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Got a text from our resident picker asking me to post this week's pick column.
No problem, I said. But I don't want to embarrass you - you have a pretty good record, no?
Oh, I just pick the teams that wear my favorite colors.
Oh.
Well, that makes it easier!
Yeah, plus I'm really broken up about UW firing Nick Holt.
I can only imagine, you've been apologizing for and defending him for two years.
Well... I mean... Just google image him and "tight shorts"...
Gross.
I know.
As you can see the time stamp on this - it's 4:30pm PST on New Years Eve - I'm headed to a party - so no time to explain 'em, but here they are:
Philly
Atlanta
San Fran
Chicago
Green Bay
NYG
New Orleans
Tennessee
Baltimore
Pittsburgh (Stealers!)
Jax
Miami
New England
San Diego
Denver
Seattle
Enjoy the last bit of 2011!
We'll bump up production in 2012! We swear...
First things first - not going to be heading to the JV game at CenturyLink Field tonight. 5:30pm kick means I have to take a half day at work. 3:00pm - 6:00pm rush hour traffic. No Vick, no Maclin, possibly no McCoy. No one excites me on the Hawks. Those are the cons. Can't find any pros.
Moving on.
Tune into sports radio here in Seattle and they're talking about one of two things:
1) WSU hiring Mike Leach. Who cares? These guys...
Seriously, click the link below and see where Albion, WA is.
Unless he can somehow move the Palouse to a location that recruits actually want to go to - they'll still Coug it. And, no, no matter how much you like wheat and lentils - you don't want to move to a place surrounded by those fields 200 miles in either direction. And if you do, chances are you aren't a top football recruit. (Sidenote we have a writer here at Orble that is a die-hard (read: retarded) Cougar fan... and you see no post from him about it... Coincidence? I think not.)
Now we'll get to the point of this post...
2) The Mariners have 'serious' interest in Prince Fielder. Really? What team doesn't have serious interest in Prince Fielder?
A natural DH.
That being said - let's look at how the Mariners just might land Fielder. We'll also look at what they'd have do with guys like Justin Smoak and Mike Carp if they did land him. I'll even throw in some potential lineups and rosters in this post for your absolute reading pleasure.
How do they get him?
Well, in my opinion, they have some decent reasons to draw interest from Fielder.
We'll start with the park. Yes, Safeco has become known as a 'pitcher's' park. But keep in mind who it was built for. Ken Griffey Jr. A left handed power hitter. Pretty sure Fielder fits that bill. At only 326 down the right-field line, Fielder has the potential to knock a couple out on check-swings here.
The league. The American League. Love it, hate it, be indifferent about it - I think the DH position is a big draw for Fielder. Granted, he was the only player in the MLB last year to play all 162 - so stamina isn't an issue. Yet. Nearing the end of a 6-7 year contract that he's likely to get - it just may be. He might be wise to head to the AL and get some in-season rest while remaining in a lineup.
Jack Zduriencik. Milwaukee Brewers ties anyone?
The rotation. Felix, Pineda. Do spots three through five matter at that point? Vargas is even a decent three - and probably a two in any other rotation. Pretty sure Fielder wouldn't mind having a staff like that.
Seattle NEEDS him. Everyone knows it. That's a lot of 'peer' pressure on ownership and management to open up the coffers and spend what we need to spend. Face it - no way Seattle should lose in a bidding war. If they do lose out on Fielder - it better not be because he got a better offer elsewhere.
The roster. I touched on this a little earlier, but the Mariners do have some guys on the roster that can play first base. Again, this kind of plays into the 'rest' angle of a platoon at 1B/DH.
