NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Mariners insider Danny Ferguson brings us the Weekly Seattle Mariners notebook. The Mariners had a rough week, going 4-4 after a sweep of Colorado. Kyle Seager still looked good while Justin Smoak is showing signs of warming up. Now if only the Mariners could improve their pitching, particularly Brandon League and the starting rotation, who have an abysmal 3.98.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup between the Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners. Tonight at Safeco Field its Game 44 Yu Darvish vs. Felix Hernandez. It could be the case of whoever can score 2 runs first will win. And it will be the bullpen’s fault. Do the Texas Rangers have jurisdiction in Washington State?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Insider Steve brings us a good piece on the M’s today. First baseman and Goose Creek, South Carolina native Justin Smoak is under the spotlight. Justin Smoak is not comfortable in a MLB batter’s box. For the first time in his life, he is not excelling at the one thing that brought him joy.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the 2012 American League West division. If any team’s spot in the standings is bound to change, it has to be Oakland. Right now nothing seems to be holding the Rangers back. As long as the pitching stays strong, and the offense starts to heat up, the Angels could be climbing the ladder very soon here.
Mariners insider Danny Ferguson brings us the Weekly Seattle Mariners notebook. A not so fun bit of news this week. Seattle fans had to watch a perfect game pitched on them on Saturday afternoon. The crown jewel of frustration came on the day the Mariners were nationally televised losing a to Philip Humber in a perfect game. Brandon League no more blown saves on Felix Hernandez day ok?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Insider Steve gives us his weekly M’s pitching breakdown in the arms under the spotlight segment. The Mariners took on Texas and Oakland this week in what turned out to be quite a few pitching duels. While Felix Hernandez still worried some, the under rated Blake Beavan, Jason Vargas and Hector Noesi stunned. The Mariners bullpen was a little shaky, but evened itself out to hold on.
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. Brendan Ryan, justifying his role on the club, and Justin Smoak both went yard on the series finale against Oakland. Also, news of Jesus Montero’s first long ball! Nice!
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the third M’s game of the series versus the Texas Rangers. A 4-3 comeback victory. A Mariners team that had gone scoreless for 23 innings finally broke loose in the final two innings to pull out a 4-3 victory snapping a 7 game losing streak to the Rangers. John Jaso, Michael Saunders, Kevin Millwood and Kyle Seager were in fine form.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the M’s and the Rangers series matchup for early April. Hector Noesi is getting his first start for Seattle in the first game of this four game series. Noesi worked out of the pen for the Yankees in 2011 and had success against the Texas power line-up in the 1.2 innings he worked against them.
Another North West Coach in the spotlight today. Former Seattle Mariners skipper Mike Hargrove. Danny Ferguson one of our Seattle sports area bloggers points out Coach Hargrove isn’t to fondly remembered for his days in Seattle. His record in Seattle as manager is 192–209, including a 93 loss season record in 2005. To this day Hargrove insists his sudden retirement had nothing to do with his Ichiro Suzuki.
Another Northwest Athlete in the spotlight today; Seattle Mariners “potential Ace pitcher” Larry Bernandez. Clinton Bell, one of our Seattle area bloggers points out how Bernandez has become a sex symbol of sorts around the confines of the Emerald City. While garnering the hype of former Mariner Ken Griffey Jr., LB could be “fighting for a spot” on the roster with newcomer Jason Vargas and Hisashi Iwukuma. Good luck Felix Hernandez.
Seattle Mariners blogger Insider Steve tells us even with the additions of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to the LA Angels, the Texas Rangers still have the divisions deepest all-around team. So now without further adieu, he presents the 2012 American League West division predictions and season handicapping preview for all four AL West teams, the Mariners, Angels, Rangers, and Athletics.
