Jerry Dipoto and the Seattle Mariners: Where Are We Going?
By Todd Pheifer
Sep 30, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto conducts an interview in the dugout before a game against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Great leaders get people to follow them. Until the followers figure out whether the leader is great, they may still follow him or her. Of course, they may only follow out of curiosity.
When it comes to the Seattle Mariners, it feels a lot like we are in the curiosity stage right now. New general manager Jerry Dipoto (so glad that I no longer have to type out Zduriencik) has wasted no time in putting his mark on the club.
At this point I have one, minor question. Where are we going?
I won’t rehash all the moves, as my esteemed colleague Raymond Schwabacher already provided some excellent analysis of the latest deals. For my part, I will take a more pedestrian approach.
Namely, I find myself having mixed reactions to these trades. Something along the lines of “interesting,” “um…okay,” and “hmmm.”
Scholarly stuff, right? I think some of you understand. While Dipoto was recently quoted as saying these moves will help with “roster depth and flexibility,” the fan base is left to wonder whether he is just clearing space. The Mark Trumbo deal in particular looks very much like a salary dump, which is fine. Trumbo was probably not a vital part of Seattle’s future anyway.
The question is, what’s next?
Will the Mariners make a big “splash” by signing a marquee free agent? Or will it be another year of tinkering, featuring a collection of players that are coming off injuries, were good back in 2012 or are just plain cheap?
Dipoto will obviously want to put his own stamp on the club, and quickly. However, fans may need to be patient because there is more than just Mark Trumbo’s shortcomings to address. The Mariners have been drafting under Jack Z’s philosophy for a number of years now, and rebuilding a farm system can take a very long time.
Right now, it feels like the Mariners are re-organizing their desk or cleaning out the garage. Good things can happen after you do some cleaning. Then again, a clean desk does not guarantee that productivity will quickly follow.
Boldness is exciting, so perhaps the future is bright for the Mariners. The loyal fans sure could use some good news, because it has been a long time in coming. Whether Jerry Dipoto can build a winner remains to be seen. Stay tuned, because it looks like Dealin’ Dipoto is just getting started.