How To Mislead With Words
by Jeff Sullivan on Nov 14, 2008 3:50 PM PST
in Miscellaneous
55 comments
I see Pravda's been hiring:
Of the three, Ibanez is the player the Mariners would love to have back.
...
The Mariners, though, clearly want him back -- new general manager Jack Zduriencik reached out to Ibanez by telephone.
The truth about that phone call, from three different sources, one of them being literally the very next paragraph from the same story:
"This guy deserves a phone call from the general manager because of his contributions to this club, this city, and the type of person he is, a guy of great character," Zduriencik said. "We'll see where it goes from here."
Ibanez, 36, hit .293 this year with 23 homers and a team-leading 110 runs batted in. Zduriencik termed the conversation "very cordial" but was noncommittal about how hard the Mariners would pursue re-signing Ibanez.
"It was nothing more than a complimentary conversation of respect that he very well deserves — an introduction so he knows who I am," Zduriencik said.
If the Mariners really badly want Ibanez to come back, there's no indication of it anywhere, save for this article, in which the statement is totally unsubstantiated. It's like saying "Erik Bedard is an alcoholic. He recently went to the store." The former sentence is in no way supported by the latter, especially if you already know prior to writing that the reason for the action in the latter is completely unrelated to the former. So it's more like saying "Erik Bedard is an alcoholic. He recently went to the store" when you know with absolute certainty that all he bought were Shark Bites and granola*. It's just a silly and irresponsible thing to write.
Raul Ibanez is a below-average player. He's also 36 years old and has been to the playoffs once. I highly doubt GMZ wants to pay for him to come back, just like I highly doubt Raul would want to re-sign. The reason for the phone call was to allow a new GM to introduce himself to the team's elder statesman and express his gratitude for all Ibanez has done over the years. That's it. It was out of respect, not some desire to convince a declining veteran to stick around and not win ever.
Old players who aren't very good and are overvalued by the market serve little purpose to a ballclub in transition, and GMZ knows that. The local media is gonna need to learn how to let go. Shit's about to get real.
* if all Erik Bedard bought at the store were Shark Bites and granola I would be more inclined to call him a stoner**
** I am not calling Erik Bedard a stoner
1 recs |
55 comments
Email
Print
Comments
THe Cubs would have the worst defensive OF of all time.
by JI on Nov 14, 2008 5:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not even close
I got to witness this firsthand/ It was perhaps the highlight of my baseball life.
by JI on Nov 14, 2008 5:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was at that game.
I sat in the lower right field level seats, and I was really excited to see Ichiro up close. Unfortunately, that was the only day out of the year that Hargrove makes Ichiro DH.
JI/Robert '08!
by Fin on Nov 16, 2008 12:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It would be entertaining, to say the least.
""Bobby Crosby’s Release" - Sounds like a good title to Mr. Crosby’s first work in his next career now that we know he can’t play baseball." - Joey C.
by Blicks on Nov 16, 2008 7:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well Z's quote indicates the opposite of wanting him back...
It seems to imply that the only reason he called Raul is because he “deserved” it. On top of that, when does a GM ever have serious intent to resign a guy and say, “We’ll see where it goes from here.”? No, they normally say, “We really want (Player X) back and will do everything to re-sign him.” I think this can only be a positive sign of no Raul in our future. Plus you have to think Z, over almost anybody else, would love to get himself some more draft picks considering his background, right?
Oh, and Erik Bedard is an alcoholic…
by SethGrandpa on Nov 14, 2008 4:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I like how we haven't heard anything about calling Willie
by Jeff Sullivan on Nov 14, 2008 4:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It will be interesting to see what happens to him.
by Edgar for Pres on Nov 14, 2008 5:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He will coach a Little League Baseball Team somewhere in Southwest WA
I am no longer in Spokane, but I think I'll keep the name anyway.
by InSpokane on Nov 14, 2008 5:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
St. Louis!
I'm being owned again!
by Coach Owens on Nov 14, 2008 6:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Once he realizes he can't get a major league deal anywhere else
he’ll come back to Seattle because we’ll at least guarantee him $850,000 or so to sit on the end of the bench.
That’d be my guess, and for some reason I wouldn’t be disappointed if that happened
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Washingtonhighways.org
by I'm NOT Corco on Nov 15, 2008 1:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
according to WIllie on KJR
he hasn’t heard personally from Z or the FO; he knows they have talked to Boras, but he was honest and said he didn’t know if the call was about him or not.
by msb on Nov 15, 2008 8:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if GMZ asked him about the lawn dart?
