Coming into the 2014 season, Jack Zduriencik’s future as the general manager of the Seattle Mariners was quite unclear. The Mariners had just completed their fourth straight losing season under his tenure. The “Can’t Miss” prospects that he specifically hand selected to build the franchise around, had suffered major injury, proven incapable at the Major League level, or just gotten fat. It surely seemed, that unless the Mariners could pull off a miraculous season, 2014 would be Zduriencik’s last.
But miracles sometimes do happen.
At 71-59, the Mariners have already matched their win total from last year, and sit just four wins away from their highest mark since 2009. Seattle not only has a chance of clinching a wild-card birth, they also are just 6 games behind the Angels and Athletics in the AL West, and play 13 games between the pair in September. The Mariners are on the verge of their first playoff birth since 2001, and a lot of the credit goes to Zduriencik himself.
When GMZ inherited the team in 2009, there was little (besides Felix of course) for him to build around. One last year of Adrian Beltre, an aging Ichiro, Jarrod Washburn, Jose Lopez, and Russell Branyan highlighted the roster. Somehow, that team won 85 games, but it was obvious that such success would not be sustainable. A gutting of the team, and a long rebuilding process unavoidable.
From 2010 until present, the Mariners, under Zduriencik, have been rebuilding, resulting in some not so great winning percentages. Many fans have been frustrated with Seattle’s GM, accusing him of not being able to build a team at the Major League level. His prized prospects, Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, and Danny Hultzen, haven’t turned into what we thought they would, and rebuilding has taken longer than many anticipated.
But with the busts, you have to also consider the successful moves he’s made. Jack is responsible for drafting an MVP candidate, signing an MVP candidate, and keeping an MVP candidate in Seattle. The trio of Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano, and Felix Hernandez is (in my extremely biased opinion, but also WARs opinion) the best trio in baseball. And there are many others that show promise. Dustin Ackley looks as if he may have finally found it. James Paxton is already a stud. Mike Zunino looks like a future gold glove winner, while providing insane power at the plate. Chris Taylor has been very impressive in his short tenure with the big league team. With loads of talent still working its way to the Major Leagues, we can expect the Mariners to keep getting better, year after year.
Are the Mariners better off now, than when Jack Zduriencik first started with the club in 2009? That’s an easy yes, even for the most avid Zduriencik opposer. This team and fan base are just now starting to see the rewards of a long rebuilding process. Signing him to a multiyear contract was a wise move for the franchise, and should lead to success for time to come.
###
Keep up with us on Twitter: @Seatown_Mariner
