New 2014 Seattle Mariners Projections

The Seattle Mariners have made headlines this off season, by signing Robinson Cano to a 10 year $240 million dollar contract. They have also added Corey Hart and Logan Morrison (@CupOfLoMo) via trade. So the question is "Just how good will the Mariners become after these signings?". With the Angels trading away Mark Trumbo to the Arizona Diamondbacks the Angels are now down to three big names; Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, and Albert Pujols. But out of those three players one produced MVP type numbers and the Angels finished in 3rd place last with a 78-84 record (their first losing season since 2003).

Now, the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers are the only competition the Mariners really have in the American League West. The Houston Astros had some success against the Mariners last year but finished with the worst record in baseball (51-111). So, really what chances do the Mariners have this year of being a playoff bound team? The answer is......I think they have a fair shot at becoming a Wild Card team if not the winners of the AL West.

Last year the Mariners finished second in baseball in home runs with 188! Cant remember the last time the Mariners were ever in the top 5 in home runs. Now the Mariners have had a couple players that will not be returning this year including Kendrys Morales, Carter Capps (traded to Miami for Morrison), Raul Ibanez, and Franklin Gutierrez.

With the current players that are on the active roster this is my projected starting lineup and starting rotation.

SS Brad Miller
CF Dustin Ackley/Nick Franklin
2B Robinson Cano
DH Corey Hart
3B Kyle Seager
1B Justin Smoak
C Mike Zunino
RF Michael Saunders
LF Abraham Almonte

Bench
Logan Morrison
Willie Bloomquist
Carlos Triunfel
Jesus Sucre

Starting Rotation
Felix Hernandez
Hisashi Iwakuma
Taijuan Walker
James Paxton
Erasmo Ramirez

Bullpen
Charlie Furbush
Blake Beaven
Lucas Luetge
Yoervis Medina
Tom Wilhelmsen (hate to say it)
Stephen Pryor
Danny Farquhar

Now, Nick Franklin im not sure if he or Dustin Ackley will be on the Opening Day roster spring training is going to see both Franklin and Ackley battle for the final roster spot. Franklin might even be traded before then, but I do believe that the M's will try the Ackley experiment on him and give him a shot out in the outfield. Seeing Wilhelmsen on the roster is not something Mariners fans want to see but who else is there?

The Mariners did make a great pickup in Willie Bloomquist, with his utility ability and veteran experience in the clubhouse the front office signed him to a 2 year $5.8 million dollar contract and again I believe the front office made a smart choice in signing Willie and not resigning Raul Ibanez. Ibanez had a great season last year but during the second half of the season went down hill.

The Mariners pitching staff though is hoping for a full and healthy season from Stephen Pryor, with his 100mph fastball he and Danny Farquhar will be battling who will be the full time closer. As you remember Farquhar had a great rookie season after The Bartender was fired from his closing duties. Farquhar saved 16 games out of the 20 attempts while appearing in 46 games. So its going to be exciting to see which one of these young men get the closing job, whoever does is going to have a great season this year.

Now let me go ahead and give my thought on the lineup I gave. First off its a no brainier that Robinson Cano is going to be batting 3rd. I mean Miller is going give a possible first run for the M's in the lead off spot, so again Cano is the logical choice as the #3 hitter. With Brad Miller and Dustin Ackley (or Nick Franklin) will give Cano the speed to drive in one or two runs even three if he hits a home run so again Cano in the 3rd spot is a no doubter.

Now Seager batting the 5-hole is the best thing Mariners manager Llyod McClenndon can do. Seager batted .356 last year while hitting in the 5-hole and had a ratio of 1 out of every 9 plate appearance where he struck out! Career wise Seager is a better hitter when he bats #5; he has a career batting average of .324 and has only struck out 42 times in 319 plate appearances.

Basically my lineup speaks for itself. Smoak and Zunino after Seager fits perfectly as they can get hit for extra bases and drive in runs and following those two are Michael Saunders and Abraham Almonte who when on base pose a threat to steal bases and get into scoring position. Seriously can this lineup I gave be anymore dangerous and can this starting rotation be anymore threatening? The answer is yes.

My prediction for this team is going to impressive at the least. 2014 will see the Seattle Mariners post 90+ wins for the first time since 2003 and will be a great threat for the both the Wild Card and the American League West title. Cano will lead the way for hitters and Felix will do his part in leading the way pitching wise. No one has yet to say just how threatening this Mariners team can and will be this upcoming season and that's great because what better way to show the baseball world how deadly this team is then by proving to the experts and the doubters.

This season will also see 3 maybe even 5 members of the team going to the All Star game including Cano being the first Mariner since Brett Boone in 03 to compete in the Homerun Derby.

Be prepared Mariners fans for a great season.

The tragedy of fan violence

Last night in Denver fan violence took another turn for the worse as three people were stabbed in the parking lot after the Broncos 27-20 loss to the San Diego Chargers. This altercation isn't the first this year, just a couple weeks ago a 28 year old woman was charged with murder in a shooting that followed the loss Alabama suffered in the Iron Bowl against Auburn. The victim's sister says the suspect shot her because she was mad at her for joking about the loss and didn't seem to be enough a Crimson Tide fan. Earlier this month and man died in an altercation in the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot during Kansas City's game against Denver.

Fan violence has been around for as long as anyone can remember, but for some reason in the past 4 years it has gotten worse to where police officer's are putting on opposing team jersey's and going undercover. Just this last Sunday a 49ers fan was arrested after trying to start a fight with an undercover cop in a Seahawks jersey. Look I understand the rivalry between teams but when people are getting into fights and dying OVER A GAME its just ridiculous.

Other nations have the same problem as American sports, especially in soccer. Soccer fans usually start fights that escalate into riots which then results in either numerous deaths/injuries.

