SB Nation User Blog: katal

Seahawks at rams Open Thread

katal — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:41:31 -0000

Maybe you read the title of this FanPost and thought "Ah! It looks like Katal forgot to capitalize the R in rams. I wonder why he made such a mistake."

Oh, I can assure you that no mistake was made. Capitalization denotes respect. There's absolutely no reason to respect the SOSAR. They're a bad team and we're going to beat them today for the tenth time in a row. That will provide us with the necessary momentum to take our revenge against the hated 49ers next week.

~~Anyway, because it doesn't look like one of the moderators is going to open a front page game thread, I thought I'd start one here.~~ I can't wait for us to RUIN the rams' Sunday!

SEA!

FootbaLL

katal — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:20:38 -0000

Fall is here. Mariners baseball is over. All this means that it's time that we organize a group for some Lookout Landing (NFL style) football.

We only had one game last year, but in 2007 this was happening almost every autumn weekend. It's hard to beat an activity that involves good people, a lot of exercise, and is followed by plenty of beer and discussions of the Seattle sports scene.

The only trick is that a surprisingly large fraction of the people who played in 2007 now either post infrequently or are banned. We need new blood, and that's where you come in. We used to play five or seven-person games, but hey, back then LL's audience was significantly smaller than it is now. There's no reason we can't get a much bigger group out to play one of these weekends. What do you say? It was usually touch-football, and like LL softball, it's open to all skill levels. If there's enough interest we can get a whole series of these going.

I propose Saturday the 17th at Cal Anderson park in Capitol Hill.

The following people are at least tentatively in:

Katal

Phildopip

Slurvey

Benne

Coach Owens (you hear that, Coach?)

Tootthekazoo

Robert + 2 frowns?

KirkHarbaugh

Schaefer

Bretticus + others

Johnbai

Brayden04

Scruffy Lefty

KentRoyals5

Two Rs and Two Ls

JamMasterJesus

Jimmimoose

WWBaker

Jaejo

PlaySportsInSeattle

UPDATE: We'll start start around 1 and go until ~4.

Series Preview: Chicago White Sox @ Seattle Mariners

katal — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:16:14 -0000

Seattle: 58-53

Chicago: 57-55

SUMMARY

Mariners White Sox Edge

Hitting (WoBA) -59.4 -42.3 CHI

Fielding (UZR) 46.5 -17.6 SEA

Rotation (pRAA) -21.9 43.8 CHI

Bullpen (pRAA) -23.8 25.4 CHI

Overall (RAA) -58.6 9.3 CHI

What do you know, the Seattle Mariners managed to take two out of their three games against the Tampa Bay Rays. All despite two starting pitchers performing below expectations. That's what a good bullpen effort, heroics by Langerhans, a strong effort by Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Kazmir continuing his downward spiral will do for you.

But enough about the Rays. We now begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. The Sox, as you can see above, outmatch the Mariners in all aspects of the game except defense. All this, yet we still lead them in the Wild Card race! Chicago has played poorly on the road this year (a .462 WP), and has only played .500 ball since the All Star Break. Also as a fun fact, they're playing exactly to their Pythagorean record.

The White Sox appear to be a clearly better overall ballclub than we are, so let's be sporting & wish them some bad luck through the work week, all the way up until they begin their series against the hated Oakland A's this Friday.

GAMES

Game One: Lucas French vs. Gavin Floyd

Game Two: Doug Fister vs. John Danks

Game Three: Felix Hernandez vs. Mark Buehrle

Did you know that Gavin Floyd was the fourth-overall pick of the 2001 draft? I didn't. Floyd has come a long way since his days in Philadelphia. He hasn't gone below 6 IP in any of his starts since July 4, and in that time, his worse K/BB ratio in any given game was 7 to 3. He throws his fastball about half the time, tosses a slider in 23% of his pitches, his curve about 20%, and just barely 8% of his pitches are change-ups. This will be a tough match-up for Our New Jarrod Washburn.

We'll be facing another first-round selection on Tuesday. Even being a bit lucky so far this year, former Ranger prospect John Danks is having his best season yet. He's managed to go between five and seven innings in all of his starts since early May, and has maintained a decent K/BB rate (2.4). His pitches range from a fastball (51.9% of the time), a cutter (21.8), change-up (17.6), and a curveball (8.6). He's even thrown the rare slider, which may be a fun thing to look out for.

Wednesday night's game features Mr. Perfect Game, also known as the only man we'll be facing against the White Sox who was an afterthought on his draft day, Mark Buehrle. One's first impression may be to think that Mark is having a wonderful year, but he's actually lost his last three starts, including the match following his perfect game, where he retired the first seventeen Twins he faced. His other two more recent outtings saw him smacked around, but to be fair, he was facing the potent offenses of the Indians and Yankees.

Mark Buehrle is earning fewer than 5 K's per 9 IP (4.78) this season, although he's also walking fewer batters than he ever has before (1.77/9IP). More balls are being put into play, and Mr. Buehrle has been somewhat fortunate with the results, judging by his .270 BABIP. Considering the tough matches we have tonight and tomorrow (prove me wrong, French and Fister), Wednesday seems to be one's best bet for a Mariners' victory.

OT, 1/1 - 2009: The Year of Katal

katal — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:48:40 -0000

After a rotten 2008 we finally (finally!) have a new year. This of course begs the question, what will 2009 bring us?

Will the Mariners compete for .500? Do they have any chance of surpising us in a mediocre division and storming into the playoffs? How will Mora do with the Seahawks? Will Kevin Durant's team win another game? Will you attend a Thunderbirds game? If the Storm do anything, will you notice?

