Such a waste of number 5 overall pick. This team yet again makes another stupid decision. I am not surprised by all the dumb things this team does anymore. This season is done already.

The moronic decisions never cease....

How is possible that McLaren has any input into these kinds of decisions.

I have a great new Mariners marketing strategy.

Manage the team for a night promotions - every night until the season end.

How could it be any worse.

Prediction: The Mariners will lose six in a row beginning tonight, and then, after they beat the Angels in the finale of the series next Wednesday, the players will rush on the field like they just won the World Series.

And John McLaren will talk about how they're "On the verge of turning it around,"

Raul Ibanez will talk about the "Improved chemistry in the clubhouse."

Bill Bavasi will talk about how the Mariners "Are not giving up on the season."

Dave Sims will talk about "Feeling good vibes around this team."

See, I can learn from history.

Guess who can't?

This will be unpopular...but I think that's the right move right now. Not because I think the M's still have a chance, but because I think people underestimate what needs to happen to transition Morrow to a starter. It's not just a matter of stretching his arm out over a few more innings. The real options with him for right now are leave him in the pen or send him to Tacoma to start the transition. But he won't be a starter until next year, even if we sent him down now. He could do the same thing during winter ball and then still be a #5 starter next April.

I agree with tommy...Morrow is not ready to start, no matter how effective he was in college. His control issues will catch up to him over the course of a game. Who wants a starter who blows through 100 pitches in 6 innings? I think we have enough of those already.
Morrow got very lucky that JD Drew didn't hit that hanging splitter into the Hit It Here Cafe.

Ulna-

How many pitches does the average starter throw in six innings. Get your facts straight.

The Mariners are the worst run organization in baseball; a pitiful abomination that wastes goodwill, talent and money.

ANY manager who bats Miguel Cairo second in ANY lineup doesn't deserve to have a job.

"Starting, I feel like I have more contribution,'' he said, later explaning that he feels 'getting a quality start is more important than getting a couple of outs in the seventh and eighth.''

Morrow gets it. The Mariners don't.

A couple of months ago I would have been irate over a decision like this. Now, it's almost laughable. I really can't believe how incompetent Bavasi and McLaren really are. I use the word "incompetent" only because I want to be civil.

But let's run through the thinking here:

1. We've by no means given up on this season at all.

So, having the worst record in baseball in the last week of May (not April. MAY) and trailing at team that has built a 12.5 game lead largely without its best starter, who is back now, and you can't make the decision to make moves for 2009? Great.

2. What he can do in that eighth inning like that is special.

As Brandon himself figured out, it would seem that starting could provide him with more opportunities to help the team. But hey, why enjoy six or seven quality innings from a pitcher when you can get one, right?

3. We just want to get him in that opportunity a lot more here coming up. A lot of times we just use him to get some work in. We'd like to utilize him when the game is on the line.

What, exactly, has stopped you from utilizing him more with the game on the line? High leverage situations are not limited to the late innings. If a huge spot in the game arises in the fifth inning, and your starter is getting knocked around, there is nothing keeping you from using Morrow in that spot, Mac. Way to show some understanding.

4. "He didn't think it was going to be a good idea to do it during the season,''

Let me get this straight. You just called what Morrow did in the eighth inning "special." You obviously think he can get hitters out. And yet you don't think using Morrow for more than one inning at a time, using that "special" stuff to get more than just three hitters out, isn't a good idea? You want to try to come back against the Angels, but you don't want to use one of your best arms to help you do that? Gotcha, Mac.

5. They do realize that Morrow was drafted as the #5 overall pick, right? And that three pitchers whom they passed up (Miller, Kershaw, Lincecum) are now starting in the bigs, correct? Are they ever going to just admit they want Morrow as a reliever?

