2007 1st-round pick Amonte to move to pen full-time.

[nick]

The Mariners have permanently moved pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont to the bullpen.

"We felt that this was a guy, who, if used in a relief role, could be on a real fast-track to the major leagues,'' GM Jack Zduriencik said of Aumont. "And we're talking a real fast track." Aumont, who stands 6' 7", was the club's No. 1 pick in 2007 and had been progressing nicely as a starter in the minor leagues.
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why.

[nick]

I really butchered the spelling with Amonte, and I don't even know why. Porter or whoever the mod is, if you could fix it up for me.

[cjkalt]

I don't get why you rush a guy to be a reliever on a 60-75 win team, when he can develop as a nice long term starter for you when it matters in a few years. Sounds like the Mariners still haven't figured out whats going on.

[Porter]

Welcome to the mis-management of prospects 101.

[DirtyKash]

Tony Amonte?

[DirtyKash]

Welcome to the mis-management of prospects 101.

At least the Mariners aren't doing this with Brandon Morrow.




Oh wait, they are.

[Witlon]

Morrow asked to be moved to the bullpen.

They are just moving this guy to the pen, for no apparant reason(or no good one, anyway).

[missionhockey21]

I wish I could understand moves like this, I really do, but man it makes no sense at all. He is a big kid so endurance probably won't be a problem for him, too much, when the M's decide that this was a bad plan (or they are just fast tracking him to the bigs via the pen, only to move him back to starting once promoted.)

With Aumont though, it makes so little sense. Here is a kid who did not even pitch high school ball, is only 20, and had a very short season last year. Why would you limit his innings and fast track him? Why? The Mariners should be giving him innings, and a year to a year and a half in the minors to fully develop. I know, he had a big inning against team USA in the WBC, but this is a kid who needs some time. He has talent and if they fast tracked him, maybe he could perform, but I think the steady hand approach here makes a lot more sense.

[Porter]

I couldn't describe how BAD a move this is. We need him as a SP more than a MR. We have Fields, why don't they use him. Dammit. The Bavasi Train still rails the M's this day.