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Seattle Mariners

Grip on Sports: Jack Zduriencik never stuck to one plan

Saturday: Mariners president Kevin Mather sent general manager Jack Zduriencik on his way after seven years.

Mather, who has been in his position for about a year, cited a lack of leadership for the change. It is the M’s most disappointing season despite management opening the checkbook the past few seasons and allowing Zduriencik to try to buy a playoff appearance.

That’s the core of the problem. The M’s are now in their  third phase of the Zduriencik Era. In seven years, a guy who was known for his talent development  has changed colors more often than those chameleons in the paint commercials during M’s broadcasts.

When Zduriencik took over, he originally put a strong emphasis on analytics. It was – and is – all the rage. Rating players based on a series of statistical abstracts. It really does work in baseball and needs to be an integral part of any front office.

Zduriencik, expected to build through the draft and minors, went all in. The result? Chone Figgins.

In three years with the M’s, Figgins, a .291 hitter in eight years with the Angels, hit .227, rarely got on base and always seemed to be pouting. When the M’s released him, eating about $8 million, they also seemed to jettison the analytical approach.

Zduriencik’s second incarnation was built around a talented group of minor leaguers, including a bunch of guys you’ve never heard of. That’s right. They haven’t panned out. Oh, there’s been a few. Kyle Seager, he seems to be pretty darn good. Taijuan Walker seems to be closest to reaching his potential.

But since Zduriencik has been in charge, the M’s first-round picks have been: Dustin Ackley, Nick Franklin, Steve Baron, Walker, Danny Hultzen, Mike Zunino, D.J. Peterson and Alex Jackson. Of those, only Walker is still in the bigs with the M’s.

Sending Zunino down to Tacoma was Zduriencik’s  final act as GM. But even prior to that, he had changed his philosophy again. His third act was to spend money.

Last year he signed Robinson Cano to the most lucrative contract in baseball and this season got Nelson Cruz with a bunch of money. Like the other two phases of Zduriencik’s M’s career, it hasn’t worked like he hoped, even though Cruz has actually outplayed his contract.

So, who will the M’s get to replace Zduriencik?

They need to find someone in Brian Sabean’s mold. He’s the San Francisco Giants vice president of baseball operations and has built the best organization in the game.

Sabean is not leaving the Giants. But someone with his attributes and philosophy would be nice.

They have a productive minor league system. They pick the right veterans to mix into their roster. They build to their park. They don’t waver. They win.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the M’s did that? But it takes a general manager with a clear and consistent vision, one who will not bend or break at the first sign of failure. Trust yourself, trust your vision and then just lead.

Thursday: Washington State University said goodbye to President Elson Floyd yesterday in a ceremony at Beasley Coliseum. The governor gave the eulogy. Stories were told. Memories were shared.

I covered a regents meeting that he ran concerning the Martin Stadium remodel. I was the only reporter in a conference room with about half the WSU regents – the rest were connected by phone – and watched as he steered the discussion, and decision, the way he wanted it to go.

I’ve covered a lot of similar meetings and I never saw anyone more in control. Subtly if he could, not-so-subtly if that was called for. In the end, the remodel was approved. Martin Stadium has never looked the same. And never will.

Now that Elson Floyd is gone, we can say a similar thing about Washington State University. It will never be the same.