Monday, December 08, 2003
ANSWERING OTHER PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS
More "Ask The Mariners" questions that are stupid as hell
Q: It's great to have a place to ask questions, and vent. Thanks. I was just reading your column. It seems that people can't get past the "let's get a star" routine. Haven't the Mariners proven they can win without a star? Why do people get so hung up on that? Let's get some more players with the work ethic of Edgar and Jamie (who are stars, by the way) and we can't lose. We need to find that special player who can get us to the next step. He doesn't have to be a star. Who is he? I don't know. But I know he's out there. Maybe this is the year that management will find him. Thanks to the Mariners for many years of exciting baseball. This is from a fan who has been there from the beginning. And also now resides (26 years) in the Bay Area and continues to carry the Mariner Banner. I know 2004 will be a great year! -- Debbie T., San Carlos, Calif.
To answer Debbie T.'s question, it is every fan's right to expect the best out of their team. Have the M's proven that they can win without a star, Debbie asks? Yes and no. Yes, they did go to the playoffs in 2000 without Ken Griffey, Jr. and Randy Johnson, and in 2001 without Alex Rodriguez. But what happened in both of those years?
Lost to the Yankees in 6 games in the ALCS
Lost to the Yankees in 5 games in the ALCS
To me, that's considered falling short. I don't consider just getting to the playoffs "winning". Winning is what the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Anaheim Angels, and the Florida Marlins have done the last 3 seasons, winning the World Series.
You need a superstar-type player to win a championship. I'd feel a lot better about the M's chances in 2004 if Miguel Tejada is starting at shortstop April 6, 2004 in Safeco Field in the home whites.
Tejada is a superstar. But when the term "superstar" is thrown around, it doesn't always mean that the player is a primadonna or a stuck up jerk. Superstars are players that produce big time numbers. Especially when it counts. Bret Boone is a star. But he's no superstar.
Jim Street says that name players don't always work. True. But at the same time, you have to take risks. Signing Tejada would be a risk. But it is no more of a risk than signing all-world hack Raul Ibanez to an obscene 3-year contract.
To win a championship, you have to take risks. One thing's for sure:
The Pollyanna approach the M's have used the last 4 years has been good, but not good enough. "Not good enough" sums up the Mariners in a nutshell.
And one more thing, fans should expect the Mariners to put the best possible team together. I mean, aren't the people of Washington paying for or have paid for Safeco Field? There's nothing wrong with demanding success.
FIRE UP THE MIGGY HOT STOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Q: It's great to have a place to ask questions, and vent. Thanks. I was just reading your column. It seems that people can't get past the "let's get a star" routine. Haven't the Mariners proven they can win without a star? Why do people get so hung up on that? Let's get some more players with the work ethic of Edgar and Jamie (who are stars, by the way) and we can't lose. We need to find that special player who can get us to the next step. He doesn't have to be a star. Who is he? I don't know. But I know he's out there. Maybe this is the year that management will find him. Thanks to the Mariners for many years of exciting baseball. This is from a fan who has been there from the beginning. And also now resides (26 years) in the Bay Area and continues to carry the Mariner Banner. I know 2004 will be a great year! -- Debbie T., San Carlos, Calif.
To answer Debbie T.'s question, it is every fan's right to expect the best out of their team. Have the M's proven that they can win without a star, Debbie asks? Yes and no. Yes, they did go to the playoffs in 2000 without Ken Griffey, Jr. and Randy Johnson, and in 2001 without Alex Rodriguez. But what happened in both of those years?
Lost to the Yankees in 6 games in the ALCS
Lost to the Yankees in 5 games in the ALCS
To me, that's considered falling short. I don't consider just getting to the playoffs "winning". Winning is what the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Anaheim Angels, and the Florida Marlins have done the last 3 seasons, winning the World Series.
You need a superstar-type player to win a championship. I'd feel a lot better about the M's chances in 2004 if Miguel Tejada is starting at shortstop April 6, 2004 in Safeco Field in the home whites.
Tejada is a superstar. But when the term "superstar" is thrown around, it doesn't always mean that the player is a primadonna or a stuck up jerk. Superstars are players that produce big time numbers. Especially when it counts. Bret Boone is a star. But he's no superstar.
Jim Street says that name players don't always work. True. But at the same time, you have to take risks. Signing Tejada would be a risk. But it is no more of a risk than signing all-world hack Raul Ibanez to an obscene 3-year contract.
To win a championship, you have to take risks. One thing's for sure:
The Pollyanna approach the M's have used the last 4 years has been good, but not good enough. "Not good enough" sums up the Mariners in a nutshell.
And one more thing, fans should expect the Mariners to put the best possible team together. I mean, aren't the people of Washington paying for or have paid for Safeco Field? There's nothing wrong with demanding success.
FIRE UP THE MIGGY HOT STOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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