Reverse This Curse

So, after making breaking my record of most blogs in a month i seem to have all but disappeared from the blogsphere. No choice of my own as this is perhapes one of my favorite past times. However, with all the turn over at work it has left me extremely worn out and not alot of time to make entries.

Here are a few bullet points on whats going on around here.

• I was going to make a blog post yesterday about what to look at the rest of the season but there have been so many i'm kind not wanting to join the masses... just feels redundent

• Russell Branyan has actually been pretty average defensively which is a shocker... 0.2 RAR and 0.0 UZR...

• The Mariners won two games in a row and actually made a dent in the deficent towards first place...until they lost today... oh well.. -9 games back...only 6.5 back from the WC not that it matters.

• Erik Bedard should be let go. He is better off going to another team. Too many expectations and with the injuries there is no point paying him to be on the DL when we have other holes on this team that need to be addressed

• Awesome link about DH's and the HoF

Pallbearer

So, like i said on my Twitter account. What would we do without Russell Branyan. Amazing stroke, as one USS Mariner commenter said... that swing is worth more than one win!

Anyways... interesting note on Jason A Churchill's twitter account. A rival scout believes the mariners to make not just one more but two in the next week and change. one surrounding our line up and one with out rotation, with bedard expected to stick around.

One would assume that it would lead to Washburn being traded but im not entirely sold on that idea just yet. i think the clock for Morrow is ticking and while he has shown some ability. He may not be as untouchable as he once was. Espcially with the emergence of Jason Vargas.


Also of course with the Olson melt down and RRS headed to the fourth spot there is discussion about weather Vargas, Morrow or CJ will get the nod for the 5 spot on sunday. My inclination is Jak will get it. Giving Vargas some time to rest his arm until August so that we have him to make the last push of the season.


I really feel that jakubauskas is a solid choice for us. while he isnt going to be any type of genius you will get from him what you expect. and thats a mini of 5 solid innings.


back to the trading deadline ... do you think there is a fourth option for the starting 5? Jack Z like to surprise and while i dont expect to add someone to the starting rotation through a trade. I really wouldnt be surprised as he has a habit for pulling a rabit out of his hat.


Washburn going tommorrow in the rubber match... GO MARINERS GO!

Beat it

So, Its been a few days... really glad to see the M's rip up those Indians after dropping the first game. Felix and Jarrod both looked really solid. However i must say i was pretty ... i guess distraught would be the word over Erik's lack of performance.

There are just a few things that are on my mind about him

A) i don't see how we can keep him.

With his injuries and lack of real consistancy, i just can't see how he helps the mariners in the log run. I would rather have Garrett Olson and Jason Vargas give me 30 good outings than 15 great outtings from Erik Bedard.

B) I dont see us getting much value in return.

Every start that he has i think of Dave Cameron's blog saying that him and washburn could get us JJ Hardy. Now you all know that i'm for JJ Hardy but would perfer someone younger and under team control longer. But heck at this point i'm all for it. I just want to get something for what we gave up.

Kind of just felt like i should leave something here so no one thinks i'm dropping this. Just been really busy with trying to put some stuff up on Bleacher report.

Work has been so laxed that right now it's given me time to do it. Come the switch on sunday to days. it's going to be pure chaos. Don't know how much i'll be writting then.


Still planning on moving the site overall to wordpress but that is going to be some time i think september 1st is a good date to set ... with alot of things to consider.


Still trying to come up with a real MLB Blog sounding name... 'Homi and the Mariners' just dosn't cut it. Any ideas???

Crazy Train

So--- I've been preaching it for approximately four months now and the philledalephia phillies are finally going to do the enevidable and sign Pedro Martinez. Honestly this is two months(at a minimum) over due. I dont think its too late i think honestly if anything he's going to be nice and rested and that he's going to be giving them that top end rotation assitants. Is he still a #1 starter? No, I dont think he is.. but is he better than who they have. MOST CERTAINLY...lets take a look shall we?


Since they've kind of been doing the round robin thing for their 5th starter since Chan Ho Park was a found to be a complete waste and gave up his spot.