I am no longer in Spokane, but I think I'll keep the name anyway.
by InSpokane on Nov 14, 2008 4:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
*braces self*
I’m totally ready, let’s do this.
by section331 on Nov 14, 2008 6:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hot Fuzz was an awesome movie.
I'm being owned again!
by Coach Owens on Nov 14, 2008 6:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I'm just saying that because the line at the end of the post (not counting the Bedard "notes) reminded me of it.
I'm being owned again!
by Coach Owens on Nov 14, 2008 6:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah?
I thought it looked lame, but so did Shaun of the Dead, and that movie was a riot.
by Teej on Nov 14, 2008 6:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Some of the jokes are kind of old, but the brilliant acting by Pegg and Frost, great writing by Wright and Pegg
and Wright’s great directing makes it just as good as Shaun of the Dead.
I'm being owned again!
by Coach Owens on Nov 14, 2008 6:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
And sorry for going off-topic here, Jeff.
I'm being owned again!
by Coach Owens on Nov 14, 2008 6:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah, good call.
I have this and the off-topic thread up, and I get confused.
by Teej on Nov 14, 2008 6:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Rec'd for "Shit's about to get real."
Best laugh I’ve had all day. So true.
by Double06 on Nov 14, 2008 6:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Tiny update
From John Hickey:
’’We’ve only talked the one time, but I think the conversation we had was cordial enough,‘’ Zduriencik said. ’’He’s going to want an update. I think he will want to know who our manager is before he makes any decision.’’
Sounds like from Zduriencik’s perspective, Ibanez is a nice guy to have around but he will not go out of his way to keep him.
Wait a sec, we’re supposed to want Ibanez back really badly…or something.
by ThundaPC on Nov 14, 2008 8:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
OHHH....that article is by Rhett Bollinger
The same guy that came up with this gem when describing Bill Bavasi’s tenure:
The son of renowned MLB executive Buzzie Bavasi relied more on statistical information than he probably should have, which proved costly.
Ahhh…yep, MLB.com hired a good one here….
by ThundaPC on Nov 14, 2008 9:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Do you think Marinerfan47 is some other douche who loved John Mabry?
How many could there be?
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Washingtonhighways.org
by I'm NOT Corco on Nov 15, 2008 1:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Bollinger is
a recent journalism grad who’s popped up recently covering several teams for mlb.com
by msb on Nov 15, 2008 8:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dear Heavens, NO!!!!
Jeez – someone who’s actually DUMBER than Street?
Heck, give the gig to Divish or something. Or one of out-of-work Times writers…
This signature space for rent.
by PositivePaul on Nov 15, 2008 10:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember when we had Brock?
Those were good times. Too brief, I fear.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/
by JY on Nov 15, 2008 11:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Now we have him down here in S.D.!
Too bad no one alive enjoys reading about the Padres. Because he’s damn solid.
by Teej on Nov 16, 2008 12:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
No kidding...
This signature space for rent.
by PositivePaul on Nov 17, 2008 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder how long the conversation actually was?
How long does it take to show respect but decline interest?
by mark sobba on Nov 15, 2008 10:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
you know those phone calls after bad dates?
The ones that are made out of social obligation, even though you know there won’t be a second date, but you’re just masochistic enough to make the call anyway because you think it’s expected of you? Two minutes of awkward small talk followed by “Well, see you around….”?
This call probably lasted about that long.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.
by pdb on Nov 15, 2008 11:22 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Would you trade Beltre to the Rangers?
Please?
by BuckyB on Nov 15, 2008 1:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If they give us what we want, yes please.
Fucal
by JI on Nov 15, 2008 4:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Just a guess...
Is your last name on the back of your belt?
Screw you, Mariners. I'm back in football's loving arms. *edit: well, shit. This isn't going well.
by kevin_ess on Nov 15, 2008 3:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldn't they have offered Ibanez an extension by now if they wanted him to stay?
I mean they were pretty quick about extending Johjima.
by Fin on Nov 16, 2008 12:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Just out of curiosity I wandered onto the ESPN hot stove page
And had a really good laugh at what they had for the Mariners projected starters. Apparently Wlad Balentien is going to clone himself and they will be in LF and CF. Bryan LaHair is still at first. And my heartiest laugh….Cesar Jimenez will be catching. I thought we had good depth there? I guess not. God ESPN is dumb.
by Scrupio on Nov 16, 2008 6:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lookout Landing
Related FanShots on Lookout Landing
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Random photos: Baseball celebrates St. Patrick's Day
- CC Sabathia mocks Hamels' video grenade ad with one of own
- Spring Snapshot: Angels look to retain their iron grip on AL West
- Mathis hopes strong postseason will translate into better at-bats
- Rangers manager Ron Washington regrets cocaine use in '09
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
