Terry Mosher 3

TERRY MOSHER

 

Seattle Mariners Photo Day

 

MIKE ZUNINO

I about exploded listening to a couple sports shock jocks on Seattle radio today when they started talking about the Mariners’ woes, in particular about one Mike Zunino, the starting catcher for the local nine.

They agreed that they could live with Zunino batting below the Mendoza Line (.200) because of his excellent ability to call a game and his solid defensive skills. That’s what is wrong with shock jocks. They seldom get the big picture when they discuss topics.

The Mariners have the worst team batting average in the Major Leagues, even worse than the woeful Philadelphia Phillies (.230 to .242), have scored the fewest runs in MLB, again even worst then the Phillies (255-256), and their on-base percentage is just a hair breathe better then the last-place Phillies (.293-292).

And these incredible thumb-sucking shock jocks are saying on-air with a straight face that Zunino is invaluable to the Mariners.

I almost drove off the road I was so upset listening to them. Zunino is batting .166, just a tad ahead of Tampa Bay’s Rene Rivera (.162) for the worse in MLB. He is, in fact, a zero threat at the plate and they are defending him when the Mariners’ need an offensive jolt?

John Hicks is doing most of the catching at triple-A Tacoma and is hitting. 57 more points higher than Zunino (.223).  Steve Baron is batting .243 at AA Jackson. Heck, at this point Hicks and Baron have to be better than Zunino because nobody could be worse.

What I can’t figure out is Jackie Z. The M’s general manager traded in the middle of May with the Chicago Cubs to get a backup catcher for Zunino, bringing aboard Wellington Castillo. Jackie Z makes a big deal of it, then 15 days later trades that “Big Deal” to Arizona to acquire Mark Trumbo, who I will remind you is batting a whopping .151.

Who got the Mariners in this situation? Remember, most experts, including national media, picked the Mariners to play in the World Series, and they how sit one game out of last place in the American League West eight games under .500 and nine games behind division-leading Houston.

You can add your own expletive for Robinson Canoe making $24 million a year and batting .241. I think I can hit .241, and I’ll take just 10 percent of what Cano makes. I’d hit much higher, but I’ve gotten old and my bat speed has slowed.

This season is a disaster without any question. Don’t expect Cano to start hitting. Don’t expect Zunino to be anything other than a zero at the plate. The Mariners are what they are – not good.

I blame Jackie Z, who has had plenty of time to get this franchise turned around. And Lloyd McClendon, for me, doesn’t have the fire that his players can respect. I would have been kicking butt way before now. Lou Piniella would never have put up with this. He would have engaged Cano by now, and you can bet it would not have been pretty.

So to all those sports shock jocks that spin irreverent tales for three hours a day to make their money, get real. Say something that means something. Get upset. Tell it like it is and quit kissing up.

That’s enough for today.

Be well pal.

Be careful out there.

Have a great day.

You are loved.