Thought it would be fun to mark the high and low points for our local sports teams this decade. Today: The Mariners!
High point: October 6, 2001. By beating Texas 3-2 for their 116th win, the Mariners match the 1908 Cubs for the winningest season in major league history. Fans look forward to a cakewalk through the playoffs.
Low point: June 4, 2008. After the $100 million Mariners fall to 21-39, manager John McLaren unleashes this nonsensical rant. He was fired later that month, and the M’s dropped 101 games.
Best player: Ichiro. Who else? The 2001 MVP, breaker of the all-time hits mark in 2004, he compiled 2030 hits in nine years. And played a little defense.
Worst player: Carlos Silva. Given a four-year, $48-million contract by Bill Bavasi, Silva compiled this line in 34 starts as a Mariner: 5-18, 6.81 ERA, 25 HRs allowed. ICK ICK ICK.
Best trade: Franklin Gutierrez for J.J. Putz. Some other prospects and bit players were involved, but these were the two big pieces in the deal. Jack Zduriencik obtained the best centerfielder I’ve ever seen (yes, better than Griffey and Cameron). Putz threw only 29 innings with his new team and had a 5.22 ERA.
Worst trade: Ramon Santiago for Carlos Guillen. One of Bavasi’s first moves as GM foretold his future mistakes. He threw aside Guillen for a minor prospect so he could play Rich Aurilia at shortstop. Aurilia was released in July after hitting .241. Santiago had just eight hits as a Mariner. Guillen became a cornerstone of the Tigers’ revival, going to three All-Star Games in six years.
Best draft pick: Adam Jones, 37th overall pick, 2003. Not much to choose from, as the Mariners did a horrible job of drafting this decade. Fitting then that their best choice ended up doing most of his damage with another team. Jones, the final pick of the first round of the ’03 draft, was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove for the Orioles last year.
Worst draft pick: Jeff Clement, first round (third overall), 2005. Given a chance to get an impact player, Bill Bavasi instead got a catcher who can’t catch, a hitter who hasn’t been able to handle major league pitching. Now 26 (he’s older than Jose Lopez), Clement will try to revive his career in the Pirates organization. The guy who went one pick after Clement in that draft? Ryan Zimmerman. OOPS!
