Savoring A Win and the Ride

Well, it was fun while it lasted. Our beloved Mariners came out of the gate scorching (at least relatively speaking), taking series after series. Felix and Bedard were dominating. Washburn, in his walk year, was going deep into games (but still not getting any run support). Carlos Silva even won a game. And the offense was doing just enough to win. Life was good. 

But just as soon as the M's started getting noticed -- shooting up power ranking lists, showing up in ESPN.com columns about surprising starts, getting a rare cameo appearance on SI's Hot List -- they almost instantaneously fell apart. It was like Britney Spears' career.

The Mariners were 15-10 on May 3 after a thrilling 8-7 win over genius GM Billy Beane's latest edition of the A's. By the time I received my Sport Illustrated copy (the one where we showed up on the Hot List) three days and three losses later, we were already free fallin' like Tom Petty. We're 2-9 since May 3, highlighted by 6 game losing streak. 

No one, and I repeat no one, saw the Mariners hot start coming. And the fall, while frustrating hasn't been surprising. 

But let's keep this in perspective. That five weeks of contention was five weeks more fun than we had all year, when, according to my memory banks, we were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention by May. 

After last night's Ichiro-powered win, the M's are 17-19 and 4.5 games behind the Rangers. Morrow doesn't blow those final two in Arlington and we're 19-17 and just 2.5 back. 

The Mariners are not as good as their start, but definitely not as bad as this last stretch. 

There should be no doubt that, despite losing our best hitter and our closer in off-season, we're better than we were last year. 

Good enough to contend? Probably not. But good enough to finish .500? I think so. I say that knowing that we should and hopefully will trade Bedard, Washburn and Beltre to restock the depleted farm system. 

(On a relevant side note: A little piece of me dies every time I see Adam Jones hitting a home run or Chris Tillman rising to the top of prospect rankings. Bavasi, your ineptitude has scarred this city's sports landscape more than anyone not named Howard Schultz. If I see you on the street, we'll have problems. I've already alerted my lawyers to the possibility.) 

For me, the Mariners' start was like hooking up with a really hot girl you know is way out of your league. You know it won't last, but you enjoy it while it does. And, more importantly, it will give you confidence in the future. 

Well, I guess it's either that, or it crushes your soul and you turn into the Green River Killer. In any case, the point is, things have changed for the Mariners, for the better, and I'm enjoying the ride.  

 

I Told You So: Losing All Part of M's Plan

A lot of panic in Marinerland today. Three losses to division leading Texas; two more blown saves by Brandon Morrow. Mariner blogs are in flames. For most of the past month, many writers here and everywhere proclaimed the M's to be a contender. Heck, even national sages like Ken Rosenthal posted last week that the M's won't be sellers.

Not me.

The tide bobs up and down, but I, The Doubter, keep telling you, "75 wins." The plan was never to win this year. Honestly, the plan doesn't include contending in the year 2010. This year is about:

1. Seeing who can play (Gutierrez, Lopez, Morrow, and a few of the relievers)
2. Restocking the farm system through the draft
3. Making trades to increase overall talent (The July 31 Trading Deadline)
4. Developing the kids already on the farm (Raben, Saunders, Carp, Tui, etc.).
5. Shedding payroll

It would have been nice (but a pipe dream) to contend. However, contending would've complicated Jack Z's plan and might have been a public relations disaster. The M's would have to consider foregoing potential trades in order to stay competitive. While no one wants to lose, I am sure that Jack Z isn't that upset that the M's will probably be 10-20 games under by August.

It was fool's gold that the M's were contenders in the 2007 season. As a result, management made one of the worst trades in franchise history serving up Adam Jones (top 10 hitter in the AL and possible All-Star) + George Sherill (All-Star closer) + 3 high ceiling pitching prospects in exchange for malcontent loser Erik Bedard. The M's will regret that deal for the next 15 years. How much better would the M's be if they hadn't performed surprisingly well in 2007?

This time, let's build something right. Let's trust Jack Z to go out and build the core of a winning team. Remember the M's in the mid 1990s? A lineup that featured monster hitters like: Griffey, Buhner, Martinez, Tino, Blowers, Wilson and Cora (and A-Rod for a little while). We need to get back to that model.

So, rather than have any expectations or hard feelings, let's just enjoy summertime baseball with the knowledge that we aren't on a train to nowhere like last time. This time, we're going to play Moneyball and build our club around:
* Starting pitching
* Young hitters
* Philosophy of patience and OBP
* Cheap bullpen help (high-priced closers are overrated)
* Assets, assets, assets

Patience. It's all part of the plan.

