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Armstrong says it's time to rebuild

Exxod_-_master_of_the_guard_tiny by ThundaPC on Comment 137 comments

Dave @ USS Mariner found this little nugget in the LA Times:

I don't think the Angels have anything we can't catch up to," he said from the West's basement, "but after thinking it was going to happen this year I'm not predicting it's going to happen next year.

"It's not going to be a quick fix, because we're going to have to grind through some of these contracts we've obligated ourselves to. Our attendance is going to go down in connection with our performance, and as chief operating officer here it's my job to be fiscally and financially responsible, so you're not going to see the Mariners go out and commit high dollars to free agents. We want to get back as quickly as we can, but we want to build something that will endure. If you don't build a strong foundation in a market our size, you're going to have some volatile swings in your record."

Volatile? After winning 116 games in 2001 and establishing baseball's best record over a four-year span through 2003, "we fell off the table in 2004 and we've been trying to fight our way back," Armstrong said.

Sounds like they're going to rock & roll this offseason.

0 recs | Comment 137 comments

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Not as high as it ought to be

but high enough to bring back a package headlined by a pretty good player.

by Jeff on Sep 3, 2008 7:49 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I know I am getting on a 'what if' tangent, but would we try and find a cheap 3B, or is it Tui time? ugh

It’s just sad to see how far we’ve come at a position like 3B only to have someone like Cairo or another bum to take over.

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Sep 3, 2008 7:51 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I read this as "retard".

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Sep 4, 2008 5:39 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

We're going to let Simple Jack play 3B?

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 4, 2008 8:46 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If only we still had Sherrill...

…then we could flip him to Atlanta for Lillibridge.

by csiems on Sep 4, 2008 11:51 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If he wants to be fiscally and financially responsible, why is Washburn not in Minnesota or New York?

And there two blatant contracts that we are going to have to grind through which is going to cripple our team for the next 3 years (Johjima and Silva). So if we are going to rebuild, our best outlook at competing will be 2012. Losing Jones, Tillman, and Butler last offseason does not get us off to the right start.

by Wilder. on Sep 3, 2008 7:04 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Speaking of Armstrong.

I was recently visiting Stanford and apparently he, known as Charles, was apparently Alumnus of the Year or something like that. In the mini bio underneath it mentioned nothing of the Mariners.

by Mariner John on Sep 3, 2008 7:18 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It gets worse...

Anyone notice that the Mariners owe Silva $41 million more AFTER 2008?

Yeah, they decided to backload the contract.

3/41.

That’s a number that fans should despise, but not only for what’s remaining on Silva’s 4/$48m deal.

Kenji Johjima had two separate stretched where he had three hits in 41 plate appearances (not ABs, couldn’t make that one work), Sexson had one of his own and while Vidro didn’t, he had four different stretches where he had less than six hits in 40 PAs.

During one period in June, the three aforementioned players combined to go 10 for 83 with 2 extra-base hits, 24 strikeouts (19 by Sexson) and five walks (none by Johjima).

During the same exact 24-game stretch, the team hit .219/.256/.345.

Ow.

by jasonchurchill on Sep 3, 2008 7:33 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This is my favorite part
we’re going to have to grind through some of these contracts we’ve obligated ourselves to.

Yes, fuck you Kenji and fuck you Carlos

by Fogel on Sep 3, 2008 7:50 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Why am I seeing this ecard

As the turtle slowly walking backwards towards the edge because as much as his life has sucked he still is too cowardly to face his own doom?

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Sep 4, 2008 9:44 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

So the dark times have just begun.

I still don’t believe Armstrong’s statements.

Go Fo Broke!

by eknpdx on Sep 3, 2008 8:18 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Apparently a lot of people are freaked out that some sort of planet alignment is going to flip the planet upside down or some shit.

But there’s evidence that this exact thing has happened in the past and done nothing to the planet. The Mayans just had their calendar stop because they didn’t know what would happen with that event or something.

