Hurted

For the 2,332^nd time in his dismal general managing career, Bill Bavasi yet again made a move (in this case a non-move) that will haunt the Mariners throughout the early season months.

By not signing Frank Thomas to the low risk, high reward contract that the Big Hurt inked with division rival Oakland A’s, Bavasi deprived the M’s lineup of the game changing bat they desperately need. Nearly as important, not signing Thomas robbed myself and hundreds of others who grew up in the early to mid 1990’s, the chance to call the second best hitter of our youth our own.

Standing at a mediocre 11-11, the M’s are a Felix Hernandez mental lapse and a Jarrod Washburn start away from battling the Rangers for last place in the AL West. Starting pitching is the only thing keeping this team above water. And for as good as the starters have been, there simply is no chance they will continue to throw the ball this well as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, Mariners batters are regressing. .205, .200, .197, .178 – Those are the batting averages for Richie Sexson, Fats Vidro, Kenjiballz and Brad Wilkerson. Couple these anorexic batting averages with the fact that Ichiballz hasn’t hit his stride, Belly can’t hit with RISP (.100, 1, 3), and a double play duo that would rather get spiked in the face than take a walk and you’ve got the worst offense in baseball.

Bavasi doesn’t deserve all the blame. Hitting coach Jeff Pentland has inexplicably been able to keep his job, despite similar hitting woes lurking throughout his three seasons at the helm.

Sure, Thomas might be running on fumes. But even with his early season struggles, Thomas would still be the Mariners third best hitter. The simple fact that Thomas would be no worse than Fats Vidro should have been enough reason to sign him.

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds fired GM Wayne Krivsky after just two years on the job. The Reds winning percentage during Krivsky’s tenure was .467. Bavasi’s winning percentage during his four plus inept seasons is .461. The Mariners brass needs to take a hint.