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Seattle versus Sacramento

Moving a team is never easy. Fans from one city get isolated and cheated, while the others are elated. History is erased just like *that.* Memories become just that: something in the past. Seattle fans felt it four and a half years ago when our beloved Sonics, a staple in Seattle since 1967, were moved to Oklahoma City. Today, Sacramento feels it as the Kings are coming to Seattle.

Although the overall situation of a team moving from one city to another is the same, in truth, Seattle 2008 is completely different than Sacramento 2013.

The fans in Seattle got cheated by the city and the NBA. When Clay Bennett purchased the team in 2007, he promised to "keep the team in Seattle." He would work with David Stern to improve Key Arena and the Sonics would still be the Sonics. Later, emails were uncovered that revealed his intentions never were to keep the team in Seattle.

His intentions were to move the team to OKC all along. Despite all of his public reassurances, he was scheming behind our backs to move the team. Not only that, but he hired bad coaches and cleaned house to make the team as bad as possible and to lower local fan support. What's worse, is the NBA, and the rest of America, turned a blind eye.

Further emails revealed that Bennett and Stern were in this together, as they had developed a creepy "relationship" between each other. The NBA was not going to do anything to help keep the team in Seattle, and Stern repeatedly said that it was all up to the local government to take action.

The problem was, the local government refused to do anything. With Bennett refusing to invest any money in building a new arena, the government would have to do it. But mayor Greg Nickels didn't want to save the team, and the town council never bothered to raise money to build an arena.

The team was moved, with no action taken to keep the team in Seattle by the owners, the government, or the NBA. Just like that, the team with 40 years of history, a team that was created in the northwest, was gone.

Sacramento is slightly different.

David Stern is being more friendly to Sacramento than he was to Seattle. Granted, he acknowledges that he screwed up the Seattle situation in 2008 and wanted to give a team back to Seattle. But, he also didn't want to shaft Sactown as well.

The NBA has given far more time to Sacramento than it did to Seattle to try and keep the team there. Reports were surfacing as long as two and half years ago that the Kings would be moved. Seattle got maybe a year of warning.

The NBA was far more willing to dedicated more money to Sacramento to build a new arena. Also, Sacramento has a mayor that actually cares in Kevin Johnson.

Johnson has done anything to try and keep the team in Sacramento, and I salute him for it. He has repeatedly bought time, tried to get investors for a new ownership group, and has been willing to dedicate money for a new arena. The government and NBA is on the Kings' side to keep the team in Sacramento--unfortunately the owners are not on that same side.

The Maloofs, or as they're known in Sacramento, the Magoofs, have no intentions of keeping the team in California. They refuse to take any of the numerous offers to keep the team in Sacramento, or even the ones to move it to Anaheim. They want to sell the team, and just refuse to keep it local.

Ultimately, both fan bases got screwed. Sonics fans in 2008 got screwed by the government, the NBA, and the lying owners. Kings' fans have everything on their sides...but the owners. At least the Hansen group is being honest with Sacramento: they want to move the team to Seattle.

I am absolutely delirious that the Sonics are coming back, and the rest of the NBA is so as well. But, we also have to remember that in four years ago, our team was moved as well. Ours was stolen, while the Kings were sold, but the net result is the same.

Let's keep respectful of Kings' fans, and I hope for their sake that they can get a team in the future. Unfortunately, the best case scenario (Seattle gets an expansion team and Kings stay in CA) is not possible, so do whatever you can to keep the Kings' fans in your thoughts.

Go Sonics.

Concerns for Chip Kelly in the NFL

I expect Chip Kelly to become the next coach of the Cleveland Browns. Here's some reasons why I don't think he will have immediate success in the NFL:

Many people point to coaches like Pete Carroll, and say, "Well, he was a college coach that is experiencing success at the NFL level, so why can't Kelly do it?"

The problem is, Carroll had NFL experience previous to collegiate coaching, and he had that knowledge to draw from when he returned to the pros. Kelly obviously has not had professional experience, and that will be his biggest struggle.

All of a sudden, Kelly will not be the "big guy" on the team. In college, as ESPN analyst John Clayton said, the coach is the king--the monarch over everyone else. He is the main guy in charge, and he influences 95% of decisions. Meanwhile, in the NFL, the coach is merely a prince.

In the NFL, Kelly will have many rules that he has to follow from the NFLPA. If he wants to install his high-flying offense, it will take many practices and some time to develop. What's that? There's a limited number of padded practices he can have? He can't practice as much as college? He has restrictions on how much he can work the players? That's the NFLPA for you.

Then there's the obvious differences in the players. Oregon wins on speed, and everyone in the NFL is fast. Also, they are older. Sure, running tons and tons of plays works in college, but an older body breaks down. So, if Kelly has his normal pattern of running a ton of plays per game, his veterans will start to break down. Then, they can't practice during the week, which influences his ability to run his system.

Look, Kelly can win in the NFL. I just have a hard time believing that he can do it with the same system that he has in college. The biggest reason will be that he no longer have all the power of a college coach, which will be the biggest hindrance to his NFL success.

