Saturday, November 14, 2009

Welcome back, Jack!

Looks like defense is still a priority in Seattle (fine by me!)

Here's hoping Jack will be healthy come spring and be gathering up those WebGem points all summer long!

Mariners sign Wilson to two-year deal...

"I did not accomplish what I wanted to accomplish when I came over," Wilson said. "I was so ready for the year to be over, everything kind of went wrong. The only good thing was me getting traded over to Seattle, a top-notch organization. I'm really happy to have the chance to come back and show what Jack saw in bringing me over."

Wilson's season was not completely lost. He earned the Fielding Bible Award as the best fielding shortstop in the Majors in 2009, with 27 runs saved. In 1,143 starts at shortstop, he has recorded a .977 fielding percentage.

Now he wants to win.

"I'm really excited to be back in Seattle," he said. "It's such a great organization, and there is such a chance to compete. I have a lot of high hopes for this team. I'm really glad to have a chance to be a part of it."

During his conference call, Wilson praised his teammates, the city and the fans. He also said he is better equipped for the challenges of the American League.

"I think I saw enough of the American League in the time I was there, plus Interleague Play the last couple of years, to know that I can make an adjustment to a different style of game, so I'm really excited about it," he said. "There's nothing like a rough year to give you that extra incentive to do a little more in the offseason. There's always a positive in something."

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

One more year....


At the onset of his initial return, I dubbed it Real and Right as Rain. That is exactly how it ended up.

Okay, the true story book ending would have been World Series rings all around for the navy and teal. But, hey, you can't have everything ~ not in just one year anyway.

It really turned out better than anyone could have imagined.
Sure, it would have been nice if Junior had been totally healthy and capable of playing like he did in his first ten years instead of the second ten. But, despite his limited playing time and declining ability, he was able to make a HUGE impact on what had previously been such a MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES
dysfunctional clubhouse. His mere presence - that smile and his unadulterated joy for game - acted as an elixir for all that ailed the young and scared, the old and injured and the just plain burnt out.

From all accounts it was, and is, all genuine. Junior truly cares about this entire organization, all his teammates and each and every person in it, from the clubhouse guy, to the PR people.
Junior, by word and deed, made the game what it is supposed to be, for the players one through twenty-five and for the fans. He made if fun again.

There are those who think, from a baseball standpoint, this is not a move that should have been made. I can understand that view, I just don't happen to agree. Early indications, from reporters and even from his own agent, are that Junior is willing to play whatever role is best for the team - likely one more limited than even last season. This gives the M's flexibility from a financial and personnel standpoint and is only going to serve to further strengthen what was started last season. In other words, this move is not going to hinder other moves - Jack Z is just getting started!

I, for one, am so very glad that the fans will be able to give Junior a season long send off. He deserves it. So do they.

And so we have one more year...
One more year to bask in that contagious smile.
One more year to savor that presence at the plate.
One more year to admire that sweet, sweet swing.
One more year to revel in that unadulterated joy of the game.

One more year to say goodbye.

btw ~ the Seattle Mariners won 24 more games last season than the year before. Some may deem it a coincidence. I think not.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Nine straight in 2009....


First...
9 straight 200-hit seasons
... a Major League record

Then...
9 straight Gold Gloves
... first player to win the award in his first nine seasons

Congratulations, Ichiro!

and, oh btw...
M's Gold Glove winners for 23 consecutive seasons is the longest streak in the majors.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

The case for CY Feilx..



Seems to me, it's down to two...

feliX
cY
Zack


The basics?

felix
19 w
.791 wp
2.49 era
217 k

zack
16 w
.666 wp
2.16era
242 k

even up there - two gold stars each...

No decisions?
  • Felix - 10 w/ an era of 2.15
  • Zack - 9 w/ an era of 2.35
Advantage Felix...

Run support?
  • 4.37 per game for Felix
  • 3.78 per game for Zack
back to even (Zack getting it done despite the Royals ineptitude)...

Complete games?
  • Felix - 2
  • Zack - 6
Zack takes the lead...

Team winning percentage?
  • M's won 25 of the 34 games Felix pitched
  • Royals only won 17 of the 33 Zack pitched (only one more than his personal win total
Again, speaks more to the Royals offense (or lack thereof) so I'll give this one to Feilx
back to even....


Strength of schedule?
  • 18 of Felix's starts were vs. the top six teams in the AL, compared to 12 for Zack
  • 10 of Felix's starts were vs. eventual playoff teams, compared to only 5 for Zack
advantage: Felix

Of course I'm biased, but that's my case and I'm sticking to it!

If Zack wins, I really won't be too disappointed - he's certainly deserving. It was great that there was a legitimate race between two such strong and exciting arms - knowing that, because of their youth, it may be the first of many to come.


But, CY or no CY, Jackie Z needs to draw from a nearly bottomless inkwell when it comes to putting pen to paper in order to keep Mr. Hernandez in a Mariner uniform. Then, Felix will have many, many, many years to prove his CYness in Seattle :-)