Baseball comes to the rescue just in time: Mariners: The Seattle Times

Baseball comes to the rescue just in time: Mariners: The Seattle Times

Football's over. The Sonics suck, and the owner of the land that they want to use to build their new arena says that they have no interest in selling to them--not to mention the legislature isn't too keen on the $300 MM pricetag, either (translation: Hello Oklahoma City Supersonics, 2007-2008 season style). The T'Birds have clinched a playoff spot again this year, though barely by the skin of their teeth. The Huskies hoops team is on again, off again. The Zags won't be making it into March Madness this year..........in short, all is not well with the local sports scene, yet again.

What's that you say? Pitchers and catchers, and a few other early birds, reported to Peoria as of yesterday? The first workout is scheduled for this morning after (yet another) meeting?

Never mind that it's raining today, and supposed to snow again next week, if the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues are getting ready to fire up, can real spring be far behind? And, if the first exhibition game is on 1 March (the annual charity game with the Pads), can opening day be far after that? Indeed not.

Of course, the big question here is, after spending a record $100MM on their budget this year, will the M's be able to get the (rally) monkey off their back, and beat the A's at least once during the opening home stand? Do they have a winning April and come out of it with management still intact, or do they blow it (again) and start May with a new field manager and GM???

Frankly, I have an ongoing headache from thinking about it. Still, that doesn't mean that the radio isn't already tuned to AM 1000 and ready for the first broadcast on 1 March; that the TIVO isn't already programmed with a season ticket for the game broadcasts; or that I'm not planning to buy tickets and play hookey on opening day. No sir and ma'am, not a bit! They may win or they may lose, but I'll be right there to find out. I won't be making a lot of treks to the Safe unless my job situation improves drastically in a big hurry, but I will watch every game, win or lose.

At least they aren't the Pittsburgh Pirates (sorry Shooter) or the Kansas City Royals (why ever did you give Gilly that 5 year $55MM deal? You'll be soooooorrrrrrry...). Here's to a better year.....bring on the season!

Now it's Lincoln on the hot seat

Now it's Lincoln on the hot seat

As I've said more than once in the past, Art Thiel is a sportswriter that I don't often agree with. That said, I find this piece of sufficient interest to hope that Mr. Lincoln has finally gotten the message, at least a little bit, that he SHOULD be concerned about his position as the Mariners' CEO.

It is barely the first two days of the post-season and already five field managers have lost their jobs. Not among them was Mike Hargrove, nor was GM Bill Bavasi, as Mr. Lincoln notified the season ticket holders last week by mail that they would be retained for the 2007 season. He later clarified that to say that, while they would be returning to manage the team,, they would be "on the hot seat" from the beginning of the season.

Frankly, this did little to placate the more verbal members of the Mariners' fan constituency, not happy with paying anywhere from $2,500.00 to $25,000.00 per season for their tickets and not having any post-season tickets to show for it. Some of the more vocal were literally calling for Mr. Lincoln's head on a platter; most just grumbling even more than usual--especially since the football season in Seattle has gotten off to a worse start than hoped for, giving them less to focus on away from the baseball season.

I'm glad to see that Mr. Lincoln finally acknowledges in a public manner that he might just be, at least a little bit, accountable for what has, and has not, come to pass since the 116 win season in 2001. It is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, though, I am a skeptic, in a family of skeptics. I'm not going to lay out any money for season tickets until I see something positive happen before or during the winter meetings/GM's meetings; and I might even have a hard time pulling money for single game tickets out of my wallet when they go on sale early in 2007. I can sit at home and watch the same old losing ways at home for free and spend the $250+ per game on something more constructive, shall we say.

Here's hoping Messrs. Yamauchi and Kimishima, as well as Mr. Suzuki (he of the annual report to the majority owner) hold Mr. Lincoln's feet to the fire and make him live up to these latest comments. Until then, I'm outta here....WHL season started this past Saturday, and the (probably last)Sonics' season starts any day now. As for the Hawks...well, they had better get their act together during the bye week, too.

The Seattle Times: Mariners: Mariners improved? Don't buy the spin

The Seattle Times: Mariners: Mariners improved? Don't buy the spin

I had intended to write a post on exactly this subject within the next day or so. Now, more or less, I don't have to, because Steve Kelley has said almost exactly what I had intended to write. (Actually, I have BEEN saying almost exactly this for some months now--like from last season).

