NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on what he believes are prudent questions following the trade between the Angels and the M’s for Jason Vargas & Kendrys Morales. Danny wonders whats up with Justin Smoak now. The reason that Kendrys Morales was an available trade option was due the fact that the Angels had too many first base options. Do the M’s now too?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on what he believes are prudent expectations for newly signed Canadian major leaguer Jason Bay. He points out though this is a long shot, remember that Jason Bay was the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year, 2009 Silver Slugger and a 3 time All Star. Nothing is what Ferg has come to expect from the M’s, so even if it doesn’t work, Bay has met his expectations.
New NWSB Insider & Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke weighs in on the M’s 2013 trade options for Kansas City Royals slugging 1B Billy Butler. No matter which way you slice it, the Mariners will have to give up one of the big three pitching prospects, Jeff says he would go with James Paxton, plus M’s stud Jason Vargas, and throw in Justin Smoak just to get him off our hands. Let’s see what the KC GM thinks.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup between the M’s vs. LA Angels in Anaheim for Game 147. The pitching matchup features Rangers Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 3.28 ERA) vs. Angels RH Zack Greinke (5-2, 3.51). As Ramirez takes the hill on this important game you van bet that Eric Wedge will have his mental checklist out for next season’s starting rotation.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the twenty-first week of the year had to be the homerun and lead saving grab by Chone Figgins. On a 90 mph fastball up in the zone, Adam Dunn got just about all of this one. Figgins tracked it to the wall, timed his leap perfectly, and nabbed the ball at the top of the wall to save the then 3-1 lead for the Mariners.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the second game of the series versus the Tampa Bay Rays. The Headline: Eric Thames seals the deal with a walkoff single, propels M’s to another big home win. Thames wasn’t the only hero, as Millwood pitched a gem. The win propels the Mariners to 8-1 in their last nine home games. Kevin Millwood pitched an absolute gem, and that shouldn’t remain buried.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Britton Ransford weighs in with another M’s article on the recent winning streak and the 2012 MLB trade deadline. With regards to Ichiro, it was a trade that had to be done and the Mariners did it at the right time. These wins are great. The early season was sour. Other than Chone Figgins finally being benched, there wasn’t much to be excited about. Let the fun continue!
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Britton Ransford tells us the laundry list of ideas he has for turning around the U.S.S. Mariners pathetic 2012 season. His ideas include cutting Chone Figgins, trading Felix Hernandez for assets, finding out if Jesus Montero is the every day catcher, even though Mike Zunino is now in the system, sending Justin Smoak to Tacoma for a bit, and lastly avoid 95 losses and don’t lose 17 games in a row.
Mariners insider Danny Ferguson brings us the first article of the second half of another losing season for the Seattle Mariners. This week he questions the teams front office. He asks why they are one of the most cold in all of baseball. The owner of this vessel has never watched his team play a live game. Compare that with Nolan Ryan who sits in the front row of nearly every Rangers game. The USS Mariner has sunk.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Sports blogger Brandon Choate brings us his reasons to put away your nooses and leave Eric Wedge alone. With his past experience, his player’s coach management style, and his fearlessness of ownership, Wedge is NOT to blame. Had Franklin Gutierrez or Mike Carp or Miguel Olivo not been injured early on, we may not have seen the likes of Kyle Seager or the resurgence of Michael Saunders.
NWSB Insider Brandon Choate brings us his weekly Fantasy Baseball recap of your Seattle Mariners. Felix Hernandez was lights out once again and Tom Wilhelmsen continued to be on fire as the Mariners closer. The hitting, though, has killed the team with Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak both going ice cold after putting up decent numbers recently.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Sports blogger Brandon Choate brings us his mid-season report card for the Seattle Mariners. The team has given fans little to be cheery about and it shows in this breakdown of the season futility. Despite the gloom, the Mariners have produced some good news-worthy items themselves. Here’s to hoping they have a MUCH better second half!
