Could be, could be. Spot on about their single signing– just enough to appease the base. And, of course, keep the profits and equity appreciation rollin’– always Lincoln’s bottom line motivation. He may talk baseball intent, but he acts soley on his fiscal Prime Directive.
Let’s hope they win anyway!

Mac, do yourself a favor and look around baseball. In the World Series were SF (88 regular wins) and KC (89). The Mariners won 87, with the crappy offense you mentioned. They were shut out a league high 19 times, and nearly made the playoffs. In MLB runs scored, SF was 12th, KC 14th and Seattle 19th.

The game has changed drastically in 10 years, and will be pitching-dominant until rules are changed. The Mariners are pitching dominant. They added hitters Smith, Ruggiano and Cruz, who are all better career hitters that those they replaced. We’ll see what happens, but the Mariners improved their offense. Every team will get shut out now and then, and these days, way more often.

Not saying your points are without merit, Mac, but we’re all of two games into a 162-game season…a trifle early to jump either on or off the bandwagon.

Like you, I’m not convinced Cruz is going to be the game-changer everyone else seems to think he’ll be because he’s been able to put up good numbers in hitter’s ballparks and that’s something we don’t have here. On the other hand, they DID win 87 games last year with an anemic offense and their pitching should be at least as good. Pitching rules the game right now and the Mariners are loaded in that department.

I think I’ll wait more than two games before giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on this team. Predictions mean nothing, as Mel Kiper proves every spring.