Still Bill

Mariners GM Bill Bavasi can’t even make the right move properly.

In true Bavasi fashion, he rightly called up both Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien from AAA, but DFA’d the wrong switch hitting designated hitter.

Why Greg Norton got the boot instead of Fats Vidro is beyond me. In his minimal playing time, Norton had an OPS almost 500 points higher than Vidro. While that probably wouldn’t hold up throughout the season, it’s clear that Norton is the better hitter.

Vidro has been an unmitigated disaster as the M’s full time DH. Even as the most expensive pinch hitter in baseball history, Vidro is still a sub par option. Norton at least has some pop in his bat. Vidro is good for a slap single or a double play. Not to mention, Norton can play a position in the field (1B/RF), whereas Vidro’s weight keeps him from lateral movement.

It’s also important to note that Vidro has a vesting option for 2009 that kicks in if he reaches between 400-450 AB’s. Bavasi would have to be stupider than anybody conceivably thinks he is if he’s considering bringing back Vidro for 2009. It’s almost like Bavasi feels like he owes it to Vidro for being the lone All-Star representative for Les Expos during years 2000-2003.

Dropping Brad Wilkerson should have never happened because he should have never been signed in the first place. By not making it past April, Wilkerson undershot most M’s fans expectations who thought he would be cut between June and July.

In his first game this season, Wilkerson’s replacement, Wladimir Balentien, blasted a three-run home run. So in just four at bats, Balentien outhomered Wilkerson and nearly matched his RBI total.

The M’s end April two games under .500. This despite having three of the best starting pitchers in the American League thus far. Hopefully the moves made to inject some pop in the offense weren’t made a month too late.