FanHouse Don Wakamatsu

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.

Every Hot Stove season, each team reshapes its roster in an attempt to better themselves. After each transaction, whether a free agent acquisition, trade or something else, writers and bloggers everywhere provide knee-jerk reactions on each particular move. Though the majority of the analysis is educated, it's still just conjecture. Today, we'll take the long view and look back at some of the maneuvering this past offseason and see how it played out on the field.

SEATTLE -- Given that the Mariners have struggled mightily offensively, the signing of No. 2 pick Dustin Ackley serves as a serious momentum boost for an organization looking to escape a series of shaky moves under the Bill Bavasi tenure.

For example, Bavasi traded Adam Jones and George Sherill for Erik Bedard, and he selected Cal's Brandon Morrow over the University of Washington's Tim Lincecum in the 2006 draft. Morrow is in the minors while Lincecum is one of the top starting pitchers in the major leagues.

So the Mariners needed this. They needed to sign the best hitter in college baseball. Ackley hit .422 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI in 66 games for the University of North Carolina. Signing him went down to the final minutes, with general manager Jack Zduriencik revealing that the deal was agreed upon at 8:45 PM PT, about 15 minutes before the deadline.

SEATTLE -- Adrian Beltre is considered a sparkling defensive third baseman, possessing great range, soft hands and a cannon for throwing arm. The veteran Mariner might have been too confident in his fielding abilities and it could cost him a month or even the rest of the season.

On Thursday, Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu, shaking his head in bewilderment, announced Beltre would be placed on the disabled list with a torn right testicle and was even more stunned when told that Beltre does not wear an athletic supporter, better known as a cup that protects the groin area.

This begs for an explanation.

When the Seattle Mariners sent five players to the Baltimore Orioles last February to land Erik Bedard, they did so with the intent of having Bedard help them win the AL West. Instead, in his two seasons as a Mariner Bedard has been paid $14.75 million to make thirty starts while Adam Jones appears on the verge of superstardom for the Orioles.

Needless to say, it hasn't been the greatest trade for the Mariners, and on Wednesday it got a bit worse. Bedard is going to undergo exploratory surgery on his left shoulder and it's going to put an end to his season.

This handsome devil, former Vice President Dick Cheney pitcher Erik Bedard, is on the disabled list again, this time because of inflammation in his left shoulder. Wikipedia tells me that about half of the letters in Erik Bedard's name are supposed to have accent marks over them, but I don't know how to put an accent over a capital E. The Mariners are hanging in there in the AL West and even closer to a Wild Card, so losing one of their top pitchers right here in the middle of the season when they can't use him or trade him is tough.

Tonight's Dugout deals with this important talking point and others (for example, "why does Don Wakamatsu's face look like that in his photo day picture, I mean were they shining a light in his face or what"), after the jump.

The Seattle Mariners, trying to shore up their defense and acquire young talent at the same time, dealt enigmatic shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to the Kansas City Royals for two minor leaguers. Betancourt, once considered a staple at short for Seattle, played his way out of the favor of management with his impatient hitting, defensive lapses and lackadaisical play.

He was placed on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring and was expected to return to the big club this weekend, but he was unexpectedly removed from the starting lineup Thursday for Triple-A Tacoma, leading to trade speculation. Betancourt batted .250 with two homers, 22 RBI and a putrid .278 on-base percentage, the primary reason why he was shipped out of Seattle.

NEW YORK – Don Wakamatsu spent seven years as a coach in the AL West before becoming manager of the Mariners.

So he had a pretty good idea about Felix Hernandez.

"I know in the past when I've coached against him, he'd coast it seemed like," Wakamatsu told FanHouse. "Or he'd rest. He'd pitch to certain hitters, or he'd pitch out of jams. But he hadn't been able to understand how to just keep the pressure on an opposing team. I think those are the things that you talk about that make a guy a champion."

Now it seems Hernandez has figured it out.

NEW YORK – An interesting coincidence Tuesday night that Brandon Morrow got to pitch against Joba Chamberlain at Yankee Stadium.

Both were taken within the first 41 picks of the 2006 draft.

Both made it to the majors as a reliever.

Both have undergone an awkward relief-to-starting midseason transition while staying in the majors: Chamberlain last year with the Yankees and Morrow this year with the Mariners.

Even after the transition we've been left wondering, are they better off in the rotation or the bullpen?

Apparently, injuries to big-time starting pitchers come in threes. Friday, Jake Peavy went to the disabled list, Roy Halladay left with a groin injury and the Mariners announced Erik Bedard will miss his scheduled start Saturday. In his place, naturally, is the man who was a setup man ... then a closer ... then a starting pitcher ... then closer who will never start again ... then lost his closing duties ... and has now transitioned back to being a starting pitcher. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it's Mr. Brandon Morrow!

Bedard, half of the Mariners' formidable 1-2 punch with Felix Hernandez, is 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 1.16 WHIP this season. He's also striking out nearly a batter per inning.

OAKLAND -- You know all about Russell Branyan.

Big power. Lots of strikeouts. Bench player.

At age 33, on his eighth team, Branyan is finally getting the chance to shed that last label. The Mariners signed Branyan over the winter and gave him the first crack at being their everyday first baseman. So far he hasn't disappointed.