Wilkerson has basically lost his job to Willie Bloomquist. Nothing against Willie, but really? He's a nice player, but he isn't starting RF nice. LF maybe, but the M's have issues if Willie is the best we can do in RF. That's not his game.

The issue is that Willie shouldn't be starting for extended periods of time. He is a utility guy, and that is it. He isn't a regular player. He is meant to be the scrappy hometown player that has a nice personality and be marketed to the fans. What the Mariners have to do is either call up Reed and Balentien (whenever he is healthy) and/or sign a real outfielder, get rid of Bloomquist version 2.0 (Cairo), and move Ibanez to DH. This club just makes some senseless decisions sometimes.

A little trip down memory lane of young position guys that the Mariners have given a regular chance to show they could perform...from 1977-present

77-Ruppert Jones, OPS+ 111
78-Julio Cruz, 59/69 SB
82-Dave Henderson, 107
84 Alvin Davis, 147
85- Phil Bradley, 134 Jim Presley 118 ,
Ivan Calderon 134,
86-Harold Reynolds 54 , Danny Tartabull, 125
89-Omar Vizquel 50 , Junior 108,
92-Tino Martinez, 103
96-A-Rod 160
06-Yuni 86, Jose Lopez 89

Why not let Clement and Wlad see what they can do?
Notice the lack of giving rookies a shot since A-Rod...a safe bet that Seattle won't have any ROY any time soon (can't count Ichiro)

Manufactured run - Nice job Ichiro and Raul

Boy, Raul is sure looking like an all-star so far this season. He's doing all the little things right, and when he wants to, he's shown he can pop one into the seats as well.

Turbo take another look!

Happy Birthday Carlos!

Keep up the good work!

Geoff,
when you get a chance to talk to Mc, can you tell him that his offense needs help...seriously? Put 1 run and expect pitching to win every night is not gonna work. I dont want to use foul languages but f***, Wilk and Joh are not going to work...put willie on RF is not the answer either. Bench vidro!!
like this game, O's pitcher on the mound is not a good pitcher at all... And they can't do sh**. They expect Silva go to 8th agian???

Dave Sims and Dave Valle - inane banality, give us a break!

A good many people, myself included, think that Wilkerson needs to go, NOW.

However, as part of the fallout of the Bedard trade, Wilkerson for one year, $3mil was, seemingly, the best option out there. Can't blame Bavasi or Mac that this right fielder has lost all power and ability to make solid contact at the plate.

That is truly lame. But there was no poiont in having him on the team unless he was gonna start, because otherwise his "hot spring bat" was definitely going to go cold--which it did. He was not useful as a PH bat or a defensive sub--although I guess as a maybe-but-not-yet-proven-.300 hitter, some argument could be made for his value in that situation. I just don't think that's a good place for a guy who's basically a rook to be.

So the point was obviously to keep him for a trade, likely with Baek, which never materialized. I've been advocating keeping Baek, but after checking Washburn's contract, I see there's no place for him next year. And there's always White, Feierabend, and--gasp--Morrow or Aumont in 2010.

Anyway, my point is that unless Vidro and Wilkerson pick it up, perhaps we can platoon Ibanez and Sexson at 1st and DH, move Reed to right--or Ichi to right and Reed to center--and Balentien, injury allowing, to left.

Just a thought--but not one I'd advocate executing for another three-five weeks, I'd think.

So, if Vidro grounds out into a fieldiers choice but a run scores, does that make him clutch?

Did you see Turbo get down that line? Too bad he couldn't make a solid connection with the ball.

All you have to do Sexson is hit it moderately deep and you have an rbi - baseball 101.

oops, bad editing there. Was talking about Morse from the last thread in the first two paragraphs.

Bummer to get only one run there. But better than none,

Nice Throw Rauuuuuul!

Why is AJ still on 2nd???

MLB GameDay's in an alternate universe again. Apparently there's none out and Ramon Hernandez skipped his turn in the lineup.

So lucky to have options!

Ah, good, they fixed it, just a brief blip this time.

Nice inning for what looked to be a nightmare of an inning. AJ went back to 2nd because he was right behind Huff, almost ran him over it looked like. He should have been on third though. Shows his youth there.

Whew! One could easily argue we got the better of that turnabout...

Whoever said Cabrera sucks, he shut down the Yanks last Friday, and according to Stoney, he's been good his past two starts. And I wouldn't exactly call 7 innings, four runs against us the first time all that bad. So really, hes' only had one bad start.

