Amazing the difference four days makes…

Reliability has been thrown out the window after Cleveland absolutely destroyed the hearts of Mariners fans and players alike. It wasn’t that the Indians swept the team, but how they did it that hurts the most.

Monday capped off series with not one, but two blown saves. Tom Wilhelmsen has been one of the most dominant closers in the AL, and his perfection would have lasted one more day if not for his own error on what would have been the 27^th and final out.

In what would have been a sigh of relief, 1B Justin Smoak made a stupendous play and tossed it to Wilhelmsen covering first, who dropped the ball, kicked it, and fell down. It was rough.

Reliability in the form of the closer came short, but the bigger surprise was the effort of Felix Hernandez (crushed in a 6-0 loss Sunday, the only game the Mariners didn’t lose via walk off) and Hisashi Iwakuma (5 ER over 6 IP).

The AL ERA leaders lost their crowns this weekend, adding to the agony of being in Cleveland.

Friday night’s game ended with a walk off HR in the 10^th, Saturday ended on a walk off for Cleveland on a fielder’s choice, but Monday’s 3-run blast was the icing on the cake.

Justin Smoak remembered he is allowed to hit home runs.

How does a team handle that kind of weekend?

Hope establishes heartbreak.

Although Seattle had a rough weekend, the team has had many worse weekends than this one. Unfortunately, the Mariners were coming off a series win in New York and hadn’t lost a series in a month.

Last week, ESPN published an Insider Article (for subscribers) calling the Mariners a playoff team, one that would not only last in the playoff hunt, but sneak in with better hitting, established pitching, and difference-making minor leaguers on the way.

Boom.

Four losses in a row.

Reasons not to quit:

1. Justin Smoak

Well this is unexpected. Just as Kendrys Morales was beginning to play more 1B, Justin Smoak remembered he is allowed to hit home runs. His OBP has been fine because he is 10^th in the AL in walks (an astounding stat for someone hitting .252), but his power has been dreadful.

Not only did Smoak hit 2 home runs this weekend, they came in the 9^th inning to tie the game on Saturday, and in the 10^th inning to take the lead today.

This is something that could change things for the better in Seattle.

2. Runs were scored

Seattle fans have seen series go by with a lot of zero’s on the board, I’ll take crushing defeats while scoring 15 runs in four games over being outscored 22-2 every time.

3. Brandon Maurer

Best pitching performance of the weekend for Seattle, 3 ER over 6 IP would be fantastic for the rest of the year from a 5^th starter.

The M’s begin a quick two-game series against the LA Angels of Anaheim Tuesday, the quickest and best remedy for a crappy weekend?

Take both games from a division opponent on the road and all is forgotten.

Go M’s.

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Next up in our Moments In Time – Northwest sports series is a fun flashback of Rip City NBA draft picks.

If Portland Trail Blazers fans have learned anything throughout the years, it’s that things don’t always go as planned when it comes to the NBA draft.

Portland has been hit hard in the past when it comes to draft day. Sometimes it’s bad luck. Sometimes it’s bad decision making.

Either way, there are plenty of cases to choose from when it comes to busts in Trail Blazers history.

Martell Webster, No. 6 Overall (2005)

Martell Webster was drafted by the Blazers in 2005. (Photo: Kathy Willens/AP)

Martell Webster was an on-again, off-again role player with the Trail Blazers. He went through hot streaks and shooting slumps during his five years with the team, but the latter was far more popular, as he averaged just 8.5 points.

Webster was a decent role player during his time in Portland, but unfortunately, fans don’t want role players with the sixth-overall pick. The Seattle native was supposed to be a deadly shooter from day one, and while that proved to be true when he caught fire, he never fully developed into a consistent threat.

The biggest issue with the selection of Webster is that Portland management missed a golden opportunity to draft true superstars. Before dealing the No. 3 pick to the Utah Jazz, the team had the chance to select Deron Williams or Chris Paul. Even after trading the pick, the Blazers could have taken Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger or David Lee.

Webster has gone on to find a role with his third NBA team—the Washington Wizards—but he’s yet to truly justify the sixth-overall selection from 2005.

Sebastian Telfair, No. 13 Overall (2004)

There was a long stretch of time when the Trail Blazers were looking for their next point guard of the future. Some argue that the search began when Terry Porter left and didn’t end until Damian Lillard was drafted in 2012. However, the more reasonable time frame begins when Damon Stoudamire left in 2005.

Regardless of when it began, the truth is that the team tried a number of different options. One of them was Sebastian Telfair, and in hindsight, we can say that the Telfair experiment was a complete failure.

Telfair was drafted straight out of high school with the 13th-overall pick. He was an absolute superstar in the making, as he averaged 33.2 points per game, and Slam Magazine even went as far as to say that he and LeBron James were going to “rule the world.”