WHIP FIP tRA pRAA
Cole Hamals 1.38 3.90 4.10 6.8

Jamie Moyer 1.49 5.84 5.87 -12.4

Joe Blanton 1.37 4.74 4.82 -1.3

J A Happ 1.17 4.51 4.60 0.8

Brett Myers 1.35 6.22 6.25 -10.6



All these pitchers have been is average... and really jamie moyer and brett myers have been below average. While not being Carlos Silva bad, they havn't been burning it up either. So now they have a 5th starter who will perform in my opnion atleast league average, maybe even better.

I bring this all up because, I like this signing but if they think this is going to get them into the promised land they are sorely mistaken. While i think that Erik Bedard would be a terrible fit personality wise, i think he would completely give the phillies a finale lift they need to be legit world series contenders. They have the bats, even with Jimmy Rollins MIA. But, JA Happ is already pitching and getting very lucky. While his ERA is just below 3 this FIP as shown above is nearly a run and a half over that, his LOB% is 8 points higher than normal and he is going to regress it's only a matter of time, and to expect Jamie Moyer to be go much further would be just down right crazy. They need someone and while i don't think they want to mortage the farm for Roy Halladay i think that Erik Bedard would be a must better fit for their team not to mention cheaper.

Smile like you mean it!

Wow okay i know that i really need to try and keep up with this and like hayden was saying in his blog, after time it just becomes hard to keep up with everything. Not to mention there is some but not ALOT of things going on. News has been coming in slowly. After the MLB draft nothing seems to have been really popping.

So lets go over what IS currently going on..

- Brewers look to possibly making a play for Erik Bedard


i think this A) works in our best possible interest because Jack Zduriencik is came from that organization as scouting director. he knows the prospects and B) The phillies are more interested in Washburn than Bedard.

The reason that i saw they are more intrested in Washburn is simple. They have Sam Perlozzo (who i love!) as a coach, he has seen bedard as a member of the Mariners pitching staff last year and he knows how many issues Bedard has with the media and adjusting to a new city. Seattle was bad enough do you really think that moving him to Philly is going to be easier? Plus the phillies employ Pat Gillick as a special advisor. As a former member of both the Mariners and the Orioles, i can't believe that Gillick would be infavor of this move. If and that is a BIG IF, the mariners made this issue. i dont think we would get nearly that much back as a Peavy, a Josh Johnson or another type A pitcher.

- Project Balentine is failing .. so very badly at this point.

Now dont miss understand me. He has made great adjustments to last year. But really, there was no place to go but up. He has 38 games, and while his BB%/K% has improved, its nothing to ride home about. He is suppose to give the line-up more power but has only one home run and been homerless for a month and a half. His defense is sitting at -6.9 uzr. He has more room to grow and started this season on a great streak almost moving Endy Chavez out of the platoon spot. However, coming back down to earth the past 6 weeks he has gone the exact opposite direction currently sitting at .218/.273/.336

I have to suspect that at this point he is a trade chip in whatever deal Jack Zduriencik is working. Michael Saunders has bee killing the ball at AAA and with his prospect status i am willing to bet that by August, Saunders will make his debut in blue.


- Morrow, blah, word vomit, blah


Everyone knows that Morrow is know being converted back to a started. like the volkswagon said, thats cool.

no needs to beat a dead horse. If you want more info on the situation check out USS Mariner, Lookout Landing or either of the Seattle Times page.


- 5.5 Games behind Texas

Yeah so what, i mean seriously this isnt an issue. The Rangers arnt going to win more than 88 games (if that) unless they make a move (which with their prospects its completely possible) they dont have the pitchers to really make a move. This division is up for grabs for whoever really wants it the most.

The question is at what point do we throw in this towel? At 5.5 we dont feel out of it but what about at 8 or 9. Do we feel the same at that point or do we start looking to next year.

I really like the idea that Dave Cameron and Mike Salk discussed the other day on 710 ESPN, and that was Buying AND Selling at the same time. Much like the A's and Billy Bean in the late 90s or much like Jack Zs trade early this year with JJ Putz. He got Chavez, Vargas and Gutz but also Carp and Carerra (who i love). Its about gathering players not just for tommorrow but also for today.



Other things to think about

When does Adam Moore come up ? I really hope they continue to wait until September (atleast)

Who plays third when/if Aidren is traded? I like the idea of keep branyan to play third, and bring either clement or carp up to play first to give us another left handed bat.

Where are all those guys we drafted in 2008? I was curious so i looked it up... check out the website below.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/2008/26.shtml

If you really love me, come on and let it show...