Mariners Need More Juice; Otherwise Known as My Ambivalence About the Steroid Era Essay

Calm down. Of course I'd never advocate cheating. Okay, maybe I am, kind of, in a way, but not really.  

Look at the Mariners walking-corpse of an offense and raise your hand if you'd rather have the 2005 Adrian Beltre, even if you knew he was on the juice? Who wouldn't like to see Popeye-armed Bret Boone, circa 2001, hitting in the Mariners' 3 slot? 

I think lots of people have a difficult time talking about steroids, aka, "the juice." It gets in the way of us focusing on, and enjoying without distractions, the games, the results, the standings, and, of course, the statistics. 

I love stats. I know more useless sports stats than I know anything else. I'm not proud of this, it's just who I am. Stats are like a big bowl of cookie dough ice dream to me. Sports junk food at its best. Growing up, I'd spend hours, face pressed to the Seattle PI (RIP!) sports page, looking through every box score, starting with the Mariners and then moving on to my other favorite teams, most of them smaller market teams in the Senior Circuit -- the Pirates, Expos, Brewers and Reds. (I've always like the Twins too. What can I say? I'm a sucker for the underdog.) 

And baseball's the best, because it's new stats daily, like a little Christmas present waiting for you every morning -- or now, in the internet age, whenever you want them. (I just looked up Edgar's yearly stats and started to cry). 

I deeply lament the fact that steroids has completely perverted our view of statistics. (RIP baseball's ability to compare players of different eras!)

It's not a stretch, or in any way blasphemous for me to say that I believe a majority of big leaguers were or are currently using performance enhancing drugs. Forget about Manny, Rocket, Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, I could have guessed about those guys. (Though I seriously believed Manny wasn't smart enough or was too lazy to even try steroids. I guess Scott Boras is more persuasive and devious than we could have ever imagined. Snap.) 

But what really blew my mind was looking on an ESPN ticker one night and seeing Ryan Franklin suspended. Ryan Franklin? Seriously? Busted? Are you sure it wasn't for walking too slowly off the mound every inning? If Ryan Franklin was juicing to be a solid, but admittedly overachieving fifth starter, then anything was possible. 

So what now? Our kinds and our grunts have been busted. What are we to think about the stats? What do we think about our beloved hometown heroes who may been taking testosterone or HGH or The Clear or feminine fertility drugs? Why can't I stop ending every sentence with a question mark? 

The reason I can't answer any of those questions is because they just lead to more questions. There's no easy answers. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it. It makes my love of sports die just a little every time I'm forced to think about it. (Luckily, our Local sports writers have Griffey around to put a positive spin on all negative implications whatever the most recent revelation brings about.)

But we have to talk about it, we've been talking around it for at least 15 years. We've avoided the conversation for so long we can't even wrap our brains around it. 

In my brain, there were two camps among fans in baseball: those who took a technical approach to answering the questions andd those who went with their gut and their eyesight. 

The technical people will tell you that you can't assume someone's been using roids unless they test positive. Back in 2003/4, loads of fans, especially those in the Bay (the technical approach is always easier when talking about your hometown players), said to themselves and other haters, "Sure Barry went from never hitting 40 bombs in a year to destroying the single-season home run record while being intentionally walked every other at-bat, looks like Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler and his head appears on the verge of explosion." But he's never tested positive. Hogwarts, I say. Everyone knew it, some just just chose to ignore it. Basically, what I'm saying is that whatever approach you took, you knew. Some just to chose to ignore it. 

Others, like me, just kept on rolling with the punches. It's still just a game. And as that wise sage Omar from The Wire would say: It's all part of the game. 

I remember watching Boonie in 2001, his arms looking like they were filled with cantaloupes, his legs a pair of short Redwoods. Everything he hit literally jumped off his bat -- into gaps, over fences. He went from a decent to mediocre hitter to a monster. He turned in the greatest season a second baseman probably will ever have. It was my favorite time following the team since 1995.

We watched and cheered and never questioned why, at 32, Bret Boone had instantly turned into one of the most dangerous mashers in the game. We loved the bat flip, the inside out back pockets, the fact he danced on tables with 19-year-old chicks at Tiki Bob's. 

But more than that, we loved that the Mariners team and the fact they won more games in a season than all but one other team in more than a century of major league baseball. And Boone was the straw that stirred the drink.