First half reaction to the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas

Here's some quick thoughts to a 18-17 (BSU) game at halftime: UW offense Bishop Sankey is a man possessed. He has truly turned into a great running back. He is demonstrating great patience, and is using his blocks well. Has 130+ yards already. Keith Price is playing better now and his rushing TD was just pure WANTING it more than the defense. Good resilience, and although he has had some bad throws, he us demonstrating good bounceback. He needs to look more to Austin Seferian-Jenkins, especially on third and short. I like moving Kasen to the slot. Obviously, don't keep him there, but it makes him more available for Price, and his one catch came from the slot. And say what you want about the offensive line on pass coverage, they need work. But on run blocking, they are doing amazing, getting to the second level and making it easy for Bishop. UW defense I don't think the defense has played that poorly, they had a lot of time on the field against the no huddle. They are defending the run well, need more backside pursuit and containment to avoid the cutbacks. They are playing a lot of zone defense, which I don't understand. UW this year thrived on man, so why zone now? Shaq Thompson particularly struggled to cover in zone early, leading to the first TD. BSU is picking on Marcus Peters, and they are not challenging Dez Trufant. Look for UW to try to help Peters more with safety and linebacker help. Getting off the field on third down is critical. When the defense stops BSU, it's great. But the long scoring drive was a product of too many third down conversions, which can kill stamina and endurance against the quick paced offense. Third down defense could determine this game. Overall, great resilience and fight for the Dawgs. Let's finish off 2012 with a comeback win.

Defensive Disaster Sparks Upset Win For Albany Over Washington

This was not supposed to happen.

When the Dawgs hosted the Albany Great Danes Tuesday night in Hec Ed, the intention was not to have a close game. Instead, Albany walked away with a stunning upset while the Huskies have some serious work to do before their upcoming trip to the east coast.

There are many factors to why the Huskies could not win. Offensively, they struggled. Losing Scott Suggs to an apparent concussion could be a crippling blow to a lineup lacking experience. Aziz N'Diaye was powerful at the beginning of the game, and while he recorded a double-double, struggled in the second half against physical defense. CJ Wilcox never was really involved in the offense. Collectively, they shot 58% from the free throw line.

However, this game was lost on defense. Or lack thereof.

Jacob Lati, one of Albany's two players to record 20 points or more (22 for him), was left open on the three point line all night, and made the Dawgs pay, shooting 6 for 12 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Miles Black penetrated the lane over and over again, his final of 20 points coming in a lay-in with 3.7 seconds left.

The Huskies could not adjust.

Albany's ball movement, and Washington could not recover. They were constantly trying to compensate for one person being out of position, and left wide open shooters (see Lati, Jacob). Black consistently went to his left hand and was able to get around the first defender, and there was no backside help to stop him. And how many times did Aziz N'Diaye hedge out on defense to defend a pick (what he is supposed to do), only for no one to help him and guard the man he had to vacate.

The dagger possessions for Albany were demonstrations of this. First, ball movement got the Huskies confused and out of position, and a wide-open Peter Hooley hit a three to give the Danes the lead. Then, down by one, Black drove around CJ Wilcox, the backside defense was agonizingly late, and Albany won on his layup.

The Huskies need to work on the defense if they want to be a contender this year. They have a TON of work to do before they travel to the east coast, where they typically struggle, to face Seton Hall, then either Rhode Island or Ohio State.

#uwmbb #UW #university of washington #Washington Huskies #Washington Huskies Basketball

The Daily Note 10/21/12

I attended the "Husky Spooktacular" today at Hec Ed. It was the UW women volleyball team taking an easy 3-0 win over Cal, followed by an introduction of the women's and men's basketball teams by the coaches and such. Here's some quotes I found interesting from Lorenzo Romar and company before a few hundred fans (disclaimer: these are not his exact words), broken up by my thoughts on his quote:

"You've probably heard about all we lost over the offseason and seen the predictions how we're going to finish in the bottom half of the league. Well, not to share any secrets (*voice gets quiet*), but don't listen to them."

I know every coach is going to speak positively about his team and how negative predictions are wrong. But, Romar seemed to actually believe it. He was very emphatic (in a quiet sort of way) that this team would be better than predictions, and he kept stressing the idea that we should follow this team.

"We have a great group of guys that are very coachable and work great together."

Hopefully more coachable than Tony Wroten, that's for sure.

"We want you to come out here and watch us...we're gonna do special things this year."

Again, it could just be words, but he truly seems convinced that this team can perform.

(Regarding the freshmen) "This group has a great opportunity...to come in and contribute immediately."

I'm curious to see if this will be one of the famous depth teams that Romar is so good at coaching...teams that can play 11 or 12 guys every game. Freshmen that are good would help this.

(Regarding the sophomores) "Very much improved."

Considering they did not play much, this is to be expected.

(Regarding the junior class) "We got a guy that probably is...nah, he IS one of the best shooters in America. You can figure out who that is."

These words of course are referencing CJ Wilcox, who I cannot wait to see in 2012-13. He is expected to have a more central role in the team, and will be one of the players the Huskies rely on.

(Regarding the senior class) "They know how to win...I know they want to go out with a bang."

Then, a word from Abdul Gaddy:

"We're getting better each day. We want to keep the winning tradition here."

A lot of positive words, let's hope it translates to an exciting season. The first game is Wednesday, in an exhibition versus Western Washington.

#Washington Huskies #university of washington #huskies #Washington Huskies Basketball #uwmbb #uw #Abdul Gaddy #cj wilcox #lorenzo romar

The Daily Note 10/18/12

Lots on my mind after that Seahawks game.

What stood out to me the most was playcalling by Darrell Bevell during that second half. Sure, the five dropped passes is killer and inexcusable. The defense looked awful porous against the run.

But what was up with the playcalling?

I understand that the Seahawks was dominating on the run game. Every run was pretty much around 5 or more yards. But, that does not mean that they had to fully commit to the run.

