Monday, March 29, 2010

This Skipper ain't from Gilligan's Island

He just looks so....

managerial.

Don't ya think?

(as opposed to "grand-fatherly" type, such as the M's have had in the past)
(photo courtesy: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press


What do I know? I'm not in that clubhouse.  But, from what we as fans have been allowed to see so far during his short tenure in Seattle, despite his barely past rookie status, it sure seems as if Wak is the "goldilocks" of managers...just the right mix of encouragement and discipline.  He knows when to give a pat on the back and/or a kick in the butt.  He knows how to be a teacher who instills confidence and a boss who inspires full effort.  To me, it's very comforting to have a manager with this particular balance of personality traits and skill sets at the helm of our beloved M's. 

Friday, March 26, 2010

Ups, downs and all arounds of late spring...

Just not enough time in the day (or night) lately for proper posting, so, here are some recent links of interest...

ups...
downs...
all arounds...

The photos are up!  
The ones on the 1st Avenue side of Safeco Field, that is.  While walking to the garage after the Sounders opening season match at Qwest Field last night, (Sounders won 2-nil) I got my first look at the new photos....
Felix, Cliff, Erik, Ryan, David, Ichiro, Franklin, Milton, Jose, Jack, Chone, Casey, Rob and the Moose of course.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Wak says no walks....

Now there's a man after my own heart!

The M's skipper obviously feels the way I do about pitcher's walks (NOT a good thing) and is willing to scrape a little to come up with a positive from a somewhat less than stellar performance.

Actually, looks like Lowe, Pauley and Cordero faired pretty well in relief (only one earned run in 5 innings) and Milton laid down a bunt single AND didn's get thrown out (well, not by the umpire at least)

OK - that's all the rosiness I can muster tonight ... been a long day.

Oh, just a couple other things...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Yesterday pitching, today hitting...

And about 15 days to get it all together!

Lovin' the new pest ~ Ichi-Fig... 
Ichiro and Chone combined for 5 hits (including 2 triples), 3 rbi, 5 runs scored and 1 stolen base

The "D" really shaping up...
2 more double plays (by the way ~ the position switch is officially "a-go")

And there was a little power...
Eric with a 3-run homer

The pitching was really not too shabby...
Luke made it through without too much damage, Sean and Jesus each gave up their first runs of the spring, and Mark and Brandon lookin' rea-DY!

box score Mariners 12 | Angels 6



Saturday, March 20, 2010

Now THAT's more like it!

  • a fabulous Felix start (5 shutout innings)
  • some devine "D"
  • plenty of power 
  • efficient bullpen (nice change up Shawn!)
...and a Mariner win!

Not too shabby to notch a combined 3-hit shutout versus the best hitting team in the Cactus League.

Here's hoping today, despite the lack of regulars, is more of an indication of the season to come as opposed to the past week.

EDIT 11pm: as Larry Stone describes here..

Every team, good or bad, goes through frustrating stages of spring training. Former M's manager Lou Piniella used to have one or more tantrums a spring when the play got particularly ragged, as happens inevitably with mixture of rookies and veterans in the lineup, and players rounding into shape at varying speeds.
I expect the Mariners to sharpen up considerably in the next two weeks as Wakamatsu begins to focus on getting the regulars in gear and in tune. Pitchers who have been working on honing particular pitches, and getting their arms in shape, will start to turn it up a notch.
The performances between now and opening day will be far more telling than those to this point. The Mariners still have plenty time to leave their fans with a warm and fuzzy feeling heading into the season, especially if the next report on Cliff Lee is an upbeat one.
I was able to listen to/watch more of this game than any so far.  I had a lot of work to do around the house due to a pretty crazy work schedule lately, but it's always more enjoyable with every radio tuned to the game and a couple of TV's as well (one instance where the several second delay in the TV broadcast comes in handy - gives me time to dash to the nearest TV to watch key plays like a Felix K, a diving play, a home run (or three!) or a double play.

New Cactus League record for attendance today = 13,444

Friday, March 19, 2010

Bits and pieces...

RRS still up beat, despite being beat up, "No worries, mate."
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100318&content_id=8834222&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea


Keepin' Kanekoa - Rule 5'er at the very least making the decision difficult
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2011383271_mari19.html







Saunders sent down
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/19/1115549/saunders-sent-down-to-continue.html

It's official, the Mariners have entered...


The bad news started this afternoon with the news that Cliff Lee was headed back to Seatte for rest/diagnosis/treatment of abdominal strain. Then, as the evening progressed into the game against the Reds, things continued to go down hill ... fast.
So, in a matter of hours...
  • the M's have lost one ace and one potential starter to injury for an unknown amount of time
  • Milton is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy
  • M's lost another ST game (6th in-a-row)
Here's hoping this too shall pass ...
it's only spring training .... right?

UPDATE:  Wak none too happy with the recent Milty tossings

UPDATE:  Hey, Wak's reading my blog :-)
from Kirby's blog...
"What do they say? This too shall pass?" Wakamatsu said. "Hopefully."

Thursday, March 18, 2010

From clubhouse kumbaya to field fiends?