Boone put up two more almost as impressive seasons, then fell off in 2004 and then jumped off a cliff wearing concrete boots in 2005 and that was it. 

Toward the excruciatingly painful end, my friends and I half-jokingly remarked after every warning track fly ball: "Obviously, Boonie needs to get back on the juice."

And by half-joking, I mean we were dead serious. Just don't get caught. 

I'd rather steroids were not part of the equation, but since they are, that's how I feel about them right now. I can't help it. I still love following the Mariners and baseball. Nothing fazes me any more. 

Yo Adrian, I know this guy at my gym. Call me. 

  

Sweeney's classy, Ichi won't dive

Great two-part blog yesterday from Mariner Reporter Shannon Drayer of 710 KIRO.

For those who are adamant about the insignificance of "clubhouse guys", there's a great entry in there about what Mike Sweeney brings to the whole team concept -- off the field. Just another great example of what leadership means to a young team trying to find itself. When times like now are tough, it's great to hear stories like this versus stories of how the team is fractured. I know, I know, it's all about wins and losses...

The blog goes on to speculate on why Ichiro seemingly will not dive for a ball and debates the actual effectiveness of diving with some great quotes from Junior.

For the record, I have NEVER seen Ichiro dive. And I don't care what physics state, I've played outfield for many, many years, and I can tell you with 100% confidence there are balls you can only get to by diving for them.

Enjoy.

Tuesday Top 10: Greatest M's plays

There sure are a lot of them in the Mariners' relatively short history, but today's Top 10 is my version of the greatest plays in the team's history. The idea behind these was what individual plays really stand out, not to be confused with the top greatest moments in Mariners history, like the record-breaking wins of 2001, etc.

With that in mind, here are my best individual player moments:

10. Junior goes full-tilt into the wall to make catch, breaks wrist: Until you've played baseball -- and outfield at that -- you really can't appreciate how remarkable it is to see a player go full speed into the wall to make a catch. It's next to impossible to not have the instinct to let up, but Junior's catch on May 27, 1995 robbing Kevin Bass' seventh-inning fly ball to deep center proved the Kid was willing to do anything to help his team in that magical year. The Ms won that game over the Baltimore Orioles 8-3, but on the play Griffey fractured his wrist and was out for three months. One of the greatest catches I've ever seen.

9. Mike Cameron robs Jeter's home run: Cameron's snagging of a Derek Jeter home run from over the fence was a fitting introduction to Mariner fans still reeling from losing Junior, as it occurred on April 7, 2000, Cammy's first season with the Ms. I can remember it as if it was yesterday -- Cameron scales the wall and robs both Jeter and a drunk guy in the beer garden in perfect position awaiting the souvenir.

8. Ichiro throws out Terrance Long: Much like the previous play, this play was really Ichiro's introduction to (in this case MLB) that he wasn't just a slap-hitting Japanese speedster, he also had arguably the most lethal arm in baseball, something not everyone may have known. The play occurred in April 2001 -- right at the beginning of Ichiro's first season with Seattle and from that moment on, few tested his arm. The throw came in Oakland when Long was trying to stretch a ground-ball single from first to third when #51 threw an absolute bullet from mid-right field on a frozen rope to a waiting David Bell right on the bag for an easy tag. Said Ichiro on the throw: “The ball was hit right to me. Why did he run when I was going to throw him out?” My thoughts exactly, Wizard.

7. Felix Hernandez grand slam at Shea: Impressive because a) He was the AL first pitcher to hit a grand slam in 37 years and the only Mariner pitcher to ever go deep, b) Felix was an AL pitcher that never got ABs, and c) it was off Johan Santana. Unfortunately for Ms fans, it typified the team's offensive struggles as the June 23 highlight was only one of a handful last season.

6. Griffey Jr. & Sr. go back-to-back: A moment that had never happened before and probably won't ever again due to the stars that have to align. The Griffeys had already become the first father-and-son tandem to play on the same big league team, and on September 14, 1990 in Anaheim, Senior came to bat in the first inning with a runner on base and none out. He sent a Kirk McCaskill pitch over the fence in left-center field for his third home run of the season. There to greet him at home plate was the on-deck batter, Junior. "That's how it's done, son," Senior said. Junior stepped to the plate and hit a ball to almost the exact same spot in left-center for his 20th home run of the season, becoming the first father/son tandem to go deep back-to-back.

