By and large, things have been pretty good since the new executives came into power. Where previously a series of bad decisions and team disappointments had conditioned us to expect the absolute worst, the hiring of Jack Zduriencik was met with cautious optimism that got stronger when he filled out the front office and grew to a fever pitch when he went about assembling the roster. With his cohesive plan and pattern of informed decision-making, Zduriencik gave us the gift of confidence in the management, which soon thereafter blossomed into confidence in the team. We saw an opportunity to compete for the division, and a good start to the year only fanned the flames of positivity.
The Mariners are 15-15. Last Sunday they were 15-10. Since winning in exhilarating fashion what was billed as a 'statement game' against a division rival, they have lost five in a row, getting swept by the Rangers, getting swept by the Royals, and getting blown out by the Twins. Having thrown away their early-season division lead, the Mariners now find themselves in a bad place, needing to break out of this tailspin before it cripples their season.
And all of a sudden, I'm having an awful hard time fighting off the negativity. All the familiar old negativity, all the pessimistic expectations, all the hopeless fatalism - it seems that, instead of being wiped out by the new administration, these feelings simply went dormant, lurking beneath the surface and just waiting for an opportunity to erupt. They were always there. They were just biding their time. And though I recognize them and don't want them to come back, this embarrassing losing streak has them pushing up on the lid of my personal Bavasi-era Pandora's box, and it's taking all of my strength to push it back down.
The last thing I want to do right now is get exasperated, surrender, and give up on the season. There are a lot of reasons to stay optimistic. Even with the losing streak, we're only 1.5 back of the lead. The defense has been great, most of the pitching has been pretty good, and we're standing at .500 despite several players performing well below reasonable preseason expectations. If fans of the 14-15 Yankees and 14-17 Rays can stick with their teams in a way tougher competitive environment, then there's no way any of us could rationally defend waving the white flag. Not now. Not this early, not in this division.
And yet there's still that wicked little birdie on my shoulder, reminding me that I've seen this movie before and that the worst is yet to come. I don't want to listen to it, but it's hard not to pay attention to a voice in your ear. I don't feel negative yet. I don't yet feel like the season is a lost cause. But so what? I'm thinking about it, and I'm thinking about it because the fan I was a year ago is still a big part of the fan I am today, whether I like it or not. As much as I'd like to think that Jack Zduriencik allowed me to move past the Bavasi years, all of those feelings that I associated with the previous regime still gnaw at me now.
And I imagine they will continue to do so at times like this until the Mariners become legitimately, convincingly good. Good enough for me to be able to believe with all my heart that the past is ancient history. Maybe it'll take a division championship. Maybe it'll take a World Series. Maybe it'll take five World Series. I don't know what you need to change your identity as a fan, because I've never done it. What I know is that it's going to take a lot of success to undo what was impressed upon my mind over so many years.
The Mariners need to win, and they need to win a lot. They need to win enough that I can forget this losing streak ever happened. Because otherwise I fear the roar of the nigh-indelible past will only get louder, and I don't know how much longer I can fend it off.
0 recs | 77 comments
I think a win today would be a nice start
gregrabble - May 9, 2009
Unfun fact:
Yesterday’s loss pushed the Mariners down an incredible 12.2 runs against average.
One game.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
Today is a new day right?
Hopefully there is a new way coming as well.
I agree that some of us have been hit by the 5 game skid but then I realized we’re pretty luck we’re even still in it and that we’re a .500 team. There are still 100 games to play GO M’S!
Slurvey - May 9, 2009
132 actually
gregrabble - May 9, 2009
132 GAMES LEFT GO M'S!
Slurvey - May 9, 2009
The one thing keeping me going here.
Is that the offense is down to unsustainable levels unless we believe the offense is truly only capable of scoring some 400 runs this season.
And while this offense has been struggling we’ve had to deal with two horrible starts that put the game out of reach before offense had a chance to do anything.
But man, losing the way this team has been losing has made for some very boring baseball. I think we’ve held a lead for all of 1/2 an inning and haven’t seen a save situation since Morrow was put on the DL.
Losing sucks. Losing the same way every game sucks and it’s boring.