Top 5: Important Mariners items that are worthy to discuss

1. Should the Mariners bring up Adam Moore to replace Johjima


No, he needs to finish off another month or two of AAA ball. Get that 1500th AB. Come up in September, when and if we're still really out of contention. Yes, he is 25. Yes, the season probley is over. but let's not push our youngesters too fast. Look at Yuni, Look at Brandon. Lets have patience. Let him learn to AAA hitting and then give him the nudge to the next level. Allow him to struggle with out there being a real issue and fans getting upset.

2. Will Yuni be traded within the month of june?


I honestly don't think so... yes there maybe some teams interested. I don't see anything getting done until end of july at best.


3. Is the offense ever going to get better?


Yes, next year.

4. Will Bedard/Washburn be traded before 1st of July?

IMO, Yes. The sooner they get rid of wash and bedard the more they are going to get for them. Keeping them any longer is just straight up gambling that they will stay health for the trade deadline.

5. Should Bedard/Washburn be traded at all?

Washburn, yes ASAP.

Bedard... interesting case. IMO we need prospects. We need to rebuild this farm system. We need hitters and we need some good starting pitching. While Vargas and Olson are doing pretty well, with RR-S headed back. I really would like to see some high ceiling Starting pitcher guys put into our system. Yes, we have some guys. But, i really would like to see some real competition within the farm and hopefully it will push the cream to the top. We'll see...

I am really avoiding my paper i need to write.. i'm on line 9 of 66... BLAH!

fly, fly, fly away....

No, this isn't refering to me being on my trip. Which i'm tottally enjoying. i love nothing more than staying up late and playing cards while listening to Dave Neihaus. It is AMAZING!

But, with the girls off watching the American Idol finale i thought it apporiate that i take some time and give a quick Top 5

Top 5: Thing i love most about the 2009 Mariners

5. The return of Erik Bedard. He has really been a great pitcher this year and will never justify the trade that bill bivasi made for him. but he has been what the Mariners thought he would have been last year. An ace equivelent.

4. The pitching of chris jakubauskas/David Aardsma has been exciting!!

--Chris's curve ball is coming along, and should it ever really progress i believe his ceiling could grow beyond a #5 starter....... Please don't misunderstand me... He has had some TERRIBLE games. But then he has some solid games. tonight was a good one...next week will probley be pathetic. it's kind of a crap shoot..

--As for David has stepped up beyond what we expected. He thought he would be solid but stepping into the closer spot being removed and then stepping back up is awesome. He goes about his buisness and is a professional. I love it and i love seeing him in the ninth even if he blows it!

3. franklin gutierrez in center field.. He has shown why he was the center piece of the off-season movement in seattle. amazing glove, great speed, and is growing as a hitter.

2 .The progression of Wladimir Balentine.. He has flown out twice and struck out in the bottom of the 8th with a runner at third. But, more and more he continues to impress me. I love seeing him hit because i feel he has a chance to do anything when he's up.

1. Russ Branyan. Dude this guy is the old man version of chris davis(without the dazzeling defense). This guy hits the ball a solid mile! I love when he gets a hold of the ball it's hit harder than anyone i have seen on the Mariners in a LONG, LONG time...Infact i think the last time i saw a guy like russ was when Jay was in right field. I love seeing him hit and just like Wlad even though he is a feast or faminie guy ... i still love watching him hit as he makes me feel he can change the game. He makes me buy into this team more than i should, and every team needs one player just like that.

...ps... 4 man--shut out... against the angles .. amazing!!!

its not me its you

I am so very realived. I was starting to tottally get parinoid because everytime i seem to watch the game it's as if every time i sit down to watch a game they blow it in some way. but today i spent 11 hours qualifying with my m-16 and m-9. wasnt able to make the afternoon game in which felix turned in a game in which they needed, only to be disappointed for the second night in a row by brandon morrow...

oh well i guess such as life .. atleast thye did it and i wasn't watching. it makes me feel better....

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so i gotta write two upcoming papers for class....

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i have three over due blogs...the star trek one, the listing of starting pitchers within the organization which is even more ironic being that Erik Bedard is going to miss his start on saturday, and then possible trades in the works.

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i would really like to do a blog on my fantasy baseball team. As i said previously i'm playing Hayden this week and i would like to discuss what i have up my sleave and what im looking for in the future.

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i gotta go to bed.. i have my yearly physical... yeah!