How Not To Make Your Case To Mariner Fans

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 8, 2008 8:58 PM PST in Seattle Mariners News, Regular

But for many fans, just moving Jones represents a major gamble. He could turn into a superstar for the next decade while the club has the rights to Bedard for just two years -- pending talks of an extension. Bavasi was ready to take that risk if it means Bedard can help this club return to the postseason for the first time since 2001.

Bavasi has done this kind of deal in the past. When he was general manager with the Anaheim Angels in 1995, he made a trading deadline deal with the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Jim Abbott.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Most fans don't know who we beat in 95.

Let alone why it happened. They remember Griffey, Arod, Bone, and Edgar (and sometimes Cora & Tino)

Let's face it, the fans that they care about don't read well, skim to the parts that contain pretty adjectives and verbs (think "tremendous hustle"), and don't have the comprehension to realize what those 4 sentences mean when you put them together. Asking them to remember what happened to another team? Pointless.

These are filler words to mask that they are trying to cast Bavasi as some brave fighter on behalf of the M's.

by Faux on Feb 8, 2008 9:23 PM PST reply actions

The most amusing quote about the Jim Abbott trade.

"I traded four can't-miss guys who you can't remember now," [Bill Bavasi] said.

He sure doesn't mince words.

by AK1984 on Feb 8, 2008 9:25 PM PST reply actions

Can't Miss Guys

Bill Simas, Andrew Lorraine, John Snyder, McKay Christensen.

Phew. The man's got a point.

Scouting Book: Keeping Track of Baseball's Prospects, Closers, etc.

by Kahuna on Feb 9, 2008 6:04 AM PST up reply actions

Abbott had a notable 1996 too.

"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 8, 2008 9:27 PM PST reply actions

In a similar vein...

Just before the presser at 2 (which I missed, thanks to a parent-teacher conference), the KJR folks were discussing this trade in comparison w/the trade bringing Kevin Mitchell aboard. I'm not sure there's any significance there, but I thought it was an interesting comparison anyway...

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 8, 2008 9:32 PM PST reply actions

SportsCenter sez:

With the Bedard trade, Mariners are now the favorites to win the AL West. We also have one of the best defensive teams in the AL.

Media brainwashing beginning?

by ThundaPC on Feb 8, 2008 10:45 PM PST reply actions

Boomshakalaka!!

ESPN, now with the intellectual content of NBA Jam.

You can ching ching ching cash in on this tragedy.

by John Morgan @ Lookout Landing on Feb 8, 2008 10:51 PM PST up reply actions

The DOUBLE DUNK!!!

I miss that game.

MLS Seattle

by Nick S on Feb 9, 2008 12:00 AM PST up reply actions

Of course we have the best defense in the AL!

Not only do we have a ONE TWO PUNCH! but we have TWO golden glovers. Plus, Sexson's height helps him be an awesome first baseman. Also, Yuni is amazing! And Ibanez has all those sports center catches! How can we not be at the top of the AL in defense?

by joof on Feb 8, 2008 11:08 PM PST up reply actions

i may be in the major minority

but i really think Yuni is going to be awesome this season

by seattlebruin on Feb 8, 2008 11:12 PM PST up reply actions

Acctually

I really like Yuni too, so much that I bought his shirt when I was at a game last season.. I think he's gonna be awesome this season. I don't know why I put Yuni in there, except for maybe he makes flashy amazing looking plays, which sometimes cause people to overestimate him.

by joof on Feb 8, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions

More like Steve Phillips braindisintegrating

by JLC on Feb 8, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions

I'm trying to look at this another way

Its a given that Bavasi sucks when making deals under pressure.

But just as a fan...pure fan...

We get to watch Bedard pitch for OUR team....I hate the trade, but damn, I think some people are not imagining those shitty Tuesdays at work, but afterwards they get to go see Erik Bedard. Fuck you Bavasi*

I might have Mariner-induced bi-polar disorder

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Feb 8, 2008 11:10 PM PST reply actions

I think we're all looking forward to that part

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 8, 2008 11:11 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, let no one say that Bedard ain't the shit

Also, I think we all hope that Adam Jones + the jolly giant pitching prospects murderize the AL East for the next eight years, and that Adam breaks a bat over Jeter's head.

by Jordan of Boise on Feb 11, 2008 10:58 AM PST up reply actions

Your last line,

"I might have Mariner-induced bipolar disorder," seems rather correct for how I feel right now, too.

by tworsandtwols on Feb 8, 2008 11:13 PM PST up reply actions

1995 worked out well.

Now we get a whole season of it. Sweet.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 8, 2008 11:11 PM PST reply actions

Not for the Angels.

According to the analogy, we are the 1995 Angels.

by Wilder83 on Feb 8, 2008 11:21 PM PST up reply actions

Hence the joke, homeslice.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 8, 2008 11:58 PM PST up reply actions

Indeed,

But sarcasm is a difficult sell without tone of voice and body language.

I'm still firmly in the "a1" camp but I'm really looking forward to seeing what Bedard does in a Mariners uniform. Man, I'm ready for some baseball in a bad way!

by 116in01 on Feb 9, 2008 12:45 AM PST up reply actions

First an NBA Jam reference

and now the use of the word homeslice.

I miss the '90s.

by Wilder83 on Feb 9, 2008 11:34 PM PST up reply actions

Me too.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 10, 2008 3:10 AM PST up reply actions

Bedard is Great

Bedard is a great, great pitcher who I think all of Seattle will be in love with very soon.

He's also worth a billion dollar extension, but even without that, he's going to be a huge piece of 2008 and 2009, more than AJ could have contributed.

Long-term, who knows, but a lot can change. You can't be afraid to trade away good players, or you'll never get anything good back.

Scouting Book: Keeping Track of Baseball's Prospects, Closers, etc.

by Kahuna on Feb 9, 2008 6:06 AM PST reply actions