Still waiting for Sebastian Telfair to rule the world… twitter.com/BleacherReport…

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 21, 2013

It’s safe to say that one of those players is currently ruling the basketball world, and one of them is not.

LaRue Martin, No. 1 Overall (1972)

If LaRue Martin is known for anything in Rip City, it’s beginning a startling trend of highly touted big men simply not working out as planned.

Martin, a 6’11” center, was taken with the first pick in the 1972 draft. He was chosen over both Bob McAdoo (who couldn’t come to contract terms with Portland) and Julius Erving largely because he outplayed Bill Walton in the 1971-72 NCAA season.

After four disappointing years (5.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG), Martin retired in 1976—one season before the Blazers won their only NBA championship.

Sam Bowie, No. 2 Overall (1984)

Sam Bowie is known in NBA circles for one thing—being drafted second overall in 1984; one spot ahead of the legendary Michael Jordan.

This is the legacy Greg Oden left behind in PDX.

Bowie’s career lasted 10 seasons, but he was never able to meet the lofty expectations that were tossed his way. He did manage to play in 70-plus games three different times, but only one of those times came in Portland.

The center was traded to the New Jersey nets after four years, having played in just 63 games during his final three seasons with the team.

Greg Oden, No. 1 Overall (2007)

Many people consider Sam Bowie to be the biggest bust in Trail Blazers history because the team missed out on Michael Jordan. However, the big man played 76 games in his rookie season, almost totaling the number of games Greg Oden has seen in six years.

The big story with Oden is injuries. Had he have been able to stay on the court, we could have been looking at the game’s next great center.

Unfortunately for the organization that drafted him, that wasn’t the case, as he never had time to develop and learn how to play at the NBA level.

The other story, as it is with every bust in NBA history, is who else was left on the board. Portland infamously took Bowie over Jordan in 1984, and it made the same mistake in 2007 choosing Oden over Kevin Durant.

The world will never know what would have happened if the Blazers had made different decisions, but then again, every move helps mold the future—a future that looks bright with Damian Lillard aiming for stardom.

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Seattle Sonics fans everywhere had their hearts broken again last week by the NBA when the Board of Governors voted 22-8 against relocation of the Sacramento Kings to Seattle. It is just the newest chapter in the David Stern vs. Seattle saga that has tugged on the heartstrings of every Sonics sympathizer since 2008.

As a lifelong fan of the oldest professional sports team in Seattle until their move, my heart hurts. 

After all the build up and hope brought on by Chris Hansen’s heroic efforts thus far, it is hard to believe that this city’s basketball fans were robbed yet again…by an all-too familiar enemy.

David Stern’s vendetta against this city has been evident since Clay Bennett made his wild demands after purchasing the team from local coward Howard Schultz while fellow local coward Greg Nickels stood by and did nothing. We all know Bennett had no intention of leaving the Sonics in Seattle, instead yearning to move them to his Okie paradise.

Chris Hansen became an instant hero in Seattle when he proposed his plan to bring the NBA back to Seattle

Nickels gave him an easy way out between his greed and lack of care for the general public’s wishes, letting Bennett essentially pay off the city of Seattle in order to break the remaining lease in Key Arena and take off for his cowtown.

All the while, David Stern sat idly by and helped his good friend Bennett any way he could.

I don’t know about you, but that was a good enough reason for me to hate the NBA commissioner more than I already did. After last week’s developments, he climbed all the way to the top of my sports Shit List.

Skip ahead to the latest saga

Chris Hansen swooped in like a superhero and gave this city hope again when he unexpectedly launched a proposal and campaign to get the city of Seattle another NBA team.

Like us, he grew up here. He loved his Seattle sports and he especially loved the Sonics. And like us, he wanted to see them return. So he hatched his plan and got straight to work.

He snatched up all the land he needed to build an arena.

He secured a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seattle City Council and King County Council, which started a 5 year contract - If the city of Seattle had, in writing, a promise of the return of the NBA to Seattle, Hansen has the ok to put shovels to dirt and begin his proposed arena to faciliate the new NBA team as well as a possible NHL team in the future.

Then he set his sights on a target.

Maloofs

The easiest, most obvious target were the lowly Sacramento Kings, who have struggled for the last 10 years to stay put in the capital of California. The Maloofs owned the team and weren’t interested in staying in town when the city turned down a new arena countless times.

The friendship between Stern and Clay Bennett helped Bennett steal the Sonics and move them to the middle of nowhere

The team had been rumored to move to Anaheim, Las Vegas, Virginia Beach and then to Seattle. They obviously wanted out of the NBA, but wanted to do it at the right price. Hansen and his new partners Steve Ballmer and the Nordstroms offered them that payday they were looking for.