5. Carlos Guillen's bunt to win ALDS: October 6, 2000. Guillen lays down a magnificent bunt in the bottom of the ninth to score Rickey Henderson with the winning run to defeat the the White Sox 2-1 and sweep the series and advance to the ALCS.

4. Mike Cameron's fourth homer of the game: On May 2, 2002 in Chicago, Cameron tied a Major League record when he hit four home runs in one game. Interestingly in his fifth and final at-bat, he hit it to the warning track, just missing what would have been the MLB record.

3. "The Catch": April 26, 1990, Yankee Jesse Barfield hit a Randy Johnson offering that traveled deep to left-center field, destined to become his 200th career home run. But Junior sped to the fence, leaped, and made a sensational catch. It left those watching in suspense until he took the ball out of his glove and showed the umpire it was indeed an incredible home-run-robbing catch. The image of Griffey sprinting off the field wearing the famous grin of his is indelible.

2. Ichiro's 258th hit: October 1, 2004. Ichiro gets his 258^th hit of the season to break George Sisler's 84 year-old single-season record for most hits, driving a 3-2 pitch up the middle off Texas pitcher Ryan Drese. It is widely considered the most important historic achievement ever by a Seattle Mariner. Ichiro would end the season with 262 hits total.

1. Edgar's double: Not much suspense here, the shot heard around Seattle is widely thought as the greatest moment in Mariners' history and one of the tops in the city's history for all teams. The Mariners would go down 0-2 in New York, and when the series went back to Seattle the Ms would battle back to win the next two games to force a decisive fifth game. That game would go into extra innings with the Yankees taking a one-run lead in the 11^th inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Gar would win the game for the Mariners with the game-winning double to drive in Junior, giving the Ms the series win 3-2 and a spot in the ALCS.

Wishy Washy Washburn

What is important to Jarrod Washburn? Let me rewind, what is important to all athletes? Money! So I guess Jarrod is no different than any other player between the foul lines. Before all you Washburn fans get your panties in a twist, I'm not here to hate on wishy washy himself. I just want to know why it's so easy to "flip a switch" and be great pitcher again like it was 2002 in Angel Stadium?

Money is the ultimate motivator. It's infuriating watching athletes put up big numbers in a contract year (Washburn are you listening). After cashing in on a 4 year 37.5 million dollar contract with the Mariners, Washburn has put up an ERA of 4.67 in 2006, 4.32 in 07, and 4.69 in 08. Even worse, Washburn's record was a dismal 23-43 in that same span. At least he was consistent right.

I do not want to hear the mumbo-jumbo reasons for Washburn's recent success: I switched my mechanics, worked out extra hard in the offseason, learned how to throw a new pitch, etc... People who believe that nonsense should really consider finishing their G.E.D. and shooting for the stars in Community College.

Money is the reason for Washburn's 2.68 ERA and dominance over hitters in 2009. The same reason why he was 18-6 in 2002 with an ERA of 3.15 with the Angels. It's not hard to guess which year is a contract year for Washburn. Just look at the numbers.

Very few ball players these days care about their legacy. Just ask Manny Ramirez, who doesn't give a rats ass about his suspension or reputation in L.A. I'm disgusted by players who get their big payday and no longer give a shit about playing hard, helping their team win, or laying everything on the line for the game they're supposed to love.

I'm disgusted by watching Washburn walk to the bump this year. While most fans are clapping and cheering on ol wishy washy for finally wanting to compete and win, I'll be cursing him for not earning his paychecks the last 3 years.

Monday Morning Musings, May 11

The Muse Man spent most of Sunday drinking, hoping the M's would win (but Bedard wouldn't; he was on an opponent's fantasy squad), getting sunburned in several odd places (the inner knee is quite painful), watching a cheap comedy show in Brooklyn (saw the Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac trying out some new material and a duo called the "Boston Boys," one of whom wasn't from Boston, and that was their whole schtick) and then finally watching Glen "Big Baby" Davis sink the Magic on a last-second 17-footer from the corner. Dude looked like a swollen, gravity-bound Keith Smart.

Anyway, like most people on Mondays, I'm starting out the work week exhausted. This must be why our economy stinks and America is fat -- we spend our Sundays drinking, getting sunburned and watching sports. But hey, at least we enjoy ourselves.

