The Mariners are getting better in the big picture but we have become so poor that we let contracts cripple the franchise. We have about 30 million of our 80ish million dollar payroll tied into two players that have a total of 3 homeruns between them. And the guy with two is Figgins. Put Ichiro on a plane and send him back to japan. Put Figgins on a train and send him back down to LA. Eat the slaries and let the franchise move forward.

Good job guys.

So, the Mariners don't DFA Figgins, out of FEAR of him going to a division rival? We should hope and pray that they ARE dumb enough to pick him up!

He is only the worst starting catcher, by just about every measuring tool out there, in all of Major League Baseball. And yet as soon as he is back Wedge puts him in. Will he never learn?

Are you... ahem... questioning moves made by the Mariner Management? How does it feel to be on the "Dark Side", you little rebel you? ;-)

All kidding aside, did you get permission from both Lincoln and Armstrong, along with Wedge and Zduriencik's approval before writing this last article? :-)

Oh come on, I know you snickered, if even just a little....

Anyways, in all seriousness I am disappointed that they didn't release Ichiro instead of sending Wells down. Anyone who knows the slightest thing about baseball, knows Ichiro IS THE PROBLEM with this team and should be the first to be shown the door.

Also, you stated: "If either club is interested he wouldn't want to make it easy on them." in regards to trading, or more likely releasing Figgins.

Can I say just one thing to that:

PLEASE, JACK. MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE ON THEM!

I am so desperate to get rid of Chone, I say we sweeten the pot by throwing in Felix! Well, not THAT desperate, but would they consider it?

After Ichiro ;-) , Figgins is the worst thing going for this team......

Closing the bold.

Phew, Sorry for that! :-O

"Anyone who knows the slightest thing about baseball, knows Ichiro IS THE PROBLEM with this team" Obviously you know nothing about baseball.

...he delivered the shaving cream pie to Liddi post-game. That job is for a veteran! Silly Wells, know your place. Down ya go!

Seriously, though, this is an indefensible head-scratcher. As Stevil noted, if he's been that bad, let him go to a rival, it may actually help. Or send down Iwakuma, it's not like he's ever used to begin with and could stretch out as a starter.

Anyway. Must keep the positive vibes from yesterday's game going. I'm tired of complaining about worn-out blue light special veterans. Time to re-focus on the kids again. There's a lot to like in today's lineup...

John Jaso was the shaving cream delivery person. Ichiro will not be released. No team is going to release someone that has been a cornerstone of their franchise for as long as Ichiro. It doesn't mean they don't explore trade opportunities, nor does it mean they sign him next year with his current salary.

That is to say: The moment we were talking about Olivo I forgot who John Jaso is.

"A lot to like in today's lineup"....my oh my (God bless Dave Niehaus), please tell me that was sarcasm.......let's see, it's the 9th inning right now....FOUR hits, yet again. We have a lead-off hitter hitting in the 3 hole, a #7 hitter (Seager) hitting cleanup....what's this all add up to? Yep, another game of less than 5 hits. It's not the youth that's contributing to this garbage, it's the spots in the order that they're being played. Anyone see Wedge being interviewed on MLB Network this afternoon? He answered 5 questions, and all 5 that he answered, he specifically stated how young this team is. He needs to stop using that as an excuse for how he's putting together this lineup each day. Something has to change right now. I've never seen a team look so completely lost with each at-bat during the course of an entire game, as they did tonight. It was dreadful.

Most of those kids have had pretty good days, and during the Rangers series some of it was clicking pretty well. They spent too much time complaining about or disbelieving the bogus strike zone, instead of fouling stuff off and making Haren work. Meh. Happy Felix Day! Still time to get themselves together.

I still wonder who they'll move to put Guti on the roster. Seager? Sometimes these management guys are just plane goofy.

That's all you got?

Prove me wrong!

Ichiro IS THE PROBLEM with this team.

Until someone can convince me otherwise, he is THE PROBLEM and needs to go......

