Who's had enough?!?!?!

[themedia]

I don't think any M's fan with any grasp on reality expected to win the World Series this year. I guess we all had a little too much faith that Wilkerson would be a good addition, that the Bedard trade was the right move and that the front office would finally start to manage the young talent.

So far, just 26 games into the season, it's clear that the front office has descended into madness. Wilkerson is proving why nobody has wanted him as an every day player since Montreal other than us and the Rangers. I still think the Bedard move was OK, but sending Sherrill seems like it would have been unnecessary for a rebuilding team (why would they demand a closer?). That part of the trade has obvioulsy resulted in disaster for the M's in particular.

The dominating question on everyone's mind right now relates to Jeff Clement. The guy is clearly our best minor-league prospect. He might be the best hitter on the major-league roster if he got a call up, but he's patiently waiting in AAA while Miguel Cairo, Wilkerson and Greg Norton occupy valuable roster spots.

After a year when a lot of fans really lost patience with Bavasi, I felt like he should get a fair shot after signing Silva and trading for Bedard. I'm afraid Bavasi has overstayed his welcome, IMO. For all these reasons (and MANY more), we need a new GM.

[Zito75]

Pretty much agree with everything you said. Bavasi is the worst GM in baseball. He never makes the clutch move when the opportunity is there. Signing Sexson and Beltre to those huge deals was just WRONG on so many levels. It's time to shake this team up, both on the field and in the front office.

[Rennie Stennett]

get the dead wood out

I don't think any M's fan with any grasp on reality expected to win the World Series this year. I guess we all had a little too much faith that Wilkerson would be a good addition, that the Bedard trade was the right move and that the front office would finally start to manage the young talent.

So far, just 26 games into the season, it's clear that the front office has descended into madness. Wilkerson is proving why nobody has wanted him as an every day player since Montreal other than us and the Rangers. I still think the Bedard move was OK, but sending Sherrill seems like it would have been unnecessary for a rebuilding team (why would they demand a closer?). That part of the trade has obviously resulted in disaster for the M's in particular.

The dominating question on everyone's mind right now relates to Jeff Clement. The guy is clearly our best minor-league prospect. He might be the best hitter on the major-league roster if he got a call up, but he's patiently waiting in AAA while Miguel Cairo, Wilkerson and Greg Norton occupy valuable roster spots.

After a year when a lot of fans really lost patience with Bavasi, I felt like he should get a fair shot after signing Silva and trading for Bedard. I'm afraid Bavasi has overstayed his welcome, IMO. For all these reasons (and MANY more), we need a new GM.

I was on the fence with the Bedard trade and the Wilkerson signing was a shock, particularly when Johnny Mac came out in late February and said that Wilkerson is his everyday right fielder (?), before anyone looked at live pitching. What no battles for J-O-B's ??? Mac said during Spring Training that there was competition for spots but in reality he had his mind set on a veteran club. He put these reserves on the roster but he does not play them. Willie Bloomquist, whom I love and pull for is seeing time in RF, but this is not a great spot for him everyday. He's a utility player and a late inning burner PR'er and PH'er. I know Bedard can get it done but I hated to lose Sherrill. The O's are no longer a rebuilding club. They can hit up and down in the lineup and if their pitching holds up, watch out. Different mindset. With Baltimore they are fast and loose like Fast Eddie. There is no expectation. With the Mariners, it's do or die.

Will Clement get called up ? I have a sick feeling that they will trade him away or why would he not be called up ? He's hitting close to (.400) now. With the M's and a bunch of teams, the players making the most money plays regardless of how they are doing.

Reed is hitting well. Balentien was 3-6 with (3) HR's and (5) RBI's last night, he could be a great addition. Reed and Balentien could play the outfield for the big club and the defense would be 10 times better. Clement could DH or play first or Catch. It looks like only Kenji will be the catcher of the future, with his big deal he just sign. I don't think they signed him to trade him. They may have signed him with hopes that it would take the pressure off him at the dish. I remember when not too long ago, the Mariners would never do a deal in the middle of the season. He's big for the Japanese markets.

With these guys at triple A hitting the way they are, when will they be called up ? In early May ? Later when the Mariners are ten to fifteen games out ? How long will they stick with Ritchie, Wilk, Vidro, and Cairo ? To tell you the truth, I like watching the younger guys coming up. I like watching them develop. Sure there are some lumps along the way, but they have energy. They have speed. They want to play. They want to prove themselves. It's not just a job. It's not just another long season to make it through like the veterans.