I understand that the identity of the offense is run first, pass second. I like that. But, this was run first, run second, then pass. Worse than that, any pass was a play-action pass that was hoping for the home run ball.

What happened to the midrange passing game? Sydney Rice and Russell Wilson have developed a little chemistry. But, any of the passes to him was a simple hook route that became very predictable.

Braylon Edwards? Constantly searching for the home run ball that San Fran of course knew was coming. What happened to slants? Crossing routes? Tight end routes? Screens? There was nothing.

Wilson's numbers look horrible in the second half, because the excessive running did not allow Wilson to develop a rhythm, and the route designs did not allow the same. Just a frustrating game AGAIN. Dropping to 0-3 on the road in this division could be our downfall at the end of the season.

Side note: Golden Tate had a horrible game. He cost the offense a critical first down with a dropped pass and on a second down play late, failed to even get the slightest block on a 49er on a critical bubble screen.

#seattle #seattle seahawks #seahawks

The Daily Note 10/9/12

The final part in a four-part player-by-player breakdown of the Mariners. Today I cover the great bullpen that has been a constant under Jack Z's realm.

See part 1 here, covering the infielders.

See part 2 here, covering the outfielders.

See part 3 here, covering the starting pitchers.

The Impressive

Oliver Perez

Perez got the call up in the middle of the season, after signing a minor league contract prior to the season. All he did was maintain a 2.12 ERA in 33 games, with 24 strikeouts in 29.2 IP. The lefty only gave up one home run all year, and continually pitched out of trouble. He was a veteran arm that manager Eric Wedge used constantly, and could pitch multiple nights in a row. He started out as a filler for the bullpen, but ended up being a stud for Wedge. He has no contract for next year, and it is unclear whether he will be back or not.

Perez's value to the 2012 Mariners: B+

Value to the 2013 team: C

Tom Wilhelmsen

Wilhelmsen was one of the best closers of the league this year. Thing is, he didn't even start as the closer. He was slated to be the setup man in the 8th inning, but won over the closer spot and never looked back. He converted 29 saves in 34 opportunities, with a 2.50 ERA in 73 games. Opponents batted .202 against him, and he had 87 strikeouts on the year. His fastball was continually in the upper 90s, and he developed a nasty 12-6 curve this year that made hitters look silly. He only had one or two bad stretches throughout the year, and was another one of Wedge's workhorses this year. The former bartender is not signed through next year, but expect him back as the closer in 2013.

Wilhemsen's value to the 2012 Mariners: A

Value to the 2013 team: A

Charlie Furbush

We saw Furbush's potential last year when we was used as the sixth starter late in the season. However, a move back to the bullpen has paid dividends. The strong left appeared in 48 games, and had a .272 ERA with a .174 opponent average. He had 53 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, which was incredible. He did not have super amazing pitches, but he located them well and his curveball always froze hitters. He is not signed through next year, and it remains to be seen whether he returns.

Furbush's value to the 2012 Mariners: B+

Value to the 2013 team: B

Lucas Luetge

Luetge was a Rule 5 draft pick from Milwaukee, meaning that he had to make the team in order to remain a Mariner. He not only made the big league club, but didn't give up a run until June. All in his rookie season. Can you say WOW? He appeared in 63 games and struggled more to the end of the year, finishing with a 3.98 ERA and a .248 opponent average. But as a rookie, his ability to simply get batters out was out of this world. Expect him back in 2013.

Luetge's value to the 2012 Mariners: B+

Value to the 2013 team: B+

The Middle of the Road Guys

Shawn Kelley

Shawn had injury troubles left over from previous years, and never really got started. He appeared in 47 games in 2012, with a 3.25 ERA. As a veteran, Wedge was not afraid to use him in clutch situations, and Kelley did just fine in them. Overall, it was a very bland year for him though; he'll look to get back to his 2010 form if he returns next year.

Kelley's value to the 2012 Mariners: B

Value to the 2013 team: B-

Stephen Pryor

The hard throwing right hander made his big league debut in June and continually improved, which shows promise for the future. Overall, in 26 games he had a 3.91 ERA with 27 strikeouts, and showed a big arm. His fastball touched 99 continually, and once he develops other pitches he could be unstoppable. He was used in many clutch situations, so he is used to pressure. Expect him to continue to improve in 2013.

Pryor's value to the 2012 Mariners: B

Value to the 2013 team: B+

Josh Kinney

Kinney was another veteran that had kind of bounced around the league before getting promoted during the middle of the year. He was used in 35 games, and ended up with a 3.94 ERA with a .209 opponent average. He had a decent fastball but a nasty slider that locked up many hitters. Consistency was the only thing that held him back, but overall he produced this year. Wedge was not afraid to use him in high-pressure situations, and it will be interesting to see if they bring him back in 2013.

Kinney's value to the 2012 Mariners: B-

Value to the 2013 team: C+

Carter Capps

The young, hard-throwing right-hander started the season in AA ball. He got called up to AAA, and only pitched a few days there before making his major league debut. In Yankee Stadium. Welcome to the big show, kid. His 100 mph fastball got the attention of many, and he improved a lot over his 18 appearances. His control got better, and he started to mix in some secondary pitches. His ERA was a steady 3.96, and it will be interesting to see if he starts out next year on the big league squad. He has the potential to be a future bullpen stud.

