I believe The Veteran Gravitas were supposed to be on Sub Pop 200 but got squeezed out by some choice Cat Butt.
The Mariners are paying Ibañez $2.75 million this season to do more than tell stories. He’s expected to contribute as a designated hitter, backup first baseman and left-handed batter in a pinch. But, yes, Ibañez’s most substantial gift could be the gab he brings to a clubhouse craving for older players able and willing to share insights with those still learning the nuances of a frustrating game.
“It’s a ‘been there, done that’ thing,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said Wednesday during the team’s annual pre-spring training media luncheon at Safeco Field.
Asked if the 2012 Mariners suffered from an absence of veteran gravitas, Zduriencik was blunt.
“I don’t think there’s a doubt,” he said.
...“You’ve got a young kid sitting in the on-deck circle,” Zduriencik said, “and someone like Raul Ibañez gets up and puts his arm around the kid and says, ‘I’ve been in this situation before.’ That’s a whole lot different than coming from the hitting coach, or the manager.”
...“You can make an argument,” Wedge continued, “that Raul Ibañez is as good as anybody in the game in regard to performing and playing. That’s why you sign him, to be a baseball player. But beyond that, there are the intangibles he brings as a guy who has been part of championship clubs and really done everything in the game.”
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1. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: January 24, 2013 at 06:43 AM (#4353860)"Do you like gladiator movies?"
Well, ok, then.
... now that Carmen Fanzone has retired."
Yea, between 38 year old Ichiro Suzuki, 33 year old Miguel Olivo, 34 year old Chone Figgins, 37 year old Kevin Millwoood and 30 year old Brendan Ryan, the Mariners were practically infants.
"Who is the 6th best option for veteran presence on the market?"
Is usually the start of a really bad argument.
But if they did that then when he puts his arm around the kid in the on-deck circle it will be coming from a coach, the very thing they feel is so important to avoid!
The Astros are starting from absolutely nothing but I'm not sure it's going to take them all that long to start finishing ahead of the Mariners in that division.
Yeah, it seems like a headline that's true, but not for the reason the writer thinks that it is.
Maybe this kid?
Anthony Molina?
Too soon?
And then Ibanez says, "Kid, I've hit more home runs than anyone ever whose last name starts with the same letter as mine." Can you imagine how inspiring that must be? No hitting coach is going to be telling a kid that, not even the Dodgers hitting coach.
In related news, Brendan Ryan's leadership is worth more than his bat, Jason Bay's leadership is worth more than his bat, Justin Smoak's leadership is worth more than his bat, Mike Carp's leadership is worth more than his bat, Trayvon Robinson's leadership is worth more than his bat, Robert Andino's leadership is worth more than his bat...
"You can also make the argument that Raul Ibañez is 10 feet tall & runs the 100-yard dash in 5 seconds. That's bull****, too."
They were traded for each other.
Was their leadership included in the deal?
Maybe "the game" is a Tom Morello look-a-like contest.
Or, "do you know if the Mariners have an HR department"? or, "Young Kid, have you ever been in a Turkish prison"?
My friend seems pretty sure that Ibanez is gay. Think there is any truth to this?
"Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral, and the eating of snails to be immoral?"
Sure looks like it.
Not that it necessarily precludes this rumor, but he is married to a woman.
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