Chat: 10/21/15 2:28pm
Chat: 10/21/15 2:28pm
Shouts
<p>And Moyer and Rauuul are guys that should have earned his respect and trust.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 10:56am<br>should have but really did not seem to</div>
<p>One of my fears is that as the building of a winner by this new group gets hard and somewhat expensive (especially if the farm doesn't produce trade chips as well as players for the Ms) is that #Lincoln will tighten the leash right at the wrong time. The more voices he trusts that he hears, the better.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 11/2/15 10:52am<br>that is a legit worry...it will be interesting to watch it unfold and see who has his ear and if they are there for the best interest of the team or for themselves.</div>
<p>Just the good parts !!! ;-) but those links are important for rebuilding attendance and generating the positive buzz we'd all like to feel next summer and fall. But you're right, the big thing is to build a new, WINNING tradition, and Rauuuul should know better than anyone where the Ms went wrong and should have some ideas on how to turn it around. And if his Ms credibility can help drag Mr. Lincoln into going along, all the much-much better.</p>
<p>Might want to be careful about retaining much of that "M's tradition".</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 10:57am<br>Ms tradition is an interesting thing...I think they need to completely scrap all traditions!</div>
<p>Then there's still Rauuuul. Another possibility for bullpen coach? - it doesn't have to be a pitcher, and Raul spent some time as a catcher, just like Lloyd, whom Leyland originally used as BP coach in #Detroit. But having him on the staff could only be a plus and another link to Ms tradition.</p>
<p>The Ms apparently also considered Dave Roberts in their search. With #San_Diego unsettled, I wonder if the Ms could get him, like Bogar, to come in a lesser position and be 3rd base/baserunning coach. DaddyO is right - baserunning, particularly beyond 2nd base, has been a MAJOR problem, even with guys like Cruz and Cano. If it was at all possible to get Maddux as pitching coach, Jamie Moyer or Juan Nieves for the bullpen, and Roberts for baserunning, spring training would go from interesting to fascinating, and contending in 2016 gets very realistic.</p>
<p>Leastways, the plot twists here are most interesting. Is the mad scientist going to blow up the lab, unleash the zombie apocalypse or burn his hands off messing with x-rays? What we do know is as follows: 1. JeDi is a Sith lord with unnatural abilities and unlimited ambition. 2. He has secret plans for a death star. 3. He expects this device to be fully operational by 2016.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 10:59am<br>it is indeed interesting to follow all the rumors and listen to the gossip as well as what is coming out of the Ms organization....this winter will be fun to watch.</div>
<p>I wanna know who our third base coach is going to be. I wanna know if we can, you know, get someone who runs the show there effectively. 'Cause if there's one position in this franchise that's been even worse than the GM position, it's third base coach.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:38pm<br>Never knew this was so influential a spot. </div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:01am<br>Third base coach is indeed influential. This is the guy that not only reads the plays and relays the signs, but also steps up in the dug out and keeps the players from dwelling too much on bad plays or bad pitches....he in most cases is a voice of reason. At least that is what a 3rd base coach is supposed to be...</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:02am<br>and yes...I want to know who the Ms are able to sign on for that role</div>
<p>Re: the "longest playoff drought" factoid, Howard #Lincoln has in any event got what he deserved, (1) a steady, safe, and substantial (though not maximized) increase in the value of the franchise, and (2) the booby prize with regard to #Baseball.</p>
<p>I've decided to be positive about this. </p>
<p>I'm positive we have no idea at this point whether this regime will successful in reaching their stated goals. </p>
<p>I'm also positive that it will be better than the Zduriencik and Bavasi regimes, given how LOW those two GM's set the bar.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:39pm<br>The bar is lown that's fornsure. Got a guy he trust and knows.. I do like that move</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:03am<br>being positive is a good thing...lol</div>
<p>Mariners have the longest playoff drought in any of the 4 major North American sports other than the #Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Yeah, this had BETTER work.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:39pm<br>Wow, that does speak volumes.. never would have guessed</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:04am<br>desperate times call for desperate measures!</div>