I first experienced fan violence in 1997 when I took a trip to Oakland to see the Seahawks play the Oakland Raiders. Before Niner fans became the arrogant douche bags they are now Raider fans were the worst, just imagine that your 7 years old getting told "fuck you you little Seahawk bitch" and then after the game getting beer poured on you! The same thing happened to my cousin when my uncle took her to Philadelphia to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Flyers.

Fan violence seems to getting worse in both football and college football, its getting so bad that both associations will beef up security indefinitely. I know that I have repeated what I have said in this post but its hard to just describe the way fans act and present themselves when it comes to sports. I understand being a die-hard fan and that you don't like losing but that's no reason to take it out on the other teams fans and to cause serious injury and even death!

The violent events that sports has seen in the last 4 years is making the MLB, NFL, NBA, and MLS look bad. Seattle has its rivalries. The Seahawks have the 49ers, the Mariners have the A's, Yankees, and Angels, and the Sounders have the Timbers; all these rivalries (except for the Mariners) has nearly seen fan violence escalate to fan brawls. I blame the dramatic intake of alcohol at the sporting events for the violence that fans show. With fans drinking so much at games their thought process of knowing right and wrong begins to fly out the window.

I know I'm going to get bashed for this but for the fans safety every sport association should have security keep an extra eye on the intake that some fans have at games and also have fans of NFL teams take a breathalyzer test before the game and if that fan is over the legal limit then inform security, concession stands, and vendors to not sell that fan anymore alcohol.

Its because fans drink too much and act crazy that these violent events happen. Its tragic to see fans not having fun anymore and instead of being friendly after a tough loss or a great win they have to get into fights that in some cases like last night results in fans getting seriously hurt. To all fans who have experienced fan violence spread the word around to just have fun at the games. There's no need to get into fights with other fans, fighting just shows everyone that you have no class and that you are not a die hard fan you're just an asshole.

My prayers are going out to the victim's of last night's stabbing in Denver and I pray that fans learn to just have fun again and to be friends with other team fans.

Sea-Talk Intentional Podcast Episode 18

Seahawks post game show, talking UW Huskies and WSU Cougs Bowl games, and finally Mariners

Sea-Talk Intentional Podcast Episode 17

Today i interview Seahawks legend Walter Jones and i talk Mariners and the off season
http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-129537/TS-810367.mp3

2014 Projected Seattle Mariners

The Mariners now have a manager and his name is Lloyd McClendon. Since that job is now filled the Mariners front office can get started on free agency.

Below is my projected  25-man roster for the 2014 Opening Day Seattle Mariners. I will also give my reasons on some of the starters.

CF Shin-Soo Choo
LF Dustin Ackley
RF Abraham Almonte
3B Kyle Seager
SS Brad Miller
2B Nick Franklin
1B Justin Smoak
C Mike Zunino
DH Nelson Cruz

Bench Players
OF Michael Saunders
C Jesus Sucre
C Jesus Montero
SS Carlos Triunfel                                                                                                                                                                                              

Starting Rotation
SP Felix Hernandez
SP Hisashi Iwakuma
SP Taijuan Walker
SP Erasmo Ramirez
SP James Paxton

Bullpen
RP Blake Beaven
RP Carter Capps
RP Charlie Furbush
RP Lucas Luetge
RP Yoervis Medina
RP Stephen Pryor
CL Danny Farquhar

These 25 players will be the ones who will try and turn a fourth place team into a winning playoff ball club. There are three guys on the list that weren't on the Mariners roster last year, those three guys will be my projected free agents that will be signed during the off-season  I'll explain Nelson Cruz first. Cruz was offered a 1 year $14.1 million dollar contract by the Texas Rangers, but Cruz denied the contract so Jack Z will put out the money to snag up this 2x All Star slugger. Even though he was one of the many players that was suspended due to the PED bio-genesis scandal he still will bring 20+ homerun power to the team if he signs. Jack Z should offer Cruz a 1 year deal but go with $18 million dollar deal.

Now Shin-Soo Choo is an interesting projection for me. Choo began his career in Seattle but was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Ben Broussard and then two days later hit his first MLB homerun against the Mariners (ironic huh?). Choo has become a great hitter for a couple teams and he has shown his ability to hit for average and hit the long-ball. I also think that with the walls being moved in at Safeco he'll be an even better hitter, both average and power wise. My guess is that Jack Z will offer him a 3 year $27 million dollar contract.

Looking at the starting rotation. With Jason Vargas signing with the Royals I don't see anyone that Jack Z will go after. Ramirez last year was one of the best inning eater starter's the M's have. But I will say this, the Mariners could use more then just one lefty in the starting rotations. In the bullpen the Mariners have already said goodbye to Oliver Perez , so I have Blake Beaven as the best candidate for long reliever this upcoming season. He's had been starting pitchers and if the time comes to need a former starter he is the best option the Mariners have.

Danny Farquhar had an amazing rookie season, filling in for Tom Wilhelmsen who couldn't save a game after the collapse in Cleveland in the early part of the 2013 season. Farquhar saved 16 games out of 20 opportunities last year. Setting up for Farquhar this upcoming season (if he's healthy) will be Stephen Pryor. Everyone knows what Pryor has got, in the 7 games that he appeared in he never allowed a run and with his 96-100 mph fastball he's the best candidate for either the setup or (if McClendon wants him to) the closer position.

Michael Saunders wont be in the starting role this season, he showed signs that he was finally coming into his own but after he went down with an injury last year he suddenly couldn't play like he used to. So, Saunders will be on the bench as a late inning replacement, pinch runner/hitter, and as a day off player the same goes for Jesus Sucre (excluding the pinch runner thing). Now as for Jesus Montero and Carlos Triunfel these guys may have not had the best season last year but they fill up the roster, and its not a bad idea to have the speedy Triunfel come in as a possible game winning/tying pinch runner for a slow runner.

So, this is my projection for the 2014 Seattle Mariners. 

