Another fun fact Geoff... M's haven't hit an extra base hit in 21 innings!

Resin, no one suggested that Jose Guillen would carry this team. However, offensively, the team, except for him, is exactly the same as in '07. He DID bring an intensity to the team and wouldn't put up with the lackluster attitude that has infected this club in his absence. A savior no. A sparkplug, yes.

I hardly see that admission by Bavasi as saving face on his way out. He was being honest. We may not think much of his player assessment abilities, but Bavasi was a decent man. I liked that he could admit this one key mistake which happened because he failed to account for the intangible qualities that Jose Guillen brought to this team.

At least our #3 hitter is crushing the ball...

BTW, Jason Churchill is reporting that Clement is coming back. He was scratched from tonight's Rainiers game.

The M's are still so stupid, it will probably won't be Vidro or Sexson who goes.

The answer is we have a team full of washed up hitters.Richie cant hit he hasnt had an extra base hit in 2 weeks or something Vidro is a sorry excuse for a DH we would be just as good with the pitcher hitting.Johjima is old and washed up Ichiro isnt hitting .300 and we have Bloomquist possibly getting regular time as well as jeremy reed and Wlad can only hit after he gets called up from AAA he starts off great and now he cant hit a lick I dont understand it.

We need to trade Bedard for some good hitting prospects.

- Balentien down tomorrow? We need another sacrifice - Sexson or Vidro - and Johnny Mac please.

Great idea, kaseyswagger! I've got it: Bedard for Adam Jones!

Bavasi leaving won't fix this.

it sure will help.

Clement up, Balentien down from KOMO radio.

KOMO confirmed Balentien is down, Clement is up. So OF is Reed, Ibanez and Bloomquist?

FSN confirmation. Wlad is heading back to AAA Tacoma and Jeff Clement has just been recalled.

WE ARE A BAG OF SHIT.

but Bavasi was a decent man. I liked that he could admit this one key mistake which happened because he failed to account for the intangible qualities that Jose Guillen brought to this team.

You liked that he admitted Guillen was a mistake? Four last place finishes in the last five years and admitting Guillen makes it easier for you to watch the organization you have grown to love in shambles and burning to the ground!! My oh My!

So WFB is our number four outfielder!

Great idea Mac or is Pelekpudas behind this move?

Geoff,

I'm a bit surprised by this.... Did you really think firing the GM would make the mariners instantly not suck?

The Marlins actually have a good team... Why in the world would the mariners stand a chance to win?

More heads need to roll before this team turns around.

Balentien doesn't have the arm to play center field. Now with moving Ichiro to right it forces you to play Reed in center field. If the great Reed to first base experiment begins, then Bloomquist is your center fielder. Does anyone value defense at all on this team?

Geoff,

When is the media going to ask Lincoln to hold himself responsible for the results of Bavasi?

"The entire organization, and especially me, is on the hot seat. I thought long and hard about continuing with Bill and (manager Mike Hargrove, who quit in 2007). I'm putting my neck out on the line because I believe in them. I've made it clear to the ownership group that, having made the decision, I'm fully responsible for it."

Only the Mariners would choose Jeremy Reed over Wladimir Balentien. Maybe Wlad will survive and prosper in Tacoma while Johhny Mac runs out Bloomquist at every position imaginable.

They are right now complaining about lack of offensive punch and they haven't gotten rid of Sexson, Vidro, and benched Johjima yet.

Fix it, quick saying you will fix it sooner rather than later.

how about get rid of Vidro and we can keep Wlad, Clement, and Reed all up. whats the point.. now Wlad is gonna kick ass down at AAA and then he will be back anyways. This is crazy.

Scrappy, Wlad does have the rocket arm he's just too big to play center. He's an above average defender at the corner position. In center at Safeco, he would be over matched.

Geoff: Howie and Chuckie talked about a new direction, a new approach. I'm just wondering about what they might do at the trade deadline. Say, in the GM search, they get permission to talk to _ who is still employed by another organization till the end of this season. Could that potential candidate (assuming the FO gets a handshake deal or some such) have input on any trade deadline moves?

I suspect not, conflict of interest etc etc. But how, if they want a new direction, do they know what moves to make at the trade deadline if they don't know what the new direction is? Just wondering.

Think Wlad probably going to go down for a bit to make sure we can avoid arbitration a year earlier or whatever it is...

Good point scrapiron - can we please use this example in a case to prove John McLaren as baseball insane? Johnny Mac has no clue to what he is doing.

