Here’s the thing about that article
We’ve gone out of our way here at USSM in the last couple of years to talk about how our beef is not with Bloomquist, who we’ve over and over said is a decent use of a back-end roster spot, particularly on a team that can use his defensive versatility and base-stealing ability, and where a team doesn’t need a bat off the bench. He’s proven in extended trials of regular playing time that he can’t hit, and there’s no evidence at all that he would be a useful starting player at any position. Even then, I acknowledge that means he’s hugely talented among the population at large. I couldn’t hit .200 in the major leagues.
Our beef was with Hargrove for running him out there so often, for using him in ways that didn’t help the team, and more generally, it’s been with the unjustified media adoration for his scrappiness and having his praises exaggerated and pushed down our throats (Rick Rizzs being the most guilty of this among the broadcasters). And sometimes, annoyance when Bloomquist comments that he thinks he should be starting, but even then, I’ve said I understood that that kind of self-confidence is what got him to the major leagues, and it’s understandable any player would want to play a larger role.
I don’t have any disdain for Bloomquist. I don’t know him. He’s a good enough 25th man on the roster and though that skill set is pretty easy to find, I understand why the Mariners have been willing to throw him a little money for the local connection and a known quantity.
The thing that bugs me is that it conflates a realistic view of Bloomquist (he’s not a very good player) with a negative view of Bloomquist, when that’s exactly the kind of thing we constantly argue against.
There’s no connection between being more or less gifted athletically and being more or less of a person. Bad pitchers aren’t always lazy jerks, and great players don’t always have good work ethics and don’t send their mother cards on her birthday. Our evaluation of his abilities doesn’t carry with it any judgement about Bloomquist himself.
Intentionally or not, it’s a misrepresentation of what we’ve written about Bloomquist to paint it as “disdain” for him.
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Thanks for the note Derek.
Those of us who regularly ready this page already knew this. I have read countless posts from both the authors and regular readers who have repeatedly praised WFB as a solid utility guy and an asset to this team. If others feel you guys are meanies….they’ll just have to get past it.
…so we can’t call him Doomquist?
I actually liked how he was utilized last year. And Lookout Landing updated his Baseball-Reference page.
The trouble is you’re dealing with a classic heart vs head situation: lots of people prefer sentiment to knowledge, and would rather believe that anybody can succeed at anything if they try hard enough and are “just given a chance.” The reality is rather different, but pointing that out tends to elicit an emotional reaction (and accusations about lack of emotion or over-reliance on facts — hence the “geek” cracks).
You see this with political candidates too: people would rather have the person they feel good about than the one that can do the job most effectively. If you view sports or elections strictly as entertainment, then that’s as valid a reason as any other. But if your criteria is a little more stringent — actually winning a division or not screwing up the country — then you really want the process to be a meritocracy, not a sentimentocracy, and so some beloved figures are going to lose out.
It probably was worth making this clear Yet One More Time since it was a mainstream media outlet criticizing USSM directly (even if they couldn’t bring themselves to name the site). But really, we’ve already paid too much attention to this already.
After all, it’s not like someone writing “local boy” puff pieces is worthy of our analytical abilities. And the Kitsap Sun isn’t exactly the major leagues. In journalism terms, this guy has quite a ways to go before he reaches Bloomquist equivalency. We’re talking journeyman double-A ball at best here, and embarrassing whiffs and errors go with the territory.
Well I was talking about this with my co-worker, and Derek is right for the most part. Willie helps the team as far as marketing to the fans, being the scrappy local white guy who looks good in the uniform. The fact is, he isn’t very good at hitting, thus can’t be a regular. The mistake the organization does is rather than call up someone from the minors or look for a replacement from the outside to cover for a regular for an extended period of time, a good example is the Lopez ordeal last year, they actually start him. And the fact is he isn’t good, so it doesn’t help the team at all.
I have a funny story about a time I was at Quizno’s when I lived in Issaquah, and the girl ringing me up noticed my keychain which was a Mariners keychain and asked if I was a big M’s fan. I told her I was, and telling her how I think I cut off Beltre (or a guy who looked just like Beltre driving a brand new white BMW, but then again, it’s Issaquah, so who knows) and she got real excited and told me how she saw Willie Bloomquist in the parking lot. I told her it wasn’t a big deal, because it was just Willie Bloomquist, but she insisted it was since she was a huge Mariners fan.
