Category Archives: News, Notes and Quotes

of great starts, homer streaks and too many errors. . .

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Well, this was unexpected!

Whodathunk that the Mariners would be leading the majors in WINS after the first ELEVEN games?!? Granted, they’ve played TWO more games than every other team but the A’s but, still . . .

Going in to today’s rubber match w/the White Sox, this was the stat leader board . . .

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Yes! YOUR Seattle Mariners were leading in ALL the above offensive categories! (plus doubles and stolen bases – which didn’t show within the screen print) 🙂

And, AFTER today’s game . . .

the homer streak is alive! ELEVEN straight games with a home run!

And, the pitching isn’t all that bad – EIGHT wins from starters and SIX saves from relievers (despite our closer being on the IL)

And then there’s the defense . . .

once upon a time, among our strongest suits, now the weakest sauce 😦

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

annnnnd . . . . he’s IN!!!

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Edgar Martinez fina11y gets the call to the hall!

We’ve known it was coming, even before fun things like this . . .

Dear Edgar –

Thank you from the bottom of my Seattle Mariners’ fan heart for . . . 

  • the double
  • countless other at-bat moments in your momentous career
  • the light-bat and geoducks in Puyallup
  • your unassuming, humble nature
  • your unparalleled, loyalty to the team & to the city

Congratulations, Gar, on your long-awaited, much-deserved election to the Baseball Hall of Fame!

Cooperstown will have you forever but, Seattle had you first . . . 

Thank you for being ever, only a Seattle Mariner. 💙⚾️💙⚾️💙

Some of the MANY tweets . . . (see them all forever more at #EdgarHOF )

When it rains, it pours . . .

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First, the M’s not only lose their first road series (vs. Tiger) and lose Robbie due to a broken hand (hit by a pitch on the 13th)

but then, on the 15th comes the extremely disappointing news that Robbie has been suspended . . .

It was going to be bad enough to do without Robbie for 4-6 weeks because of injury.

Now, not only does the team have to do without him for much longer but, the reason could have a larger, different impact on the team. Truly one of the biggest challenges the organization has had in many years. It will be interesting to see if the team is able to pull together and if Scott and Jerry can pull the right strings in order to get the right pieces, shuffle the field, respectively to ensure all bases are covered for the rest of the season.

No-No, eh?

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Wowsa!

Mariners 5 | Blue Jays 0

I won’t soon forget the excitement of James Paxton’s first complete game, as it was also his first no-hitter (the second no-no by a Canadian and the first by a Canadian on Canadian soil 😉 )

I wasn’t able to watch but, heard the last few innings on the radio while commuting on the train (and holding my breath!) and heard the last call (ground out to Seager/Healy) while boarding the ferry 🙂

So great to see James have the success he’s enjoying this season (even before the no-no). We have all known he was capable of becoming the M’s future ace but, crazy injuries seemed to have dogged him, derailing him in one way or another every season. Here’s to James’ continued health because it’s become apparent, when healthy, he can be absolutely dominant – whether he’s striking out 16 one game or giving up no hits the next – he’ll be a huge part of any success the M’s attain going forward.

Congrats, James!!!

First firsts | opening series vs. the ‘stros

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Obviously, the most important first came today . . .

the M’s first WIN ~ finally!

Mariners 4 | Astros 2

Here’s some other Mariners “firsts” from the first series of the 2017 season . . .

(notice that the some of the “new guys” are well represented 🙂 )

  • hit = Segura
  • double = Cano
  • home run = Segura
  • run scored = Haniger
  • RBI = Valencia
  • walk = Cruz
  • intentional walk = Seager
  • win = Altavilla
  • save = Diaz
  • stolen base = Haniger
  • double-play = Seager-Cano
  • outfield assist = Haniger

there were also some bad firsts (first loss, first blown save, first error) but, we’ll choose to focus on the positive . . . this is Rosy, after all 😉

Next up, the Hated Halos – Go M’s!

Let’s Meet those who are going to own the zone . . .

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Jerry gathered all the pieces with controlling the zone as his guide, now it’s time for Scott to assemble to puzzle into a complete picture of work ethic, peak performance and leadership.