Bummer for Morse! Hope he likes to read or knows how to play a little chess.

Let's hope Mac's latest move involving Boom Boom is temporary until Bill Bavasi acquires a GOOD RF to take that position. The speculation on who that might be has been discussed endlessly so I've got nothing more to add to that...

For now it's just one game at a time. Jeez, I hate to think this addiction for all things Mariners is like AA!

Har! Actually, I've often thought that, Nat...

Hmmm... five hits in two innings after a hit and a walk in the first four. Just a blip.

I must have missed the announcements ... where is Blowers?

An injury on a--gasp!--walk???

What's going on?

This does not look good.

hope hes ok, this team cant afford to have another pitcher on the DL...

Off topic, but reports are that Jimmy Rollins has a break in his ankle! Wow.

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/04/23/report-rollins-has-break-in-his-ankle/

God, why can't our players be healthy!!!? I'm so ready for the season to actually START! Is Rick Griffin not giving these guys the proper vitamins or what?

I am uncomfortable paying an overweight man a big salary.More often than not a big tub of goo will come back to haunt you sooner or later. Silva just pulled his fat muscle.The guy could really be somethibng special if he just lost 20 lbs.There is no excuse for a prosessional athlete to be that fat unless you are an offensive or defensive lineman.

WWGirl- Didn't hear either but Blowers is probably taking some days off. Can't blame him. Doesn't this seem like a really long dragged out game, or is it just me?

Sean Green, oh this is going to be fun...didn't he give up a few runs to the O's in Camden Yard? I'm not uncomfortable with him pitching an inning but any more than that...

Hope Silva is okay. He's such a solid guy I tend to take him for granted but he has been Mr. Reliable. so far.

And as far as I'm concerned, it's not good for them to be fat, either.

So what the heck happened? Anyone? Please?

Might have something to do with the temp.

Frigging winter in April.

Man I'm sick of this cold weather.

How the heck does a meatball in the middle of the plate at waist level (according to both GameDay and Gamecast) get called a ball??? (Green's first pitch to Roberts after walking Hernandez.)

What happened to Silva? Any kind soul out there willing to fill me would be much appreciated... thanks in advance (said the hopeful one...)!

Don't give in, Greeny!

Whew! A long inning has ended.

Silva left with ... tightness in his right thigh (right?).

Well sure, I guess Blowers can have a few days off, LOL.

Yes! Now it's time for some bottom-of-the-order magic and RRS and Putzy to close this one out.

Hmm... swung at one down & away... where have we seen that before??? ...seems like his bad habit's creeping back in...

Who was the last Mariner to have some spark or flair? Not counting Guillen because he was here one year. Do we have to go all the way back to Mike Cameron? It would be nice to have just one player who looked like he gave an F about what was going on. This team represents Seattle and it's gee shucks attitude perfectly. Something the Seahawks have moved past and look where they are now.

Does it seem like the patience at the plate approach is beginning to wear off? People swinging early in the count etc...

Anyone agree?

...shoulda kept my stupid mouth shut...

Hey, fellow M's fans/blog watchers, how about letting me know what happened to Silva? Would it kill ya? C'mon! Pleeeeeezzz...

Merrill

IUPDATE 8:47 P.M. Silva left the game with tightness in his right thigh. No way of telling if it's a big deal until after the game.

It happened in the middle of pitching to someone (I forget who) they came out, had a meeting and he got taken out...

Hope this helps

...injuries notwithstanding--let's keep our fingers crossed on this mystery malady--that's 13 quality starts--and counting...

OUCH!!!

Ouch! Dang!

One pitch and the bullpen does it again.....all I can say is.......BALL GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could they manufacture one here???

Location RRS - that was exactly in Markakas's power zone, a good lefty hitter will kill that low inside pitch every time.

I can't believe Cabrera is still out there

83 pitches yo this inning, why not?

Looks like we are going to see George coming to get us again...love the guy but hopefully this is his first blown save of the year!

The disbelief comes from us not being able to get to him... But then again

I know that I will take some heat for this....but is anyone else tired of watching Ithe statistical lie that is Ichiro? He has no flair and never shows emotion...oh wait, thats the entire Mariners roster, other then JJ. Seattle is the only place that the likes of Wilkerson, Vidro and Bloomquist would get a sniff of starting.

from Faceplant: "So, if Vidro grounds out into a fieldiers choice but a run scores, does that make him clutch?"

Hardly clutch. The M's inability to take advantage of their RISP is getting old. Had Vidro gotten a hit, the game would be tied right now.

