Former Mariners outfielder Jay Buhner is one of the most beloved players in the history of the franchise where fan opinion is concerned. And Buhner has long been a staunch supporter of the organization and its moves, almost morphing into a goodwill ambassador of sorts.
That’s why, the interview he gave earlier today on ESPN 710 Seattle’s Brock and Salk show was, well, kind of stunning in its frankness.
When the radio hosts were talking about an Ichiro extension, Salk asked Buhner what his reaction would be if Ichiro was brought back for three years, $35 million or $40 million—which works out to just over half (well, OK, more like 60 percent on the low end and 73 percent on high end) of the salary he’s now earning.
“I’d vomit,’’ Buhner said. “I mean, really, no offense. No offense, we’ve got to get this organization turned around. You can’t be spending all the money on one guy.’‘
Buhner went on to say that he doesn’t necessarily blame Ichiro for all the team’s problems. He said he’d understand if the Mariners wanted to bring him back “as part of the equation” and have a fit on a rebuilding squad.
“But at the same time, they need help desperately,’’ Buhner said. “They need some veteran leadership in the clubhouse. Wedgie (manager Eric Wedge) can’t keep growing the beard, growing the mustache, shaving it off, that’s not the answer.’‘
Repoz
Posted: July 19, 2012 at 09:20 AM |
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1. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: July 19, 2012 at 10:33 AM (#4186895)These two statements do not go together.
He just stating the effect and the cause!
Some people are into vomit. Not my scene, but consenting adults and all that.
Buhner already does this.
From this article about his retirement.
Ichiro is clearly a veteran, but how do you take that and turn it into him offering "veteran help"? Is Ichiro going to work with young players on their ball slapping techniques? Is Ichiro even going to talk to team-mates? In english? Of all the veterans in the MLB, Ichiro strikes me as perhaps the absolute worst pick to provide veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
And you are assuming there was no inflection in what Buhner said. Isn't that a moronic assumption? Did he mean don't bring Ichiro back ever, or did he mean spending too money on Ichiro would make him vomit, but allows that since the team needs veteran leadership bringing Ichiro back for a reasonable amount would not make him vomit?
I don't know. Ichiro has stayed in shape and hustles all the time. In terms of setting an example of how to maximize your talents, Ichiro's pretty good. And apparently, while he doesn't like giving interviews in English, he speaks functional English, and is known for a hilarious, off-color sense of humor. Link below from an interview with Bob Costas, NSFW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtImIqR5neU
http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/newsstand/discussion/ichiros_speech_to_all_stars_revealed1/
Who knows, maybe the whole team can reinvent themselves as 200-single-a-year hitters. They couldn't get much worse.
That's more Gaki no Tsukai's thing, isn't it?
This is an absurd exaggeration.
The real issue is that the team already has Ichiro's veteran leadership, and they still suck.
Nothing against Ichiro, but someone who still needs an interpreter isn't going to be able to be a "veteran leader", at least in the way this term is usually meant..I guess he could have the interpreter chew out some of the younger guys for not hustling.
I think a big money multi-year deal would obviously be crazy, but bringing the guy back for one year for $5 million or so would be quite reasonable.
And he can and does speak English with his teammates as well as most Latin American players do. He'd be fine without an interpreter.
They might have been even worse without him. Think about that for a second.
Yes, the 6th best organization in baseball could field a team worse than this. I'll believe it when I see it.
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