B
7 – Gutierrez – CF
8 – Wilson – SS
9 – Johnson/Whoever – C
Tough line-up to put together. There is a lot of strikeouts in the middle of the order with a line-up like this.
Or.
1 – Figgins – 3B
2 – Guiterrez – CF
3 – Ichiro – RF
4 – Griffey/Sweeney – DH
5 – Lopez – 2B
6 – Bay – LF
7 – Branyan/Carp – 1B
8 – Wilson – SS
9 – Johnson/Whoever – C
An interesting puzzle.
Just a few thoughts. Adding Figgins and Bay sure would add some pop!
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My first thought is that having Ichiro in the #3 hole makes me a little worried. He’s going to have to change his approach there and drive the ball more than he does now. Capable of doing that, but it will come at a cost – that being hits and the possibility of breaking the 200 hits a season streak. To me, one of the most important things is keeping Ichiro happy – he is simply a much better player all around when he has his head right. Not a knock, who wouldn’t be. But his value goes waaay up. Me, I keep Ichiro as lead-off.
What about F-Gut in the #3? Career high for homers and RBI last year and he drives the ball. I am wondering if he is gaining pop as he matures, which would remind me of Kirby Puckett. Puck was a singles hitter when he first came up and then gained some strength and learned how to really drive the ball. I see that potentially happening with F-Gut. Hitting #3 he could drive in over 100 and hit 25 dingers. Who knows?
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