Aging Mariners on the Rocks After Their Dismal First Half

Seldom has a team considered a contender proved to be more disappointing or faced more of an immediate disassembling than the Seattle Mariners.

“I feel like they’re knocking my friends down one by one,” said second baseman Bret Boone, possibly soon to be knocked down himself.

So far, pitcher Freddy Garcia has been traded largely because of his pending free agency (he subsequently signed a multiyear contract with the Chicago White Sox), and shortstop Rich Aurilia and first baseman John Olerud have been designated for assignment, meaning that both are done in Seattle and maybe even elsewhere.

It’s the tale, to a large extent, of the Ancient Mariners, and it has become the task of new General Manager Bill Bavasi to initiate what he calls a midseason transition mode aimed at giving some of the organization’s young players -- including infielders Justin Leone and Jose Lopez -- an extensive evaluation during the second half.

Bavasi, of course, had hoped an aging team could survive one more season, but now Jamie Moyer, Dan Wilson and Edgar Martinez could also be leaving.

Each can veto a trade, but why would they want to stay with a team that is last in the American League in runs and is challenging for the worst record in either league?

“We’re not pushing anyone out the door, but we’re not guaranteeing there won’t be any more moves,” Bavasi said from Seattle. “Our intention for now is to look at the group that’s here.”

It’s a difficult situation for the former Angel general manager succeeding Pat Gillick, but “the ownership has been real supportive and understood when I got here some of the turnover that was going to need to take place,” Bavasi said, carefully choosing his words.

“When a club has been successful like this one had been ... well, you’re more inclined to hold on to the players who produced that success. In some cases you may hold on to them a year or two too long, but I think we all agree there’s nothing wrong with that. The Mariners have shown loyalty, and they should have.

“Unfortunately, of course, there comes a time when some of those players simply stop producing as they have in the past. It’s a tough situation. We would not have been completely surprised if we had struggled this year, but I don’t think any of us anticipated the meltdown that some of the veterans experienced.”

To a large extent, it has been team-wide, and only Ichiro Suzuki has survived. The failure of Aurilia, signed as a free agent, compounded the decision to trade the oft-injured Carlos Guillen to the Detroit Tigers, for whom he became an All-Star shortstop. The Olerud collapse began last year and confused even the former batting champion.

“I just haven’t been able to get into a good groove where I’ve been able to consistently hit the ball hard,” Olerud said. “For whatever reason I just haven’t been able to put it together, and that’s been real frustrating, especially with the way the team has struggled.”

Olerud, 35, used his veto rights in June to reject a trade to the San Francisco Giants. He has deep roots in Seattle but will have to leave if he wants to extend his career.

“I plan on finishing out this year, assuming somebody wants me to play for them,” Olerud said. “If they don’t, I guess that’s a pretty clear sign you’re done.”

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If age helped sink the Mariners, the Houston Astros may be in a similar boat and faced with a last chance to reach the playoffs with a veteran core of Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Jeff Kent, among others.

As the St. Louis Cardinals threatened to run away with the National League Central, the Astros had been in a tailspin after a 19-10 start, and with the chronological clock ticking, General Manager Jerry Hunsicker felt he couldn’t wait to try to kick his team out of its offensive lethargy.

“From the urgency standpoint, we don’t have time to fool around here,” Hunsicker said, offering a partial explanation for the firing of Jimy Williams as manager and the hiring of comparative firebrand Phil Garner.

If that change fails to energize the Astros before the July 31 deadline for non-waiver trades, the club could put Carlos Beltran back on the block after only recently acquiring him, and could initiate a turnover resembling that in Seattle.

Meanwhile, Williams received an undeserved fate, but when was the last time a roster was replaced? The respected Williams, clearly angered by his firing, refused to return owner Drayton McLane’s solicitous phone call. Then again, the ousted manager has always been a leader of few words. When McLane recently urged him to spend more time chitchatting with reporters, Williams said, “What’s chitchat?”

He may have sincerely not known. Too bad the players he protected didn’t communicate for him with a few more hits.