Feels like the whole team is taking the night off at the plate by making another average pitcher look like a Cy Young candidate.

mariners can go eat shits. It's GS. WTF? No offense at all! F***

Usually when someone says blah, blah, blah, it is because have are boring with nothing worth listening to, well your post is no exception.

Remember that old adage, make a great defensive play, come up to bat the next inning etc...

It would be nice to see it apply to Beltre

Thanks for those edifying comments, whaaat.

Anyone want to give me the scoop on Silva?? Oops, I mean, will someone please resist your obvious lack of desire to give the scoop on Silva and do it anyway? Please?

Lets try that again:

Usually when someone says blah, blah, blah, it is because they are boring with nothing worth listening to, well your post is no exception.

I just posted something similar about the flair blah blah. I agree with you about Ichiro. The unwillingness to lead the team vocally or emotionally is a bit ridiculous. Especially for 20 million or whatever it is a year. Ichiro is a good player but he is not the guy to build a team around. This team desperately needs a voice, a spark, something!

Here is what we are getting from the 5-6-7-8 holes in our lineup...emphasis on the word Holes.

5 Turbo Vidro .203
6 Sexson .208
7 Johjima .197
8 Wilkerson .178/Willie .167

This is why we will hover around .500 all year until we correct this garbage. The Willie/Wilkie platoon would have to be the worst in the history of the game...Seriously neither one of these guys could hit .300 at AA.

Since Morrow pitched the ninth, it made me think of all the local homers crying and complaining that the M's didn't draft local star Tim Lincecum (never mind the fact that they never saw him play or even heard of him until it was getting close to draft time) and how Lincecum is going to have a better career than Morrow.

He probably will.... now But the simple fact of the matter is that the M's like to mishandle their young players, going all the way back to how long they left Edgar Martinez in the minors and how they seem to want to repeat that feat with Jeff Clement. If the M's had drafted Lincecum, they'd be misusing him the same way they're mishandling Morrow and stunting his potential, and Morrow would be having the better Major League beginning.

The sad fact is that if we lose we will be 1-5 vs. Baltimore this season. We will also be 11-11 and had we just been 3-3 vs. Baltimore we would be 13-9. Baltimore would improve to 12-9, however they are going to 7-8 against anyone not from Seattle...sad

Much as I like GS I hope he blows the save, or Ishould I put it this way: let's get us some runs, and oh btw, sorry about that, Sherrill--

Rally cap time
Maybe GS is getting rattled here at Safeco.

Speed on the base paths, where is Jimerson when you need him? Or McLaren's willingness to use a pinch runner?

Ibanez on first with no outs. Let's put in Jimerson to pinch run.......ohhhh......nevermind. I guess we could have Cairo pinch run.......ohhhh, he can't play outfield........ummmmmmm.........

I'm sensing a GIDP for Vidro to end it here.....

I am astonished they aren't using a Pinch Runner.

Where is the pinch runner???

At least Vidro avoided the GIDP by striking out. That was a very clutch strikeout to avoid the GIDP. Well done!

KILL ME!

Watching this offense makes me want to vomit. I can't wait until May when we start playing the contenders and we can get past the "cakewalk" part of our schedule. We should really beat up on Verlander, Beckett, Sabathia, etc.....

Who was it that we gave up for that guy with the glass hip?

I guess that is why we don't make trades in our own dividion.

Not to put a runner in for Raul and have them steal 2nd is just total BS!

As a field manager Mac is a joke!

You got that right!

PRchef- Yes, sadly it does seeem like thet Mariners are back to their old hacking away. Whatever happened to the 'taking a pitch program?' Not a very exciting game, and with Washburn ptiching tomorrow, not so much either.

Wouldn't it be nice to see them build a little lead for once in terms of wins? Of course with Oakland and LAAAAA winning tonight *sigh* it's 2 out again...

Faceplant. Vidro's and Sexson's ninth inning at bats. Choke??? Maybe. Pathetic, yes! RRS's first pitch HR. Choke??? Maybe. Ugly. yes!

9 men Left on Base by the M's. Somewhere in that stat is a gag reflex resembling why people receive the Heimlich Maneuver. Call it what you will.

Another asleep-at-the-wheel offensive performance by the Seattle Mariners.

The key is to put pressure on the other guys - pinch run, steal second, make the pitcher make a mistake. McLaren has no sense of strategy and tactical moves, he just sits back and watches the game.

McLaren is waiting on the miracle to come.