This pretty much dispells the whole Mayan calendar stuff.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 3, 2008 8:38 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Quiet you.

I’m going to listen to Art Bell now.

by BrianL on Sep 3, 2008 8:39 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

But this website is based on science and stuff.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 3, 2008 8:41 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Right before that occurs, the Mariners would make 5 really great off-season moves

And be looked at as the team most likely to win the World Series in the following year.

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Sep 3, 2008 8:44 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Welcome to what it was like to be an Expos fan in 1994.

Man that sucked.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 4, 2008 2:40 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

What the...

I was talking about this very thing last night.

by Robert on Sep 3, 2008 8:50 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

World-ages

Several calendars stop and restart like this. The Mayans described several world ages that ended in some cataclysm. It’s a metaphor for the death and regeneration of the world. Kind of like Varaha rescuing Prithvi from the world flood. Actually, just like that.

by chaney on Sep 4, 2008 2:26 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Mayans were counting the precession of the Earth's axis on its 26,000 year cycle.

Dec 21, 2012 is just when next that cycle reaches the point the Mayans decided was the start/end – but it’s a circle, so any start or end is just arbitrary.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 4, 2008 2:47 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Unlike the NBA

It’s fucking obvious having a franchise in Seattle is a good thing.

by BrianL on Sep 3, 2008 8:27 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also:

What the fuck does “If you don’t build a strong foundation in a market our size, you’re going to have some volatile swings in your record,” mean?

If you don’t have a strong foundation, it doesn’t matter what size market you’re in. You won’t win games.

Is he suggesting the Mariners have a “small” market?

14 teams play in less populated cities than Seattle (not metro areas, just cities): Washington, Colorado, Atlanta, Kansas City, Cleveland, Florida, Oakland, Minnesota, Texas, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Anaheim, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh,

Depending on the year, the Mariners have had the fourth or fifth highest revenues in baseball, recently.

We don’t play in a damn small market Chuck.

I go to law school. Therefore, I have no life.

by andrewgolfsalot on Sep 3, 2008 8:30 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

So we've gone from Chuck and Howie claiming we're a large market team

to having Chuck and Howie claim we’re a small market team.

I hope these men are fired and forced to watch the reruns of the 2008 season for all eternity.

by BrianL on Sep 3, 2008 8:33 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Illogical behavior angers me so much!

I go to law school. Therefore, I have no life.

by andrewgolfsalot on Sep 3, 2008 8:34 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Speaking out of both corners of the mouth at the same time.

Again, no trust what so ever. I wouldn’t be surprised if they stripped this club down to the bones just to profit from revenue sharing.

Go Fo Broke!

by eknpdx on Sep 3, 2008 8:44 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Say what you will about Armstrong and Lincoln

They’re not Loria.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 4, 2008 8:49 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

We're gonna miss you Adrian.

"All I’ve ever done is be Juan Pierre when I wear this jersey. They’re sticking it to me this year for whatever reason. "

.277/.324/.316

~Juan Pierre

by Goose on Sep 3, 2008 8:31 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'm crying in my beer and then drinking the tears.

They taste like fail.

I sometimes wonder if I will start to hate ’95 and ’01 for making me care about this team.

by Omerta on Sep 3, 2008 8:36 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The more I think about Armstrongs' statement, the more it pisses me off.

When juxtaposed against his earlier statements this season that a ‘fire sale’ sends the wrong message to the fans and all that. What an incompetent @#$%. A couple of moves he could have made mid/late season would have accelerated this process quite a bit. I could rant on about this but… whatever. Hello late 1980’s, c’mon next core of players. Hard to find a bunch of guys to put a stamp on a team, but hey the Rays seem to have accomplished the feat in less than 5 years of development.

"Have love... will travel." The Sonics.

by dpseadv on Sep 3, 2008 10:43 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Guess who was around in the late-80s...

…Chuck Armstrong.

