Some juicy ass stuff from Mather here (Not meant for public)

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I didn't have a problem with the Julio statement because I watched the ENTIRE video in context. People reading only the highlights will have a misguided judgement about this part of the converstaion.

On that note, I was extremely upset and annoyed about the statements towards Kyle Seager and the contract handling of Jarred Kelenic. What a disgrace to the Seager's. Mather is the OVERPAID person here and should not be back this season. And if I were Kelenic it breaks my heart to say the M's lost points on this one when it comes time to sign a contract, unless the FO can turn this around immediately by getting rid of this individual that has become a dark plague on baseball.

#FIREKEVINMATHER

How is he a plague to baseball?

Also perhaps you missed the part when he said there was a good chance Kelenic made the right decision.

As far as Kelenic goes, I didn't miss any of it. I've watched the entire video. The whole conversation in its totality is what pisses me off. That information should never have left his lips to begin with. Its unexcusable and could wind up hurting this organization in years to come.

These issues may not seem like a big deal to some of you and that is fine. We are all entitled to our own opinions. But to say that this shouldn't or won't be a big deal moving forward with the organization is naive. This is bound to ruffle many feathers, of which we are only beginning to witness. I'm scared to see what the trickle down affect will look like if affirmative action isn't taken towards KM.

Yeah, i think it's much ado about very little but the media will attempt to turn it into a massive outrage. Books come out all the time where far more secretive inside information is revealed in all walks of life. I can't see how people knowing that Kelenic was offered a 6 year deal like White would be a sore point for him. If he turns out to be a star, they're not keeping him past his arbitration years anyway.

[Sexymarinersfan]

How is he a plague to baseball?

Also perhaps you missed the part when he said there was a good chance Kelenic made the right decision.

As far as Kelenic goes, I didn't miss any of it. I've watched the entire video. The whole conversation in its totality is what pisses me off. That information should never have left his lips to begin with. Its unexcusable and could wind up hurting this organization in years to come.

These issues may not seem like a big deal to some of you and that is fine. We are all entitled to our own opinions. But to say that this shouldn't or won't be a big deal moving forward with the organization is naive. This is bound to ruffle many feathers, of which we are only beginning to witness. I'm scared to see what the trickle down affect will look like if affirmative action isn't taken towards KM.

Yeah, i think it's much ado about very little but the media will attempt to turn it into a massive outrage. Books come out all the time where far more secretive inside information is revealed in all walks of life. I can't see how people knowing that Kelenic was offered a 6 year deal like White would be a sore point for him. If he turns out to be a star, they're not keeping him past his arbitration years anyway.

For all our sakes, I sooo hope you are right!! I worry that most will be content with that and things will go back to normal. When in reality, he will just be replaced by someone roughly as bad (but better at keeping quiet) and things will carry on in the same rotten system. He’s clearly comfortable with talking about the things that came up in that interview, to the point where he thinks it’s normal stuff to say in public. That scares me.

Overall I do think he’ll lose his job. He did an almost unbelievable and quite spectacular job of insulting players, fans, and even his own FO. What he did harms the Mariners organization on a multitude of levels.

He is a minority owner. There might not be much actual interest in winning or basic decency among the other owners. They may not even care much about the corporate culture. But he damaged the brand and made them all look bad. This is going to be a story that has a long shelf life; it touches too many important people. It will be longer if the Mariners don’t address it. I’ll be shocked if he isn’t made to step down.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Not even close to my meaning. I'm talking about the clincher that is Mather’s highly inappropriate attitude regarding the Mariners’ foreign players.

That's a perception you're talking about. Give me some specific things that he said that created it in your mind. He seemed highly complimentary of Julio and his remarks about the interpreters seemed fairly harmless. Saying that Iwakuma's english improved immediately was probably more of a lame attempt at humor than anything else.

[Sexymarinersfan]

Not even close to my meaning. I'm talking about the clincher that is Mather’s highly inappropriate attitude regarding the Mariners’ foreign players.

That's a perception you're talking about. Give me some specific things that he said that created it in your mind. He seemed highly complimentary of Julio and his remarks about the interpreters seemed fairly harmless. Saying that Iwakuma's english improved immediately was probably more of a lame attempt at humor than anything else.

When Mather began to speak about Julio as a player and a person, but noted that his grasp of English is “not tremendous,” I felt that was probably not the best thing to say about one of your top prospects. I mean, that's the first thing that comes to your mind when you begin to speak highly of someone? And guess what, Rodríguez, responded on Twitter on Sunday indicating that he took offense to that!

Mather also discussed how the language barrier affected former All-Star pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma -- who has since rejoined the club as a special assignment coach -- and he expressed frustration in having to pay Iwakuma’s translator during the right-hander’s six seasons in Seattle.

As I've said, they may seem small and insignificant to some, but to some others it won't. Its all about damage control up to this point. I loved hearing all the juicy things that he said that went on behind the scenes. But I can't imagine the people who were mentioned in his Zoom were too pleased about what he had to say. Its not something you want getting out to the public. Otherwise he would not have issued a formal apology to the entire organization. We both know he fucked up, whether one cares to admit it or not. Otherwise, why are you apologizing?

[IStillLoveTheMs]

Always knew Mike Leake was an asshole...

Must suck for Evan White to read that...

Embarrassing that we can't get a 2B to come here...

Now they've lost all leverage offering long-term, team-friendly deals to their prospects.

[Sexymarinersfan]

Always knew Mike Leake was an asshole...

Must suck for Evan White to read that...

Embarrassing that we can't get a 2B to come here...

Now they've lost all leverage offering long-term, team-friendly deals to their prospects.

Kyle Seager is overpaid? Good for Kyle because at some point like young Mr Kelenic- he was under paid.

