I have been thinking that this site could benefit from Open Threads.

I thought there was some particular place reserved for recommendations for improvements to the site, but I couldn't find it and I apologize if it is still around.

Most political bloggers will be familar with what an Open Thread is.  It's just a thread on the front page where people can discuss any topic relevant to the site.  In this case, the Mariners.  There are a lot of potential discussion topics that aren't big enough to justify a fanpost.  Recently I've been curious about this community's take on a particular subject or wanted to make a post-game observation but there isn't really a place for these general discussions.

Generally the game-notes thread can fill this role, as small observations or questions are often game specific.  But when there isn't a game-notes thread, or when there are gaps between games I think that an occasional Open Thread would see good use.

I'm relatively new here, so I apologize if this has been discussed and rejected in the past.

  The inspiration for this post is Dave's post over at USS Mariner where he recommends that the Mariners trade Washburn and Bedard for J.J. Hardy.  This post is not to rehash that argument.  If you want to argue about that then please read that post here.  Be sure to read all the comments there first so people aren't just talking in circles (it's worth a try to say, right?). 

  My intent behind this fanpost is to ask the LL community what we think Washburn's and Bedard's value are.  Where I have a hard time is with the following:

1. Bedard's trade value is low because he is injury prone

2. Washburn's trade value is low because he's not actually that good

3. They both are free agents at the end of the year - and we can't sign either to an extension

 It's the last point that I don't understand.  How can their trade value be supressed and their free agency value be so high that resigning them isn't a potential part of the plan? 

My thoughts below the fold.

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Today's election day and so I look for a distraction to make it pass by a bit faster and naturally I turn to football. 

There are some thoughts that have been rolling round in my head and I thought I'd see if any people around here wanted to chat about them.  Don't be shy, I just thought it'd be fun to have a general discussion thread here.  Sure, John Morgan is the best football analyst anywhere, but sometimes the front page just isn't enough for me and I want to chat.  So in no particular order . . . . .

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I have recently realized something:  this site is freakin awesome!!

I don't mean this just as hyperbole or natural hometown pride.  I mean that this site is objectively better than the others.  Since this news is a recent discovery of mine I thought there might be other people here who don't realize exactly how lucky Seahawks fans are to have this place, hence this diary.

How did I make this realization?

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The real world debate rages between SA and MoMo but the question I have isn't about who Holmgren should use more but who he will use more: should I start MoMo or SA on my fantasy team?

I'm in a point per reception league, which really increase MoMo's value.

So will Holmgren use the 49er game as a chance to pound the ball with SA in a desperate attempt to fix the running game, or at least experiment with what is and isn't working?  Or will he continue to move toward a platooning system, maybe using a game the Seahawks should dominate as an excuse to see more of MoMo and Weaver and give SA some rest for his nagging injuries?

Advice?

I also offer up the comment space below for all fantasy questions from people seeking the collective genius of the Field Gulls readership.

After watching yesterday's game I was obviously pleased.  It was great to see the defense dominate, even if it wasn't exactly against the Patriots.

But at the end of the game I also thought "well, that John Morgan guy won't be able to slam Alexander after this game."

So I read the game summary and surprise, surprise . . .

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Ok, this isn't really a defense of these two players per se as much as it is my own mental justification as to why they continued to receive playing time as starters while struggling.

I am not trying to pick a fight here, I would like to offer some potential reasoning and hear what you think.  To be fair I haven't really heard this reasoning from McClaren or anyone else, so I'm probably just trying to justify Mariners actions in my own mind, so be it.

Okay, here's the theory:

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