Quite a day, Friday.

I'll admit. I was only focused on the frustrating Mariners' game, but Jerry Brewer tracks an exciting day for Seattle sports last night: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2011757266_brewer02.html

Good start!

Good win for the M's - wish I could have seen it!

Keep it rolling, Dawgs!

Go Dawgs!

... and Bulldogs, too.

Sports Break

There have been plenty of years to call Seattle sports boring. Two years ago was absolutely abysmal, losing the Sonics to Oklahoma City, the Mariners losing 100+ games, and the Seahawks only garnering 4 wins.

I’ve dealt with losing the Sonics and the Mariners made great strides last year. There was much to be optimistic about as baseball season ended and the Seahawks were expected to bounce back and contend. They didn’t. Another miserable season. But the offseasons for the ‘Hawks and the Mariners have not been at all boring.

The Mariners have been absolutely amazing this offseason. The Seahawks have decided to get in the ‘making-news-in-the-offseason’ fray.

They’ve sacked Jim Mora and it looks like they’re on their way to signing Pete Carroll away from USC. I’m not sure how much I like this move. I’m warming up to it a little, but there are concerns. He was barely .500+ as a pro coach, but he’s had great success in running the USC program for the last decade. Running a program, which is beyond just coaching, may help him run the Seahawk organization – because it seems he coming here to do more than just coach. I don’t know enough about what it takes to run a college program so I could be way off.

I’m not excited, but I wouldn’t know, unless it was a big name (Holmgren, Cowher), whether any move was good because I don’t know the lesser names. Here are some links to the Seattle response on the matter.

Steve Kelley (Seattle Times)

Field Gulls (Seahawk fan blog)

MyNorthwest.com/ESPN Radio Seattle

Back to it again … The Last Nine Innings

I had the best intentions of keeping up on my blogging by catching up on the books I’ve read lately and not reflected and blogged upon. It’s now been almost a week since I’ve thought about it. But here goes…

I brought The Last Nine Innings by Charles Euchner on our trip to Kenya this summer in the event that I needed a break from all the studying I was doing on the trip. I started it on that trip, but didn’t really get into it. I think I finished it during vacation in Washington in August. It was a book that I was excited to read quite a while. I think I saw it recommended on the USS Mariner Reading List when it was a thread that several people were contributing to.

Over the last few years I’ve enjoyed reading a baseball book or two each year. I’ve enjoyed Out of Left Field, Weaver on Strategy, Cheater’s Guide to Baseball, and Moneyball (my favorite). I don’t know if I’ve reached baseball fatigue, the writing wasn’t that great, or what, but I wasn’t thrilled with this book. I didn’t devour it.

The organization of the book is interesting. Euchner uses Game 7 of the Yankees – Diamondbacks 2001 World Series as an opportunity to speak about different aspects of the game. For instance, he talks about starting pitching in the first inning – unpacking pitching in general with Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens as his examples. Then he talks about fielding in the bottom of the inning, highlighting Derek Jeter and Steve Finley … and so he goes through the nine innings with relief pitching, hitting, managing, etc…

I don’t know why I didn’t love it. It had everything. Randy Johnson winning. Yankees losing. Fascinating discussions on the science of hitting and pitching (the most violent action in all of sports!). An explanation of international scouting. Debates on pitching and fielding. A lot of great stuff, but, like I said, I wouldn’t enthusiastically endorse it like I would Moneyball or Weaver on Strategy. But if you like baseball, you’d probably like it. So … consider it endorsed, just not heartily endorsed.

Big win for M's

Jose Lopez wins it in the 9th! I could get used to this. I'm not sure I will, at least this year, but this season has all the signs of being entertaining.

Seattle Times on the game.

USS Mariner on the Mariners' win and Angels' loss.

Never Mind that Never Mind. He's coming.

USS Mariner on Junior

Umm ... Never Mind that Imminent Arrival ... For Now

Check out Larry Stone's piece in the Seattle Times.

Imminent Arrival?

I was ticked when he left, but I have to admit I'm a sucker for nostalgia and a little bit excited.

Keep up with the rumors: Seattle Times, Prospect Insider, & USS Mariner

Go Cardinals!

Happy Super Sunday! It's an unofficial holiday in our country. We might as well recognize it. It hurts to say, since they’re in our division and their victory will make us the last in our division to not win a Super Bowl. They’ve been easy to pick on, too. But that already has to end since they’ve been in the Super Bowl more recently than we have.

But I’m a sucker for the underdog. Can there be a bigger ‘dog than the Cardinals? And who’s a bigger individual underdog than Kurt Warner. (Plus, I'm still bitter about the Seahawks loss to the Steelers in SBXL.) So I’ll be cheering for the Cardinals … unless I get a chance for a nap!

Here he goes again!

The new Mariner's GM, Jack Zduriencik has made yet another deal. I'm only familiar with the names of the three guys, but no specifics. I don't have the time or inclination to dig through the stats, but my only "everyday stop" in terms of websites (apart from facebook) is USS Mariner. Be sure to check out their thoughts on the deal. The top 4 stories are all related to the deal. Hint: GM Jack did great ... again.

“And then Zorn Said to Largent…”

Aunt Leah got me a book for Christmas that was a history of the Seahawks from the perspective of Dave Wyman and Paul Moyer. It was an enjoyable, easy read that told stories of the golden days of the mid-80s, the Valley of Death that was the 90s, and the Holmgren Renaissance. Funny stories and a good inside peek at pro football in Seattle. I wish they’d have had more info on Steve Largent and Jim Zorn (my personal favorite), but it was an enjoyable read for the avid Seahawk fan.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Let's hope Seattle doesn't have another sports year like the last. Let's hope 2008 stays "The Worst Year Ever": http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=seattle2008


But, thankfully, there are more important things. May God bless you as we celebrate Jesus' birth and the life He offers. And may you have a wonderful New Year as well.

A Whole New Team

The Mariners, yesterday, were part of a 12 player trade with three teams involved. They're quite a different team. I'm not sure what to think of it because I know there's so much I don't know about the different players coming and going. But besides facebook, my primary internet addiction is USS Mariner. Here are some links on why they think this is a good deal for the Mariners - even if they're sad to see JJ Putz leaving (as most M's fans are).

http://ussmariner.com/2008/12/10/goodbye-jj-hello-defense/

http://ussmariner.com/2008/12/11/the-starting-eight/

http://ussmariner.com/2008/12/11/the-new-prospects/

Good Sign

M's sign Russel Branyan. Doesn't reveal much for long term plans or being instant contenders, but a good sign of things to come.

USS Mariner's take: http://ussmariner.com/2008/12/03/russell-branyan-rumors/

The M's Have Their Man

It's official. The Mariners have found their new GM - Jack Zduriencik. The bloggers (see USS Mariner) don't think it's a bad move. He's built a great roster with the Brewers. We'll see how he does, but there's hope on the horizon in Seattle.

Larry Stone's Seattle Times article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2008297647_webmari23.html

Can it get any worse?

Of course it can. It's only sports, but this has to be the darkest season in my Seattle sports memory.

Seahawks whacked again ... at home: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2008259176_webhawk12.html

Mariners 100+ losses ... and no new GM in sight yet.

Sonics are no longer.

Cougars embarrassed ... big deal.

Huskies only avoid losing because they have a bye.

Rough year.

Ouch.

You mean the Mariners weren't bad enough this year?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2008231080_hawk060.html

The Pitching Catcher

A pretty cool article on Sunday's M's game. Cool article unless you're Erik Bedard, I guess.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mariners/story/406531.html