Here's hoping this isn't like the SI curse....

Some Yankee fans predicting a great 2010 season for the M's...

NYYFans.com ~ prediction thread

Heck, some of them even have the M's beating the Yanks on their way to the World Series!

This is all well and good and fun for Jack Z and the M's to be getting so much national pub and attention from other fan bases - but as Jack has said himself (paraphrasing) ..."We have had a nice winter, but we haven't proven anything yet - the game is played on the field, not in the off-season."

And frankly, I sorta like it when my team flies under the radar. So much for THAT this season.

As a side note, this is one of only a couple years in the last 20 or so that I haven't spent Super Bowl weekend in Nevada (usually Reno, sometimes Vegas) with a large group of friends. I usually place a bet on the M's to win the World Series - bummer that I forgot to do it when I was in Vegas in November celebrating my daughter's 21st birthday (likely it was 100/1 or so at that time and no doubt the odds are significantly different now ;-)

No need for arb .... yes to Bedard?

The M's were able once again to settle with all their arb-eligible players, avoiding the whole messy arbitration process. They haven't had to go to arbitration since 2003 and it's understandable why it's to be avoided at all costs, as from what I've heard, the process is contentious at best and down right acrimonious at worst. Both sides must submit a number and make a case for it and the arbitrator has to pick one - not split the difference (which is often what happens in settlement). Some ex-players have said that the hearings can be pretty brutal, with the teams doing everything possible to tear the player down in order to "win" and pay the lower figure. Anyhoo, Franklin and Felix obviously settled and signed extensions, but Aardsma, Lowe, League and Kotchman all signed one-year deals (with David and Mark getting significant raises due to their stellar performance last season).

Speaking of one-year deals....

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Rumors have been for a couple of days about the possibility of Erik Bedard re-signing with the M's. Still no confirmation from the M's. But there was this from Erik himself...

Free-agent pitcher Erik Bedard confirmed to a Canadian newspaper that he has agreed to terms with the Mariners on a one-year contract for 2010.

Bedard, who turns 31 on March 5, was in Seattle undergoing a physical examination on Friday. The Mariners' medical staff was believed to be still evaluating test results on Friday, but an announcement of the deal could come as soon as Saturday, barring unforeseen issues.

According to Le Droit, a Canadian French-language newspaper in Ottawa — Bedard is from Navan, Ontario — the left-hander said he accepted a one-year deal with a base salary of $1.5 million. He can earn considerably more with incentives, likely based on how much he pitches and time spent on the active roster.

The paper quoted Bedard saying he "hopefully" could make "roughly the same" as the $7.5 million he earned last year if he hit all his incentives.

"I am truly happy. It was my first choice to return to Seattle," he told the newspaper in French. "I think the team will be really good this season. I very much like the direction the team is going."

Likely, we won't hear anything for certain until Jack Z and staff return from the Dominican Republic (sometime Saturday, I believe).

But, if there IS a deal and it IS as rumored ...

sure seems like a low risk-HIGH reward one to me. There are those who have grown weary of Erik's, shall we say, surliness. Granted, listening to and/or watching interviews with him can be a bit uncomfortable. His dislike of the media (or, more likely, the whole "process" of the media) is apparent but, I've never heard any reports of complaints about Erik as a teammate.

So, here's to your health Erik - if you can get it back and keep it back, M's fans will be drooling at the thought of that 1-2-3 punch.

Chemistry ~ it's not just for players

The significance of "chemistry" seems to be the epitome of the "chicken or egg" debate ~ Does great chemistry contribute to a team's success? Or, does winning develop great chemistry?

One thing not open for debate...

the 180 turn-around from the abyss of acrimony that was the team of 08 to the tickle fest of 09 was nothing short of a miracle. Not only did the M's improve their win total by 24 games, but they actually looked like they were having the time of their lives (just see the celebration of a third place team....)

Anyhoo ~ what I have surmised in recent weeks...

from watching the Q&A videos from Fan Fest, listening to the Hot Stove League Show and reading various blogs and columns is that this whole chemistry deal is important among coaches and the front office - and this organization seems to have it in great supply. Every time I turn around, it seems that some coach or FO guy is relaying the history of his relationship with another in the organization ~e.g., Carmen Fusco, Director of Pro Scouting and Jack Z have known each other since elementary school - grew up on the same street in fact. Okay, that's an extreme case, but there are other examples of those who have know each other for years and/or previously worked together. Many of them have player development experience (a rather vital attribute for assembling a contending team) and what comes through without fail is that they are all on the same page with Jack and Wak. They all share a passion for the game, a desire to win and are using their various talents (whether it be general knowledge of the game, teaching skills, talent evaluation, etc.) to build something special.