ThundaPC - May 9, 2009
You will be able to tell when they are any good.....
It just isn’t time yet. Clean house and get rid of all the remnants of their losing history and start in the front office with Lincoln and Armstrong. I have no faith in those two guys.
M fans have put up with this for so many years it just gets old. I’d just love to see a fresh start. JZ and DW have are carrying a ball and chain as long as Lincoln and Armstrong and even their owner are still calling all the shots. Trading Ichiro isn’t even a possibility. Putting Silva on the DL is just delaying the inevitable. Why is Batista on ANY MLB roster? I could go on but you get the picture.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
The problem with what you're suggesting is that it's not necessary, productive or even possible.
Zduriencik doesn’t have the power to fire his bosses. There is no reason this franchise can’t be successful with things the way they are right now. There are some problems on the roster but there are problems on every MLB roster.
Aaron Campeau - May 9, 2009
When and if this team starts winning....
90% of this roster will probably be gone. What I’m suggesting is very possible. I agree, every roster has holes on it. But if ‘things’ stay the way they are, like you suggest, I don’ see a very successful outcome.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Fortunately most front offices with the resources the Mariners do aren't quite as reactionary as you
The team does not need to do a full tear down and rebuild, and it never has. It just needs competent management of its farm system and money.
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
I'm not saying to tear it down like you are suggesting I said....
And I’m not being reactionary either. This management team prior to this year did not know how to evaluate talent. Period. They didn’t know what they were doing. Period. Bavasi took this team back to the stone ages, talent-wise.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
And now those people are gone.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
Exactly....
But we’re still stuck with some very mediocre talent.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Mediocre talent that as of a week ago was favored to win the division.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
Favored?
Who favored them? Just because they were in first place for a few weeks? I thought the Angels were favored by just about everyone.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
"Everyone" is usually stupid.
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/4/24/851633/here-we-go
Matthew - May 9, 2009
I didn't call anyone stupid or even infer it
Being a few games up in April doesn’t make them playoff contenders just yet.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Yes it does.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
This team is mediocre and it's so easy to see....
And all the stats in the world won’t change that.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
You could say the exact same thing aout every other team in the division.
Aaron Campeau - May 9, 2009
Wrong
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
Your outlook is incorrectly pessimistic.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
I will give JZ and DW their due....
But you are right, I have exactly zero confidence in Armstrong or Lincoln and they are the bosses over JZ and DW. They sign the paychecks and they still choose to pay the likes of Silva and Batista, total non-producers.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
They don't have a choice when it comes to paying Silva and Batista.
BrianL - May 9, 2009
You're right, my mistake but they choose to keep them on the roster....
Because they are on the payroll. Just my feeling on that but I think I’m right. They have too much money invested in them and it dictates their decision to keep them.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Please learn how to correctly reply to comments.
Furthermore outright releasing Silva at the start of the year would be been monumentally stupid. Batista less so, but still dumb.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
Yeh, you're right....
Only your opinion matters. Silva was ‘lights out’ last year, wasn’t he? Batista too I guess.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
When did anyone here make those claims?
BrianL - May 9, 2009
Hey there strawman.
Should you continue down this argumentative path, I shall be pleased to point you toward the exit.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
Strawman? Retarded?
Silva sucked last year and so did Batista. I didn’t make that up, it’s a fact. If they didn’t make so much money they wouldn’t be on any MLB roster.
Go M’s!
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
You're arguing a point that nobody is arguing against.
In response to the claim that releasing Silva or Batista at the start of the year is stupid.
ThundaPC - May 9, 2009
You appear to be functionally retarded.
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
You are in denial.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Yes, I'm one of the people who is totally in love with Carlos Silva
In fact, I argued strongly that we should sign him and have never provided any evidence that he’s one of the worst pitchers in recent memory. I am ashamed of my previous stance of Mr. Silva and only wish that it would be forgotten entirely.
See also: Graham Loves Miguel Batista: A Treastise on How Bald Dominicans Rock My World.
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
Oh my god, it's as if everything I thought I knew is a lie!
Kermit. - May 9, 2009
Graham <3 Beluga Tits.
