Can't argue with that.
Top draftpicks: Sam Hays (blew out arm), Garciaparra (soccer player), Mayberry (didn't sign), Adam Jones (good so traded him), Tui (3rd round pick), Clement (worst pick of the DECADE), Morrow (doing fine as a starter), Aumont (bad, limited upside pick), Fields (see Aumont)...
The Mariners have been through distinct phases: The hatred of the strikeout, the obliviousness to the power of the walk, etc. We had our theme drafts, like our crafty left-hander draft that resulted in...nobody.
Even when we FOUND talent (Choo, Cabrera, Jones, Sherrill, Soriano, etc) we traded it away, and were terrible about getting talent in return, with Felix being the main exception to that rule. Just atrocious talent evaluation to go with our talent development inadequacies.
I can't lay those organizational failures at Jack's doorstep. He wasn't here. You're right, we haven't been able to develop hitters here. It just has NOT happened. Doesn't mean it won't now, and the first step is getting decent hitting talent to develop in the first place, which we seem to be doing. When Greg Halman and his ridiculous Ks and lack of walks is your top hitting prospect multiple years running there's probably a talent-acquisition problem to begin with.
The Brewers haven't been able to get over the hump with their pitching, even with all the bats that Jack added to (and developed in) the minors. That's a concern to me as we go forward. But rebuilding the offense is paramount right now, and it's a skill he's already demonstrated in spades in his previous job.
I feel good about trusting the salad he's preparing for me and believing it's not poisoned like the last ten years of salad have been.
~G