Watching Fister blow through the Angels tonight made me think....what other Mariner pitchers came out of nowhere and were successful to start.

The two names that came to my mind were Dave Fleming in 1991-92 and Bob Wolcott in 1995.

Lets compare:

Dave Fleming

(1991) St 1 - v KC (W) 5 IP, 5 H, 2 K, 0 ER

(1992) St 2 - v. TEX (L) 6 IP, 9 H, 4 K, 8 ER

St. 3 - @ CHW (W) 7.2 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 0 ER

St. 4 - @ MIL (ND) 1.1 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 5 ER

St. 5 - @ CAL (W) 5.2 IP, 4 H, 6 K, 2 ER

TOT -  3-1, 25.2 IP, 30 H, 17 K, 15 ER

CAREER 38-32, 4.67 ERA

Bob Wolcott

(1995) St 1 - v.BOS (W) 5 IP, 7 H, 2 K, 2 ER

St 2 - v. BAL (L) 3.1 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 4 ER

St. 3 - @ BOS (W) 6 IP, 9 H, 4 K, 2 ER

St. 4 - @ NYY (W) 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 K, 3 ER

St. 5 - v. KC (ND) 5 IP, 5 H, 2 K, 3 ER

TOT -3-1, 25 IP, 35 H, 13 K, 14 ER

CAREER 16-21, 5.86 ERA

Doug Fister

(2009) St. 1 v. CHW (ND) 6 IP, 1 H, 4 K, 0 ER

St. 2 v. NYY (W) 7 IP, 8 H, 4 K, 3 ER

St. 3 @ CLE (ND) 6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 2 ER

St. 4 v. KC (L) 6.1 IP, 5 H, 5 K, 5 ER

St. 5 v. ANA (W) 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 K, 1 ER

TOT 2-1 32.IP, 26 H, 19 K, 11 ER

Realistically Fister should have a third win, if it wasnt for the CHW game.  The numbers look very close.

Lets hope that Fister is more like Fleming than Wolcott.

For any of you that may be interested in seeing some quality baseball at an amateur level, the State AAA Senior American Legion tournament will begin this upcoming weekend at Heidelberg Park in Tacoma.

The tournament is an 8 team, double elimination tournament that will pit the best baseball teams in the state of Washington against one another. 

The field will be headlined by the Twin City Titans from Kennewick, who advanced to and lost the National Championship game last August.

Also in the field of 8 will be Centralia Sobe Toyota Lizards, Yakima Beetles, Spokane Blue Devils, Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak, Lakeside of Bellevue, Kennewick and the Vancouver Athletics. 

The tournament begins on Saturday July 25th and ends on Wednesday July 29th with the championship games beginning at 6pm, with an 8pm game if necessary.


This is the second straight year that Tacoma has hosted the event, with the Twin City Titans defeating the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak in last year's championship game.

As an American Legion coach, it really doesnt get better than this in amateur baseball.  If youre in town next weekend, come check it out.

At five games out in a WEAK American League West.  Should the Mariners be buyers or sellers?

For example...

Verducci from SI says that the Giants aren't getting much production from Travis Ishikawa at the plate, though the plus/minus system ranks him as the best defensive first baseman in the league. Verducci also wonders if the Giants would use Jonathan Sanchez to acquire a player such as Jorge Cantu, Nick Johnson, Miguel Tejada or Garrett Atkins.  I say...why not take Ishikawa and Sanchez to get Beltre. 

If the Mariners are sellers...who do they sell and what do they sell for?

From Larry Stone at the Seattle Times:

It's a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. 

I don't know if Sweeney will stick...but it will be interesting to see if he has any gas left in his tank.  I have always liked Sweeney.  Just wish we could have pulled this out a few years ago when he was still healthy and could hit.

Sexy note: Use the link tool please people.

I am really disappointed to see the way the off season has gone for baseball.  I really dont know if it is the economy that is causing this problem or if it just a higher level of greed that has erupted.  I don't remember an offseason where there was this much drama.

First the Furcal incident.  I am glad to see that the Braves have dismissed Furcal's agency from ever dealing with them again.  Good for the Braves.  i am glad this didnt happen to Seattle, or I would hate to see the amoutn of posts this blog would explode with.  I am not a Braves nor a Dodgers fan, so I really dont take this move personally.  I think this was one of the shadiest things that a player could do to a team.

Secondly, the whole Boras situation.  Does Scott Boras realize that the economy is in shambles?  That economically the game of baseball could be in trouble if things keep going the way they are?  I guess he really doesn't care.  He'll get his and that's all that matters.  I hope there is a little collusion in the league and the amount that Tex gets isn't close to what Boras wants.  Either that or he signs with Boston and falls flat. 

