Kyle Seager & the Anniversary Newsletter

WTP turns one!

Welcome to Warning Track Power, a weekly newsletter of baseball stories and analysis grounded in front office and scouting experiences and the personalities encountered along the way.

When your little brother signs a 10-year, $325 million contract, what do you do?

Retire, of course.

Kyle Seager, big brother to the Rangers’ new shortstop Corey, surprised the industry and hung up his spikes yesterday after an 11-year career with the Mariners. Don’t feel bad for Kyle, though; his seven-year, $100-million pact expired at the conclusion of this past season. He should be able to cover his greens fees.

For players with at least 10 seasons in the big leagues, only Seager, Felix Hernandez, and Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez can be considered lifetime Mariners.

One year ago, when I began this newsletter, I was looking forward to sharing some scouting and front office experiences with all of you. On this occasion — the first anniversary of WTP — I want to thank Kyle Seager for setting me up with the perfect portal into one of my earliest and most formative scouting experiences ever.

Entering the 2010 season in San Diego, we were very much open to trading Adrian Gonzalez. His club-friendly contract was expiring after the 2011 season. Following consecutive (well-deserved) All-Star appearances and Gold Glove awards, his value was higher than ever.

During the offseason and into Spring Training, we identified the Mariners a potential fit in a Gonzalez trade.

The minor league schedule makers did their part; opening weekend of the High-A California League featured the Mariners’ High Desert Mavericks at the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres).

I made the predictable-if-not-always-pleasant drive along the 15 each of those four days to scout the High Desert team. That roster was not talent rich, but it did include prospect Kyle Seager, who was selected in the third round of the 2009 Draft.

That series, I was as confident in my scouting abilities as I was warmly dressed. So as I froze my ass off each of those first three nights, I watched Seager and his teammates, wondering if anyone in the visiting dugout would constitute part of a worthy return for our big league first baseman.

That spring, Padres scouts had been equipped with video cameras for the first time. (First-year GM Jed Hoyer and Assistant GM Jason McLeod brought the practice from Boston.) Video was particularly useful at the time because it meant that a scout didn’t have to focus as heavily on a player’s mechanics. Instead, a few recorded clips of a batter’s swing or a pitcher’s delivery could be examined after the game, and the scout’s focus could be elsewhere on the field.

Admittedly, before being armed with a camera, there were times when I spent so much time focusing on, say, a hitter’s hands that I missed the entire at bat. Video freed up many scouts to watch the game and let it come to them.

I also learned from video of Seager how easy — and dangerous — it was to overanalyze. It took a while, but I eventually learned that sometimes there’s nothing all that special to take away from an at bat, a start, or even a game.

I dug up the video I captured of Seager during that series. It reminded me of one important rule immediately: Don’t put too much stock in the first series of the season, especially after players have played under the Arizona sunshine for the past six weeks.

Maybe it’s just the poor quality video talking, but Seager’s bat speed doesn’t scream prospect. Meanwhile, he was only 15 months from his Major League debut.

During his career, Seager did a lot of things well while also frustrating fans and Mariners’ staff with inconsistencies and perceived untapped abilities. Consider this past season: He established career highs with 35 homers and 101 RBIs, while hitting a career low .212 with an OBP of .285.

Glass half empty or half full? Both Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs rate Seager’s 2021 offensive output as league average. He sure took an interesting route to the middle. Seems like an appropriate end to this calendar year.

With the new year upon us, I want to take a moment to wish all of you a happy and healthy 2022.

One year ago, I announced the beginning of this newsletter. You all have given it life, and I am forever grateful for your interest, support, and encouragement. This weekly ritual has been the highlight of my year.

I’m excited for what next year has in store for WTP. There are some fun pieces planned and many more stories to tell. Thank you for bringing me to my keyboard each week.

Happy New Year!

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