Yorvit Torrealba has said he wants himself at the plate in pressure situations so to fault Bloomquist for wanting playing time is uncalled for.
However I will point out that many opinions made by those with a loyal following (beat writers, broadcasters and bloggers) get taken to an extreme by those that follow them. I have maintained within my own circles (not USSM because of the flak I would surely receive) that Bloomquist possesses a skill set that all teams have on their own roster. The missuse of that skill set is not Bloomquist’s fault and I believe that he takes undue criticism for that. He plays when he is told to play. Its not his fault the M’s managers dont use him more effectively.
Putting Bloomquist on a pony is shameful and now you change your tune to say that it is not really his fault. Which is it?
The point that I am trying to make is that it is up to those with influence over peoples opinions to clearly state what the argument against a particular player is and attempt to keep your followers a little more in line.
Bloomquist is not unique but he is certainly useful in the right situations.
If only Willie had Adam Everett-like defensive skills, then starting wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, his defense is not good enough to offset his (lack of) offense. Big heart? Thats what they say about him. Fierce competitor? You bet. Plays with passion? Check. Yet not even RUDY could earn a starting spot. Much less Willie.
Overall: solid utility-guy…nothing more. And nothing to be ashamed of.
Sorry, the pony is here to stay, “shameful” or not!
I can see why people might think the “blogosphere” hates Willie, because it seemed like it at first to me. The nicknames can be mean though. I guess maybe, just maybe, the reason we poke fun of him so much is because deep down inside, we actualy think he’s a fine player and somewhat useful.
I hate to be cheesy, but its like that to me. Willie’s pretty good defensively and he can pull out a hot streak if he REALLY tries. There’s nobody in the world I’d rather having pinch-run for me in a game my team is up five runs than good old Willie B! Even if he gets caught stealing second.
Putting Bloomquist on a pony is shameful and now you change your tune to say that it is not really his fault. Which is it?
It’s not his fault he’s on his pony?
The logo, which I didn’t make, was a response to exactly this kind of thing, the criticism that USSM is a house of negativity, and was supposed to be funny — the scrappy heart of the team with a peppy pink pony. I don’t see how that’s shameful.
As soon as I saw that picture of Bloomquist with the Pony I thought it wasn’t comical but a drop in the level of USS Mariner. Until then I always thought you tried to uphold a higher standard…not only for yourselves but for the posters you so often edit/delete.
I would label that picture as “disdain” for Bloomquist.
Whether you made the picture or not doesn’t matter, it is on your site.
You are defending yourself against public perception and that perception is that this site is baised against Bloomquist. Putting him on a pony is supposed to change that perception?
Putting his picture with a fire breathing demon horse from hell would be taken quite a bit differently than a pink pony.
So your homework will be to take a picture of yourself and put it on the pony. That should make things better =)
I know Willie just well enough to know that if he was reading this, he’d laugh, say, “Whatever,” and get on with his life. I’ve talked to him when he knows I’ve said not-so-nice things about his abilities, and he doesn’t take any of it personally. Although he once joked that I killed his grandmother prematurely.
THE GREAT PONY CONTROVERSY OF 2008 begins!
Look what you started, Graham!
I should add that while I like him, I’ve always been irked by his “I’m a team player, keep my head down and do my job, and yet here I go agitating for more personal glory” schtick that he’s exhibited in many interviews and countless appearances on KJR.
Confidence is one thing. But to deny that he hasn’t gotten a fair shot to start, or to contend that he’s succeeded when he has gotten a shot, goes beyond justifiable athlete’s ego and well into obnoxious delusion.
Where is the pony picture?
THE GREAT PONY CONTROVERSY OF 2008 begins!
AKA Disdainquist.
deny that he HAS
Since no one else is looking at the real issue I will…
How does the pony feel about all this?
Disdainquist lol.
All this makes me wish the Bedard talks were heating up again. Wait, no I don’t.
I can’t even believe this is an argument. This is silly.
Think we’re too serious? Here’s a joke. Wait, now we’re lowering our level. Too negative? Here’s a post about some random stuff that makes me happy, like Bruce Bochte. Wait, now we’re not talking about whatever the rumor of the moment is.
Really. I just don’t get it.
Dave’s often said that he’ll continue doing this until it’s not fun anymore. For me, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes me not want to do this. If I can’t laugh at Graham’s logo and include it in a post to show we have a sense of humor, I don’t see what the point is.
