Seattle Mariners Roundtable: Should G.M. Dipoto keep his job after 2018?
By Ed Stein
Ed Stein
Yes, I think Jerry DiPoto has to go. I’ll give my short answer as to why and then I’ll explain in detail. I have two good reasons for him to leave. Number one is mediocrity, the Mariners have been in this decade a close to .500 team. The second boils down to one word, hope, as in where is the hope that the M’s can improve and contend for a championship.
Point one – Mediocrity
From 2012-2017, the Mariners record is 473 – 499, which works out to a yearly average of 79-83. Under Dipoto, 2016-2017, the M’s are 164-160, that averages out to 82-80. Generously considering Seattle goes 13-5 in their 18 remaining games the average record goes 80-82 in the past seven years
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Simply, the Mariners are no better off with Dipoto running the baseball operations than they were before he arrived at the end of the 2015 season. Supporters point to his big trades and yes those are plusses in his favor. At the end of the day, Mariners need to realize that the bottom line is the same, an overall average team.
Point 2 – Hope
I use the word hope somewhat loosely. When a team is average at best, the organization and fans need to believe that the situation can get better. If for no other reason than to sell tickets. Joe Regular isn’t going to drop $200 a pop for him, his wife, and two kids to see a team with no hope that his team can be a contender very often.
The minor league system is mostly barren. As Jordan wrote last week, the top three minor league prospects are two years away at best. Among them, none is either a dynamic talent or a “game changer.”
The minor league system is mostly barren. As Jordan wrote last week, the top three minor league prospects are two years away at best. Among them, none is either a dynamic talent or a “game changer.”
Some are thinking that Dipoto can fix the mediocrity issue with free agents. Let’s say hypothetically again the Mariners break the bank and sign either Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. Aside from the fact that they would be paying $400M+ in salary over the next 10 years, it doesn’t fix the pitching.
dark. Next. Felix Hernandez has to make adjustments to extend career
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