As you can see I have Jack Z signing only two players......well I hope he signs them. My faith in the M's front office isn't exactly high but maybe they will surprise us all this year. If they don't sign anybody I still see the M's having a turn-around season this next season. This Mariners ball club is young and ready to show what they are made of with their pitching and their lineup of young talent.

Sea-Talk Intentional Podcast Episode 16

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-129537/TS-804615.mp3
Talking free agency with Taylor then got down to talking Seahawks with Paul

The Fresh Prince shines in his debut

Tonight was the night of all nights. Taijuan Walker's major league debut and he was brilliant to start off his career. Walker went 1-2-3 in the first two innings and retired the first 8 batters before giving up a double to Jonathan Viller, on a ground ball to Brad Miller Justin Smoak failed to catch the relay and on the error Viller scored and the Astros took the 1-0 lead. The Astros didn't have the lead for long though, after Kendrys Morales and Smoak walked Dustin Ackley tied things up with a single to right and then Abraham Almonte (who was also making his MLB debut) was able to beat out the attempted double play and the M's took the 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning the Mariners gave Tai some more runs. After Brad Miller lead things off by singling and then stealing a base, Kyle Seager drove him in with a single to put the M's up 3-1, Ackley added two more runs to the scoreboard with a 2-run single to center and so Ackley not only helped out his average but helped out the team by putting them up 5-1. Walker's final inning of work went by quick, he only needed 11 pitches to go 1-2-3 again , Walker finished the night with 2 strikeouts and only threw 70 pitches. Carter Capps was brought into the bottom of the sixth inning and went 1-2-3 in both that inning and in the bottom of the seventh inning as well. 

In the top of the eighth Dustin Ackley's hot night continued as he hit a one out triple, following that Abraham Almonte got his first major league hit and his second RBI of the game with a single and the Mariners pushed their lead to 6-1. Charlie Furbush took the mound in the top of the eighth and went 1-2-3, both the Mariners starting pitching and bullpen was on their A-game tonight. In the top of the ninth inning Ackley added one more hit and RBI to his amazing night and put the M's up one more run 7-1, in addition Ackley pushed his average in August to .403. 

Oliver Perez finished things off for the Mariners and secured Taijuan Walker's first major league win in his debut. Perez though almost had his head taken off by a line drive single by L.J. Hoes. Perez was ok except for having to change his shorts after the game. So, the Mariners won their second game in a row and their 61st game of the year. Tomorrow the M's will try and win the series as they will send Joe Saunders out to the mound. 

NOTES: Today the Mariners traded away Mike Morse to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Xavier Avery and also optioned Erasmo Ramirez to Tacoma as a paper move. 

Frankly Seattle steals a win from Oakland

The Mariners came into tonight's game one game under .500 for the road trip, so you can guess that they were looking to win tonight to get to .500 on the road trip. With Joe Saunders on the mound the A's decided to get to him in the first inning. After a lead off triple by Jed Lowrie, Derek Norris singled him home and then John Donaldson hit a two run home run to put the A's up 3-0 early in the game. The Athletics added another run thanks to Nate Freiman's fourth home run of the year, after that Saunders walked both Chris Young and Josh Reddick but thanks to Saunders picking off Young and then getting Eric Sogard to ground out he was finally able to end a 40 pitch inning. 

The Mariners were finally able to get their first runs against Sonny Gray in the top of the third, after Michael Saunders drew a four pitch walk Nick Franklin hit his 11th home run of the year and so the M's were back in the game trailing by only 2 runs. Joe Saunders came back though after a 40 pitch 1st inning and gave the Mariners 5 more innings, after that Brandon Maurer came into the bottom of the seventh inning and had a nice 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout. 

In the top of the eighth Gray was brought out of the game and replaced by Sean Doolittle and tonight was not the night for the Athletics bullpen. The inning began with Michael Saunders collecting his first base hit of the night and extending his hitting streak to three games, Henry Blanco then hit a sharp line drive to left that Yoenis Cespedes couldn't hold and on the play Blanco motored into second base. The next two batters came through in a big way for the M's, Brad Miller blooped a curveball into centerfield that allowed Saunders to walk home and then Franklin hit a sharp line drive to left that scored Brendan Ryan (who pinched ran for Blanco) and so the game was all knotted up at 4-4. 

Doolittle was taken out of the game and Ryan Cook was brought in, Cook was able to get ahead of Kyle Seager in the count at 0-2 but then threw four balls in a row and Seager drew a walk. With Kendrys Morales up to bat Cook threw a wild pitch that allowed Brad Miller to hustle home, score, and give the Mariners the 5-4 lead, then Morales ground to Alberto Callaspo who threw home to try and cut down Franklin, but thanks to Franklin hustling hard he was able to score but paid a price for it. 

On the fielder's choice play that Franklin scored on he was accidentally spiked by Derek Norris but thankfully he was able to walk on his own to the M's clubhouse with a gash in his knee and a huge hole in his pants as well. Franklin tweeted (@NickFrank20) that he was ok and only needed 5 stitches and will be back in about 5 days.

The M's weren't finished after Franklin scored, Cook threw one more wild pitch that brought Seager into score and the M's went up 7-4 after the eighth inning. Yorvis Medina went to hill in the bottom of the eighth inning, he began the inning off by walking Chris Young but came back and struck out Josh Reddick and after Callaspo grounded out Medina walked Sogard, he got Lowrie to ground out though to end the inning for the A's. Danny Farquhar then came into the top of the ninth inning to shut the door on the Athletics and secure the M's the win and the best comeback of the year for the team. Farquhar was on his A-game as he struck out Stephen Vogt, got Josh Donaldson to ground out, and struck out Cespedes on a 75mph curveball. 

