FanFest fun...

Pretty cool that those of us who couldn't make to FanFest could watch some of the happenings live online - here are some of the highlights...

Dugout Dialogue | Day ONE

• Wedge may move Ichiro out of lead-off spot
• League looks to improve all his pitches
• Jesus happy to be here, wanst to continue to improve and have fun 
• Carp just wants to hit
• Hultzen just wants to put his team in a position to win
• Walker and Paxton want to face Pujols
• Jack Z "put your arms around these kids, cuz you're going to see them for awhile"
• Bone may be back in uniform in the not-too-distant future!

Dugout Dialogue | Day TWO

• Vargas seems to be taking a leadership role
• Montero on his number selection
• Olivo excited about all the young talent
• Robinson looking forward to playing hard
• Ryan glad to be healthy again
• Iwakuma says American ball won't be a problem
• Wedge sticking with the plan
• Brandon anxious to get back to "work" after a winter of rehab
• Wells has a goal to be an All-Star

Hultzen, Paxton and Walker eager for first big league camp | MLB.com.

All three are first-round Draft picks. Hultzen was the No. 2 overall selection last year out of Virginia, while Paxton and Walker were supplemental picks -- Paxton going 37th overall in '09 to the Blue Jays before sitting out a year and Walker going 43rd overall to Seattle in 2010.

All three are ranked among the Top 100 prospects in baseball for 2012 by MLB.com: Hultzen at 16, Walker at 18 and Paxton at 77. 

And all three have been invited to the Mariners Major League camp. Pitchers and catchers report to Peoria on Feb. 11.

movin' on up...

M's farm system now boasts FIVE players in the Top 100...

• C Jesus Montero (#12)
• LHP Danny Hultzen (#16)
• RHP Taijuan Walker (#18)
• INF Nick Franklin (#52)
• LHP James Paxton (#77)

And, they even have a "cover-boy"...

Media Day...

Lots of interesting "tweet tid-bits" from yesterday's Mariners Media Day - good news such as...

14 + / -
~Justin Smoak has lost 14lbs and 4% body fat
~Guti has gained 14lbs of muscle (with no signs of stomach trouble)

Casper Wells has been working out regularly and has had no further equilibrium issues

710ESPN will broadcast the games in Japan vs. the A's, as well as the exhibition game vs. Hanshin

But, the most eye-opening factoid was this...

Of the 65 invitees to Spring Training - 55 have less than five years time in the big leagues, 45 have less than one year.  Yowsa - talk about baby M's!

Then, of course, there was everyone's favorite photo of the day...

via TwitPic

Patience ~ preach it, Sista!

I've been preaching "patience" for so long that I must admit even I get impatient at times...

But now, I really mean it!

Patience is a virtue...
I been up against fans, in both personal and online discussions, who are just so tired of waiting and, from their perspective, not even seeing progress with their Mariners. While I can understand their frustration, I also recognize that having lived through the Bavasi years before getting to the Zduriencik years is likely a contributing factor to their heightening impatience. But, at some point you have to stop starting over - let's give Jack a fair and full chance

Endurance is patience concentrated.... (Thomas Carlyle) 
I have argued that Jack Z has made a ton of progress. Let's face it, he had his work cut out for him taking over an organization whose farm system had been decimated by the previous regime and whose big league roster had a lot of high-priced, low-level talent. He has done a tremendous job of replenishing that farm system at every level, as well as, stock-piling cost-controlled talent on the big club.

Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience... (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Jack Z has a plan and I truly hope we get to see him carry it through to fruition. Rebuilding doesn't happen over night, over a season or even over a couple of seasons. It is an extremely long and tedious process. Even when abysmal seasons net high draft picks, it can take years for even the best young players to make it to the Show.

