Season wrap and a look ahead from Zduriencik and McClendon

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and skipper Lloyd McClendon met with the media at Safeco Field this afternoon, giving their thoughts on what we saw this year and what’s next. I will give full quotes on some topics and then notes of interest will follow.

Zduriencik started the press conference with a “thank you” to the fans:

“I would really like to thank our fans for a great response this year. It was a fun ride, it was very entertaining to take it right to the very end. I think the crowd at the end, especially the weekend, tremendous. They deserve a lot of credit. We are really, really appreciative of them supporting us the way they did.”

McClendon’s opening remarks:

“Ultimately as a manager it is you job to determine what success and failure is as a team. In a lot of ways we did a lot of great things, in some ways we didn’t do great things. All in all it was a very successful season, but am I satisfied with where we are? No. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely. Ultimately everybody’s goal is to win a World Series. That’s one of the things I want to impress on the fans. We are not satisfied with the year that we had. We are pleased with the improvements we made but in the end we want to win a World Series. I think we all would agree this organization is heading in the right direction.”

McClendon on his thoughts and emotions the day after the season ended:

“It was a very exhausting year in a lot of ways. You put your heart and soul in it and when it comes to an end, it was a little tough. We were so close. To think that one game here or one game there could make a world of difference. From an emotional standpoint you finally let it all out. Believe me, I slept a lot. I was exhausted.”

Zduriencik on the next step:

I think we are going to do everything we can to add to the ballclub. Offense is something we think we need. We will explore every opportunity out there. I think we will be reasonably aggressive to try to add an offensive piece or two and you never have enough pitching. Where all this ends up none of us know, but we will be pretty aggressive in trying to add to this ballclub.”

McClendon on the next step:

To add pieces to that offense I think is very, very important. Preferably we would like to have right-handed bats, somebody to hit behind Robbie (later in an individual session, McClendon said that he believes Kyle Seager is ultimately a No. 5 hitter – please keep in mind here that Cano is batting third – and that they need a 4 and 6 hitter). I agree with Jack, you never have enough starting pitching. If you can acquire more you better get it.”

Zduriencik on the possibility of converting Tom Wilhelmsen to starter:

“This guy’s a very valuable piece with what he does. If we can add the right starting pitchers I don’t think there would be a need for that.”

Zduriencik on where he sees the ballclub today:

“I think we have been trying to get to this point, trying to get a group of players that are going to be with you, trying to get young players that mature. I think where we are at, you know how close you were. Were we disappointed at the end? We were very disappointed. Were we satisfied with some things? Sure. But I can tell you, if anybody thinks that either the GM or manager or anybody else in the front office walked away saying, ‘Hey, we accomplished something …’ No, I think you take pride in some of the things that took place but I guarantee you that the wind was out of the sails when you walked out of there. A ground ball here, a ground ball there, a sacrifice here or there, we might be playing today. The one positive about this club, had we been a playoff club, it could have been real interesting. I think our pitching was such that everyone was aware that if we got into the playoffs you never know what would happen.”

McClendon:

“I think the one thing that is really interesting about this club is I think we’re a club that is built for the playoffs. Now we have got to get ourselves to the point where we are built for the regular season because I don’t think there was a team in baseball that wanted to face the Seattle Mariners in the playoffs because our pitching was just so good. But again from an offensive standpoint we have got to get better because you have got to be good over a 162-game schedule. We still have got our work cut out a little bit.”

McClendon on progress that was made this year:

“We’re better suited this year going into spring training. We can accomplish a lot more in spring training and get a lot more work done. This past spring we didn’t know who our left fielder was, our center fielder was, for that matter right field, first base, shortstop. I think we have a lot of those answers now. I think we are going to be able to accomplish some more intricate things in spring training that makes us a better club.”

Zduriencik on finishing the season with a struggling rotation and needing more:

“We did run out of gas. With (Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma) at the 1-2 spot, to get a third guy to maybe to come in and eat up some innings. Obviously (Roenis) Elias will be better prepared, (James Paxton and Taijuan Walker) fighting for a rotation spot next year, I think we do need to another pitcher. If you think you are going to win something with five starting pitchers you’re kidding yourself. You need eight and in some cases nine. Whether someone is a swing man or you have a couple of guys in Triple-A that can come up and do the job is a challenge for us going forward.”

McClendon on Mike Zunino’s struggles at the plate:

“I think there is a natural progression that is going to take place. I think there are some instructional things that we are going to do in spring training to clean up his path a little bit, but he needs to cut down on his strikeouts. I think that with knowledge of the strike zone, knowledge of the pitchers, knowledge of the league and what they are trying to do, all of those things should make him better.”

