Which Seattle Star's departure hurt you the most?


Which Seattle Star's departure hurt you the most? 59 votes
Comments
-
Ken Griffey, Jr.Of note, the Tartabull trade to Kansas City devastated me for several years. Back when I was a diehard Mariners fan.
-
Ken Griffey, Jr.
First two votes in for Junior. Great minds....DerekJohnson said:Of note, the Tartabull trade to Kansas City devastated me for several years. Back when I was a diehard Mariners fan.
-
Janet RenoI not much of a baseball fan and I was deployed in Bosnia when Junior left so I was kinda focused on other things like buying pirated CDs from Bosnians.
The only other one that comes close to hurting me was Payton but after the players strike in the mid-90s, I really didn’t give a fuck about the NBA. -
Ken Griffey, Jr.
So... Psalm Wooching?CFetters_Nacho_Lover said:I not much of a baseball fan and I was deployed in Bosnia when Junior left so I was kinda focused on other things like buying pirated CDs from Bosnians.
The only other one that comes close to hurting me was Payton but after the players strike in the mid-90s, I really didn’t give a fuck about the NBA. -
Ken Griffey, Jr.DerekJohnson said:
So... Psalm Wooching?CFetters_Nacho_Lover said:I not much of a baseball fan and I was deployed in Bosnia when Junior left so I was kinda focused on other things like buying pirated CDs from Bosnians.
The only other one that comes close to hurting me was Payton but after the players strike in the mid-90s, I really didn’t give a fuck about the NBA.
-
Janet RenoWhere's the Shawn Kemp option?
-
Don James
-
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Him and Kemp were big misses on my partRaceBannon said:Don James
-
Randy JohnsonRJ was a punch in the gut. The worst organization in baseball was told by their own doctors that his back was going to end his career. Second opinions? Nope. They wouldn’t extend him after that so he had a .500 half season of work to convince the team that he was damaged. After the trade to Houston he becomes the most dominant pitcher in baseball again. Goes 10-1 down the stretch. Leads them to the playoffs. Ten years of great pitching from him after that trade. He was a better player for longer than Griffey after they both left. We lost one of the three or four greatest center fielders and maybe the greatest left handed pitcher in major league history one after another. It was just so Seattle.
-
Ted Bundy
-
Gary PaytonOnce Payton left I gave up on the Sonics
Obligatory -
Janet RenoIt never hurts as much when you think that the players best years are behind them. It takes some hindsight, but on this list only Randy Johnson really had any seasons better than his ones in Seattle after he left.
The one that hurts the most in hindsight is losing Durant/Westbrook when the Sonics left. Those Thunder teams from the early 2010's would've been electric to watch in Seattle -
Ken Griffey, Jr.ARod may have hurt me worse than any of these as it was kind of the accumulation of Randy and Griffey.
But Junior was by far the player I was most attached to. -
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Good post. Most of the people who left Seattle and went on to stardom weren't stars yet when they left (like a million Mariner prospects mostly). Randy and ARod were the two superstars who continued to be superstars post Seattle, with Durant not really a superstar when he left but clearly headed that way. Westbrook certainly became bigger than anticipated (though his legacy has fallen apart of late).NEsnake12 said:It never hurts as much when you think that the players best years are behind them. It takes some hindsight, but on this list only Randy Johnson really had any seasons better than his ones in Seattle after he left.
The one that hurts the most in hindsight is losing Durant/Westbrook when the Sonics left. Those Thunder teams from the early 2010's would've been electric to watch in Seattle
-
Randy Johnson
Gillick actually used the money saved on ARod to build a pretty fun team. Ichiro, Boone, Javier, McLemore, Abbot and Moyer maybe? were all signed with ARod money. The losses of JR and RJ were much more brutal to my younger self. I thought it was all over. Forever.dnc said:ARod may have hurt me worse than any of these as it was kind of the accumulation of Randy and Griffey.
But Junior was by far the player I was most attached to. -
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Definitely agree, but I didn't know that at the time ARod left. And I was convinced that, like Jr, he had generational, top 5 of all time type talent (obviously I didn't know he had help at the tim).theknowledge said:
Gillick actually used the money saved on ARod to build a pretty fun team. Ichiro, Boone, Javier, McLemore, Abbot and Moyer maybe? were all signed with ARod money. The losses of JR and RJ were much more brutal to my younger self. I thought it was all over. Forever.dnc said:ARod may have hurt me worse than any of these as it was kind of the accumulation of Randy and Griffey.
But Junior was by far the player I was most attached to.
They acquired Moyer in 96, btw, but not sure when they resigned him. Spotrac only goes back to 03. -
Janet RenoAs Race said, Don James a huge number one. The entire Sonics team number 2.
If I had to use one of DJ's picks, it would be Payton, except in reality, every one of the choices on the pole forced their way out. -
I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.
At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb
I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell. -
Ken Griffey, Jr.
The Randy trade turned out terribly for the M's.Fishpo31 said:I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.
At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb
I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell.
Guillen was far more fragile than RJ.
