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 talks about the new two year $14 million dollar extension the Mariners gave to Hisashi Iwakuma. As a pitcher who started out in the pen last year, Iwakuma was later added to the rotation, starting 16 games while having an 8-4 record with an ERA south of 3.00. The extension proves that the M’s are serious about locking up talent in the rotation while awaiting the emergence of the “big 3.” This is great news for fans of the M’s.
NWSB and Mariners insider Danny Ferguson brings us news of yet another Seattle Mariners call-up. Pitcher Erasmo Ramirez started the season on the starting roster but found himself to be the odd man out and was soon sent to Tacoma. After grooming himself a little in AAA, Ramirez is back and ready to make a statement.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell weighs in with Thursday’s top Mariners story; the return of Franklin Gutierrez. With the past year and a half basically spent on the DL, it is important for Gutierrez to get back to his normal ways, or face the threat of being shipped out come deadline time. It won’t be easy either, with the hot bats of Michael Saunders, and Casper Wells, the competition is real, and fierce.
NWSB insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell brings us his prediction for the 5th starter in the Seattle Mariners rotation. With Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Hisashi Iwakuma and Kevin Millwood seemingly punching their tickets to be the top 5, there is one spot left. Blake Beavan and Hector Noesi are fighting for that spot.
Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson tells us it is possible to strike gold as is the case with Josh Hamilton – a rule five pick who became the 2010 American League MVP. This year the rule five draft was again utilized by the Mariners in the selection of a left handed relief pitcher from the Brewers organization, Lucas Luetge.
General manager Jack Zduriencik and the Seattle Mariners have stockpiled young talent in recent seasons and have plenty of pieces they could move in a Joey Votto deal with the Cincinnati Reds. We know Cincinnati is absolutely desperate for pitching, but losing Michael Pineda would leave them with King Felix Hernandez and…what?
Our man on the Seattle Mariners beat Danny Ferguson tells us things went downhill so fast for Chone Figgins that fans only cheered for him when he went on the MLB Disabled List. Ouch tough audience.
