A bit more on Benny

From the Everett Herald there is this piece that explains how we with the Timber Rattlers feel about Benny Looper.

If there was anything Benny Looper enjoyed more about his job than evaluating baseball players, it was the people he worked with.

The Seattle Mariners' administrative assistants, scouts, player development staffers and minor league affiliates made every day a joy.

When new general manager Jack Zduriencik offered Looper a job that would take him away from those people, he said no thanks. Rather than stay with the Mariners in a lesser role, Looper -- who was vice president of player personnel -- decided to say good-bye Wednesday after 23 years with the organization.

"The sad part for me is the close friendships I've made," Looper said. "It's the people in the office who've been here 10-plus years, the scouts and people in player development, even the big league players who I've known since they were kids. Walking away from that is the saddest thing."

There is also this bit in there about other Mariner front office people with whom we in Wisconsin have had a long relationship. (in bold).

Assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas and international operations director Bob Engle will remain with the team, but the future remains unknown for two others, player development director Greg Hunter and minor league/scouting operations director Hide Sueyoshi.