GT 8.19.26 M's #1 Prospect Suddenly Retires; can't show his face as Mariner

[bpj]

No, I actually think Dipoto prides himself on being a budget GM. There have been several times we've heard there was money in the budget, it just didn't get spent. Which is fine, if you can't find the right player.

In reality, he thinks he can outsmart the big spenders. I think he used it as a main selling point to the owners about his style that's gotten him this far.

Unfortunately for him, NO, that's not winning. And he's dumb as shit.

He's led the Mariners to more playoff appearances than only 3 other teams in MLB over the last ten years, and it hasn't resulted in anything.

Now we're how many games under .500?

We still haven't won. And now we suck worse than when Dipoto took over.

[DanielVogelbach]

90 wins in 2021. 90 wins in 2022. 90 wins in 2025.

Won the WC series in 2022. Almost won game 1 in Houston but then there was the Robbie Ray incident. Astros win the WS that year.

2025 they had best season in franchise history in terms of the post season run.

I'm sure they'll be players in the FA market this offseason, especially with Castillo's contract coming off the books.

Cal Raleigh is a major issue right now though. I'm not sure what the answer is for that. I think our hopes are kind of pinned on him regaining form otherwise that's a lot of money sunk on a shitty player.

[bpj]

90 wins in 2021. 90 wins in 2022. 90 wins in 2025.

Won the WC series in 2022. Almost won game 1 in Houston but then there was the Robbie Ray incident. Astros win the WS that year.

2025 they had best season in franchise history in terms of the post season run.

I'm sure they'll be players in the FA market this offseason, especially with Castillo's contract coming off the books.

Cal Raleigh is a major issue right now though. I'm not sure what the answer is for that. I think our hopes are kind of pinned on him regaining form otherwise that's a lot of money sunk on a shitty player.

What does 90 wins mean to you?

I don't find Cal to be a problem at all. He'll probably settle in and be a 30 HR, .700+ OPS catcher, and be well worth what he's earning over his contract.

Catchers don't have to do much to be valuable.

They need to get some serious middle of the order hitters and let Cal and Julio be the 5/6 types they are.

[DanielVogelbach]

What does 90 wins mean to you?

I don't find Cal to be a problem at all. He'll probably settle in and be a 30 HR, .700+ OPS catcher, and be well worth what he's earning over his contract.

Catchers don't have to do much to be valuable.

They need to get some serious middle of the order hitters and let Cal and Julio be the 5/6 types they are.

To me 90 wins means a very good campaign and most likely headed to the post season.

Cal Raleigh is the highest paid catcher in MLB by AAV. If he woulda settled into 30 HR, 700+ OPS in 2026 then the Mariners would be winning their division right now.

Julio has two 30/30 campaigns under his belt already. Why would you push that so far down in the lineup?

Even one great hitter would make a huge difference. That's what Geno was providing. It makes it easier on everyone else in the lineup.

But, the pitching hasn't been as great this year either. I'm looking forward to seeing what Kade can provide for them.

[bpj]

What does 90 wins mean to you?

I don't find Cal to be a problem at all. He'll probably settle in and be a 30 HR, .700+ OPS catcher, and be well worth what he's earning over his contract.

Catchers don't have to do much to be valuable.

They need to get some serious middle of the order hitters and let Cal and Julio be the 5/6 types they are.

To me 90 wins means a very good campaign and most likely headed to the post season.

Cal Raleigh is the highest paid catcher in MLB by AAV. If he woulda settled into 30 HR, 700+ OPS in 2026 then the Mariners would be winning their division right now.

Julio has two 30/30 campaigns under his belt already. Why would you push that so far down in the lineup?

Even one great hitter would make a huge difference. That's what Geno was providing. It makes it easier on everyone else in the lineup.

But, the pitching hasn't been as great this year either. I'm looking forward to seeing what Kade can provide for them.

Good question.

