So long, field of screams

Seattle's lost season finally over

By Larry Larue | The News Tribune • Published September 29, 2008

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With the Seattle Mariners' lost season officially in the rearview mirror, it's time to take a quick look back at 2008 and a hopeful peek forward to 2009.

The Bavasi era ends

General manager Bill Bavasi's first-round draft picks included Brandon Morrow, Matt Tuiasosopo, Jeff Clement and pitcher Phillipe Aumont.

His trades brought Horacio Ramirez, Jose Vidro, Ben Broussard, Joe Borchard, Eduardo Perez and Jeremy Reed.

Among the free agents he signed were Scott Spiezio, Carl Everett, Jose Guillen, Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, Raul Ibanez, Pokey Reese, Eddie Guardado and Miguel Batista.

Bavasi built the 2008 Mariners' best hopes around one five-players-for-one trade (Erik Bedard) and one massive free agent signing (Carlos Silva) and overpaid for both. When the offense faltered and the pitching didn't produce, Bavasi was fired in June.

The final roster he'd produced was, as he said, "dysfunctional."

He left behind minor league prospects such as left-handed pitcher Aumont and catcher Adam Moore, and his legacy might be such Mariners as Yuniesky Betancourt, Morrow, Clement and one winning season during his 41/2-year tenure.

Erik Bedard: ace or demon?

Bedard didn't like interviews and limited the media to four questions after each spring start. He was never comfortable being named the No. 1 pitcher on the staff, saying he was a No. 2 behind Felix Hernandez.

After his first start, he had hip pain. After his second, he had a cyst growing near the labrum of his left shoulder — and didn't tell trainers about the pain.

Before long, teammates were questioning his heart (Batista) and his willingness to pitch through pain (Silva). Fans and media wondered openly, was Bedard worth Adam Jones, George Sherrill and three prospects?

"When Erik is healthy, he's the best left-hander in the league," J.J. Putz said in September.

In the end, he made 13 starts with the cyst, won six games and underwent surgery.

Good pitcher, bad rap, unusual personality and — as of now — a disastrous trade for the Mariners and Bedard. They'll both have 2009 to make it look better.