Ding Dong the witch (Zduriencik) is fired!

goalieump413 · 08-28-2015, 03:33 PM

'Bout time!

Seriously though, I'm not at all surprised that Jack Z is gone as the M's GM. He's been a bit of a swing-and-miss GM since the beginning. He was originally hired under the guise that he's all about drafting and developing young talent, which sounds good but was never, it seems, much of a priority once he signed his contract.

Several M's players have been brought up to the Majors too soon, or have flamed out too soon. I just saw that Mike Zunino got sent down (which is odd considering he's going to return when roster expansion happens on 9/1). Recently slumping gold glove 3B Kyle Seager is one of Jack's success stories, but recently traded IF/OF Dustin Ackley is not. I know every organization has players that, through some sort of accelerated promotion schedule, reach the Majors and then struggle. But with the M's, the minor league system has suffered under Jack's oversight.

My hope now is that the search for Jack's replacement will focus on a GM who understands the business of player and front office development over the long term. The M's have some superstars, and some budding talent still under team control. Recently hired HC, and former M's 3B/DH (and hopeful HOF candidate) Edgar Martinez has, at least on the surface, lit a fire under these guys, which is good news. The starting rotation has been bit by the injury bug all season, and the bullpen just plain sucks (bye, Rodney!)

So, whoever steps in will inherit a Major League roster that has a lot of potential, as well as high expectations. What's needed most of all is the supporting cast at the A and AA levels that could push up into the Majors someday. The organization needs better player development coaches, roving instructors, and a front office whose voice can be heard and understood. Jack Z's philosophy seems to have been that his front office was either built as a cluster of yes men, or on the street.

Seattle is a football town, not a baseball town, so the tolerance from the fan base for middling on-the-field performance is firmly in place. This, I believe, was what Jack Z was relying on throughout his time here since 2009. But things are changing. Two consecutive Superbowl appearances by the Seahawks has brought the taste of championship play to the city, and the general sports fan is beginning to transfer that confidence to the M's as well. No NBA or NHL team have left Seattle without an over-the-winter franchise to bond with, so the M's remain the only real chance out there.

Dombrowski's choice to stay east in Boston was a blow to my confidence, as I thought he'd be a perfect fit here in Seattle. Now it's up to the M's to find the next best thing to an honest, hard working GM.

Please feel free to post your thoughts and corrections to my diatribe.

Green & Gold Heart · 08-28-2015, 03:53 PM

This is the best thing to happen to the Mariners since Ichiro.

RchW · 08-28-2015, 03:59 PM

Jays better get Anthopoulos a new contract. He would be a good fit in Seattle.

David Watts · 08-28-2015, 04:16 PM

Being a Tiger fan, I can tell you so many great things about Dave Dombrowski, but developing young talent wouldn't be one of them. Our farm system is in tatters, shattered. I know that's often the cost of being close, but sometime I had the feeling DD was in for the splash value and getting his name in the headlines was the goal..........um the Fielder deal, the Price deal. But, me whining is me doing so knowing he done some wonderful things for my beloved Tigers.

goalieump413 · 08-28-2015, 08:42 PM

So if Dombrowski wouldn't be considered good for farm development, what redeeming qualities does he possess? Is he a "win now" GM?

From a practical standpoint, the M's aren't that far off from win now, but it will take some precision right away to make that happen. So for me, even though I'd like to see a lot of rebuilding at the lower levels, and in the front office, the incoming GM will need to address ML expectations based on this roster, not his "dream" roster.

I still don't understand moving Zunino to AAA...

psd · 08-28-2015, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Watts

Being a Tiger fan, I can tell you so many great things about Dave Dombrowski, but developing young talent wouldn't be one of them. Our farm system is in tatters, shattered. I know that's often the cost of being close, but sometime I had the feeling DD was in for the splash value and getting his name in the headlines was the goal..........um the Fielder deal, the Price deal. But, me whining is me doing so knowing he done some wonderful things for my beloved Tigers.

I'm a Boston fan, and I am terrified he is going to thoroughly dismantle our great and promising farm system too. But to be fair, DD was probably also under a ton of "win now" pressure to win another title for their aging owner Mike ILitch. That also has to be considered when you look at what he did to the tigers farm.