Genius is eternal patience... (Michelangelo)
Jack Z is doing it the right way, with the intent of building a solid foundation that will be strong and sustainable for years to come. Think about it, back in the mid-late 90's when the Yanks started going on their run (that, by the way, they haven't stopped) they had a few high-priced players (like the M's have Felix and Ichiro now, for instance) but, their home-grown, "core four" were just coming up together.  That turned out pretty well, didn't it?  Is it so out of the realm of possibility that the likes of Ackley, Carp, Montero, Seager, Smoak, Wells, Hulten, Paxton, Noesi and Walker can be successful?  Sure, the likelihood that they ALL exceed expectation is not high but, even if a few of them succeed, just think how long they could stay together and the foundation they would lay.

Then there was the little matter known as the nightmare of 2010...
It literally came out of the blue after the Kumbaya year of 2009. I won't rehash the hideous details, suffice it to say everything that could go wrong did (with the exception of Felix being exceptional and winning his first Cy Young award) and proved to be a serious set back in Jack's plan. I doubt we will ever know the whole, ugly truth of that season (not sure we really want to) - whether it was Wak's inexperience, Junior's frustration with himself, Figgy's attitude toward just about everyone, Milton's issues or just a convergence of all things flammable. Jack deserves a mulligan on that whole ordeal.

And another thing...

What about Wedge?!?!

My thoughts drifted to his potential impact on this young, rebuilding team going forward as I listened to a couple of different interviews he gave tonight (I was flipping back-and-forth between the two sports talk radio stations as they were both interviewing every sports figure in town and their brother ~literally~ due to the Seattle Sports Star Awards held at Benaroya Hall).  Wedge has been through this process before and come out on the winning end. Granted, the dynamics of each situation, each organization, are different but, it stands to reason that his experience is an invaluable asset to the process.

Last year, Wedge laid back a bit, admitting that he felt it was vital that he get to know the vets and kids alike. Now that he has a plan formulated based on the talent, personalities and attitudes he observed both on the field and in the clubhouse, he has made no bones about the fact that the team will see a much different Wedge. He's just getting started and deserves the time to let it play out.

1/26 UPDATE: after Thursday's Media Day - this from Wedge about last season on Larry Stone's blog...

"What we're going to do is make sure we put out the best possible lineup to score more runs. It's not acceptable the amount of runs we've scored the past couple of years. Last year, I sat back, and I bit my tongue off more than once, but it was the right thing to do. My wife was proud of me, let's put it that way. This year's going to be a little different, but you don't go from zero to 60. We're going to let it out a little more this year, and raise the bar a little bit."

So, there you have it. Mark my words, patience will pay off.

In spades.


oh - btw, more evidence of a bright future...
FIVE M's make MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects List ~ Montero (12), Hultzen (16), Walker (18), Franklin (52), Paxton (77)

Tiggers get a prince and the M's get a Millwood...

The wait is finally over...
and, as seems to be the case with large (in this case literally) Boras clients - it's the "mystery team" that steals the show.  This afternoon, it was announced that the Detroit Tigers had signed Prince Fielder to a 9 year / $214 million contract (but not before the twitter falderal that had him going to the Nats via a "fake" Jon Heyman tweet) . Over here is some reaction to the deal.

My reaction is...
At least he didn't sign with Texas (though somewhere in the NL would have been preferred).
At least it was a ridiculously huge contract (so not likely there were many players at all)
At least it's over and we can move on.
I'm really not too disappointed that the M's didn't get him (I'm not really sure he would have come even if they'd been crazy enough to beat the Tigers offer).  Sure, it would have been exciting to make a big splash like that but, can't imagine that contract is going be very appealing in a few years.  Jack seems to be dead-set on building around young, talented, cost-controlled players (he's getting pretty darned good at hoarding them, in fact!).  Since the initial shock has worn off from "the Trade", and especially after hearing Montero on the Hot Stove League Show last night, I'm pretty excited to see what Jesus and the rest of the kids can bring this season.

Also today, the Mariners finalized yet another minor league deal...
Kevin Millwood was signed and invited to Spring Training to complete for a rotation slot.

Jack Z, Carl W, Shawn K and ... HeyZeus!!!