Okay, that's a bit extreme I suppose but...

I imagine Wak is not real happy with TWO ejections in as many SPRING TRAINING games, when there was only ONE in the entirety of last season (Ichiro, of all people).

Anyhoo ~
Today we found out that ejection was not the only price Cliff would pay - it was announced that he will be suspended for five games of the regular season and fined an undisclosed amount.  He will appeal but, in the meantime, Wak has got to try to set up his rotation and, at a minimum, this is really going to screw up the ONE, TWO punch.

Then, in the first televised game of the spring (vs. the Rangers) Milton is ejected.  I didn't see it but, from most accounts, including this one from Wak via Shannon, the reason was rather a mystery.  Will Milton's reputation precede him?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

They're baaaaaaack.....

And MUCH better than the past few years...

Mariners Commercials!

My personal fav is "Running Catch".  Pretty evident that Guti could be a movie star, but how cool is it to have the manager and the general manager in a commercial?!?

The bloopers are hysterical :-)

Hurry up, April!  I am SO ready for baseball!!!

btw ~ last season I dropped my season tickets from two seats to one (as I usually ended up going by myself anyway) so I have to by separate tix for Opening Day in order to take my standing date of some dozen years (my lovely mother-in-law).  I didn't receive the season ticket holder email where you could order single game tix and almost lost out - luckily, my account executive was nice enough to take care of me (even though I was past the deadline).  Anyway - found out today where our seats are ....
row 7 in the Terrace Club, bay-bee!!!

An ejected starter, a newly mobile catcher and the DA

Well, who says spring training is laid back?
Mr. Lee ejected....

Wak liked what he saw from Rob...
and Rob liked how he felt - healthy!

And then there's David...
a closer from the start...

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sight for sore eyes...

                                                                         AP Photo/Ed Andrieski

Well, I didn't actually "see" Felix or even hear the pitch-by-pitch call (don't you just hate it when work gets in the way of fun?).  But, just to know Felix was back on the mound and looking strong is enough to soothe a baseball starved soul ... for a moment or two, at least.

From all accounts, the other half of the battery hung in there pretty well.  Adam logged his first start catching Felix - seems they want to ensure that he is ready, willing and able to report for duty on a Felix start, just in case Rob can't answer the call.  We should find out soon about Rob's level of readiness - he catches Mr. Lee tomorrow in Tucson...

Other than Felix and Adam, not much to write home about in today's game...
 ~ save for ANOTHER 2 hits for Tui!

Oh, and the fact that there was ANOTHER face first slide today...
this one at third base and requiring stitches - in Adam's chin.

No DP's turned and three more errors... 
I'm not worried - the ides of March are barely upon us - they'll get it together.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Happy First Felix Day!

Yep, Felix's first start of the spring is today in Tucson vs. the Rockies, with Adam Moore behind the plate.

Sounds like things were a little rough yesterday...
giants 8 | mariners 4
  • Doug Fister had a rough outing (although only one of the four runs he allowed was earned and Wak said he saw some positives and they are still working on some things (it is only March 14th)
  • As for the unearned runs, Chone Figgins, very uncharacteristically, made two errors in one inning (not totally excusing things, but Wak did mention the field was a bit hard)
  • Eric Byrnes slid into second base (literally) and banged up his face a bit.  That guy seemingly has no 'take it easy' mode - it's either full bore or off because full bore resulted in injury
  • Looks like Garrett Olson is swiftly losing his shot at the 5th spot in the rotation
On the happy side of the ledger...
  • Jose made a GREAT play at third base, prompting Dave to say, "He looks like a third baseman!"
  • Jose and Eric both had doubles
  • Michael Saunders hit his first springtime home run
  • Nice DP turned 
Even though I was at work, I got to listen here and there as there was finally a game broadcast on the radio.  I'll be listening from work again today ...

Go Felix!
Well, mostly go just enough to get your work in and work on whatever you need to work on and gradually get ready for the season.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Catch as catch can...

                                                     Ross D. Franklin / AssociatedPress 

All the talk from Thursday was how Adam Moore is impressing - which is a good thing.  Especially considering that Rob Johnson is easing into the season slowly after his three off-season surgeries.  I'm in total agreement with the old mantra, "You can never have too much pitching."  and it would seem to me that having back-stop(s) that know and can handle each and every pitcher on the staff is pretty darned important.

A long shot to make the M's BP, due to his Rule 5 draft status, Kanekoa Texeira would rather stay with Seattle than go back to NY...
But Texeira wants to stay.

"I like this group of guys and the staff is nice, too," he said. "I would rather stay here. I have made some good friends and would see them later on. To stay here would be awesome, but that's out of my hands.
Nice little write up from the AP on the "decorated" Brandon League..
"But if I go back [to the Yankees], I would have to shave and cut my hair."
As busy as I've been with work lately, it has been EXTRA frustrating to not be able to listen to the ST games.  The good news is - 20 out of the final 22 games WILL be on the radio - YAY!!

