SEATTLE — Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln answered a pair of questions this week when he re-upped manager John McLaren and general manager Bill Bavasi.
Complain if you want. Question the many questionable moves each made. McLaren went overboard with his love for the team’s veterans. His in-game management was continuously a matter of great debate. Bavasi was hit-and-miss in his acquisition and transferring of talent.
But they’re back. Deal with it.
Besides, the offseason should provide ample opportunity for discussion. Unless upper management prevents Bavasi from wallowing whole-hog in the coming free-agent flesh market, the GM should be a very busy boy.
Was the season a success or failure? The M’s escaped the AL West basement for the first time in three years. It finished second to the Angels and made a playoff run until a disastrous 2-15 August/September stretch.
There was little middle ground here. The team alternated between very good and very bad. It rallied and found itself one game behind the Angels before the bottom fell out. What was left was a nagging feeling of business unfinished.
The Mariners lost 13 of 14 when it mattered most, largely because the Bavasi-overhauled starting rotation collapsed. When the starters piled up sub-five-inning outings, the M’s prized but gassed bullpen went into the tank with it.
They got away with it for 3½ months, but this was a severely flawed team whose smoke-and-mirrors act wasn’t prepared for a late pennant race. Breakdowns were epic. The feeling is that it was a mere matter of time before the roof would cave in, and it did.
So, what to do?
Don’t expect the return of Horacio Ramirez, whose early success was greatly aided by massive run support. Later, he was so bad that he was yanked from the rotation in early September. Likewise Jeff Weaver, who had the worst first six starts of anyone in MLB history, temporarily gathered himself, but ultimately went athletically bankrupt.
Reliever Brandon Morrow has been mentioned as one who will compete for a spot in the starting rotation in spring training, but that seems a reach considering his wildness (66 strikeouts, 50 walks in 631/3 innings going into Sunday) and his lack of big-league experience.
The set-up relievers, especially youngsters Sean Green and Eric O’Flaherty, were solid before August’s heavy workload. They’ll join George Sherrill, who was mostly lights-out in left-handed setup. J.J. Putz was an elite and overpowering closer.
Among the regulars, second baseman Jose Lopez started fast, then faded after the death of his brother in June. Under criticism for his work ethic and lack of game-day preparation, Lopez nevertheless is too young to give up on and may well have a bounce-back 2008.
Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre, Yuniesky Betancourt, Kenji Johjima will return as the core of the team. Suzuki signed a five-year extension. Beltre is a foundation at third base.
If Adam Jones asserts himself as a starting outfielder, that likely means the exit of one or two of the following who will vie for DH and/or first base: Richie Sexson, Raul Ibanez, Ben Broussard and Jose Vidro.
Ideally, Sexson would exit, but his Mendoza Line batting average and $14 million contract will make him tough to move. Vidro’s lightbulb knees mean he has limited durability in the field. Broussard has shown a sizzling bat when he gets the chance, but has long stretches when he never sees the lineup.
The team has said it wants to re-sign Jose Guillen, one of Bavasi’s arguments for keeping his job.
The starting rotation likely has at least two openings. It’s questionable that anyone on the current roster could carry that load the full season, which means trades are likely.
The quandary: What prospects does Bavasi give up to get a Johan Santana or a Brad Penny? Jones? Jeff Clement? Wladimir Balentien? A combination or all three? Package one with a veteran?
One thing seems certain. Bavasi can’t afford a repeat of last offseason, when he failed to land or even go after free agents Jason Schmidt, Barry Zito, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ted Lily.
It’s time for a major personnel move. The question is whether Bavasi can pull it off.
And if so, what McLaren can do with it.
Sports columnist John Sleeper: sleeper@heraldnet.com. To reach Sleeper’s blog, click on “Dangling Participles” at www.heraldnet.com.
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