All right, we all know this season is pretty much done for our M's. The
question is -- who must take the blame for this new debacle, and who
will have to pay the price?

I assume Mike Hargrove being fired is a given. Keeping your job after
two last-place finishes is almost unheardof in the majors. But will
there be some changes in the front office as well (like the guy who
decided Adrian Beltre was the answer at third base and that Richie
Sexson was going to make everyone forget Edgar Martinez?)

what changes will there be in the roster? Is this Ichiro's last year on
the M's? Is Beltre on the b;lock? where are the M's going to find the
pitching they so obviously need, and what will they have to give up to
get it?

And how stable and committed is the ownership to brining a winner to
the Northwest?

On 29 Aug 2006 19:10:19 -0700, "Michael Hopcroft"
<michael@mphpress.com> wrote:

[snips]

Not really qualified to speculate on player moves, but:


Stable, yes, I think so. Committed? I think they're "it would be nice"
committed, not fire-in-the-belly committed.

John B.

I think it depends on how this team finishes the season. If they finish
above .500 Hargrove might get his stay. If they tank the next 4 weeks
it will be interesting to see who they replace him with. They have been
playing well this homestand so we will have to see how they play on the
road and against the West.

----
http://www.moviesitearchive.com


Michael Hopcroft wrote:

John Bannion wrote:

Oh dear, that IS a potential problem. If they aren't that committed, are
they going to make the effort and expenditure required to bring a world
Series contender to Seattle? I don't think so.

The ownership in Seattle is so anonymous that we hardly ever hear a peep
from them. it's so anonymous that I'm not even sure who specifically
does own the club!

The Ms haven't been to the playoffs (let alone won the division) BEFORE
or SINCE Lou Pinella has been the manager. Whoever let him go (could
have given more money or other perks to keep him from going back to TB)
is responsible and should be strung up!

Lou isn't managing the DRays any longer, so let's get him back! We
don't even have Randy Wynn either!

He was in Seattle August 5th. I was at the game, and he was in the
booth! The best time the Mariners had was when Lou was at the helm.
Get him back.

Get some of that old time baseball back at Safeco.

Lew.


Michael Hopcroft wrote:

On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:21:02 -0700, Michael Hopcroft
<michael@mphpress.com> wrote:


Howard Lincoln speaks for ownership. That would be Nintendo USA.
He's a twit and there's no hope of a major improvement until they
actually get a leader who knows baseball and isn't a complete moron.

Bavasi is a yes man hired by Lincoln so I guess you know how that
works out. (see 3 last place seasons)

Hargrove is a yes man hired by Bavasi. Uh Oh, I think we're fried.

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:17:34 -0700, LL <LLCJ@jackmail.com> wrote:



That't probably about it as far as advancing in the playoffs someday.
Dismal outlook. Hargrove's season strategy seems to be hoping for
some good breaks, even though "if you can't be good, be lucky" has
never won a championship.

The rot starts at the top.

J.B.

LL answered:


LL is a *blow* by *blow* man hired by Hargrove. WE know what YOU'RE full
of (it's running out yer nose).

--
Ernie
<The man on the hill with a mountainous load in his shorts>

LL wrote:

which explains the franchise's sometimes-irrational attachment to
importing Japanese players. Ichiro worked out 9although one would hope
for more power from one's right fielder), but the jury is still out on
Johjima. I haven't seen the overwhelmign offensive performance that
would compensate for having a ctacher who speaks neither English nor
Spanish.


I can't help but imagine the conversation. "Lincoln, you are a stupid
idiot!" "In my defense, I feel I must point out that's the best kind."


And Johnson is a yes man himself, answering to the Nintendo people --
who must be asking him some hard questions now that the attendance is
starting to decline from its 2001-era level.


Hargrove is also the DFG (designated Fall Guy) in this organization.
Whatever degree of blame he deserves, he will be gone at the end of the
season, if only to Johnson and Bavasi can LOOK like they're doing something.

And Ernie, you're always available to eat the product. You say stupid
things and have few ideas. So I say quit licking my nose and try
getting a clue.