Some snippets from the Hot Stove League Show..
first up, Jack Z's segment ~paraphrased~
(I'm no court reporter ;-) )

on the Montero acquisition in general...
~ obviously we've been on this guy for quite awhile
~ we played a big price but, you have to give something good to get something good

on the unique aspect of making a trade that is "youth for youth"...
One of the big things is years of control ... he mentioned that when he "landed here", there weren't any talented players that were making NO money - they were ALL making big dollars.  To get 18 rookies last year and, this year we are going to add a few more, is pretty unique.  They scoured everything to find an upper echelon YOUNG hitters and settled on a list of only FOUR hitters - this is the guy they coveted and he told Brian Cashman, "By the way - I've gotta get a pitcher back!"

on Jesus the man...
Most of these deals you try to do your homework on but you don't really "know" the players.  He had a chance to have lunch with Jesus and spend a couple hours downtown with him - walked away VERY impressed.  He was very insightful, composed, confident, compassionate. He called Eric (Wedge) immediately and said, "We are gonna like this kid".  You can tell he's cut from the right cloth...

on the catching options...
A few of the guys have options and if they have to go to AAA then so be it.  And, there is always a chance for injuries.  Could carry three at the big league level.  Will have ALL our folks make their OWN evaluations of Jesus as a catcher - and will get a good solid look at him in ST.

on Spring Training hopes in general...
#1 Health.
Beyond that, guys to step up and contribute.  He spoke of the (Wedge instigated) "pre-ST eval" that took place a couple weeks agoa.  Nine guys that came to Seattle for a little extra strength, conditioning and nutrition coaching/direction. To a man (Olivo, Ackely, Figgins, Seager, Smoak, Guti, Jaso, Wells and Ryan) they reported in great shape (e.g., Guti gained weight, Smoak and Olivo trimmed down)

Pitching coach Carl Willis provided some thoughts on a couple of his young arms...
~ Hector Noesi - kid that has average to above average fast ball, good control and command, average change up, curve ball and slider.  Many scouts have him over Nova.
~ Danny Hultzen - saw only one game, went 3+ innings impressed with demeanor fast ball command and feel for the change up. For a kid just stepping out of college he is very disciplined and eager to learn the routine of the pros.

Shawn Kelley is back!
He's been working out getting stronger and healthier and get his velocity back.  When he was able to come back toward the end of the season, he felt his command and stuff was there, confidence each outing got better and better of being comfortable on the mound.  Learned he doesn't have to rely on velocity if he can rely on his command.  He took a lot away from the experience - able to prove to himself and the coaches that he could come back from his second surgery.


And, last but not least - the man of the day, Jesus Montero!

on his visit to the city so far...
It's been fun, it's been good.  It's only the second time he has seen snow in his life (first was in Indiana).  He is happy to be here with this team and they are going to give him more opportunity in his life and in his career.  The Yankees taught him to do a lot in baseball but, he's proud the Seattle Mariners will give him "an opportunity to show people who Jesus Montero is for real."  He's going to help the pitchers win.

growing up in Venezuela...
lt's fun, good, amazing to to him that he used to watch Edgar Martinez hit home runs. He is going to work so hard behind the plate. Looking at Felix as a superstar - he played against Jesus's older brother and was the only pitcher to strike out everyone on the team.

on what Spring Training will be like...
The staff and coaches will teach him about the pitchers, there will be lots of papers to study and will talk to the pitchers a lot and get to know them and be on the same page all the time.

he just wants to play hard...
He's been catching since he was four years old but, he will play where ever he is needed - just wants to have some fun in the field and play hard.

"I'm gonna do my best, I want to help them to win, we will be the best - you'll see."

Oh - apparently, Matt Pitman got some bad information....
Jesus is NOT a soccer fan.
He IS a drag racing fan (even has two cars of his own - but he doesn't drive them!)

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night (nor ice storms!)

Well, it's FINALLY official...

We must say goodbye to Michael and Jose ;-( and

Welcome Jesus and Hector!

