Ms to Adrian: No WBC
by Matthew on Feb 28, 2009 9:23 AM PST
in Seattle Mariners News, Regular
Email
PrintAdrian Beltre gave up his apartment, was ready to leave for the World Baseball Classic tomorrow and then got the news – the Seattle Mariners had made the decision for him and he won’t be going, after all.
So, concerned over the pace of Beltre's rehab, Jack Zduriencik flat out tells Beltre that he's not allowed to go play for the Domincan Republic team. It's an interesting development on a few levels. How will Beltre respond on and off the field? Does this mean his rehab is a bigger deal than some of us were thinking?
It's somewhat of a gutsy move by Zdurencik given the tenure of Beltre versus his own. My first thoughts run to how this might play in the offseason when Beltre's contract expires, but I am glad to see, further down in LaRue's piece:
All and all, a tough decision handled with class. Beltre took it with grace - something many players wouldn't have done. And Zduriencik made a call he knew would break the heart of a player he respects.
Beltre's awesome and Zdurencik isn't going to pander to players in favor of the team. I think I like our new GM.
26 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Just speculation on my part, as these things tend to be, but...
…a hurt or under-performing Adrian probably doesn’t get much notice around the trade deadline. I’m just saying…
You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.
It doesn't help his value in the off-season either considering this is his contract year.
This is probably the main reason why Beltre is okay with staying and making sure he is healthy for the year.
His handling of being denied really just raises him up a notch in my book.
You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.
Maybe we'll be competitive
And at the ASB, we’ll get him extended for 4-5 years a la Ichiro.
Because seeing this dude go is going to be a sad, sad day.
He's 29 now, right?
If so, then four years would be just about right.
You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.
Right on, Z
I’m interested to see where the relationship between the Mariners and Adrian Beltre is heading. As well as Beltre is handling not being allowed to play on Team Dominican, it can’t be something that pleases him. The M’s are obviously aware of this fact.
Does it mean that the organization is planning on trading him in July or replacing him in 2010 with Tui? And that they therefore don’t feel the need to pander to him? Or do they still feel like he’s a part of their future beyond this season, and that holding him back from the WBC was strictly pragmatic from a baseball standpoint? I look forward to finding out.
I'm hopeful that this winds up playing well... with Beltre and teammates
In the recent past, it often appeared that the M’s (from Squinty McClusterfuck on up) didn’t really know what they were doing.
It can actually instill confidence in a player to feel that their management knows exactly what they are doing and sometimes tells a player “no.”
It might be that Beltre and the rest of the players gain respect for the M’s as an organization when they show that they won’t pander to player’s desires if it isn’t in the best interest of the team.
At first glance of the title, I thought Beltre's wife/girlfriend had nixed the WBC.
by FlaskInSafeco on Feb 28, 2009 10:14 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I don't like the way this was handled.
From what’s been reported it seems that the M’s have been saying it’s Beltre’s decision for a while now. All of the sudden they just take that option away? While I’m glad that he isn’t playing in the WBC, I think this could have been handled better. Either putting obvious caveats into their offer to let Adrian make his own decision or just telling him ‘No’ from the beginning.
I’m not complaining too much. I mean hell, the only thing I’ve really disagreed with GMZ this offseason has been this Beltre WBC thing. That is a gigantic improvement over our previous GMs.
Execution was bungled but the ultimate decision was the correct one.
Unlike the previous administration and their wall-to-wall bad judgment.
by lemonverbena on Feb 28, 2009 10:35 AM PST up reply actions
It's hard for us to say definitively that execution was bungled
when we rely on the press to tell us what has actually been said between the two parties.
Well, he kept pushing his decision back further...for their own sake, the M's kind of had to know one way or the other, so they just made the decision for him.
I see that being one of the big reasons for Jack Z making the call
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.
by BrettJMiller on Feb 28, 2009 6:22 PM PST up reply actions
There may have been.
But that’s why I wrote “From what’s been reported”. To the best of my knowledge the press hasn’t reported any caveats.
He should call Z's bluff and show up at his door with his family
I think that would be adequate payback.
A-Rod would have been the starter anyway
Beltre would be warming the bench. He’s better off in Peoria
Yeah I thought that there was no real position for him on the team anyway
I think this will work out better for him. It was still handled kinda poorly, but he’ll get over it
I want to poop at your house - Thingray
by tootthekazoo on Feb 28, 2009 11:11 AM PST up reply actions
Beltre was talking about DHing in the WBC
Or they could have alternated back and forth from DH to 3B
by Malcontent1 on Feb 28, 2009 11:12 AM PST up reply actions
“I’ll be glad to give him my bed – my wife and I will move to the other room,” he said. "Adrian and his whole family can come stay with us.
Oooooh...
An idea for a commercial…
This signature space for rent.
by PositivePaul on Feb 28, 2009 6:33 PM PST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 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.