Kelenic's agents are upset that he hasn't reached the majors yet. And trying to get Jarred to sign a team friendly deal or otherwise we'll keep you in the minors is rubbish. Otherwise you could be up here with Evan White learning on the big stage.

I agree that they have lost leverage here.

The Mets messed up royally sending Kelenic to the M’s.

The Mets also seemed to get it right with Pete Alonso not messing with his service-time.

I get the long run, but the CBA is up next year and it’s possible either A.) the meaning of service time may change or B.) Kelenic is counting against you during a lockout.

Bringing a young guy up and having him be a part of opening day creates something with the fans and also shows something to your players that you’re trying to win.

That’s something the M’s haven’t done since ‘01.

Honesty is fine, racism, tampering, disparaging top prospects, etc. is not. It's one thing to call out underperforming players, it's another to make a crack about your top prospect's English ability (especially if said top prospect has an official team YouTube series, where he interviews people, in English).

[Bil522]

Love the idea I see Divish floating- Theo Epstein

Where did you see that bpj? I would love that as well.

[IStillLoveTheMs]

How old, rich, white people talk to other old, rich, white people behind closed doors...

I mean I'm not shocked an old white dude with that kind of money has those attitudes about non-native speakers.

[Sexymarinersfan]

How old, rich, white people talk to other old, rich, white people behind closed doors...

I mean I'm not shocked an old white dude with that kind of money has those attitudes about non-native speakers.

Nothing shocks me anymore in this day and age.

[Donn Beach]

here is really a great view if it, Mathers did MLB a favor by revealing what arrogant white penny pinching bean counters really do run things...

that is a remarkable comment...

As the highest-ranking executive on a team with the longest playoff drought in North American team sports, Mather is not nearly as interested in the Mariners’ playing in October than he is making free agents come begging for a job:

“We have taken the position that there are 180 free agents still out there on February 5 unsigned, and sooner or later, these players are going to turn their hat over and come with hat in hand, looking for a contract.”

And in an industry that tries to at least pretend it does not artificially suppress salaries or make good-faith efforts to field the best roster possible, Mather stunningly admitted in multiple passages that the Mariners did and will do just that with outfielder Jarred Kelenic and pitcher Logan Gilbert:

“There was no chance you were going to see these young players at T-Mobile Park,” Mather said of the pandemic-altered 2020 season in which the Mariners allocated precious spots in their player pool to several top prospects, noting “you might’ve seen my big tummy out there in left field” if the team ran short of players.

It’s the same deal for Kelenic, a confident and wildly talented outfielder, the sort of chap you’d want to market around, sell a few tickets, hopefully win a few games.

Mather? It sounds like he hates the guy, for no reason other than the 21-year-old had the stomach and, apparently, the short-term financial security to reject what surely was a grossly team-friendly deal that would have tied him to Seattle well into his free agent years.

Worse, Mather frames this as a matter of virtue, giving first baseman Evan White a pat on the head for agreeing to a deal guaranteeing him $24 million before playing a major league game, while castigating Kelenic for rejecting it.

Never mind that White was far less vaunted a prospect at the time of the offer than Kelenic.

“I like Evan White,” Mather said, moments after noting White opted not to heed the union’s advice in signing the deal. “He’s a nice young man, and he made the comment, he said, “I have ($24 million) guaranteed. That changes a person’s life. I’m signing the deal. And if I’m good and they pick up my options, I’ll have $55 million guaranteed. That changes my family’s, my grandkids’ lives.” I like the young man.”

Jarred Kelenic is one of the top prospects in baseball.
As for Kelenic?

Well, Mather’s depiction of Kelenic daring “to bet on himself, as he put it,” so confused one of the well-fed and curious members of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club that they asked Mather if Kelenic was already on the outs.

And that says a lot about the bare-knuckle, nickel-saving, fan-unfriendly industry that is Major League Baseball: That a president of a ballclub would rather castigate a rising young star to the most prestigious gathering of international service organization breakfast appreciators in all of Bellevue, rather than promote him.

That one minute, Mather can express his love for Kyle Seager, that he “whispered to him he’s probably going to be a Mariner Hall of Famer,” yet in the next breath say he’s “probably overpaid.”

The Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club probably nodded along to that statement, since Mather didn't also tell them Kyle Seager was paid $540,100 in 2014, when he was an All-Star and a Gold Glover.

And we wonder why the union might not trust management?

Not when these clubs want it both ways — to harvest prime production at minimum wage in early years, while moving the goalposts on free agency and then waiting out the glut of unsigned players for bargains rather than, you know, proactively try to win.

and this was what i was getting at, his apology from 2018 from harassing Mariner employees back then, geez give me a break...

By day’s end, Mather had cobbled together a statement apologizing for his actions and noting he was making amends with the many people. “I will do whatever it takes,” he said, “to repair the damage I have caused to the Seattle Mariners organization.”


Funny, that sounds an awful lot like his statement in July 2018, after the Mariners acknowledged Mather was named by two female employees in workplace complaints. “I am committed to ensuring that every Mariners employee feels comfortable and respected, and can contribute to our success both on the field and in the community,” Mather said in a statement then. “Can we do better? Of course.”

Mather will get kicked to the curb, and nothing will change..

Certainly, we won’t equate potentially collusive and competition-suppressing baseball decisions with sexual harassment. Yet it’s clear the industry won’t move off any of these behaviors unless forced.

We’d like to think Mather’s comments to a pancake-loving gathering of community pillars will mark an inflection point in the game — that ham-handed management is choking out growth opportunities and the ability for fans to truly love the teams they root for.

Alas, whether Mather is tossed aside now, to great fanfare, or more quietly in the future, the systemic ills in the industry will likely continue.

And that’s too bad, because rarely has an executive showed us so clearly what needs to be cleaned up.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/m ... 536961001/