Assuming Matthew Stafford is off the board, should the Seattle Seahawks select Mark Sanchez with the #4 pick in the 2009 NFL draft? The answer is, absolutely not.
At some point in the near future the Hawks need to think about finding the successor to Matt Hasselback. He is 33 and coming off a season where he missed 9 games due to a back injury. Matt’s health issues indicate his most productive years are behind him. Still, Sanchez is not the solution.
Last year the Raiders selected Darren McFadden with the #4 pick. They signed him to a six-year contract worth 60 million, 26 million guaranteed. I’m not ready to commit this kind of money to a player who has had one full season as a starter under his belt. He’s started 16 games his entire collegiate career. Selecting Sanchez is far too risky. Hawks GM Tim Ruskell tends to favor four-year starters. Hopefully Sanchez’s slim body of work is enough to get his name thrown out of the war room.
The Hawks have had zero success drafting quarterbacks in the first round. Two names come to mind, Rick Mirer and Dan McGwire. In 1991 the Hawks drafted McGwire with the 16th pick in the first round. He played 12 games in a Hawks uniform over a four year period. He completed a combined 74 passes for 745 yards. Two years later, desperate to erase the McGwire debacle, Seattle drafted Mirer #2 overall. He threw 41 TD’s and 56 INT’s in four seasons with Seattle. His highest QB rating in a season was a paltry 70.2. Not exactly the production the Hawks expected out of either player.
On draft day, I’ll be praying for one of three players, OT Eugene Monroe, OT Jason Smith or LB Aaron Curry.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Griffey's Golden Eye
Can Griffey contribute to the 2009 Mariner ballclub? This was the question on everyone's mind when Griffey was given a contract offer. There were a lot of doubters and naysayers that said no. They felt Griffey is too old, too fat, too slow.
The naive baseball fan would agree. To start the season Griffey is batting 182 with 1 HR and only 1 RBI. This is not what you want from a bat in the meat of your lineup.
Is Griffey hurting the team by taking away at bats from the younger guys on the team?
Let's dive a little deeper into Griffey's return to the Emerald City. The Mariners are 4-2. No, that is not a typo! Griffey's presence has caused a visible difference in the clubhouse, and the players are finally meshing. He has taught his teammates the importance of patience and good pitch selection.
Griffey has a golden eye. In 17 total at bats this season he has walked 6 times. His on base percentage is a staggering 471. To put this in perspective, Betancourt has come to the dish 18 times this year. He has a 333 batting average, 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 doubles. Most people would say Yuni is hot, but I beg to differ. Betancourt has zero walks this year and a subpar 333 on base percentage.
Griffey adds more than just a presence in the clubhouse and a veteran in your lineup. He gets on base! His stats help the team win.
Has the Griffey experiment paid off? Look at the AL West standings and decide for yourself.
The naive baseball fan would agree. To start the season Griffey is batting 182 with 1 HR and only 1 RBI. This is not what you want from a bat in the meat of your lineup.
Is Griffey hurting the team by taking away at bats from the younger guys on the team?
Let's dive a little deeper into Griffey's return to the Emerald City. The Mariners are 4-2. No, that is not a typo! Griffey's presence has caused a visible difference in the clubhouse, and the players are finally meshing. He has taught his teammates the importance of patience and good pitch selection.
Griffey has a golden eye. In 17 total at bats this season he has walked 6 times. His on base percentage is a staggering 471. To put this in perspective, Betancourt has come to the dish 18 times this year. He has a 333 batting average, 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 doubles. Most people would say Yuni is hot, but I beg to differ. Betancourt has zero walks this year and a subpar 333 on base percentage.
Griffey adds more than just a presence in the clubhouse and a veteran in your lineup. He gets on base! His stats help the team win.
Has the Griffey experiment paid off? Look at the AL West standings and decide for yourself.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Should Ichiro Bat 3rd?
With the sudden emergence of Endy Chavez at the leadoff spot, is it time for the M’s brass to think about batting Ichiro 3rd in the lineup?
While Chavez is not known for his hitting, his .353 average through the first four games is definitely starting to open some eyes. Chavez knows how to bunt, move guys over when he has to, and can swipe a bag or two. He takes a lot of pitches and is not afraid to walk. Chavez realizes the importance of setting the table with sluggers like Gutierrez, Griffey, and Beltre behind him in the lineup.
No one can argue what Ichiro has meant to the M’s since his inception into the league in 2001. Ichiro is a perennial all-star and can be counted on for a .300 plus average, 200 hits, and 100 runs every year. He also is a base stealing machine, nabbing a whopping 315 bags in eight seasons with the M’s—an average of 40 bags per year. And don’t get me started on his defense and cannon in RF.
The only knock on Ichiro, is his inability to get on base consistently. As a leadoff man, Ichiro has never walked more than 68 times in a season. He averages less than 50 free passes per year. While I respect Ichiro’s aggressive swing and plate approach, I think the M’s would be better served to bat him 3rd in the lineup. Ichiro would see a lot more fastballs hitting ahead of Griffey or Beltre and his power numbers and extra base hit potential would go up a result.
Here is a projected lineup with Ichiro in the 3 hole:
1. Chavez (LH)
2. Gutierrez RH)
3. Ichiro (LH)
4. Beltre (RH)
5. Griffey (LH)
6. Lopez (RH)
7. Branyon (LH)
8. Johjima (RH)
9. Betancourt (RH)
The M’s could be much more versatile with lefty/righty advantages up and down the lineup.
