I hear what you’re saying, Steve, but it really doesn’t matter that Bucky wasn’t a prospect. If he’d stayed healthy he could have been useful for 2-3 years as a 25 HR, 80 RBI guy playing DH or 1B and making close to the minimum. This is a team that doesn’t know how to develop hitting prospects — the last position player they drafted that became a starter was Jose Cruz, Jr. — 11 years ago — and they traded him after two months in the bigs. Before that it was A-Rod… Not only does having a cheap productive player like that in the lineup allow you to spend $$$ on your other needs, it also keeps a stupid organization like the Mariners from paying a guaranteed $4 million to a “proven veteran” like Carl Everett…

And why does it matter if he was a “prospect” or not? Occasionally a guy like Cecil Fielder comes along, who washes out with one team (Toronto), goes to Japan for a year and comes back and has a very productive seven year stretch from 1990 – 1996 (averaging 37 HRs a year). These type of guys who can hit the ball out of the yard are popular for a good reason, unlike Willie Bloomquist. I’m just saying there’s a difference between the idiots that love Willie and the fans that Bucky had…

Although I have to shake my head when I hear Dave Sims say something like “…and great defense tonight…”

short term memory– that last DP wiped the rest from his mind

Although I have to shake my head when I hear Dave Sims say something like “…and great defense tonight…” Well, I guess he’s right: we only committed one error tonight. We’re getting better!

did I mention that I emailed KIRO’s program director to suggest that he should hire Shannon Drayer as part of his new Mariners team? It seemed the thing to do after they announced the station change.

Not that I’ve heard back from him, mind you, but if any one else is interested, it’s Rod Arquette at rarquette@710kiro.com