Bavasi is gone, but this team is still full of losers

I suppose I’ll never forget where I was when I learned Mariners General Manager Bill Bavasi was fired. Not because of the magnitude of the news, but because I was having lunch and watching the playoff round of the U.S. Open between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.

Two competitors playing at the top of their games - battling it out for the right to hoist the trophy. I thought to myself: the Mariners don’t have anyone on the roster of this caliber. Aside from maybe Ichiro, there isn’t a winner on this team. No competitors.

After four and a half seasons, Bavasi is gone and that’s a good thing. But the work that needs to be done to get this team back to contending will take years. The new GM will have to find ways to trade or outright release a roster-full of players that don’t seem to care if they win or lose.

Supposed No. 1 starting pitcher Erik Bedard is the poster boy for this merry band of candy asses. This guy can’t seem to make it past 100 pitches before he gets tired and pulls himself from the game.

Doesn’t matter if the score is tied or if he’s pitching a gem, once that pitch count hits triple digits, it’s time to ice the shoulder and collect the check. In a couple years, Bedard will ask for $15 million-plus a year. Is this the bulldog needed on the hill every fifth day to stop a losing streak?

M’s CEO Howard Lincoln was contrite and apologized yesterday for the club’s dismal performance. He also signaled that turning this team around wasn’t going to be an overnight project.

The GM search is now on. Once the new guy comes on board, he’ll need to turnover the roster. But after that, he’ll have a blank slate to work with.

Job description: It rarely happens, but it turns out I was right and the M’s are indeed looking for a new GM. I found this job posting last week and thought I’d share it again.

M’s lose eighth in a row at home: The Bavasi firing did little to inspire the team as they lose 6-1 to the Florida Marlins yesterday at Safeco Field. That drops the Mariners’ record to 24-46, a .343 winning percentage and 17½ games out of first place.