They’re Thinking About Giving Ichiro a What?
Thankfully the Mariners’ season comes to an end tonight at Safeco Field. I say thankfully because they’ve been hard to watch since they were 43-43 in whatever month that was – it seems eons ago.
Since then, they’ve gone 24-51, including that franchise-record 17-game losing streak in July and a 7-0 loss to Oakland last night in which their feeble bats mustered four hits.
Honestly, the most memorable thing about the 2011 season was Eric Wedge’s mustache. That sucker was hideous, which made it unforgettable.
Looking at next year’s potential lineup, I can’t name too many players I’m excited about other than Dustin Ackley at second base and Mike Carp, whether he’s in left field, first base or the DH. I’m semi-excited about Justin Smoak, wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt; you could perhaps attribute his struggles to injuries and the death of his dad.
I’m more than fine with the top two starters in the rotation in Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda. And the closer Brandon League. Maybe even Jamey Wright. Personally I also like Tom Wilhelmsen as a setup guy or potential closer himself. Love that guy’s story – former pot smoker and bartender makes it to the big leagues.
Oh, and I shouldn’t leave out Brendan Ryan – if he’s the starting shortstop next year, great. I love his gritty, heads-up play.
But the rest of the team… yikes.
Will Chone Figgins be the starting third baseman again? If I had to bet, I’d say yes, and I’d also bet that he hits lead off in an attempt to get him going and salvage something out of that $18 million he’ll be making the next two years.
Then I guess they’ll have Ichiro in right field again, and hopefully he’ll be batting second and abandon that slap-happy singles shtick of his and look to drive the ball more frequently.
This business I’ve been reading about the Mariners perhaps giving him a contract extension is ridiculous, as in really ridiculous. Can’t we just tip our cap to him, thank him for his years of productivity and be done with him at the end of next season when his contract expires? No offense, but I don’t want a 39-year-old, over-the-hill Ichiro on my team in 2013.
Center field never used to be a question mark with Franklin Gutierrez, but Mr. Death to Flying Things has become lifeless at the plate too, leaving that position up for grabs.
Then there’s catcher Miguel Olivo, the team leader with 19 home runs and 62 runs batted in. If he doesn’t drive in three runs tonight, he’ll be the lowest RBI leader in team history, surpassing Gutierrez’s low of 64 RBI last year.
I don’t want to see Olivo as the starting catcher next year. I know he will be, but I don’t have to like it. Former players who know the game better than I do tell me that he doesn’t call the greatest game in the world. And I don’t need a former player to tell me that he’s awful at stopping balls that aren’t thrown right to him.
In fact, I’ve never seen a worse major-league catcher at keeping balls in the dirt in front of him. It’s as if this guy’s feet are nailed to the dirt. I can’t take another season of that crap. Please God, let Adam Moore return fully healthy next year.
We’ll have Larry Stone from the Seattle Times on the Kevin Calabro Show today on 710 ESPN Seattle to discuss the future of the Mariners.
COUGAR VIEWING PARTY: Hope you can join me at the Mustard Seed Pub & Grill for the Cougs’ game against Colorado on Saturday at 12:30. Aside from the outcome, we had a great time there when the Cougs played San Diego State two weeks ago. You can bring your kids because there’s a big family section and lots of flat screens to watch the game. Go Cougs!
Jim – I agree with all your points about the M’s (funny how we have similar views on just about all matters Sports, huh?). Particularly about Ichinuts. It’s obvious that he’ll be treated as a King here as long as the present ownership situation holds, and there’s the rub. Marketing over winning is never a cool thing in the teams I root for, and spend $$$ for. I remember watching another singles slap-hitter from the 80s, the great Rod Carew, who was then playing with the Angels while I was living in L.A. He was a fantastic future HOF’er, of course, but at the tail end of his career he was soooo boring to watch him just trying to spray singles all over the Big A. He was terrific at it, but….enough already with the endless self-serving pursuit of stats for some of these guys, ya’ know?
Good observations about Olivio’s shortcomings on the defensive side. Would almost make me think that you’ve played some of that position yourself in years past @ WSU, huh?? Incredibly tough position to play. Probably the 2d-hardest in all of sports, IMO, behind QB.
I’ll try to make it your Coug viewing party this Saturday at the Mustard Seed. That name always confuses me; is it the one in Newcastle or the other bar up in Crossroads? I miss the really funky one in Old Bellevue – now torn down. Someone down there once tried to explain to me that all the Mustard Seeds had something to do with each other, but had different owners, so there was really no connection except in an existential & time-space continum sense, but since I was on my about 3d or 4th pint by then, well………….who the crap can be expected to keep them all apart?
Please have good thoughts today about my Ali with her tests at Alpine Animal Hospital in Issaquah. Thanks again for the referral, and I’ll let you know how she does. Craig.