After putting a $30 million deposit down in the agreement with the Maloofs, the Hansen group threw down a massive offer for the Kings, inflating their value to $525 million, already a record sale price for a team.

As the days led up to D-Day, the offer went as high as $625 million with a record $115 million relocation fee AND the promise of opting out of revenue sharing,  a move that should’ve made every owner salivate at the opportunity to put quite a bit of money directly into their pockets.

Instead, the owners allowed the childish dictator with the little man complex to herd them like sheep into making a decision against conventional business wisdom.

The commish helped long winded Sacramento mayor and ex-NBA player Kevin Johnson by giving his group lots of extra time as well as specific criteria to meet in order to earn enough wiggle room to keep the team in town.

KJ put together an ownership group pretty quickly, but anyone with half a brain could see the massive holes in the plan in Sacramento. He started with names like Burkle and Mastrov and 20 “whales” who were going to throw $1 million each into the franchise just for good measure.

The group flip flopped at who would fund and own the team and arena.

They even got an extra month past the deadline issued by the NBA calendar to put this cracker jack plan together.

Kevin Johnson found a new friend in David Stern who abused his power to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

The names Burkle and Mastrov weren’t being mentioned anymore 2 months later as it soon became Vivek Ranadive, who is one of the owners of the Golden State Warriors. A man who was cheerleading for the Kings to stay by day and sporting his gold Warriors playoff shirt courtside in Oakland by night was going to bail Sacramento out.

The vote

Fast forward to the BOG vote where reportedly several owners were swayed by Stern to vote against the relocation to Seattle. He swayed them to vote against a transaction that was sound, guaranteed and ready to be put into action.

He all but demanded the Maloofs sell the team to an ownership group that had completely transformed over a 2 month period and had put together an arena deal so loosely created that it seemed it could fall apart just as easy as the wet napkin it was drawn on.

And he started the whole show off with a literary dagger in the hearts of Seattle NBA fans everywhere. As he waddled up the stairs and plopped down on his chair, seemingly exhausted by his demonstration of absolute power in the meeting room, he uttered the phrase that will never be forgotten,

“This is going to be short for me.  I have a game to get to in Oklahoma City.”

How can one man be so evil to such a loyal fan base that wanted nothing more than to keep THEIR team, THEIR history, and THEIR memories? How can he be so cold and calculated in allowing their original team to leave, only to stonewall them when their chance to bring another team to the city arose.

The answer is simple. We’re talking about David Stern.

Hansen wants to see basketball return to his hometown Seattle much like the rest of us

We’re talking about the same man that asked the city of Seattle to drop their suit against his buddy Clay Bennett or else the city would not be considered for a future franchise – and then denied it when asked about it at the relocation announcement.

We’re talking about the same son of a bitch who infamously asked Jim Rome if he still beats his wife during a live, national interview.

We’re talking about a man who used his power to veto a deal that would’ve given the Lakers the piece to the puzzle they needed to make another run at multiple championships in Chris Paul, only to send him to the Clippers to even the balance of power in Los Angeles.

We’re talking about the same man that sold an NBA franchise to Tom Benson in New Orleans…a franchise that miraculously won the [RIGGED] draft lottery over SEVERAL teams much more deserving.

Good ol David Stern

So here we are now, Sonics fans, back at square one. With such an emotional rollercoaster behind us, what happens next?

Does the NBA offer up relocation or does the Hansen group target another franchise that’s barely keeping it’s head above water?

Do we see a run at the Charlotte or Milwaukee franchises?

Or do we wait until February 2014 to usher in a new NBA commissioner when Adam Silver takes over for the little man and hope he re-affirms his commitment to the Seattle market by awarding us an expansion team?

Only time will tell at this point. One thing is for certain, though… In Hansen I trust.

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Before we get started I would like to backtrack and reminisce a little bit.

When the Seahawks traded a 2011 4th round pick and a conditional 2012 pick (5th) to the Buffalo Bills to acquire Marshawn Lynch I was ecstatic.

At the time I didn’t know he would be as successful as he has been, I just knew that he was going to be a breath of fresh air after watching Shaun Alexander “The Un-Great.” 

I was so tired of watching a running back who would succumb to tacklers who were ten yards away from even touching him.

Marshawn Lynch came with a lot of baggage, particularly off the field, but it was well known that he was a hard runner.

No moment better encompasses Lynch’s running style than Beastquake.

In case you have been living under a rock, that is the run he had in the Wild Card playoff game on January 8, 2011, against the heavily favored New Orleans  Saints.

Still to this day that is my favorite moment in Seahawks Stadium (Clink).

What the future holds

Today, May 20, the Seahawks signed second round running back Christine Michael to a 4-year contract.

John Schneider and Pete Carroll have stated that they couldn’t resist selecting Michael because he is so talented, however I don’t completely buy their story.

