Mariners might be better, but don't expect too much

Slogan: A new day. A new way.

Reality: So, how about 87 losses instead of 101?

I'm a cautious believer in this Mariners movement. Rookie general manager Jack Zduriencik is the real deal. Rookie field manager Don Wakamatsu is the straight-talking, creative-thinking skipper needed to refresh a stale franchise. In time, they should make the Mariners successful again.

The time isn't now, however.

It's a new day. It's a new way. But in 2009, there will be some old pain, which is why you shouldn't be too desirous of an amazing first impression.

Instead, look for solid improvement over last season's misery. An enjoyable season should include more consistent defense, more reliable pitching and an offensive strategy more versatile than letting overpriced acquisitions hack their way to worthlessness. And, yes, harmony in the clubhouse — a fashionable preseason topic — would be nice, too.

If the new regime accomplishes all of that, you can expect fewer losses. But you're at least a season away from being able to talk about the Mariners in terms of victories.

Don't underestimate the enormous cleanup job in front of Jack Z, Wak and the rest of the coaches and front-office executives. It won't be as easy as asking Ken Griffey Jr. to hop into a time machine. Since the remarkable 2001 season, the franchise has been in a gradual eight-year slide, and there's no instant elixir for all the warts that have developed.

Consider that Zduriencik and Wakamatsu were both hired for their steadiness, not their pizazz. The new GM is a 58-year-old super scout who earned his current job after years of looking at young, raw players and projecting they would become major-league worthy. It's the ultimate task of foresight and patience, not to mention the most tried and true method of building a winner in professional sports.

Even now, as the big boss, Zduriencik spent spring training parked in a seat behind home plate with a stopwatch around his neck. His wife, Debbie, sat next to him most days, so she probably knows more about bat speed and 12-to-6 curveballs than any sane person should.

Then there is Wakamatsu. Zduriencik chose him to be the manager because of his communication skills, fresh approach to the game and an ability to get the most out of players that he exhibited as a bench coach. He doesn't talk boldly; he speaks frankly. He hasn't made any panicked decisions all spring, even though his pitchers struggled and his lineup is still full of question marks.

The hope is that Wakamatsu can scrounge up a competitive team out of this bunch and create a new standard while the front office develops the roster. In that case, if Wakamatsu grinds his way to, say, a 75-87 record, the 14-victory improvement over last season should be viewed as progress and not more of the old.

So you can see that neither the GM nor the field manager got hired on flash-in-the-pan charisma. They'd rather build a stable franchise than a front-running one.

A Jack Z quote from January has been spliced into a good radio commercial. He was talking about creating a culture of stewardship in the organization, a charge to serve the fans, and the way the commercial is edited, he sounds quite forceful with his message.

Originally, however, he said the words in response to a question about patience, and his words were clear but conflicted.

"When I look at the fans, it really, really touches home," he said. "I know how much this organization means, how much the players mean to them. The message I want to send is, 'We do care.' I feel a strong commitment to this community and this organization. I would never want to do something that would misrepresent what we are trying to accomplish.

"We want this organization to move forward. We owe it to the fans, the people who are putting their heart and soul every night into this club. It's important our players understand that. The promise I'd make to them is we're going to put a product on the field they're going to be proud of. Is it going to happen overnight? It's going to take a little time."

Zduriencik went on to vow that "there is a plan in place." His remarks served as a warning not to expect too much too soon. At the same time, he wanted fans not to expect too little too early.

That's the conundrum for the 2009 Mariners. They have obvious limitations in the present, but they have grand dreams for the future.

They're kind of stuck in time right now. Yesterday was awful. Tomorrow looks promising. Today is some strange hybrid of both.

It's a good season to sit back and let the moment carry you wherever it wishes.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com