To sum up, the Mariners believe they are still contenders. They know they have some work to do to come back. They recognize Morrow is special. They apparently believe Morrow will help the team more as a one-inning pitcher, rather than as a two-, three-, or even a six-inning pitcher.*

And now you know why the Mariner organization is a complete laughingstock.

* - I understand that Morrow's stuff may not be as "special" should he be stretched out. But I don't know that, you don't know that, and the Mariners don't know that. He's shown progress this year, and deserves a shot to pitch as a starter, not act as a short reliever for the worst team in baseball in its idiotic, backwards, blind attempt to come back.

had we drafted Lincecum, he'd be stuck in the bullpen like Morrow is. thats just how we do things around here.

At least McLaren will be fired shortly and someone else can make the decision to start Morrow. You would think with your job on the line you would try make some changes and adapt becuase what you are currently doing is not working. I dont personally know McLaren, but damn he must be stubborn.

Cairo is now our flashy 'new' in vogue answer... wasnt this Norton 4 weeks ago? This is becoming comical.

This article debating the largest dissapointment in the mlb pretty much says it all:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=20805

Morrow, thinking he was on the verge of being stretched out to start, went out last night and had his most impressive performance of the year. Then, he is told that, because of that great performance, he will very likely, be kept in the bullpen.

The young man is a victim of his own success and, once again, the M's management shows itself to be short-sighted.

Intelligent management of this team would see that 2008 is toast. What to do, then? It's straightforward. You look at your best young almost-ready-for-prime-time assets and you groom them for 2009. You give Balentien, Reed, Clement and LaHair a chance to show if they can transition into the bigs. You stretch out Morrow, now, in 2008, so that he is ready when '09 arrives.

Brandon Morrow will not be the reason why or if the M's pull out a miracle turnaround in 2008. This is about optimizing his value to the future of this team. The future should start today.

My post slipped by yours, Adam. We're saying the same thing. Where is the common sense???

McLaren believes Sexson's suspension set him back, and yet he's sat him two days in a row? OK.

Tommy and ulna - Morrow has already made big strides this year. His K rate is up, his BB rate is down (by more than 1/3). He's using his splitter and slider more, and yet his cotrol is much better.

He's done nothing but improve from last year, and should be given the chance, either by stretching out or by going to Tacoma, to start becoming a starter.

Wherever it is, ScottM, it's not in the offices of Safeco Field. It's just pathetic how many dumb decisions these people make.

Can't help but shake my head and laugh.

My brother is a Red Sox fan. I think I'll call him and ask what it is like to root for a competent team.

I will tell you why Mac made this decision. He knows he doesn't have a next year. Neither does Bavasi. What he should have said is that is what works best for me. he would be a little bit more truthful but accountability is in short supply with the M's

The current Mariners regime reminds me of the Bush administration

Deny, deny, deny...

NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

They want Morrow as a closer. Then ship him or JJ off for a nice payoff. It's becoming more and more apparent.

Thank you Tommy Boy! Bring the kid in when needed and he will get a lot of work throwing his heat and building his UN-measurable confidence!!!

Geoff: " Hard to sell tickets when you're waving a white flag on May 28." Thank you!

Faceplant, I am beginning to think you have HISTORY with Cairo. He has shown HEART at every opportunity he has had this year. Again an UN-measurable quantity. Why do you hate him so? He is the perfect example of why you sit people down and give others a chance to play the game right!

DFA Sexson Now!

Ill say it again (it might be radical, but we need to be):
A. Have Morrow and RRSmith split each start (goal: get them 4 innings each)
B. Move Batista to the bullpen
C. DFA Cairo
D. Bring up Cochron to backfill bullpen
E. Require all players to arrive at the park 2 hours before each game to take batting / fielding practice
F. Use the below line up
1. Lopez
2. Betancourt
3. Ichiro
4. Ibanez
5. Johjima
6. Beltre
7. Vidro
8. Sexton
9. Balentien / Reed

Drastic times call for drastic measures.

