One, Joe Christensen (The StarTrib’s equivalent of Baker?) doesn’t understand compensation picks, because he wrote this about the Ibanez waiver claim:

Turns out, the Tigers were the team that won the claim on Ibanez. That tells you how popular he was. Even the Tigers, who are practically dead (despite all you’ve read on this blog), figured he was a good investment, at $1.4 million over the season’s final six weeks.

No, Joe, the Tigers figured $1.4 million was a cheap price to pay for two quality draft picks next year. Jeez, you’d think someone who does this for a living would know that.

Second thing of note:

I received indications that the Twins offered Boof Bonser…Bonser is only 26, and …isn’t even eligible for arbitration, so the Mariners could have found a pitcher for their 2009 rotation who will make less than $500,000 next year.

Good freaking God, if the M’s turned down that deal – dump Washburn’s salary and get back a 26 year old non-arb-eliqible starting pitcher with a roughly 4.50 xFIP over his last almost 300 IPs…

ABORT
RETRY
FAIL…

FAIL…
FAIL…
FAIL…

There’s always hope.

After this latest abortion, this sentiment seems irrationally optimistic.

Doom . . . there is only doom.

Speaking of funny random thoughts, the Mariners could very well be mathematically eliminated before September 1st.

That would be a nice feather in the cap. Personally, I am rooting for them to finish 40+ games behind the Angels, basically so I can point and laugh (and because that was the first thing out of my mouth when I heard about the Teixeira trade).

“Funny Random Thought” describes what goes through the brains of Mariner management every day.

Speaking of the funny (as in strange) random (as in not part of any coherent strategy) thoughts (as in pure reflexes without benefit of higher cognitive facilities), why did the M’s put Ibanez on waivers? Did they really think they could work out a deal with KC to send him back there?

Which is to say, “we know Jim Riggleman isn’t the real problem, it’s his bosses running that mess who are the problem, and we dread doing business with them.”

“Mariners president Chuck Armstrong is telling people that interim GM Lee Pelekoudas definitely will not become the permanent GM but that the organization will retain him in another role. And in the clubhouse, one big league executive says he hears Seattle is “as big a mess as ever” under interim manager Jim Riggleman.”

Baker notes that a deal still could happen

Baker says it, so it must be true