What does the future hold for Marshawn Lynch? (Photo: Google)

Yes, I do believe he was the top of their board, yet I don’t think they would have made that selection without picturing him as more than a 3rd running back in the future.

Last season the team drafted Robert Turbin in the fourth round. Turbin went on to average 4.4-yards on 80 carries in his rookie season.

Those are not light the world on fire numbers, but they aren’t “We better add a running back early in the draft” numbers either.

What does this mean for Marshawn?

That leads us to the top dog, or beast if you will. What does drafting Michael mean to his future with the Seahawks?

It depends on how far in the future we want to look.

This season I do not expect Lynch’s role to change much. Maybe Marshawn will see a few less carries because the team now has three running backs who can carry the ball.

That isn’t a dig at Leon Washington, his running style just didn’t fit what the Seahawks are trying to do.

This season Lynch’s contract has a cap hit of $8.5 million, which is fully guaranteed. That makes Marshawn the 4th highest paid running back in the NFL, as far as cap hit is concerned.

In 2014 Marshawn’s contract has a $7 million cap hit with $2 million guaranteed, $500,000 is a roster bonus. That will make him the 7th highest paid running back in 2014 as things sit today.

2015 is where it gets interesting.

The team could save $7.5 million in cap room by releasing Marshawn before the league year. At 29 years of age, this move would make sense to me. Typically running backs hit a wall at the age of 30.

Marshawn is not a prototypical running back. He runs so hard, and takes so much punishment, that I don’t think he will have much tread left on his tires at 29.

With Turbin and Michael waiting in the wings, Lynch’s contract and age, I am left thinking that before the start of the 2015 league year the Seattle Seahawks will part ways with one of my favorite running backs in team history.

That gives us two more seasons to marvel at his talent.

Go Seahawks!

Roster Moves 05.20/2013

• RB Christine Michael – Signed
• TE Darren Fells – Signed
• LS Adam Steiner – Released

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Now that Washington‘s spring game has come and gone and the incoming recruits are tallied, we can reasonably project how the upcoming season’s starting lineups might look.

In Part I, we’ll break down the offense.

QB – Keith Price

As I broke down, Keith Price’s excellent spring play and natural fit in Washington’s new offense make him the clear candidate to start under center.

Will Keith Price remain the starter in 2013? (Photo: Wild West Sports)

Here’s hoping this works better than it did last year.

RB – Bishop Sankey

No surprise here. Coming off a breakout season where he put the team on his back in countless situations, Bishop Sankey will be the focus of opposing defenses this season. Hopefully, more consistent play from Price and a wider variety of offensive options for the Huskies won’t leave the teams’s offense entirely on Sankey’s shoulders.

WR – Kasen Williams, Jaydon Mickens, DiAndre Campbell

Even though I love Damore’ea Stringfellow’s potential, and Washington has one of the best wide receiver recruiting classes in the country, I’m picking all veterans for my starting three receivers.

Kasen Williams needs no explanation. But even though there are older players on the roster, Jaydon Mickens and DiAndre Campbell both played splendidly in the spring and are ready to contribute. Both got valuable experience last year and are excellent athletes who should thrive in UW’s uptempo offense.

TE – Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Only the best tight end in the country, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a likely first round NFL draft pick should he choose to go pro at the end of the season. The only hiccup is a DUI incident several months back, but there has been nothing to indicate he will be unable to play in the first game.

LT – Micah Hatchie

Things get a little less certain with the offensive line, a unit with a strong incoming class and a number of starters returning from injury. At left tackle, Micah Hatchie has the size (6’5” and 300) and experience (started every game at left tackle in 2012) to be the clear choice here.

LG – Dexter Charles

Coming off starting 11 of 13 games at left guard last year, Dexter Charles won the team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award and will only come back better in 2013.

It’s likely the offensive line will be a heavily rotating group of 7-9 players during the season, so both starters and second-stringers will see lots of playing time, but Charles has earned his starting spot

C – Mike Criste

Washington lost experienced starter Drew Schaefer here, but one of the true breakout players in the spring was junior Mike Criste. Criste played all over the line last year, and although he suffered something of a baptism by fire, his improvement was noticeable during the spring game.

Although I was projecting incoming freshman Dane Crane (watch him regardless) to start here, Criste has played his way to the top of the depth chart.

RG – James Atoe

The massive (6’6”, 335) James Atoe is the presumptive starter at right guard, although Colin Tanigawa might contend once he returns fully from injury. Atoe moved around the line a lot last year, but gained valuable experience in his first meaningful season and should be serviceable, at least, right of center.

RT – Ben Riva

Coming off missing five games last season due to a broken arm, Ben Riva is the unquestioned choice to anchor the right side of Washington’s offensive line.

