Here's hoping that, in the coming days, Bavasi goes off on more of his players.

"Richie Sexson? More like Richie Suckson. Har! Am I right? And Kenji Johjima? Seriously, #### that guy."

And he’s gonna have some stupid answer, some dumbass answer.

This is the best quote I've ever seen from a [former] GM. Seriously. Give me more!

On Bedard going only five or six innings and 100 pitches of late, Bavasi says a lot of pitchers can have days where 90 pitches feel like 200. On why Bedard can't go longer, Bavasi says it's a good question, but one that has to be put to Bedard.

"He'll have a stupid answer for you, you can count on it,'' Bavasi said. "He'll have some dumbass answer.''

I didn't realize that Bedard's season had gone into the shitter. Last time I looked at Bedard's stats they were pretty good.

They're still not that bad, although not exactly worth the bux.

Bill Bavasi deserved to get fired as the Mariners' GM, but you get the feeling he'd be a great guy to go to a game with...

Bill Bavasi deserved to get fired as the Mariers' GM, but you get the feeling he'd be a great guy to go to a game with...

Agreed. He seems like a good guy. I don't think anyone's revelling in this because they don't like him. He's not Jim Bowden or Kevin Malone.

Boy that really makes you wonder what Brian Sabean would say about Barry Zito if he got fired...

I, for one, would love to see Bavasi throw the whole Seattle organization under the bus. I'm sure they deserve it.

I sat with Bavasi and Kevin Towers during a spring training game through a baseball prospectus event a couple of years ago. Both were nice guys and engaging. Bavasi had the better sense of humor, but definitely seemed surprised and confused each time Towers made a point about GM'ing or baseball at large.

ok, so let's say Hughes and Melky? that way they could keep Ichiro in right....

I disagree about trading Bedard at the nadir of his value. The guy to focus on trading is Ichiro to the Cubs, Dodgers or Yankees. Ichiro will not be good if/when the Mariners become good again. The Mariners need to maximize their ROI at this point because they're in the SUCK part of the success cycle. If you could fleece the Dodgers for Matt Kemp and James Loney you should go right ahead and do it.

Anyone know whether Ichiro is interested in blocking a trade, and which teams he added to his no-trade list this year?

Edit: Not that I think the Mariners would trade him anyway, just curious whether they could in theory.

On Bedard ... his responses may be dumbass but if Bavasi expected more than 6 IP per start from an SP, why did he trade for Bedard. His career-high was last year at 6.5 and that is the only season in which he's managed to even reach 6. He's yet to throw 200 IP in a season and only once made over 30 starts. This is his age 29 season so not necessarily a guy you expect to start becoming more durable.

But sure, trading low on Bedard now would be a great idea for the new GM. Don't clear out the old dreck clogging the roster, don't clear out the serious mistakes like Silva (not that you get anything for him), clear out the one guy with talent they've added in the last 4 years, a guy to whom they don't have a long-term financial commitment so trading him won't even save them any substantial money. Cuz lord knows this is all Bedard's fault.

But sure, trading low on Bedard now would be a great idea for the new GM. Don't clear out the old dreck clogging the roster, don't clear out the serious mistakes like Silva (not that you get anything for him), clear out the one guy with talent they've added in the last 4 years, a guy to whom they don't have a long-term financial commitment so trading him won't even save them any substantial money. Cuz lord knows this is all Bedard's fault.

The Pirates hit the jackpot with this problem in 2007-2008. They did not trade Bay or Nady when their values were low and now their values are way up. Now, that doesn't mean they'll trade them at the right point, but moving those guys last year would have been a mistake and just a typical frustration move, similar to a frustration foul in basketball or penalty in hockey. Gotta do things rationally, even if you're not happy with the current state of affairs.

they're in the SUCK part of the success cycle.

Yeah, and keeping or trading Ichiro! isn't going to change that. If he's happy and the organization doesn't mind paying him, keep the fans as happy as they can be. The Mariners will still get the #1 pick in the draft, and maybe, just maybe, they'll not draft a relief pitcher.

