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Dipoto Say Mariners Done Adding for Now

By Colby Patnode

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 30: GM Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners looks on from the dugout prior to the game against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field on September 30, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 30: GM Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners looks on from the dugout prior to the game against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field on September 30, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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The Seattle Mariners held their annual pre-season press conference today. The lineup included Manager Scott Servais, new comers Ryon Healy and Dee Gordon, and GM Jerry Dipoto. The news isn’t good for Mariners fans.

The biggest bit of “news” to come down from the press conference was Jerry Dipoto’s revelation that he will not be adding a veteran starter. To be exact, Dipoto said:

An interesting quote from a team that is supposed to be competing for a playoff spot in 2018. The Mariners seem content to let Andrew Moore, Ariel Miranda, and Marco Gonzales battle it out for meaningful innings early in 2018.

Furthermore, Dipoto even acknowledged the team could be better right now:

So, here we have the General Manager of the team with the longest playoff drought across the 4 major sports leagues, admitting that his team is not as good as it can be. While it is possible to spin this statement numerous ways, it is hard to spin it away from one simple thought: The Seattle Mariners main goal in 2018 is not to win.

Rather, their goal is to remain competitive enough that they might be in the hunt come July. As a result, Seattle fans will now be treated to another team struggling to finish above 81 wins. This is an unacceptable approach.

The Mariners have not made the playoffs in 16 years. Instead of actively pursuing options to end this drought, they are attempting to sell you hope. Remember, “hope” is not a course of action. Hope does not win baseball games. Hope does not end playoff droughts.

The Seattle Mariners are actively insulting the intelligence of their fan base. They want you to believe they are trying to end a playoff drought. They are trying to sell you on 3 AAAA pitchers being that answer, when there are still a dozen of proven, MLB arms available to them right now.

Seattle want’s you believe that they can’t spend more money.While in truth, there is no shortage of cash. They want you buy their future, when in fact, both the GM and Manager are on 1 year deals. In addition, their farm system is universally ranked as one of the 5 worst in baseball. What future can they really sell you?

The Mariners are banking on an All-Star level Mike Zunino for 120 games. They are banking on James Paxton making 30 starts. They want you to believe that Felix Hernandez still has ace potential despite no evidence of such in nearly 3 years.

The Mariners want you to believe that Mitch Haniger and Ben Gamel are the real deal, that Dee Gordon is a gold glove center fielder. They are asking for blind faith. I, for one, cannot give it to them.

My sincerest hope is that I am writing a different article in 8 months. My hope is that I will be writing an apology to the Mariners and their front office, as they sit 3 games up on the Wild Card lead, and are preparing to host a 1 game playoff.

However, I am a believer that actions are better than words. The Mariners can sell their belief system elsewhere. I will not buy until they give me a reason to.

Next: The Good, The Bad, and the Mariners

I will be rooting like mad to be wrong. I will continue to watch, and I will continue to root for my team. But I am done buying their “hope” model. I sincerely hope 2018 will be the year the drought ends. As a fan, hope is all I can count on. But for the heads of Seattle Mariners Baseball, we, the fans, should demand more.

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