bloomquist_raw_crop.jpgWith news that Willie Bloomquist won’t play again in 2008 came the predictably sarcastic response from USS Mariner.

Wrote Derek Zumsteg: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHY GOD WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY”

USSM commenters upped the sarcasm ante.

Wrote MarinerDan: “I wonder if his free agent offer from an NL club looking to exploit his versatility, speed, and character will decline now that he is susceptible to the injury bug.”

DNC: “When you start sitting your emotional leader for the duration of the year with suspect injuries, it’s clear that you’re trying to lose.”

DaveValleDrinkNight: “SEAHAWKS!(clap, clap) SEAHAWKS!(clap, clap)”

In his seven years as a Mariner, Bloomquist has stood as a litmus test for Mariner fandom. Anyone who likes Bloomquist is clueless, a cipher who still accepts hoary bromides about “doing the little things,” “hustle,” and “team play.” Hating Bloomquist has become the Mariner fan version of “Don’t trust anyone over 30,” a stance that gives you secret membership into a self-satisfied club of intelligent fans.

But that helpful social marker may be gone after this season–Bloomquist’s contract is up. Always seemingly happy in a utility role, Bloomquist has agitated for more playing time this season. He intimated that he’d taken the contract with the Mariners not because he accepted the limitations of his ability, but because he felt he had to do the smart thing for his family.

Now, it seems that Bloomquist is thinking about leaving the M’s if he can get a shot at a bigger role: “I like Seattle. I like the city; I like this organization. But there are things about the National League that I like, too. I don’t think it will be a very easy decision. Hopefully it will be a clear decision, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. First of all, I have to see if they want me back here. They have kind of hinted that we can talk a little bit.”

In the National League, Bloomquist’s skills–he can play all the infield and outfield positions and is a terrific basestealer–might earn him more playing time than they do in the American League.

I myself have long been a Willie-hater. Nothing’s more demoralizing than going to a Mariner game, watching Bloomquist take a terrible line on a fly ball, stumble after it, barely catch it, and then hear someone next to you rave about his incredible defense and say something like “why don’t they give Willie a shot?” Oof.

But I have to say I’ve warmed up to the guy in the past couple of years. As a basestealer, he really is quite useful in high-leverage, late-inning situations where an extra base could be the difference between winning and losing. And though he’s not much of a defender, his versatility is nice (if the M’s were smart enough to utilize it by, say, carrying an extra pitcher and some powerful bench bats.)

If Bloomquist did leave the M’s, his final stats would read thusly:

540 games, 1255 ABs, 6 HR, 98 RBI, .263 BA.

111 games at SS, 107 at 3B, 94 in CF, 86 at 2B, 50 in LF, 31 at 1B, 30 in RF, 20 at DH.