And if that makes us unserious, or raises or lowers the bar to a point you’re unhappy, I’ll refund your subscription cost.
The pony is an innocent victim in all of this, I think. Perhaps someone should call the ASPCA!
In all seriousness…all the time, this site is criticized as being too negative.
One very mild bit of fun is poked at Willie, in an attempt at levity…and now people are saying things like “shameful” and “a drop in the level of USS Mariner”?
Since there is obviously no pleasing some people, I say we stick with the ponies. Ponies are happy.
11 – You’re misunderstanding the point behind the pink pony . Derek explained the meaning, and you’re still questioning him.
It’s like your buddy who you have to repeat the punchline of a joke to.
Anyway, what reason would people have to come out here and defend themselves… to the Kitsap Sun? Do you honestly think anyone is back peddling on previous comments because some small circulation paper with an obvious bias called us a name?
People are saying they don’t disdain Bloomquist, because, well, we don’t. It was poor journalism, with an inaccurate statements.
I propose a compromise. In lieu of that Vidro column that DMZ does not want to write, and in an effort to make amends to WFB, remove WFB from the pony and replace him with Turbo.
DMZ
You are the one that said Bloomquist is a “good enough 25th man on the roster” then turn around and make fun of him. All I’m asking is for you to pick a side. Continue bashing him for his lack of skill or say he’s a good enough 25th man.
Pick.
How’s the picture coming?
Not to speak for Derek, but:
He is a good enough 25th man on the roster.
He is not good enough to be anything other than that.
He thinks otherwise, the Kitsap Sun agrees, so he gets made fun of.
I tried to make a picture of the Kitsap Sun on a pink pony, but I’m not very good at Photoshop.
But Turbo isn’t the scrappy fan favorite. And the pony isn’t strong enough for that. Wait until he’s a full grown horse.
Carson…are you simple?
It’s called perception or opinion. I have mine, DMZ has his, you have yours.
My opinion is that DMZ and many others make fun of Bloomquist for whatever reason but then backtrack and say that he is good enough for the role he plays. I am asking which is it?
The pony was a obvious shot at a guy whom you really deep down don’t have a problem with.
22 – You’d have to find a picture where Turbo was flexible enough to be in that position, so he can be superimposed upon the pony.
And, well, he wasn’t wearing Mariners uniforms the last time he could do that.
23 – You’re fishing really hard for a laugh. Try the pink spinners.
Man, now you’re going to start a pony controversy about Turbo, too.
Maybe, to be fair, we’ll have to see if we can get a shot of the entire 25 man roster, all mounted on pink ponies.
I bet Ichiro would get a kick out of it.
28 – Hahaha, come on. Don’t make me load Photoshop this late.
Ichiro would have to be on a purple pony, though. He deserves a unique touch. Have you seen the Photoshop of him dueling Darth Maul with a light saber?
I think we may be able to trade Bloomquist straight-up for Bedard after this article!
Willie would have made a fine everyday shortstop 25 years ago. Unfortunately, times have changed. If you can’t hit 20+ HRs a year at any position, your time is short unless you are willing to sit on the bench. Players like Ichiro and Betancourt are exceptions to the rule because they bring other special skills to the table. Look at Lopez, he is beginning to feel the heat because he hasn’t been producing as expected.
Sorry Willie, but you don’t have the bat or defensive skills to be an everyday player in today’s game. You were born 25 years too late.
This whole thing is ridiculous. Obviously the WFB/pony pic is poking fun at at certain posters/types of fans and not Bloomquist.
Hmmm.
I guess Willie forgot how much fun he had with DMZ at the M’s Christmas party in 2006…
//Context is important here…
My perception is you view pink ponies in a negative light.
A gift was bestowed upon our humble community and I find it sad that you see a work of art, a tribute, as “a shot”.
