I like to hear what others here have to say about the issue of Eric Wedge as manager of the Mariners.

First, a disclaimer. I understand that baseball managers have a very small impact on the wins and losses at the end of a season. However, there is *some* impact. I would also argue that the impact is greater on a team like the Mariners. A team with a clear set of starting players who are the best players will limit a managers options, and lower his impact on the game. But the Mariners have three borderline starting pitchers in the rotation, and a slew of position players who are rotating with eachother. I suggest that this maximizes the impact of the Manager.

So if the Manager effects 2-3 wins during the course of an entire season, that's like getting 2 WAR on the margin. That's about $10 million. That seems like a pretty big impact to me, so it seems like a worthwhile discussion to have.

Why Fire Wedge:

I will attempt to list Wedge's follies here. I'm sure I will miss some many, and I will add them as people suggest them in comments:

• Playing Olivo at catcher against right handed pitching
• Playing Olivo at DH
• Stating that starter decisions in a game were motivated by batting splits by particular players against particular pitchers
• Where the $&%# is Iwakuma?
• Figgins on team instead of Wells (caveat: don't know for sure Wedge supported this decision)
• Ill-advised sacrifice bunting (caveat: many, many managers seem to do this)

It isn't a long list, but it is indicative of the type of baseball mind in charge of the Mariners right now. It's a mind that doesn't appear to be interested in increasing his knowledge about the game, or pushing forward his thinking for the advantage of the Mariners.

There are certainly reasons to keep Wedge. Presumably players like him, he gets along with people, not rocking the boat. But I just don't see these reasons translating to wins.

In the end this isn't about a need to win games now, it's about securing a Manager who will help us win when it really matters. My worry is that Wedge will stick around during this season because "why does it really matter?" But then we're stuck with him in 2013 and 2014 when this team is allegedly supposed to compete.

If the Mariners are going to secure a Manager of the future, one who can maximize the success of the team they are trying to build, it seems like now is the time to find that person.

Thoughts?