I think you're onto it, Mojo. When you're playing for '08 and hoping for a miracle, you keep Morrow in this limited capacity. Promoting Clement and Balentien, we can now see, was not to segue them into the Majors, it was done in desperation when the Vidro and Wilkerson experiments were failing so miserably.

Short range desperation VS perennial competitiveness

I love the idea of Ichiro in the 3-hole

Your best hitter should hit third, although I would lead off with Yuni

Just another stupid decision from McLaren/Bavasi. You know Morrow's going to have his share of growing pains transitioning from bullpen to starter, why not get that out of the way now, when the games mean little. That way you at least have a better idea of what you've got with Morrow and can use that knowledge to better prepare for next year. Oh, that's right Bavasi and Co. know they'll likely be gone next year and would rather try to squeeze out a few more wins in a lost season to salvage their resumes than make moves that might help their successors. This, by the way, is why this management team has to go NOW and not at the end of the year. Knowing they'll be gone anyway, their interests are no longer aligned with the long-term good of the organization.

They do realize that Morrow was drafted as the #5 overall pick, right? And that three pitchers whom they passed up (Miller, Kershaw, Lincecum) are now starting in the bigs, correct?

Don't forget Scherzer, the Diamandbacks young phenom. Ian Kennedy is also from that draft and is starting for the Yankees.

How many different pitches does Morrow have, anyway? His fastball is lights out, but a 99 mph fastball will strike out a fair amount of hitters until they start catching up to it.

Can he consistently throw a curveball or slider?

You use the 5th pick in the draft for a middle reliever? You use the 3rd pick on a DH? What's next, giving Vidro enough at bats so his contract vests?

So we have Bavasi bashing the players and McLaren making excuses for the players. Nice.

"It worked well when Sexson was suspended, which is, by the way, something McLaren feels set the slugger back in his hitting."

Give me a break McLaren.

What's funny is people thought the suspension would help Richie refocus. Now it set him back. UGHHHHH.

I hate the way this team thinks.

scottM
One of my biggest complaints about McLaren is that he doesn't seem to be a "Big Picture" guy. It really shows in the way that he manages in game strategy and this is another shining example of classic Mac. His tunnel vision is limiting his decision making. I think thats why its been such a rough transition for him so far coming from bench coach to field manager.

This is beyond comical..Why in the heck would we have Morrow pitch in winter ball to get ready to be a starter and now we are gonna use him as a reliever. This management has no brains what so ever. And with the Clement thing look at the other guys from the 05 draft..Justin Upton, Ryan Zimmerman, Alex Gordon, Tulowitzki, Braun,Micha Owings, and now Jay Bruce. You have to let Clement either play Catcher or trade him for a big bat/ don't bring him up here again to have him DH.

Wow how dumb.would you rather see 6 innings of what u saw from Morrow against the redsox or 1 what do you think Mclaren.

It would be easier to trade for a reliever that could put up similar numbers to Morrow then to get a good starter.

Look at the Yankees who do everything they can to win and beat us out of the wild card in the second half last year.How about taking a page from a winning franchise.

Lets face it Mclaren saw 1 good start from Washburn and Batista and said nope I'm not going to take one of those guys out of the rotation I dont want to hurt anyones feelings.

Putting Morrow on the mound every 5th day would sure get alot more people to the ballark then Batista or Washburn.

Geoff: Thanks for the information on Morrow.

Of course this is an unpopular decision for those of us that think this season should now be used for future success rather than making a Disney run to the title this season. I admire the M's pluck. What concerns me is whether Bavasi et al. are even considering the consequences of waiting on Morrow or are simply focused on self-preservation efforts for this season. I sure would like to see more transparency with the fanbase. Perhaps that would build some credibility with what is going on.

Hi Geoff

It 's times like these when a fan really can get so frustrated and just feel hopeless for the team and the fans. As fans we try to understand and try to be patient realizing there's only so much a manager can do to make his players and the team play well. These guys need to step up and be accountable. Heck we can even feel a bit of empathy for Mac watching these guys self destruct.

