Monday Bantering: Bits of Jays stuff

We made it to the start of another week.

There isn’t much for Blue Jays news, but there is a lot of Mariners news. I’m sure you heard, but Mariners President Kevin Mather said the inside stuff out loud, in front of people, and videoed. If you want to watch the whole please fire me’, it is here:

Lookout Landing has a transcript.

Among the things said:

• He told us that the Mariners did better financially than most teams because they were “at the very bottom of a rebuild step-back cycle” and that they have a very good TV deal.
• That there was no chance, they were going to call up top prospects from the alternate sites, no matter how bad a Covid outbreak they had, because they weren’t starting up anyone’s service clock. He would have played outfield first.
• He complained that the season is starting on time because they couldn’t reach an agreement with the players.
• Mather also complained about the poor English some of his players spoke. Which means he and my dad are similar.
• That Kyle Seager is overpaid and won’t have his option picked up.
• And there were complaints about the neighborhood around Safeco Field T-Mobile Park.

Mather sent out an apology, saying that his statements were ‘all his own’ and didn’t reflect the organization's opinions since, of course, the Team President's statements don’t reflect what the team is thinking.

Fake Teams has Bo Bichette the #7 shortstop in the MLB (for fantasy baseball). Next year he’ll be higher on the list.

Alejandro Kirk has come to camp down several pounds. And Ross Atkins says there is a ‘realistic scenario’ that he makes the team as the backup catcher.

Keegan Matheson wrote about Alek Manoah, Thomas Hatch, and Julian Merryweather.

About Manoah:

“In [Class A] Vancouver, I was able to blow guys away with the heater and put them away with a slider,” Manoah said. “Now, I’m able to throw changeups in the 3-2 count to a righty. I’m able to throw changeups in 1-2 counts, 1-1 counts, 2-1 counts. I’m able to throw different variations of the slider and fastballs in different locations.”

Hatcher and Merryweather will both be stretched out to be a starter but might end up in our bullpen. I’d rather see either of them in the rotation than any of the guys likely to be 3 through 5 spots in the rotation.