December 30, 200520 yr Olivo was expected...I think he will win the starting job and put Josh in LF. Wess Helms isnt too bad, has a decent bat and is a capable back-up... Adding these players is cool with me..
December 30, 200520 yr I know Helms hits LHP well.. but still, I just hope he doesn't take ABs away from Jacobs.
December 30, 200520 yr I'm very pleased :thumbup Olivo is a good signing for a number of reasons, Helms is a guy with a bunch of things that need to be fixed but for 2006 the team is starting to take shape. It's going to be interesting to see who winds up making the 25 man roster coming out of spring training but at least we'll see some competition for roster spots as opposed to just handing jobs to kids who may or may not be ready.
December 30, 200520 yr Author Here's what Rotoworld has to say.... Miguel Olivo - C - Marlins Marlins signed catcher Miguel Olivo, who had been with the Padres, to a one-year contract. Olivo, who is joining his fourth team in a year and a half, will compete with Josh Willingham for the starting job behind the plate. He hasn't played well in the Dominican Republic, but he did hit .304/.341/.487 in 116 AB after joining the Padres last season. It's improved defense that the Marlins will want to see in spring training. Olivo has all of the tools, but neither the Mariners nor the Padres were impressed at all by his glovework. Dec. 30 - 6:11 pm et Wes Helms - 3B - Marlins Marlins signed first baseman-third baseman Wes Helms, who had been with the Brewers, to a one-year contract. Another decent pickup for Florida. Helms figures to be Mike Jacobs' platoonmate at first base. He can also back up Miguel Cabrera at third base and some spot duty in the outfield corners is a possibility. Helms had an 881 OPS in 83 AB against lefties last season and is at 824 for his career. He was miscast as a regular by the Brewers, but he has some value. Dec. 30 - 6:07 pm et
December 30, 200520 yr Here's his multimedia page from MLB.com http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/ml...layer_id=136500
December 30, 200520 yr I still think Reese and Amezaga will be our starting 2B and SS to begin the year... with Hanley starting in the minors. Here's an interesting question: Could Helms start at 3B? ...moving Cabs back to LF, Hermida to CF and Willy to RF? I sincerely doubt it but it could be an option. I'd just rather Cabs never leave 3B and not even mess with Hermida in CF.
December 30, 200520 yr While the signings of the last couple days haven't been blow-away signings, they are nice bargain pick-ups, and as Marlins2003 said, it creates some interesting competition for roster spots next spring. It's good to see we're at least doing SOMEHTING.
December 31, 200520 yr Girardi has said that he wants to give Jacobs a shot at playing every day. That means playing against righties and lefties. Not sure what Helms role will be. I guess he is good to have a backup in case Jacobs struggles. However, I think Jacobs will be fine, meaning Helms becomes our backup 1b and 3b, and good bench player. I like these moves, but how weird is it that we're getting excited over signing Wes Helms, Miguel Olivo, Pokey Reese, and Joe Borowski??
December 31, 200520 yr Wes Helms is a tremendous positive signing. But it makes no sense since we are intending on starting Jacobs, unless he plays other positions? Will we pull a Kevin Millar with him?
December 31, 200520 yr Girardi has said that he wants to give Jacobs a shot at playing every day. That means playing against righties and lefties. Not sure what Helms role will be. I guess he is good to have a backup in case Jacobs struggles. However, I think Jacobs will be fine, meaning Helms becomes our backup 1b and 3b, and good bench player. I like these moves, but how weird is it that we're getting excited over signing Wes Helms, Miguel Olivo, Pokey Reese, and Joe Borowski?? I don't see anyone peeing their pants over these signings, yet those signed so far are interesting and cheap players that could potentially join the core ala rferry.
December 31, 200520 yr I like the Helms signing, as for Olivio he lost his job to a 42 year old journeyman last year in Seattle.
December 31, 200520 yr with these 4 signings in the last 2 days we have improved from a 50 win team to possibly now a 60 win team. hey its an improvement.
December 31, 200520 yr I really like these pick ups, even though Olivo we knew for a couple of days, looks like the front office has been working hard with four signings over the past two days. Nice to have some veterans to mix in with all the kids we have on this team
December 31, 200520 yr Girardi has said that he wants to give Jacobs a shot at playing every day. That means playing against righties and lefties. Not sure what Helms role will be. I guess he is good to have a backup in case Jacobs struggles. However, I think Jacobs will be fine, meaning Helms becomes our backup 1b and 3b, and good bench player. I like these moves, but how weird is it that we're getting excited over signing Wes Helms, Miguel Olivo, Pokey Reese, and Joe Borowski?? I don't see anyone peeing their pants over these signings, yet those signed so far are interesting and cheap players that could potentially join the core ala rferry. Nah, I know.. I didn't mean anything bad by it. I just find it weird how last year at this time, we were all talking about Carlos Delgado and whether he was gonna put us over the top... It's just a strange feeling only one year later.. that's all.
December 31, 200520 yr If you go back into initial Olivo thread, I linked a piece by a Mariner's blog guy that was really quite insightful. Olivo it seems was really shaken to the core by being traded and never quite recovered, and the two scouts quoted in the piece both seem to think he's a capable MLer who needs to work on a couple of things to really see the best come out in him. If anyone missed it, here's the link again, I think it's worth another read: http://ussmariner.com/?p=2478
December 31, 200520 yr I think he'll put up good numbers with everyday ABs... That's not what I'm worried about. I just hope Girardi can help him out with his defense and the way he handles a pitcher. Should be interesting but I love the pickup.
December 31, 200520 yr Girardi has said that he wants to give Jacobs a shot at playing every day. That means playing against righties and lefties. Not sure what Helms role will be. I guess he is good to have a backup in case Jacobs struggles. However, I think Jacobs will be fine, meaning Helms becomes our backup 1b and 3b, and good bench player. I like these moves, but how weird is it that we're getting excited over signing Wes Helms, Miguel Olivo, Pokey Reese, and Joe Borowski?? I hope Girardi does let Jacobs play every day. He has to see left-handed pitching every chance he gets so he can get used to them. Sure the Franco/LaRoche platoon has worked very well for the Braves but Helms is not that good a hitter as Franco and you gotta let the guy who is in your future plans (Jacobs) develop.
December 31, 200520 yr I know Helms hits LHP well.. but still, I just hope he doesn't take ABs away from Jacobs. Me too. He'd be a decent bat off the bench though & if Jacobs struggles a little & they do wind up platooning Helms some.... well that OPS vs lefties isn't bad at all. & Cabrera would not be happy at all moving back to the outfield because Wes Helms just took his position. :shifty
December 31, 200520 yr Yes! A player with my same last name playing on the Fish... gotta love it... Besides that he's a pretty solid player so that's a plus
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.