For is it not written in Revelations 19:11:
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a pink pony; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
DMZ, I’m surprised that, after all these years, you give a single shxt what the Kitsap Sun writes or thinks. A lot of people (myself included) have given you way more hassle than you deserve over the years for creating what amounts to one my favorite public services. I hope you can continue to brush this stuff off. Anyway, here’s what I think:
It’s FUN to pick on WFB. It’s funny that WFB stands for “Willie Fukking Bloomquist.” The nicknames are funny. The name “Turbo” is funny. When I see Vidro, I think Turbo, and that makes me smile. The Pink Pony… is funny. When I yell at my TV screen, “goddamn you Mike Hargrove, and you can go to hxll too Willie F’ing Bloomquist,” its FUN to get all riled up. We all understand that it’s just sports, and it’s not really that serious, and yelling at the TV screen makes no sense, but it’s fun to have something to care about and to talk about and to joke about. We all know that none of us really knows any of these players personally, so of course we’re don’t “disdain” them, at least not personally. And we don’t like them personally either, really (although it’s fun, in some cases, e.g. Ichiro, to imagine that we would like him, if we knew him, based on his public persona). But at the same time, there’s grey area, because some fans – kids, for example – really do adore sports players, and so might be offended that we make fun of them. But of course this blog isn’t for those kids. In fact, it isn’t for anyone who would rather not hear what the authors and commenters have to say. If you don’t want to hear it, by all means, leave, and don’t repeat what you’ve heard to the young and sensitive. This blog (and I apologize. DMZ and Dave and Jeff for speaking for you, but I think I’m right) is for the authors to say what they think, spread some truth around, and have some FUN. Some come for the truth, some come for the fun, some come for the sense of community, some like the whole package, and some are just trolls. That’s the way it has always been and will always be. So, Kitsap Sun, you’re terrible, but your odd perspective is funny. And Replacement Level Blogger, leave DMZ alone – if his views are inconsistent, it’s because life isn’t consistent. And DMZ, get a hold of 2007 Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout – Met Market in West Seattle has a few left – because THAT is fun beer.
So there are people out there who arbitarily decide what “level” this blog is supposed to have, and then criticize the blog’s creators when they “lower it”? That’s pretty rich. I have a feeling for these people, and “disdain” doesn’t begin to describe it.
At least the Kitsap Sun can be used to line a bird cage or wrap dead fish.
Well, probably that your opinion is not well founded nor is it a particularly good reading of what’s actually written.
If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’ll know there have been several articles on Bloomquist’s performance. That performance is OK for a bench player and a late inning base stealer, but it not adequate for a regular. (Go ahead, look them up).
However, there’s a gap between that performance and a) the praise he gets from the fans and broadcasters, and b) the extended playing time he got previous to 2007. And THAT is what’s getting commented on.
End game?
If the dragon was Seahawk-lime-green, it would be perfect.
Still doesn’t top the pony though.
2 posts in a row on Bloomy? Wow, it must be a slow off-season.
Think we’re too serious? Here’s a joke. Wait, now we’re lowering our level. Too negative? Here’s a post about some random stuff that makes me happy, like Bruce Bochte. Wait, now we’re not talking about whatever the rumor of the moment is.
Really. I just don’t get it.
How does the saying go? You can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all the time. It is sometimes easier said than done, but I’d just throw all of the “too negative” and “why don’t we talk about this totally different thing” in the trash bin and try to forget about them. Keep your head up, this is a fine little corner of the internet.
Willie does well with a certain blue-collar aspect of the fan base that believes that hard work is all that matters and things like talent and intelligence are less important, if not directly despised.
It’s no wonder the M’s blogsphere doesn’t appreciate this about him– we are typically busy arguing that making player moves on character issues is stupid, especially if talent/potential is being disregarded in the process.
Is basically the same thing- the homer crowd wants a player they can look up to while the “smark” fan wants a team that can win. Even if that team is filled with assholes that don’t “deserve” their talent.
It’s no wonder the M’s blogsphere doesn’t appreciate this about him– we are typically busy arguing that making player moves on character issues is stupid, especially if talent/potential is being disregarded in the process.
Is basically the same thing- the homer crowd wants a player they can look up to while the “smark†fan wants a team that can win. Even if that team is filled with assholes that don’t “deserve†their talent.
Those generalizations of the fan base are so oversimplified that you’ve led yourself to completely absurd conclusions. No one wants a team of lovable losers or a team of talented assholes.
“You can’t please all of the people all the time, and last night, all those people were at my show.” – Mitch Hedberg
And count me in the “WFB is a good 25th man, but overrated as anything more than that” group.
Really? Then how come I meet so many fans that love a player with only bench talent? Why are bloggers upset over losing someone like Soriano?
Why is it the Bloomquist fans outnumber the Felix fans?
I agree I’ve oversimplified, I only meant to point out there’s an obvious parallel between Bloomquist love and people that would rather have an overpaid veteran presence than a cheap, talented player and the way out community deals with these situations.
