Mariners on the Road Again

The Seattle Mariners start a ten game road trip beginning with Cleveland this weekend then the Red Sox and the Yankees It should be tough trip however the Mariners have done well on the road so far has a record of 11-4 while being 7-11.

I would have to say if the Mariners can go at least 5-5 on this trip it will be a successful road trip. The Mariners will need to get back to scoring runs and not get blown out like they did in the last two games against the Rangers and again against the Cubs.

At least in the outfield, the defense will be better in centerfield with Braden Bishop out of the University of Washington takes over for Mallex Smith who went down to Tacoma.  At this point don't know how Bishop will hit. In his first two games, he didn't get a hit against the Cubs but he was facing pretty good pitching. Bishop is a right-handed hitter so not sure whether he will start against right-handers or not. The Mariners may have Jay Bruce in right field and Mitch Haniger moving over to center field until late in the game. 

Braden Bishop could be outfielder coming late into the game if he does find himself hitting well against lefties when he isn't starting. Much in the same manner, Guillermo Heredia did the last couple seasons. He could be the defensive replacement for Domingo Santana who has gotten off to rough start playing in left field.

Bishop will have to find his way to at least be able to hit against lefties to stick around, and the Mariners will need to trade either Edwin Encarnacion or Jay Bruce where one of them would start at first base. Encarnacion is hitting better than Bruce and he has shown he can play a decent first base though likely would go to a team that primarily needs a dh. Bruce sticks around then he would play first base and be available at dh and first base.

Kyle Seager is expected to go on a rehab assignment soon. He is feeling fine and ready to go. He isn't eligible to come off the injured list until May 25. At that point, the Mariners will need to make a decision to make a trade or send someone down. Ryon Healy who has played a lot of third base can move back over to first base or he may have to be the one to be sent down but he has been hitting the ball well so far with power. A lot for the Mariners to think about. Daniel Vogelbach is in the mix as well. He has done better than expected and the Mariners have to decide what his future is on the team too. He needs to be able to play every day including against lefties. Another reason to move Encarnacion and Bruce for prospects. 

In other local sports, the Seahawks start Friday mini-camp for drafted and non-drafted rookies alike. The mini-camp will last through Sunday. They will have to see who stays and who leaves. 

Next week the Seahawks will be looking at who to bring in as free agents as well beyond the rookies. This will mainly happen at the defensive end position though I am sure we could see a few other players as well to add depth. 

Mariners Lose Again

The Mariners lost the first game in the two-game series to the Chicago Cubs 6-5. Daniel Descalso led the game off for the Cubs with a home run. It was the only hit he had in the game plus his second homer of the season. He struck out three times.

The Cubs scored a run in the fourth inning before the Mariners were able to finally get to Cubs starter Cole Hamels. Ryon Healy hit a double that helped the Mariners score three runs to take the lead briefly 3-2. First baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning.

The  Mariners weren't done yet scoring a run in the sixth and seventh inning to take a 5-4. Unfortunately, the Cubs were not done yet either when left fielder Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run home in the eighth inning to win the game.

Unlike last season where Edwin Diaz was able to close out a lot of one-run games, the Mariners don't have the luxury this season. Also, they don't Alex Colome type pitcher to hold the other team in the eighth inning either. 

I don't see the Mariners winning too many one-run games this season. They will need to be ahead at least by two runs to win. Also, the pitchers are starting to give up too many home runs as well. When the Mariners got off to the good start the pitchers were doing a good job limiting the other team from hitting home runs. They need to get back to doing exactly that.

Marco Gonzales goes for the Mariners Wednesday against Jon Lester who is 1-1. Lester had spent time on the injured list with a hamstring strain. He is making his second start since being activated. His last start he went five innings giving four hits and one run however the Cubs lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  

There will be a lot of Cub fans at the game just like Tuesday night plus fans from the Tacoma area since Lester grew up there and went to Bellarmine High School. Hopefully, Gonzales can go far enough where the Mariners will win the game and stop the three-game losing streak. Go M's. 

Bishop Up Smith Sent Down

Mallex Smith has struggled both at the plate and in the field since the beginning of the season. He had a rough time going since he missed most of spring training. Also, it looks like his helmet always off too. The coaches have been working with him but time showed they needed to send him to triple-A. The Rainiers are in Salt Lake City so he had trouble getting there because of Sea-Tac but should be available for tomorrows game.

Braden Bishop is in the lineup batting eighth ahead of Dee Gordon. He will be the primary center fielder though I am sure we will see Mitch Haniger there when not in right field. 

The future centerfielder we are not sure of right now. Smith could be there when he corrects things or Bishop if he is able to hit major league baseball. 

