Currently 1-1 in the 64th minute after Van Brockhorst hit an absolute laser from 35-plus feet in the 18th minute, and Diego Forlan answers with his own blast from outside the penalty area in the 41st minute.

As my wife's paternal side is pure Dutch, I am rooting for the men in orange, although I find Arjen Robben to be terribly overrated and unfortunately theatrical.  Although there is a certain pluckiness to Uruguay that I find appealing.

 That's a good haul. 

You have to be impressed with the Pirates' haul today.  They added some real pitching depth, including a real good one in Alderson, picked up a power lefty bat who may stick in the NL, all for a middle IF that was getting older and not a part of the future, as well as a disgruntled pitcher who wanted the hell out of Steel Town.

Good stuff.  Kudos to the Buccos.

If the price is right.

I really, really like this if we can get a one-year deal for 7-9 million.  He's projected to put up a wOBA anywhere from .375 to .357.  If we can DH him, he could be a 2.0-win player.

Could we get Abreu AND trade for Swisher?  Would we have the payroll to do that? Given the fact that Swisher isn't a bad OF if he's not in center, this would move the team closer to contention.

It sounded nice in New York over the weekend when everyone was making comparisons between Brandon Morrow and Joba Chamberlain of the Yankees. But the Mariners have decided not to work Morrow into the starting rotation by letting him increase his innings as the season progresses. Morrow said he was approached by manager John McLaren during batting practice on Tuesday to talk about that very subject.

"He didn't think it was going to be a good idea to do it during the season,'' Morrow said.

Via Baker.

Ok - I know there is some disagreement about whether Morrow would be ready to start this year, either by stretching out like Chamberlain or by going down to Tacoma, but the "logic" here is just staggering.

In a nutshell, they don't want to stretch him out or let him start the process because they think they are still in it and because they think Morrow's skills are best used in a one-inning outing, late in games. 

That's it.  That's the argument.  Are there any more words to describe the incompetence of Mariner management?

http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdeportes.eluniversal.com%2F2008%2F01%2F12%2Fbeive_art _adam-jones-va-a-seat_667939.shtml&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8

The translation is horrible, and I couldn't understand about half of it, but it appears that Jones has been called back to Seattle.  

Don't want to jump to conclusions, but I don't like the sound of that.

It does sound like he was hitting well, however.

Andruw, that is.

Per the Dodgers' website, they signed him to a 2/36 million deal.  

This moves Juan Pierre to LF, where he is still horribly overpaid, and frees up either Ethier or Matt Kemp for a trade.

I like Coletti's approach on FA deals - shorter term, a bit more money.  I can handle that.  Now if he'd only let LaRoche, Kemp, and Loney play...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7466954?MSNHPHMA

The Dodgers might deal Kemp, LaRoche, AND Kershaw for Cabrera.  WOW.  If that deal happens, Bavasi automatically is relieved of the title of "worst GM."

It blows me away that any team would give away that much for anyone, let alone for a rapidly-growing, surely-slowing, soon to be DH stuck at 1B.  

Don't get me wrong, Cabrera is the shit, but damn...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2003887023_marinotes16.html

At least AJ has a good attitude about it:

"If that's what they want me to do to improve myself, who am I to say no?" he said. "They probably want me to get in there for a month, face some competitive pitching, and get those 100 at-bats."

Of course, it is asinine that the M's managed to fail to get AJ those 100 extra ABs.  Could have done it without taking regular ABs from anyone.

But why didn't they?  Well, because Raul is going to get a lot of RBIs, of course!

"He's learning every day, even though he's not playing," McLaren said. "He gets individual instruction in the cage. He's refining his game.

"In all honesty, when you bring a top kid like him up, you'd like to get him some playing time, but the situation just hasn't presented itself... If you break it down, I just don't know where he'd play. Raul [Ibanez] is going to have 100 RBIs, [Jose] Guillen is going to have 100 RBIs. Replace Ichiro? Not right now."

Is there any word to describe the idiocy of John McLaren?

Ok, we know that McLaren will hit Raul against a LHP in the late innings in a tight game.  Obviously, Raul's "veteranness" is more important than splits and talent.  Stupid, but we might as well expect it.

So here's what I don't get:  McLaren planned on putting AJ in LF in the bottom of the ninth.  We had a four-run lead.  But AJ doesn't get the AB in the top of the inning, against a LHP??  WHY???

WTF is with this damn organization?  Churchill regularly comments on how the M's are the laughingstock of the league when it comes to handling prospects (see Tui, Clement, Morrow), but why in the world would you not give AJ an at-bat in the bottom of the ninth against a LHP with a four-run lead when you are planning on putting him in LF in the bottom of the inning?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE???

F-YOU, John McLaren, and F-YOU M's.  You win in spite of your horrible stupidity and mismanagement.

Adam Jones = The New Jason Ellison

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Braves are close to dealing for Octavio Dotel!!

This really makes me happy, but now I wonder whether Bavasi goes balls-out for Reyes.  

Clement for Reyes?  HELL NO.  Clement for Reyes and Carlos Pena.  NO.  Clement for JP Howell and Carlos Pena?  MAYBE.

Seriously, does he deserve to be anything more than a platoon DH with Vidro??

As soon as last year, he was a very productive bat, so I understand why the M's might try to get him going (see: Sexson, Richie, who was productive five years ago and is still getting his chance to rekindle the magic).

But his drop-off is so blaring, one has to wonder whether the guy is done.

Either way, I don't think it will hurt to get him off the field, get his legs rested, and then perhaps he'll hit better.

Because this is getting ridiculous.

Is in Tacoma's lineup, and hit number 24 today.

Veteran leadership and chemistry RULE!!!!!!!!!

300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit. 300-character limit.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003659814_matsuzaka10.html

Here's what Ichiro said about facing Matsuzaka:

"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul."

Heh. Sounds like he's having trouble getting up in the morning.

Can we trade him now?

Geoff Baker makes a great point:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003642618_mari30.html

"Most painful winter deal: That Rafael Soriano trade for Horacio Ramirez is killing the Mariners. Not so much because of Ramirez, but the fact that closer J.J. Putz and the short-inning relievers had such tough springs. With Soriano here, the team wouldn't even be thinking of rushing Morrow up."

Bill Bavasi is AWESOME...

We have signed Rhodes to minor-league deal:

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/archives/110830.asp

If he keeps his walk rate down, he's a very good pitcher.  When he starts putting men on, he can get into trouble.  

This could be a decent and underrated move.  He's just as good as any other lefty in our pen not named Sherril.  I'm for it.

As you may know, ESPN is running a "Hot Stove" series getting ready for the season.  They spotlight players, prospects, managers, GMs, etc.

In each spotlight, they also have a short piece called the "Cold Plate Special".  This piece discusses a player, prospect, manager, GM, etc who is "cold".

So far, Miguel Batista (offseason pitcher acquisition), Jeff Clement (prospect most likely to start '07 in the minors), Bill Bavasi (GM) and Mike Hargrove (manager) have been spotlighted as "Cold Plate Specials".

Makes me so proud...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove06/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2740122

Looks like the Braves wanted Mike Gonzalez and Chris Duffy for LaRoche. (See Ken Rosenthal's latest article)

Why couldn't we deal Sherril and Reed for LaRoche?

And then move Broussard and Sexson for relievers?

I wonder if Broussard and a prospect could get us Gonzalez?

Just thinking out loud...