M's need offense. Same old story. They've got to score more than two runs to win ballgames. Too many guys in the lineup with 0 hits.

I was expecting a pinch runner as well ....

scottM: "Another asleep-at-the-wheel offensive performance by the Seattle Mariners." An apt description of this game.

Oh, and why not pinch hit with Norton for one of your slumpin slugs? Waiting on the miracle to come.

Doh, Norton could DH sometimes!

Norton who?

My last comment should have had an "evil grin" after it. It did when I submitted it!

You know Mac, that other switch hitter you've got on your bench.

Maybe they are saving that big burst of offense for the last game? That must be it... Right? : )

If they can't hit Loewen tomorrow... checking out that ledge again

This whole game felt like a big tease.

Mac's reply, "You mean I got a bench?"

I blame this loss to the team doctor.

"It seems like just about the whole Mariners' team is sick with either the flu, bad colds, or both. "

Why not make a 15min diagnosis whetehr it is flui or bad cold. If it is a flu give them anti visur drug like Oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

And did the club any flu shots in offseason?

Maybe McLaren has Alshiemer's and he just forgets to use the bench.

If it is what I had earlier this year - a strange new viral cold = then nothing seems to work on it.

Still it seems to me that McLaren trots out the same old tired lineup = for example Norton has shown some life earlier, why not give him a shot at DH.

Because we need to wait until his bat has cooled off. Like Morse's did.

Imagine being a bench player and wondering if you'll ever get to play.

You could grow old, slow and cold that way. Must be McLaren's strategy.

Why not pinch run for Ibanez in the 9th? I know you'd like to keep his bat in the lineup in case you go to extra innings, but don't you try to at least tie up the game by putting someone in scoring position? I'm sure Sherrill was really concerned about Ibanez stealing second.

The offense needs some influx of youth. I've been clamoring for Balentien or Reed in RF. They can't do no worse than Wilkerson. What's the deal with Clement? Why are they wasting the guy's talent at AAA?

I just don't get it with the Mariners. The complaint was that they had never develop a position player since A-Rod. Now that they have Clement and Balentien, they leave them in AAA. I'm not a baseball guru, but when I see teams like the Red Sox, Angels, Rockies, Diamondbacks, etc. giving young guys an opportunity to play, I'm asking myself what makes the Mariners organization so special that they're not willing to trust their scouting department by constantly bringing in mediocre, high priced, over the hill veterans.

Youth isn't suddenly going to turn this offense around, especially since most of the young guys we've got on the farm outside of maybe Clement couldn't handle major league pitching any better than the guys we've already got ... which obviously isn't great. I hate our offense. We're going nowhere this year. We'll tag along for a few months, but we just don't have the hitters. I really like our pitching, but we just die offensively for innings at a time. Same as it's been for the past four years.
Guys like Sexson, Vidro and Wilkerson are dead weight with no improvement in sight. Johjima might pick it up, but that's hardly enough.
I don't see any answers. People talk about Thomas and Bonds, but we just have too many holes. This offseason we're going to have to throw some money at guys like Teixera to really have a shot in 2009.
Geoff, what do you think?

Sick or not these choir boys need to find some consistency, confidence and maybe a killer instinct, at this pace don't' save your dough for the playoffs tickets, just enjoy baseball.

Youth isn't going to turn this offense around? They're going to have to do something instead of sprinting out the same 9 guys. You can't make an argument that anyone else other than Clement can handle major league pitching. I'm not expecting guys like Clement, Balentien or Reed to come up and light the world on fire, but I'd sure rather give them the at-bats than guys like Wilkerson, Cairo and Vidro. It's time to build towards the future along with trying to field a competitive team for this season.

Youth can't turn it around? If they are as good as we act like they are, then we've got to give them a shot. Maybe Wlad or Reed in RF and Clement at DH fall on their faces and hit .200 Guess what? It's the exact same freaking contribution we're getting from Wilkerson and Vidro who have a 0% chance of playing for the Mariners in 2009. If Clement and Wlad/Reed suck it up, at least they'll be getting experience b/c we know for a fact they'll be part of the team plans for 2009 moving forward. Here is what our team needs to be right now to compete for 08 and improve for a REAL title run in 2009:

CF - Ichiro
2b - Lopez
LF - Ibanez
3b - Beltre
DH - Clement
1b - Sexson
C - Johjima
RF - Reed/Wlad
SS - Betancourt

Bench - Bloomquist, Vidro, Burke, Norton

Is that too much to ask? Seriously.