Seattle Sportsnet

Brad Wilkerson announced his retirement from baseball today, just one year removed from being the Seattle Mariners’ opening day starter in right field. You can add Wilkerson’s name to the list of players who are now out of baseball after having  had their careers put on life support by ever-gracious ex-Seattle Mariner GM Bill Bavasi.

Here is a list, separated by year, of players that suited up for at least one game with the Mariners that are now completely out of Major League Baseball (i.e. not on the roster of a major league team or any of its farm affiliates; list includes players who are playing in independent leagues, or leagues in other countries). The list dates back to 2004, Bavasi’s first year as general manager:

2008 (5 players): Charlton Jimerson, OF; Richie Sexson, 1B; Jose Vidro, DH; Jared Wells, RP; Brad Wilkerson, OF.

2007 (5): Jason Davis, RP; Jon Huber, RP; Julio Mateo, RP; Chris Reitsma, RP; Rick White, RP.

2006 (8): T.J. Bohn, OF; Francisco Cruceta, RP; Carl Everett, DH; Jeff Harris, RP; Matt Lawton, OF; Clint Nageotte, SP; Eduardo Perez, 1B/3B; Guillermo Quiroz, C.

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From respected news publications to blogs to message boards, the consensus on Carlos Silva amounts to one thing and one thing only: he sucks.

Yes, at 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA, Silva is having a tough go of it for a second straight season. Unfortunately, your Seattle Mariners are in a tough position when it comes to handling their burly Venezuelan starting pitcher.

First off, there’s the whole contract issue.

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You will appreciate our statistics! Or we will hurt you!

That’s the message sabermetricians have been trying to send as I peruse the internet in search of the ever-increasing amount of feedback to our whimsical piece on the over-perpetuation of baseball statistics.

Of course, there are the vocal members of the online minority (aka real-life majority) who catch the humor in what we’re trying to say about the people behind sabermetrics. And we appreciate them for their support.

Unfortunately, the folks who live and die through the quantification of a sport that we all should be able to enjoy won’t have it that way. Just to play it safe, you better bring your scoresheet and pencil to the next baseball game you attend, lest you get accosted in the parking lot by a math guru.

I hear that sabermetricians support Michael Vick’s abuse of pitbulls and hate newborn kittens, too. What is this world coming to?  *Head-shaking emoticon.*