<p>It occurs to me that all the (legitimate) Mariners talk about all the drafts, all the prospects, all the trades, all the players, all the managers, everything that has consumed us about baseball over the past fourteen-plus seasons does not stack up in BASEBALL importance compared to the fundamental problem that plagues the #Seattle baseball franchise. In other words, if they would truly address and correct this single flaw, it would make more difference to the baseball future of this franchise than any array of specific moves.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 11/3/15 5:56am<br>the Ms are severely lacking in fundamentals and without those building blocks, you can gather the best players in baseball and still come up as a big fat zero!</div>

<p>The difference is indeed instructive, DaddyO.</p>

<p>Per Bob Nightengale tweet M's were "next in line" (to Boston) according to an MLB executive close to Dombrowski. <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/633984872642580481" target="_parent">https://twitter.com/...</a></p>
<p>Apparently the Blue Jays were serious suitors, while the Nationals never actually made an offer though they did show interest.<br /><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/reactions-to-red-sox-hiring-of-dav... target="_parent">http://www.mlbtrader...</a></p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 11/3/15 6:00am<br>gotta love the buzz</div>

<p>Sooo.... because there was pool play involved, losing was the better option (it eliminated a harder team)... why is that just not just smart management? If Central #Iowa didn't want to be eliminated in that manner than they could have won every game and earned the right to throw a game to eliminate someone else! Instead Snohomish was punished, forced to play another game and lost... If you are in a tournament that uses pool play and you are undefeated why SHOULDN'T you use the advantage you EARNED by winning all the other games? It's like people complaining about popovich when he rests his older players with a large divisional lead... they worked to earn that lead, why shouldn't they get to use it to give themselves the best chance of winning???</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 11/3/15 6:00am<br>why indeed</div>

<p>That's my bet Tacoma, But, to tell you the truth, I could trade Smith and not regret it too much. Minus his career year of '14, he's basically a 1.5-2 WAR guy, playing 70% of the time. But at the Winter Meetings, I not sure he brings you enough to trade him. I am not yet "in" on Marte: He's walking more than 100 pts in the bigs, after walking 30, 28 and 47 in A/AA/AAA. Is there a case of a guy's ability to walk doubling or tripling from his minor league days? If he's a 50 pt eye AND can hit .290...then you're looking at a .290-.340-.360 player. Do you displace Miller for that? Those numbers are, btw, basically almost exactly what Chris Taylor hit in .14. Do we assume Marte is what McClendon thought Almonte and Jones were going to be in CF? Hey, the kid has shown me he has value.....as a CF is he sort of a Ben Revere player? IDK, But how we see him impacts where Miller plays. On my SS list, Marte trails Miller and Taylor, both. But he's gaining. As a glovey Ben Revere in CF...that has value, certainly.</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 11/3/15 6:02am<br>you would think that there were so many options to choose from, but in reality there are only a few who make sense</div>

<p>What do you guys think of the Snohomish LL softball team "throwing" their game? People are debating about sportsmanship, but any sportsmanship is worthless if the tourney rules fundamentally result in a moral hazard like this case.</p>
<p>In any case, I was surprised at the overwhelming chiding of the Snohomish team or their coach. Indicative of the #Seattle fanbase?</p>
<div class="indented">Reply - mickiholley - 10/18/15 2:52pm<br>that was sad to see...I mean come on! We are talking about LL!! What is this teaching the kids??</div>