Mariners land Montero in 'old-fashion' trade| MLB.com

"We had a need, and to get a really good player, you have to give up good players," Zduriencik said once the deal was announced following completion of Montero's physical exams. "Neither one of us was trying to walk away from this thinking we got the upper hand. There were no contracts involved, it was strictly talent for talent." 

The stunning part of the deal was the level of the talents, with Montero widely regarded as one of the premier young hitting prospects in the game and Pineda already having achieved American League All-Star status last year as a rookie.Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged there was a lot of clenched teeth by both sides before doing a deal with such budding young players. 

"Jesus may very well be the best player I've ever traded, and I've been doing this a long time," Cashman said in a conference call with New York writers. "He's a middle-of-the-lineup bat who is very gifted. He's a good kid and he's going to have a heckuva career. It's not easy to make these decisions. But at the same time, we're excited about what we're getting."

Happy Birthday to me!

I don't remember ever having snow on my birthday.  But then, they say the memory is the first to go.

No doubt this is what people around the country are imaging when hearing the weather reports for our fair city :-)

photo credit unknown ... pulled from facebook

I think it may have gotten even MORE difficult for Jesus Montero to hit any out at Safeco Field ;-)

Welcome Ollie, Yu inks with the Rangers

A little more pasta for the wall...
the M's signed Oliver Perez to a minor league deal

Down to the wire but, Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers finally came to agreement (6/60)
Opinions abound as to whether this takes them out of the Fielder sweepstakes...



't was a snowy day in Seattle and the M's posted this great shot of Safeco Field on their blog...

Jaunt to Japan, agreement not arb, M's HoF and some pitching lists...

Eric Wedge, Ken Griffey, Jr and Tim Hevly (Senior Director of Baseball Information) recently took a quick trip to Japan to promote the upcoming MLB season opening games to take place in Tokyo on Marvh 28th and 29th between the M's and the A's.  Ex-M and current Oakland manager, Bob Melvin was there as well.

One of the highlights of the trip for the Mariners contingent was a clinic they attended on Sunday at the Yomiuri training site, about an hour outside Tokyo, for about 110 kids from around Japan."That was terrific,'' Hevly said. "The passion those kids have for baseball was really evident. The amount of energy from kids between 8 and 12 years old was amazing. They were very attentive. They want to be better."
Wedge and Griffey both offered tips on various aspects of baseball. Among the attendees were a group of 36 kids from Fukushima, which had been devastated by last spring's earthquake and tsunami. They road a bus four hours to attend, and got a special "meet and greet" with Griffey and Wedge afterward, in which they received some Mariner gear the team had sent with the group. The other kids received memorabilia as well, and the Mariners posed for pictures with all the participants.
"It was fun to see how excited they were,'' Hevly said. "It's a reminder how resilient kids are."

AP

AP

AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi

M's came to agreement with all three of their arbitration eligible players prior to the deadline today.  Brandon League, Jason Vargas and Shawn Kelley all have brand-new, one-year contracts.  The M's haven't had to go to arbitration with a player since 2003 (Freddie Garcia).


Mark your calendars for July 28th as that is the day that the Big Unit and Dan the Man will be inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame.  Fitting that Randy Johnson and Dan Wilson will go into the Hall together after their "special battery" of the late 90's.

AP

Last but not least - a little something to ease the pain of losing Michael...
~ Hultzen and Paxton name to the TopTen LHP list
~ Walker is #8 on the TopTen RHP list

Goodbye beloved Diabolical, Hello reluctant Savior...

I've had some time now to read, reflect, mourn and start the process all over again... several times.

So, I get it.  
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and the Mariners never-ending need for offense.

But, it's hard.  Really hard.  Especially for one like me who ADORES pitching and defense.
Give me 1-0 game over a 10-9 on any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

But, I get it.
Scoring is a necessary evil and the M's were lacking in that necessity .... like, epically lacking.

But, Michael was ours. We watched him grow, we watched him glow. I loved how he would walk to the back of the mound and have a little chat with himself when things weren't going as planned (and, more often than not, it worked!). Of course you could see his grin in person or on TV but, you could also "hear" it when listening to him via the radio. His love for the game was complete and pure.

