Q.  So we count a remaining 4% quotes that are neither meaninglessly generic, nor flamed by SSI for brainlessness. 

Where have we seen the genius in battle?

A.  About 4% of the quotes that Dr. D has seen, over the last year or thirty, have been totally visible, and totally wonderful, corrections that made the difference for a player.

For example, Don Wakamatsu told Jason Vargas to scrap the curveball and become a 2-pitch pitcher.  This despite an 87-mph fastball that he threw up in the zone.

Dr. D scoffed, with gusto, and declared Vargas' career over.  But Wakamatsu's insight was precisely correct, and it turned Vargas into a battling li'l fireplug who in 2009-10 has been, more or less, the M's most valuable pitcher after Felix.

Believe me, San-Man.  I notice!! when these specific, detailed, and successful adjustments occur.  ;- )

They haven't occurred -- or at least been reported -- very often.  Sorry.  That is my sober opinion of the situation, the last many years.

.................

But!  Like we say, a good part of that is doubtless the simple fact that not a lot is released through the papers.  Are the Mariners going to bother to explain to the beat writers, which technical adjustments they're making with Justin Smoak?  No, it's just "his swing is a little long"...

..................

How many young Mariners have emerged to fulfil their promise?  And how many of them have gone to other organizations -- Guillen, Meche, Thornton, Olivo, Beltre etc -- and immediately made impact adjustments?

Pat Gillick's era, that was finding overlooked ML talent - Rhodes, Boone, McLemore etc.  The 1990's, Seattle was notorious for zero second-line talent behind the HOF'ers.  Hargrove?  .... yowch...

You could make a pretty good argument that the transition into MLB, hasn't. ... some ex-M's are playing well elsewhere, of course, such as Choo, Ortiz, Varitek, etc.

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Q.  So the blog-o-sphere notices good stuff, too?  Any other examples of great Mariner coaching adjustments that made the papers?

A.  Sure, there have been a good collection.  Including:

• Brandon Morrow getting his fingers more on top of the fastball, preventing the sail effect and keying an overall plateau leap
• Kenji Johjima needing to catch the ball after his lead arm had crossed his body, cutting his pop time by 0.05 seconds or so
• Michael Saunders needing to strengthen his rotational torque, so that he could snap the bathead into the jam pitch that was killing him

And a few others.

...............

G-Money has frequently commended this or that little development that turned out to be goodness.  He could enumerate.

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