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for dealing with Prima Donnas. Let them know you value their talents, which is the reason you wooed them with big contracts. Let them know precisely which talents you especially appreciate, and where these fit in the larger context of the team. Re-assure them you value them for what they have proven they can do, and put them into positions into which you believe they can excel. As Bill James noted, nothing destroys confidence more than asking a player to do something he is incapable of doing.
So, I expect the Mariners went to Jack Wilson and said something like, "We don't know that you can stay healthy, and we aren't going to expect you to. But we know you can play great defense when you are healthy, and we are going to need someone who can play 2nd primarily, and some shortstop, and we are going to give you plenty of rest to help you where you struggle most: staying healthy. This is where you will best help our club be successful. This is why we paid highly for your and why we value your contribution to our ball club. Thank you for everying you do here. Things can change in an instant, but we need you for an entire season if we are going to win this division. You'd like that, wouldn't you Jack? win a division. sip some champagne, maybe pour some all over my bald head?"
Z and company certainly see something in Ryan over Wilson that you aren't seeing, Sandy. I wonder what it is, if not the health thing. I know Jack thinks the world of Wilson, based on his comments at last year's LL/USSM gathering: he works tirelessly in the offseason, and he pretty much sounded like Dr. D in adding he's a guy you want to go to war with. But I gotta say that aside from last night's shakiness, I don't remember watching an M shortstop go to the hole and fire to first like I've seen Ryan do this season sinc ethe days of ARod (Yuni is pretty much a blur to me). But I also remember early last season thinking, "Man, Wilson sure sucks with the bat, but he sure plays a sweet shortstop."
Captcha looks readable, so I'm going to trust the typos and assorted errors are cleaned up and post this puppy.