There’s an interesting article and accompanying video here in regards to JJ Putz going to the Chicago White Sox (props to Mariner Central user IWantZduriencik for linking it from Larry Stone). I’m not going to hazard any guesses – I wasn’t there, and neither were you – but right now it sounds like something went terribly wrong for all parties involved last year. What I know about the Mets I know from reading Mets Grrl, and I’d have to assume from some of her recent posts that all is not well in New York.
Obviously, I want JJ to succeed wherever he goes, and am looking forward to the games we get to play against Chicago this year. And I hate to say this, but in the interest of full disclosure, I’m not sure I could take seeing him get battered by my own guys. I’m certainly not going to complain if we win a game against the White Sox, but it’ll be bittersweet.
Also, a lot of rumors lately swirling about Russell Branyan and the Marlins. Since the rumors are either a) that Branyan was made an offer for a year, and b) that he was never offered anything and only called on, I’m not holding my breath, but I do hope he lands somewhere. He may be on my like-forever-for-no-discernible-reason list, like Garrett Olson.
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February 4, 2010 at 10:45 am
Craig D-MarinersManiac
When it comes to JJ and “like-forever-for-no-discernible-reason” list……..its alot more than that…..
JJ for a 2+ year period…was an Uber-stud reliever (All-star-worship-me-ichiro-production)…and when guys are THAT GOOD for your team….If a fan doesnt like ‘em…well…I would question their sanity.
And Any past Mariner (I dont know why, but when I say “ex-Mariner”..it sounds wrong…because to me, they will always be a Mariners, just playing for someone else) I always want them to kick butt….except if it affects the Mariners.
February 4, 2010 at 2:14 pm
section331
And of course, that is the reason I’ll always like him, but there are a lot of people accusing him of throwing both the Ms and the Mets under the bus right now, and I don’t see it that way, I guess. That was sort of my way of saying that regardless of what happens, I may be a lot more forgiving with him than I might with anyone else. I don’t want to be an apologist for anyone, but it sounds like his situation with NY was not exactly the best – and being knocked from a closer to a setup guy while having to deal with the transfer has to be disappointing….
February 4, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Craig D-MarinersManiac
I watched the vid, and there is only one little bit where he “could” be considered throwing the Mets under the bus…and even that…..well…LOTS of players play with bone spurs and chips for years….The Majority of those still allow the players to play for years without a problem.
He did last year, with a couple of his Comments about Mariners rub me the wrong way….but the comments he made were factual….So I may not have like it….He wasnt saying anything I didnt already know a fan…..Basically he was saying that he wished the “Bavasi Mariners”, were what the “JackZ Mariners” are today.
And ThunderStruck will always make me think JJ and Awesomeness
February 4, 2010 at 6:43 pm
section331
Yeah, I just think 2008 made everyone cranky. It slays me that people expect these guys to just shrug it off. We booed our players in 2008, in easygoing, laid-back Seattle.
The thing is, I got the distinct impression that JJ liked it here, so I thought some of the grumpiness that was perceived was due to the trade to NY – but now I don’t know. I mean, some players are fairly vocal about playing in this or that city; and I thought he was one of those. But I may have been incorrectly assuming something, I may never know.
I would have loved to see JJ in the pen this year with those guys – it would have been awesome.