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Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

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June 8, 2008 1:24 PM

More offensive offense

Posted by Geoff Baker

Another day, another defeat for the Mariners. This one was only a 2-1 game, but it felt like 19-1 the way the team looked like it had zero chance of scoring off the Boston Red Sox. Only run of the day by Seattle came when Yuniesky Betancourt nearly hit into a double play in the first inning, beating the relay throw to first base by a step. After that, a whole lot of nothing. Just one hit by Seattle after the second inning.

The Mariners are 2-23 this year when scoring fewer than four runs. They are 20-18 when scoring four or more. So, there you have it.

For those keeping score at home, that's 15 losses in the last 17 road games played by Seattle. Seven losses in the last eight games away from home. But hey, on the bright side...oh yeah, they at least held a lead today. That's the 16th time they've done that during their 40 losses.

Just FYI, for Sounders, in the comments thread, don't know if you happened to see this blog item from last Wednesday, written a day before the Art Thiel column. If you missed it, that's OK, but here are some of the pertinent lines: "I can guarantee you these thoughts are running through the minds of those people now running this team. They have to be. If not, then Howard Lincoln and Chuck Armstrong should resign.

They had better be interested in figuring out whether this culture of losing can be eradicated.

After all, they helped create it through their own inaction and lack of accountability. They are not alone in this organization, believe me. But it's the guys at the top who set the tone for an organization. In my brief time here, the Seattle Mariners have seemed to operate like an organization that does not feel it has to answer to anybody. We won't get into how they play in a taxpayer subsidized ballpark. That's for another day. But I've never been shy in pointing out that the Mariners, as an organization, love their secrets.

Want to know why Kenji Johjima was given a three-year contract extension when the team has a No. 1 draft pick at catcher on the verge of being ready for the major leagues? Too bad. Who do you think you are? Trust the Mariners. They know what they're doing.

Feel good about that answer? Me neither. Don't worry though, we're not alone. I sit and talk to people around the game on every road trip and the Johjima question is one of the first I'm asked after the one about when Richie Sexson will be released.

But the Mariners don't really give the appearance of caring whether or not you understand things like the Johjima deal. At least, not beyond the few lines they'll offer up at a press conference. Doesn't matter to them whether or not you think it makes sense.

But why pick on Johjima? What about Rafael Soriano? What was the big hurry in getting rid of him before last season? Armstrong suggested in an AP report last fall that there were issues with Soriano. But he would not elaborate. Why would he? Why go to that kind of trouble when he can just drop some innuendo? After all, who's going to call him on it?

So, I hope that helps. There's more, but you can just read it in the post I've linked. We have been on top of the situation on this end. Got the ball rolling, so to speak.

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