So, the Mariners are now 4-4 on the road trip, but this win had to be the best victory and comeback of the season, especially taking the fact that Joe Saunders gave up 4 runs in the first and threw 40 pitches in the inning as well. Mike Morse went 0 for 4 tonight extending his 0 for streak to 0 for his last 18 at bats. Tomorrow the Mariners go for the series win as they begin playing at 1:10 and after that they get a day of rest and then start a quick 6 home stand. Hisashi Iwakuma will look to get his 13th win tomorrow. 

Sea-Talk Podcast Episode 3

Today i interview both Ryan Divish and Chantz Mack and talk some Seahawks of course.
http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-129537/TS-770269.mp3

Extra innings thriller

The Mariners entered today's game having losing 8 games in a row and were looking to end it against the first place Texas Rangers. Jurickson Profar lead off the game by homering to right field, so the Rangers not only took the1-0 lead but also made myself and other Mariners fans go "here we go again". The Rangers would then scored again in the top of the second inning. Thanks to both Nelson Cruz singling and Mitch Moreland moving him to third with a double, Leonys Martin drove in Cruz with a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers the 2-0 lead. The Mariners through the first five innings had plenty of chances to score with runners in scoring position and failed to deliver in the clutch. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Mariners got their first hits from Endy Chavez and Kendrys Morales, with Chavez at second the Mariners had their first runner in scoring position Mike Morse struck out to end the Mariners first threat of the game. In the bottom of the fifth inning the Mariners once again had a runner at second base and Endy Chavez popped out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth the Mariners got their big brake as Kyle Seager lead off the inning by doubling for the 16th time this year. Raul Ibanez was able to move Seager over by grounding out to second base and following his at bat Kendrys Morales, who has been the only one that can hit with runners in scoring position, hit a monster 2 run homerun to tie the game. Hisashi Iwakuma gave the Mariners 8 strong incredible innings and after he exited in the eighth Tom Wilhelmsen came in and shut down Texas and so the Mariners went into the ninth to try and win the game. The Mariners were able to get a runner to second base with one out but Dustin Ackley and Jesus Sucre were unable to deliver. 

Wilhelmsen finished the tenth inning going 1-2-3 but in the 11th Carter Capps gave up the go-ahead run and the Rangers took the 3-2 lead. Joe Nathan came into the game for the Rangers perfect in saves for the year, but the first pitch Raul Ibanez saw from him changed all that as Ibanez tied the game again at 3-3.

The bullpen continued to get out of jams in the twelfth and thirteenth innings. In the bottom of the thirteenth inning the Mariners DJ decided to play a little rally jig music to get us started. Kendrys Morales continued his hot game by doubling with one out, following that Carlos Triunfel moved him over by grounding out. Jason Bay then came up an inning before this at bat he came inches away from ending the game with a walk off homerun but thanks to David Murphy that didn't happen. 

So Bay decided to make up for not ending the game there and lined a single to left field scoring Morales and ending an eight game losing streak. During his post game interview he got Aaron Harang's Super Soaker hero soaking.

The Mariners will now open interleague play against their biggest National League rival the San Diego Padres.

Changes must be made

The Mariners have now dropped 6 games in a row at the hands of horrible pitching from their starter. The Mariners pitching have now allowed 46 runs in the past 6 games. During this losing streak the Mariners have shown us that they have lost team unity. In quoting Danny Glover from Angels in the Outfield "I have never ever seen a worst group of 25 players! You don't think as a team, you don't play as a team, you don't even lose as a team!". I swear if Lou Pinella was still managing the team he would have had 8 heart attacks, 10 strokes, 36 aneurisms, and would have been restrained from killing the players. This team has also had a lot of anger from the fans including myself, I'm not going to lie I'm pissed off as well. The Mariners are just making fans in Seattle wish football season would come even faster. The Mariners thank God have an off day tomorrow to get their heads out of their asses and make some call ups to improve the team.

The Mariners called a team-member only meeting after the game to probably discuss their problems and to probably discuss the problems that they are having with each other. Now, during this upcoming day off the Mariners front office need to make some decisions both managerial and roster wise. To me Eric Wedge is not a manager that I want managing this team. He is constantly making excuses for poor performances from the players, he does nothing but keep his thumb up his ass and just watches his team lose, lose, and lose in a horrible fashion, and I never see him stand up for the team. If Pinella was managing the team he would have been ejected in about 15-20 games, all Wedge does is just stare and says nothing to the umpires when they make mistakes or horrible calls. 

The roster moves that the Mariners could/should possibly make are these. Robert Andino should be DFA'd and call up Carlos Triunfel. Why not Nick Franklin you ask? Because rushing Franklin is a bad idea, look what happened to Dustin Ackley. The same goes with Mike Zunino, with how bad Jesus Montero has been producing the Mariners may have no choice but to give Zunino the call up. Another move the Mariners have to make is to improve the pitching staff. Aaron Harang and Brandon Maurer must be sent down. Maurer struggles with both his control and consistency to pitch deep into the late innings, while Harang has struggles from day one since the Mariners signed his washed up has been ass! 

Jack Zduriencik once again made me scratch my head when he signed a worthless pitcher when he had plenty of free agents to choose from. One more pitcher that should be sent down should be Lucas Luetge. Now the best candidate's for the call up should be Jeremy Bonderman, Blake Beaven, and Andrew Carraway for the starting pitching or call all three and place Beaven in the bullpen. Logan Bowcom is another great choice for a bullpen pitcher.

All of these moves are possible in the next two days but I hardly doubt that Eric Wedge has the brains to make the moves.

Mariners are up to their usual self

The Mariners have now lost their last 5 games. During their this losing streak the Mariners pitching have allowed 39 runs. The hitting has been just as atrocious, as the team has struggled to hit with runners in scoring position and that has cost them plenty of games. Now the Mariners have been hitting homeruns like crazy but hitting these homeruns has been a problem because most of them have come with no runners on base. Homeruns will win you games but you must have runners on to win and the Mariners for some reason just take a dump when it comes with runners on. This team has been one of the worst teams in the past few years with hitting with runners in scoring position and that is why this team hasn't been in the playoffs as well. 

