The State of The Mariners

[mistagoodwin]

I think I will have to take this as an unfortunate sign that the Mariners are probably not going to be good again this year.

The first headline worthy (not really) signing they have made all offseason was a 2-year signing of IF/OF Willie Bloomquist. YAY!!!

Comments

[petester1212]

Well friend, as a person who literally reads five different mariners blags every day, I would say that it's a sign that we have responsible management in place. If you can point to one signing thats happened so far that the Mariners really wanted to make, you're wrong. This market right now is out of control. Gary Matthews Jr., who at 32 has been a utility player his whole career before a random breakout year last year, signed for 5 years and 50 million dollars. There is no great fit for the Mariners in this market. In the end, we'll probably end up overpaying Jason Schmidt, which will make our team better now, but not five years from now, as it surely will be a five year probably about 60 million dollar signing. The only really fuck-ass stupid thing the Mariners have done this offseason is not fire Hargrove. That to me is the only sure sign that the Mariners are probably not going to be good next year. As it stands, the Angels are worse with their new centerfielder, the Rangers all that lucky production they got last year, a second baseman, plus a solid bench bat in Delluci, as well as one of their best starters Adam Eaton, as well as eventually Vincente Padilla. The A's lost their only slugger, and are now counting on having to sign Barry Bonds. (PS We want Barry Bonds, if not because he's amazing (despite his d-bagness) then because it means the A's don't get him). This division looks to be getting weaker. The Mariners, meanwhile, have not wasted any money this offseason. Their young, Inexperienced players are a year older and more experienced. A Rotation that starts Felix, Schmidt, Washburn is at least a solid core. We're by no means world beaters, but hey. If things go right, we could have a shot, and signing a bench player to a minor contract really isn't the end of the world. At least we didn't sign Juan Pierre.

lovepeter

[mistagoodwin]

my post was pure sarcastic cynicism.

i agree with almost everything you said, except maybe your sheer confidence in that Hargrove should be fired. I don't think its that clear cut, and I don't think the alternatives are really going to be any better.

[petester1212]

anyone who gives willie bloomquist as much playing time as Hargrove does, should not be manager of the M's. He was far too rigid in his use of players, puttingfar too much faith in the gritty veteran. (Remember Carl Everett batting in the heart of the order for the entire first half?) He consistently mismanaged his bullpen, using pitchers like Julip Mateo in completely ridiculous situations, and he was consistently too tentative in his use of his best releiver JJ Putz. Towards the end of the season you could almost every game fins examples of where Mike Hargrove was costing his team. That is the sign of a Manager that's just about ready to go. I would be dissapointed if he makes it all of next season. He's not the whole problem with the M's, but he's definitly part of it.