2008 Mariners: We was supposed to love these guys?!?!?!?!?

[Porter]

It's opening day at Safeco Field. The was a huge buzz around this year's Mariners. Many people through the media and among message boards like this one predicted the Mariners to make the playoffs. General Manager Bill Bavasi, fighting for his job, made some critical moves in the offseason in acquiring Erik Bedard in a six player deal from Baltimore. He also signed Carlos Silva, a middle of the rotation starter with a supposed sinker ball to cause groundballs and double plays, to a 4 year deal at 12 million per year. During spring training, the Mariners' Front Office determined that Brandon Morrow should return to bullpen. The offense, which struggled last season, was considered to be the same talent wise but a year older. Where did this lead us? Seattle now has a team that couldn't beat the Bad News Bears. We wouldn't mention the circus like atmosphere to surround the franchise. So what caused this radical turn of events and could they be fixed? Here's my point of view on how to fix this rag-tag team with no plans or signs of life.

The cause of this downfall wasn't because of this season's moves. They trace back to the 2002 season. Then GM Pat Gillick went for free agents that were over the hill yet were proven. He ignored the fact that the system needed to be restocked. This topped with the fact that hes notorious of not making any mid-season deals to help a contending team. The 2000-2001 teams were built on high contact hitters, speed, defense, a deep rotation and a dominant back half of the bullpen. Seattle was capable of shortening the game to 7 innings before Rhodes, Jeff Nelson and Kaz Sasaki finished people off. In 2002, they started to move away from that theory. Two main reasons caused the decline: Father time and the movement away from what was working for them. When Gillick stepped down and Bavasi took over, no one really had an idea what to expect from the new GM. Turns out Bavasi just ended up being an more active yet very incompetent version of Gillick. He was very heavy on free agency, yeah like the grand signings of Jarrod Washburn, Adrian Beltre, Jeff Weaver, Richie Sexson would indicate. He did put together a decent farm but his judgment of calling those prospects up was horrible (i.e. Jeff Clement). Let it also be known that there was four managers (Five if you want to count Riggleman today) since 2002. All four managers had different styles. The roster stayed the same due to lack or continunity or stability. Square pegs were being forced into circle holes. It turned into a receipe of disaster. The utter lack of accountibility of anyone in that organization brought the circus into town. What do you get? The bad news bears led by Mr. Clean!

So how do we fix this mess? I know everyone in this town wants to banish Richie Sexson and his 14 millon dollar contract to Pluto. That would be your first order of business. Secondly, they need to take Brandon Morrow out of the closers role and stretch him out to join the rotation. Seattle is wasting his talent there and lets face it, their rotation after Felix right now is worse than some college rotations. Im just waiting for them to bring David Wells out of retirement to replace Jarrod Washburn. It's also time to trade Erik Bedard for whatever you can get, I didn't like this deal since day one. The pitching staff's ERA ranks 3rd worst in the ML. That goes for the rest of this bunch. Restock the farm with guys that can hit for high contact, play good defense and can run. This would help an offense that right now is at the bottom of every conceivable major offensive catagory in the ML. You can build around Clement and Balentien. Jeremy Reed could also be a guy they can take another look at. Starting Pitchers who can get a bunch of groundball outs and Relievers with high K/9 rate also do very well at the Safe as well. Build around Felix in the rotation and groom that 1st rounder closer you drafted. But before all this, you have to get a GM and manager that are on that same page and come with a plan. You don't have to spend 117 million dollars to win. Spend smart, build within and eventually success will come.

Eventually, with a good set plan in place, you will regain the sucess you had in the early part of the decade. Right now, the Angels, A's and Rangers all have plans set in place and followed them for years now. Its time that the Mariners followed suit for once.

[Porter]

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