In 2009, the Mariners became the first team ever to win fewer than 100 games with at payroll over $100 million. Midway through the year they fired GM Bill Bavasi, and have since undergone an exhaustive search, looking for someone to right the ship. Today, they announced their decision: That certainly is an impressive resume, as Zduriencik is known as one of the best, if not the best, scouting directors in baseball. But you have to wonder if Seattle wouldn't have been better off going with one of the other candidates, like Tony LaCava or Jerry DiPoto.Milwaukee Brewers executive Jack Zduriencik is the Seattle Mariners' choice to be their new general manager.
The 57-year-old Zduriencik spent nine years in Milwaukee's front office, most recently as the special assistant to general manager Doug Melvin.
Since Zduriencik came to Milwaukee in 1999, he made the call to draft Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks as well as 2007 NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra and Tony Gwynn Jr. -- the foundation of Milwaukee's playoff team this season.
This is not to say that Zduriencik is a bad hire; he'll certainly get them going in the right direction. But the current Mariners' regime has the reputation for being very old school, and almost ignoring sabermetrics. It seems like they may have been better served to do a complete 180, and go with one of the "new school" candidates. Now, we'll have to see if Zduriencik surrounds himself with enough statistically minded people to completely change the culture and vault Seattle back into contention.
