Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez spent last night in a local hospital with a concussion, was released to go home today and placed no the seven-day ‘concussion’ disabled list by the Seattle Mariners.
The team recalled reliever Steve Delabar from Tacoma and, yes, there’s a reason. Kevin Millwood’s groin strain will knock him out of the rotation until next Friday in Oakland, so his regular spot on Monday is open. The Mariners will give right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma his first big-league start that night, against the Baltimore Orioles.
With Iwakuma starting, the Mariners felt they’d need another arm in the pen, so Delabar is here.
As for the outfield, Chone Figgins is playing left field because Michael Saunders is battling flu-like symptoms and could not start. His availability is day-to-day. And if the Mariners need another outfielder?
“Munenori Kawasaki will go out there,” manager Eric Wedge deadpanned. “He’s up for anything.”
Why the hell is Franklin playing 2nd at Tacoma? His future is at SS! Truinfel is hardly a defensive wiz either. The dude has 18 errors already.
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Probably to highlight him as part of a package deal to get a hitter. Franklin is not the SS of the future that some are hoping for….a good hitter with surprising power (too many Ks in the minors, though), he has a weak, inaccurate arm (especially from the hole). He does project well, though, as a 2B.
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So we’re going to trade a hitter to get a hitter? Package him with what exactly? A bag of peanuts. I haven’t seen him enough to agree or disagree about his fielding but, scoutingbook.com doesn’t seem to agree with your assessment, “A solid, gritty shortstop without a single stand-out tool in his bag, Florida grad Nick Franklin projects as ‘a switch-hitting Michael Young’ according to at least one scout. He’s an above-average fielder with decent range, a solid line-drive hitter with a discerning eye, and a faster-than-average baserunner with good judgment.” Prospect Insider says that, “he has an above-average throwing arm.”
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At the rate Ackley is going, we may nee Franklin at 2b next year.
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God I hope not moo but, he has been struggling mightily the past few months. The kid still walks though. We need to remember that he hasn’t even played a full season yet. He needs to make some adjustments, like all big leaguers do. Hopefully he can.
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I saw Franklin for the better part of six weeks, and I disagree with almost everything that you cited about him.
He led his team in errors and strikeouts…though he would occasionally crush a pitch. There is no doubt in my mind that his arm is weak (especially going toward the hole) and inaccurate. He is not a major league caliber shortstop, though he would be a perfect 2B.
As for trading a hitter for a hitter, I was insinuating that they would package Franklin (a prospect) in order to get a proven young veteran hitter.
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