Sweezo wrote:
..which is exactly what they tried to do, right? You ignored my question about what you thought they were trying to do.
Ok, now I have absolutely no idea what you are implying. Just what are you trying to say? That the Rangers purposely tried to retaliate at Sexson, and Sexson was justified in charging the mound? Dude, the pitch was high, but it wasn't at his face. You have to be completely blind to think that the pitch was "near" his face. He overreacted like a dufus, plain and simple. Even if a player gets hit and the team tries to "retaliate", it's usually a) a lot closer b) just serves as a warning. Rarely is it going to escalate into a fight, and 99 times out of 100 it's because the player ACTUALLY GOT HIT. Sexson didn't have to duck, he didn't have to flinch, and the pitch still wouldn't have hit him. If you are condoning or even trying to reason with me that Sexson was still justified in charging the mound, well then I guess the frustration has morphed into downright lunacy for some fans...
An old lineup? Alright, here's the nine players the M's have been trotting out there on a given night:
1st off, Clement and Balentien JUST got called up. 2nd, let's look at the "core": Ichiro, Sexson, Ibanez, and Beltre. The M's supposed "star" players are on the downward turn of their careers. They aren't timely, and they aren't consistently productive. When they get down, they stay down. They can't comeback from a deficit. Outside of Ichiro, there is no speed. There is no consistent power. It's just a core that kind of punches the clock and punches out, all content w/ their huge contracts...
Next up? Sexson. We all know you hate him. Many people do. And he's not the cause of all the team's problems.
While he's certainly not the cause of ALL of the team's problems, he certainly is a major part of it. He was supposed to be the powerhouse that would help drive Ichiro home. He has been a huge bust by all accounts. He has hit a home run on occassion but he more than makes up for it with Mendoza line batting and woeful plate discipline. Adrian Beltre certainly isn't free from the guilt either, as he hasn't lived up to expectations as well. You have to be a huge Sexson homer to actually defend a guy that is one of the worst producing per pay players in the league!
And the farm system? Well, it becomes more and more depleted when the team trades 3-4 of its top five minor league talents for a SP who won't change the team's fortunes any. Gee, weren't you a huge proponent of that deal? You have no business being upset about the offense (A. Jones), the reliability of the bullpen (G. Sherill), and the strength of the farm system (Tillman/Butler/Mickolio)...
Yes, I was a huge proponent of the Bedard deal because Bedard is a proven commodity and has actually justified why some of us are so high on him. He has been our most consistent starter, and in order to have any remote chance of winning a pennant, you have to have that lock at #1. In baseball, because there usually is so much depth in talent, teams can afford to gamble if they are in a position to go from contender to champion. The Mariners, by all accounts, were a couple of good SP and a revived Sexson away from contending for the title. Unfortunately, no one could have predicted virtually every single mariner would be slumping like this...
Also remember, the farm system serves TWO purposes. One, to bring in homegrown talent. Two, to use farm players as bargaining chips for external talent. There is nothing wrong w/ trading away 4,5 prospects, teams do it all the time. The problem becomes moot when you realize that your farm system just isn't good, period. The M's top talent is not comparable to most teams top talent by far.
You speak of trading A Jones, and the 3 young pitchers- but I think you are forgetting a key component. IF these pitchers were deemed such blue-chippers, they wouldn't have been traded to begin with. I.e., if Felix Hernandez were being asked for, the trade would not have went down. The odds of all 3 pitchers turning out to be Bedard or even remotely Bedard quality is almost nill, so the risk is only relative to your understanding (or lack there of) to molding and dealing farm talent. Not to mention, Adam Jones has been called up the last 3 years- he isn't exactly lighting up Baltimore the way some bluechippers come out of the gates and do (A-Rod, Hanley Ramirez, etc). Matter of fact, I think A Jones is completely overrated...
With all due respect, I think you take more time to insult me than I do complaining on the Mariners. I understand you being frustrated about the team, we all are, but some of your logic right now is very very questionable (esp. the part about Sexson being justified in charging the mound). It's apparent all of us have varying opinion and outlet our frustrations in various ways, but constantly trying to insult or provoke a fellow poster is a rather pointless way of doing it...
