Mariners Found 100-100 Club

As of Wednesday night, there is a new club in baseball. Problem is, no one wants to join. With their 100th loss of the season, the Mariners became the founding members of the 100-100 club. The 100-100 club is one in which the team has 100 losses with a payroll at or above 100 million dollars. Basically, the 08 Mariners are the worst team in baseball history. Sure, others have lost more games in a season, but I am willing to bet that none of those teams were the disappointment the Mariners were this season.

Before the season began, Seattle was ripe with hope. In a town losing it's most storied franchise (the Sonics) the Mariners provided a much needed escape route. At least there was going to be something good in this city.

As Mariners GM Bill Bavasi made moves to bolster a starting rotation that was meant to be "bullet-proof", according to Miguel Batista, the nation was taking notice as the M's started to work there way towards the top. But people forgot one thing: the team still couldn't hit. All the focus on the starting rotation took the focus off the lackluster lineup the Mariners had assembled.

As the season opened up, the weak links became all to clear. The team was in shambles, and had no where to turn for help. Manager John McClaren did everything in his power to try to turn the team around, but that did not stop him from being fired part way through the season.

There is no good news about the Seattle situation. The team has no GM, no Manager, and no farm system to rely upon as they start to rebuild. There is so many things that need to be adressed this off-season, and I am willing to guarantee that some things will be missed.

The first hole to be filled should be the General Manager spot. That way, the new GM can assemble a staff around him that makes him comfortable and competitive for years to come. My picks? I have not been shy in my support for former A's assistant and Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta, but that seems unlikely to happen as he takes on more of a role in the Padres system. After him, I would turn to Dan Evans, another former Dodgers GM. In his tenure in LA, he rebuilt a farm system that was in shambles before his arrival, only to be pushed out the door once Frank McCourt bought the team in 2004. Right now, the Mariners don't need a "Moneyballer", they need someone who's philosophy is scouting and player development in order to start a new system of evaluation and progress in the great Northwest.

In a time where Seattle is desperate for Sports success, it is a shame the Mariners will not be able to provide us with that for some time. It's time to take a U-turn, but will the city be patient enough for it to take place? That question, along with many others, remains to be answered.