So let's take a look at what I see as potential lineup's for the Mariners without Fielder and then with Fielder:
Without
1 - Ichiro/RF
2 - Ryan/SS
3 - Ackley/2B
4 - Smoak/1B
5 - Carp/DH
6 - Wells/LF
7 - Olivo/C
8 - Seager/3B
9 - Gutierrez/CF
With - assuming they keep Smoak
1 - Ichiro/RF
2 - Ryan/SS
3 - Ackley/2B
4 - Fielder/1B/DH
5 - Smoak/DH/1B
6 - Carp/LF
7 - Olivo/C
8 - Seager/3B
9 - Gutierrez/CF
With - assuming they trade Smoak
1 - Ichiro/RF
2 - Ryan/SS
3 - Ackley/2B
4 - Fielder/1B
5 - Carp/DH
6 - Wells/LF
7 - Olivo/C
8 - Seager/3B
9 - Gutierrez/CF
Now, keep in mind, I've done quite a bit of assuming in the above examples. Such as - keeping Ichiro at leadoff; putting Gutierrez where he SHOULD bat; having Carp play in LF in one scenario; etc. Regardless, I think it's clear that the lineup is infinitely better with Fielder in it then without him (duh, I know).
Now, as promised and highly anticipated, my December 1st shot at the Mariners Opening Day 25-man roster:
1 - Jaso, C
2 - Olivo, C
3 - Smoak, 1B
4 - Ackley, 2B
5 - Ryan, SS
6 - Seager, 3B
7 - Wells, LF
8 - Ichiro, RF
9 - Gutierrez, CF
10 - Carp, DH/1B
11 - Figgins, INF
12 - Liddi, INF
13 - Saunders, OF
14 - Robinson, OF
15 - Hernandez, SP
16 - Pineda, SP
17 - Vargas, SP
18 - Beavan, SP
19 - Furbush, SP
20 - Wright, RP
21 - Wilhelmsen, RP
22 - Ruffin, RP
23 - Cortes, RP
24 - Marquez, LRP
25 - League, CRP
Write it down guys. That's a stone cold lock. Until we sign Fielder and trade Smoak. Seriously.
Just a quick post on my thoughts of the Seahawks game yesterday.
Keep in mind - as my title suggests - my views and perceptions come from the 300-level, so I don't have the benefit of outside inputs like announcers or social media to influence what I see.
Sidney Rice
Injury in 5... 4... 3...
From what I remember, he was thrown to twice. First quarter and third quarter. Both times were catch-able balls (read: hit him in the hands and/or chest). Both fell incomplete. Both times he came up "hurt".
After the first ball came his way (was dropped, he was on the turf, hurt, etc) there was an audible gasp/sigh from the crowd. Not so much because he dropped the ball, but because I think, collectively, the crowd had begun to realize that "Sidney Rice" translates into "Injury-Prone" in pretty much any language on Earth. Rice was actually up and hobbling off the field prior to the training staff reaching him - which actually drew a few cheers from the crowd. Don't really know what the supposed injury was - seemed leg and/or hip.
On his next target - a 3rd and 3 from the Washington 33 - was a great pass over the middle in which "Injury-Prone" made what appeared to be a great diving catch to keep the drive alive. Then, after falling - untouched - both his arms seemed to float up to his head and the ball just laid on the turf beside him. On seeing a replay - Prone "kind of" landed on his head (I guess?) and again, seemed to be knocked out. By the way, Hauschka immediately shanked a 51-yarder - presumably because his mind was so preoccupied with his teammate's long term health.
Fights
Coin Toss
During Game
"No I will not make out with you!"
There was a semi bench clearing incident DURING THE COIN TOSS. I think this kind of set the tone for the game. Washington had 10 penalties for 115 yards and Seattle had 9 for 91. Each side had at least 2 unsportsmanlike penalties (because they wanted me to write about it on this blog, obviously).
Just overall it was a chippy game. There were numerous times where flags could have flied after plays as players exchanged pleasantries and asked each other how the Thanksgiving holiday went with families. I remember when Holmgren had a team or two that got a lot of penalties - but those were undisciplined false starts and the like - not this level of undisciplined penalties of unsportsmanlikes that really change the game for a team. Carroll's game is getting pretty old if you ask me. Sidenote - not that it came into play - but wasting a timeout on a FG attempt because not one but TWO guys aren't on the field is inexcusable.
Red Bryant
You can only hope to contain him... during kicks.
