EVERETT — Reaction of Mariners fans to the team’s firing of general manager Bill Bavasi on Monday was pretty universal.
“About time,” said Pat Lorbiecki, owner of Turners Bar and Grill on Hewitt Avenue.
“Thank God. See ya later, alligator,” said Andy Latter, 43, of Everett, as he was having a beer with some fellow Boeing employees in front of Tailgater Joe’s on Hewitt.
“He’s responsible for Richie Sexson, which is reason enough to fire him in itself,” said Al Garrison of Everett, attending the Mariners game Monday.
Bavasi was fired Monday in his fifth season at the helm of the team. He was in charge of player development and acquisition, including trades, and had a hand in hiring manager John McLaren and the coaching staff.
The Mariners, at 24-45 heading into Monday night’s game, have the worst record in baseball a little less than halfway through the season. After acquiring star pitcher Eric Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles in the off-season, the Mariners were expected to fare much better this year.
Howard Lincoln, the team’s chief executive, said in announcing Bavasi’s firing on Monday that it’s time for a change. While fans agreed with the move, their opinions varied regarding whether the firing will be enough to turn the team around.
At Tailgater Joe’s, Shawn Hagans of Monroe said he thinks firing Bavasi will help set a new tone.
“It’s just like a business or anywhere else, it starts at the top,” said Hagans, 43. “They’ve got players that can perform.”
Others disagreed.
“Why do we still have Richie Sexson?” said Terry Boutwell, 40, of Everett, referring to the team’s underachieving first baseman. Sexson is batting .212 while being paid $14 million this season.
“It’s a lot of money for a guy hitting .200,” said Lorbiecki, the Turners owner. He doesn’t believe the team has the players to start winning any time soon.
“The cake’s already been made. I don’t know how you can change the recipe,” he said.
The team needs new players and a new attitude, said longtime fan Helen Healey, 89, who lives at the Washington Oakes Retirement Community in north Everett.
“I don’t know what’s the matter. We’ve got too many young ones who don’t get the training,” she said.
“They don’t jell as a team, they don’t have a live-wire leader in the clubhouse,” she said. “They need a leader or two in there.”
Healey has been to Mariners spring training in Arizona nearly every year since she lost her husband 14 years ago, she said. Her daughter and son-in-law live in Tucson, Ariz., in the winter and Healey was there for 10 days this year.
Healey is considered the No. 1 fan at Washington Oakes, said her daughter, Barbara Travis. Outside Healey’s apartment door hangs a sign that says, “A Mariner Fan Lives Here.” Inside, she has a Mariners flag, a stuffed Mariner Moose, and a Mariners scarf, cap and jacket.
After her eyesight declined in the past year, her family bought her a 52-inch television so she could watch the games. She’s been turning them off early.
“I’m so disgusted with them. They’re no fun at all,” she said of the team. “I can’t say ‘mojo’ anymore. There’s nothing to yell about.”
Fans were already speculating Monday about who else should lose their job.
“I was just kind of wondering, who do we need to get rid of next?” said John Hicks, 47, of Everett, having a beer at Sporty’s Beef &Brew in Everett.
Krissy Vaughan, 28, who works at Sporty’s, applauded the move but said the problem starts at the very top, beyond Bavasi.
“They only care about ticket sales and not about the team,” she said.
Back at Tailgater Joe’s, Latter had a prediction.
“McLaren’s next,” he said, referring to the Mariners manager.
At the game on Monday night, Helen Fraser of Edmonds said, “If the players hadn’t collapsed all at the same time, maybe their record would be closer to .500. Then they’re back in the race and they wouldn’t have had to fire Bavasi. I blame the players.”
Bill Dennis, a Lynnwood man who was also at the game, agreed.
“Time to clean house,” Dennis said. “A team that sucks this bad can’t stop at just firing the hitting coach and the general manager. I expect a new coaching staff, new roster, new everything next year. But firing Bavasi is a good start.”
Andy Johnson of Everett said at the game, “You can’t fire the whole team at this point, but this won’t be the only move if they don’t turn it around. And they won’t. No way. They’ll have a busy off-season.”
Herald columnist John Sleeper and Enterprise reporter Tony Dondero contributed to this story.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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