Seeing as how the Mariners really suck this season, I've kind of stopped paying attention to them. Of course, because of that, I forgot just how bad the team really is. Thankfully the three games I just saw them play against the White Sox in Chicago this week reaffirmed everything I previously knew.One of the reasons the Mariners are so horrible this season can be attributed to the Erik Bedard trade. The Mariners sent Adam Jones, George Sherrill, the Space Needle, and majority ownership in Starbucks to Baltimore for the southpaw. While a lot of people thought the addition of Bedard would help the Mariners win the AL West (I only had them as the wild card, so I guess that makes me slightly less stupid), thanks to his injuries and ineffectiveness, they're fighting just to avoid 100 losses this season.
Bedard cost the Mariners their season, and the jobs of John McLaren and Bill Bavasi. Fortunately for all involved, the odds of Erik returning this season to claim the livelihoods of others are slim at best.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and [Jim] Riggleman both say that Bedard did not come out of his last throwing session feeling well, as he had in previous outings.
Although nothing is definite, there is a chance Bedard's shoulder problem will keep him from pitching for the Mariners again in 2008, although the team would like to see him get back on the mound. He's been on the DL since July 5, and he spent time in April on the DL as well.Okay, so it's probably not all Erik Bedard's fault that the Mariners are horrible. Bavasi is the one who pulled the trigger on the deal in the first place, and he also handed out those huge contracts to Richie Sexson and Ichiro. If there's any good news for suffering Mariners fans, it's that the season will be over shortly, and Seahawks season starts soon.
"I'd look at it as gravy if he does (pitch again in 2008)," Riggleman said. "I'd love for him to pitch. I'd like to have him feel good about how he's pitching going into the offseason."