Really? Then how come I meet so many fans that love a player with only bench talent?
Just because they like the bench players doesn’t mean they’d actually be happy with a team of bench players.
Why are bloggers upset over losing someone like Soriano?
From what I understand, the Mariners’ knock on Soriano was that he wasn’t available often enough, not that he was a bad clubhouse guy.
I’m sure if you put some time into it, you could craft some statements that captured the general attitudes of the two crowds more precisely, but there’s enough variation within each of those crowds that I don’t see any use to such generalizations.
Why is it the Bloomquist fans outnumber the Felix fans?
our 25th man more popular than our ace?
I normally don’t comment, and I know its slow and all because its the offseason, but I think its going overboard a little to have two posts about basically one word in a local newspaper.
I think your position on Bloomquist is perfectly reasonable and its been expressed repeatedly at USSM, especially in the last year or so. However, I think its fair to point out that this website has shown its fair share of strong anti-Bloomquist sentiment over the years, and yes there were even times when the word “disdain” seemed appropriate. I’ve checked USSM nearly daily since 2002, and when I read that sentence from the article it didn’t jump out at me as being unfair or misrepresentative of USSM over the last several years.
Anyway, a lot of people (myself included) would not mind seeing Bloomquist off the team right now. I have nothing against Bloomquist personally but if sending a message of “disdain” to ownership got him kicked off the team, I’d send that message in a heartbeat.
A) Photoshop is cheating, the pony picture was made with nothing more than Microsoft paint.
B) If my picture has offended, well, I am truly, truly sorry that your upbringing has stipped you of the sense of humour every person is brought into the world possessing, rather than nourishing and strengthening it.
C) My problem with the Boston Red Sox isn’t with the team itself but with the appallingly obnoxious Red Sox Nation. So it is with Willie Bloomquist and his fan club.
Somehow I doubt Bloomquist is much offended by being shown on a pony, if he ever sees this blog . . .
It’s called perception or opinion. I have mine, DMZ has his, you have yours.
Schools need to stop teaching kids that having an ‘opinion’ is a get out clause for everything, and that everyone’s should be given equal weight.
Your opinion on the motivation behind the Pony picture, for example, is both worthless and woefully inaccurate*. Your opinion on the shamefulness of said picture might have some merit, but I can extrapolate from your earlier (wrong) opinion and say that I shouldn’t take that particularly seriously either.
*Nobody else’s on the subject is really worth a lot either, but at least they’re closer to the mark than you.
Hey I get the joke now! That’s pretty funny.
There is a difference between making fun of WFB and accurately describing his worth just like there is a difference between making fun of WFB and making fun of those who can’t accurately determine his worth. Or to put it another way, there is a difference between making fun of WFB and making fun of those who can’t tell the difference between accurately describing WFB’s worth and making fun of those who can’t accurately describe his worth.
Hm. I do recall recall game threads where posters were saying of Willie…”Put him in! Put him in! Mac, what are you thinking????”
28 – Wow. I literally just spit coffee, dude. Do you plan to email that to the guy who wrote the article? If not, I’ll be happy to.
45 – So, I’ve always wondered. What exactly does it feel like living in a delusional world?
48 – It’s a blog. Blog authors blog about what’s on their mind. Funny that you go on to rattle off your opinion after two paragraphs of questioning the posts, though.
which may be why 4 different managers have not played him as a regular.
oh, and when did it become impossible to admire qualities in a person, while also acknowledging their deficiencies?
Dave, you forgot to mention the degree of grittiness he possesses! That’s gotta be worth playing every day.
And I’m kidding, I completely agree he was mis-used and hopefully this year they can better utilize him by not using him in unnecessary situations.
Errr, Derek. Damnit.
the only guy with more self-serving false hustle than WFB is Eric Bynres.
I know Eric Byrnes, and WFB you are no Eric Byrnes. (unfortunately)
It all comes down to this: how much are you willing to pay for a guy like WFB on the open market?
If you had your 24-man roster set, and Willie was a free agent, do you think any of the other 29 teams would offer him more than a 1 yr $1MM deal? Maybe one team? Maybe?
Now, is there anyone out there that can argue that a guy that is worth at most $1MM to one team (and worth alot less to the other 28 teams), can be worth even $2MM to the Mariners?
Willie is what he is: the 420nd best nonpitcher in MLB. And if the minor leagues were opened up, he wouldn’t even be the 1000th best nonpitcher in the world of baseball.
