One of the worst acts an editor or writer can commit is to do a lot of research on a subject and then just HAVE to make use of it.

I apologize, but that's what this column is about.

Last week, after Ron Cooke had put together his article on the tribulations of Ralphie Henriquez's trip through the minor leagues, it piqued my curiosity. I wanted to know where he stood among the catchers in the Seattle Mariners' farm system.

So, I went looking, spent a lot of time on the research and, now, feel I just HAVE to make use of it. Hence, this column and the accompanying table.

I'm looking at this as a complete outsider observer. I don't know these other people; I don't know who is deciding their fates. What I do know is their statistics -- through Sunday's games.

It seems to me that Ralphie is in the right place at the right time. Seattle doesn't seem to have young catchers who can hit. And, if Henriquez can keep hitting the way he was before this past weekend, he should be in good position to move up the ladder.

Hey, he's only 23 years old. He graduated from Key West High School after helping the Conchs to their 11th state championship in 2005. He was drafted in the second round of that year's amateur draft by the Houston Astros, who gave him a bonus of almost $500,000. Yet, three years later, with no evidence with their teams that he could hit for an average, the Astros traded him to the New York Mets. Last season, after three different stops in the Mets' minor league system he was released, despite hitting a combined .276.

Once his sore right knee healed this spring, the Mariners assigned him to High Desert in the Advanced A California League, where he hit .333 in five games before being promoted to West Tennessee in the Class AA Southern League. He was doing a fine job, hitting .324 and catching almost every other game for the Diamond Jaxx. Then, there was catching movement at the top of Seattle's catching roster, which resulted in Henriquez being moved back down to High Desert a week ago. Since moving back, he has gone 2-for-12 in three games, but is batting .267 overall for the Mavericks and a combined .299 for the summer.

Apparently ahead of him are six catchers, including Josh Bard and Ron Johnson with the big club at Seattle. Neither is hitting a lick, Bard at .184 and Johnson, .205. Bard is 32, Johnson 28.

At Triple-A Tacoma is 26-year-old Adam Moore, who is on Seattle's 40-man roster, and is hitting .377. At West Tennessee, where Henriquez has already shown he could hit, is Guillermo Quiroz, batting .330. On the Diamond Jaxx's 7-day disabled list are Luis Oliveres (who was hitting .333) and Jose Vepez (who was hitting .322). The youngest of the three is 27-year-old Oliveres. Also active at West Tennessee is 18-year-old Carlton Tanabe.

I like what Ralphie has done last season and this. I like his age compared to those ahead of him.

I would like to think he still has a bright future ahead of him.

Sports Editor Ralph Morrow's Armchair Comment appears exclusively in The Citizen. He can be reached at 305-292-7777, Ext. 264, at Rmorrow@keysnews.com and by Fax at 305-295-8016.