The End Of An Era

by Jeff Sullivan on Nov 24, 2007 8:16 PM PST in Seattle Mariners News, Regular

Chris over at Rattler Radio tipped me off to this snippet from a Press-Enterprise article:

Catcher Rene Rivera signed a minor league contract [note: with the Dodgers] and became the first player to receive a non-roster invitation to spring training.

Rivera, 24, has played parts of three seasons with the Seattle Mariners. The former Inland Empire 66er became a free agent after spending 2007 in Class AA.

Over parts of three seasons with the Mariners, Rivera batted .227 with four walks and a 54 OPS+. In his final year with the organization, he held down a starting gig with AA West Tennessee and hit .214 with the second-worst OPS on the team. Rivera was the 49th overall pick in 2001, drafted seven places in front of JJ Hardy and 23 in front of Dan Haren.

Rene, you taught us to always believe in our dreams, because if someone like you can accomplish yours, then anything's possible. For this reason and none others, we'll miss you.

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Noooooooooooooooo

Washington Highways

by Corco on Nov 24, 2007 8:32 PM PST reply actions

Adam Moore 4 AA!!

by Matthew on Nov 24, 2007 8:41 PM PST reply actions

Wait, this blog is about baseball?

You're right, though. If a player who hovered between terrible and abysmal was able to stay on the team, maybe there's hope for Jeff Clement yet.

Are you going to give him a nickname? "Player D-"?

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 24, 2007 8:45 PM PST reply actions

The non-using of a player's name isn't really

reserved for players that suck, it's players that we hate. Rivera can't be blamed for what he is. Player A, Ryan Franklin and Horacio Ramirez can be blamed because they both sucked, and refused to acknowledge it, always putting the blame elsewhere. Fuck those douchebags.

Rene Rivera is just terrible at baseball (relatively obviously) and as far as I know, fully knows it.

by Matthew on Nov 24, 2007 8:48 PM PST up reply actions

Do I have some sort of weird fetish with adverbs?

I mean, wow.

by Matthew on Nov 24, 2007 8:50 PM PST up reply actions

I dunno

Do you ask your dates to whisper sweet "unfortunately's" in your ear?

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 24, 2007 8:55 PM PST up reply actions

That's not entirely true.

Beluga Tits? I assume we don't hate him.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 24, 2007 8:51 PM PST up reply actions

That's a term of endearment.

Hilarious endearment.

by Jeff Sullivan on Nov 24, 2007 9:00 PM PST up reply actions

Player A is Player A

because his performance as a Mariner and his attitude about it was so repulsive that he doesn't deserve an embellished name of any kind, not even his actual name.

by Gomez on Nov 24, 2007 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

Sorry.

Don't forget, I joined late. I'm a little drunk, so my memory may be bad, but I'm pretty sure my first diary ever on this thing was trying to create new nicknames and no one told me the nickname rules.

By the way, the result of that thread was two names:
Raul Ibanez = Speedro (Deanna's? I think?)
Richie Sexson = Suckson or ManBearPig. (Both mine, both somewhat unpopular)

At the very least, it seems as though by your (Matthew's) own rules, Sexson deserves his own nickname... Not a Player X, but a nickname nonetheless, due to his overall suckitude and his insistence on thinking he's not terrible.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 25, 2007 2:31 AM PST up reply actions

Oooo

Sexson = X-player (?)

I think that's a winner personally.

by yourfacemakesmewail on Nov 25, 2007 10:34 AM PST up reply actions

Sexson's performance

was bad, but not catastrophic. Go back and look at [player A's] lines as a Mariner. Then go look at who he blames that on. Sexson is nowhere near that bad.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Nov 25, 2007 10:56 AM PST up reply actions

Remember in mid 2005

When he'd caused more outs than he had plate appearances? Good times...

by Graham MacAree on Nov 25, 2007 11:06 AM PST up reply actions

The benchmark for me

was Dave Niehaus openly yelling in disgust on the air at his ABs.

by Gomez on Nov 25, 2007 11:29 AM PST up reply actions

Ha.

I remember. He was a prick.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 25, 2007 12:07 PM PST up reply actions

Rene Rivera

It just dawned on me that not only does he suck he's incredibly boring too.

by ThundaPC on Nov 24, 2007 9:06 PM PST reply actions

Rivera:

The next Ortiz?

