Time to get excited?

TheUrbanZealot · Post #1 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 8:26 pm

There's something resilient about this Mariners group, so much so that I decided to sign up for MLB TV to see how far this thing is going to go. Makes you wonder if only the Mariners had another consisent bat or two - they'd probably be leading their division!

Some interesting notes:
- Mariners are the only winning team in the AL with a negative run differential
- Mariners have given up the fewest runs in the AL

Is it just me, or does anyone notice this has coincided with Carlos Silva leaving the rotation?
Is it just me, or is everyone getting more confident w/ Garret Olson? He's doing his best Jamie Moyer impression right now.
Is it just me, or are Branyan and Aardsma the steals of the year? JJ who?!?
Is it just me, or is this new regime just a little more savvy?

It's hard not to get excited about this team. I mean we have probably the worst 3-5 in league but we are still finding ways to win...

Post #2 » by **BlackMamba** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 8:47 pm

i NOW like how the future looks for this team. for the last couple of seasons there was really no core of players to look up and think about what this team can be in a couple of years.

but this isn't something obvious, i mean, with bavasi out i think whoever was coming was going to make a better job.

Post #3 » by **Bulltalk** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 9:27 pm

I have arrived at the opinion that this team has earned the right to compete for the division title. In other words, no moves for the future at the expense of the now. There just comes a point where such a thing becomes very hard to justify. I think we may have crossed the Rubicon on this matter.

I'm about as skeptical of a fan about this team as any reasonably fair-minded fan can be. I have no illusions that this team could drop out of sight from first in August.

But if management makes moves for the future at the expense of the now, I think it sends a bad signal down through the organization, and out beyond it. All we know is what's happened so far, and what that amounts to, relatively speaking, as concerns our viability as playoff contenders. Based upon this evidence, the facts of the matter, all I can conclude is that you have to back the possibility, come whatever may.

That's my take on it.

TTown · Post #4 » by **TTown** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 9:38 pm

Obviously, if the M's are serious about competing, they need another bat. So many questions, though. How do they go about doing that?

What's Bedard's injury time table look like?

Do they still plan on sending Morrow to Tacoma when he gets back? That was the initial plan, to send Morrow to the minors for a month or two to find his groove as a starter. But he's been forced into extended action w/ Bedard's injury at this level... do you just keep him up here?

Assuming Bedard returns healthy, you have Felix, Bedard, Wash, Vargas, Olson, and Morrow, and I believe Rowlin-Smith is back, too. Is trading a starter for a bat the obvious way to go?

If not, what kind of minor league package can we come up with that will produce a big bat in return? If the Mariners are so dead-set on keeping Phillipe Aumont in the 'pen, and you have both Aardsma presently and Joshua Fields (who should be ready by 2010), do you dangle Aumont?

slaterbug · Post #5 » by **slaterbug** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 1:09 am

I'm very excited with the way the M's are playing at the moment but in the back of my mind I think there is going to be a drop off at some point.

Post #6 » by **BlackMamba** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 3:05 am

supposedly bedard will be back before the all-star game and right now i think he is the only player the mariners can trade to get a good bat in return.

beltré was the other...

Ex-hippie · Post #7 » by **Ex-hippie** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 2:42 pm

TTown wrote:Obviously, if the M's are serious about competing, they need another bat. So many questions, though. How do they go about doing that?

That's why I believe as strongly as ever that the team needs to go with Branyan at third, Carp at first, Clement at catcher. Stick with a platoon of Balentien and Langerhans in left field, make Griffey DH full-time, let Sweeney be head cheerleader. Yes, it's a roll of the dice, but you can also say it's a roll of the dice putting Chris Woodward and Rob Johnson in the lineup on a regular basis. And, obviously, they won't have to trade anyone.

Post #8 » by **Bulltalk** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 8:01 pm

On a rather obvious side note, is the upgrade of off-field and on-field management in Zduriencik and Wakamatsu over Bavasi and McClaren like trading in a Yugo for a Benz? It's WAY early to make any lasting judgments about such a thing, but in the short term, Christ Almighty, what a difference. You could argue/debate about some of the moves Wak has made, but it's hard to argue/debate much against almost anything Z has done so far.

I'm trying to think of other duo and complementary changes that have happened in Seattle sports in both off-field and on-field management that were so seemingly profound at the outset?