NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners’ blogger Jeff Budke brings us a wish list of sorts, players who could be valid catching backups for the now limited role in Seattle. With the recent trade for Mike Morse, the M’s sent John Jaso to the Oakland A’s, leaving a whole behind the plate, while acquiring more unneeded 1B and OF personnel. Four names stood out to Jeff, and yes, one of them happens to be Miguel Olivo.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Ben Tole weighs in on who would be a decent fit from the 2013 free-agent class. After a 75-win season, we saw some obvious improvement with this young Seattle Mariners team. But there is still plenty of work to be done with this roster before the Mariners are going to make a run at the post season. Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher, BJ Upton, and Melky Cabrera are all possibilities.
New NWSB Insider & Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke weighs in on the M’s 2013 options at catcher. Powered by a young stud, a veteran, and a mountain man escaped from the woods, the Mariners have acquired a position of strength in Seattle—and the most powerful of the bunch may be developing in the minor leagues. With Jesus Montero, Miguel Olivo, John Jaso and Mike Zunino who wins out at backstop?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the second game of the series versus the Oakland Athletics. The Headline: Tommy Milone mows over the M’s as Oakland completes the sweep. Despite a healthy outfield and a new lineup, Oakland and Milone prove too much for the Mariner’s in this series finale. Alex Liddi went 1-for-3 and scored a run in his first start since June 9th.
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. The week started off with a sweep. The Mariners did find a way to win two in LA. Jason Vargas was back to his winning ways. Remember when the M’s traded for Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup with the Baltimore Orioles. Jason Vargas is hoping that August will be as effective for him as July. Last month he tied a club record of number of wins in a month and was named AL pitcher of the month. This will be the most difficult match up of the three, as Tillman has been pitching well.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup with the New York Yankees. C.C. Sabathia was fortunate to come away with a no-decision against Boston on Saturday after surrendering a season-high six runs in six innings. The Mariners have not won eight in a row since June 23-July 1, 2007. Kevin Millwood and Felix Hernandez will pitch in this series for Seattle.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the third game of the series versus the Tampa Bay Rays. The Headline: The Mariners win the pitching duel and take their second series in a row. The road was kind to the M’s, winning 5 out of 7 games, but up next is a 10 game homestand with the M’s facing the first place New York Yankees first. Home will not be as kind as the road reports, as the bats seem to sleep at Safeco.
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.
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 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. Coming off of a weekend sweep in Colorado, the M’s were quickly back to their losing ways by the weekend. Brandon League loses his spot, Chone Figgins gets back in a game, and the Rainiers make an appearance at Safeco Field.
Mariners insider Danny Ferguson brings us the Weekly Seattle Mariners notebook. The decision to keep Chone Figgins may indicate that there is at least some value to another team for the struggling veteran. Maybe…After blowing another same and costing Seattle a much needed win, Eric Wedge announced that Brandon League has lost his role as the closer for the time being.