Decatur - May 9, 2009
Just a FYI Graham is not a fan of people posting his image on the site without his consent
Robert - May 10, 2009
Oh shit. My bad.
I honestly didn’t know about this, since I got this from the the USSM/LL Seattle Central Library event photos and I saw photos of Jeff all over the place. Feel free to zap it. Sorry Graham.
Decatur - May 10, 2009
Its more a taking my pictures from facebook
If it’s already up here whatever
Graham MacAree - May 10, 2009
But seriously what the fuck
Graham MacAree - May 10, 2009
Well, I was just goofing around, Graham.
If I crashed and burned with this and you hate it, just delete it. It’s not like it will hurt my feelings.
Decatur - May 10, 2009
It would be gone already were I going to delete it
Like I said, pics of me already here are probably fair game.
Graham MacAree - May 10, 2009
Who's the guy in the picture?
.Taylor - May 9, 2009
Jakabauskas I think
marinerdan - May 9, 2009
Right, silly me.
.Taylor - May 9, 2009
Butch, in Corvallis, showing OSU fans how to shoot
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
I don't want to give up, either
But it’s SO HAAAAARRRRRD to watch…. :/
section331 - May 9, 2009
See, I feel like we're playing with house money this season.
We aren’t supposed to be good; we’re supposed to be mediocre. We’re in a bad division, so we have a shot, and that’s fun; but if we fall out of it we blame it on Bavasi and enjoy the little pleasures the current administration has brought us – like the outfield defense – and look forward to a brighter future. I know we’re ostensibly not rebuilding, but nor ostensibly are we contending (at least not for a pennant), so any sort of fall drama this season has to be considered icing. 25 games made us forget this; the last 5 games have made us remember. Should we then fall back into pessimism and depression? Why would we? Our optimism was never pinned on this season in the first place.
hejuk - May 9, 2009
Very well put, the proper perspective is what we all need for this season.
Oh, and some patience for next year.
Sinking Away - May 9, 2009
I can be rational about things as an analyst
As a fan, not so much. This week has been soul-crushing.
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
This week wouldn't have been nearly as crushing had it not immediately followed the A's series
Robert - May 9, 2009
I agree with Sinking Away. This is very well said (especially for your first substantial comment), hejuk.
If we make it to the playoffs, that’s great. If not, wait ‘til next year. We know we’ve got about a .500 team if tool our roster correctly, and our pitching and defense make us dangerous in the playoffs if we get there. If we fail, we can look forward to Carp and Saunders (.575 ISO! Jeez!) helping us out next year.
Decatur - May 10, 2009
If we are playing with house money....
Then why not retool the whole darn roster, like the Marlins do every few years?
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Because if we were the Marlins I would kill myself.
Aaron Campeau - May 9, 2009
Hanley!
JI - May 9, 2009
I wouldn't go to that extreme....
We’ve never been to the World Series. The Marlins have won it. We’re (Lincoln and Armstrong) pissing away our resources and have become the most mediocre franchise in MLB history since our inception.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
So...
Because the Marlins have gone to the World Series and we haven’t, we should manage our resources like a small-market team?
BrianL - May 9, 2009
No, we should be able to produce a winner more often....
If a team like the Marlins or Rays can do it, so should we.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
We won 116 games in 2001
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
How many winning seasons have we had under Armstrong and Lincoln?
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Since they took over after the 99 season the Mariners have had 5
That’s equal to Toronto, Chicago NL and San Francisco and more then Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, KC, TB, Texas, Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Washington
Robert - May 9, 2009
I know Armstrong's been around a little longer than that....
Trying to find the info on Lincoln. I give up trying to make any sense of this. I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks Armstong and Lincoln are doing a poor job, in fact I know I’m not.
However, I can see none of this is leading to a constructive conclusion so I will totally back off, being the retard and strawman that I am, according to this site. Enjoy all the ‘F’ bombs.
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Lincoln took over when John Ellis stepped down in September 1999
Nobody is saying that they are pros at what they do, I have in fact been their harshest critic at times. But Z has done very little to prove that they got the off the field personal wrong this time and they have shown for a while that they have no problem handing out top dollar for on the field talent.
