OT: Mariners

[RiverDog]

I'm not sure how many baseball fans we have in here, but in case you haven't noticed it, the Mariners are hot. They've won 5 in a row and 9 of their last 10, overtaking the Tigers in the race for the second wild card spot. It's been over a decade since I've followed them very closely, so I need to jump back on the bandwagon.

They have a heckuva pitching staff, best team ERA in the majors. One of the things missing from their 2000-2002 was that even though they had good pitching, they didn't have that one stopper, an ace of the staff, Cy Young award winner that could be counted on to stop a losing streak or get a win when they really needed one. They have that now in the form of Felix Hernandez, perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. That pitching staff could carry them a long ways if they make the playoffs.

Wouldn't it be great if that in the same year the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, the Mariners won the World Series? I wonder what kind of odds you could have gotten on that possible scenario this time last year?

[FolkCrusader]

I follow them every year. And typically this time of year I've given up and declared my "if onlys". Whatever they end up doing they have surprised many people this season, this team deserves a lot of praise.

[HumanCockroach]

I've watched some this year, but it is hard to believe when they are so damn streaky, they've done this before this season and then proceeded to drop 8 Straight or 8 of 10 to fall back again. I had hoped they would find some offense, and they made moves, but currently it is the regular guys they have had all season carrying that offense, not Morales or Jackson, or Denorfia, they didn't solidify the fifth starter and really haven't improved from the team they had before the trade ddeadline, so I'm at best skeptical, at worst just waiting for them to implode.

I hope they prove me wrong.

[jshawaii22]

OT maybe, but you gotta admit it's fun to follow for a change. Felix is on a historic streak right now. Hitting for power has been the issue all year. During training camp, Cano pleaded with the team to pickup a 'real' clean-up hitter. That seams to be the only thing holding them back, but Morales is starting to come around and Seager is having his best all-around year. The best moves were to take the flyers on Chris Young, Fernando Rodney and to bring up that kid, Chris Taylor, a rookie SS who is killing it at the plate for the first month of this major league career. Came out of 2A ball and plays good D.

It's easy to find faults, but streaks are part of baseball, HC, and better that we're 11 over 500, than 11 under. Felix on the mound today. Hopefully, 12 over at the end of the day.

js

[political football]

YES , afeter this post i'm goig to MLB.com. Thank you !

[HumanCockroach]

OT maybe, but you gotta admit it's fun to follow for a change. Felix is on a historic streak right now. Hitting for power has been the issue all year. During training camp, Cano pleaded with the team to pickup a 'real' clean-up hitter. That seams to be the only thing holding them back, but Morales is starting to come around and Seager is having his best all-around year. The best moves were to take the flyers on Chris Young, Fernando Rodney and to bring up that kid, Chris Taylor, a rookie SS who is killing it at the plate for the first month of this major league career. Came out of 2A ball and plays good D.

It's easy to find faults, but streaks are part of baseball, HC, and better that we're 11 over 500, than 11 under. Felix on the mound today. Hopefully, 12 over at the end of the day.

js

I'm not saying it isn't, I'm saying they have to "prove" it to me, and not go back in the tank. Ie skeptical. As for Morales, eh, I'm not sold, like I said, I hope I'm wrong, but I'm skeptical about this team's ability to play solid baseball for the last quarter of the season. Doesn't mean they won't, just means I'm skeptical ( kind of like I was "skeptical" of the Hawks prospects as a SB contender the year they couldn't finish opponents).

[jshawaii22]

considering the Mariners recent history, no doubt it's a 'prove it' world the fans live in. It would be nice if September were relevant in two sports.

js

[political football]

[[color=#800080][size=200]Mariners][/size]http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_08_16_seamlb_detmlb_1#gid=2014_08_16_seamlb_detmlb_1&mode=lineups

[political football]

Going to MLB.com to watch the game.

