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<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Why is Wladimir Balentien languishing at Class AAA Tacoma when he should be playing for Seattle and gaining valuable experience for the future?   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Seattle Mariners (External Link) • Schedule (External Link) • Stats (External Link)   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Hey, M's: Shift your focus Forget showcasing veterans to increase their trade value and build for the future by playing your young up-and-comers By John Sleeper Herald Columnist SEATTLE -- Jim Riggleman has a dilemma, one that has no easy answer. If it has any answer at all. On one hand, the Mariners interim manager has to showcase as much of his roster as possible so that scouts can evaluate for the purpose of possible trades, whether they happen by the July 31 trade deadline or after. Jarrod Washburn has made the most of his appearances in the past six weeks. On Monday, he more than held his own against the Red Sox and its fearsome offensive lineup. He made it into the seventh inning and, for the seventh time in his past eight starts, held an opponent to two runs or fewer. In his seven starts prior to Monday, Washburn was 2-1 with a 2.58 ERA, albeit against losing teams. Against the defending World Champions, he worked himself out of multiple jams by inducing ground-ball double plays and easy pop flies. So Washburn has improved his trade value. No other Mariner starting pitcher on the trading block (Felix Hernandez isn't going anywhere) can make that claim, with the possible exception of knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. "Wash has been our most consistent pitcher, next to Felix," Riggleman said, which isn't saying much. Erik Bedard, formerly the first name mentioned as trade bait, is on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. A magnetic resonance imaging test Tuesday revealed no damage. The sullen lefty may not be back until mid-August, effectively tossing favorable trade possibilities into the dumpster. Between dismal ineffectiveness and recent back spasms, Carlos Silva (4-12, 5.62) has been rendered all but unswappable. Miguel Batista gamely puts himself out there every fifth day despite back problems. However, he hardly helps himself with his frequent face plants. At 37, Batista has to be on the outside looking in as the M's look to stock the 2009 starting rotation. Riggleman also has an obligation to play as many of the promising youngsters as possible. Let's face it; 2008 is done. Part of looking to the future involves finding playing time for the Jeff Clements, the Bryan LaHairs and the Wladimir Balentiens. For some reason, Balentien still languishes in Tacoma, despite having a recent streak of four home runs and eight RBI in four games. Give him another shot, for crying out loud. They will play prominent roles in 2009. They have to play every day in 2008. It all probably means Raul Ibanez's exit by the trading deadline. Leave him in left field, Balentien stays in Tacoma. Shift him to first base and LaHair doesn't get his at-bats. The problem with showcasing veterans for trade is fielding a team that has a prayer to be competitive. Take Sunday against the Indians, who started Cliff Lee, the American League's starting pitcher in last week's All-Star game. Jose Vidro was the designated hitter. Kenji Johjima caught. Miguel Cairo played first base. None had batting averages better than .215. Neither Vidro (33 years old) nor Cairo (34) will be on the roster in 2009 and have zero trade value. Why put them in the lineup? Johjima probably will hang around, if only because his ill-advised three-year, $24 million contract acts as an anchor. Riggleman's lineups have been a source of mounting annoyance among observers. Why give at-bats to unmarketable players when Clement, LaHair and Balentien would greatly benefit from seeing quality major league pitching? Even if they're presently overmatched at bat, at least they learn by getting views from the plate and not from the bench -- or from Tacoma. Most baffling is that Riggleman apparently is smitten with Yuniesky Betancourt, even though the 26-year-old swings at everything he sees. Sure, he shares the same hitting philosophy as Vlad Guerrero, but that's where the similarity stops. In Betancourt's four at-bats against Lee, he swung at 12 of 13 pitches. So why even bother throwing a strike to the guy? Betancourt is contagious. Riggleman laughs when asked about the team's impatience at the plate. What else can he do? The M's are near the bottom of the American League in on-base percentage and walks, as well as dead last in runs scored. "It's just what we are," he said. "We're not going to change that. It's probably not what people want to hear, but big-leaguers establish their own style." Riggleman added that it's difficult to change hitters' habits. Maybe in Betancourt's case, the M's brass would best be advised to simply change hitters. Riggleman is an interim manager working for an interim general manager on a simply horrible team. He's doing his best under depressing circumstances. No matter how much work Riggleman puts into 2008, it likely won't lead to the reward of the M's permanent managerial position in 2009. But maybe, considering what the next few years could bring with this bunch, that's a reward in itself. Sports columnist John Sleeper: sleeper@heraldnet.com. To reach Sleeper's blog, "Dangling Participles," go to www.heraldnet.com/danglingparticiples. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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