Lastly, Manny Ramirez is a whiny bitch and I would love to see him have the same problems Tex is gonna have.  I loved the comment a few weeks ago where he basically said he was going to possibly not play next year if he doesnt get the years and money he wants.  Good.  Stay away.  The only person you'll hurt is yourself.  Look at what Barry Bonds did to himself.  No one would sign him for the league minimum last year.  Maybe this is the best way to get these assholes out of the leauge.  Ignore them and don't give in to their demands.

I am very satisfied that Seattle has made the moves they have made.  I would love to see them upgrade second base and get a big bopper to play 1B/DH/LF and see what happens.  Im glad these high priced babies aren't coming anywhere near Seattle because regardless of their talent, they arent worth the headache. (See Sexson, Richie)

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I guess by rosterbating this early...might cause me to go blind.

What are your Non-Griffey rosters beginning to look like?

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Every year, as a high school assistant baseball coach, I attend clinics to not only validate my coaching through the school district I work for, but also to improve my knowledge of the game to turn around and share with my players.

For the past five or six years I have attended th Northwest All-Sports coaches clinic held every year at the DoubleTree Hotel in Sea-Tac.  They have clinics for most sports all being held in the same location with guest speakers teaching basic fundamentals as well as inside information that can help take your team to the next level.

I have listened to coaches like Tom Trebelhorn, Tom Gamboa (after he was attacked at first base), and the highlight of my clinic-visiting Tom House speaking about pitching for a day.  There have been other, local coaches who have interested me as well, like Mark Yoshino, head coach at Bellevue Community College.

I received my flier today for the upcoming 2009 clinic and I flipped to the baseball session to see if it is worth going to this year.

And I am met with this face

THIS is who they got as a FEATURED SPEAKER???

Yes there are two sessions being taught by our beloved Mariner.  He will speak for an hour about Infield Fundamentals, Techniques and Drills.....and then for an hour on HITTING!  SERIOUSLY.  They list him as a Former Mariner....2 time all-star...14 season career..99 consecutive errorless games at 3rd base...

but HE is going to teach coaches how to teach hitting?  I guess the old saying of those who can't ...Teach.

Anyway...the other featured speakers this year include Bob Didier of the Arizona D-Backs (formerly of the Mariners) the U of Indiana and Hartford baseball coaches and the instructor of the Ephrata Baseball Academy and Players.

I am considering going because it is usually good...but Cirillo...teaching hitting...THIS I gotta see.

I got to perform duties today as a "guest groundskeeper" at Safeco field during the Tampa-Seattle game.

So I get there and get to help hose down the field, which was pretty cool, take out second base during the fourth and sixth innings and get to go and sit everywhere a groundskeeper gets to go. Which meant I got to hang out in Tampa's dugout most of the time.

A couple of observations:

1) Cliff Floyd and Eric Hinske are FUCKING huge.  Not just "wow, they are large men," but "HOLY SHIT youre a monster!" type of huge.  You almost wonder if Hinske is on the 'roids. (yes he is that big!)

2) I was very impressed by Shawn Riggans behind the plate, at bat and in the dugout.  Some jackass had a jersey with a bunch of Rays autographs on it and was begging Riggans to sign it...Riggans ignored him for almost 20 minutes.  Finally, he walked over...signed autographs for a bunch of kids and left the jackass in the dust.  He also gave some baseballs to a few kids after the game (Upton also gave some kids his batting gloves after his last at-bat)

3) Was shocked how young some of the players looked.  Sonnenstine and Riggans could have both passed as players on my Legion team (19-U).  Kazmir was pretty tiny as well.  I really want the Mariners to get younger.  This youth is really helping their success

4) I knew Dickey would have some problems because of the weather.  The air was thick and his ball didnt dance much.  However, I didnt think that it would go as bad as it did.

5) The Tampa dugout was ALIVE.  They were cheering one another, laughing, joking, having a grand time and that excitement was mirrored on the field.  There is a reason why they are in first place.  They have great chemistry.

All in all it was a great day.  Couldnt have asked for a better seat in the house!

Again,  I agree with the idea of blowing this team sky high.  I like the Pentland move.  Although I don't feel it should be the only move.

I'd call the Dodgers and see if they want their 3B back.  Although I LOVE Beltre...I think we can get something worthwhile for him.  While we have the Dodgers on the phone, we let them know that we have Erik Bedard and if they want him, they can have him.

On TrueBlue LA...there is discussion that since they Dodgers have about $80 million coming off the books in the next two years.  They have put together a package to offer Pittsburgh for Snell and Bay.  I would think that they might listen to an offer for Beltre and Bedard using similar prospects or players.

They were saying a package of Hu, Loney, Ethier, McDonald and Kuo for Snell and Bay might get it done.

I think a package of Loney, Ethier, Penny and McDonald would get it done in my book.