Now, the pitching has been just as bad, the Mariners have the best 1-2 pitchers in the game in Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma but the M's 3-4-5 pitchers have been one of the worst in baseball. Brandon Maurer has been terrible in his consistency and has control problems, Joe Saunders is horrible on the road and cant win a game unless he's at home, and Aaron Harang is.........well he's Aaron Harang.

Thanks to last night's 12- embarrassment Harang's ERA rose to 8.58 and Lucas  Luetge's ERA jumped to 8.10 as well. The Mariners bullpen must improve if this team has any hopes of trying to get back to .500 or above. Charlie Furbush, Lucas Luetge, Joe Saunders, Aaron Harang, and Brandon Maurer all have ERA's above 5. During the 5 game losing streak the Mariners pitching staff, starting and bullpen, have had an ERA of 7.60 and the Mariners defense has also made some critical errors including a dropped ball by Tom Wilhelmsen that would've have been the final out of the game. The Mariners hitting has been just as bad as the M's have gone 4 for 32 (.125) with runners in scoring position and have left 36 runners stranded on base as well.

The Mariners have done this in the last three years, when they have been on a winning pace or at least have had success they have blown it. 2010 they started out 11-11, they then responded by losing 15 of their next 18 games and finished the season 61-101. In 2011 they finished the first half at .500 by posting a 43-43 record, they then opened the second half of the season by going on their historic not to remember 17 game losing streak and finishing the season at 67-95. Finally last year, the Mariners posted a successful 11-10 April and followed up the next month by losing 13 of their next 18 games and finishing off the season 75-87. The Mariners don't want to finish off the season again bellow .500 and have the seats of Safeco Field to be empty.

Now with Harang's horrible night he is a big target for demotion along with Brandon Maurer, who keeps showing us that he is not yet ready for the big leagues. Now if Eric Wedge is smart enough (hardly doubt it) he will make a move and in my opinion there are three excellent selections for the call ups. Jeremy Bonderman is the first; he made the team thanks to a great Spring Training and has posted some great numbers down in Triple A Tacoma going 2-3 and has posted a 3.79 ERA. Blake Beaven is the next choice in the three possible call ups. Beaven had a tough time while up in Seattle but has had some positive stats in Triple A posting a 2-2 record with a 3.70 ERA. Finally, Andrew Carraway is the last call up that is a great possibility. Carraway was drafted in 2009 by the Mariners and got the call up to Triple A after Brian Sweeney was placed on the DL. Carraway has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.19 ERA. Now for the bullpen I suggest demoting either Lucas Luetge or Charlie Furbush and calling up either Logan Bawcom or Bobby LaFromboise.

The Mariners must either make managerial changes or come together as a team and play as a team again. Wedge to me has to go he's not a great manager or Dave Hansen has to go. What ever the Mariners are going to do they have to do it now to try and get their season back on track.

A playoff team turned into a nightmare

Well, the Mariners have now lost 5 games in a row and they have lost those games thanks in mostly the bullpen. But in hindsight this team 5 games ago was one game under .500 and since then it has been a nightmare to watch this team. The bullpen cost us every game in Cleveland and the starting pitching has been just as terrible. The Mariners hitting have been in a rut as well as they cant hit with runners in scoring position. Point that I am making here is that changes have to be made now! One change that has to be made is Aaron Harang. Eric Wedge has made excuses over and over and for some reason I really think he's so stupid that he forgot he had an experienced pitcher down in Triple A Tacoma in Jeremy Bonderman. 

He also has Andrew Carraway, who has been putting up great numbers in Tacoma going 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA. Wedge is another problem to me, he and Jack Z must go. Jack has said in one of his interviews that this team is rebuilding........we have been rebuilding ever since 2010 that's enough with rebuilding the fans want results! Eric Wedge is just in my opinion a horrible manager who makes excuses for poor performances when Lou Pinella would have said it to the media and the players face that they suck. The Mariners have to do something to make this nightmare stop.

For 5 games the Mariners pitching staff has allowed an average of 7 runs in this losing streak. The Mariners have gone from a team that fans want to go watch, to a team that fans don't want to waste their time with watching. I read one tweet today saying that they wasted $150 to watch their games on DirectTV since they live on the east coast. I cant wait for Dave "Softy" Mahler tomorrow to rip on them because he tells it like it is and the fans will put in their 2 cents as well on the phone calls that he will take. To me the Mariners are playing like the Houston Astros and they look like they are getting worse. 

Nobody knows what has happened to this team after the series in New York but whatever did happen they need to get over it and get some unity back and play like they were in New York. With now sinking to 6 games under .500 the Mariners have to pull themselves together and play again as the team who were a threat in the AL West and who got the attention of the media of being a playoff contender. Changes need to be made and they better make them now.

Showdown in the Bronx

The Seattle Mariners enter today 2 games out of second place of the American League West and 6 games out of first place in the standings and finally 4 games out of the 2nd spot in the American League Wild Card. Not bad for a team 2 games under .500 huh? Today the Mariners go into New York for a showdown with the Yankees and what a pitching matchup for the first game, the 2007 Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia and the 2010 Cy Young Felix Hernandez. Both pitchers have terrific records against the teams in this series. Felix has a 5-2 record against the Yankees with a 4-1 record at Yankee Stadium with 2 complete game shutouts and he has also posted a 2.06 ERA against the Yankees. Sabathia though has posted a 12-4 record against the Mariners with a 2.46 ERA in 20 starts against the Mariners. So basically its a clash of the pitching titans today, not a bad matchup for the first of a three game series huh?