Willie Bloomquist > Gary Bettman

by Jake In Palo Alto on Nov 24, 2007 9:07 PM PST reply actions

Nah,

Ortiz didn't have major league experience when he was released by the Mariners. And if you're talking about when he was released by the Twins, he was still not as bad as Rivera.

"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 24, 2007 9:14 PM PST up reply actions

False.

"Goddamn Romans. Sure know how to make a ... drum room." --Matt Cameron

by JI on Nov 24, 2007 10:23 PM PST up reply actions

How is that false?

"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 25, 2007 3:11 AM PST up reply actions

Geez Coach

It's sleepy time.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 25, 2007 3:39 AM PST up reply actions

Sleeping's for chumps.

"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 25, 2007 5:02 AM PST up reply actions

Wait, which Ortiz?

"Goddamn Romans. Sure know how to make a ... drum room." --Matt Cameron

by JI on Nov 25, 2007 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

Pretty sure he's talking about David Ortiz

by Matthew on Nov 25, 2007 10:15 AM PST up reply actions

Then, false indeed.

"Goddamn Romans. Sure know how to make a ... drum room." --Matt Cameron

by JI on Nov 25, 2007 10:18 AM PST up reply actions

No more Waste of Space!

YAY!

"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 24, 2007 9:10 PM PST reply actions

Rivera, like Hitler, was really terrible at....

wait, too early?

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Nov 24, 2007 9:12 PM PST reply actions

Nah.

"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 24, 2007 9:15 PM PST up reply actions

Walk away, Rene

by Slozbury Stouvre on Nov 24, 2007 9:16 PM PST reply actions

walk hard

by Matthew on Nov 24, 2007 9:23 PM PST up reply actions

That's what he did.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 25, 2007 2:32 AM PST up reply actions

I'll miss him

Like a tetanus shot.

by Gomez on Nov 24, 2007 10:42 PM PST reply actions

For some reason

I thought he got a lot more ABs than he did. Well at least I'll kinda remember you. I'm not sure why but I think you were just bad enough.

by Edgar for Pres on Nov 25, 2007 12:20 AM PST reply actions

One of my favorite LL images.

These pretzels....are making me thirsty!

by Goose on Nov 25, 2007 4:22 AM PST reply actions

I gotta be honest

I lose my shit every time I look at it. I know that makes me a huge dork.

by Jeff Sullivan on Nov 25, 2007 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

Everytime I see the picture I think:

"Hip-hop, hooray, hooo...."

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Nov 25, 2007 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

how come it's not on the sidebar?

by Matthew on Nov 25, 2007 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

Not used enough

This is only the second time.

by Jeff Sullivan on Nov 25, 2007 12:25 PM PST up reply actions

one might argue that it would be used more

if it were on the sidebar. But eh. I'll throw it into the wiki so at least it's easily found there.

by Matthew on Nov 25, 2007 12:27 PM PST up reply actions

The look on his face is what makes it perfect.

These pretzels....are making me thirsty!

by Goose on Nov 25, 2007 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

The NL

cowers in fear over the possibility that Rene Rivera turns into a .290 hitter with 28 homers per year. Like every other crappy player from the AL.

by Slica on Nov 25, 2007 9:07 AM PST reply actions

If Rene Rivera turns into a .290 hitter

with .475 SLG or better I will personally buy his fat ass dinner.

by Gomez on Nov 25, 2007 10:12 AM PST up reply actions

and from Walter...

"And so, [Rene Rivera], in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean, which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince."

by mark s @ Lookout Landing on Nov 25, 2007 4:55 PM PST reply actions

I wish he had Jason LaRue and Paul Bako's...

veteran presence

the Royals would love him

www.royalsreview.com

by Freneau on Nov 25, 2007 7:49 PM PST reply actions

lay off Jason LaRue

He was adequate at one point.

"Goddamn Romans. Sure know how to make a ... drum room." --Matt Cameron

by JI on Nov 25, 2007 7:59 PM PST up reply actions

Hmmm.

Clearance sale on the Rivera M's T-shirts???

Will they finally get around to actually making a JJ Putz shirt, then? Or have they already made one and did I not pay attention.