Capps' value to the 2012 Mariners: C+

Value to the 2013 team: B

Steve Delabar

Delabar, the former high-school teacher, would be traded to Toronto in July for Eric Thames. As a Mariner, he appeared in 34 games, maintaining a 4.17 ERA with a .177 average against him. His fastball had zip, and his secondary stuff was effective. His problem was the consistency of his control. When he could control his pitches and stay off the middle of the plate, he was unhittable, and actually had the rare 4 strikeouts in one inning for Toronto. However, he often would throw a fastball right down the middle of the plate, belt high, and watch it get deposited into the right field bleachers. He will not be a Mariner next year.

Delabar's value to the 2012 Mariners: C-

Value to the 2013 team: F-

The Busts

Brandon League

The Los Angeles Dodgers traded for him in July, and took away a growing problem that League presented. He started the year as the closer after a pretty great season last year, but lost the closing job and was very inconsistent. Converting only 9 of 15 save opportunities never helps, and although he has some of the nastiest pitches in the majors, controlling it always is his undoing. He will not be a Mariner next year.

League's value to the 2012 Mariners: D

Value to the 2013 team: F-

George Sherrill

When the M's signed him, it kinda felt like they were just trying to relive the middle 00's when he was last here. They gave him a one year contract of $1.1 million to be a veteran setup lefty. What they got was 2 appearances (1.1 innings pitched) where he gave up 2 home runs, 4 earned runs, 6 hits, and a tidy 27.00 ERA. With an opponent batting average of .667. Then, he needed Tommy John surgery. I know the injury can't be blamed on him, but the fact that he got a million dollars for every inning ($34,275 PER PITCH) and, well, sucked, makes him a bust.

Sherrill's value to the 2012 team: F

Value to the 2013 team: F-

Well, thanks for reading all four parts. Maybe you agree, maybe you don't; that's the beauty of sports and opinion. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated, as these take quite a long time to write! Share it with friends, family, and be sure to follow me on Twitter (@GeeoffGrembo) for more (shameless self-plug). Looking forward to 2013, when maybe, just maybe, the Mariners can produce a winning season.

#seattle #Seattle Mariners #mariners

The Daily Note 10/4/12

Part 3 of the Mariners' player-by-player breakdown of 2012. See Part 1 here, and Part 2 here. Its the starting pitchers today!

The Impressive

Felix Hernandez

A weak late-August and September took away what was a Cy Young-caliber season for the King. He had a 7.07 ERA in September, but overall his season was amazing. 13-9 with a 3.06 ERA. 232 IP. 1.14 WHIP, and 223 Ks with a .241 opponent batting avg. Oh yeah, he threw that little thing called the perfect game this year. He was absolutely unbeatable from June to mid-August, and his performance in all the close games was impeccable. He did this all with a great attitude; constantly thanking his fans, and being very humble through it all. He truly is the King, and IS the hero of the Seattle Mariners. He is signed through 2014.

Hernandez's value to the 2013 Mariners: A+

Value to the 2013 team: A+

Jason Vargas

Vargas was the number 2 pitcher all year, and had a kind-of breakout year. He has shown in previous years that he had the talent to be a major league pitcher, but always faded late. He did not have that dropoff this year, and is really one of the best pitchers in the American League because he doesn't have tremendous stuff. He is a command pitcher that can think, and he uses it to his advantage. His fastball is decent, his curve is average but his change-up is plus material, and he uses it to keep hitters off balance. Vargas was 13-11 with a 3.85 ERA, with a 1.18 WHIP and a .245 opponent average. He is signed through next year, and all indications point that he will be here for even longer than that.

Vargas's value to the 2012 Mariners: A

Value to the 2013 Mariners: B+

Hisashi Iwakuma

Remember how Iwakuma started in the bullpen after an erratic spring? Remember how he didn't make his first appearance until the end of April? Remember how he didn't start until injuries forced it in June? I barely do, because since he came in, he was impressive. Iwakuma was 9-5 with a 3.16 ERA, but also had a 2.55 ERA since the All-Star Break. He had a decent fastball and plus slider, but just located all his pitches well and pitched incredibly well out of trouble. He held some prolific offenses (see: Angels) to minimal output, and consistently gave the M's a chance to win games. He is a free agent next year, and hopefully they resign him to be a solid #3 or #4 pitcher.

Iwakuma's value to the 2012 Mariners: B

Value to the 2013 team: B

Erasmo Ramirez

The rookie was highly impressive, despite starting the year in the bullpen, experiencing a demotion, and having injury problems in the middle of the year. He always had a huge smile, but had the talent to back it up. His fastball zipped past hitters, and his offspeed stuff kept hitters off balance. In 8 starts, he was 1-3 with a 3.36 ERA with 48 strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP and a .217 opponents BA. He is not signed past this year, but should be back for 2013.

Ramirez's value to the 2012 Mariners: B

Value to the 2013 team: B+

The Middle of the Road Guys

Blake Beavan

Beavan really had another roller coaster ride in 2012. He struggled early and often, and was demoted during the middle of the year. When he returned, his command was better, and he pitched to the best of his ability again. He has average stuff at best, and has to completely rely on his command to pitch well. He has the talent to be a solid back-end of the rotation kind of guy, but nothing more than that. Expect him back in 2013.

Beavan's value to the 2012 Mariners: B-

Value to the 2013 Mariners: B

Kevin Millwood

Millwood came in as a veteran that was just a stopgap at the end of the rotation, and pretty much stayed there the entire year. He had some struggles originally, but had many great highlights as well. He had the one-hit complete game shutout of Colorado, and started the combined-no-hitter versus the Dodgers. He served as a veteran presence in the locker room, and really did not lose too many games for the M's after April. I would not expect him back in 2013, thanks for your service, Kevin.