The Mariners have been one of the hottest teams in their last 15 games going 10-5. The Mariners right now are playing as though their season is on the line and this series will test the 3rd place Mariners in a few ways, 1) It will test their pitching staff to try and hold a power hitting team to few runs, 2) It will test their hitters to get hits off of a tough pitching staff and will need to score early and knockout the starters early as well, and 3) It will basically test the whole team pitching and hitting wise to take the series against a tough first place team. 

The Yankees have been riddled with injuries this year with most of their big bats on the DL but thankfully Vernon Wells has provided power and is getting his career back on track. Nobody knows what will happen in this series but I do know this, the team that scores early and scores enough runs will come out on top. Both teams have the pitching to be great playoff teams this year, but the Mariners hitting must keep improving if they would like a shot at the playoffs this year.

NOTES: Dustin Ackley is out again for the second day in a row and Robert Andino will be playing in his place. Curtis Granderson will be back in the lineup for the Yankees batting cleanup.

Mariners-Yankees preview

We all know that the Mariners and the Yankees rivalry started in 1995. After the 95 American League Division Series the Mariners and the Yankees were arch enemies, basically they started the East coast West coast rivalry again, but with less bullets flying and no one dying this time. Well, anyways the Mariners will send out in the ultimate 1-2 knockout in MLB, Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. Felix has a terrific record against the Yankees, especially in New York where he currently holds a 5-2 record with 2 complete games with a 2.06 ERA. In all of Felix's 8 starts he's gone at least 6 innings, 5 starts of 7 or more innings, and 4 starts of 8 innings. Felix has shown that he is worth the money the Mariners are paying him for the next 7 years and he is also showing us that he wants more Cy Young awards and is doing his best to get us into the playoffs. 

Felix is also averaging 7 strikeouts a start this year. Ok now how bout I talk about Iwakuma? Iwakuma has been amazing for the Mariners since last year, he started the 2012 year in the bullpen but was able to work his way in the starting role and since then he has done nothing but dominate. In 8 starts this year Iwakuma is 4-1 with 51 strikeouts with a 1.74 ERA. Iwakuma has been nothing but Cy Young material just as much as Felix and I have to say that Felix and Hisashi have to be the most deadly 1-2 pitchers in baseball.

Ok now lets get off the stats and get down to business (with some stats in between). Over the last 6 years the Mariners have a record of 22-35 against the Yankees and only have one .500 record year against them. If the Mariners are going to win this series against the Yankees there are a few things the M's must do. 1) Give their pitchers run support, 2) Hit with runners in scoring position, 3) Starting pitchers have to keep the Yankees in the yard, and 4) Score first and score big. The Mariners the past 5 games are batting .212 with runners in scoring position. Although in this previous series with the Athletics the Mariners batted .272 with runners in scoring position, so they are getting better but lets just hope they keep that momentum going into New York. 

The Yankees have been plagued with injuries this year, with Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeria, Joba Chamberlain, Michael Pineda, and Kevin Youkilis still out the Yankees have still manage to post a 24-14 record. The Yankees have also manage to bang out 47 homeruns as well, with 10 coming off Robinson Cano's bat, the Mariners pitching have to keep Cano's bat under control in this series. Vernon Wells has also provided some power by hitting 9 and getting his career back on track.

If the Mariners also would like to win not only the series but sweep the Yankees then the M's big bats have to keep up with hitting well. Michael Saunders, Kyle Seager, and Kendrys Morales have been providing plenty of offense to the lineup. Mike Morse's bat has to wake up and he has to hit a few of those homeruns he hit to start off his year. Morse hasn't hit a homerun since the 1st of May, which incidentally is ironic because the day before he hit a homerun as well. With this huge series coming up for the Mariners if they manage to take 2 out of three from the Yankees will keep them 1 game under .500 and if they manage to earn a sweep of the Bronx Bombers they will be a game over .500 and depending on how the Athletics do take over second place. 

Now before I end this blog I will say this like I said in my last blog if Brendan Ryan doesn't pick up his hitting his chances of staying with the Mariners or finding another job might be in jeopardy.

Ryan and Andino have got to go

After Sunday's win Erik Wedge was questioned about both Brendan Ryan poor batting average, which was sunk down to .122. Wedge's response was typical "I just think once we get everybody else going, he'll come along and be better himself," Wedge said. "The difference he makes is real. But he's not the difference between us being a good offensive club and not. That's where people put their focus in the wrong direction." He's not going to be the difference maker [offensively]. The difference maker is everybody else. He needs to be a contributor. But where he's a difference maker is defensively. And when you have players who are difference makers, you keep them. Whether it be offensively, defensively, on the base paths, starting pitching, bullpen, whatever it may be. He's a difference maker defensively. We need everybody else offensively to do their job and for him to be a contributor."

Yeah, you know I really hate to......wait no I don't, Wedge get over your self! Ryan is one of the worst hitters that I have ever seen in baseball. Over Brendan Ryan's career he has batted .292/.223/.248/.194 and of course this year he is batting .122. In his last 6 games he has gone 0-15. Now I have to tell you guys, Robert Andino is no different he's got to go to. Look I don't care that Ryan's career fielding percentage is .927, when you cant hit the broad side of a barn you have no place in the majors. I mean Nick Franklin and Carlos Triunfel have been tearing the cover off the ball in Triple A Tacoma and Wedge continues to make excuses for lack of progress and poor batting. 

I don't know when Franklin or Triunfel will be called up but this is coming from one Mariners fan to another that it has to be soon. If I was to ask 100 Mariners fans if they would like to see Ryan and Andino go and see Franklin and Triunfel called up I bet the at least 70% of the fans will say they want Franklin and Triunfel up. If you look at both Franklin and Triunfel these kids are terrific at the shortstop position and both present power to the lineup as well.