Seriously, this team needs him out of the FO something fierce. He may be more Grover Dill than Scott Farkus, but he’s still annoying…

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Sep 4, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

So: Even worse if you think about the big picture...

Hi, Silva and Johjima.

Bye, Beltre.

We’ll pass, Sheets and Sabathia.

Hi 3B Cairo. Hello 3 year 1B Ibanez extension. Hello CF Bloomquist.

And even better, in a couple years, Felix will be gone! Franchise doesn’t know how to win, gives contracts to crap pitchers while lowballing a far superior one, and is stuck with a bad defensive catcher and a bad offensive catcher. Yeah, im sure even if they showed they even wanted to sign Felix longterm, he may have second thoughts.

by Slica on Sep 3, 2008 10:40 PM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Randy stuck out some rough seasons, I'm holding out hope.

Of course his circumstances were different. But still.

"Have love... will travel." The Sonics.

by dpseadv on Sep 3, 2008 10:45 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Felix is still open to re-signing

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Sep 3, 2008 11:03 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Until he hires Scott Boras.

He may be open now, but I doubt he will be down the road.

If they dont lock him up before the end of next year, I think he leaves.

by Slica on Sep 3, 2008 11:55 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No Felix is worth 40y/133333333333333333333337million

just to make my heart happy

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Sep 3, 2008 11:11 PM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

How about trade him...

And eat half the contract.

We only pay half, we upgrade (he isnt a HORRIBLE pitcher, but he isnt very good, and hes an asshole plus he blocks the sun from reaching Seattle by eclipsing it).

by Slica on Sep 4, 2008 1:49 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The issue isn't the salary consuming.

I think its finding takers.

JI/Robert '08!

by Fin on Sep 4, 2008 2:36 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Once Again, FO chooses to go against what we preach here at USSM/LL

We say that the Mariners could contend next year, they say tear everything down and start over. I think they get the impression that they have a strong core of young players they could build on. Yes, Felix is already the King, to say the least, and Morrow, Clement, Balentien, RRS, and maybe Reed and Morse could prove to be helpful, but I mean, just because Ferraribend and LaHare are young doesn’t mean they are good.

JI/Robert '08!

by Fin on Sep 4, 2008 2:42 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think there are too many key holes

And blogs don’t preach. Bloggers may, though.

by Gomez on Sep 4, 2008 8:33 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Is anyone here just a bit curious as to why . . .

we have to wait for a LA reporter to give us this kind of information?

Go Fo Broke!

by eknpdx on Sep 4, 2008 8:53 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

We know ownership thinks little of the local Seattle media and only uses them as a PR device

I would expect that, if things like this leak, it’d be during a moment of weakness with other cities’ media.

by Gomez on Sep 4, 2008 8:55 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Local reporters are too busy chasing around

the batboys demanding that they be accountable for their role in this season and calling them out for ducking the media.

by DCMariner on Sep 4, 2008 9:33 AM PDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

USSM is pimping Antonetti as the next GM candidate for good reason.

Here’s an Antonetti quote via Jayson Stark’s rumblings column at ESPN regarding Cleveland’s decision to trade Sabathia and Cleveland’s subsequent good record after the trade. I wish the M’s could have a GM like this.

“I think it’s human nature to go back and retroactively look at different decisions,” Antonetti said. “But in life, you’re left to make those decisions with the information you have at hand at the time. And the information we had at hand at the time was that our record wasn’t good (37-51), and we had a number of key guys on the disabled list, and we just weren’t getting enough performance from the vast majority of our players. So when we evaluated our chances of making the playoffs at the time, we just didn’t think that was a very realistic possibility.”

Be open minded about what you don't know.

by Jed MC on Sep 4, 2008 10:35 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I have a feeling that those extra seats in my row

That I have been asking the Mariners to give me for two years will be opening up very soon.

by Sec 108 on Sep 4, 2008 11:53 AM PDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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