"Mariners fans play GM," -- July 28, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

Seattle Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said making trades means balancing "talent for talent, money -- can you afford the guy -- and then fitting the guy into the makeup of your club."

With that in mind, Mariners fans are playing general manager as Monday's trade deadline approaches -- surfing Web sites for trade rumors, bantering with friends about the teams' needs and screaming bloody murder over previous trades that went sour.

Fans remain adamant about finding a savior for the Mariners' season, but Bavasi said he doesn't try to oversimplify the trade process.

"You target the guy you think might be available," Bavasi said last week. "In our case, we're trying to push as many deals to the edge as we can and not push and finish them until we figure out if we're good enough for them."

Bavasi said no formula gauges how much time trades consume, but the next four days guarantee many hours that fans' thoughts will be on how to improve the Mariners.

Here's what some fans at Safeco Field said:

"Another starting pitcher," Richard Hernon of Seattle said. "If they would just get consistent with pitching with what they have they'd be fine, or consistent offense with what they have and they'd be fine. June showed that if you get some consistency that you're going to win. It would be nice to have a hard throwing lefthander."

"Bring up the younger players," Lew West of Seattle said. "Give them a chance to play; see what they can do. Who knows? Find out which ones are hitting. Don't sacrifice the future."

"A cleanup hitter who can drive some runs in," Mike Mcauliffe of Seattle said. "Someone who can get up there with guys on base and get a hit."

"I don't think they should bring up the younger players," Angela Scheneman of Portland said. "They are doing fine as they are."

Talking about trades is one thing, being a part of one is another.

Eduardo Perez, whom the Mariners acquired from the Cleveland Indians on June 30, said players can't take trades personally -- it's just business.

Even though he said moving is a hurdle for his family, the right-handed hitting Perez said he's optimistic about coming to Seattle.

"It's fun because you know that another organization wants you," he said. "You have value. That makes it fun, and it's also fun when you trade up a lot of positions on your games behind (in the standings)."

Seattle is 31/2 games out in the AL West. Cleveland trails by 231/2 in the Central.

Perez said when he walked into the Mariners' clubhouse and suited up with "Mariners" on his chest, he became a part of a family -- one that is closer to a championship than his previous team.

"We're in this business to win games," he said. "Right here, we're closer to it than we were over there."

Mariners on deck

Seattle Mariners at Cleveland Today-Sunday, Jacobs Field
Today: Felix Hernandez (9-8, 4.76) vs. Jeremy Sowers (2-3, 5.12), 4:05 p.m. (FSN).
Saturday: Jarrod Washburn (4-10, 4.58) vs. Jake Westbrook (7-6, 4.44), 4:05 p.m. (KSTW-UPN11).
Sunday: Joel Pineiro (7-8, 5.72) vs. Cliff Lee (9-8, 4.78), 10:05 a.m. (FSN).

About Cleveland (44-56): The Indians' .287 team batting average is second in the major leagues to Toronto's .294. Catcher and first baseman Victor Martinez has hit safely in 21 of his last 24 games, batting .374 with one home run and 12 RBIs. Designated hitter Travis Hafner has hit five grand slams this year, which is a club record and one shy of the major league record. He has hit safely in 25 of his last 32 games, batting .316 with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs. The Indians have scored nine or more runs in a game 21 times, which is a major league high.

About the Mariners (49-52): Catcher Kenji Johjima's .293 batting average ranks second among all Seattle catchers for a single season. Dan Wilson hit .297 in 2002. Third baseman Adrian Beltre has a combined 30 extra-base hits in June and July (21 doubles, three triples, six home runs) after collecting just nine the first two months of the season. With five games remaining in July, Yuniesky Betancourt leads the Mariners with a .370 batting average and 27 hits this month. Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki has a club-high 12 runs scored and Richie Sexson has six home runs in July. Raul Ibanez has tacked on 15 RBIs this month.

Caleb Breakey, The Olympian