The answer is because in Cal's two 30 HR seasons his OPS equaled .755 across the two years.

Julio's just not ready for MOTO- if he ever will be. He makes a good 5 batter right now, but very underwhelming above that unless you're leading him off (which I'm fine with).

We lost Geno and Polanco's 30 HR's and they added Brendan Donovan.

What was going to happen was obvious.

[DanielVogelbach]

Good question.

The answer is because in Cal's two 30 HR seasons his OPS equaled .755 across the two years.

Julio's just not ready for MOTO- if he ever will be. He makes a good 5 batter right now, but very underwhelming above that unless you're leading him off (which I'm fine with).

We lost Geno and Polanco's 30 HR's and they added Brendan Donovan.

What was going to happen was obvious.

Oh man I forgot all about Polanco. Looks like he ain't doing shit this year, though.

I like Donovan. I liked his interview the other day, and he's been a good performer when on the field. Trouble is he hasn't been on the field much. Still got another year of him. I think he's valuable. He can hit. He was an all star last year.

I don't think anybody would've, could've, or should've predicted Raleigh's fall off being so extreme. Obviously, you're not counting on another 60 homer campaign, but .156 BA. is a season killer. If Donavan stays healthy, Raleigh bats .250, Munoz locks down a couple more. SP closer to last year's performance. It's a totally different season.

I would like to see Raleigh do something the remainder of this season to show that he can still swing a bat. I'm not really watching the games to see exactly what's going on. But, I mean the numbers are soooooo bad for him compared to last year. To me it invites the concept of a PED regimen stopped for health reasons. Hopefully you're right about him regaining some form.

[Michael K.]

And now they are 12th in a 15 team AL and the Farm isn't as good as it was. What a smashing success.

[bpj]

Good question.

The answer is because in Cal's two 30 HR seasons his OPS equaled .755 across the two years.

Julio's just not ready for MOTO- if he ever will be. He makes a good 5 batter right now, but very underwhelming above that unless you're leading him off (which I'm fine with).

We lost Geno and Polanco's 30 HR's and they added Brendan Donovan.

What was going to happen was obvious.

Oh man I forgot all about Polanco. Looks like he ain't doing shit this year, though.

I like Donovan. I liked his interview the other day, and he's been a good performer when on the field. Trouble is he hasn't been on the field much. Still got another year of him. I think he's valuable. He can hit. He was an all star last year.

I don't think anybody would've, could've, or should've predicted Raleigh's fall off being so extreme. Obviously, you're not counting on another 60 homer campaign, but .156 BA. is a season killer. If Donavan stays healthy, Raleigh bats .250, Munoz locks down a couple more. SP closer to last year's performance. It's a totally different season.

I would like to see Raleigh do something the remainder of this season to show that he can still swing a bat. I'm not really watching the games to see exactly what's going on. But, I mean the numbers are soooooo bad for him compared to last year. To me it invites the concept of a PED regimen stopped for health reasons. Hopefully you're right about him regaining some form.

I like Donovan just fine too.

But what happened was Dipoto had massive output from Raleigh, Polanco, and then the midseason addition of Suarez and then he turned around and only added Brendan Donovan to the mix to replace that production.

An obvious downgrade from last season. And here we are.

Dipoto should have made the team obviously better than last season. He didn't come close. Because he's incapable.

[Michael K.]

You forgot about Polanco? It was pointed out all off season that his production was going to be very hard to replace. Didn't fit your narrative of the great Dipshitto though, so you ignored that?

[Captain 97]

Obviously Cal's struggles is the biggest drop off from last year with a loss of a whopping .288 in OPS but their were 3 spots that needed to be filled this off season. DH with the departure of Polanco, 3B with the departure of Willamson/Suarez and 1B where Naylor was a Free agent. All 3 of those spots have seen a significant drop in OPS from 2025. DH - .126, 3B -.072, 1B - .054. This off season was simply a colossal failure just like almost every off season we've experienced under this front office. .