[jshawaii22]

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_08_16_seamlb_detmlb_1#gid=2014_08_16_seamlb_detmlb_1&mode=lineups

...maybe this is what that link was to do. Go M's.

[mykc14]

I 'watch' (DVR the games and then watch them, FF between at-bats and innings after my family goes to sleep) most mariners games every year and just hope that they can keep my interest until football starts, obviously this year they have done that and much more. I can't remember a time when both the Hawks and Mariners were playing meaningful games in Oct/Nov but it would be very cool if it were to happen this year or in the near future. It would be pretty cool to watch Felix pitch a playoff game on prime-time with the whole nation watching on a Thursday and then having the Hawks play the Skins' on Monday Night Football a few days later.

[Seahawks4Ever]

The new manager is the best one since sweet Lou!

[HumanCockroach]

Maybe I'm jaded, I know that a major reason Lou wanted out of Seattle was their refusal to trade young players for what was needed to make a push for the playoffs and WS. There is not being foolish with trades ( ie Jones plus six more talented players for Erik Beddard, or Fister for a bunch of garbage that aren't even currently in SSeattle's system, and perhaps the worst trade in M's history IMHO, Pineda for Montero which is saying something) and pulling the trigger on the "right" trade. It's hard to say what that is, but IMO a Walker for Price trade wouldn't have been a horrible move, nor would have been a move that returned an actual proven right handed power hitter.

I know a lot of people are happy the M's didn't lose the "young" talent, but how exactly did they "upgrade" their team? I really don't feel like a combined less than .150 with around 10 to 15 rbi's and 2 homers couldn't have been provided from within the system. Jackson and Morales is rolled out every night, can some tell me that 0 for 9 with 4 strike outs couldn't have been provided by say Jones and Smoak? I'm fairly confident it could, and I am not just talking about one game, they have consistently struggled since they arrived, with a big game here or there, but beyond that, nothing.

So in essence, they gave up a talented plus arm with injury concerns for Morales who is hitting below .200, a switch hitter with a little bit of pop, who hasn't provided really any boost ( can you say Smoak) they gave up a talented middle infielder that at the time led the PCL in batting at almost .400 For Jackson who has an even LOWER batting average than Morales, strikes out quite a bit, can steal a base and plays center field ( can you say Jones) and a center fielder who STARTED on this opening day roster and the Mariners supposedly "loved" for a part time outfielder with no power, that is batting even WORSE than Jackson is, ( can you all say Hart) ultimately when Saunders returns, Denorfia is almost worthless, Jones was providing what Jackson has, and Smoak definitely was providing what Morales does. That doesn't mean that those players can't start to perform, but the continued belief those moves "improved" the M's makes little to no sense to me. In essence three young players were traded, all of whom showed talent, and the M's didn't add anything to the mix they didn't ALREADY have that they had sent down to Tacoma, does that strike people as "smart"? In essence, they traded in order to have the same exact team.

I simply haven't been impressed with Jack, and cannot stand the mans moves ( Lee for Smoak? Pineda for Montero? Fister for a can of corn, and some rubber bands?) there has been a few that can be applauded, but really, as a whole he has done nothing that has been remotely impressive. Lee was a part time player, but they could indeed have signed him long term, and chose not to,Pineda was a fricken all star, and after his injury is back to doing what he did in Seattle, Fister left with what Casper Wells and the worst reliever currently on the Mariners as return? only 1 player remains from that trade, and yet Fister continues to do what he always did, which is limit runs, and win ball games.

I truly like Lloydd as a the manager, but I pray that they flush Jack Z with yesterdays trash at the end of the season.

[Seahawks4Ever]

HCR; I agree with what you said 100% You nailed it! Jack Z. has got to go, he has failed at every turn to bring in and/or develop players who can hit.

[Zorn76]

I wish the M's well.

The buzz down here is if the A's have the pitching to make it out of the first round of the postseason with Lester added to the rotation, along with Samardzija. Who knows if they even win the division, with the Angels doing as well as anybody at the moment.