After this news (Morrow and Sexson) any empathy and remaining ounce of patience evaporates.

It makes me think more about what's really happening in the clubhouse. This sort of one day he's gonna be a starter the next he's not - but he could still be maybe later is destructive. I've had a few managers like this...It became a huge problem for the organization and the employees and customers. Indecisiveness, changing course from one minute to the next with no clear pattern for the long haul is exhausting. Being nibble is fine. Being reckless and ignoring the facts leads to a breakdown in the leadership which trickles down through the team. Our players don't have a smart, strong or decisive forward looking manager. Worst of all the players, the fans and the media all see it. Today's announcements are sad examples of a lack of management skills.

Anyone else work for this kind of manager before?
I have - and the organization did begin to heal and get better once they were dismissed.

Mind-boggling. Morrow's not going to start this year because he pitched WELL?! What?

I sure hope my employer doesn't adopt the Mariner strategy. "Hey, we were going to give you a promotion, but since you've been doing so well lately, we've decided not to."

So what would Morrow need to have done to still have a chance to be a starter? Maybe he should have given up 3 runs instead. Then he would have looked more like a Mariner starter.

Perhaps I just don't understand baseball, but I've always worked under the assumption that you try to MAXIMIZE the time your best players play. But maybe I'm just stupid.

Even more confounding is why would you make the decision for the whole rest of the season in MAY? Fine, if you don't want him to start yet...but why on earth would you rule it out for the entire season so early? Leave your options open, for goodness sake, especially when it's clear that neither Batista nor Washburn can continue to start if they pitch the way they have been. It just defies all logic, all sense.

Even if the FO really believes the M's are still in a pennant race (which indicates a serious enough break w/ reality), wouldn't you want the "Morrow as starter" option available later on if it becomes clear(er) that you're not? Why burn a bridge? What on earth does that accomplish?

I suppose this logic DOES explain why Miguel Cairo is batting 2nd tonight, though. After all, he IS batting .179 w/ no home runs. Had he been batting .350 w/ 4 HRs in his limited action, they would have kept him on the bench. But since he's playing poorly, we want him on the field as much as possible, AND he want him batting at the top of the lineup so he has as many opportunities to ground out as we can give him.

If Morrow is going to be in the rotation next year, then they need to start the transition now. He should be sent to Tacoma immediately for next year. Why is he still up here just sitting in the bullpen??

I can see Morrow and Dickey in our rotation next year. That sure would be an improvement of what the Ms have now.

This team needs an enima.......

Vidro at #3 and Cairo manning 1B just doesn't make any sense.

Instead of doing something smart, like sending Morrow down to work on being a SP, and letting Clement play 1B....which makes the most sense for the future, this team is quite content trying to build and manage a team like they have for the past 5 years, by plugging "veterans" into the holes and hoping for a miracle....

Give up Geoff, it doesn't matter how much common sense you bring up.....we need a "SLOW Children At Play" sign out in front of Bavidiots office.

Replace McLaren with a bucket of cement and a magic 8 ball.

1. Morrow is a one-trick pony. Name another quality pitch he has right now, that can consistently get hitters out.
2. Name another reliever who is suited to the 8th inning now.
3. Explain how a team that has no culture of accountability is going to react when the Ms give up on the season and start doing the equivalent of September callups when it's not even June yet. Keeping this bloody-minded idea that it's not over (even when we can all see that it is) is the only thing these guys haven't tried yet to motivate the team, except for firing Mac and DFAing a third of the starting lineup.

I'm confused.

Wasn't McLaren on KJR today or yesterday? And he was asked this very question and didn't respond in a way that was anywhere near as insistent as Geoff's piece suggests. Instead, it sounded like Morrow's status was still to be decided.

I can only conclude that a decision was made above McLaren.