Riva started every game at right tackle last season once he returned from injury and did nothing to weaken his position in the spring game.

It’s highly possible that will be the lineup the Huskies trot out on opening day, and in terms of experience, it’s a huge step up from last year. Coming up in Part II, we’ll break down the defense.

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The 2013 Seattle Mariners are not a bad team. In fact, they are actually a pretty good one. Boasting what is likely the best 1-2 pitching combination in the American League with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, their record of 20-25 is respectable considering the fact that they really don’t have too many impact players on offense.

After a rough start to the season with a 12-17 month of April, the Mariners began to turn it around and really get hot in the late stages of April and early stages of May. As of today they stand 8-8 in the month of May and briefly made an appearance at second place in the AL West.

All their momentum was halted, however, when Seattle headed to Cleveland this past weekend for a four-game series that culminated today with another 10-8 walk-off loss. The series against the Indians was frustrating, annoying, and somewhat similar to what the Mariners have experience against AL Central teams this year: dismay.

While they boast a 17-16 record against all other American League teams and a 1-1 record against National League opponents, Seattle is just 2-8.

Clearly something is up with the Mariners against teams from the Central, so let’s take a look at the series and why they can’t find a way to come away with more wins.

Montero upset at another blast by Cleveland (Getty Images)

2012 Statistics

Before moving any further, let’s look at the argument of the Mariners consistently struggling against the AL Central.

From 2009-2012 Seattle went a combined 85-91 against the central during a time when the team was in a rebuilding mode. Though that’s not a terrible record, it’s still not above .500 and doesn’t really merit any consideration of that being a “good” record.

2010 was their worst season against AL Central teams, as the Mariners went 18-26 against that division while going 22-25 against them in 2009, 20-24 against them in 2011, and 25-16 against them in 2012.

Just by looking at last season’s win-loss record against the AL Central you can really point out the fact that Seattle hasn’t really “struggled” with that division.

In fact, they’ve actually played fairly well against all central teams except for the White Sox, who they went 1-8 against in 2012, 2-7 against in 2011, 1-9 against in 2010, and 5-4 against in 2009.

Though 2009′s win-loss record isn’t bad at all, the rest of the years indicate that Chicago has clearly had an upper-hand on Seattle.

Series in 2013

So far Seattle has faced the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series, the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series, and the Cleveland Indians in a four-game series. Losing all of those series, the Mariners went 1-2 at Chicago, 1-2 against Detroit at home, and 1-3 at Cleveland.

Of those contests, five were decided in extra innings while one was decided in the bottom of the ninth. Seattle has been outscored 50-34 but has found themselves losing by just one run four times in their seven losses against the AL Central.

Only two of their games against those teams could be considered big losses, a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Tigers of April 15 and a 6-0 defeat against the Indians on May 19.

Other than that, Seattle has actually played well against the AL Central but has failed to come up with wins in close contests, losing five games in walk-off fashion.

Analysis

The Mariners have a lowly 2-8 record against the AL Central this year and many have pointed to the fact that they have just performed terribly against that division all season long as well as in past seasons.

But hat isn’t exactly so, as their overall record against the central was just six games below .500 from 2009-2012. And, if you factor out the Chicago White Sox (who have had Seattle’s number in recent years), the Mariners are actually 76-63 against the central, a very impressive number.

The problem that they have this year, as stated above, is that they can’t find a way to win the close games. Seattle has had six losses against the central this year that could easily have been in their favor as well, a big number when you consider that, if they had come away with victories in those contests, they would be 8-2 against the division and flying high.

That is not the case, however, as they have had tough luck against the AL Central teams who can really connect with the ball and send one out of the park at any moment.

With that said, it’s not as if they haven’t shown up to these games. They’ve played well against this division but just haven’t managed to win the close ones.

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If the Mariners were to deal, what major leaguers could be on the block? Finally, after years of uncertainty, Felix Hernandez will be nowhere near the trading block.

Season after season the King would produce, and season after season the national media would speculate when he would be in pinstripes playing in New York.

Everything has changed, and Felix is under contract with Seattle for 7 more years in a place he wants to be. The club is even beginning to build a contending team around him, but there are some holes to fill.

Speculation of Nick Franklin breaking through to the big leagues to replace Brendan Ryan and Robert Andino is an option for improvement, and a healthy Danny Hultzen will certainly improve the end of the rotation whenever he is ready. But, the M’s have trading pieces in the big leagues worth exploring.

Here are three players that the M’s could realistically trade to yield a good profit..

1. Kendrys Morales

The switch-hitting 1B/DH came to Seattle in an offseason trade for Jason Vargas last winter.

Even though this is just his first few months playing for the M’s, his contract is up at the end of this season and there is no speculation that he will resign with the team.