If Mr. Y and the top brass extended Johjima, then I am afraid that we gave Bonehead Bill too much credit for idiocy. Now that Clement is returning, might we make him the regular catcher and Jo the backup? He will be the best paid backup in the game, but what else is there to do with him? He is as untouchable as Ichiro. A GM has no chance in this kind of set up, but Bill was not the answer.

Baghead Nation issues the following statement

Howie and Chuckie: If we hear that Steve Phillips is the new Mariner GM, you will know pain, my friends.

GO MARLINS!!!! Keep 'em coming..... P.S.-When's the next press conference?

Hey Seattle Mariner Fans,

I can't believe 21,000+ fans went and watched another abortion of a game. Do feel like you got your money worth?

There are some great new summer movies out now!

And they are a whole lot cheaper than watching
the Mariners continuing to emplode!

The STORM are playing good basketball right now.
Try going to one of their games. You might see a Seattle team win?

Oh, and don't you have a new soccer team playing at Qwest Field?

Until our new GM can get some players that can get a runner home from 3rd base. Try a different sport or enjoy a day at the beach.

Steve Phillips? He of those really bad, veteran-laden Mets teams of the 1990s? Who is suggesting that he is being considered?

With tonight's introduction, say hello to our new center fielder - Willie F Bloomersquist - flanked by got wheels Ibanez in left, while Jeremy Reed takes over at first. Only an idiot could think this up, it is truly stranger than fiction.

Johnny Mac - baseball genius! Hall of Fame Manager!

Another Mariners game. Another three hours of my life, gone forever. Someday, I'm gonna seriously start to wonder why I even pay attention to this team. I think I've been a good fan. All I ever wanted was for this team to be competitive. I'd be happy with a .500 (or thereabouts) winning percentage. Gosh.

Esteban:

No one has suggested they're considering Phillips. But he's out there, so I thought it wise to issue the warning. You never know.

McLaren should have been the first to go about three weeks ago. That would have given them a chance (a very slim chance) to turn around their play.

When that predictably dId not work then you fire the GM. This is backwards, but at least a step in the right direction. But really.....

LINCOLN AND ARMSTRONG MUST GO!!!!!

Geoff, the biggest favor your paper can do at this point is to call for the ouster of both Lincoln and Armstrong. Bavasi has taken a lot of heat, but so far, nobody in the Seattle media has really given us a thorough exploration of the culpability of the top two M's executives.

They effectively obstructed us from maybe being a World Series team in 2001 by valuing size of profit over winning and then have hired people since then who have not performed. In most companies, guys with Lincoln's and Armstrong track records would be out on the street.

Right now, they are the Peter Principle in action. They have attained the highest level of their incompetence and we fans are paying the price literally and figuratively.

Wlad going down is a good move. He's lost his confidence, so like Clement, needs to go back down and "find his stroke" again. This also gives Jeremy Reed a chance to prove himself in center field. It's sink or swim time for Jeremy over the rest of this season. I personally think he can do it. I know some of you don't like Jeremy, but I'm telling ya, the kid has a sweet swing, and a good eye. If given the chance to play, and the confidence from his manager, I think Jeremy will turn out to be a very good hitter for this team. He reminds me a bit of a young George Brett. He just needs to polish a few things, and as he matures, he will definately improve.

I'm wondering what their plans for Clement is now. I'm hoping that Kenji is on the trading block, but I'll believe it when I see it. Bavasi bungled it bad when he gave him that contract extention, but maybe a team like CIncinatti who is in need of a starting catcher would be willing to take on that contract if we took on one of their guys who seems to be on the block??? It's gonna be a wild next two weeks. See ya Sexson!

Another M's loss. Please blow this team up!!!!

Sounders,

Okay, thanks. I thought there was really some rumor out there regarding Phillips. That really scared me.

I thought it was interesting in Bavasi's press conference where he said that they're really missing a guy like Jose Guillen. So, apparently the decision not to re-sign (or pickup his option) must have come from above?? I still think that Guillen's attitude would've made a positive difference in that lineup.

Pelekoudas should be the hatchet man for this team for the balance of this year. However, Armstrong did say that this process could run until the off-season, which strongly indicates they're considering outside help for the GM. New approach and all. So, Pelekoudas may just simply be keeping the seat warm until the real guy gets here. If that happens, we're stuck with this team for the year.

I applaud Armstrong and Lincoln for taking the step to remove Bavasi. I didn't think they had the intestinal fortitude to go after "one of their own". Never mind the dont-change-gm-mid-season logic. This season is different; it was long past his time to go, and I'm glad they actually did something about it.

As far as day-to-day games go, I'll pay attention when Felix is watching. But everyone else is just a time-sink for me. I'll pay zero attention to the outcome of any contests until we have fresh blood on the team. Way too many overrated old guys trying not to get hurt and trying to not look past their prime for me to have any interest at this point.