Oh, saw a quote from Giants manager Bruce Bochy where he referred to Ichrio and Chone Figgins as "gnats".  I think they are a new kind of insect ...

the "Ichi-Fig"

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A Cliff on the hill...

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
Sounds like Mr. Lee fared well in his first outing (as did Sean White and Mr. French) and it seems early reports of his displeasure with the trade exaggerated...
"It didn't take me long to realize that it is good people here and a good organization. In free agency you don't get the luxury to go spend some time with the team and guys to see how you like it. Looking at it that way I've got an opportunity to do that, where in free agency you don't."
For now he has a job to do.
"Right now my focus is to prepare, take care of business now and give the team a chance to win every time I take the mound. I could be traded again. You never know what's going to happen that's the nature of the business for me. All I can do is control all I can control and that's make sure I take care of my preparation and get ready for the season."
Nice to see the 4 doubles and the RBI scattered through the lineup.  
But, my FAVORITE part of the box score was this...
DP: 4 
(Figgins-Wilson, Ja-Kotchman, Wilson, Jo-Figgins-Kotchman, Wilson, Ja-Figgins-Kotchman, Tuiasosopo, M-Woodward-Carp)
Love me some dynamite "D"!!!



Moving right along...

Lenny Ignelzi | Associated Press

Due to copious amounts of time spent at this little thing called a job, I have be unable to follow the spring games as much as I would like (hardly at all, in fact).  But luckily, there's no lack of reporting on the details, here are a few...

Jason Vargas starting out strong...

Guti played 7 innings, and shoulder seems fine

Jack Wilson eager to prove and impress....

Cliff's spring debut today vs. the Rangers

Felix AND Rob looking good in sim game
(first actual start for the battery scheduled for Sunday vs. the Rockies)

Monday, March 08, 2010

Idol hits and more offense...

Larry LaRue / The News Tribune  

Apparently, American Idol, Mariners style, was a pretty big hit (complete with grass skirts, coconut bikinis and a whole lotta laughs).

Speaking of hits ...
Alan Cockrell, M's hitting coach, is looking for some and he's spent all winter doing it. He thinks the offense has improved ~ with quite a bit more patience and speed with a tinge more aggressiveness and a new definition of 'pop' ~ all with the consideration of Safeco Field top of mind....

Sounds good to me!

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Spring has sprung...

Giants 8 | Mariners 7

Unfortunately, work got in the way of my ability to listen as the familiar voices of Dave and Rick once again graced the Seattle airwaves with BASEBALL this afternoon, signaling the true beginning of Spring.

While I'm not able to recount the first hit, stolen base, batter strikeout, pitcher strikeout, pitcher walk and batter walks (yes - apparently, there were MULTIPLE of those!) there are plenty other reports about the first M's Cactus League game like a hometown CY facing a homegrown HoF'er and other details like Lopey finally getting to make a play at third and Ryan Feierabend back from Tommy John surgery.

I was, however, able to listen to a good portion of the first Cactus League Report on 710 ESPN this evening.  I caught most of Mark Lowe's visit with Shannon and Rick - here's what I remember...

on overall feeling at camp....
This camp is, in a word, LOOSE.  This seems to be, in no small part, due to the continuity of the coaching staff - an element that cannot be over estimated in its benefit and value to the team.  There is a trust already built that allows for players to use their own judgement regarding when it's okay to joke around and when it's time to get to work.

on the bullpen's success last year...
"Togetherness" was a big factor.  Early on, they made a pact to support one another, hold no grudges, feel no envy or jealousy regarding number of innings and or roles.  Good thing - as there were a LOT of role changes last season, but instead of pulling them apart, they got tighter as a group.  An there was the "huddle", details of which canNOT be revealed.

on his personal development last season...
Wetteland is BIG on the mental approach to the game and helped Mark harness his adrenaline.  They use a 'rating system' - a scale of 50-100 to gage their effectiveness.  For Mark 80 is about optimal "amp-titude" pumped up enough to be excited, but still focused enough to maintain control.

on "starter number two"...
Mark has talked to him at length several times already and finds Cliff to be very baseball intelligent and willing to share his experience - when he talks, everyone listens.

on off-season communication...
a LOT of texting (with Shawn Kelley being the "master texter")

on the new fitness approach...
It was strange at first, with no weights, but everything makes sense and fits more what baseball is - fast, push, pull, bands, resistance, rotation, etc.  Oh, and yoga is VERY beneficial for pitchers.

on 2010 goals...
Throw strikes and stay healthy.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Pricey batboys and rookie coaches

Yes it's early spring and the first intra-squad game has been played.
~ Pitchers got some work in (17 in all threw at least one inning)
~ Fielders made some plays (Figgy and Jose at their 'new' positions, Dustin looking like he belongs)
~ Hitters got some hits (Jose 2-2 w/a double, Jr with a bunt base hit - oops! who was covering 1st?)

And then, there were the bat boys complete with "BB" taped to the back of their jerseys.

                             courtesy Shannon Drayer's blog

Apparently today, Jr. and Sweeney will don whistles and carry clipboards for the role play of the day.

What a fun bunch.  Wish I was there.