While I will go against him to the extent that I do think that there have been some improvements made, they were too little, too late, and did not meet the expectations of the non-bandwagon fan base (you know, those of us who REALLY care if the team wins or loses--not just go out to the Safe for the ambience of the place and to see and be seen).

Up until the inexplicable and sudden firing of Ron Hassey and Dan Rohn this past week, I had held out hope that this season and the disastrous 0-11 road trip just MIGHT spell the end of Messrs. Hargrove and Bavasi. Now it appears as if both are here to stay, at least into next season. It remains to be seen if that hold might be tenuous or not, if next season begins like this one is ending. While the dismissal of Hassey was said to be because of a "poor fit" with the coaching staff, no reason was given for the dismissal of Rohn, who was seen as a top contender for the management job if Hargrove was relieved of the final year of his contract; and might be seen as a means of ridding the team of a man who had been critical of recent management tactics.

As noted in Mr. Kelley's article, attendance has been down considerably this season, and could/probably will fall still farther (unless, of course, there are a lot more people out there disguised as empty seats that I had previously thought). This has to have an effect on the bottom line,, that figure which has been so precious to the present regime in the executive offices. If the bottom line continues to fall, how can payroll not follow? And, if payroll drops, can we not look forward to being treated to a Northwest version of a Marlins fire sale? And, if there is a fire sale, can we not look forward to a return to the dark days of the 1980's (yes, I know I was not here then, but I DO know my Mariners' history)?

I'm not just a one sport person. Sure, the Hawks are looking to be at least reasonably good again this year, once Deion Branch gets onto the field and the O line solidifies as well as the D line has, but I want to be able to enjoy my baseball, too (I'm going to ignore the Sonics for the time being, because I STILL think they will be in OKC by this time in 2008), and that's going to be a little hard to do if we have only a fourth season of slight (or no) improvement to look forward to.

Everyone who complains to themselves and their fellow fans on the local Mariners' forums needs to expand their complaints to at least the extent of e-mailing the club's fan feedback mailbox and letting them know that we agree with Mr. Kelley's sentiments and asking for either concrete action to improve the team this offseason (up to and including a few heads rolling) or a PLAUSIBLE explanation why that cannot/has not been done (no more "we tried, but just weren't able to get it done"). I'll be sending them another e-mail this morning myself. How about the rest of you?

The Seattle Times: Mariners: Analysis: Patience trying for M's, fans

The Seattle Times: Mariners: Analysis: Patience trying for M's, fans

As a parting shot on the day of his retirement after 25 years of covering the team, Bob Finnigan offers up this analysis of what is wrong with the Mariners. Most of what he says is not particularly surprising to anyone that has been around town for the past three seasons, of course.

Somewhat more surprising, perhaps, is his criticism of Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre and Ichiro for failing to have become the natural leaders of the team in the clubhouse; and the failure of the team to have traded any or all of the above at the deadline this year, though there were offers on the table for at least Beltre and Ichiro. He also takes majority owner Hiroshi Yamauchi to task for being more or less insistent that Ichiro remain with the team.

It remains to be seen whether or not either Mike Hargrove and/or Bill Bavasi will remain on the payroll after the season is over.

Not much has been heard from the Howard Lincoln quarter about the current losing streak, or the status of the team in general, this season; unlike the past two years when the Chairman was rather more verbal in his lament of losing and promising to do more in the upcoming season to restore the team to a better record and playoff contention.

In and of itself, this is a little concerning, especially in light of the continued decline in season ticket sales and attendance, and the effect that has to have had on team revenues. Does it mean that we can expect the Mariners to become Florida Marlins West this offseason? If so, and in tandem with the likely departure of the city's two professional basketball franchises after the 2007 season, what does this mean for Seattle sports fans?

It's too early in the football season to be able to tell if the Seahawks will suffer from the typical post-Super Bowl depression that the second place teams seem to have in the season after their losing game. While the Husky football team is sure to be at least a LITTLE better than last year (they couldn't be any worse, could they?), and Husky basketball will be Husky basketball (which is to say that they should make it to March madness again in 2007), a return to small market professional baseball would be a big letdown to a city that had finally started to come into its own in terms of national recognition of the sports scene here.