I'm paraphrasing but Mac stated, "We don't no were he's going to play we want him to catch," regarding Jeff Clement on KOMO radio.

The decisive leadership that oozes from Mac's pores is impressive. (wishy washy) How about making a statement with authority Mac. You are the manager regardless that you are a lame duck manager.

Resin, unlike you, I can separate Bavasi the human being, from Bavasi the baseball man. My Oh My, what a concept.

The insinuation has been that he was making excuses as he left today. I don't buy that. I think he was being honest and forthright. I don't hold it against the human being because he didn't succeed after trying his best as a baseball man. You make it sound like he intentionally ruined this franchise. What a narrow perspective.

That he wasn't an astute baseball man is no reason to deride him for the professional way he handled himself today. Like I said, there is no reason to believe he is not a decent man.

But at least we are one game closer to to the 2009 #1 draft pick.

Back away from the ledge. It's only June.

Scott,

You might be right. I always thought that letting go of Guillen came from over Bavasi, because he wasn't family friendly enough, because some kid in the front row heard him swear or something.

If that's the case, and it came from Howie and Chuckie we can only pray that they have learned their lesson, and will get out of the way of the next GM

Hopefully they've learned their lesson about bringing bogus players 'home' too, signing guys (Cirillo, Olerud when he was over the hill etc etc.) because they want to live in Issiquah.

No Steve Phillips! Another Bavasi-esque over-paying clown. I'd take anyone from the A's FO...or even their janitor over him. What is Paul DePodesta doing these days?

What about Terry Ryan?

Earlier in the day, there was a spirited argument about the merits of Ichiro, at the time I tended to side with the Ichiro supporters. However, in lieu of the disclosure that Mr. Y, Lincoln and Armstrong were responsible for the Johijima extension. I fear that this team is hopelessly mismanaged for the sake of making money in Japan and it japanese fan base.

Look at tonight's move returning Ichiro to rightfield, retaining Ibanez in left, Reed and Johjima taking reps at 1B, and WFB starting in center. This stuff is stranger than fiction, it is not normal baseball management, it pandering for a buck in the Japanese market.

While I applauded the removal of Bavasi today and celebrated it with joy, these moves make it clear that the Seattle Mariners are not a Seattle team at all, they are the Japanese Mariners as per their ownership. Baseball in the Pacific Northwest is just a front. Johjima gets a sweetheart extension, while in a terrible slump foretelling the end of his career as far as skills are concerned and Ichiro gets to dictate where he will play and who will manage the team.

It is worse than I ever could have imagined. The only hope is that a Seattle based billionaire will purchase the team from Y in Japan and give it a true Pacific Northwest identity instead of a Japanese storefront.

We must see through the madness, this situation is nearly as bad as that of the Sonics and I was blind until today.

WHO CARES

Dirt,

Don;t take it so hard, it is tough to lose one's member, but you can have an operation for an artificial jonson. It sure must have made a great hot dog, hope you enjoyed it to the last bite.

Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the top two GM candidates are Chris Antonetti and Brian Cashman.

He also repeats what we've been saying here on the blog, the Seattle GM position is considered a sweetheart gig. Good revenue, large payroll, good market. On top of that, there is nowhere to go but up so the new GM has a great chance to succeed.

With upper management making deals like the Johjima one and Ichiro having his own personal manger who lets him dictate where he will play, I fear a new GM as no chance to succeed. This team is a puppet factory for its Japanese fans. Any GM will have his / her hands tied by the owner, CEO, and President of Baseball Operations. It is all clear to me now!

i like to callhim suckDICKchiro

I know how to cure the Mariners' hitting woes. They should play T-ball. Some of 'em might even hit .250 doing that!

Only the Mariners would choose Jeremy Reed over Wladimir Balentien.

Only the Mariners would choose Ibanez' glove, Vidro's bat, and Sexson's bat over Wlad.

As per that famous line in No Country for Old Men - "You can't make this stuff up." I find myself even agreeing with a post from Adam @ 11:19 PM, this is all stranger than fiction. Iy is puppetry dictated from abroad.

Lucifer, how ever evil he is, is right. Paul Allen or someone of his character level needs to buy this team. Im tired of sweetheart deals and the NW fans getting bent over. The team is sunk this year it's time to blow this thing up and get a new owner.

Geoff, will the Mariner's ownership select the new GM and will Armstrong be involved?.

Does this group have the vision to look at a young assistant GM as was the case when Arizona Diamondbacks tapped into Theo Epstein's assistant Josh Byrnes for there new GM. or are they looking at someone more established with a name.