Now this blog gets posted to both my Twitter and Facebook account and this message is to all my followers and friends that read my blog; RT this blog if you agree and favorite to disagree with me. Seriously Wedge has to quit making excuses for Ryan and Andino and do something about the shortstop situation. Now one more thing who would you like batting if the Mariners make the playoffs? The pathetic Brendan Ryan who's only purpose is making Gold Glove plays and being an embarrassment to himself as a major league hitter or Nick Franklin who has a great glove at shortstop and who can hit the ball a mile away?

 Man this is such a tough choice, man I guess I'll take the kid who can play shortstop and hit for power instead of the washed up MLB player. Now this is just a blog so I have no power over what Eric Wedge does, but you know and I know that Brendan Ryan is hitting so bad that by the end of the year (if he plays the rest of the year) will end up with a batting average bellow .100 and Wedge has got to see that if he would like to make the playoffs.

Mother's Day beating by the Mariners

Last night I completely forgot to write the recap on the Mariners loss to the Athletics. Last night's loss was embarrassing, the fact of the matter is that the home plate ump played a part in the A's win. Home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez called a ball that was up in the zone a strike after that Kyle Seager grounded out to end the ball game. This call came with 2 runners on and on a 3-0 count, if the call would have been reversed the Mariners would have loaded the bases for Kendrys Morales, but instead Seager grounded out and the A's won 4-3. Well, now we move on to today. Before first pitch the Mariners have yet to lose a series since they lost 2 out of three to the Houston Astros on April 22-24. Safeco Joe Saunders entered today's game for his 13th start at Safeco Field where he still holds an unbeaten record with a 8-0 record with a 1.75 ERA. Saunders started off today's Mother's Day edition of Mariners baseball by going 1-2-3 in front of a crowd of 27,599 fans. In the three game series against the A's 25,000+ have turned up to watch their Mariners......now that's what I love seeing! None of this 15,000 fans or 9,853 fans, its awesome that 27,000+ turned up.

Now back to the game, the Mariners were looking to get over the past nights loss in which they hit 1-6 with runners in scoring position, so they were looking to get over that and start fresh today. Well, they did just that, as Michael Saunders got things started off by ripping a single into left field, Kyle Seager, who has been one of the most patient hitters the Mariners have had this season, drew a walk to bring up Kendrys Morales. Morales decided that he'll make his team 1-1 with hitting with runners in scoring position by ripping one into the Athletics bullpen and giving the Mariners the early 3-0 lead. Safeco Joe had a rough second inning by giving up two doubles and one the second double John Donaldson scored and the A's got their first run on the board. After Derek Norris singled, Nate Freiman grounded out to Brendan Ryan and thanks to some quick thinking by Ryan, he threw out Luke Montz out at home plate. Saunders then struck out Brandon Moss and got Michael Taylor to pop out to end the inning for the Athletics and erasing a huge threat.

Mike Morse got the bottom of the fourth inning started off by lining a double into left center field. Justin Smoak was able to move Morse over after grounding out to Jed Lowrie, following Smoak's ground ball Jesus Montero improved the Mariners RISP for the day to 2-3 as he lined a base hit to left field scoring Morse from third and the Mariners took a 4-1 lead. After Montero, Robert Andino and Brendan Ryan continued to struggle batting wise as both flied out to end the bottom of the fourth inning. The bottom of the fifth saw the Mariners scoring another run. Michael Saunders started things off by bunting himself on first. Saunders then showed just how fast he is, on a single by Jason Bay Saunders advanced to third on a bang bang play. Kyle Seager was able to score Saunders on a sacrifice fly and put the Mariners lead up to 5-1. 

The Mariners added one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Jason Bay hit a long one out homerun for his fourth HR of the season and the Mariners lead increased to 6-1.

The Mariners bullpen finished the game off for Joe Saunders. Yoenis Medina and Oliver Perez were able to finish off the Athletics. Medina came into the top of the seventh and was able to get Yoenis Cesepedes to ground into an inning ending double play. Medina would then have an easy 1-2-3 top of the eighth inning. Perez came into the top of the ninth inning and struck out the side 1-2-3. With this win Joe Saunders now is 9-0 lifetime at Safeco Field. The Mariners now improved to 18-20 and are only a half game behind the Oakland Athletics for second place, six and a half games out of first place, and are four games out of the first and second Wild Card spot. 

The Mariners get another off day tomorrow as they travel to the Bronx to face the aging, yet power hitting New York Yankees. Felix Hernandez will start game 1 of the 3 game series and go against C.C. Sabathia, Hisashi Iwakuma will go against Phil Hughes in game 2, and finally Aaron Harang will go against Andy Pettitte. All of these games will be huge not only for the Mariners starters but also the batters.

NOTES: Brendan Ryan went 0-4 lowering his batting average down to .122 and Robert Andino went 0-3 and lowered his batting average down to .159. Mike Morse had 2 hits for the first time in 9 games. Michael Saunders was able to break out of his 0-fer by going 2-4 scoring twice and raising his batting average to .286.

IwaKKKKKKKKKuma takes care of the A's

The Oakland A's came into Seattle for a three game series with the M's and taking the mound in game one was Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma came into last nights game just 1 point above Felix Hernandez. Iwakuma started off the game on the right pace, after John Jaso lead off with a single he got Seth Smith out by getting him to fly out, Jed Lowrie to ground out, and striking out Yoenis Cespedes. The Mariners were able to get to A's starter Dan Straily early, Kyle Seager was able to draw a walk and Kendrys Morales singled to put runners at the corners with only one out; Mike Morse, who has been struggling with hitting not only with runners in scoring position but hitting period, hit a shot up the middle to drive in Seager so the Mariners took the early 1-0 lead. Justin Smoak then hit a rocket down the right field and Morales was able to score and put the Mariners up 2-0, the Mariners were able not only to get to Straily early but they made him throw 29 pitches in the first inning. Iwakuma dominated the A's through the first 3 innings by retiring the next 9 hittiers after Jaso lead off with a single.

