#Mariners press conference takeaways
1) Dipoto doesn't want to get rid of the pitching guys, citing success of 2021-half of 2026. Doesn't want to get rid of guys on 3 month sample.
2) Says they will go outside the organization for new manager, need fresh ideas and fresh thoughts.
3) Pitching needs to get better at finishing at-bats, not just winning 0-0 and 1-1 counts.
4) "Our culture needs a reset." "We didn't beat ourselves for five years and that isn't what we did this year." "We tolerated an environment where we just didn't live up to our own standard, and that's where we need a reset."
5) On accountability: Accountability is a word, unless you are accountable to a standard that is preset. The bigger issue is the standard itself, and Dipoto took responsibility for that. Says he did an ineffective job at that.
6) Mariners TOLERATED too much negativity this year. Goes back to the standard. Dipoto again took responsibility for that.
7) Dipoto did not use injuries as an excuse. He thought the team just figured it would turn around at some point, didn't make it happen.
8) Not thinking about the CBA. Building out the roster, a very busy October-November is coming. Says team will be aggressive in filling holes. They will do an internal audit about why they can't get outside RHH hitters (sans Randy) to succeed.
9) Still believes in the SP. Very clear.
10) Believes in the bullpen, apologize to Bazardo and Ferrer for the heavy workloads. Says they need more depth in that group.
11) You can't be the worst defensive team in baseball. You need to be better prepared and in line with a process that leads to winning.
12) Piggyback situation worked, but Jerry regrets the lack of communication externally on things.
13) "Being a bad defender" is a choice.
14) Cal Raleigh clearly carries real standing in the organization, but he won't be part of interviews.
15) They need to get back to the things that they did in player development. Some of that development stopped/changed/were abandoned in the big league level. Have to get back to what it means to be a Mariner.
16) Dan Wilson's hiring was based on a 35-year interview with the Mariners. The team needed levity and trust with the players at the time. We didn't grow together.
#TridentsUp #Mariners #RefuseToLose
Mariners players were upset about Dan Wilson's ouster as manager and shouldered the blame for the team's failures. "We failed him much more than he failed us."
From @A_Jude: https://t.co/zOFpStxfBW
President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and General Manager Justin Hollander announced today the following coaching staff changes.
Read more: https://t.co/dOL70I1chg
Justin Verlander reveals the game that convinced him to stop throwing as hard as he could
“The whole knock on me early in my career was that I threw too many pitches. I’d throw 120 pitches, but I was only going six innings.”
“I had a game in Boston where we really needed me to get deep in the game. Our bullpen was shot. I go out the first couple innings, and I look up and I’ve got sixty-something pitches.”
“To me, the most important thing for that game was to chew innings. I was like, ‘I can’t keep this pace.’ So I ended up slowing myself down. I was throwing fastballs at 89. I threw a changeup in that game at 91 and threw a fastball at 89 in the same game.”
“I just pulled the throttle way back. I was like, ‘Man, here, hit it. Put it in play.’ All of a sudden, I was like, ‘Man, I am really able to hit my spot.’”
“I basically took that mentality and flipped it going into the next season. Let me try starting games like this and then building up as I go. If I get in trouble, I’ve always got it in my back pocket.”
“I always viewed it from the hitter’s perspective as you’re facing three different pitchers in three different at-bats, and they’re progressively getting harder to hit.”
Sounds like Crawford might need a procedure on his throwing arm this winter.
“I’m not the one that make excuses, but more than half of the season I was playing with one arm. It’s tough to do, but these last couple weeks, my body’s finally good and you can see what I could do.”