Millwood's value to the 2012 Mariners: B-

Value to the 2013 team: F

The Bust

Hector Noesi

Noesi came in as the other guy in the Pineda-Montero trade. He was rumored to have an above average fastball, with great command. That was not to be. He had a couple of good starts, and clearly has the pitches. His downfall is his ability to close out hitters...or lack thereof. This problem became progressively worse throughout the year, and his spot start in September was an epitamy of it. He would get to 2 strikeouts and/or 2 outs, then throw a pitch in the middle of the plate. There would be a hit, and all of a sudden one pitch away from getting out of trouble turned into 3 runs. This happened way too much, and until he can finish hitters, he won't pitch in the majors. He doesn't need to strike them out; just waste a pitch or whatever, but keep it OFF the plate. A 5.82 ERA and 2-12 record in 22 starts was well deserved for Noesi, who likely will be back next year.

Noesi's value to the 2012 Mariners: D-

Value to the 2013 team: C+

#seattle #Seattle Mariners #mariners

The Daily Note 10/3/12

Its the Mariners' post-season breakdown, part dos! See the first part here.

This time, the outfielders get my analysis. Without further ado, lets go player-by-player!

The Impressive

CF/LF Michael Saunders

Saunders was in his "prove it or you're out" year. After a few years in the majors of limited success, this was going to be his last chance. With a completely revamped approach and a shorter swing, he took full advantage of that chance. He finally turned into the ballplayer I knew was trapped in his athletic frame, and his confidence finally climbed. His defense, never an issue, was stellar, and his hitting finally turned around. Sure, it might not seem like great numbers, but a .247 average with a .306 OBP and a .738 OPS is a huge turnaround from previous years. Along the way, he collected 19 HR and 21 SB, almost being the first 20-20 player for the M's in a few years. It was his first full season at the Majors, and that can explain his dropoff in the second half of the year. But overall, Saunders showed that there is a good chance he can be an everyday player in this league, and although he is eligible for arbitration in 2013, expect him back next year.

Saunders' value to the 2012 Mariners: B-

Value to the 2013 team: B

LF Eric Thames

Ok, I'll admit it, Thames' numbers aren't great. But, since coming over from the Blue Jays in late July, Thames made an impact with the Mariners and showed that he could be a potential starting left fielder. He hit a monster home run in his first day at Safeco, and had several game-winning hits in August. His average at .220 wasn't impressive, but he had a decent SLG at .439. He had 6 HR with the M's, and his defense was average. September was a struggle for him, but he had an impact with this team in August, and it certainly impressed me. He is not signed for 2013, but should be back considering he was traded for in July.

Thames' value to the 2012 Mariners: B

Value to the 2013 team: C+

CF Franklin Gutierrez

Did anyone have worse luck than Guti over the past few years? First, it was an offseason surgery last year. Then it was a weird stomach/digestive problem last year. Then, a tear early this year. Then, when he finally returns to the M's, he gets hit in the head on a pickoff attempt and has to miss a few weeks due to a concussion. He had every reason to play poorly considering how little he has played over the past few years, and I feel horrible for his inability to stay healthy. Yet, he played respectable, and despite only playing in 40 games, had a decent impact on the team. His defense was impeccable as usual, but he also batted .260 with a .309 OBP, with 4 HR and 10 doubles. He looks like he is ready to return to the for he had in 2009, when he batted .270-.280ish. He is signed through 2013.

Gutierrez's value to the 2012 Mariners: C

Value to the 2013 team: B+

The "Middle of the Road" Guys

LF Trayvon Robinson

Robinson was called up in the second half of the year, and played a little better than previous call ups. He was exceptional in the field, with seemingly a diving catch every night. His offense left a little to be desired, as he made many rookie mistakes and seemed overwhelmed with premiere pitchers. He batted .221 but had a respectable .294 OBP, with 3 HR in 46 games. He is not signed through 2013, and its hard to say whether he will be offered a minor league contract for next year.

Robinson's value to the 2012 team: C

Value to the 2013 team: D

LF/CF/RF Casper Wells

For awhile, Wells was the best hitter on the team back in July. Then, pitchers adjusted to him, and he was demoted back to AAA. He has shown potential, both last year and his hot streak this year. Also, his defense is decent, and he has an above-average arm. He had a decent September to balance things out, but needs to show more consistency to be an everyday player. He batted .228 with a .698 OPS and 10 HR in 93 games, but had 80 strikeouts. He is not signed through 2013.

Wells' value to the 2012 Mariners: B-

Value to the 2013 team: B-

The Busts

LF Carlos Peguero

The Peguero experiment did not work the second time around. He is such a big hitter, and when he connects the ball flies a LONG way. Unfortunately, he does not connect. A shorter swing kind of helped, and he seemed to have a little more plate discipline than previous years. Unfortunately, he still has gigantic holes in his swing that pitchers exploit. In 17 games, he batted .179 with 2 HR and 28 strikeouts. He is eligible for arbitration in 2013, but his strikeout rate is too high to merit a return in my mind.

Peguero's value to the 2012 Mariners: D

Value to the 2013 team: F

LF Mike Carp

Carp was the American League Rookie of the Month in 2011. Hard to believe, considering his performance in 2012. True, he was oft-injured, and never really got going. But, a .213 average with 5 HR in 59 games was marginally average. He did have a .312 OBP, but never achieved the consistency he had back in last August. He likely will be back for another go next year.

