On the Mariners, Zduriencik and a slight kid named Dustin

The Seattle Mariners just lost their 17th game in a row (and actually just won). That's good for a team record, albeit not the kind the 2011 Mariners wanted to be breaking. The anemic offense has continued to be anemic and the unbelievable pitching has regressed back to reality. The combination has resulted in a streak of ineptitude rarely seen. On the bright side, General Manager Jack Zduriencik won't be tempted to trade any young talent at the trade deadline in an attempt to make the playoffs. That idea sounds insane, but in't considering the Mariners were 0.5 games back a scant few weeks back. Instead, Erik Bedard, Adam Kennedy or others may be jettisoned to get younger and reduce cost. Let's talk about Zduriencik. I wouldn't place this blame on him. With a constricted budget due to existing free agent signings (sure, Figgins was one of Z's) Z filled holes with low cost options like Jack Cust, Adam Kennedy and Miguel Olivo (sort of). The abysmal performance from Figgins was so far from his career averages it feels like an abberration. Missed time from Franklin Gutierrez, the unfortunate and rapid succumbing of Ichiro to age and the continued ineptitude from Milton Bradley all contributed to the offensive malaise. Even going forward, significant holes at C, 3B, LF, DH and perhaps RF should give us little hope for the future. The pitching will be stellar, but some baseline offensive performance is needed to field a winner. Personally, I hope we don't pursue Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols or Jose Reyes and instead take an approach similar to the Toronto Blue Jays. In a matter of a few year, the Blue Jays have transformed their farm system into one containing depth in every possible way: hitters and pitchers, low levels and high levels, high-risk and low-risk. It would require a significant investment in the farm, and may involve a lessened focus on the current big-league roster that Zduriencik may not be able to stomach, given his waning job security. As an armchair GM, it's easy for me to punt the big-league team in order to concentrate on the future.

A big part of the Mariners future is this slight kid named Dustin. Drafted only last year out of North Carolina, Ackley did nothing but hit and get on base in the minors. The rare hand-eye coordination, bat control and quick wrists that propelled him to many college awards vaulted him to the Major Leagues in a very short time. The fact that he was a 1B in college, but transitioned to 2B in the pros, and has been able to more than hold his own, is a testament to his athletic ability. His average defense, coupled with fantastic average and on base skills, and possibly 10-15 home run potential down the road add up to a significantly valuable player going forward for the Mariners.