In the bottom of the 3rd Seager lead off the inning off with a single, after Morales and Morse failed to get on base Justin Smoak was able to draw a walk, Raul Ibanez was put into the lineup last night to get some swings in. Well, Ibanez took his swing to the seats into right field. The Mariners now gave Iwakuma a 5-0 lead. After that Iwakuma was lights out only allowing 2 runs and striking out 9 Athletics. Oliver Perez came in and gave up an extra run in the top of the eighth and in the top of the ninth Tom Wilhelmsen walked back onto Safeco Field to Jimmy Hendrix Voodoo Child, after that he went 1-2-3 and got his 10th save of the year and lowered his ERA down to 0.56. Iwakuma's ERA jumped up 1.74.

NOTES: Michael Saunders went 0-4 in last nights game.

Who's going to be called up?

Well so far in this young Seattle Mariners season there have been a lot of questions, but the biggest questions have been; When will we see our prospects get the call up? Well here's the thing the kids may be showing signs of major league readiness but you don't want to call up kids too early. For a good example of when the Mariners called up Brandon Morrow the year after he was in the minors. He did impressively well 3-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 60 games and he set the club record for rookies in holds with 18. The next year Morrow would go 3-4 with 10 saves and finished with a 3.34 ERA. In his last year with the Mariners he went 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA. Not a bad first 3 years for getting the call up huh? Well, this year the Mariners might be calling up a shortstop and a catcher. The reason I say that is because both Brendan Ryan and Robert Andino have not been producing or hitting well, Ryan is batting a pathetic .141 not great. Andino is hitting .169 since being in the lineup almost everyday. So when is Eric Wedge's patience going to run out on these two terrible hitters?

Wedge has some great shortstops to choose from in Triple A Tacoma. He has Nick Franklin and Carlos Truinfel. Franklin has played 23 games for the Rainiers and has hit .325 with 6 doubles, 3 homeruns, .518 slugging percentage, and 28 hits. Truinfel has played in 31 games while hitting .311 with 10 doubles, 3 homeruns, .500 slugging percentage, and 38 hits. These guys would be excellent call ups to replace Ryan and Andino. Now its not yet known if these guys will be brought up to replace Ryan and Andino but the other position that is of concern is the catcher position. Jesus Montero has been struggling with not only hitting (.203) but in fielding. I hate to say it but Montero is one of the worst catchers I have seen. He has yet to throw out a runner stealing a base (0-15). So unless you have a broken leg you wont be thrown out by Montero. Now Mike Zunino is the fan favorite to get the call up but he has been struggling to hit after a hot start. He is hitting .195 with 5 homeruns, and 29 RBIs along with 2 triples. Most of those stats came in the first 8 games of the season.

So I have given all of my opinions on the catcher and shortstop problems the Mariners are having. Along with myself and the other Mariners fans are waiting for Wedge to make the decision to call these players up and probably add a little more power and hitting to the lineup.

Blue Jays bats blow up

The Seattle Mariners were looking for their first sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre since the incredible 116 win 2001 season. Well that wasn't the case yesterday for the Mariners. During the top of the first inning Kyle Seager doubled with one out and the M's had their first runner in scoring position to start the game against the former 1st round pick by the Mariners Brandon Morrow. Morrow was able to recover from the Seager double and get out of the inning by getting Kendrys Morales and Jason Bay to ground out. Joe Saunders took the mound for the Mariners on Sunday and his bottom of the first didn't start the way he wanted it to. Rajai Davis doubled to begin the inning then Melky Cabrera bunted Davis over, and Jose Bautista drove him in with a sacrifice fly but that's all the Jays would get in the inning. The bottom of the second inning the Blue Jays would get to Saunders in a big way. 

J.P. Arencibia began the inning off with a single and then Mark DeRosa doubled to left, Maicer Izturis singled in Arencibia to give the Blue Jays the 2-0 lead. Munenori Kawasaki grounded out and on the play DeRosa scored from third and the lead was now 3-0 Blue Jays.

The top of the fifth was the inning for the Mariners. Brandon Morrow has always had trouble with his control in his career, during his career he would usually have a few good innings but then for some reason he would have a meltdown and walk batters and give up runs, the top of the fifth was no different. Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley both began the inning by walking, Jesus Montero was able to get an infield single on a play by DeRosa, Montero lined one to DeRosa and he tried to get the lead runner out in Ackley but thanks to Ackley's hustle he beat the throw and Montero also hustled down the line and he was safe at first. Robert Andino ground out to Kawasaki but on the throw to first Andino with his speed beat it out and on the play Smoak scored and the M's were on the board. 

Michael Saunders then drew the third walk of the inning and the following play Seager drove in Ackley with a sacrifice fly. Morales drew the fourth walk of the inning but Morrow recovered and struckout Mike Morse to end the inning.

The bottom of the fifth Cabrera lead off the inning by hitting his first homerun of the year, after that Saunders walked Bautista and gave up a single to Arencibia, following that Mark DeRosa hit a three run homerun to put the lead to 7-2 in favor of the Blue Jays. In the seventh inning Hector Noesi came into the game, he gave three more runs to the Jays. The Mariners after the fifth just couldn't figure out Morrow as struckout 5 more batters and didn't walk another batter as well. The Mariners 3 game winning streak was snapped and their record went down to 15-18. The Mariners are still 3 game under .500 and still own 3rd place by 4 games over the Angels and lead by 6.5 over the Astros. The first game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Aaron Harang will take the mound after coming off his first win of the season and will face James McDonald who has been struggling to keep his spot in the starting rotation for the Pirates. The final game of the two game series Felix Hernandez will face the National League strikeout leader A.J. Burnett. Burnett has a career record against the Mariners of 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA.

NOTES: So far the Mariners have had a great start to May going 3-1. They have been hitting .237 in the last 4 games. Kyle Seager leads the Mariners in batting average with a .293 and Michael Saunders is right behind him with a .283 batting average.