Carp's value to the 2012 Mariners: D

Value to the 2013 team: C

RF Ichiro Suzuki

The biggest move was when Ichiro, Mr. Seattle, was traded to the New York Yankees in July. See my story on that here. And yes, I know that Ichiro has returned to pre-2010 Ichiro in New York; spraying hits around and doing a great job of getting on base. And for this, I am truly happy for him; he deserves to end his career on a championship-caliber team. But, with the Mariners, he stunk. He started third in the batting lineup, then was moved to leadoff and quickly became the worst leadoff hitter in the Majors. A .261 avg and a .288 OBP was career lows for him, and his defense was in a steady decline as well. He will not return to the team in 2013, and I hope his career ends well.

Ichiro's value to the 2012 Mariners: F Value to the 2013 team: N/A

Well, there's the outfielders. Stay tuned over the next few days for the pitchers, and thanks for reading!

#seattle #Seattle Mariners #mariners

The Daily Note 10/2/12

The Mariners' season breakdown: part uno. The infielders!

Well, with one and a third games to go, its time to go player-by-player and take a look at the good and the bad for the M's in 2012. The value for the 2012 team is how much they meant to the Mariners in 2012, the value for the 2013 team is how important they are in terms of whether the team is good or bad next year.

The Impressive

C John Jaso

Was anyone more clutch this year? Jaso came in from Tampa Bay to be a backup catcher, and quickly turned into the best hitter for the Mariners. His professional manner at the plate (wait for his pitch, then put a good swing on it) proved to be very successful late in games, and Jaso was a key pinch-hitter multiple times. His defense was decent behind the plate, and his performance turned heads around the league. He finishes with a .275 average in 106 games, with a shiny .393 OBP and a .456 slugging percentage. He is not signed to a contract past this season, but is available for arbitration in 2016.

Jaso's value to the 2012 Mariners: A

Value to 2013 team: B+

3B Kyle Seager

Seager was the breakout star for the M's in 2012, and is the one player from the youth that seems to shout "solid, everyday player." Seager battled just to make the team, and an exceptional spring put him on the bench behind Chone Figgins. Figgins of course struggled, and once Seager stepped into the starting role, he never relinquished it. He went through a rough patch in the middle of the year that dropped his average to around .240, but a strong second half boosted them to a very solid first year: .256 average, 20 HRs, 84 RBIs, all in 153 games. Did I mention that for most of the year, he was also leading the league in 2-out RBIs? Seager also proved his worth defensively, having a .961 fielding percentage and an ability to also play second base. He is my MVP for the Mariners in 2012. His contract expires this year, but expect him back in 2013.

Seager's value to the 2012 Mariners: A+

Value to 2013 team: A

The Middle-of-the-Road Guys

C Jesus Montero

Montero, the prized acquisition in the offseason, actually had a decent first full year. He, like Seager, struggled in the middle part of the season, but picked it back up in the second half. His numbers aren't spectacular, but aren't bad: .256 average, 15 HRs, 58 RBIs, and a .383 SLG pct. The key to Montero is where he is hitting the ball: he is not a pull hitter. When he hits the ball hard, it is up the middle and to the opposite field. In the middle of the year, he was continually rolling over the ball and sending weak ground balls to the pull side of the infield; he started playing better when he was sending it the other way. His defense was better than people give him credit for; his speed may be atrocious, but only had 3 errors and 7 passed balls in 55 games. He threw out 10 of 53 stolen base tries, and managed games well, highlighted by the combined perfect game he caught for. Again, his contract expires before next year, but he should be back in 2013.

Montero's value to the 2012 Mariners: B

Value to the 2013 team: A

2B Dustin Ackley

Ackley, to many, disappointed. Many people forget that this was his first full year in the majors, however. His defense at second (and a little at first) was impeccable, and he has the potential to be a good leadoff batter. His front shoulder tends to fly open at the plate, which is a habit he needs to break. This little habit held him back, and he was limited to a .229 average with 12 HR and 50 RBIs. His OBP was marginally ok at .296, but this was better than other leadoff batters for the M's. Ackley just needs to make the adjustments at the plate, and once he does his value will increase. He is signed through 2013.

Ackley's value to the 2012 Mariners: C+

Value to the 2013 team: B

3B Alex Liddi

Liddi had a great week in May, capped off with a grand slam against Texas. However, the holes in his swing were quickly exposed. The 24 year old has yet to play a full season, and the 38 games he did play in were a mix of bad and good. He had 3 HRs and 10 RBIs, and demonstrated power back in May, but the rest of the time he struggled in the majors, and his defense was average at best. However, the potential is there as we saw earlier in the season, and maybe he can turn into a solid backup to Seager. He is not signed through 2013, but likely will sign a minor league contract.

Liddi's value to the 2012 team: C-

Value to the 2013 team: C+

SS Carlos Triunfel

Triunfel finally made his major league debut in 2012, and the 22 year old did ok in 9 games. He batted .222, with a couple doubles and an RBI. He hit the ball hard on occasion, and went through the normal struggles of a September call-up. As he continues to develop, it would be nice if he could serve as a shortstop that could provide more offense than is currently starting. His contract was purchased by the Mariners in 2011, so he'll be back next year.