After a dismal 0-11 road trip, the M's have managed to beat three 200+ game winning pitchers in a row in Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and David Wells. The youngsters are starting to mesh well together, and should be even better after next spring training. Maybe it is time for ownership and upper management to start a little "man in the street" campaign and go out to find out what the average fan wants from the team for next year. Yes, season ticket holders are important, but they are not the only ones who have a stake in what happens. The Mariners' television deal is one of the most lucrative in all of MLB, and the demographics remain high even in losing seasons. Come on, Howard, take a walk down First Avenue and ask a few people what they really think of the Mariners and what needs to be done to make them better. I challenge you to do it.

Even Die-hard M's Fans Have Thrown in the Towel

Even Die-Hard M's Fans Have Thrown in the Towel

I mean, I guess it's good to know that I am not alone in my frustrations about this, but it's kind of sad, too.

What this really means is that fewer and fewer people will be willing to be vocal enough to keep up the pressure on ownership to do what is right for the baseball fans of this city. Declining attendance and support will mean that Seattle is likely to become Kansas City in truth, rather than just in spirit. Decreased revenues will lead to decreased payrolls, which will lead to an even worse team on the field, which will lead to an even more vicious cycle than the one that "we" are in now.

Angry or apathetic? Apathy is ALWAYS bad, anger not necessarily so, if approached rationally (I know, that is an oxymoron, but it is true).

Be angry enough to keep letting Howard Lincoln and those above him that what has gone on for the last three years is unacceptable. Send e-mails to the fan feedback e-mail. Keep making your blog posts and posts in the fan forums. You might just be surprised who reads them. Keep making those calls to KJR and the other sports talk shows. You might be surprised who is listening to them.

Don't give up. All that will do is bring back the pre-1995 days. Don't let Seattle become Kansas City or Tampa Bay.

The Seattle Times: Mariners: It's time for Mariners to grab a broom

The Seattle Times: Mariners: It's time for Mariners to grab a broom

I am 100% in agreement with everything that Mr. Kelley has to say in this particular article, and have been for quite some time now. It's good to see that the local media are starting to come out and say it openly, as well.

The trade of Jamie Moyer leaves another hole in the pitching rotation and I, for one, hope that they are not silly enough to put Joel Pineiro right back into the rotation, after having just removed him for performance issues. Give one of the better pitchers from Tacoma a chance to show what they have or, as Mr. Kelley says, start to stretch out Lowe or even O'Flaherty.

Ichiro played center field for part of the game last night, making way for Chris Snelling to play in right, since he has no experience as a middle outfielder to speak of. Additionally he (Ichiro) has expressed a willingness to play center field on a regular basis if the team but comes out and asks him to do so. They should, and let Jones go back down for further seasoning, rather than continuing to rush him to the majors before he is ready. He shows promise and should be allowed to develop in an atmosphere that will instill confidence and sure-handedness.

This season is, for all intents and purposes, over but for the playing of the last 40 or so games. Getting rid of Hargrove and Bavasi now and letting Rohn take over on the field and some temp in the front office is the best thing that ownership could do for both the team and the fans. Please?

Wanted, Large Shopping Bag.....

You remember yesterday? Well, yesterday was this.....
















Today, on the other hand, is something else entirely. Gone is the frustration. After all, what good does it do to be frustrated over something that you can't control? Not much. (Anyone who believes that, raise your right hand high in the air......no takers, eh)?

After eight and a half straight losses by our local providers of baseball mayhem (OK, so it's only the seventh inning and they could come back from a 3-0 deficit (with two on base) and win this thing--yeah, right) and the inevitable comparisons to last year's Kansas City Royals and their 20 game losing streak, it's time to take another tack, to whit....













Move over anti-Millenites, the unknown fans of Seattle are about to join your "bag brigade." It's time to stop being the silent majority and start protesting openly (well, more or less, since it's a little hard to be completely open when you have a bag over your head, after all).
Stop dressing in those green tee shirts that make you look like empty seats and show up for the games with your trusty grocery bags in hand. The TV cameras come on about 10 minutes before game the game starts. Time your demonstration of public apathy to begin at that exact moment, and do whatever it takes to get the camera operator(s) to notice you. (Remember, you will have a bag over your head; so your friends, family and employer won't know that it is you--unless you tell them, of course).

You can even feel free to express yourself verbally on the front of the bag, as the fans did in Detroit, by customizing it with "Fire (or Trade) ______________--inserting the target of your particular removal desire of the day. Just think how much of a message would be sent by about 20,000 or so (since that seems to be the most that show up anymore unless the Sawx or that team from New York are in town) people accessorized with the latest in le sac d'epicerie (grocery bag for the non-French speaker).

I will if you will. Call me.......