You're saying "That's all you got?" and a "Prove me wrong" statement? So let me paraphrase. You can make up anything you want, regardless of actually having facts, and believe that's all the justification that you need? That there is crazy talk. The proof is on you, sparky, You're the one making claims that you can't back up. What is there to prove? That you jump to judgement, and would never make a good juror?

1) Jack Z has the foundations of a deal to move Figgins largely in place; or 2) the organization just doesn't trust Wells in center. Problem is, I have a hard time with either of these - it's unlikely anyone wants Figgins, and it's hard to picture the team preferring him to Wells as Saunders' backup. In any case, once Guti is back there really isn't another logical move to make other than releasing Figgins; so maybe they've just decided to tread water for now (Lord knows why, though).

I agree, once Guti comes back, Figgins is the obvious choice of who SHOULD be taken off the roster. Don't be surprised though if it's Carp, with his staggering .154 average..... I think the scenario is for Figgins to stay on the major league roster until the deadline, giving Jack Z more time to work out any kind of a deal to at least get a little something in return for him. If we outright release him, some team I'm sure will pick him up off of waivers (only the Lord knows why), so now we're eating the salary and getting nothing.

Ok then if you were Wedge lets hear what you would say and what line up you would put out there. Do you think he wants to hit Ichiro 3rd or Seagar 4th? Also, Olivo bashers the minute Jaso or Montero replace him either one of those guys just became the worst catcher in the ML. Montero needs to time to learn just like he is doing. I think he will be an OK catcher in the future, but not everyday right now. No way you cut Olivo. This is what rebuilding a team is folks. Knee jerk reactions is why Mike Morse, Sin So Choo, Azdruble Cabbrea etc are all hitting in the middle of someone elses line up. Each one of you that say this team stinks and swap them out for the Rainiers etc need to watch the game and think long term not just react to the last game. I am tired of people saying change this change that with somebody. Take a look, there is nobody named somebody on the roster! This is what they have. Wedge and Z are doing exaclty what they should be doing. The farm system is being built up like it should have been years ago instead of trying to put a band aide on everything. Help is coming. Anyone who knows anything can see it. I watch almost every game. What 6-8 games specifically did Ichiro save? And, do you think he would have had to "save" them if we had an 18 million dollar a year player with more than 1 HR? The only thing that will screw this up is if the owner makes them re-sign Ichiro.

I assume that if the Mariners get to double-digits behind the Rangers, the usual people will come out of the woodwork to pin this all on Ichiro.

Anyway, your larger points here are right - Wedge is doing what he can with what he's given. There's some weird choices in there, like Olivo as everyday catcher instead of being a backup. Or Liddi jammed into left field to keep his bat in the lineup and give it a chance to catch fire, instead of sitting Smoak. But otherwise, overall, yeah, the kids need to figure it out and grow up. If any of these guys - from the marquee youngsters like Ackley and Smoak, to the surprises like Seager and Saunders - need someone else in the lineup in order to be effective, then this franchise is 5+ years away from being over .500 again. I think running the veterans out there is just showing that "they are who they've been waiting for", to reuse a popular phrase. No one here to rescue or coddle them. They're it. They're the team. They have to deliver.

And you're right that there aren't going to be knee-jerk reactions to suddenly cut or demote or trade off guys. We've wanted real rebuilding for years... well, this is what it looks like.

I see so many down on Brendan Ryan. After tonight last inning loss are you people sure it isn't Brandon you fans should be down on? How many blown saves does this make? 4 last inning losses. I wasn't a fan last year so I have no history of what any of these players did last year. I only see what they are doing this year and what League is doing is horrible pitching. Blake pitched a great seven innings but for one pitch to Albert that was off the plate and he still took it deep. Big Tom had a nice 8th and then with the Mariners poised for a win Brendon snatched defeat from the jaws of victory AGAIN!!!! How long is Wedge going to keep pitching him as a closer? I rather see someone else. I cringed when he came on in Cleveland and blew it!!

Did you see Mike's average: .313 6 home runs and how Albert's production has picked up? I am so proud the Angels are getting well playing agaianst Brandon minor League and the rest of the cast. Kevin Colabro, what nerve to suggest the Angels would ever want Choney back on their roster. You truly do come up with lame comments on your so called "show."