Triunfel's value to the 2012 team: C-

Value to the 2013 team: C-

SS Munenori Kawasaki

Mune was fun to watch throughout the season, even if his value was low. He came here as a clone to Ichiro; his batting stance and manners were almost identical to Ichi, and Ichiro was his idol. Mune loved to dance in the dugout, and was always the energizer bunny. Unfortunately, he was a backup at best and batted .196 in 60 games. However, his role as a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement was important, and overall it was fun to watch him in America. His contract expires at the end of the year, and I don't think he'll return in 2013.

Kawasaki's value to the 2012 Mariners: C-

Value to the 2013 team: F

SS Brendan Ryan

Ryan presents the ultimate conundrum for GM Jack Z. Ryan is the best shortstop in the Majors defensively, which is a huge plus. However, he batted .194 on the year with a .277 OBP and a .278 SLG, and despite a decent July (batting .265), he never got near the Mendoza line. His defense is THAT good that he continues to start, and although he LOOKS decent at the plate, the numbers say otherwise. His contract expires at the end of the year, its hard to say if he will return.

Ryan's value to the 2012 Mariners: C

Value to the 2013 team: B-

The "Busts"

C Miguel Olivo

Olivo is a veteran, which was lacking this year on the roster. But, a veteran should not hit .222 with a .239 OBP and a .650 OPS. He played in less games than last year (87 in 2012), but the 12 HR and 29 RBIs were not good enough offensively. He is dependable behind the plate and can take a beating, and threw out runners 30.9% of the time. If the Mariners choose to do so, they can exercise an option for 2013, but otherwise he will be a free agent.

Olivo's value to the 2012 Mariners: D+

Value to the 2013 team: D-

1B Justin Smoak

This was supposed to be Smoak's year. In his second full season, this was finally going to be his breakout year. However, a too-long swing a declining confidence resulted in a demotion to AAA and boobirds about. His September has brought some hope for next year (batting .325 with a .409 OBP, slugging .571 with 5 HR in that month and 11 RBI) but his overall numbers were way too low for a "power" first baseman (.215 avg, 19 HR, 51 RBI, .287 OBP). He will have a short leash next year (I expect the M's to resign him), and I HOPE that the success he had in September translates to next year.

Smoak's value to the 2012 Mariners: D

Value to the 2013 team: B-

3B Chone Figgins

Can we just get rid of him? Figgins led off the batting lineup at the beginning of the season, lost his job to Seager, and only played in 15 games after the All-Star Break. He batted .181 with 48 strikeouts in 166 at bats, and a measly .533 OPS. He is signed through 2013, but I hope he gets released and I expect him to be released.

Figgins' value to the 2012 Mariners: F-

Value to the 2013 team: F-

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for part two-four the next few days!

#seattle #Seattle Mariners #mariners

The Daily Note 9/25/12

Justin Smoak sure likes to make things confusing, doesn't he?

Smoak was the prized chip in the Cliff Lee deal, and struggled immediately. He was sent down to AAA for the summer, but came back during the September of that same year (2010) and was on fire, batting well over .300 with many doubles.

With that success, many expected 2011 to be his breakout year. It was not to be, as he only batted .234 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. This year was expected to be his make-or-break year.

For the most part, he broke. Smoak struggled all year, hitting under .200, and was demoted again.

But, in September, he has started to actually, well, HIT again. In September, he is batting .345 (19 for 55). He has hit 2 HR to bring his season total to 17, and he has hit safely in 7 of his last 9 games.

He appears to have more confidence in the plate, and is definitely squaring the ball up more. But, he needs to prove the consistency is there.

For the season, he is batting .210, and while he has improved, overall this is not what you expect for a first baseman that should be hitting in the middle of the lineup. Mike Carp isn't exactly scaring anyone as his backup, but Smoak's leash is extremely short.

Had Smoak not improved, I would say it would be surprising if he played much next year. Now, with the improvement, maybe he can turn into that everyday player we hope he is. Right now, he is extremely two-faced: is he the guy that has dominated September, or the guy that strikes out way too much?

Smoak controls his own destiny for his career, and if he can prove that this recent success is not a fluke, maybe he can turn into the ballplayer we traded for.

#daily note #seattle #Seattle Mariners #mariners #justin smoak

The Daily Note 9/24/12

Obviously, the last play is going to be the most controversial play possibly in the history of the NFL.

So, I'm going to ignore it for now.

The defense playedincredibletonight. They held Green Bay, who arguably have the best offense in the NFL, to 86 yards in the first half. They sacked Aaron Rodgerseight times in the first half. Chris Clemons hadfour, count 'em,four! sacks in the first half. Bruce Irvin showed his potential by having two sacks. They made one of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks in the league very uncomfortable, and held that offense scoreless. That was nothing short of amazing.

In the second half, they were pretty good still. Considering how long they were on the field, probably at least 22 minutes of the second half, to only hold the Packers to 12 points is very respectable. They didn't sack Rodgers, and gave up some yards on the ground, but they kept this team in the game, and are my MVPs tonight.

The offense looked uncomfortable all night long. Russell Okung did not look ready to block Clay Matthews, and Russell Wilson seemed to run more into trouble than away from it. Marshawn Lynch finished with 98 yards on 25 carries, and while he didn't really have any negative rushes, he didn't have any long runs. The receivers never got separation to help out Wilson. The first TD to Tate was spot-on, but other than that the offense was pretty sleepy.

Ok, now to the lightning rod that is the refs. All season long, they have been under enormous controversy, but this makes that all pale in comparison. They called 24 penalties for over 250 yards, which is way too many. Pass interference calls are a complete joke. And the last play...