<p>I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out, 'cause the die is definitely cast. Looks like everyone will be working from the same playbook. It remains to be seen if the playbook is a winner. They'd better hope so. Fans of this franchise can't take a third consecutive failed GM. At least this fan can't.</p>
<p>There's a whole lotta highly motivated people out there who THINK they know what they're doing. But there's only a short list of those who have demonstrated that they TRULY know what they're doing. At this point DiPoto is the former. Let us pray he becomes the latter.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:40pm<br>Does leave you hoping rather than hopeful</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:05am<br>fans are ready to rise up and flog the next GM if he fails to show any progress. This team is ready to just turn belly up and quit...they need to pull together and work from the same page and hopefully get things done!</div>
<p>Glad to know the Mariners won't have anyone around who will raise a peep against DiPoto's plans. The first step in gaining command is having a second-in-command who can check you before you wreck you. President Bartlett had Leo, an evil overlord has an 8 year old boy on staff to point out plan flaws. Who knows, maybe DiPoto has one of those too. But he's certainly setting it up to make sure everyone is either his friend or knows him intimately. Outside perspectives are not required in our new Mega-Groupthink. So we'd better just be good at it. When I see Epstein hire Maddon because of his greatness instead of for his ability to kow-tow, though, it makes me curious about the need for yes #Men here.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:41pm<br>I like picking your guys.. otherwise you are left with doubt</div>
<p>But Moj is on to something: There seems to be some Discovered Grand New Paradigm-True Believer stuff going on here. Almost like they think they've found the new Moneyball. "Seems", anyway. I'll give DiPoto this, he's bold. It would lead me to believe he will be bold with player trades/signings, too. Of course, Custer was bold, too. :) Nah, I'm not really indicating a debacle in action....I just liked the line. Felix, Cano, Cruz, Seager....win the day with those guys and you win the day with the rest.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:42pm<br>No need for drastic changes, that does worry me</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:06am<br>drastic changes need to be made but the big question is what changes will be best.</div>
<p>Well, it all gets clear in retrospect.</p>
<p>JD: Lloyd, are you willing to do every single thing I ask of you?<br />
LM: Well, what exactly are you talking about?<br />
JD: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:07am<br>haha!! That seems pretty accurate</div>
<p>yeah...I think we're seeing what happens when a heavily-process-oriented, heavily SABR GM has had a little too much old school BS for one lifetime before getting his first free-handed gig. LOL His plan, now, is...hire guys that think like I do and hope that the players respect them.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:43pm<br>Maybe I'm alone.. culture and way they play needs to change.. smart to hire dipoto guys.. don't just get all these different views. Everyone needs to be on same page. Players have no choice but to buy in.. that's there job, but only wins produce buy-in</div>
<p>My thinking is that JeDi and Servais believe they have found the Grand Unified Theory that unites the four forces of #Baseball, but they have been thwarted in their mad #Science experiments by obtuse old school managers. Now, the inmates run the asylum. I don't think JeDi would hire his drinking buddies, but he definitely wants someone who is willing to drift with the kaiju.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:44pm<br>Maybe they just hired jedi for the star wars bucks and press</div><div class="indented">Reply - IcebreakerX - 10/23/15 7:22pm<br>That's some grade A scifi mashup right there.</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:08am<br>makes my head hurt trying to wrap around the whole warped thing! </div>
<p>"Hey Scott, have you ever managed at any level before?"<br />
"Nah, but I played for parts of 11 seasons in the bigs. I got this. Besides, my bench coach has experience."<br />
"Oh, so Tim, you've managed in the bigs?"<br />
"You bet! 22 games as a skipper. Winning record too."<br />
"So, both of you: your major qualification for your new job is being drinking buddies with the GM?"<br />
"Hey, what're you tryin' to say?!"</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/25/15 6:07am<br>haha!!! that pretty much sums it up!!</div>
<p>More than that...Tim Bogar will be his bench coach. #SCORE!</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/25/15 6:07am<br>this will be a very interesting off-season</div>
<p>THIS JUST IN: Angels Assistant GM Scott Servais to be named Mariners manager Friday. (via @latimes)<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/657559706894995456" target="_parent">https://twitter.com/...</a></p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/25/15 6:08am<br>still scratching my head here...it will be interesting to see how things play out....</div>