The team and Morales have not made any discussions of an extension public, perhaps because Morales would be a great addition for another team in a playoff run.

A loan-player like Morales could land a good prospect from another team; anything less and the Mariners should pass.

2. Franklin Gutierrez

Will Kendrys Morales be the latest hired gun taken at the deadline? (Photo: Google)

Tempted to put Raul Ibanez on this list after what he did in Yankee Stadium last week, but there is not a single player in need of a fresh start more than Guti.

Mariners’ fans adore Gutierrez, but his inability to stay healthy has allowed players like Michael Saunders and Jason Bay to capture his playing time, and he may not win it back.

Guti has great defensive ability and his contract ends after this season. If a team like Minnesota was looking to dump a big contract (Justin Morneu, Joe Mauer) maybe a deal with Guti and Justin Smoak would make sense.

I love the idea of Guti/Smoak for Morneu. Maybe even Guti/Morales, but time will tell.

Ibanez could go, but his return would be minimal at best, and it would behoove the club to keep the fan favorite in Seattle.

3. Tom Wilhelmsen

Trust me, I hate seeing his name up there as much as the next Seattle fan, but people still believe closers are worth the extra money.

Heath Bell got $9 million/year with the Marlins last winter, and he is playing for the Diamondback now (while still being paid for the Marlins).

Wilhelmsen has been great, but if there is a team willing to give up a top prospect for the “final piece” in a championship run, the M’s will have to think about it.

The St. Louis Cardinals have the best minor league system in baseball, but their bullpen has been decimated with injuries this year. If St. Louis calls, Jack Zduriencik will listen.

If history is any indication, the Cardinals will ride with the players they have and keep the farm intact – that team is so solid, they dumped the greatest player in the world (Albert Pujols) and still made the playoffs last year and have the best record in baseball this year.

Others:

Michael Morse and Hisashi Iwakuma’s names have been discussed in trade rumors recently. This could not be more frustrating to hear.

Morse is also a one-year player like Morales, but his love for Seattle and production at the plate should be enough for a new contract, something affordable like Guti’s last contract, 4 years, $20 million (probably would have to be $30 mil, but we can dream).

Iwakuma is being paid $7 million/year for this year and next, trading him would be irrational and shortsighted.

That deal would reflect the Cliff Lee deal from a few years back, and we all know how that worked out. If you have an affordable ace, keep him.

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A month and a half into the season and the Seattle Mariners are four games under .500 and third in the AL West. That’s the bad news. The good news is that this organization is incredibly top-heavy in the minors, and it’s top prospects could be coming to the rescue very soon.

But because Seattle’s roster is—for lack of a better word—bloated, finding the time and place for those prospects to make contributions is easier said than done.

Looking at Seattle’s five top prospects, we’re breaking down the best roles for those players throughout the current MLB season.

1. Mike Zunino – Catcher by July

Mike Zunino started his season at a torrid pace, and though he still has six home runs and 17 extra base hits, his average and OBP have since fallen to .222 and .299, respectively.

Despite his recent slump, Zunino is still Seattle’s No. 1 prospect by far. He is bound to make his Major League debut at some point this season, at which point he’s likely to take over as the M’s everyday catcher.

That’s why a takeover is doubtful until we get closer to July. At that point Seattle can trade someone—my money’s on Justin Smoak—allowing the proper position changes to make room at catcher.

2. Taijuan Walker – Minors

Hands down the best pitching prospect in Seattle’s system, Taijuan Walker is finally dominating Double-A after struggling at the level last season.

Through eight starts Walker has a 2.09 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 47.1 innings pitched.

Despite his dominance, it’s doubtful we’ll see Walker before 2014. The electric armed prospect is still only 20 years old and has yet to play above the Double-A level. He’s bound to hit Triple-A by some point this season, but his meteoric rise won’t proceed beyond that.

Nick Franklin’s time is coming, and soon (Photo: AP)

3. Nick Franklin – Infielder no later than July

Of all the players on this list, it’s likely Nick Franklin will be the first to crack the Major League roster.

The M’s aren’t getting anything from their infielders offensively this season, and Franklin could be the answer. The 22-year-old is currently hitting .319/.446/.496 through 33 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

While a Franklin callup would require as many moving pieces as a Zunino callup, Seattle’s infield situation is less muddled than it’s catcher/DH/first base situation. That’s why we’ll see Franklin sooner than later.

4. Danny Hultzen – Major League Starter once healthy

The M’s aren’t getting anything out of their third, fourth and fifth starters, and it’s likely some help is on its way. Once healthy, that could mean a Danny Hultzen callup.

Before landing on the DL with a rotator cuff strain in April, it looked like Hultzen had returned to form after a rough go at Triple-A last season. Through four starts the left-hander has a 2.78 ERA and 4.17 K/BB with Tacoma.

