What can I say? Life happens.
As for the Mariners and this off-season (beyond the horrible tragedy of Greg Halman's death) here are some of the happenings, to date...
Organizational Awards / Promotions / Changes
* Bob Engle, Mariners VP of International Operations, named a 2011 Scout of the Year
* Chris Gwynn hired as Director of Player Development (spent 27 years as a pro player and scout)
* Lee May, Jr. named as Minor League Hitting Coordinator (coached for the AAA Tribe last year)
* Roger Hansen (former minor-league catching coordinator) now Special Asst to the GM
* John Stearns will fill Roger Hansen's old position as Minor League Catching Coordinator
* Gary Wheelock hired as Minor League Pitching Coordinator
No Gold Glover for the first time since 1987
and, as Larry Stone chronicles here, it was the longest streak in the majors...
The M's streak of Gold Gloves began when Mark Langston was honored for pitchers in 1987. He and second baseman Harold Reynolds won in 1988, Reynolds won again in 1989, and then Ken Griffey Jr.came aboard. Griffey won in the outfield every year from 1990 through 1999, with Reynolds winning again in 1990, shortstop Omar Vizquel in 1993, and outfielder Jay Buhner in 1996. In 2000, Griffey was gone, but John Olerud won at first base. In 2001, Ichiro's streak began, accounting for 10 more years of Gold. Outfielder Mike Cameron also won in 2001, Olerud and second baseman Bret Boone in 2002, Boone, Cameron and Olerud in 2003, Boone in 2004, third baseman Adrian Beltre in 2007 and '08, and outfielderFranklin Gutierrez in 2010.New CBA
Here's an overview...
Everything from expanding the playoffs (extra WC added) to blood tests for HGH to requiring players named to the All Star Game to play in it (unless suffering from injury) to expanding instant replay to include fouls / traps. While the agreement has been widely lauded for coming to pass without a work stoppage (thank you NBA for showing them what NOT to do!) Shannon Drayer is one of several who are a bit concerned about the changes called for in the CBA with regard to International signings and the amateur draft. More to come on that, as I delve into it a bit more...
New "kid" on the block!
The Astros will soon (2013) move to the AL West making all the divisions across MLB equal 5-teams and the Mariners are in full support of the decision as Larry Stone notes here...
"Though much has been written about the change from four to five, we're fine with that,'' he said. "It's better for the fans. They get to see another team come in. We play Anaheim, Texas and Oakalnd 19 times -- fans can get tired of them. And in looking at several schedule drafts, it appears we'll be traveling fewer miles, because it eliminates one trip back east. We'll see how it actually comes out.''New home turf
They are adding another division rival in the central time zone, but he pointed out that if they combine the Rangers and Astros on the same road trip, it won't be much of an added burden.
Apparently, the Safeco Field grounds keepers are keeping busy in the off-season...
they laid new sod on the infield in October
I got to see it from a distance...
from the bullpen (while enjoying a little "Seahawk tail-gating" prior to the Seahawks game vs. the Bengals)
Unfortunately, the best part of that game was this...
Felix raising the 12th Man Flag
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