The M’s are in the process of deconstructing their roster
A GRIP ON SPORTS • And the fire sale begins. Even with an interim general manager in charge. The Mariners’ moves yesterday seem to almost have the taste of trying to remove Jack Zduriencik’s stamp off the Mariners’ organization. Read on.
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• OK, I get it. The Mariners are yesterday’s news. Maybe even last month’s. But we can’t seem to cut the tie just yet. Maybe after Thursday, when college football kicks off in the area. But not yet. Not after Austin Jackson was called into Lloyd McClendon’s office yesterday prior to the game in Houston and told he was on his way to a contender for the stretch run. Interim general manager Jeff Kingston – note the interim part of his title, meaning he’s a place-holder right now – traded the free-agent-to-be to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later and money that can be spent on an international signing – all in all, the modern-day equivalent of a bag of balls and two bats. Later last night, Kingston struck again, sending Justin Ruggiano, who was supposed to be the right-hand side of a right-field platoon this season – to the Dodgers for a few bucks – something L.A. seems to have an inexhaustible supply of. If you are keeping score at home, a couple of the pieces Zduriencik brought in the past couple seasons to help the M’s get over the top – hahahaha – are now in other places. Mark Lowe (Zduriencik pulled the trigger on that one), Ruggiano, Jackson, J.A. Happ, Willie Bloomquist, Wellington Castillo, they are all gone. Some for prospects, some for cash, some for other pieces, some for nothing. But the latest moves seem to herald a decision to start dismantling the outside of the house before the new contractor gets started. Maybe the new guy will want to take it down to the studs. Maybe he’ll want to just put new siding on the old girl. Either way, the deconstruction has begun.
• With Jackson out the door, Brad Miller will get an extended look in center field. Which means two things: The Mariners have decided James Jones, one of the fastest guys in the organization and a much-improved centerfielder, doesn’t hit well enough to be their guy out there and two, the M’s organization isn’t very deep – as if Zduriencik’s firing didn’t put an exclamation point on that. See, baseball people I trust think Miller might be “OK” in center. Just “OK.” And that’s not good enough in a place like Safeco. You need better than “OK,” especially if your left and right fielders aren’t defensive standouts – and the M’s aren’t. Miller’s future may be in the outfield, but with his physical tools he’s probably better suited for left, a place that’s been a desert for the Mariners for years. But with the organization lacking in centerfield prospects and the best young players they seem to have more of corner outfielder types, they will try Miller there. How great is that? A band-aid is available when they really need a transplant. Maybe Miller becomes the next Adam Jones – now don’t start getting all ticked off because, you know, the M’s once had the real Adam Jones – but I doubt it. More than likely they’ll play Miller there the next few weeks, he’ll continue to struggle at the plate and this offseason the new GM will hire a moderately priced veteran to hold down the spot. And wait for reinforcements.
• In case you are wondering, the air quality in Spokane and Pullman is really good this morning.
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• WSU: It’s game week in the Palouse and Jacob Thorpe has his first look at Portland State. ... Jacob also has the game notes from the WSU sports information department and his morning post with Pac-12 links. ... The Vikings, also-rans the past few years in the Big Sky, don’t think they are as overmatched as some people say. ... Tia Presley will play professional basketball in Israel. ... Jon Wilner makes some bowl projections for the Pac-12 and for New Year’s. ... The guy Vernon Adams beat out at Oregon is a team player. ... What does it mean for the Ducks to have made the decision to go to Adams so quickly? ... The Ducks have a transfer quarterback and a transfer center.
• EWU: The Eagles are young on defense. Not the best recipe against Oregon, one would think. Jim Allen covers the depth chart in this story. ... Jim also has a morning post with some Big Sky links. ... Weber State opens with Oregon State, a team with a new, but familiar, coach. ... Southern Utah gets in-state rival Utah State in its opener.
• Seahawks: It was cut day yesterday at the VMAC, with the Hawks getting the roster down to 75. The most surprising players let go? Well, the trade of last year’s 4th-round draft pick Kevin Norwood (pictured) to Carolina has to be up there, as was the decision to let center Lemuel Jeanpierre go. Jeanpierre seemed to be on track to start early in camp before being beaten out by converted defensive lineman Drew Nowak. ... Bob Condotta takes another stab at the final 53-man roster while the Times also offers you a spot to do the same thing. ... No news on Kam Chancellor’s holdout.
• Mariners: With all the noise about the trades yesterday, the M’s 8-3 loss to the first-place Astros seems to have been lost. The only Mariner offense came from two Mark Trumbo home runs. Trumbo is one of Zduriencik’s moves, one of the few that seems to be paying off. ... Who might the Mariners recall starting today?
• Sounders: Seattle is getting healthier for the stretch run, which is crucial considering the MLS is all about parity. There are a bunch of teams fighting for the final playoff berths.
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• A couple of days and Idaho will be hosting Ohio. It will be the first of many college football games within a couple hour drive of Spokane. Until later ...