-
On the surface, absolutely, I agree. But, at the time of the trade, RJ was 9-10 with a 4-plus ERA. Post-trade, he was 10-1, 1.28. (Yes, I googled it, I'm not THAT much of a nerd, LOL!). He was pissed since before spring training that they didn't make an offer to extend, and he bitched out. Medicals played a big role in that, and you win some and lose some. IIRC, they never would have gotten Sele in 2000, because he signed with Baltimore, and their doctors wouldn't sign off on it.dnc said:
The Randy trade turned out terribly for the M's.Fishpo31 said:I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.
At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb
I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell.
Guillen was far more fragile than RJ.
-
Ken Griffey, Jr.
I researched this in depth years ago and this is mostly a myth. His strikeout and walk rates were just as strong pro trade as post trade. He had a lot of balls randomly fall in for hits before the deal that evened back out after the deal.Fishpo31 said:
On the surface, absolutely, I agree. But, at the time of the trade, RJ was 9-10 with a 4-plus ERA. Post-trade, he was 10-1, 1.28. (Yes, I googled it, I'm not THAT much of a nerd, LOL!). He was pissed since before spring training that they didn't make an offer to extend, and he bitched out. Medicals played a big role in that, and you win some and lose some. IIRC, they never would have gotten Sele in 2000, because he signed with Baltimore, and their doctors wouldn't sign off on it.dnc said:
The Randy trade turned out terribly for the M's.Fishpo31 said:I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.
At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb
I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell.
Guillen was far more fragile than RJ.
The haul for him was semi-decent but it's inarguably a terrible deal. They would have been much better off with RJ than with Armstrong/Woodward plus the return. -
I seem to recall that management pissed off Randy when his dad died
Johnson was the ace the squad needed for the magical 2001 season
The Ms sure did less with more -
I concur, again, externally. Knew some guys on the inside that told me that RJ, prickly in the best of times, had pissed off a lot of people (teammates), to the point that he forced them to make a decision (probably some Russ comps there)... Having been a (small) part of similar discussions, risk management is first and foremost at the top of the list. Top end guy, back injury documented, big $$$ for an extension, poor recent performance and attitude...tough decisions. They could have re-signed him for $MM, he doesn't get cut on and blows out (back OR arm), or he gets cut on and it doesn't work, and they are on the hook for it, or he signs (doubtful at the time) and is pissed off in perpetuity, affecting his performance, and the guys that did it are looking for jobs (which is a part of every decision ever made in MLB)...Good stuff, DNC!dnc said:
I researched this in depth years ago and this is mostly a myth. His strikeout and walk rates were just as strong pro trade as post trade. He had a lot of balls randomly fall in for hits before the deal that evened back out after the deal.Fishpo31 said:
On the surface, absolutely, I agree. But, at the time of the trade, RJ was 9-10 with a 4-plus ERA. Post-trade, he was 10-1, 1.28. (Yes, I googled it, I'm not THAT much of a nerd, LOL!). He was pissed since before spring training that they didn't make an offer to extend, and he bitched out. Medicals played a big role in that, and you win some and lose some. IIRC, they never would have gotten Sele in 2000, because he signed with Baltimore, and their doctors wouldn't sign off on it.dnc said:
The Randy trade turned out terribly for the M's.Fishpo31 said:I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.
At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb
I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell.
Guillen was far more fragile than RJ.
The haul for him was semi-decent but it's inarguably a terrible deal. They would have been much better off with RJ than with Armstrong/Woodward plus the return.
-
Ken Griffey, Jr.
FMFYFERaceBannon said:I seem to recall that management pissed off Randy when his dad died
Johnson was the ace the squad needed for the magical 2001 season
The Ms sure did less with more -
Ken Griffey, Jr.Honestly none of them. I knew Griffey wanted out as soon as they moved to Safeco.
Arod probably should be on the list, no? He didn't hurt either because I hated him anyways and I knew he'd bounce from Seattle asap when he first signed.
The unit leaving was welcome too. Total cock sucker and tanked in 1997.
For me it was probably Curt Warner. He was awesome. I later met him at one of his dealerships in Vantucky, and later still my ex wife was managing a resort restaurant here, served him, and got me a couple copies of his autograph. She thought I'd be excited but I was about 30 at that point and didn't gaf. Still have it somewhere though. -
Ken Griffey, Jr.
They did need a stopper for the playoffs. His last opportunity to be thst for Seattle was a limp dick failure though. They needed someone, just not him.RaceBannon said:I seem to recall that management pissed off Randy when his dad died
Johnson was the ace the squad needed for the magical 2001 season
The Ms sure did less with more -
Some asshole in a big truck was tailgating me hard by the kingdome
It was Johnson so I didn't fight him -
Janet RenoGil Dobbie.
-
Janet RenoDurrant - because they took the whole fucking team with him.
Screw you, Howard Schultz. And fuck you, too, Steve Balmer.
-
Ken Griffey, Jr.Russell still at 0% is making my day. No Sark? Really hurt when USC pried him away from UW.
Also - with college football changing, can we trade coaches and players soon?