Geno explains why he wanted out

[Donn Beach]

It would be neat to make up a list of active Seattle athletes who the fanbase loves even though they suck. At this time I'd have J.P. Crawford at the top of the list.

The very first one for me was Pete O'Brien. That could flat out couldn't hit while he was here. I know it was a long time ago, so there wasn't really a lot of ways to gauge the fans opinions. But it sure seemed like everyone loved the guy.

WAR wasn't a thing back then, so I just remember looking at the back of his baseball card, and seeing the stats posted the few times they were on TV. But the guy posted the following WAR his last four years, 3 in Texas and 1 in Cleveland.

4.5
3.3
3.1
1.6

While in Seattle?
0.0
-0.5
-0.3
0.1

Dude was dreadful, and he came here, as I recall, with a lot of fanfare.

But Vin Baker was the ONE for me. Basically we got rid of Kemp for him, everyone seemed to ooh and aah over him, and DAMN was he soft.

Pete O'Brien was the mariners first ever free agent signing, so there was fanfare. Yeah, he was a disappoinment

The Mariners had the lowest payroll in the majors the previous season at $7.6 million; O'Brien's deal was for $7.6 million over four years.

[Michael K.]

I don't remember vin Baker being particularly well liked

All I recall is wanting to puke every time I heard or read Vin the Championship maker Baker.

[Donn Beach]

Baker had talent, look at his last couple of seasons in Milwaukee, he was two time All NBA. His problem was drinking, he was an alcoholic, ruined him

[Michael K.]

Baker had talent, look at his last couple of seasons in Milwaukee, he was two time All NBA. His problem was drinking, he was an alcoholic, ruined him

Doesn't matter to me why he got here and sucked, only that he sucked. Jeff Cirillo got here and was under so much pressure he needed shrink. Huh? Imagine if these guys played somewhere where the fans and media was nasty!? This is paradise for underperforming and over paid.

[Donn Beach]

There was a lot of fanfare and excitement when baker first joined the team and I think that was justified. But he was a disappoinment. It was odd, there was something wrong with him, he was considered soft, turns out he was drunk

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Getting paid that much to come to Seattle and to not get a handle on a drinking problem says a lot about his character. No concept of duty or feeling of shame. But i don't think that is uncommon any more. Most athletes in the U.S. once they get paid don't seem to have a sense of obligation to give it their all for the people paying their exorbidant salaries. Perhaps that is why a small nation like Japan kicks our ass at baseball in international competition regularly. Cultural values...

[douche]

This thought that because Brady is involved the QB position is solved in Vegas is funny. The ShowGirls, I mean Raiders, would be better off if Brady played QB right now.

Agreed.

[Captain 97]

Pete O'Brien was the mariners first ever free agent signing, so there was fanfare. Yeah, he was a disappoinment

O'Brien came to the M's in 1990. Are you trying to tell me they didn't sign any free agents in their 1st 13 years of existence?

[Donn Beach]

There were amateur free agent signings, in terms of what we think of as free agency, yeah. He certainly was the first significant one

[D-train]

There were amateur free agent signings, in terms of what we think of as free agency, yeah. He certainly was the first significant one

More significant that a Future HOFer that won his 300th game with the M's?

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