The Pirates hit the jackpot with this problem in 2007-2008. They did not trade Bay or Nady when their values were low and now their values are way up.

And now Nady is injured.

The only good time to trade Nady was between mid-May and mid-June of 2008. No time before or, seemingly, after. That's why "flipping for prospects" is not exactly a done deal no matter who your veteran is.

I think Ichiro and Kenji aren't going anywhere as long as the Nintendo guy, Mr. Yamauchi, has the influence he does in the owners group. They didn't badly need a catcher when they signed Kenji, and with Jeff Clement ripping he cover off the ball in AAA this April, they resigned Jojima for 3 more years.

I wish that I knew what Bedard was thinking about November 1, 2009, when he can become an unrestricted free agent, IIRC. I think he cares more about being left alone than pitching for a contender. I had been thinking that he'd probably sign with his hometown Blue Jays (home province, anyway), but if he thinks that would put him even more under the media microscope, maybe he'll consider staying in Seattle. The media is pretty easy on Mariners players, and visiting Canadian fans might give him some support when he pitches.

I disagree about trading Bedard at the nadir of his value. The guy to focus on trading is Ichiro to the Cubs, Dodgers or Yankees. Ichiro will not be good if/when the Mariners become good again. The Mariners need to maximize their ROI at this point because they're in the SUCK part of the success cycle. If you could fleece the Dodgers for Matt Kemp and James Loney you should go right ahead and do it.

Maybe on paper, the best idea is to trade Ichiro. But Ichiro is adored in Seattle, and he's one of those players whose value can't be measured in a strictly BA/OBP/SLG sense, so this isn't just about getting a ROI. And for a club that's as PR conscious as the M's are, management is well aware that trading Ichiro would be the ultimate slap in the face to the fans, especially as demoralized as they are now.

Plus what Ghost said. As long as Mr. Yamauchi remains the majority owner, Ichiro isn't going anywhere (and apparently neither is Johjima, but that's a different story entirely).

I think Ghost and SMK are spot on re: trading Ichiro. In the Seattle market, I'd be willing to bet Ichiro is a self-sustaining investment; that is, the revenue he brings in via merchandising and increased attendance goes a long, long way towards offsetting his salary. In that sense, Ichiro is the ROI.

I don't think you could do it overnight, but the Seattle fans can be eased into being okay with trading Ichiro away. You start with a couple of newspaper pieces about how it might be a good idea, then you gradually hype up the rumors. I bet they could get public opinion over to the "trade Ichiro" side by the deadline. It would accelerate if Ichiro made it known that he'd like to play for a contender to "get a ring".

If I was a Seattle fan I'd be pissed that they wanted to keep an aging slap hitter instead of trying to improve the team. I wouldn't be too enthusiastic saying "Hey kids, let's go to the ballpark and watch Ichiro get two singles while the team gets pounded by the Angels!"

If I was a Seattle fan I'd be pissed that they wanted to keep an aging slap hitter instead of trying to improve the team. I wouldn't be too enthusiastic saying "Hey kids, let's go to the ballpark and watch Ichiro get two singles while the team gets pounded by the Angels!"

And that's what separates you from the majority of Seattle Mariners fans.

they didn't badly need a catcher when they signed Kenji,

??? In 2005, the season before they signed Johjima, Miguel Olivo produced a 20 OPS+ in 157 PA. Yorvit Torrealba, a 71 OPS+ in 119 PA. The 42 year old Pat Borders, a 34 OPS+ in 175 PA. Their catchers collectively hit: 216 .253 .313, 566 OPS.

In 2006, with Johjima, Mariners catchers hit: 269 .310 .420, .730 OPS.

???

I assume that meant re-signed Johjima.

> You start with a couple of newspaper pieces about how it might be a good idea

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10884057/rss

Moving Ichiro would be smart, but Mariners likely won't ship him
July 2, 2008
By Scott Miller