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They sacrificed hitting coach Jeff Pentland last week and then fired general manager Bill Bavasi on Monday.

Now, if the Seattle Mariners really want to show their players and fans they mean business, they'll pull the plug on the miserable Richie Sexson at first base, play someone who at least has a chance and swallow whole what's left of Sexson's $14 million this season.

The club's play this season has been humiliating from all angles. The 22-45 record is the majors' worst, they were swept by Washington (who had the majors' worst record only a few days ago) over the weekend, they've lost seven consecutive home games and trail the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West by 17 1/2 games.

Bavasi, Mariners' GM since November, 2003, has been a short leash ever since that bizarre day two Septembers ago when Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln extended the contracts of both Bavasi and then-manager Mike Hargrove's contract while publicly affirming that each was on Lincoln's "hot seat."

What kind of message was that?

If you didn't have complete faith in them, why extend them?

Make no mistake, that's part of the reason the Mariners are in the shape they're in. It took the hands of many to muck things up this badly, not just Bavasi. The hiring of Hargrove back in October, 2004, was uninspired as well.

In retrospect, the fact that that Mariners were surprisingly competitive last season may have been the worst thing that could have happened to them. All it did was delay the inevitable: That this is a roster that needs to be blown to smithereens.

Sexson (.212, nine homers, 23 RBI, 64 strikeouts in 193 at-bats) continues to gum up the works. Jose Vidro as a designated hitter is an argument to simply let the pitchers bat. Adrian Beltre (.227) is a miserable situational hitter. Hell, most of these guys are: Somehow, Seattle won two of three in Toronto last week while scoring all of six runs. Against the Nationals over the weekend, they got 10 in three games.

So Lee Elia, Pentland's replacement, didn't come with a magic wand. Big surprise. That meltdown day earlier this month on which president Chuck Armstrong delivered a pre-game blistering to manager John McLaren and his coaching staff while McLaren issued a post-game tirade and Bavasi took away post-game food and towels and forced the players to stand by their lockers and face the media didn't work, either. Really?

Bavasi's assistant, Lee Pelekoudas, will take over as GM on an interim basis, mainly because somebody must fill the spot. The moves with Pentland and Bavasi are only the beginning.

This is a club in dire need of a complete overhaul, from the executive offices to the clubhouse.

Lost at sea while Sexson cashes in

About time they got rid of Bavasi. Now they need to get rid of Sexson and Vidro. Sexson's been horrrible since he's gotten here and Vidro is not a DH. Get the young guys up from the minors and build for next year. Also, I hope they try to go after Griffey Junior next year and have him DH. That would be awesome!

M's need a leadership change at the top

Pelekoudas, who I have met, is a good baseball man and is merely keeping the seat warm during a search. Bavasi is only part of the problem. Howard Lincoln, the so-called Mariner CEO, is the real problem who should be gone but won't be because of his relationship with the M's majority owner in Japan. They dumped him into this job when he lost a ton of market share as CEO for Nintendo many years ago. I supported the purchase of the M's by Mr. Yamauchi, Microsoft exec's and others in the early 90's but they must realize leadership is from the top. Baseball may be their hobby but for many of us it is a passion and a representation of our region and community.

Lost at sea while Sexson cashes in

Griffey is the last thing this franchise needs!!! What the hell would acquiring griffey do for this franchise????? It would give you a 40 year old hitter who would be a .250 20 H.R hitter with one hell of a goldmine for a contract. I think Mariners fans need to lay off the crack, you guys DO NOT! want griffey, he does nothing for the mariners franchise, this team needs to get younger and quick. Trade or release all the 30 y.o. + bums that Bavasi acquired and start over, it will be alot less painfull than seeing Griffey walk around the clubhouuse with his collatomy bag and 20 million dollar contract!!!! Thank god I'm a cubs fan!!!!!!!!! Go cubbies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lost at sea while Sexson cashes in

Go spend some of that cash on the best young GM prospect in the game. No .500 record retreads. Trade Sexton for a bucket of balls and a maple bat. Bedard was a mistake. Trade any of the useful expensive parts, except Ichiro, for some youth. Hope that an exciting young team will inspire him to play with greater passion and zeal. Build around him and the bullpen. Putz could be traded when healthy for a good return with Morrow in the wings. Cut the payroll and bring up the hungry kids to show what they have got, they will have over half a season to show something. I love Griff, but he is not the answer in Seattle. He should go to a contender. Quick get started, there is a lot of work to do.

Rumdawg Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 23, 2007	Posted on: June 16, 2008 5:27 pm Score: 84 Lost at sea while Sexson cashes in About time they got rid of Bavasi. Now they need to get rid of Sexson and Vidro. Sexson's been horrrible since he's gotten here and Vidro is not a DH. Get the young guys up from the minors and build for next year. Also, I hope they try to go after Griffey Junior next year and have him DH. That would be awesome! [ Reply to Comment ]
brian199511 Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 16, 2008	Posted on: June 16, 2008 8:27 pm Score: 28 M's need a leadership change at the top Pelekoudas, who I have met, is a good baseball man and is merely keeping the seat warm during a search. Bavasi is only part of the problem. Howard Lincoln, the so-called Mariner CEO, is the real problem who should be gone but won't be because of his relationship with the M's majority owner in Japan. They dumped him into this job when he lost a ton of market share as CEO for Nintendo many years ago. I supported the purchase of the M's by Mr. Yamauchi, Microsoft exec's and others in the early 90's but they must realize leadership is from the top. Baseball may be their hobby but for many of us it is a passion and a representation of our region and community. [ Reply to Comment ]
eamn Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 22, 2006	Posted on: June 16, 2008 10:27 pm Score: 85 Lost at sea while Sexson cashes in Griffey is the last thing this franchise needs!!! What the hell would acquiring griffey do for this franchise????? It would give you a 40 year old hitter who would be a .250 20 H.R hitter with one hell of a goldmine for a contract. I think Mariners fans need to lay off the crack, you guys DO NOT! want griffey, he does nothing for the mariners franchise, this team needs to get younger and quick. Trade or release all the 30 y.o. + bums that Bavasi acquired and start over, it will be alot less painfull than seeing Griffey walk around the clubhouuse with his collatomy bag and 20 million dollar contract!!!! Thank god I'm a cubs fan!!!!!!!!! Go cubbies!!!!!!!!!!!!! [ Reply to Comment ]
Wonder Wagon Reputation: 77 Level: Pro Since: Apr 16, 2008	Posted on: June 16, 2008 11:05 pm Score: 35 Lost at sea while Sexson cashes in Go spend some of that cash on the best young GM prospect in the game. No .500 record retreads. Trade Sexton for a bucket of balls and a maple bat. Bedard was a mistake. Trade any of the useful expensive parts, except Ichiro, for some youth. Hope that an exciting young team will inspire him to play with greater passion and zeal. Build around him and the bullpen. Putz could be traded when healthy for a good return with Morrow in the wings. Cut the payroll and bring up the hungry kids to show what they have got, they will have over half a season to show something. I love Griff, but he is not the answer in Seattle. He should go to a contender. Quick get started, there is a lot of work to do. [ Reply to Comment ]
craigflorida Reputation: 99 Level: Supers