This team, oh, this fricking team. There might be some truth to the matter that they are a cursed team. Before we go out and get a bunch of voodo dolls, however, why don't we look at the root of the problem? McLaren, Howard Lincoln, and Chuckie Armstrong have GOT TO GO. Nintendo must obvioiusly not care about losing millions of dollars and be the laughing stock of baseball with this team, considering it continues to renew these guys contracts. Bavasi?
Ok, I admit, I've been a bit harsh on this guy, but he has actually made some good decisions that seem to be paying off.
Check out the numbers on some of his moves for 2008, not bad.
ACQUISITIONS
Bedard 1.82 ERA
Silva 4.20 ERA
DEPARTURES
Jones .233 AVG
Sherrill 4.97 ERA
Guillen .165
Broussard .159 (rumors are swirling that he's about to be DFA'd)
However, it some of the other moves this guy has done that you have to scratch your head at: Jurrasic Carl Everett, Washburn (who I actually loved the aquisition at the time, but his curveball has lost mojo since coming to Seattle), letting go of Olivio (who is tearing it up), signing Johji to a 3 year extension when he's hitting .183, Brad Wilkerson this year, Scott Spizio, and on, and on, and on.
Bottom line, Pat Gillick knew this environment and the HUGE outfield fences at Safeco. So, he went after hitters vs. HR kings. A guy who hits .350 anywhere else is going to hit .310 in Seattle, no arguing that. The air is thicker and the fences are WAY TOO DEEP in Safeco. Move the fences in, for Heavan's sake! Griffey complained about that when the park was first build, why not do what Detroit did? Hitters talk, and no one, I mean no one, wants to come to Seattle to play because of the ballpark configuration.
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