"I restore a sense of childlike wonder to people's lives; you give them Zunes and Vista." -- Fake Steve Jobs to Borg employees

by PositivePaul on Nov 25, 2007 8:32 PM PST reply actions

There's a Putz shirt.

I have one. It's just constantly sold out because it's so popular. It's been around since last March.

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

by BrettJMiller on Nov 25, 2007 11:14 PM PST up reply actions

This is not meant

as an attack on anyone so please don't take it offensively....

I just find it funny that we (myself included) sit here and talk about guys like Rivera being bad at baseball, and yet any of us would love to have the chance they have to play this game at the professional level, and have half their ability to actually play this game.

by MfaninAlaska on Nov 26, 2007 9:35 AM PST reply actions

hey pal

if you and your cybergeek friends want to sit around and make fun of real players go ahead. what's with you Rangers fans anyway? The one good thing about hitler is he probably didn;t even know where Alaska is. Some of my best friends are jews.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Nov 26, 2007 9:50 AM PST up reply actions

Ha.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 26, 2007 9:55 AM PST up reply actions

Are they skydivers?

Or do they work in mines???

"I restore a sense of childlike wonder to people's lives; you give them Zunes and Vista." -- Fake Steve Jobs to Borg employees

by PositivePaul on Nov 26, 2007 10:00 AM PST up reply actions

They're wrestlers

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 26, 2007 10:17 AM PST up reply actions

Look pal

Just because I shave my head, wear swastikas and bomb synagogues doesn't mean I hate Gentiles, okay?

by Gomez on Nov 26, 2007 10:17 AM PST up reply actions

At least I'm good at my -actual- job, though

by Graham MacAree on Nov 26, 2007 9:57 AM PST up reply actions

I don't know

being a career minor leaguer sucks. Rene Rivera really lucked out getting a full year in the bigs because now he gets all sorts of juicy benefits. I wouldn't mind that, but if I had the talent to barely be able to hack AA ball it wouldn't be that much fun.

by Matthew on Nov 26, 2007 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

If I played like Rivera has professionally...

Bloggers would make fun of me too.

by ThundaPC on Nov 26, 2007 4:10 PM PST up reply actions

I think part of it

is not so much his inability, but the team's continued employment of his services despite it.

by Gomez on Nov 26, 2007 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not saying he was ever going to be great,

but WOS was screwed by being sent to the majors as a backup before he even had a chance to develop in the minor leagues.

I overvalue prospects

by Thingray on Nov 26, 2007 1:17 PM PST reply actions

While bored at work I saw the M's

had a Rivera clone in the Arizona Fall League. Granted it is a small sample size and I really have no idea who he is, but he had 9 AB's with a .000/.167/.000 line and 3 K's to that 1 walk. Thank you Mariners Minors.

I wouldn't have mentioned it, but he now has my favorite name ever - Wei Wang. Sure, I'm acting like a 7 year old, but that's ok.

by Jed MC on Nov 27, 2007 2:47 PM PST reply actions

Um...

Sure, I'm acting like a 7 year old, but that's ok.

Hmmm. I'm not sure it's OK. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's Wei Wong!

"I restore a sense of childlike wonder to people's lives; you give them Zunes and Vista." -- Fake Steve Jobs to Borg employees

by PositivePaul on Nov 27, 2007 3:16 PM PST up reply actions

Is this where I break in

and pedantically announce that it's not pronounced "Wang" but pronounced in such a way as to not evince the male genitalia, and then get all indignant because everybody here is awash in stupidity?

Because I really hate that part.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Nov 27, 2007 3:22 PM PST up reply actions

I think you're just Wang.

"I restore a sense of childlike wonder to people's lives; you give them Zunes and Vista." -- Fake Steve Jobs to Borg employees

by PositivePaul on Nov 28, 2007 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

He could not be more Wang

He's dead Wang.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Nov 28, 2007 9:53 AM PST up reply actions

by CapSea on Dec 1, 2007 2:55 PM PST up reply actions

I just tend to think of

penis jokes as childish, however funny they may be. It's along the lines of The Simpsons' film festival. Barney's movie had heart, but a football to the groin had a football to the groin.

by Jed MC on Nov 28, 2007 10:08 AM PST up reply actions