WEDNESDAY: Alfonzo cleared waivers and accepted his Triple A assignment, according to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times (Twitter links).
TUESDAY: The Mariners will designate Eliezer Alfonzo for assignment to create roster space for Josh Bard, according to Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune (via Twitter). Alfonzo, 31, did not hit well in 41 plate appearances this year, striking out ten times and collecting two extra base hits without drawing a walk. To his credit, he threw out two of the four runners who attempted to steal on him.
Bard was hitting well in limited major league playing time before a calf injury sent him to the disabled list at the end of May. The 32-year-old has a .718 OPS in his nine-year MLB career. Rob Johnson, who is hitting just .198, has been doing most of the catching for the Mariners, who hoped for more production from Adam Moore going into the season. However, the young backstop has been sidelined with heel and hamstring injuries.
M’s are making a huge mistake here. If their plan is to try to contend in the AL West, then they should have kept Alfonzo and sent Rob Johnson to the minors to make room for Josh Bard. Johnson can’t hit major league pitching (except for Ben Sheets in Oakland.) He was supposed to be a plus defensive catcher, but he’s allowed way too many passed balls and let too many pitches get by him to merit that kind of praise. In all honesty, he needs a hockey goalie’s leg pads behind the plate. Felix Hernandez has dubbed him his personal catcher, and Cliff Lee seems to like him as well, but Johnson single-handedly cost Hernandez the final game of the Cubs series in Seattle by letting a ball get by him. The runner on first base easily got to second, and scored on a single to center field on the very next pitch. That made the score 2-1, Cubs. The M’s eventually tied the score and went on to lose the game in extra innings, but that was a game in which Felix dominated and should have won. Johnson prevented that from happening, and it’s time he M’s showed him that he can’t coast on his laurels any longer. He has to put up or shut up (he’s been privately complaining about his playing time, so I think he should shut up at this point.)
Great idea, except Alfonzo can’t hit Major League pitching, either. He’s got plate patience that makes Jose Lopez look like Todd Helton.
Down with PBRJ!!!!!
WHOA there feller,i agree with u for the most part that Johnson has let passed WAY too many balls and he can’t hit much. BUT until the M’s get a better catcher who can stabilize the position for a long time,then they can’t release him with what they have now(at the major league level)and for the future(minor league level).
Adam Moore is already above Johnson in terms of talent and is about equal in production, if Wak gave him a chance instead of relying on PBRJ I think Johnson reminds Wak of himself.
Thanks Robert for reminding about Adam Moore.(i totally forgot about him)
not a fan scooter? adam moore is a freat guy who is underated if you ask me
in the article below they are saying that this move ( and the mets picking up michael barrett ) may be a pre-cursor to an upcoming Cliff Lee trade to the mets with josh thole being a major part of the deal.
in the article below they are saying that this move ( and the mets picking up michael barrett ) may be a pre-cursor to an upcoming Cliff Lee trade to the mets with josh thole being a major part of the deal.