Standing still gets you nowhere - Baseball

Imagine the Mariners with a more productive third baseman than Jeff Cirillo. A power hitter in left who would reduce Randy Winn to a fourth outfielder. Another high-quality starting pitcher or dominant late-inning reliever who could fortify the American League's top-ranked pitching staff.

Any of those additions could improve the Mariners' postseason chances, but none is likely to occur before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. General manager Pat Gillick would perk up if the Marlins made third baseman Mike Lowell available or if free-agent lefthander Chuck Finley expressed interest in joining Seattle. Gillick's notoriously bottom-line ownership needs to perk up, too, and recognize that winning the World Series could lead to even greater profits.

The player Mariners manager Bob Melvin wants most is his closer, Kazuhiro Sasaki, who is expected to return from broken ribs before August 1. Gillick says he would like to add a lefthanded reliever, but he again figures to be largely inactive while the A's Billy Beane and the rest of the new-age G.M.s devise elaborate trades that leave fans, media and certain best-selling authors spellbound.

Even if Gillick does nothing at the deadline, he again is delivering a balanced, fundamentally sound team that is perfectly suited for its ballpark, pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

Some G.M.s, however, express frustration over Gillick's cautious manner in trade negotiations. Gillick hoards young pitching. He values team chemistry. And even though the Mariners' revenues are second only to the Yankees', he operates with limited resources---an issue that helped drive away former manager Lou Piniella.

Gillick's only midseason acquisitions last season were Doug Creek, Jose Offerman and Ismael Valdes--a motley crew, considering that Cliff Floyd, a slugging outfielder who could have helped the Mariners, was traded twice. The Mariners won 93 games but missed the playoffs. Piniella bolted, and they replaced him with the more placid Melvin.

It's not as if Gillick, 65, is incapable of making splashy moves. He once was derided as "Stand Pat" a G.M. reluctant to tinker with his roster. Then he won successive World Series with the Blue Jays after making in-season trades for David Cone in 1992 and Rickey Henderson in '93.

Clearly, the G.M. gets it.

"At this time of year, there's so much hype and emphasis on July 31, (making a trade) gives a psychological lift to the players, the fans, everyone," Gillick says. "It basically validates that you've got a good team. You're saying, 'Hey, we're going to make a run for it.'"

An aggressive ownership helps, but budgetary restrictions are no longer a valid excuse for teams that want high-priced veterans; the White Sox acquired Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett without adding payroll, paying with prospects instead. Still, Gillick will act only if he believes he is making a significant improvement.

The Yankees added reliever Dan Miceli and outfielder Karim Garcia seemingly on impulse; Gillick expressed concern that his next move might affect utilityman Willie Bloomquist, who is popular in the clubhouse.

"You've got to add the right kind of guy the kind your veteran players are going to embrace," Gillick says. "Some clubs spend money for the sake of spending money and don't worry about chemistry; they throw as much against the wall as they can and hope it sticks."

The Yankees are a perfect example with owner George Steinbrenner returning to his manic days of old, and eventually it will cost them. Including prorated portions of signing bonuses, the Yankees' commitments over the next three seasons exceed $300 million. The Mariners' commitments barely exceed $50 million, and they've not yet committed a single dollar for 2006.

Even so, like the Yankees, the Mariners are aging, and that should increase their urgency. Gillick's reluctance to trade young pitching serves the organization well; Gil Meche, Joel Pineiro and Ryan Franklin began the week with a combined 25 wins while making a total of $1.19 million.

Still, Gillick concedes the team needs more offense. And there's another consideration. "In our ball-park, if you go out and get a 40-homer guy, he turns into a 25-, 30-homer guy, Melvin says.

The answer is not to upgrade in left, even though the Mariners are last in the A.L. at that position in on-base/slugging percentage (OPS). Winn is a superior fielder. Mike Cameron, Ichiro Suzuki and Winn form the league's best outfield defense--a necessity for their club, considering the vastness of Safeco and the fly-ball tendencies of the pitching staff.

The bigger issue is third base, where the Mariners also are last in the league in OPS. Yet, Cirillo is signed through '05 and Lowell--a superior offensive force and reasonable defensive player--is off the market, at least temporarily. Gillick needs to think of another solution. He hasn't made an impact midseason addition in his four seasons as Mariners G.M.

Virtually every G.M. admires Gillick, even as some whisper that he lacks creativity. Gillick rivals the Braves' John Schuerholz for career achievement, having reached the postseason in seven of his last 10 seasons with three clubs. But it's time for Gillick, a former minor league pitcher, to reach back for his old fastball--and for the Mariners' tightfisted ownership to provide him with any support he requires.

M@IL BONDING

KEN ROSENTHAL ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

What will the Astros do before the trade deadline?