As long as his rehab and return go okay there’s no doubt we’ll see Hultzen in a Seattle uniform upon his return from the DL.

5. James Paxton – September cup of coffee

James Paxton had the most consistent 2012 of any of Seattle’s Big Three, posting a 3.05 ERA through 21 starts with Double-A Jackson.

Paxton received a promotion to kick off 2013, starting the year at Tacoma. While the results have been good, they’re not great. Paxton has a solid 3.93 ERA and 10.8 K/9, but he’s also averaging less than 5.0 innings per start with a BB/9 of 4.4.

The 24-year-old has great stuff, but he continues to struggle with command. It’s likely he receives some kind of cup of coffee this season, but it won’t be until later in the season.

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It’s safe to say that Raul Ibanez will be nominated for AL Player of the Week after his performances over the past seven days.

And when you’re hot, you’re hot. And Raul Ibanez is definitely hot.

Five homeruns on the week for the Mariners veteran back-up outfielder, and it all started at the house that Jeter built.

Using the old adage of Lou Piniella, Raul got the start against the Yankees in game one. After going deep, he got the nod again in game two.

And he didn’t disappoint, hitting two home runs, including a second inning grand slam.

It’s always nice to have a plethora of options for a Mariners play of the week, it doesn’t always happen with this team, but I’m going with the twin bombs by Ibanez against the Yanks.

The first one

With the M’s already up two in the first inning, Ibanez got a 0-1 breaking ball that he liked, and put some good wood on it.

Raul go ahold of it and knocked it into the bullpen area. Not the monster shot that he hit the night before, but a Grand Salami against your former team is a nice gesture to the team that refused to re-sign you.

Introducing the new Bronx Bombers. (Photo: seattlepi.com)

The Mariners went on to score seven runs in the first inning, and walked all over the Yankees for a win by the score of 12-2.

The M’s should have had the sweep in the Bronx after Felix Hernandez pitched himself a nice little ball game the night before, but Charlie Furbush lost the handle and the M’s dropped a close one.

Putting up a 7 spot before the Yankees even stepped into the batters box was pretty much an automatic win with Hisashi Iwakuma on the mound.

Three runs were all that were needed, but c’mon, putting up a double digit run margin against the Yankees is always cause for celebration.

The second one

Ibanez was at the plate in the 5th inning with a runner on, and facing a 2-2 count.

No breaking ball this time, Ibanez got the fast ball, a 91 MPH heater on the outside part of the plate.

As a veteran hitter, Ibanez didn’t try to pull the ball, just got the barrel on it and tried to put it into play.

Well, he failed on that one. Instead he got an opposite field two-run homer to go with his 1st inning grand slam.

Two homeruns, 6 RBI’s, two swings of the bat.

Offense doesn’t come much faster than that in the game of baseball.

The greatest part of this video is the fact that it includes the Mariners TV broadcast call, the M’s radio call, and the call from WCBS Radio in New York City.

The three different calls is a nice touch.

A link to the video is here courtesy of mariners.com.

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With the Seattle Seahawks‘ rookie camp commencing earlier this month, the players’ abilities are being put on display, and future roles for the team are developing. When you have one of the youngest rosters – and still are expected to win the NFC – the competition between positions becomes very tight.

It is no question that some of these rookies may not make the team. However, Softy on KJR brought up an interesting point.

He doesn’t see Pete Carroll settling.

So many coaches nowadays settle with the rosters they have. They may bring new players in, but when the going gets tough, they go back to what or who they are comfortable with. This slows development, and eventually leads to a lack of depth.

Carroll isn’t that kind of coach. He takes risks. He encourages competition. He will not refrain from putting a rook in a starting spot – i.e. Russell Wilson.

With that in mind, we take a look at the possible roles for the incoming rookies in 2013.

Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M .

Christine Michael: RB Texas A&M

In my previous article, I pointed out the genius in taking Christine Michael with the team’s second pick. The team’s focal point is halfback. It is what sets the tone and puts the gears in motion. Michael was one of the most athletic players in the draft, and will likely take over the starting role in years to come.

For now, I see him spelling Marshawn Lynch as a No. 2 – if he can beat out Robert Turbin.

Jordan Hill: DT Penn State

The Seattle defensive line has gone through quite the transition these last couple years. The pass rush and run defense were major points of emphasis for Carroll and co., hence the rotation of new faces.

Alan Branch and Jason Jones were brought in last season, but due to injuries and lack of production, they were rotated out. Now Seattle has brought in Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett to fill these voids, but also drafted Jordan Hill.

Chris Avril and Michael Bennett will likely play more defensive end, but Jordan Hill is a nose tackle. He plays similarly to former Seahawk Jason Jones. He squares up with the opposing center and guards, but has the ability to get to the quarterback.