Yet, I get it.
To get you have to give. No pain, no gain. Well, we are giving and it's painful.

Michael, it seemed, is the closest thing we will ever get to another Felix. But, he is his own man, his own pitcher and as much as Felix seemed to enjoy mentoring Michael, he knew and respected that fact - he let him learn his own lessons, his own way.

Yes, I get it.
Baseball is a business as well as a pastime. Sometimes assets have to shift - for the good of the whole.

I'll never forget how excited I was to see Michael make his Safeco Field debut last April - I even upgraded my seats for the occasion. Then on a day in late May, he told Shannon Drayer it was a great day because he bought his first car and made his first start against the Yankees (I was at that one as well).  He was one of the few bright and shining beacons in another abysmal year of baseball in Seattle.  He represented hope and gave us a reason to go to the ballpark.

But now it's time for him to leave the nest...
(though it's not official yet) Michael will be headed to the Big Apple to pitch in pinstripes. He will be the first Yankee I will openly root for (except when he pitches against the M's of course) and I wish him nothing but supreme success.

In return, we welcome Jesus Montero to our fair city, to our beloved team...
eager to see how his highly touted bat will contribute and if he's able to catch on at catcher.

One thing is clear, it is a two-way street...
Yankee fans are lamenting the loss of Jesus as much (or more) as Mariner fans are dreading Michael's departure. They were looking forward to seeing him in their lineup all year long (likely as DH) providing a much needed spark of youth to a good, but aging lineup.  And, though many recognize Michael's huge potential up-side, they are concerned that they gave up too much - that a power arm is much riskier than a power bat.  I, of course, assured them that Michael is humbly confident and the epitome of a hard worker and eager learner and that they will NOT be disappointed.

And so here we are...
Two fan bases churning through a gamut of emotions regarding the young players being exchanged. I thought this time-lapsed photography of the sunset last Friday evening in Seattle ~happening just as "the trade" details were emerging~ serves as a photographic analogy of those emotions... a flicker of light, slowly becoming brighter, beautiful in it's depth and breadth, burning in it's intensity, yet as you watch, you know darkness looms...

The anticipation and excitement of exchanging young stars for the betterment of both teams is palpable but, so is the sincere feeling of loss reverberating from both coasts.

Goodbye beloved Diabolical (as the late, great Dave Niehaus coined his slider), you WIll be missed.

FantasyBaseballSportal.com

Hello reluctant Savior - we can't wait to get to know you and hope, one day, we can call you our own.

Daily News

wow, oh wow ... Jesus coming, Michael going ....

Here are just a few of the barrage of tweets from earlier tonight as rumor turned reality in a matter of minutes...

jcrasnickThe #Mariners are moving closer to a trade for a young impact hitter, two baseball sources confirmed.
StoneLarryWouldn't be surprised if deal referenced by @jcrasnick involves Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero. Rumblings in that direction.
JonHeymanCBSSea does have deal according to @jcrasnick. @stonelarry hearing rumblings it MAY involve pineda and montero
GregJohnsMLBNo confirmation from team, but source says Mariners sending Pineda and Jose Campos to Yankees for Jesus Montero/Hector Noesi.
StoneLarrySnap judgment is I like the trade. Tough to give up Pineda, but M's have young pitching depth, and desperately needed a high-upside bat.
JonHeymanCBSso seattle picks up a pitcher on cusp of mlb in noesi along with big bat montero. #yanks thrilled to upgrade rotation w/ pineda
GregJohnsMLBEarly reaction: Yankees fans upset at losing Montero, Mariners fans upset at giving up Pineda. Both are top young 22-yr.olds.
jaysonstMontero-Pineda is one of most fascinating deals in years. Two young studs with star power. No money factor. A pure, old-time baseball trade




It won't be "official" until the physicals are complete and accepted.
Still processing it all ... more later.