He should count his lucky stars every day he was born near a town whose team values native sons so much. If he was born in Queens, he would not be playing for the Mets.
61: Well said. And this is exactly why WFB gets a hard time from some of us. His belief that he would be productive enough to be a regular if given lots of playing time is self-delusional to an extreme.
#62– as mentioned above, if you don’t have god-given super talents, how else do you advance in sports unless you have belief in yourself?
Yep, there’s nothing wrong with Bloomquist having faith in himself.
The problem arises when other people buy into it.
Personally, I only get irritated when Willie kvetches to the media about his playing time.
Belief in yourself is all well and good, but at some point you have to realize that your whining is bad for team chemistry (tee hee!) and shut up.
OK, let me be the first to go on record as saying that yes, I disdain Willie Bloomquist.
I’d like to see him gone, just so the yahoos who think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread can find something and with any luck somewhere else to practice their hagiography.
I’m sick of hearing dopes tell me that Bloomquist should play every day (heard it many times), that he’s the best player on the team (heard it more than once), that he represents everything that baseball ought to be but isn’t because of all these selfish so-and-sos who won’t run out ground balls. If you want to win the Hustle Series, go ahead, but WHY, WHY, WHY, do you always have to be ahead of me in line at the grocery, behind me in Safeco, and clogging up the blogs everywhere I look?
I disdain him. I wish he was a Royal starting tomorrow. I hope he never gets another at-bat in the major leagues.
But that’s just me. I’m cantankerous. Like “scrappy” in some ways, but less fun in the locker room.
“I would label that picture as “disdain†for Bloomquist.”
Meh. I disagree.
It really irritates the hell out of me when people ascribe comments made by posters to site authors.
“He should count his lucky stars every day he was born near a town whose team values native sons so much. If he was born in Queens, he would not be playing for the Mets.”
Bingo … rampant homerism, watch it tar & feather anything that gets in its way.
As far as being a baseball town, Seattle still needs to catch up.
Critical fans are part of the process. The anti-WFB campaign is only counter spin. We can also call it disdain and still say its not personal. It’s baseball.
If we see him as a good player #25, then it is not hypocritical to call him a bad player #10. It is good to poke fun at him (even be rough about it), because maybe other fans catch on (attracted by the humor) and begin to understand what makes a good baseball team, and then maybe he gets utilized correctly – a trickle up factor.
Not public perception, but a fraction of public perception, which admittedly includes sportswriters who see their status threatened by weblog writers getting too much attention, and fans who can’t stand to see their favorites cricitized and make ludicrous claims in their defense.
Bloomquist has been criticized many times, because he is constantly overpraised by these people, and it cries out for an intelligent response. But the mockery is saved for his irrational advocates, who sense that they are being mocked and so rise angrily in defense of themselves, pretending it is Bloomquist they defend. Like the religious zealots who sensed they were being mocked by The Life of Brian, and rose angrily in defense of Christ, who was of course not being mocked at all.
If you have a problem with Willie Bloomquist on a pony, imagine the pony with you on top of it instead, and you will have divined the inner meaning of Willie on the pony.
Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life to an extent.
Terry is awesome BTW.
He should count his lucky stars every day he was born near a town whose team values native sons so much. If he was born in Queens, he would not be playing for the Mets.
I’d hate to see what the Mets would produce if they valued their native sons, considering their one-time love for Joe McEwing.
This time of the year is so long. . . .
I don’t think that you should worry about what the Kitsap Sun says about you DMZ…I just read an article on Simms from the Sun and they list Blowers as a former catcher of the Mariners…unless I’m mistaken, he played 3rd and 1st, and not catcher…so if they can’t even get facts straight, they’re not worth getting worked up over…
63: You could turn that around and say “How can you improve if you believe, against all evidence, that you are already better than many of your peers?” If you know you need to get better to survive in your profession, maybe you work harder.
#72– Sims.
Blowers was emergency catcher, and IIRC, did play at least one game there.
74 – yes, 7/23/93. Though he only played at C briefly after Valle and the back-up catcher (mackey sasser!) were lifted for pinch hitters.
This counts the way Raul being a catcher counts (1 game in 1999).
Mike Blowers and Bobby Valentine — the Mariners catchers nobody respects.
#45
Wille has more fans than Felix because of accessability. People are in awe of Felix’s physical prowess, while Willie just seems like a guy down the street. Its kind of like the people that chose the president based on who they would rather have a beer with. You could really see yourself having a beer with Willie as opposed to Felix.