Zduriencik on Dustin Ackley and others taking a step forward:

“I think he did enough that he showed that he can be a left fielder. I think he really improved tremendously from last year in spring training to this year. Offensively I just think he needs to progress. The one message with all the players was, it was nice, it was fun, it was a good run – you can’t be satisfied. Each player was challenged. We will meet with each guy individually throughout the course of the winter, especially early to make sure they are on the right program. There will be guys in winter ball, in Seattle, in Arizona. To get to the next level you need to understand how tough this 162-game season is and prepare yourself rolling into to spring training next year guns a’blazing.”

Zduriencik on the Mariners’ budget:

“I think the payroll is going to rise. What the exact number is I don’t know yet because we haven’t had that meeting, but I am encouraged that number will increase.”

Zduriencik on what Jesus Montero will do this offseason:

“He’s going to be in Arizona. He’s going through a program that should help him in many areas on the field and off the field. He will stay in Arizona, he and his wife and little baby. He is working out twice a day at the complex. He will be under our supervision most of the winter. Hopefully the negative turns out to be a positive.”

McClendon on Austin Jackson:

“When he came here it was not the same swing I saw in Detroit. Obviously there’s some things he needs to work on. I think from a physical standpoint he needs to get stronger. I think towards the end he wore down a little bit. I’m very confident that going into next year you will see a different player.”

Zduriencik on how Michael Saunders fits into the picture:

“Like any other player it is up to Michael. The thing with Michael is trying to keep him on the field for the amount of time you would like to have him. I think what Michael has to do and has to answer to himself is: How do I prepare myself to play as many games through 162 as I can possibly play without being set back with injuries? Some are freak injuries, some just happen but some of these things need to be handled from a maintenance standpoint where he puts himself in a position to be able compete through the course of a season.”

McClendon on Saunders:

“Maintenance is very important. How you go about your business as far as preparation is concerned, and his situation is very important. If you look at his track record, he has been hurt every year. Some things are freak and there is nothing you can do about it, but what do I need to do in the weight room? I think that is a legitimate question.”

McClendon on whether or not Saunders can be an everyday player:

“I think his numbers tell you he is but the problem is he is not out there every day. There is no better joy for a manager to be able to write a name in the lineup every day, but when a guy is on the DL it’s tough. It throws everything out of whack.”

McClendon on what will happen at shortstop this spring [note: they will not go with a platoon next year]:

“I have no idea. I think there will be competition.”

What happens to the other?

“I think in terms of (Chris) Taylor, I think he is probably a pure shortstop. With (Brad) Miller, he is intriguing because of the bat and he has the ability to play the outfield, a little third, first and second. He’s a very interesting guy. I think that is something there will be a lot of discussion over, whether or not he becomes a utility guy.”

Can he play the outfield?

“My outfield coach (Andy Van Slyke) said he was an absolute natural. [note: Miller did not play in the outfield this year but he had several workouts before games in both left and right field.] He was really impressed with that he did. The ability to turn and go to the ball without looking at it. Obviously we know his arm plays, speed plays, he’s made for the outfield because he runs wild as hell, so he can’t hurt anybody out there. We’ll see, we’ll see. He’s interesting.”

Notes

• Iwakuma will stay in Seattle this offseason instead of returning to Japan. Zduriencik said that picking up his option was “a no-brainer.”

• Paxton is also staying in Seattle. There was some thought that he would play fall ball and was asked to think about playing winter ball, but he felt uncomfortable with that and the organization did not want to push the issue so he will get his winter work at Safeco Field.

• Walker will play in the Arizona Fall League and they hope to get him 25 innings.

• There has been contact with Franklin Gutierrez and there is interest in coming back. If he did come back it would be as a non-roster invitee.

• The entire coaching staff will return.

• Ackley will be seen by a specialist in the coming weeks. Zduriencik said they don’t believe there is anything seriously wrong with his ankle but they want to explore it further with his history.

• There are no surgeries scheduled for any of the Mariners players. Van Slyke, who suffered a knee injury in August, will need to have surgery.

• Danny Hultzen threw today in an instructional league and the news was good. According to Zduriencik, his advisers who were there were very happy with what they saw. According to the reports, he threw the fastball at 90 mph but was told not to go all-out. The curve and change were good and his mound presence and confidence in throwing were excellent. He is now shut down for the winter and will be a full-go in spring training.

• Last but not least, Zduriencik says that DJ Peterson will be allowed to compete in spring training. “Coming out of Double-A is a challenge but he will be in the fall league, playing third and first,” Zduriencik said. “He will get a fair shot. You don’t shut the door on it. Leave it open and see what he does. Let him come in and compete.”

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