Heilman and Kawasaki signed, Guti and Smoak lookin' good

Here once, for about a minute, (he came in the Putz deal, then was shipped to Chicago for Ronnie Cedeno and Garrett Olson) Aaron Heilman is back - signed to a minor league deal for a shot at joining the 'pen.

Munenori Kawasaki also signed to a minor league deal and will compete for a back-up infielder role with the M's .  Kawasaki played all-star shortstop for the Softbank Hawks (who won the Japan Series last season) and played with Ichiro in the WBC and has apparently always wanted to play in the big leagues - but only on Ichiro's team.

I didn't get to hear all if it but, last night on the Hot Stove League Show, Eric Wedge had some glowing reports re: a couple M's he'd seen this week... apparently Guti has gained 19 pounds and Justin has trimmed down - the are strong and lean respectively and he's looking for great things from them both!

No Hall, just yet, for Gar...

Congrats to Barry Larkin, the loan selection to the Class of 2012.

Gar was 7th with 36.5% as reported by Greg Johns of MLB.com
(an improvement over last year's 32.9% but about the same as his first year - 36.2%)

Martinez received votes from 209 of the 573 BBWAA members who voted and finished seventh among this year's 27 candidates, behind Larkin (86.4 percent), Jack Morris (66.7), Jeff Bagwell (56.0), Lee Smith (50.6), Tim Raines (48.7) and Alan Trammell (36.8).

Gar seems to have the right attitude about it all...
He knows, if it comes at all, it's going to take some time.  Some balk at the late start that precluded 3000 hits and 500 homers.  Supporters point to the rarified air of career totals that exceed 300 homers, 500 doubles, .300+ batting average and .400+ on base percentage - that, by the way, he shares with only FIVE other major leaguers: Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby and Lou Gehrig. Shabby company, you do not keep, Gar.

Of course, there is the ever-present debate, that dreaded two-letter word: designated hitter
I find the argument that Edgar Martinez should not be 'in the Hall" because he did not play "in the field" pretty silly.  I wonder if those same writers feel an American League pitcher should never be in the HoF because they do not hit?  I mean, let's get real - if there's any DH that should be in the Hall of Fame, seems like it should be the one who the freakin' "outstanding designated hitter" award is named after.

I know, it's rather ironic that a fan like me, who swoons watching stellar defensive plays, should stump for a guy who "only hits".  
I guess that speaks volumes not only to Gar's body of work but, to his quiet, unassuming attitude, his staunch work ethic and his ever-loyal, Mariner-only career.

You'll get there one day, Gar....  
You may not be the first Mariner in the Hall of Fame - Junior is eligible in 2016 and The Big Unit in 2015   (whether RJ will go in as a DBack or a Mariner, is a whole 'nother debate) but you'll get there - we WILL see the Seattle Mariners one and only Number 11 in the esteemed places where it belongs - in Cooperstown, NY and, retired at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA.

The Eleven Best Athletes to Wear 11 | Sports Illustrated

Some of my photos when "the street" was named...

No Prince joining the King just yet, but.....

Apparently, the M's have signed a bear for their rotation. as Geoff Baker reports....

The nickname of new Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma is "Kuma" which translates to "The Bear" in Japanese. Wherever he goes in Japan, a bear symbol usually follows, whether it's fans holding up placards or team billboards or on t-shirts.So, expect to see quite a bit of bear symbology taking place at Safeco Field this summer.On the Mariners front, they hope he's a horse as well. As in workhorse.In fact, the entire contract is structured around that being the case. If Iwakuma can pitch 200 innings and make 30 starts, he'll take home $4.9 million, which is more than other teams were offering him, some over multiple years.It's also quite a bit less than the Oakland A's were offering over multiple seasons a year ago, but a shoulder injury in the interim raised some concerns."I think that it serves both parties' best interests,'' Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said of the contract on a conference call with reporters earlier tonight. "I know that he wants to pitch here in the United States. I know he's enjoyed his short time here in Seattle. He's very familiar with the organization. And I do think he would like to establish himself here in the States and see what happens.''

 Interesting (and cheap!) signing....