seattlefan

As Mariners’ fans parade through the streets of Seattle following their unbelieveable consecutive wins (for only the second time this month) over the Red Sox, it’s important to note which players really stepped up to make it possible.

Obviously the starters Miguel Batista (7 IP, 2 ER) and Erik Bedard (7 IP, 0 ER) deserve much of the credit, along with Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt’s clutch hitting, but it was another player who had the biggest impact on these games. Oddly enough, he made that impact without stepping on the field.

Richie Sexson and his $12.5 million salary were kept out of games 2 and 3 of the Red Sox series, resulting in the two biggest wins of the season for the Mariners. While John McLaren would be smartest to keep Sexson and his abysmal .200 avg on the bench for the remainder of the season, the size of Sexson’s salary forces management to keep Richie on the field. With that kind of salary, it could cause anyone to believe that Richie must be on the verge of breaking out of a 2 year slump and finally contributing.

Well, I’ve got news for all those optimists out there. HE’S NOT. In case you haven’t been watching the last 165 games, where Richie has batted .204 and struck out 153 times, the decline of Sexson’s talents are official. Not only is he a far cry from the player he once was in Milwaukee, playing all 162 games in 2003 and hitting 45 home runs, but he’s being paid three times as much. There was recently a story about a United League pitcher that was traded for ten bats, at this point I’m not sure Richie is worth five.

With the money the Mariners are paying Richie Sexson right now, they could pay the salaries of Josh Hamilton, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Mauer, Carl Crawford, and B.J. Upton. Even having ONE of these players in place of Richie Sexson would undoubtedly improve Seattle’s major league worst 20-34 record, but no one in the league is willing to have to swallow the remainder of Sexson’s ridiculous contract.

Thank you once again Bill Bavasi, for managing to lock up Richie Sexson’s contract for the next to years, and in turn securing last place in the AL West for the immediate future. While keeping Richie off the field might help the M’s win a few games here and there, his monstrous contract will ensure their position as the doormat of the Majors.

Here’s to another two seaons of misery, Seattle fans. You know who to thank.

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