Probably the most understated aspect of professional baseball is the swift player movement. In any one year, prospects go from prominence to irrelevance, pitchers go from stardom to the operating table, and relievers go from, well, any end of the spectrum to the other. Stuff happens in baseball. Players are traded, sign with new teams, and over one thousand potential Major Leaguers are drafted each year. It’s almost impossible to predict (with certainty, that is) who will end up where, and how any given player will fare in the coming season. There’s a reason we stress process over results.
Most importantly, don’t get attached to anyone on your team.
Selections from the 2008 Seattle Mariners roster: Jose Vidro, Cha Seung Baek, Eric O’Flaherty, Brad Wilkerson, Jeremy Reed, Richie Sexson, Jeff Clement, Jake Woods, Arthur Rhodes, and Miguel Cairo.
Selections from the 2009 Seattle Mariners roster: Chris Shelton, Endy Chavez, Kenji Johjima, Roy Corcoran, Jarrod Washburn, Denny Stark, Miguel Batista, and Ronny Cedeno.
Selections from the 2010 Seattle Mariners roster: Casey Kotchman, Eliezer Alfonso, Jesus Colome, Ken Griffey, Jr, Kanekoa Texiera, and Mike Sweeney.
All of these players have something in common – they are no longer members of the Seattle Mariners baseball organization. Sure, guys like Felix and Ichiro are still around, but the majority of roster spots have shown themselves to be extremely volatile. Even the coaching staff. Does anyone even remember John McLaren?
I think this is something to keep in mind while we watch the numerous subplots of Spring Training unfold. Over the course of a 162-game season, a lot of things change. Some changes will be good and some will be bad, but change is change nonetheless – and change is interesting. It gives us something to chew on.
So when Milton Bradley is dealt at the trade deadline for Roy Halladay, eleven baseballs, and a flu vaccination, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Original Story:
http://www.proballnw.com/03-2011/impe...