Robert - May 9, 2009
That would be stupid, that's why.
Graham MacAree - May 9, 2009
We have money. They don't.
Besides, ChuckHow said that Z will need to earn their trust as a GM before they allow him to shell out cash.
.Taylor - May 9, 2009
This is pretty much exactly how I feel right now
Robert - May 9, 2009
That house money analogy is pretty good, I'm going to have to steal that
Kermit. - May 10, 2009
Bring it today, Mariners
Let’s go, ’fellas!
Charles Gipson is a Mangod - May 9, 2009
Matthew....
I didn’t come on here trying to start an argument. I’ve been a huge M’s fan since the first day and I doubt there’s been one single day where I haven’t either heard or watched them when I had the opportunity.
I love the M’s and want them to be successful. How about laying out the rules for being on this blog or point me to them so I can understand why you are being so opposed to my posts.
As far as any argument goes, it always takes two. And why the name-calling?
SW WA Coug - May 9, 2009
Go to the "References" sidebar on the left side of the main page. But I will give you the most important links here:
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/9/3/606879/the-lookout-landing-style
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/1/5/701676/ll-off-topic-commenting-gu
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/2/7/752841/ll-howto-posting-pics-and
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/4/10/829741/dead-memes-2009
Decatur - May 9, 2009
The following are also useful:
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2007/9/21/175753/906
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2007/9/23/51033/4496
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2007/9/25/25417/9665
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/4/21/447155/open-statistical-question
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2008/2/9/164534/1904
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/6/23/557089/the-big-tra-post
http://www.fangraphs.com/ – just about everything here.
Decatur - May 9, 2009
Also, you may not have seen it, but for almost a year, LL's motto was:
“If you think Adrian is Bad and/or Overrated, I Hate You and Find You Stupid.”
So it’s a touchy subject.
Decatur - May 9, 2009
The rules of the blog are referenced when you sign up--by clicking you agree, you state that you have read those posts and will abide by them
Thanks bye
Kirsten Schlewitz - May 9, 2009
This is why you read the site for a while before posting.
Get a feel for the place and the opinions of its regulars. That way you have a rough idea of how they’ll react when you post things contradictory to those opinions. Not to say that yours doesn’t matter, but most people here don’t subscribe to the “tear it down and restart” way of doing things, and will tell you as such. Hopefully your skin is thick enough to handle the method in which their message is delivered.
JLProck - May 9, 2009
I personally have no problem with conflicting opinions.
I have a problem with ill informed opinions and, more precisely, people with ill-informed opinions that refuse to listen to reason.
Aaron Campeau - May 9, 2009
Any opinion on expressed on this site is going to be highly scrutinized.
If you cannot handle that and back up your opinions with objective and well thought out analysis, this is not going to be the place for you.
Furthermore, we have extremely little patience for people who turn defensive when their opinions are questioned and resort to logical fallacies which you have already done at least twice.
Matthew - May 9, 2009
Let me apologize then....
I had been reading posts on this site for months before I posted myself. There is an awful lot of different threads on here so it’s hard to cover it all. I just don’t have the time to do that and read other blogs that I post on also.
I thought I had a pretty decent understanding of what was / wasn’t kosher. My only intent was to post comments that were relevant, intelligent, and added something of value to the existing thread.
I have been a Pilot / M’s fan since their inception. I follow all local teams religiously, even the Huskies. It includes HS sports as well. I don’t consider myself an expert but I do have a pretty solid base of knowledge.
If someone finds my comments off base just tell me why, straight up and it will be much easier for me to understand. I’m not into all the name calling, labeling sort of thing. Neither am I a fan of all the ‘F’ bombs and sexual comments but I still try to sift thru them to see if there is anything of substance. I find I have a lot more in common with another sports fan than I have differences.
If you saw Bull Durham, I believe totally in that comment Crash Davis said about the sweet spot and artificial turf. So, having said all of this, I apologize for being off-base. I will try to figure out what is more appropriate before ever posting another comment.
SW WA Coug - May 10, 2009
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