Was Bavasi well like by other GM's, It didn't seem like anyone wanted to deal with the guy?

Baghead Day goes on as planned

Silva is too fat..so is his contract

Baghead what are we trying to make happen now? is it a petition for someone else to buy the M's?

What a bizarre season. A question from tonight's game. Was Vidro running hard on that grounder to third that bounced off the bag and then the Marlins third basemen short hopped the throw to first and still got him? He sure is slow if he was digging it out. Ichiro - agree he isn't a real leadership guy but I don't agree with those saying he never hustles in the outfield. I've seen him make a ton of great catches over the years that wouldn't have happened without effort. Nice pitching by Morrow tonight, looks good for the future if the Mariners actually wake up and transition him to starting. Big if.

For the record, here's what the personnel moves of today mean:

1. Raul is apparently still viewed as a good LF. There's no way around this. Whether you want to release Sexson and put Raul at 1B, or release/bench Vidro and make Raul a DH/1B, either move is very simple to accomplish. The incompetents, minus Bavasi, still manage not to make that simple move.

2. Playing time for Vidro/Bloomquist/Sexson is more important than playing time for Wlad.

3. Perhaps Willie's threat to leave after the season scared Howie Lincoln straight. Never mind the stupidity of putting a .448 OPS (yes, you read that right) in the lineup more often, we can't lose the gritty local boy!!

4. I can see it now - coming soon to a lineup near you - Willie (.448 OPS), Vidro (.600 OPS), Cairo (.539 OPS), and Johjima (.579 OPS)! Live on stage together!!

5. Since when is Ibanez/Bloomquist/Ichiro anything but the worst defensive OF in baseball?

6. Still no idea what the Mariners' plan for Clement is. Is he a catcher? Is he not? Will he play 1B?

7. When all else fails, blame the new guy (Wlad).

These moves have something of Johnny Mac's stamp on them, he likes the platoon. We will likely see it in place something like this:

against right handed pitchers:

Reed in center, Clement DH, Vidro !B or he may be planning to use Reed here.

Against left handed pitchers:

WFB in center, Jojima catcher although he is taking reps at 1B, so he may get some time there with Burke behind the plate, and of course Vidro as DH.

Mac and his grizzled vets management plan.

Hey Geoff will someone at the Times do a series of articles about what we could get at the deadline for the following players:

Bedard
Ichiro
Silva
Felix
Johjima

There are more who should be on the list but those are the guys who I think might have the most value.

and so on and so forth

Baltimore will give you steve trachscil for erik bedard. lol This is the funniest thing I have seen in sports in 25 years. I have never seen a team get taken as bad as the ms did for erik bedard.

Geoff,

Why aren't you calling for "accountability" from Silva?

Oh, wait, Bavasi got fired yesterday so you already had a story to write. I guess you didn't need Silva to be "accountable".

It sure is convenient how that works out for you.

"[i]Was Bavasi well like by other GM's, It didn't seem like anyone wanted to deal with the guy?[/i]

On the contrary, I imagine most GMs smiling with glee when they saw his phone number on the caller ID. "Oh goody, time to fleece this bozo again!"

niner - Geoff already answered your question, and I agree. It's also possible Silva was following the Law of Holes ("when in one, stop digging") and simply knew that if he started talking about it again he'd break a cardinal rule of baseball by openly criticizing an umpire.

Adam,

LOL!! That's one of the funniest things I've read on here in a while. THe lineup is pathetic, there's no gettng around that. On top of that, neither Raul or Willie has an arm, so teams will go first to third all day as long as the ball isn't hit to Ichiro.

Thank God for Vidro and his .600 OPS... lol!!

One of you bloggers said, "Bedard for Adam Jones!"

Sounds great! Maybe we can have a new club...

Bagheads say, Bedard for Adam Jones! Let's all chant it. Bedard for Adam Jones!

There, now I feel better. I will really feel great when the tell Richie to go with Bavasi.

byebye

Did anyone keth the B.Bavasi Qote about how loseing jose vidro,a guy with an old school attitude and pride has hurt this clubhouse?
And it is more than obvious C.Armstrong,H.Lincon made the Johima signing and the ichiro extention-Not bill bavasi.true he needed to go but so do those old guy`s.

Time to clean the house and bring up as many youngsters as possible, while trading or releasing any players who are getting old, or whose contracts are coming up! Go with youth and build for the future!!

The only pleasure I have from watching this team is imagiining the Stadium playing a few of the player's batting box song to "Linda Rodstandt: You're No Good." At that gives me a short chuckle.

It is very sad when fan's can't even muster a little hope for a win.