<p>Fun read at BJOL on historic baseball trades. (Enterin' that time of year.) <a href="http://www.billjamesonline.com/balance_of_trade/" target="_parent">http://www.billjames...</a></p>
<p>The #2 and #4 biggest trades of all time were made by one Chuck Armstrong. .... 5 of the biggest ever involved Curt Schilling; the Bloody Sock was a commodity in 5 different blockbusters. ... Josh Beckett & ? for Hanley Ramirez and ? was the #1 "fair" trade of all time -- making it a "litmus test" for those who panned one side and extolled the other.</p>
<p>Great infotainment :- )</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:46am<br>The ol bloody sock.. still wonder about that to this day</div>
<p>Reading about Mel Stottlemyre jr.'s wish to be closer to home makes me wonder if he'll hire on as the MiLB pitching coordinator (the previous guy was cut loose) so that he has some flexibility in schedule rather than take a team coaching staff job. And I hope the Ms really can make a run at Mike Maddux for the ML staff. If he and Bogar/Servais got close while on the #Texas staff, this could be a coup far better that we could have hoped a few months ago. November 1st might be Christmas this year for the Ms!</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:09am<br>that will something to watch for...</div>
<p>I've been kinda wondering if the guys Dipoto is interviewing are also giving him a look at how other teams see the Ms, particularly for trades. #Boston and #Tampa Bay, besides having interesting candidates, also are teams that might deal with the Ms. Conspiracy theory? If Dipoto is really pretty much settled on Bogar, with Servais a dark horse, wouldn't interviewing some of the best and brightest from other clubs be a valid intel method?</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/23/15 5:48am<br>I don't think anyone would give to much info out.. tgats bot a good sign to hire on someone who obviously will sell you out in future if need be for another opportunity, but it's worth a shot</div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:10am<br>seems to be a lot of sell-outs who are willing to trade their souls for a chance at a winning team...</div>
<p>If they can re-sign Iwakuma, sign back Lowe, sign Fister, and sign the Korean closer without bending #Lincoln out of sorts, and sign a few other guys for the BP, then trades MIGHT get a CF and a C. But Fister is probably the only mid-grade SP that would sign a reasonable (incentive-loaded make-good) contract even with Safeco to pitch in, and he might bounce back and he might not. But anyone better would probably break the bank and require #Lincoln to eat Ramen 3 times a week. So I'm bracing myself to see real value leave and some gambles be taken --- BECAUSE I believe Dipoto will have limits to what he can do.</p>
<p>OK, Matt, I find my own ideas about a roster for next year a bit disturbing as well. With the collapse of the farm system, it's hard to see where value can be found to get a CF, a decent 80-game C, a mid-level SP, a closer (I'm in on the Korean, but he'll cost #Money at least), and some BP spaghetti - Dipoto says he prefers to trade instead of FA signings. I conclude VERY reluctantly that some trades from the ML roster are going to be required to avoid selling extra-low on the guys on the farm who may have value that can be unlocked by better coaching. The up-the-middle guys are seemingly harder to find than the Harts, Morses, and Trumbos. Where can we deal from? If we say Elias and Morrison *could* go, does that get us something decent back? The present roster construction drives me to think (drink?) more value has to go out and more gambles might need to be taken in the short-term to set up a contender.</p>
<p>Really wonder what the first move will be.. I think it will be Ms going after a legit reliever. I feel this is team's biggest need.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:20am<br>the team has way too many needs to even speculate as to what their first moves should be...I do agree about needing a reliever who can actually perform.</div>
<p>Yeah, I don't know that you can count on either Flores or Montero (or Choi) for anything. If they aren't thrown in on a trade this off season, by all means let them try and force their way onto the roster in the spring. But don't plan anything around them.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - Browns8625 - 10/21/15 6:01pm<br>I thought Montero looked much better towards the end of the year.. but yes putting together something around that would not be a championship caliber squad by any means. </div><div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/30/15 11:22am<br>Montero looked better near the end, my worry is what will happen after a few months off...will it take him until the end of next season to look decent again</div>
<p>Bat571, I find your excessive faith in marginal to downright disproved prospects disturbing. You don't decide on the core of your line-up by looking at player #26 (Flores) and saying "gee...I'd hate to lose THAT guy...so let's, instead, punt production at first base and hope our thrice-failed no-discipline hack prospect (Montero) does OK." Not if you want to win in 2016.</p>