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From a very healthy list of candidates, we'll pick out a few of our fave whipping boys:

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THE KING

From my point of view, the 1st inning Friday was a perfect example of the frustrations that Dr. D -- and Scott Servais and Jerry Dipoto -- have been talking about.

Time and again he'd go 1-1 on a hitter and then fling a fastball somewhere in the direction of the low-away corner - and miss by two feet.  It's an echo chamber I'm running here, or a tape loop, or pick your metaphor for lousy writing.  But it all adds up to the same thing:  Felix wanting garbage swings instead of crisp one-hop grounders smacked at his (very capable) infielders.

After he put the M's in a 3-0 hole to start the game, he managed to hold the Tigers down through guile and sheer force of will.  It was both impressive and heartbreaking to watch, as he gimped through hitters who knew they had a hammer-lock on the ballgame.  And it reminded you of 1982, when the M's played just fine after the score was 4-0 against them.

The last two weeks his CTL remains at 8.6/4.9, when it should be 5.5/2.5.  He's capable, but in this corner (and I believe in SEA management's corner) he simply will not accept a career transition.

Do you even think he has acknowledged a #2 status behind Paxton?  I'll bet you twenty bucks he hasn't.

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MIKE LEAKE

His engine is sputtering and the carburetor is trying to catch fire, like a 1960's Chrysler on a Christmas morning.  He's only walked 1 man in the last 12 innings (two starts) and he's starting to execute better.

He'll figure it out and get back to 100'ish performance, but in the meantime .... our offense is being asked to come back from too many 0-4 deficits.  :- )  We're 26-19 and on pace for 94 wins, but 94-win teams aren't constantly performing 7th-inning miracles to crawl out of the coffin.

Jerry Dipoto has had $12M fall out of the sky like manna from heaven, pure and simple.  He's got a team with a chance, a good chance.  There's absolutely zero reason for wasting a season when he could take a last-season contract off somebody's hands.  Any suggestions as to who?

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BABVA,

Dr DL