What to do about the logjam at 1B/DH/LF

[Igoe4Mariners]

We now have a ton of guys vying for three spots.

First base: Smoak/Branyan/Kotchman/Sweeney
DH: Branyan/Sweeney/Bradley
LF: Saunders/Bradley

It kind of seems like Sweeney, Kotchman, and Bradley are the odd men out at the current time. If we want to continue to see how Saunders does in a full-time role then Milton is going to become a bench player, something he won't be happy about. He could be part of our team next season, so do we really want to risk him having another breakdown this season which might carry over into next year? The other option is to either move Saunders back to AAA or the bench and give Bradley the full-time left field job the rest of the season.

What would you do if you are Z and Wak.

[phredmojo]

plan is

smoak = everyday 1b
branyan = ecertyday dh
bradley = everyday not on dl or suspension lf :(
kotchm,an = no place
saunders = gone
sweeney = no place

[TellItToTheDA]

plan is

smoak = everyday 1b
branyan = ecertyday dh
bradley = everyday not on dl or suspension lf :(
kotchm,an = no place
saunders = gone
sweeney = no place

I agree with all of that except making Bradley the everyday DH, and getting rid of Saunders. Besides the fact that Saunders is several years younger (10, to be exact), he's hitting for a higher average, has a higher on base percentage, and has a higher slugging percentage. Why would you run someone out there who's not a part of your future plans when you have a much younger guy putting up basically the same numbers?

[phredmojo]

I agree with all of that except making Bradley the everyday DH, and getting rid of Saunders. Besides the fact that Saunders is several years younger (10, to be exact), he's hitting for a higher average, has a higher on base percentage, and has a higher slugging percentage. Why would you run someone out there who's not a part of your future plans when you have a much younger guy putting up basically the same numbers?

i'd rather have saunders, but bradley is owed too much money and untradeable while saunders has options

[TellItToTheDA]

i'd rather have saunders, but bradley is owed too much money and untradeable while saunders has options

I really want to see Milton succeed and produce on this club, but even with that salary, I'd rather see him on the bench, and get spot starts at DH and in left, and pinch hit. Saunders is the future, and now that his numbers are steadily improving, I want to see him get a shot as the everyday left fielder. Looking at his numbers from last year, and it just so happens that he's already played about the same number of games this season that he did all last season, his average and number of hits are about the same. But, he has 7 home runs compared to 0 last year, 21 RBIs compared to 4, a much higher slugging percentage, a higher on base percentage, and a higher OBP.

[georgmi]

I agree. Smoak and Saunders should be the everyday starters at 1B and LF respectively. They're the future of the club, and we have an awesome opportunity to get them reps at the plate against major-league pitching where we can stand to have them suck for a while because the season's a lost cause already. (OK, maybe that isn't all that awesome.)

Kotchman sits and comes in as a defensive replacement late in close games, assuming we ever see a close game again.

If Mike Sweeney ever returns from the DL, I will be very surprised--Branyan is pretty much the same player (Sweeney even has a reverse split that makes him more comparable to left-handed bats than most righties), but better at everything, and it's clear that the "veteran clubhouse-chemistry" experiment is over.

The only real question in my mind is, who gets more DH time, Bradley or Branyan? Do we see a platoon? So far this year, their splits support Branyan against righties (.877 OPS vs. Bradley's .649) and Bradley against southpaws (.685 OPS vs. Branyan's .638).

Assuming Bradley can bring the hitting up some the second half (and I do think that will happen), I see Branyan as the odd man out again this offseason. Which sucks for Russell. Wonder if he can play 3B?