Do you have any resolutions? Perhaps you have resolved to find someone to blame for anything that goes wrong. Or do you resolve to drink a new beer? To read the more math-centric parts of The Book? Do tell.

Finally, in honor of 2009, A Poll.

Poll

Which New Years song do you prefer?

U2 - New Years Day

13 votes

Death Cab for Cutie - So This is the New Years

16 votes

Auld Lang Syne

16 votes

45 votes | Poll has closed

Milton Bradley --> Cubs - Deal done but not yet official

katal — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:40:54 -0000

According to ESPN Radio. I haven't heard any word on the number of years or the amount of money involved, but I'll update this FanPost once I have that information.

Assuming this detail is something like 3/$36M, I say the Cubs got a steal. Bradley was clearly one of the most underrated free agents this winter.

It will be interesting to see how this affects the market for Dunn and Ramirez.

The Cubs certainly acted fast. Everyone knew they wanted to move Jason Marquis so they could free up salary to make this move. I just didn't expect the two events to happen within literally minutes of one another.

UPDATE: According to the Chicago Comcast branch, the deal is done but not yet official.

One Last Post About LL Football

katal — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:35:00 -0000

Being that the previous FanPost about LL football has fallen off the rec list & its comments have been closed, here is a new one. This way if anyone wants to check the time or place, or decides at the last minute that they can/can't make it, voila - there is a FanPost for that person's needs.

We will be playing football on Friday at noon at Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill. We usually meet near the soccer field. Some times the field is in use. When that's the case we often head over to Seattle University's field.

After the game is over we'll make our way to an eatery for drinks and food.

There's going to be a good crowd there. It includes: Katal, John, Matthew, Graham, Brett, Ningwers + friends, Omerta, Nola, Two Rs and Two Ls, and Tootthekazoo. Robert will even show up later for those who stick around.

Thanksgiving Football - UPDATED x2

katal — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:33:39 -0000

It wasn't long ago that Matthew put up a post about holding a Lookout Landing sports gathering sometime during the Thanksgiving weekend. That conversation eventually teetered out, although it's starting to come up again. In order to facilitate a discussion about when to have some LL football, and in order to introduce a poll so that we can have a visual for what days work best, I thought I'd put up a FanPost.

There has also been talk about doing a non-sporting event during the weekend. Let us know if you're down for that, too.

UPDATE: We're looking at Friday the 28th, noon at Cal Anderson on Capitol Hill. There's a shot that we might move to a different park if Cal Anderson is too crowded. Afterwards we'll likely do a thing involving getting food & drink. Be there.

The following people can make it on Friday. Am I forgetting anyone?:

Katal

Johnbai

Omerta

Ningwers + friends

Matthew

Brett

Nola

Graham

Two Rs and Two Ls

Tootthekazoo

Robert (possibly joining the festivities later)

Anyone else?

Poll

I can play football on...

Friday

2 votes

Saturday

0 votes

Sunday

2 votes

Friday or Saturday

5 votes

Friday or Sunday

1 votes

Saturday or Sunday

2 votes

Any day during the weekend

4 votes

16 votes | Poll has closed

UPDATED x2: Football This Saturday

katal — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:29:22 -0000

Some folks in the latest LL Football thread have been calling to play a game this Saturday, the fourth of October, and frankly I think that's a mighty fine idea.

We started doing LL football a year ago, and it would typically involve meeting around midday at Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill. All sorts of ability levels were present, and after a few hours of playing we would usually go do a thing that involved food and drink. Getting exercise, kicking it with good people, and having a fine meal in the early evening is a totally decent way of spending one's Saturday. If you live within the greater Seattle area then you really have no reason not to at least try it out. Go ahead and sign up.

PS: A few people (cough Robert) have advocated playing on Sunday. If you absolutely can't do Saturday, let us know if Sunday works instead. I like Saturday more, but maybe Sunday can still work.

EDIT: Saturday appears to be the consensus for the majority of the people interested in playing. How does 12:00 at Cal Anderson sound to everyone?

It would appear that the following people can make it tomorrow: Myself, Brett, John, Matthew, Camomilk, and possibly Bill. Anyone else?

Oh That Chuck!

katal — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:46:59 -0000

Geoff Baker has a piece in this morning's edition of the Seattle Times about what problems the Seattle Mariners face as they start to rebuild. The article focuses on the large number of cumbersome contracts the team has attached itself to, but reading it, I couldn't help but be reminded of Derek's recent post at USSMariner about the FO being the key to our lack of success.

Open the article and start searching for the word "Armstrong". I understand that Charlie's meddling is nothing new, but damn did Baker catch him on his game! Saying the team can possibly contend next year? Check. Defending the non-trade of Washburn to Minnesota? Yup. Indicating that he would like the team to resign Ibanez? Absolutely. Maintaining that the team isn't interested in a Cleveland-style rebuild? Uh huh.

After reading USSMariners' take on whether this team will be awful for either weeks or years, the optimist in me was better convinced by Dave. Now, after a fresh dose of Chuck Armstrong's latest quotes, I'm not so sure.

Vote For The Seahawk!

katal — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:33:07 -0000

http://kissmesuzy.blogspot.com/

Kissing Suzy Kolber is holding a tournament to see which mascot of all 32 NFL teams is the toughest. The Seahawk is facing off against the falcon today, and as it stands right now, is losing by more than 200 votes. Let's do what we can to push the Seahawk to its rightful victory.