I think to just get up to .500, we would have to win the next 45 and lose 24 … that just ain’t gonna happen. And EVEN IF IT DID, we’d be like what … 80+ wins … ???

Vidro needs to be purged IMMEDIATELY as we’ll save money on the buffet (not to mention he’s a worthless piece of [bad word]) … and we need to play the kids to see what they can do.

In addition to the initial comments, the M’s also have no bench whatsoever.
They do, however, have a pretty decent and relatively cheap bullpen. And if there is one thing they’ve done recently they should continue to do it is to understand that you can cobble together bullpens without paying free agent salaries for it. If Putz came back and threw effectively after the ASB, I’d love to trade him (even if Morrow were to go to the rotation in 2009), because he is unlikely to be better in 2009 and going forward.
The surfeit of catchers ought to create an opportunity, too. You’d think the Red Sox would be interested in having insurance for Varitek breaking down, just make sure you don’t send them Clement.
I’ve always been a Jeremy Reed fan, but he’s not a longterm solution in centerfield, and a team that gets no power at all from rightfield, shortstop, DH or first base needs more power from centerfield than Reed will ever be capable of.

It’s a low bar. The Angels can’t hit.

But the Salt Lake Bees can!

…

But we’re also seeing the strongest indications that we’ve ever seen from this team (well, aside from the puzzling Wilson trade, but whatever) that they recognize that their recent methods are putting them in a position where they might be the first team to lose 100 games with a $100 million plus payroll, and that that’s not something they’re OK with going forward.

We’ve seen:
-Bavasi gone mid-season
-McLaren gone mid-season
-Sexson gone mid-season
-Names being dropped as serious GM contenders that never would’ve been part of the discussion a year ago

So, maybe it’s naive of me, but I’m going to be hopeful about next year for as long as the team lets me.

I guess I’m not as optimistic to think that the FO will get significantly smarter to make a subsequent improvement (although I hope they are).

I like the discussion, and the ways people are looking to improve the team. I also have become a beliver in SABR, but admit that I’m not as knowledgable in it as most of you. I guess it might have been off-topic for me to make those comments earlier, but I guess I wanted to look at another facet that could have a direct impact on how much the FO gets smarter. Perhaps since that is not a tangible thing to measure, it’s a bit harder to discuss.

I just think that it’s helpful to talk about ways that the team could get better if we can all start from the assumption that they WILL get smarter, because that’s what makes any subsequent improvement possible.

Disclaimering every possible roster fix suggestion with “assuming the Mariners learn how to evaluate talent better than a guy throwing darts at a dartboard” shouldn’t be necessary.

The Mariners could be a contender in the AL West next season.

Is that a blessing or a curse?

It’s a low bar. The Angels can’t hit.

*head in hands*

Jeff, was this directed at me? And if so, I guess my comments aren’t welcome here then.