The guy is an absolute beast. He seems unblockable at times. Too bad those times mostly only come on field goals or extra points. Nonetheless - if he's not in the Pro-Bowl this year, something is wrong. (Sidenote - I already think the Pro Bowl is a joke, but you get my point on Red Bryant here). Plus, he's the son-in-law of Jacob Green. Enough said.
Soft Middle Zone
Rex Grossman's view of the short middle zone
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool the Seattle LB's (named KJ Wright) eight or nine times on short passes over the middle or in the flats, shame on the coaches for not helping the rookie out. Please don't tell me Rex Grossman fooled you with his eyes. It was pretty clear from section 314 where he was looking the whole time.
Marshawn Lynch, Mike Williams, Zach Miller
NOTE: NO PICTURE EXISTS OF THEM ON FIELD ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING AT THE SAME TIME
Two have a history of being less than model locker room guys. One is creating a new position called Left-left tackle.
Marshawn was averaging about 4.5 yards per carry early in the game, we had a lead, we went away from running the ball in the 2nd half. Thank Darrell Bevell when Marshawn starts fighting people in the locker room.
Mike Williams doesn't even look like he's trying on routes anymore. And why would he? What did he get - maybe 3 targets? I doubt Jackson even looked his way more than 4 times the entire game. Including on 3rd and 9 from mid-field when Jackson threw to a double covered Doug Baldwin (in the flat!!) while refusing to even look towards Williams (who did a 12 yard out and had space on the sideline and size on the 5'9" Josh Wilson (yes, THAT Josh Wilson).
Zach Miller... WTF. He did have one catch (for 1.5 yards as the check down receiver). Be he also had a ball hit him between the numbers and bounce harmlessly to the turf (again as a check down receiver). I wouldn't throw it to stone hands either. Especially when he's being used so effectively as a blocker (5 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, 2 QB sacks as a o-line unit), right?
I suppose one good thing did come out of this loss. There "should" no longer be talk of playoffs for this team on all the talk radio stations here in Seattle...
And just for fun...
What hurts more about this picture? Discuss...
As we try to build this community together - I think it's imperative that we try and keep with the rapid news rate of today's 24-hour coverage media style. In that, I'll try and start a weekly (or so) "Quick Hits" column/discussion focused on little tidbits and info that I come across during the week.
It'll be an evolving process I'm sure - but let's give it a whirl. Please chime in and comment to start some discussion
[ Click here to read more ]
Recently I found myself on the road. Driving. A long way. A three day trip one way in fact.
Turns out you have a lot of time to think when you drive - regardless of how many people (5 others, including two 6-year-olds and a 1 year old) are in the car with you
[ Click here to read more ]
I'm a lifelong Seahawks fan.
I've been a Seahawks season ticket holder since the 2005 season. (Side note - I feel I'm personally responsible for the 2005 Super Bowl run because of this fact)
[ Click here to read more ]
If you're reading this blog, or any sports blog for that matter, chances are extremely high that you - at the very least - know what fantasy sports are. Chances are also pretty high that you actively participate in such leagues. Perhaps many. At once.
What are the levels of fantasy sports player? What kind are you? Below I'll try to categorize the 'levels' of fantasy players. The levels I'm going to use are, admittedly, VERY basic - and many variations and degrees can exist within any of the three levels
[ Click here to read more ]
Welcome to the 2011 Baseball Season!
Boy that was fun for us Seattle Mariner baseball fans! Here's to next year
[ Click here to read more ]
***04/01/2011 UPDATE***
No need for any real update here. All brackets were used for toilet paper pretty much after Round 1. Turk did sneak out a 'victory' amongst us here at UnSportsman. Enjoy hanging that on your wall Turk.
[ Click here to read more ]
"Just got an update on Gilby saying they do not expect him to make it through the day."
This is a text I got around 1pm on Monday, Feb. 14th, 2011. It was from a high school buddy and football teammate of mine, who now is among the Snohomish School District coaching ranks himself
[ Click here to read more ]
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Comment by Winless In Seattle
on Go Hawks, week 13 picks
UnSportsman
Better yet - what if the Browns team that played the Hawks shows up?
Ratings!!