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

 

 

 

Wow what a great link! I just assumed we were getting some cheap, yet solid fill-ins who could start if our young guys faltered and platoon/backup no matter what. Now that's proably the case with Helms (still a solid pickup).

 

But I had no idea Olivo had serious upside.

I'm liking this alot. Wes Helms is a good catch. Atlanta traded him a while back to Milwaukee and I forgot what they got in return.

Both are nice signings. Helms give us needed depth at the corner IF positions. Olivo will compete with Willlingham behind the plate. I really like the idea of having the ability to split PT at catcher between Olivo and Willingham, and letting Willingham play some LF as well.

 

Does this mean Treanor goes back to AAA?

Both are nice signings. Helms give us needed depth at the corner IF positions. Olivo will compete with Willlingham behind the plate. I really like the idea of having the ability to split PT at catcher between Olivo and Willingham, and letting Willingham play some LF as well.

 

Does this mean Treanor goes back to AAA?

 

Willy might spot start at C, but he'll be our starting LF/RF.

Both are nice signings. Helms give us needed depth at the corner IF positions. Olivo will compete with Willlingham behind the plate. I really like the idea of having the ability to split PT at catcher between Olivo and Willingham, and letting Willingham play some LF as well.

 

Does this mean Treanor goes back to AAA?

 

 

Nah, if Olivo is good enough out of S.T. we'll carry three catchers given Willingham's versatility.

Both are nice signings. Helms give us needed depth at the corner IF positions. Olivo will compete with Willlingham behind the plate. I really like the idea of having the ability to split PT at catcher between Olivo and Willingham, and letting Willingham play some LF as well.

 

Does this mean Treanor goes back to AAA?

 

 

Nah, if Olivo is good enough out of S.T. we'll carry three catchers given Willingham's versatility.

 

Yeah. Reminds me of '03 when we had Pudge, Redmond and Castro.....even Mordecai was an emergency catcher.

 

But with Jacobs ability to be an emergency catcher, do we really need to carry 3 catchers?

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

I smell a jersey in your future.

 

Yeah. Reminds me of '03 when we had Pudge, Redmond and Castro.....even Mordecai was an emergency catcher.

 

But with Jacobs ability to be an emergency catcher, do we really need to carry 3 catchers?

Well, we'd have three catchers yes. But they'd all be in the starting lineup. Olivo would be behind the plate, Thor Jacobs would be at 1B, and the Hammer would be in LF. We'd technically have 3 catchers, but we'd have none on the bench.

 

Unless they don't plan to have Olivo and Willingham in the same lineup, I think Treanor stays on the roster.

Since Olivo signed I assumed (silly me) that he does the bulk of the catching, Willingham is brought along slowly catching a game or two a week and playing the rest of the time in LF, and Treanor is the backup.

 

Then there's Baker, who's alot better than I suspect most here rate him, but I'm guessing he's the everyday guy at Albuquerque. History suggests he'll have a big AAA season.

 

There's so many ways this could all play out in spring training, the possibilities for playing time and roster spots are almost endless. What happens if Stokes has a mammoth spring, or somebody else plays his way into the lineup, things could change quickly.

Since Olivo signed I assumed (silly me) that he does the bulk of the catching, Willingham is brought along slowly catching a game or two a week and playing the rest of the time in LF, and Treanor is the backup.

 

Then there's Baker, who's alot better than I suspect most here rate him, but I'm guessing he's the everyday guy at Albuquerque. History suggests he'll have a big AAA season.

 

 

 

I agree. I really think they would love it if Willingham emerges as a 130 game a year catcher. That would be crazy offense coming out of that position (I think he is going to be a pretty good hitter). Easing him in slowly with Olivo is probably the best case scenario for that to maybe happen.

 

I'm with you on Baker also. He seems to have struggled in his first major stints in single and double AA, then improved significantly his second time through. His first major time in AAA last year was a disaster.... but maybe he picks that batting average up a bit this year, and gets back to walking a little more, whiffing a little less, and showing some more pop. I think it was a very low risk move regardless, and maybe they found a young backup catcher for a few years.

Both very good pick up's, and very cheap to.

I wonder if maybe the fish might be looking to have an Outfield of [Wes Helms - Jeremy Hermida - Josh Willingham] Olivo will probably be the starting catcher, and willingham will play some at C to im sure.

This would give players like Eric Reed some more time in the minors...

 

Anyway just a thought... :hat

 

Could be opening day lineup?

SS - Hanley Ramirez

2b - Dan Uggla

3b - Miguel Cabrera

1b - Mike Jacobs

LF - Wes Helms

CF - Jeremy Hermida

RF - Josh Willingham

C - Miguel Olivo

P - Dontrelle Willis

There's so many ways this could all play out in spring training, the possibilities for playing time and roster spots are almost endless.

Exactly. That's the impetus behind these moves. Get depth and see what shakes out. I have't been entirely happy with the acquisitions, but some might pan out and give us a productive year or three or five.