[Scout226]

Originally Posted by Ed O

It would be more sad if we had no hope; that's totally true. But the pace this team is on is historic in proportions... this is one of the worst Blazers teams ever and might be the worst team in the NBA right now (with the exception of the Hawks, I think they probably are).

This is an all-time low point for the Blazers. If someone is not sad about it at some level, then I think they need to lay off the happy pills. It doesn't mean that the future is hopeless or that we shouldn't care about the team... just that I don't see how someone can not be a bit depressed (in terms of NBA fandom; not in real life) by the team's constant losing.

Ed O.

I know it may not be right, but I'm really not sad about it. I loved all the years making the playoffs, but at the starting of last year, I knew things had to change drastically because we were going down hill fast. Even if we kept Sheed, Bonzi and Trader Bob, this team would have still been going down hill I believe. It was time for a change.

With the changes needed, I realize it's going to take a while. As the arguement already going on in this thread, some of our inept play is due to injuries. Even if you throw out Nick and DA, Theo and Zach not playing has hurt the team a lot. Obviously we are lacking any SG play, but the injuries have played a part in this season. Yes, we're pretty bad now, but maybe the injuries, Nick protesting, and all the bad play his a blessing in disguise. We'll be getting a new coach and our young guys are getting some minutes. Even with the losing, most people seem to be more interested in the games to see what the young guys can do.

If we didn't have any of the young guys with the potential they have, no one was injured, and we still played like this? Then yes, it would be sad.

With only a few games left, it would be sad to win out the rest of the games, IMO. Yeah, yeah, what am I talking about.. I don't expect us to be down like this for very long. So while we're here, why not get the best pick in the draft possible? The pick and seeing some improvement is about all I'm trying to get out of this season.

Honestly, this season has been a little easier than some of the recent ones in the past. I'm as passionate about the team as the next fan, but some of those recent teams were just to stressfull to watch. They had the talent, they should have won, but they would always disappoint.

[Dan]

I like this year to the Mariners last year.

They had a good season (116 wins...WCF's game 7)...were competitive after that point still, but never made it out of the playoffs (or in them).

Last year, the Mariners were decimated by injuries, poor trades, stupid trades, and just the team realizing they had to give up.

The Mariners had one of the worst seasons in their history. They got rid of some very popular players last year, and some very talented ones. Garcia, Carlos and John Olerud (among others). The Mariners stunk to high heaven last year..But like the Trail Blazers, there were some building blocks made. The Mariners tho, were able to sign free agents that we aren't (realistically) able to do. But it's kind of the same thing. There are certain similarities that can't be denied though.

The Mariners really sucked, and look to be much better this season. The Blazers sucked, and look to be better next season. It's generally easier to go from crapper to king in MLB, than it is in the NBA though.

[zagsfan20]

Originally Posted by Hap

I like this year to the Mariners last year.

They had a good season (116 wins...WCF's game 7)...were competitive after that point still, but never made it out of the playoffs (or in them).

Last year, the Mariners were decimated by injuries, poor trades, stupid trades, and just the team realizing they had to give up.

The Mariners had one of the worst seasons in their history. They got rid of some very popular players last year, and some very talented ones. Garcia, Carlos and John Olerud (among others). The Mariners stunk to high heaven last year..But like the Trail Blazers, there were some building blocks made. The Mariners tho, were able to sign free agents that we aren't (realistically) able to do. But it's kind of the same thing. There are certain similarities that can't be denied though.

The Mariners really sucked, and look to be much better this season. The Blazers sucked, and look to be better next season. It's generally easier to go from crapper to king in MLB, than it is in the NBA though.

Mariners lost most of their old pitchers and have reloaded through the draft with an up and coming solid core of pitchers......

Something the Blazers are doing with their roster....

I see a lot of similarities in the Blazers team of this year and the Mariners team of last year.....However the Mariners have an Ichiro and we dont have that Ichiro type of player.....And the Mariners also have a more attractive place for free agents to sign. Not necessarily the city/weather but the recent success and of course Ichiro....

If Portland can get that ONE superstar through the draft (hopefully Marvin Williams or Sebastian if he lives up to his potential) IMO it will make other superstars more prone to want to sign here to play with that player.....

[tlong]

Ahhhh, the Mariners! A team I can be positive about! If they can get some decent pitching they will be in the hunt this year. They are stacked on offense with Ichiro, Reed, Beltre, Sexson, Boone, and Ibanez.

[Ed O]

Originally Posted by zagsfan20

Mariners lost most of their old pitchers and have reloaded through the draft with an up and coming solid core of pitchers......

Not to nitpick, but no they didn't.

They kept Jaime Moyer (age 42). They still have Guardado (age 34). They added Aaron Sele (age 34). They still have Hasegawa (age 36) and Ron Villone (age 35) and Ryan Franklin (age 32).

They got rid of Freddy Garcia, who's still only 29.

Meche and Pineiro are 26, Putz is 28 and Madritsch is 29... and they form the "young core" in the rotation but only Putz and Madritsch weren't fixtures on the team the past couple of seasons.

The DO have some nice youngsters on the horizon, with Rafael Soriano (assuming he comes back from TJ surgery) and (obviously) Felix Hernandez, but they had some nice youngsters on the horizon a few years ago with Ryan Anderson and Matt Thornton and didn't have it pan out (although Thornton's not done like Anderson appears to be).

The Mariners should be better this year, but it's not primarily because of what they did last year or because they retooled... they just finally spent some money to get some offense after sitting on their wallets while Edgar was around. Further, part of the reason they sucked last year was because of the HORRIBLE Carlos Guillen deal... he should be the starting SS for the Mariners, but they blew it.

With the Garcia trade, they made a move to get young players at the expense of their best pitcher. They got Reed, who's a stud (and whom I have in my keeper league at $5) and they got Olivo, who should prove to be a good catcher.

The Blazers, on the other hand, did NOT get pieces that would help them in the future when they traded Rasheed. They got two guys who are good players now, but probably won't be around by the time the Blazers are good again.

The Mariners knew the season was over last year and moved Garcia to get value for him (even though they would have received picks had they offered him arbitration and he left via Free Agency)... the Blazers sat on their hands at the trade deadline as three big expiring contracts were begging to be moved.

The rules between the two leagues are very, very different, but conceptually it's interesting to see how the two teams faced with lost seasons reacted.

Ed O.

[CanJohno]

Originally Posted by tlong

Ahhhh, the Mariners! A team I can be positive about! If they can get some decent pitching they will be in the hunt this year. They are stacked on offense with Ichiro, Reed, Beltre, Sexson, Boone, and Ibanez.

But, I heard their shortstop was only 4'7"... at THE MOST! Many scouts say he could be as short as 4'3", in cleats. How will they EVER be competitive? They could've drafted the 7'2" catcher... and didn't... what idots! I mean... HELLO... dude is 7'2"... SEVEN-TWO!!! Clearly he's the best catcher to EVER set foot in the league. That short guy won't ever amount to nothin' because he's, well, short. I know EVERYTHING when it comes to baseball, just ask me. It's still beyond a mystery to me, as to why I haven't landed the highest paying scouting gig around Major League Baseball. After all, I DO have the best eye for talent that man kind has ever been associated with. Hell, I can just look at a guy on TV and tell you EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about him... AND THEN SOME! SER-I-OUS-LY..., all I have to do is look at him, and "WHAM-O," my Miss Cleo skills kick in and I can instantly provide those who're in my (internet) presence, the information they, so certainly, are too ignorant to have discovered any other way.



























(Of course, I'm only jokin'! )