Here's what I'm thinking this morning:

-The Celtics-Magic (or as I like to call it, Ray vs. Rashard) and Rockets-Lakers (A Bunch of Scrappy Dudes vs. Bitch-ass Kobe) are both going 7 games. I'm going with the Cs because of experience and because their best player is now a guy named Big Baby. And I'm picking the Rockets, just because I hate Kobe. And Sasha Vujacic. And Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Pau Gasol's gaping mouth. And I think Phil Jackson is a self-absorbed jerk who wrongly thinks he's the god-damn Buddha or something. Oh, and all Laker fans are dicks.

But it won't matter. In the end, the Lebrons will win the championship.

Funny, I talked to a Knicks fan the other day (and I'm 98% sure this is how all Knicks fans are thinking right now) who told me he really hopes the Cavs win the title so Lebron and Cavs fans won't feel so bad when he signs with the Knicks after the 2010 season. It's going to happen. Then the NBA will move the Cavs to Seattle. The NBA, where fan suicide happens.

-The Muser is admittedly a glass half-full kind of guy. Which is I have no problem with the M's being .500, 16-16, at this point in the season and still hold on to hope that we can hang around in the West. If anybody had told me in March that the M's would be .500 through mid-May, I'd take it and be happy.

-Positive signs from this weekend: Beltre, Junior and Lopez all starting to swing the bat better. Closer Brandon Morrow is back, albeit a little shaky in his first action.

-Signs of pending doom: Bedard went less than 5 innings. Yuni still swings at every pitch he sees. Branyan looking much more like the player no one was willing to play every day for the first 12 years of his career. Felix hitting the skids. I could go on, but want to continue keeping up the illusion that there's hope is still alive.

-You heard it here first: The Seahawks should sign Michael Vick and make him our starting running back. I will flesh this out later, but think about for a minute. The Hawks need a RB. Vick needs a job. He's probably all buffed up from jailhouse workouts. Prior to incarceration, he was unquestionably the most dynamic runner in the NFL since Barry Sanders. He needs a position switch: his potential as a championship QB was in question even before going to prison. Mora knows Vick than any coach outside of Frank Beamer. Seattle's a very forgiving town. Imagine possibilities.

Lazy Sunday's Thinking About the M's

As much as it pains me to write this--the M's are a sinking ship. Regardless of the 5-3 win today, things are quickly getting out of hand. Sure, I bought the cool-aid 10 days ago and thought the M's could win the division and maybe claim 90 wins.

10 days later, I believe the M's will be lucky to win 75 games. It starts with the offense. After winning several games 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, many of us were fooled into thinking the offense was actually ok. We were bunting, stealing, sac flying and doing everything we could to muster out a few runs. As always in baseball, this dependence on "small ball" cannot be maintained throughout the season. The 3-4-5 hitters get paid for a reason and it is not to bunt or move guys over no matter what anyone says. The big guys have to mash.

Sprinkle in the fact the Angels have a better record than us with 4 of their starting pitchers and Vlad on the DL (and coming back soon) and the Rangers actually beginning to pitch, things do not bode well for the M’s this summer. However, the season does not have to be a complete disaster (as some of us wish that it was)...

There are things left to do that can salvage the 2009 campaign:

1. Change the lineup:

My lineup:

1. Chavez/Balentien/Saunders (LF)
2. Lopez (2B)
3. Ichiro (RF)
4. Griffey (DH)
5. Beltre (3B)
6. Branyon (1B)
7. Clement (C)
8. Gutierrez (CF)
9. Cedeno (SS)

*Cut Silva, Johjima

Realize they were terrible mistakes from a failing previous regime and move on. Now! Immediately! Do it! You will feel much better Jack Z.

*Bring up Clement, Saunders, Aumont

All three of these guys need to play--especially Clement. Clement is better than Joh, Rob J, and Jamie Burke combined. Anyone who wants to give up on a player with 219 total major league at bats is a moron. This guy can hit, has patience at the plate, and is perfectly suited for Safeco Field. Don't let him be the next Jason Varitek in some stupid late season trade.

*Sit Betancourt full time--let Cedeno play SS

Yuni is not the answer at short. Never has been, never will be. He epitomizes everything that is wrong with the M's offense. No patience at the plate whatsoever. Only 62 BB's in almost 2000 professional MLB at bats!! Cedeno has a good glove and swing it too if given the chance.

*Let Griffey bat third against lefties and righties all season

Quit platooning Griffey according to matchups. As the weather warms up, so will the KID. Mark it down. He can still hit 25 HR's and be a driving reason to go to games this summer.