Derek, you need to decide who your audience is and write for them.
Here’s a tip: Replacement Level Blogger isn’t your audience.
Steve T – I respect you for admitting your disdain for Bloomquist. I am sure there are some other posters on this site who really ought to admit that same thing.
Myself, I prefer him over Mike Morse or whoever our other back-up infielder of the moment is, but I would much rather have Jeff Clement or Rob Johnson have his roster spot. But the management likes his hustle.
BTW, the dragon picture of Willie is almost as awesome as the pony one.
Willie is like one of those key-chain swiss-army knives. Not very dangerous, but surprisingly useful, and convenient.
I too fear the secret society of WFB haters who covertly post disparaging comments about him (but apparently only do so in such a way that it’s impossible to discern who the evil perpetrators really are). It’s a travesty and I’m sure the outing of these individuals would be the first step in their healing.
If only we could give the pink pony a group hug…. (idea: USSM pink pony plush toys-c’mon Dave and Derek. Make it happen!)
Have you guys even done a search and seen what you’ve written about him? And you’re telling me that’s impartial?
I love you guys, I truly do, but to now suddenly come out and say “Who? US? We’ve always thought (and wrote) that Willie Bloomquist was a decent player” is really a stretch.
I grant you that there have been posts that you reiterate exactly what you’ve said in this post. That he’s a major leaguer, that he’s a sedrvicable bench player, etc.
But honestly, read this post then say it wasn’t written with at least a little “disdain”
http://ussmariner.com/2007/03/12/bloomquist-has-new-swing-should-start-sexson-gets-hit/
#82 – that post is perfectly reasonable and after reading it three times I can’t see anything untoward or that could be considered even a mild drop of “disdain.” Disdain towards professional writers and coaches touting Bloomquist or suggesting the nearly impossible, sure, but not towards Bloomquist himself.
Uhh, did you actually, y’know, READ what you linked?
The PI article that was linked to in that post was yet another Wee Willie Should Be A Starter article, based on the assertion that he’d suddenly figured out how to hit major league pitching.
Derek’s response:
“Given what we know about Bloomquist’s skill set, and his long history in the minor and major leagues, his performance when he’s played consistently, the evidence is overwhelming that he cannot effectively hit major league pitching. Players like that don’t start to hit for power this late in their career. They don’t start to recognize pitches. Bloomquist is unlikely to blossom.”
Which is as true now as it was then. But nowhere in there does it say ANYTHING about his value as a bench player; it simply debunks the notion that he’d suddenly “figured something out” and thus deserved more playing time/to be a starter.
Was there some humor in there? Absolutely, because the suggestion in the PI article was laughable.
Terry (comment 81),
I just didn’t want to be mean about it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just don’t think some people are owning up to being overly mean about Willie’s OK skill set and high self-confidence. I mean, have you ever heard of Endy Fucking Chavez or Omar Fucking Infante?
So how come it is that you’re assuming the article was pointing a finger at you? It certainly didn’t name any names, though you seem to have taken it to heart.
86,
No, it doesn’t specifically say “USS Mariner thinks Willie Bloomquist sucks”. What it says is “USS Mariner, Lookout Landing, Prospect Insider, Mariner Morsels, Seattle Mariners, etc all think Willie Bloomquist sucks”. He’s making a generalized attack on all Mariner based blogs, and since Derek doesn’t write for the other ones, he’s responding here.
Besides, he’s probably never heard of Seattle Marinerds (sorry Deanna), but he’s almost certainly heard of USS Mariner. Just because an attack has a veil over it doesn’t mean you can’t see where it’s aimed.
This is my first post…keep up the good work by the way..it’s the only way us Canadian fans get to talk about the Mariners..it’s all hockey or Blue Jays…
I am one of the few Willie B. fans…When I make my annual trek to Safeco you can’t miss me…I’m usually the only guy there sportin’ the number 16 jersey…what can I say..the guy doesn’t hit and he’s not the greatest at any of the positions he plays…but I root for him anyways…He sorta reminds me of Joey Cora a little…except Cora could hit once in awhile…
Who knows..maybe Willie’s right, maybe if he played more he’d get into a groove and start hitting…
Speaking of groove check out my band’s website http://www.billyjive.com Our goal this year is to play at Safeco for the annual ‘Turn back The Clock’ promo…