Ichiro as a 3rd hitter could drive in over 100 RBI’s .
While Chavez is not known for his hitting, his .353 average through the first four games is definitely starting to open some eyes. Chavez knows how to bunt, move guys over when he has to, and can swipe a bag or two. He takes a lot of pitches and is not afraid to walk. Chavez realizes the importance of setting the table with sluggers like Gutierrez, Griffey, and Beltre behind him in the lineup.
No one can argue what Ichiro has meant to the M’s since his inception into the league in 2001. Ichiro is a perennial all-star and can be counted on for a .300 plus average, 200 hits, and 100 runs every year. He also is a base stealing machine, nabbing a whopping 315 bags in eight seasons with the M’s—an average of 40 bags per year. And don’t get me started on his defense and cannon in RF.
The only knock on Ichiro, is his inability to get on base consistently. As a leadoff man, Ichiro has never walked more than 68 times in a season. He averages less than 50 free passes per year. While I respect Ichiro’s aggressive swing and plate approach, I think the M’s would be better served to bat him 3rd in the lineup. Ichiro would see a lot more fastballs hitting ahead of Griffey or Beltre and his power numbers and extra base hit potential would go up a result.
Here is a projected lineup with Ichiro in the 3 hole:
1. Chavez (LH)
2. Gutierrez RH)
3. Ichiro (LH)
4. Beltre (RH)
5. Griffey (LH)
6. Lopez (RH)
7. Branyon (LH)
8. Johjima (RH)
9. Betancourt (RH)
The M’s could be much more versatile with lefty/righty advantages up and down the lineup.
Ichiro as a 3rd hitter could drive in over 100 RBI’s .
The rims will be rocking at Hec Ed next year
In case you haven't seen, check out incoming UW signee Clarence Trent throw down some filthy dunks:
Were the Ms on the Juice?
Steroids in baseball, yeah yeah, it's been hashed, rehashed, etc., etc., ad-friggin-nauseam.
Even recent reports linking Manny Ramirez, the epitome of the tenured "pure hitter" to steroids, have surfaced.
It's made me wonder: Were any of the Ms of the glory days of the early 2000s and beyond on the juice? You can't deny for a while there, players were having career years that were unmatched in prior and post years, and these teams could hit the long ball in a park that was considered a marine-air pitcher's dream.
The thought made me go back and look at some key player stats from those years. Now mind you, this is all speculative.
First off, significant Mariners already named in the Mitchell Report:
- Jose Guillen
- Ron Villone
- Ryan Franklin
- David Bell
All players that had career seasons with the Mariners and stand out when you look at their career stats.
And think about who was playing at the absolute prime of their career and had career seasons in or around 2001-04:
- Brett Boone: 2001-04, had home run totals of 37, 24, 35, and 24. The four years prior: 7, 24, 20 and 19.
- Joel Piniero: Good friend of Franklin's, 14 wins in 2002, 16 in 2003, with career strikeout highs in both years, hasn't won over 8 games in a season since.
- Mike Cameron: 25 HR, 110 RBI, 34 SB in 2001, hasn't cracked 83 RBIs or more than 25 SB in a season since.
- Adrian Beltre: .334 48 HR, 121 RBI in 2004 and the 2007 season was his best since then at .276, 26 and 99.
And let's not forget the admission from Mike Morse. In fact, I'd venture to say steroids were more prevalent in the minors because those guys are willing to do anything to get into the show when they're not under the microscope.
All MLB teams were juicing to some extent during those years. Those fans who feel the beloved Mariners were "too good of guys" to be juicing may want to think twice.
Even recent reports linking Manny Ramirez, the epitome of the tenured "pure hitter" to steroids, have surfaced.
It's made me wonder: Were any of the Ms of the glory days of the early 2000s and beyond on the juice? You can't deny for a while there, players were having career years that were unmatched in prior and post years, and these teams could hit the long ball in a park that was considered a marine-air pitcher's dream.
The thought made me go back and look at some key player stats from those years. Now mind you, this is all speculative.
First off, significant Mariners already named in the Mitchell Report:
- Jose Guillen
- Ron Villone
- Ryan Franklin
- David Bell
All players that had career seasons with the Mariners and stand out when you look at their career stats.
And think about who was playing at the absolute prime of their career and had career seasons in or around 2001-04:
- Brett Boone: 2001-04, had home run totals of 37, 24, 35, and 24. The four years prior: 7, 24, 20 and 19.
- Joel Piniero: Good friend of Franklin's, 14 wins in 2002, 16 in 2003, with career strikeout highs in both years, hasn't won over 8 games in a season since.
- Mike Cameron: 25 HR, 110 RBI, 34 SB in 2001, hasn't cracked 83 RBIs or more than 25 SB in a season since.
- Adrian Beltre: .334 48 HR, 121 RBI in 2004 and the 2007 season was his best since then at .276, 26 and 99.
And let's not forget the admission from Mike Morse. In fact, I'd venture to say steroids were more prevalent in the minors because those guys are willing to do anything to get into the show when they're not under the microscope.
All MLB teams were juicing to some extent during those years. Those fans who feel the beloved Mariners were "too good of guys" to be juicing may want to think twice.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The hits keep coming in Eugene
Congratulations, Oregon. Your school is playing baseball in the Pac-10 for the first time in 28 years, allowing you to continue your rich tradition of the most hideous uniforms in the conference.
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