Obviously, Golden Tate committed offensive pass interference. Obviously, the Packers had "more" possession of the final pass, but the rules state that Tate made the catch. If that play doesn't happen on the last play, its definitely an interception. Of course, if the Packers' DB just does his job and simply knocks the ball down, this never happens. But, I honestly don't feel as though we won this game.

A lot of people are trying to justify it with Super Bowl XL. But, even as a dedicated fan, I tend to look at things from an analytical perspective. The Hawks should not have won this game. Simple enough. We. Did. Not. Win.

It is a travesty to the NFL. It is a travesty to both the Packers and the Seahawks. I honestly have sympathy for them, because they should've won. I also have sympathy for Tate, because no one will say that he properly won the game for the Seahawks.

Bring the regular refs back. This game clinches it. It is a HUGE shame.

In short, the defense was amazing. The offense got bailed out. And I hope we don't play the Packers anytime soon again.

Good night.

#seattle #seattle seahawks #seahawks

The Daily Note 9/23/12

Sunday edition of the Daily Note, cuz I'm bored.

Nothing is a given in football anymore. Nothing. No win is guaranteed, and no game can be labelled as a cakewalk.

A week after an article surfaced on Yahoo! that Colorado's football team was the worst team in the nation, the Buffaloes scored 21 points in the final quarter to stun Washington State, 35-34 (ha! they Coug-ed it again). Then, after another article on Yahoo! stated that the Oakland Raiders were the worst team in the NFL, they scored 13 points in the 4th quarter and won 34-31 over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Two things can be learned here: Yahoo! has possibly the worst evaluators of talent on the internet, and no game is a given anymore.

In the NFL, a quick glance at the standings reveals the parity within the league. Only three teams (Arizona, Atlanta, and Houston) have undefeated records, and only two have no wins (Cleveland and New Orleans). Every other team is in the very neutral 2-1 or 1-2, which says a lot about the quality of talent that is equal across the league.

College football in the west is not a cakewalk anymore, either. Pac-12 teams have gone 4-2 when facing teams outside the conference that are ranked in the USA Today Top 25. Of those two losses, California played Ohio State extremely well in Columbus (then Washington stunk it up versus LSU). The Pac 12 is arguably the second best conference in football right now, and even lowly Colorado can come up and bite you.

It is a marvelous time to be a football fan, because there is so much parity. Nothing can be taken for granted, and Yahoo! should stop running articles on the worst teams.

#daily note

The Daily Note 9/20/12

The first post from the University of Washington!

Anyway, there was a lot of reaction from the fine levied on Seahawks' WR Golden Tate today, and rightfully so. If you have been living under a rock the last week, he was fined $21,000 after the hit right here.

But, he was not penalized for the hit.

Mack Strong (former Seahawks' FB) brought up this point, and I think this is what annoys me most about the fine. If the officials, replacement or not, did not think that the hit warranted a flag in real time, then why should it require a much larger fine post-game?

The actual hit, in my humble opinion, was clean. Tate's target area was the chest, and when he exploded up, the helmets made slight contact with each other. For those who argue that Sean Lee was "defenseless," I think that is BS. Lee did not have his chest exposed, like receivers who would be reaching up have. He was just running, and if he can't keep his head on a swivel, then he deserves to be hit like that.

This fine is an overreaction to a clean hit, and while I agree that the NFL should monitor head hits closely, this should be an example of how to hit hard cleanly. Dave Wyman, former Seahawks LB, wrote a great article here. This fine is a joke, and I salute Golden Tate for an aggressive, hard, but CLEAN hit.

#seattle #seahawks #seattle seahawks #golden tate

The Daily Note 9/19/12

You know what I've learned in the past 29 innings of baseball the Mariners and Orioles have played in the last 27 hours? That you need to hit with runners in scoring position in order to win. Actually, I knew that a while ago. But, someone needs to tell the M's that.

After all, they went 0-17 with RISP last night. Then, something like 0-5 or 0-6 tonight (I wasn't counting officially).

Doesn't take a genius that you're not going to score with those numbers. Especially in extra innings.

Keep in mind that there could have been even more runners in scoring position. Bunting mistakes (popouts 3 times in the last two games) have prevented runners being moved over.

Anyway, 2 intriguingly long games. 2 incredibly frustrating games. Goodnight.

#seattle #mariners #Seattle Mariners

The Daily Note 9/18/12

One.

Such a crucial number for the Seahawks this year. Why? That's the number of interceptions Russell Wilson has through two games. Arguably, he has zero interceptions, as the only INT he threw was late in the first half against Arizona on a hail mary-type play.

As a rookie, this is tremendous. Protecting the ball and winning the turnover battle is Pete Carroll's mantra, and Wilson has done so thus far against two pretty decent defenses.

Arizona has a great defense. A week after blitzing Wilson into oblivion, they tortured Tom Brady in New England, holding the Patriots to 18 points and holding Brady to a 79.6 QB rating.

Yet Wilson, despite all the pressure and the less-than-stellar numbers (18 for 34, for 153 yards with 1 TD) did not make any stupid mistakes and did not turn the ball over in crucial situations.

Then Dallas rolls in, and Wilson once again keeps possession. His numbers were average at best (15 for 20 for 151 yards and 1 TD), but the key is no interceptions. In the physical running style that the Hawks play, the number one key for the quarterback is to simply not turn the ball over.

Look, as Wilson gains experience, his numbers will improve. But, if he can continue to avoid turning the ball over, he will prove to be one of the more productive rookie QBs in 2012.

#seattle #seattle seahawks #seahawks #russell wilson

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