Skipaway · 08-31-2015, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goalieump413

Seattle is a football town, not a baseball town, so the tolerance from the fan base for middling on-the-field performance is firmly in place.

Not sure Seattle is a sports town at all.

Didn't know many Seahawks fans until their recent success, and even today you don't find that many Seahawks fans inside Seattle: the support is very very strong in suburban cities around Seattle, but the hipster city folks don't care as much and are much more likely to have Sounders gears.

Typical base of strong support for pro-sports or college sports are from city blue collar folks and suburban folks with limited entertainment options. There really aren't enough of those in Seattle area. Really all big cities on the west coast got the similar situation to different degrees. Life is not boring enough on the West Coast.

08-28-2015, 03:33 PM	#1
goalieump413 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 765	Ding Dong the witch (Zduriencik) is fired! 'Bout time! Seriously though, I'm not at all surprised that Jack Z is gone as the M's GM. He's been a bit of a swing-and-miss GM since the beginning. He was originally hired under the guise that he's all about drafting and developing young talent, which sounds good but was never, it seems, much of a priority once he signed his contract. Several M's players have been brought up to the Majors too soon, or have flamed out too soon. I just saw that Mike Zunino got sent down (which is odd considering he's going to return when roster expansion happens on 9/1). Recently slumping gold glove 3B Kyle Seager is one of Jack's success stories, but recently traded IF/OF Dustin Ackley is not. I know every organization has players that, through some sort of accelerated promotion schedule, reach the Majors and then struggle. But with the M's, the minor league system has suffered under Jack's oversight. My hope now is that the search for Jack's replacement will focus on a GM who understands the business of player and front office development over the long term. The M's have some superstars, and some budding talent still under team control. Recently hired HC, and former M's 3B/DH (and hopeful HOF candidate) Edgar Martinez has, at least on the surface, lit a fire under these guys, which is good news. The starting rotation has been bit by the injury bug all season, and the bullpen just plain sucks (bye, Rodney!) So, whoever steps in will inherit a Major League roster that has a lot of potential, as well as high expectations. What's needed most of all is the supporting cast at the A and AA levels that could push up into the Majors someday. The organization needs better player development coaches, roving instructors, and a front office whose voice can be heard and understood. Jack Z's philosophy seems to have been that his front office was either built as a cluster of yes men, or on the street. Seattle is a football town, not a baseball town, so the tolerance from the fan base for middling on-the-field performance is firmly in place. This, I believe, was what Jack Z was relying on throughout his time here since 2009. But things are changing. Two consecutive Superbowl appearances by the Seahawks has brought the taste of championship play to the city, and the general sports fan is beginning to transfer that confidence to the M's as well. No NBA or NHL team have left Seattle without an over-the-winter franchise to bond with, so the M's remain the only real chance out there. Dombrowski's choice to stay east in Boston was a blow to my confidence, as I thought he'd be a perfect fit here in Seattle. Now it's up to the M's to find the next best thing to an honest, hard working GM. Please feel free to post your thoughts and corrections to my diatribe.

08-28-2015, 03:59 PM	#3
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The big smoke Posts: 15,628	Jays better get Anthopoulos a new contract. He would be a good fit in Seattle. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

08-28-2015, 03:53 PM	#2
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	This is the best thing to happen to the Mariners since Ichiro.

08-28-2015, 04:16 PM	#4
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 8,870	Being a Tiger fan, I can tell you so many great things about Dave Dombrowski, but developing young talent wouldn't be one of them. Our farm system is in tatters, shattered. I know that's often the cost of being close, but sometime I had the feeling DD was in for the splash value and getting his name in the headlines was the goal..........um the Fielder deal, the Price deal. But, me whining is me doing so knowing he done some wonderful things for my beloved Tigers.

08-28-2015, 08:42 PM	#5
goalieump413 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 765	So if Dombrowski wouldn't be considered good for farm development, what redeeming qualities does he possess? Is he a "win now" GM? From a practical standpoint, the M's aren't that far off from win now, but it will take some precision right away to make that happen. So for me, even though I'd like to see a lot of rebuilding at the lower levels, and in the front office, the incoming GM will need to address ML expectations based on this roster, not his "dream" roster. I still don't understand moving Zunino to AAA...