The Wreck of The John A. Zduriencik

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The Mariners hit one hell of a PR iceberg today, with this scathing Geoff Baker piece in the Sunday Seattle Times.

Wedge left at season�s end, fleeing what he describes as �total dysfunction and a lack of leadership.� The sentiment is echoed by current and past Mariners baseball operations employees beyond Wedge, who has remained silent since leaving and only reluctantly agreed to talk. More than two dozen people who spoke to The Times say any manager � and the players under him � will fall short of success without a halt to ongoing interference from Lincoln and whomever succeeds Armstrong, who will retire Jan.?31... ... One of those speaking out is Blengino, the former No.?2 in Zduriencik�s front office. Blengino, who was working for the Milwaukee Brewers with Zduriencik at the time, said he authored virtually the entire job application package Zduriencik gave the Mariners in 2008, depicting a dual-threat candidate melding traditional scouting with advanced statistical analysis. Blengino said he prepared the package because he was versed in the hot trend of using advanced stats for team decisions. �Jack portrayed himself as a scouting/stats hybrid because that�s what he needed to get the job,� Blengino said. �But Jack never has understood one iota about statistical analysis. To this day, he evaluates hitters by homers, RBI and batting average and pitchers by wins and ERA. Statistical analysis was foreign to him. But he knew he needed it to get in the door.�

Office politics, intimidation, backstabbing, scapegoating... and the article is "just the tip of the iceberg," according to former right-hand man Blengino.

So... is this the time to make a Raffy Montero-centered offer for Nick Franklin?

[Edgy MD]

Just be sure the ink is dry on that Cano deal.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeow. Ownership the Wilpons can feel good about.

[Edgy MD]

Got to wonder if going public is going to do more damage to Blenigno's career than his jettisoning did.

[Frayed Knot]

Wasn't there at least a couple of articles coming out of the NYC press crew around the time Zduriencik moved over to Seattle about how the Mets really missed the boat on not hiring this guy .... or am I just, in the words of Rajah Clemens, mis-remembering?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, Blengino's a really, really good promtional-package-macher, it seems.

Which is good for him, because... yeah, I can't see anyone in professional baseball who's alive right now hiring the guy.

[metirish]

He sent us Putz, that I remember.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

And took Carp and Vargas and others, so who's the dummy, right?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That of course was one of the worst trades the Mets ever made.

Omar Minaya: I want Putz.

Jack Zduriencik: Putz, eh? What will you offer?

OM: Jason Vargas, straight up.

JZ: No.

OM: Vargas, and, uh, Carp.

JZ: Hmmmm

OM: Vargas, Carp. And Mikeal Cleto!

JZ: ...

OM: And Ezequiel Carrera!

JZ: So it's Putz for Vargas, Carp, Cleto, Carrera.

OM: And Endy Chavez!! Did I not mention Endy?!

JZ: So that's five for one...

OM: No, I meant six! Aaron Heiman!!

JZ: Hmmm, I don't know. I was hoping I could get Franklin Gutierrez in this trade. Indians say they'd trade him, but want a reliever with a trick delivery and don't like our guy Sean Green.

OM: I like Shawn Green! I traded for him once already!!

JZ: Omar, this is not...

OM: Yeah, I love him. And I can get the Indians that sidearmer! Just hold on! (places Zduriencik on hold; speed dials Cleveland). Hello, Shapiro? It's Omar! Yeah, so Joe Smith for nothing. What do you say?

Mark Shapiro: Well, OK...

OM: Hold on! (connects Zduriencik in 3-way call): Hey Jack! I got Mark a sidearmer, now can we deal?

JZ and MS: Yes.

OM: I get Putz, right?

JZ and MS: Yup.

OM: And Shawn Green?

JZ: Sean Green, right.

OM: For Heilman, Cleto, Vargas, Chavez, Carp, Carrera and Joe Smith? That's all?

JZ: I'll even throw in Jeremy Reed.

OM: Who?

MS: He's like Cory Sullivan, sorta.

OM: Deal! Thanks guys!!!