Brian Progar, Amarillo, Texas

Brian: The Astros' chances hinge on pitcher Roy Oswalt and second baseman Jeff Kent returning to health. If the team stays in contention, it likely will attempt to add an affordable starting pitcher such as the Pirates' Jeff Suppan or the Mets' Steve Trachsel. If it falls out of the race, general manager Gerry Hunsicker could attempt to move outfielder Richard Hidalgo, who will make $8 million this season and $12 million next season, with a $2 million buyout or $15 million option for 2005.

Rookie lefthander Jeriome Robertson is pitching surprisingly well, and veteran lefthander Ron Villone appears serviceable as a fifth starter. But the Astros still need another starter to help reduce the strain on their bullpen, which leads the National League in innings pitched.

The Astros have expressed interest in Padres infielder Mark Loretta, seeking protection at second base. Their other need is a lefthanded reliever; they're giving rookie Mike Gallo a chance to win a job.

INSIDE DISH

By KEN ROSENTHAL

The White Sox believe they can help newly acquired 2B Roberto Alomar correct a mechanical flaw that will make him more effective from both sides of the plate. "He's leaning too much with the top half of his body," one club official says. "He doesn't have his legs under him." ... Don't be surprised if the Sox's other acquisition, Carl Everett, struggles in center field. Scouts rank U.S. Cellular Field as one of the most difficult places in the A.L. to play center, citing swirling winds, the height of the upper deck and lack of contrast in the home plate backdrop. The angle of the sun during afternoon games is another problem.... Infielder Mark Loretta, the Padres' leading hitter, is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Cubs, cardinals and Astros. The Padres would be willing to accept inferior prospects for Loretta or OF Rondell White if their trading partner also took on RHP Kevin Jarvis, who is due $4.25 million next season. White stands a better chance of being moved; the Padres will need to create a spot in the outfield for Phil Nevin or Ryan Klesko once Nevin returns.... The suddenly struggling Blue Jays still could end up as sellers rather than buyers. RHPs Kelvim Escobar and Cory Lidle would be two of the most attractive starting pitchers available, but the Jays want prospects who are close to the majors. Toronto would match up better with prospect-rich clubs such as the Braves and Twins than with prospect-thin teams such as the Red Sox and Cardinals.... Yankees rookie LHP Brandon Claussen made only one start before being returned to the minors, but he drew raves for his maturity. Claussen instructed C John Flaherty to set up right behind the plate and not to sit at either corner. Claussen, preferring to get ahead in the count, didn't want to be too fine. Pitchers often lose strikes when their catchers sit on the corners.... The Phillies' bench is as underrated as their bullpen--and it will become even stronger once IF/C Tyler Houston recovers from a broken finger. Teams routinely inquire about reserve OF Jason Michaels, who could start in the right situation.... One scout says White Sox 1B/DH Paul Kenerko stands a better chance of ending a season-long slump than does Phillies LF Pat Burrell. "There are so many things going on with Burrell's swing right now, I don't know if he can come out of it," the scout says.... It probably won't be long before the Braves insert Class AAA RHP Jason Marquis into their struggling rotation. A friend of Mike Hampton's says the lefthander's groin is "killing" him.... The Dodgers inquired about LF Melvin Mora over the winter but balked when the Orioles asked for RHP Edwin Jackson, a top prospect. The Astros demanded much less for OF Daryle Ward; the pitcher the Astros acquired, RHP Ruddy Lugo, is 2-10 at Class AA. Then again, you get what you pay for: Mora is the A.L.'s leading hitter, and Ward is a flop as a reserve.... Mets LHP Tom Glavine is the latest prominent pitcher to complain about QuesTec, and a scout says the narrower QuesTec strike zone is hastening the declines of Glavine and RHP Greg Maddux. "They can't nibble on the corners to the inside and outside," the scout says. "Their stuff is diminished a bit; they've got to pitch over the plate more and they're getting smoked."

KEN ROSENTHAL

kenrosenthal@sportingnews.com

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SPEED READS

* The Diamondbacks' farm system must be considered one of the game's best. Organizational products helped the team overcome its rash of injuries, rally from a 10-game deficit on June 14 and become a serious contender. The major league roster is aging, but the team has multiple options for the future.

* Moving Bobby Kielty to the leadoff spot and inserting Johan Santana into the rotation for Joe Mays might not be enough to jumpstart the Twins. The team needs more offense and perhaps another starting pitcher, and the farm system is deep enough for general manager Terry Ryan to get the players he needs.

* Mets interim general manager Jim Duquette did the best he could by trading Roberto Alomar for three prospects. Duquotte's other option was to keep Alomar, continue paying his salary and collect two draft picks when ha departed as a free agent. But the picks would have cost millions to sign and taken longer to develop. They also would have represented greater unknowns.

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