A lot is being made about this “race for Stephen Strasburg,” but does Seattle really have to have the worst record in all of baseball to get him?  Having the first pick in next summer’s draft would certainly help their chances at obtaining him, but perhaps they could make due with the second or even […]

In the year 2000 our Seattle Mariners didn’t worry about their shortstop’s performance.  Alex Rodriguez held down the position from both sides of the ball.  Defensively he was easily a top five defender and offensively he hit .316 with 41 homers while walking 100 times.  2000 was his last season in Seattle colors as he left via […]

When Geoff Baker reported that Jarrod Washburn had cleared waivers, I was a little skeptical because it had just come out earlier that morning that Washburn was even placed on waivers, and there is supposed to be a three day waiting period for teams to put claims in.  I let it go, but others didn’t. 
From the […]

National baseball writers, local insiders and casual bloggers keep coming back to the bizarre three year extension given to catcher Kenji Johjima earlier in the season, and speculating on how to get it off the books. 
Such a move is needed, because Seattle’s catching depth in the upper levels is one of their strengths.  Jeff Clement […]

If you didn’t catch Saturday night’s game, Willie Bloomquist brutally pulled his hamstring beating out a potential double play late in the game.  He had to be helped off the field, and manager Jim Riggleman didn’t sound optimistic after the game.  This is looking like an automatic trip to the DL for Willie.
So.. who takes […]

Miguel Batista has been told that he is no longer in the rotation, at least for his next start, according to John Hickey.  This was expected, and in all likelihood Ryan Rowland-Smith will be promoted to fill the rotation spot on Saturday, at which time Jared Wells should find himself back in Tacoma as Batista […]

It’s nice to see this organization starting to make some moves to put them on the right track, or at least pointing themselves towards the right track. 
One of the team’s weaknesses was the shortage of worthwhile starters in the upper levels.  In just a few short weeks the organization has added three guys to go […]

Brandon Morrow will finally be on his way to justify Seattle taking him with their first pick a couple years back.  His true value is as a starter, and if he fails he can always be sent back to the ‘pen.  This is the right move to make now that Seattle isn’t competing for anything […]

Ryan Rowland-Smith pitched today in AAA and was solid.  Miguel Batista pitched for Seattle and wasn’t.  In five days who will be starting for the Mariners and who will be in the ‘pen?  The answer should be obvious, though us Mariner fans can never be sure what the course of action will be.

MLBTR lists Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista, Jose Vidro, Kenji Johjima and Miguel Cairo as Seattle’s top candidates to be placed on waivers this month, which makes sense.  If any of these guys are claimed the organization better not think twice about letting someone else take their contracts.  I believe it was last season that […]

It looks as though Ryan Rowland-Smith is going to fill Arthur Rhodes’ roster spot, bumping R.A. Dickey to the bullpen.  Dickey has been great as a starter, but the bottom line is that manager Jim Riggleman doesn’t feel comfortable with the knuckleball, something that has been reported on various occasions.  Dickey would become the long reliever, something Seattle has […]

Erik Bedard’s shoulder situation is unchanged, so there is no telling when he’ll be back, Carlos Silva’s back injury has pushed his next start back.  That leaves a rotation of Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn, who should be traded any day now, RA Dickey and occasionally the awful Miguel Batista.  Pair the numerous open rotation spots […]

Joel Sherman says that Kei Igawa isn’t in the proposed Jarrod Washburn deal, and the New York Yankees will require Seattle to pay some of Washburn’s contract, rather than taking on Igawa’s.  Jon Heyman reports Seattle is asking for both Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner, not one or the other as I assumed yesterday.  USS […]

Dave over at USSM makes the argument that keeping Raul Ibanez could be a better option than trying to deal him, saying that the compensatory draft picks received for letting Ibanez walk could be better than what Seattle would get in a trade.  Ibanez is heading for type-A free agent status, meaning if Seattle offers him […]

“The Associated Press reports that Seattle Mariners C Jeff Clement will see some time at first base during the second half of the season.”
This little blurb is on several sites right now, but I can’t find a source article, so I can only assume it hasn’t been published yet.
Though the Mariners are probably just trying to get […]

A lot of us thought it absurd that Richie Sexson was let go before the even more useless Jose Vidro, but it seems order is slowly returning to the universe.  This from Prospect Insider’s sidebar:
There are some rumors starting to swirl around the team as they left Kaufmann Stadium today that designated hitter Jose Vidro’s […]

Hey, a Dustin appearance! Sorry about the mini-break I took, I was on a rampant job search. I was shut down. But hey, I’m not the only person who was shut down. Read below and enjoy!
I only wish I knew the number of people out there thinking, “It’s about time…” Well, I agree with you […]

On MLBTR today:
Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline has an interesting tidbit today. While the Mariners are still searching for a permanent replacement for dismissed general manager Bill Bavasi, the current ownership group might not be the ones to make the call. Instead, Miller relays a rumor that Hiroshi Yamauchi, current controlling owner of the M’s […]

Fans love to step in and submit resumes for their favorite retired players whenever a coaching position opens up on the home team, and Mariner fans are no difference. M’s fans love to fantasize about the possibility of Edgar Martinez or John Olerud stepping in as hitting coach, Jay Buhner and his fiery personality […]

I’m not home yet, not for a couple more weeks, but the busiest part of my mini-sabbatical is completed.  I’m currently in Orlando with some time on my hands, so I’m happy to report that I’m back to full-time blogging.
While I’m almost relieved to have missed most of the last month of atrocious Mariner baseball, […]