NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell is here to ask the question; who will step up with both Michael Saunders, and Michael Morse out for the Mariners? Of course the obvious choices are Jason Bay, and Raul Ibanez. But the Mariners actually want to win games don’t they? The numbers lost with the Mikes far out numbers what we get in return with the two veteran replacements. Not to mention the rest of the team seems to be afraid of the ball with runners in scoring position.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup between the M’s and the White Sox in Chicago. The first pitching matchup features Mariners Blake Beaven (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Jose Quintana. Danny points out he’s happy with Brendan Ryan’s plate discipline. So far Ryan has been impressive already tallying a handful of free passes. The White Sox have owned Seattle. This will be a tough series.
NWSB Insider, Seattle Mariners blogger Q tells us the 25 players named to the Mariners Opening day 2013 roster. Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Joe Saunders, Brandon Maurer and Blake Beavan. Jason Bay also made the squad in place of Casper Wells.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners’ blogger Jeff Budke talks about the trade that went down for the M’s today. On Monday, the Mariners signed OF Endy Chavez to a minor league deal, a competent to good defensive outfielder that could step in for emergencies if injuries occurred. Also, OF Eric Thames, who was sent to AAA, could step in as well. The writing is now on the wall for Casper Wells. It looks like Jason Bay will make the club too.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners’ blogger Jeff Budke brings us the positive and negative approaches for the upcoming MLB season with the Mariners new stacked OF. Jeff thinks there will be a trade before the season starts, most likely Casper Wells, or Franklin Gutierrez. The M’s seemed to trade their youth and speed movement, for veteran players with old legs, and less athletic skills. But bats are what the M’s are in need of, and the new players definitely bring that to the mix.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners’ blogger Jeff Budke talks about whether or not we’ve seen the biggest offseason acquisition by the Mariners Jack Z in the Jason Bay signing. Sure, Bay could produce quite well without the pressure of New York and a gigantic contract to live up to, but are fans expecting Bay’s bat to clearly out produce a player like Eric Thames or Casper Wells at this point in his career?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson is back this week to analyze the trade between the M’s and the O’s involving Trayvon Robinson & Robert Andino. He points out the good thing about Andino is that he can play multiple positions, he seems comfortable starting as well as working off the bench. His career batting average is .235, which is decent for a backup infielder role.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on his list of offseason moves for the 2013 Seattle Mariners. The team is in a crossroads, looking to build off their strong farm system while staying competitive. While they have to sacrifice in some areas—such as keeping the rotation open—it’s time they sealed up old holes—such as the enigma at firstbase. Keep Jason Vargas and Felix Hernandez figure out Justin Smoak.
Mariners insider Danny Ferguson brings us the Weekly Seattle Mariners notebook. Franklin Gutierrez has finally made his comeback to the team and of course continues to live up to his name of “death to flying things”. The Mariners have added 9 men to their roster so far this September. Those players are…Carlos Peguero, Carlos Triunfel, Casper Wells, Erasmo Ramierez, Hector Noesi, Luis Jimenez, Mike Carp, Shawn Kelley and Alex Liddi.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the third game of the series versus the White Sox. The Headline: in a rain shortened contest, Chicago has the final say as the M’s get swept. A timely home run was all the ChiSox needed to sink the Mariners in this seven inning game, wasting a strong start from Kevin Millwood. Mariner’s outfielder Michael Saunders sat out his second game in a row.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell weighs in with his reasons why the Mariners are playing good ball. With every player on the team contributing, Eric Wedge has taken more of a team first approach to this club now that Ichiro is gone. The one two punch of Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas has been unstoppable, and the can do attitude that has been instilled is wearing off on these guys.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell weighs in with another M’s Week That Was. Intended to be a fun column, with lots of laughs and other good stuff. Normally it will be a top 10 list, a la David Letterman style. Well the bats came alive in KC, the arms followed in Tampa Bay. A nice 5-2 week for the M’s. Miguel Olivo has a chance to pitch, Casper Wells leads off, Felix Hernandez shuts down the Royals, and the Mariners say goodbye to a legend.