I agree on dumping Bavasi but Mac has got to go also. He has said he is at wit's end with this team. He should be loving the challenge. His decisions and moves during the games are terrible. He doesn't show confidence in his players and they are losing respect for him as a manager. Look at Felix's last start. That was criminal what he did to Felix. Felix didn't have his best stuff but he battled all the way and this is how he is rewarded. Mac wouldn't even get a guy up in the pen until after the damage was done. I can give a handful of examples of how he has messed this whole thing up. He's afraid of hurting the veterans' feelings. He's scared someone will complain if they are taken out of the game or they don't start.

The Orioles ($67,196,248 payroll) and the Jays ($43,820,598) are leading the AL East @ 14-11.

The A's ($47,967,126) are leading the AL West @ 17-10.

The Marlins ($21,836,500) are leading the NL East.

The Diamondbacks ($66,202,713) are leading the NL West @ 19-7.

The Mariners are 9th in payroll @ ($117,993,982).

The Diamond Backs and the A's payroll is 1/5th of that of the Yankees ($209,081,579) and the Marlins are 1/10th of that of the Bombers. The Marlins can make payroll just off luxury taxes !

No one wants to admit that they are wrong or they made bad decisions, and by dumping Sexson, Vidro, Cairo, and Wilkerson the M's brass will be doing that. The difference is the Yankees or the Sox never have a problem dumping someone that they paid too much for if they feel they cannot contribute. The Mariners are nice guys. They want nice guys as players. They don't want to hurt feelings. Edgar can be the only exemption here. Edgar can and did pick his time to retire. The other should not have this luxury.

[leecemark]

--I expect there will be changes soon. I read that Clements can't be called up until after May 7 or this will count as a year of service time -speeding up his arbitration and free agent eligibility. If this is correct (and I'm not sure about that) then I'm okay with waiting till then for him. Sexson has been better on the road and Norton is hot right now so trading a year of service for 10 days this year is not a smart play.
--I wouldn't mind seeing Reed or Jimerson up and Cairo released sooner than that though. Wilkerson has doen nothing to earn everyday status and at least they would improve the team speed and defense (and Reed could have some trade value if he has a deent strech against MLB ptiching). Eventually Balentin has to get the RF job - and by eventually I mean sometime this year unless Wilkerson miraculous turns it around or Reed comes up and surprises.
--As far as Bavasi, he has not impressed me as having any real plan or ability to evaluate MLB talent. If we don't end up making a run at the division title this year he is probably gone (and Johnny Mac with him - if not before him). So there is your consolation prize if the season continues to disappoint.

[SABR Matt]

I'd like Reed to get one more look...ONE MORE...if he still has a big hairy loopy nasty swing, then it's time to move on. But he's a good fielder and would allow Ichiro to cheat into left center to cover for Raul. Wlad should be called up before the end of June though IMHO.

[themedia]

I think the most frustrating thing about this team is that it lacks any sort of identity. We have two outfielders at the major-league level who hold us back on defense, and two guys in the minors who play their positions well and are ready for a shot (or a second and likely final shot for Reed). Problem solved. Ditch Wilk to the bench or worse, ditch Cairo to whoever needs a crappy bench player (nobody — another eventual DFA), call up Wlad and Reed to fill the outfield and DH Raul. It just makes sense. Bring up Clement asap, whether that means early May or early tomorrow, he needs to be an MLB everyday player.

It's like Bavasi is afraid to fail with young guys but he has no problem failing with old guys because he's guarded. If the old guys suck, he can just say "Well we didn't think they would decline this quickly" and be safeguarded. If he calls up young guys without a track record then people will question his ability to evaluate young talent, which is really the only reason GMs exist.

[Erik Bedard]

I'd like Reed to get one more look...ONE MORE...if he still has a big hairy loopy nasty swing, then it's time to move on. But he's a good fielder and would allow Ichiro to cheat into left center to cover for Raul. Wlad should be called up before the end of June though IMHO.

Reed is tearing it up at Tacoma (1.081 OPS), and had a fine year last year to boot. That begs the question, though, if you call him up due to injury or something, does he play CF, with Ichiro moving back to right? Or does Reed play right and Ichiro stay in CF?

[Imgran]

Ichiro was second only to Coco Crisp last year in center field by Range Factor. Of course you leave Ichiro in CF.

[Edgartohof]

Ichiro was second only to Coco Crisp last year in center field by Range Factor. Of course you leave Ichiro in CF.

What about this year?

He is leading ALL outfielders (both leagues) in TC and PO (and has 3 Assists).

His range factor is 3.00 at the moment, and only 2 other players with over 200 Innings played have a higher Range Factor.

Ichiro is also showing his durability in that he is also leading all outfielders in Innings Played!

You don't get any better than him - there's no way you move him.