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One of the things I love about Dilbert's blog is the focus on Systems vs Goals.  That, and the grandmasterly insights on weapons-grade persuasion techniques.  In the nineties we called them "power words," and even one of them could change a debate.  But Adams takes this to a whole new level.

See if you can spot ;- ) the game-changing WORD in this Dipoto quote yesterday:

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SEATTLE -- Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto acknowledged Friday that his team has "underperformed" over the last several weeks despite regaining many of its key injured players, but he fully believes the club is still capable of contending for a playoff spot and he remains open to adding pitching before the upcoming July 31 Non-Waiver Trade Deadline.

"It's disappointing because we had a nice stretch in the schedule that set us up to do some damage before we head to the All-Star break and we haven't taken advantage of it," Dipoto said. "We came out flat, we didn't show up, effectively. Frankly, from my job to [manager] Scott's [Servais'] job to the players, we have to do better than we've done."

... "We are playing in a league with 12 of 15 teams within five games of a playoff spot and we are one of them. We have as much talent as anybody else on that board and we've seen what this team can do when it's clicking on all cylinders. So as we move forward, whether it be for the second half of 2017 or 2018 and beyond, our goal is to continue to build onto the core of this team."

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Well, okay.  If you've UNDERPERFORMED, then what does that mean?  It means that, in the future, you have only to perform NORMALLY in order to obtain your goals.  Anybody can be their Normal Self.  It's what happens without you thinking about it, unless you're doing something to take yourself out of what's natural.

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On the subject of a Sonny Gray or a Sean Manaea or whoever, Dipoto continues to charge down the train track of master persuasion:

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"We're not going to empty both barrels to try to go out and find the ace to perch atop the rotation to take us to the promised land, because that guy doesn't exist," he said. "But there are two windows when you can access starting pitching, so your antenna have to be up. If it's out there and we can access it, we'll stay in tune with it. I can't promise you that we will or won't, but we will stay in tune with it."

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Dipoto has a team "as talented as anyone" that just has to perform "normally."  This team doesn't need a 2017 pennant savior; it would like to add pitching help.  This signals to the clubhouse that everything's going to be all right, and it signals to Billy Beane (or whoever) that it will be a fool's errand to attempt to rip the M's off for a starter.

It signals to Dr. Detecto that the right man is in charge of the Mariners' roster.

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ANDREW MOORE vs CHRIS SMITH

It says here that Chris Smith will be the oldest player in A's franchise history to start his first game; he's 36+ years old.  In A's franchise history?  Is that including the Connie Mack years?  Guess so.  The article says the previous record was Joe Pate in 1926, and Pate was three years younger.  LOL.  Either way, the point is that the A's have a #9 starter going.

We don't.

BABVA,

Dr D