Only ELEVEN players on the 25-man roster have been M’s before . . .

ROTATION | TWO new guys

FELIXhernandez RHP The King is still The King  ~ set to start his NINTH Opening Day
HISASHIiwakuma RHP thank goodness he’s back ~ came  t h i s  close to being a Dodger
WADEmiley LHP at least he’s an innings eater ~ 190+ in each of 4-full seasons
TAIJUANwalker RHP time for Tai’s breakout season ~ slider a key performance indicator?
NATHANkarns RHP beat out Paxton for the 5-spot ~ if he can match last year, not too shabby

BULL PEN | FOUR new guys

STEVEcishek RHP couple years removed from TWO 34+ save seasons ~ can he do it again?
JOAQUINbenoit RHP an oldie but, hopefully still a goodie!
JOELperalta RHP another oldie but, a necessity with Charlie out for the start of the season
TONYzych RHP has the stuff but, this will be his first time on an Opening Day roster
NICKvincent RHP he switched clubhouses late in ST ~ from the Pads to the M’s
VIDALnuno LHP not a great season last year (but, then, who in the M’s pen had one?!?)
MIKEmontgomery LHP started last season (posted TWO shutouts) ~ long relief this year?

CATCHERS | BOTH new guys

CHRISiannetta C needs a bounce-back season, though was still better than any M’s C
STEVEclevenger C has been better defensively than expected and the 7th lefty bat

INFIELDERS | THREE new guys

ADAMlind 1B veteran solid first baseman with some pop but, only vs. righties
DAE-HOlee 1B   welcome to the U.S.! ~ plan to platoon with Lind vs. lefties
ROBINSONcano 2B after double hernia surgery in the offseason, bound to bounce back!
KETELmarte SS tasted the big leagues last season ~ won the starting SS spot out of ST this year!
KYLEseager 3B had a rough year at the hot corner (after his GG) but, looks to continue his upward trajectory at the plate
LUISsardinas U young at utility not always the case ~ hopefully, he can get some consistent time

OUTFIELDERS | THREE new guys

NORIaoki LF consistency seems to be his motto ~ as in consistently on base
LEONYSmartin CF stellar defender at a crucial position (and a new daddy for the second time!)
SETHsmith RF great against righties, will platoon with Guti
FRANKLINgutierrez RF here’s to keeping him healthy, then there’s no stopping him!
NELSONcruz DH key is keeping fresh and focused  ~ no doubt Gar can help with that

At-a-glance observations . . . 

  • lack of lefty pitchers is a bit concerning
  • mix of platoons/experience of the position players seems like a great balance
  • from all accounts, newbies and veterans alike are “all in” on the vision and philosophy set forth from day one of the new regime and, to a man, they are all focused on C the Z

 

 

one more sleep . . .

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Due to the Seahawks super success of late (two Super Bowls in two years – one of each variety, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat) I’ve found it increasingly difficult to switch gears from the frenzy of football to the everydayness of baseball. And, I’m sad to admit, I didn’t even follow Spring Training all that closely but, here’s what I know . .

Apparently, our little ole M’s are a “trendy pick” . . .

 

OK.

I’m ready now.

ONE. MORE. SLEEP.

This and That . . .

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Welcome to THE SHOW, Taijuan!

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Good-bye and good luck, Michael ~ Welcome to the M’s org, Xavier . . . 

 

News, Notes and Quotes on an off-day . . .

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the best Mariners news . . .
Eric will return to the dugout tomorrow night!

podcast: Skip talks about his experience and recoop with Brock and Danny

the most surprising Mariners news . . .
and I say that just because it was unexpected, not because I don’t think it should have happened
Jack Z through 2014 | Shannon Drayer

the scariest Mariners news . . .
D.J. Peterson hit in the face by a pitch | Ryan Divish

Minor League news . . . 
* Jesus Scure was optioned to AAA after completing his regab assignment with AZL
* Ji-Man Choi (who began the year in Class A High Desert, was promoted from AA Jackson to AAA Tacoma on Saturday

MLB News . . .
Instant replay expansion | Greg Johns

Local News . . .