**2008 Seattle Mariners**

12357…12

Comments

  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    should be an awesome game, looks like the sun is finally deciding to come out today!
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • roar
    roar Posts: 1,116
    well that was frustrating.
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    yeah it was. I can't believe they let that big lead slide.
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    Let's clean up from yesterday, boys! Kick the A's all over Safeco field! PLAY BALL
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    you've got to be fucking kidding me, three minutes into the game and the A's already have a run. jesus f'ing christ
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • roar
    roar Posts: 1,116
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2004377772_kelley28.html

    Weak-hitting Mariners are an incomplete team
    By Steve Kelley

    Times staff Columnist

    Welcome to another in the long-running series of Bring Back Junior columns.

    And this one comes with a subtitle: And Before You Do That, Recall Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien and Release Brad Wilkerson and Miguel Cairo. Please, I Beg You.

    When Wilkerson had to deliver, he took a called third strike to end the eighth Sunday, in what became a 4-2 Mariners loss to Oakland. Squandering an overpowering performance by starter Felix Hernandez, the Mariners finished with a 2-4 homestand.

    "We still aren't running on all cylinders," manager John McLaren said after the loss.

    The Mariners need bats stat.

    Late this winter, management made a statement. It told the town, the ballclub and the American League that the team was ready to compete.

    The M's paid — many consider overpaid — Baltimore to acquire perhaps the second-best left-hander in baseball, Erik Bedard.

    They gave the Orioles an outfielder with A-Rod-like potential, Adam Jones. They gave up their left-handed setup man, George Sherrill, and three other pitchers with huge ups, including prodigy Chris Tillman.

    Absolutely, the right thing to do.

    Now, a month into the season, it is clear the Mariners remain an incomplete team.

    They can't hit.

    Against the A's Sunday, they left six men on base in the first three innings. There are holes in the order from right field to catcher, from first base to designated hitter.

    DH Jose Vidro is stuck at .195. Catcher Kenji Johjima, signed Friday to a three-year contract extension reported to be worth $24 million, is hitting .194. Right fielder Wilkerson is at .189. And first baseman Sexson is treading water at .207.

    It's only April, and a long time ago, ex-Mariner manager Dick Williams warned about making rash decisions based on what happens this month. But the Mariners' offense needs a transfusion.

    Two roster moves are relatively easy. Recall Clement and Balentien. Release Wilkerson and Cairo.

    Clement is raking it in Tacoma, hitting .384 with five home runs and 19 runs batted in. His on-base-plus-slugging percentage is 1.211. He should be the Mariners' starting DH and occasional catcher. His swing is made for Safeco Field's inviting right-field seats.

    Admittedly, Clement isn't Yadier Molina behind the plate. He isn't in-his-prime Pudge. But neither are Yankees catcher Jorge Posada or Boston's Jason Varitek. And Mike Piazza's defensive liabilities didn't keep him from catching hundreds of games for the Dodgers and Mets.

    Clement turns 25 in August. He was the third overall pick in the 2005 draft. This is his fourth year in the organization. What are the Mariners waiting for?

    Balentien is a little more problematic. He came to spring training overweight and is hitting only .228. But he has 15 RBI in 16 games for Tacoma, and the Mariners are desperate for run production.

    Both should be on a plane to Cleveland today, meeting the Mariners for the three-game series with the Indians that will begin tomorrow night.

    And speaking of Ohio, as soon as the celebrations have ended in Cincinnati, after Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 600th career home run, the Mariners should trade for Junior.

    This isn't a sentimental call. They need his bat in the middle of the lineup. This is the season to do it. The Reds have a new general manager, Walt Jocketty, who is looking to make Cincinnati younger.

    Unlike Bedard, Griffey wouldn't cost the Mariners a ransom's worth of prospects. The sticking point for him will be his salary. He has a $16.5 million option for next season. But I think he would return to Seattle for less.

    Griffey, 38, was overwhelmed with the reception by the fans when he returned last summer. And he said during that visit that he wanted to finish his career in Seattle. He has hit 398 of his 597 home runs for the Mariners.

    Even at this stage of his career, he would be a dramatic defensive upgrade. If they are going to compete, really compete, through the summer, the Mariners need his pop.

    Last winter general manager Bill Bavasi made a statement. He put together a deep, efficient pitching staff by signing free agent Carlos Silva and trading for Bedard.

    Now, with the Mariners in an early-season rut, two games below .500, it's time to begin the important finishing work on that statement.
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    I 100% support the "Bring Jr Back" movement.
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    Nice road win tonight. Good to see the bats finally come alive, albeit in the 9th inning. Lets keep it up again tomorrow. I'd love for them to come off this road trip over .500.
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    Just can't do it two nights in a row, can we?
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    Fuck!
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    aNiMaL wrote:
    Fuck!
    ditto
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • roar
    roar Posts: 1,116
    snap.
    out.
    of.
    it.
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    roar wrote:
    snap.
    out.
    of.
    it.
    tell me about it, this team is killing me this year :mad:
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • South of Seattle
    South of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    How do you make the Broom Icon in this forum?
    NERDS!
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    This is just getting really disappointing.

    I sure hope they figure it out and snap the hell out of it.
  • roar
    roar Posts: 1,116
    South of Seattle wrote:
    How do you make the Broom Icon in this forum?

    you're banned from the safe this summer.

    no shishkaberries for you.

    :)
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    For the love of GAWD let's avoid being in sole possession of last place by taking care of the Rangers tonight at The Safe.

    I mean, for fuck sake!!

    Go M's! Seriously, go around the fucking bases and score some damn runs!!!
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    or garlic jim's :D
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • roar
    roar Posts: 1,116
    Lukin66 wrote:
    or garlic jim's :D

    or hot dog joe's...seattle style...with cream cheese.

    i dare washburn to win.
    go m's.
  • aNiMaL
    aNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    roar wrote:
    or hot dog joe's...seattle style...with cream cheese.

    i dare washburn to win.
    go m's.
    or Kidd Valley...

    I double dare him.

    Go M's!

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