So, it occurred to me...

it's very possible this whole chemistry thing starts at the top. And, from all accounts the "great mix of 2010" has just begun....

Unique mini-camps begin in Peoria

In an article today, Kirby Arnold explains why the M's are serious about player development. Armed with detailed evaluations from last season and information from in-home scout visits this winter, 24 Mariner coaches will work under the direction of Minor League Director Pedro Grifol and performance enhancement expert (those p.e. words are always a bit scary ;-) Dr. Marcus Elliott to present a new strength and conditioning program to 41 top Mariner prospects over the next month. It sounds very individualized with lots of emphasis on player accountability.

“If we’re going to be a really, really good organization, our best players should come through our system,” Zduriencik said. “The core of our team should be guys we’re building, developing and training ourselves. This is a step in that direction.”

uh-oh, Spaghetti-Os!

JED JACOBSOHN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

More pasta, as they say, to toss against the wall that is Spring Training. In this case it comes in the form of right-handed hitter, first baseman and former collegiate and minor league catcher, Ryan Garko.

Another inexpensive contract with a few incentives - he's glad to be back with former Tribe members...

“I was surprised when Cliff was traded, and I’m excited to play with him again. He’s the best,“ Garko said. “Franklin and I came up together and broke into the big leagues together. I’m really proud of him. He’s big-time now.”

Byrnsey and the rest....

Eric Byrnes ~ here's to his health!

Now, Byrnes said, "My legs are as healthy as they've ever been. I'm excited to put together a full season and help the Mariners win a lot of games."

The right-handed hitter will battle for playing time in left field. He said he's content to accept a platoon role.

"Speaking to Jack, the role wasn't necessarily specified, other than the fact he believed I would contribute," Byrnes said. "That's all I needed to hear. I'm healthy for the first time in two years. I just needed a team to believe in me half as much as I believe in myself. Speaking to Jack, that's what I felt."

In a news release, Zduriencik said of the signing, "We think Eric is a great fit for our team. He is a high-energy player with a veteran presence. We look forward to him competing for a spot on our roster when spring training starts."

Brad Nelson ~ 1B/OF

Chris Woodward ~ utility

Josh Bard ~ catcher, Chad Cordero ~ pitcher

Ryan Langerhans

Josh Wilson ~ infielder

Corey Patterson ~ outfielder

From the Liberty Bell to the Space Needle...

Jim Bates

Ever since the first conference call with Cliff Lee after the trade, the talk has been "Lee hates Seattle". Seems to me his comments have been a bit mis-construed, given the emotion of the moment. The guy was on vacation after ending the season on a team just shy of it's second World Series victory for pete's sake. And, not only that, he was supposedly under the impression that he would be signing an extension - as he had seemingly fallen in love with the City of Brotherly Love.

Anyway, who wouldn't be a bit shell-shocked given those circumstances?

"Through the media, it may have looked like I didn't want to be traded to the Mariners," he said. "But that wasn't the case at all. It was just shock."

Lee said his reserved reaction to the trade reflected his emotions at the time.

"The things I said were real. That's how I felt. I could have stood up there and made up something to sound good for whoever. Instead, I said exactly how I felt and told what happened. It's not Seattle. I could have been traded to any other team and said the same thing."

Now, even after his press conference in Seattle on Friday, some still think it's not only imPROBable - but imPOSSible that he would even consider signing with the M's.

Well, you know rosy little ol' me....

I didn't get that impression at all. Cliff was definitely a bit uncomfortable, and it remains to be seen if his discomfort was because of dislike of the media in general (ala Erik) or the fact that he is bran-spanking new to Seattle and hasn't even had the chance to talk to teammates or find the nearest Starbucks yet, let alone.

“I’m excited to be here,” he said. “I’m back in the American League with one of the best defenses in the game. It’s going to be fun watching Ichiro and (Franklin) Gutierrez run around the outfield. (Chone) Figgins, Jack Wilson, (Casey) Kotchman, those guys are defensive-oriented players. To be a starting pitcher you have to like that. I like that a lot.”

Seems to me, if the team performs well this season, it's not outside of the realm of possibility that Cliff would consider Seattle as one of his options for a long term deal.

I mean, how could he not love us?

:-)

And, even if he does decide that the Emerald City is not his cup of coffee, those two shiny draft picks will be waiting.