=== Yo Mick ===

It's not just Cool Papa Bell and CPB's acolytes, who think that Saunders could become a 5-tool star in the American League.  That is backed by Baseball America's ranking -- and by the fact that the Mariners themselves moved Saunders to the front of the line and got him into Safeco.

Nobody rated Saunders as less than a premium prospect.   That's because he isn't.  Less than a premium prospect, I mean.  I was skeptical about him -- until I saw him.  

He's got a lightning-quick bat launch.  He's got an excellent competitive makeup.  He's got tall, lanky leverage on the baseball.  He runs like the wind.

Poor fit for the ballclub?  Saunders is a tremendous defensive left fielder, perhaps the best in baseball.  He is Endy Chavez plus a blue-chip bat that could become Carlos Beltran's.  He's left-handed in Safeco.  

And Zduriencik this winter is signalling no interest in Saunders?  And the Phillies and Jays back this assessment?

.

=== Good News Is .... ===

In negotiation, there's a phenomenon they call ASR (automatic sales resistance).  When you bring up an idea, your negotiation opponent :- ) assumes it's a bad idea -- for him.

The general tendency is, I call you and ask about Cliff Lee ... you say, what did you have in mind to send over?  I say, how about Saunders and Morrow?

Your assumption is reflexive.  What's wrong with Brandon Morrow!

..........

Jack Zduriencik is -- it says here -- enjoying a perception that he wants to flush Bavasi's players.

If that's true, it's an advantage you can't even begin to measure.

When Jack pushes Jeff Clement at you, your reaction is not "huh.  The knees must be barking."  Rather, your reaction is, "Boy, this guy really wants to win with his own players."

That's HUGE.  It decompresses the ASR and means you don't have to keep sweetening the deal to increase your partner's comfort level.  It means you can get things done quickly.

Zduriencik is turning over the M's roster like Whitey Herzog on an ice cream bender.  I'll bet you it helps, that other GM's perceive him as powerflushing the minor leagues for no particular negative reason.

Or, that's my theory :- )

.

=== Makeup and Chemistry ===

Dan suggested that Morrow has one kind of makeup issue, Snell another.  And that Snell has the kind of makeup issue that Zduriencik accepts.

I'm sure that's true.  And read The White Rat if you don't think that chemistry/makeup was the #1 -- the first -- factor in Whitey's overhaul of the Cards.

Remember, Whitey was the guy who called the Brewers and asked, "How would you like to win the pennant next year?" and then gave them Ted Simmons, Pete Vuckovich and Rollie Fingers for practically nothing.  Whitey was going to get a ballclub full of winners, period.

Whitey, as detailed in The White Rat, enjoyed the benefit of very willing trade partners.  They knew he was just turning over the roster.  So, let me at your players, Whitey!

........

I haven't seen a White Rat powerflush since the 1980's.  It is a real pleasure to watch Zduriencik work.  As a Herzog fan, I'm enjoying every moment of it.  :- )

.

=== M's Still Loaded ===

Why Michael Saunders doesn't fit into Whitey's ... er, Capt Jack's ... plans, you tell me.  The kid obviously has great makeup.  He obviously is a great fit for the park.

The great news is this:  we still have Saunders.  He remains a big trade chip.  It says here that other orgs will value the #4 PCL prospect where the Phillies did not.

I predict that Zduriencik will have no trouble making the next trade, and the next one, and the next one.  His "come get Bavasi's players" message is one that is serving him (and us) very well.

Top trade chips remaining?  Who dat ... Saunders, Tui, Lopez, Josh Fields, Triunfel, ?   Give yer all of 'em for Adrian Gonzalez extended, and an infielder.

Cheers,

Dr D