Look for him to substitute in on third downs and pass-rushing situations in his first season.

Chris Harper: WR Kansas State

Chris Harper was my favorite pick in the draft. His skill set is incredible, and I love the possibilities he brings to the wide receiver position.

Out of high school, Harper was recruited as a running back, quarterback, wide receiver, safety and linebacker. Are you kidding me? He eventually chose Oregon to play quarterback, where he was teammates with Seahawks All Pro center Max Unger.

“We ran a pure spread offense. He was a real mobile quarterback and was basically another running back with the ball once they got it in his hands.” Unger praised. “That’s what they really liked about him.”

Harper brings the open-field ability that the Seahawks obviously were looking for when trading for Percy Harvin – just with a little more physicality. He stands at 6’1″, 234 lbs, making him by far the biggest receiver on the roster.

Williams come to Seattle from down under. (Marvin Gentry/USA Today Sports)

He will likely play a limited role in 2013 considering the current depth at receiver. However, it isn’t crazy to assume Sidney Rice could be moved in these next few years. I love Sid the Kid, but his production doesn’t amount to the contract we gave him.

Unless he has an incredible 2013 season, I see him being dealt or cut, and creating space for Harper.

Jesse Williams: DT Alabama

Before the draft I had the Seahawks taking Jesse Williams in the first round. I loved his size and ability at the nose tackle position, and felt like it was a need for the team.

Carroll and John Schneider obviously knew something I didn’t – for once – and picked him up four rounds later at 138. So ,of course, I tell everyone I predicted the pick.

Among the defensive line makeover, Williams finds himself between the three-technique and the nose tackle positions. With Alan Branch leaving, there was a gap at the position. Somebody who can create push and fill holes in run defense.

Enter The Monstar.

Williams is one of the players I see making an immediate impact. He can play on early downs, late downs, goal line, short yardage; basically the works. And it is always fun to bring somebody on board who has a unique sense of style (Here is a shot of Williams’ attire on the Alabama white house visit: http://i.imgur.com/CKphe.jpg)

Tharold Simon: CB LSU

Less than 48 hours after being arrested, Seattle drafted Tharold Simon. Pete sure has a type, eh?

This may be the first player to begin his career under Richard Sherman‘s wing. How will Sherm be as a mentor? Only time will tell, but I assure you, there will never be a dull moment.

Just got off the phone with the best db in the game @rsherman_25 much love fam and can’t wait to get there and play with you all

— Tharold Simon (@t_simon24) April 27, 2013

Simon fits the Legion of Boom mantra: You must be big, you must have attitude and you must hit.

His time will likely be limited at first. Probably a role similar to that of Jeremy Lane last season. But in spread packages or injuries at the position, look for Simon to make his mark.

Luke Willson: TE Rice

Entering his final college season, Luke Willson was on the John Mackey Award watch, which is given to the best tight end in the nation. However, due to some nagging injuries, Willson never hit his stride.

He had an impressive close to the season against Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl, but besides that his season was sub par. Fellow teammate and tight end Vance McDonald was drafted four rounds earlier. McDonald’s stats were more impressive, but whose ceiling is higher?

Thus far, Willson’s production has garnered some attention in training camp. He may be the help needed across the line from Zach Miller.

Spencer Ware: RB LSU

Spencer Ware is an interesting case. After drafting Christine Michael, nobody thought running back would be a position for concern. And it wasn’t.

Carroll has praised Ware’s physicality and says that he was the hardest runner in the draft. This could mean two things. They will either look to beef him up and train him in the ways of the force at fullback, or simply utilize him as a short-yardage back when Beast Mode needs a breather.

Personally, I think Michael Robinson deserves every penny he is being paid and is a huge contributor for the team, both on and off the field. I would hate to see him go, so I hope that they find other areas for Ware to produce in. But as previously stated, Carroll loves his competition.

Welcome to Seahawks Nation, Jared Smith. (Photo: Seahawks.com)

Ryan Seymour, Ty Powell, Jared Smith, and Michael Bowie

It is hard to tell what this group of seventh round picks is capable of. Seymour was likely brought in to compete at the guard position with John Moffitt and J.R. Sweezy. Sweezy is currently starting at the position, but Moffitt was a higher pick and a fan favorite, which means zilch to the coaching staff, but would still be awesome to see him play.

Ty Powell looked impressive on tape – granted the tape looked like high school footage from the 1960′s; but still impressive. He could be a possible LEO replacement for Bruce Irvin in the early weeks that he is suspended.

But other than that, it may be difficult to get playing time on this bulked-up roster.

Then there is Jared Smith and Michael Bowie. Depth on the lines is always something you address in drafts. That is all this was.

Neither will start, and nether will play much. But it never hurts to have more depth.

Go Hawks!!!

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