Baseball musical chairs? Benitez to Mariners for Nelson.

[Zeno]

From ESPN article:

"SEATTLE -- Just 2½ weeks after getting him, the New York Yankees traded Armando Benitez to the Seattle Mariners for fellow reliever Jeff Nelson in a surprising swap Wednesday between division leaders.


"It is definitely unusual, but we were both interested in improving ourselves,'' Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "Hopefully we did that.''


The deal comes less than a week after the trade deadline. Each team actually claimed the other player, permitting them to make a deal only with each other. Each right-hander is eligible to become a free agent after the season.


Seattle and New York open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night."



I haven't figured this one out yet. The Yanks didn't use Benitez much. Nelson is familar with both clubs so it may be better deal for the Yankees. Benitez is a wild card now more than ever. A real gamble I think, I hope it pays off. With Oakland breathing down their necks the Mariners cannot afford to make many mistakes. Only a 3 game lead at present.

The Yanks/Mariners series will be a good one to watch this weekend. Hope Moyer pitches one of the games.

-Zeno

[Dynasty]

Nelson made some public complaints about the Mariner's front office failing to improve the team before the deadline. Without those comments, I don't think this trade would have happened.

It's possible that the Mariners want Benitez as an emergency closer just in case Kazuhiro Sasaki isn't able to return to form when he gets of the DL. However, Shigetosi Hasegawa has been so excellent in the role, I think the Mariners should leave him there even when Sasaki is back and 100% healthy.

Overall, the trade is a wash talent wise. But, the Mariners get rid of a player who's been bitching and the Yankees get rid of a player who isn't popular in New York.

[Zeno]

All good points. I don't pay any attention to all the yapping by players but I'm sure others do in the respective organizations. I especially like your point about the closers and that Hasegawa should stay put.

-Zeno

[Sooga]

I thought the trade was perfect irony. A player known for being great during the regular season and flailing in the playoffs gets traded to a team who does great during the regular season and flails in the playoffs. The Mariners winning 116 games during the 2001 regular season and then subsequently losing 4-1 to the Yankees in the postseason was a pretty memorable choke job.

[Josh W]

Bah. They did choke in 2001, but also surprised the baseball nation in 1995. I'd say it's a wash.

Remember 1995? They had to win a one-game playoff with..um...shoot. Who was it?

9-1, with Luis Sojo having an inside the park grandslam (okay, so there were errors).

To those who were in Seattle in 1995, they will always remember the magic. it's the only good sports moment in seattle since the late '70's. Wow. (oh, and UW winning the national championship in 1991)

Josh

[Zeno]

[ QUOTE ]
The Mariners winning 116 games during the 2001 regular season and then subsequently losing 4-1 to the Yankees in the postseason was a pretty memorable choke job.

[/ QUOTE ]


Thanks for reminding me. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

-Zeno

[andyfox]

The Yankees must have felt Benitez, after closing for so long with the Mets, was uncomfortable as a set-up man. Nelson, of course, if used to that role, and is particularly tough on righties.

Nelson will now have played twice for both the Yankees and Mariners.

Both the Yankees and Mariners will have their hands full the rest of the way against two tought teams on their tails.

[Josh W]

Yeah, hands full for sure. It bothers me as a die-hard mariners fan. I've said all year that they aren't that good, and if Tejada and Chavez ever start doing anything, Oakland is the better team, period. Now, look out.

So, I'm almost resigned to the WildCard. But the RedSox are my second favorite team (Because I hate the Yankees). So I have to root against them. If Seattle just wins the rest of their games, that would be pretty fanbloodytastic.

JW

[Zeno]

Mariners schedule last two weeks of season:

Mon. 15 at Texas 8:05 PM FxNW Arlington
Tue. 16 at Texas 8:05 PM FxNW Arlington
Wed. 17 at Texas 8:05 PM FxNW Arlington
Thu. 18 at Texas 2:05 PM FxNW Arlington

Fri. 19 at Oakland 10:05 PM FxNW Network Coliseum
Sat. 20 at Oakland 4:05 PM Network Coliseum
Sun. 21 at Oakland 4:05 PM KSTW Network Coliseum

Mon. 22 at Anaheim 10:05 PM FxNW Edison Field
Tue. 23 at Anaheim 10:05 PM FxNW Edison Field
Wed. 24 at Anaheim 4:05 PM Edison Field

Fri. 26 Oakland 10:05 PM FxNW SAFECO
Sat. 27 Oakland 4:05 PM FxNW SAFECO
Sun. 28 Oakland 4:05 PM FxNW SAFECO


My take is that the Mainers must have a 3-4 game lead on Oakland at the September 15 mark. Then they have a good chance of wining the AL West. If they don't it will be uphill all the way and they (hopefully) get the wildcard. It will be tight - But maintaing a lead will be key. A pox on Bill Beane and his damn Oakland Team. I hope they go into a nosedive. Not likely I know.

If it comes down to the last series in Seattle they will be some great games to see.

-Zeno

[Zeno]

Pitching line up for Mariners/Yankees Series, starts Friday:

Franklin(8-9) - Weaver(6-8)

Meche(12-7) - Pettitte(13-6)

Moyer(15-5) - Clemens(11-7)

All good match ups and if we toss Benitez/Nelson in the mix and have them coming in the game ~ 8th inning or so, or against some hitters in key situations late in the game - the makings of some great baseball and suspense. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Mariners take 2 out of 3. I would say 3 out of 3 but I can't be that optimistic. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
I wonder what the Vegas boys have for a line on these games?

-Zeno