Both players could eventually be in the lineup as well. Bishop is a right-handed hitter while Smith hits left-handed. Jay Bruce is the fourth outfielder well as playing some first base along with dh. It is crowded right now with Bruce, Edwin Encarnacion, and Daniel Vogelbach sharing dh and first base. It will be interesting when Kyle Seager returns in about a month to six weeks to go back at third base. The Mariners will have to decide whether Ryon Healy will have to go to triple-A or they will have to trade either Bruce Encarnacion. Healy could be traded as well. Right now Vogelbach seems to be in the Mariners present as well as future.

The answer coming up will depend whether the Mariners are winning or losing. The month of May will answer a lot of questions. We thought the same last year when the Mariners did so well in June then fell apart the rest of the season.

This year the Mariners have a lot of different players so we can't say whether they will do well or not. They continue winning means they are coming together sooner than expected which would be nice. 

Tuesday and Wednesday take on the Chicago Cubs followed by the Cleveland Indians on Friday thru Sunday before going back on the road where they seem to be playing better. Go M's.  

List of Players Seahawks Have Signed as Unsigned Free Agents and More

Texas CB Davante Davis,  Northwestern State WR Jazz Ferguson, 
Arizona State S Jalen Harvey, Ohio State OL Demetrius Knox
Citadel LB Noah Dawkins, Baylor CB Derrek Thomas
South Dakota State QB Taryn Christion
Eastern Washington DT Jay-Tee Tiuli
Josh Lewis, CB (Eastern Washington): Seattle Seahawks
Terry Wright, WR, Purdue
Justin Johnson, TE, Mississippi State  Noah Dawkins, LB, Citadel
Lo Falemaka, OL, Utah  Delane Hart-Johnson, WR, New Mexico
Mik'Quan Deane, TE, Western Kentucky   Bryan Mone, DT, Michigan

all signed with Seattle Seahawks

 
Jake Browning Huskies has the highest guaranteed contract as
a free agent by Minnesota Vikings for $140K  compete for the backup
quarterback.

DE Albert Havili — Eastern Washington Signed with Los Angeles Charges

Other players signing as undrafted free agents

Drew Lewis, LB (Colorado/Eastlake): Houston Texans

Shane Bowman, DL (UW): Jacksonville Jaguars

Brett Rypien, QB, (Boise State/Shadle Park): Denver Broncos

James Williams, RB (Washington State): Kansas City Chiefs

JoJo McIntosh, safety (UW): Washington Redskins

Nsimba Webster, WR (Eastern Washington): Los Angeles Rams

Ketner Kupp, LB (Eastern Washington): San Francisco 49ers

Mariners and Rangers Split Series

The series started out well for the Mariners winning the first two games however the Rangers came back to beat up the Mariners on Saturday night  15-1 then 14-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Not only was the Mariners pitching not good neither was the defense. It continues to a problem all season long. The Mariners had three errors on Saturday and four on Sunday.

Tim Beckham and Mallex Smith continue having problems in the field. Beckham's problem continues to be his throwing and Smith is his fielding.  Also, Smith continues to have problems at the plate as well as not getting a hit in four at-bats. His batting average is now at .165. Smith because of a shoulder injury missed most of spring training. He didn't make the trip to Japan so made his first start when the Mariners got back to Seattle facing the Red Sox. The Mariners probably should have left him in extended spring training and a rehab assignment before activating him on the roster.

The Mariners now take on the Chicago Cubs Tuesday and Wednesday then take on the Cleveland Indians for three next weekend in Seattle. Be a good homestand if the Mariners can take three out of five of the games or four out of five. The Mariners hitting and pitching has to get better. Go M's. 

Mariners Lose Big Time

There is not much to say except Mike Leake didn't pitch well and again the Mariners had three errors. The final score was 15-1. At least Sunday is another day and the Mariners can take the series by winning. 

The Mariners lone run was in the first inning when Domingo Santana hit a home run. He now has 30 rbi's tying Ken Griffey Jr for the most in Mariner history in March/April. Stays on course he might have 100 rbi's by the all-star break.

Leake is a control pitcher so when he isn't hitting his spots a lot of runs can be scored against him and that is what happened. The Mariners left him out for five innings with ten hits and nine runs scored against him. With the three errors, he was charged for only five.

The Rangers started off fast with Elvis Andrus hitting a home run with two runners on base. The Rangers scored three more runs in the second and two in the third so 8-1 just like that. The Rangers scored one run in the 5th, 6th and 8th inning. 

Mike Wright made his first appearance in a Mariner uniform in the sixth inning. He pitched two innings with three hits, one run, two walks, and three strikeouts. The Mariners have some work to do with him. At least this was a blow out so they could see first hand where he is at.

Chasen Bradford who was the only relief pitcher not to pitch on Friday night went one inning Saturday night taking over for Wright in the eighth inning. He gave up two hits and a run. 

The Mariners had utility player Dylan Moore pitch the 9th inning where he gave up four runs. I would say I hope they don't need to use him on the mound again. 

Moore started the game at second base giving Dee Gordon the night off. Being a blow out game they had catcher Omar Narvaez who hadn't played go in at second base. 

Mike Minor who started the game for the Rangers went seven innings striking out 13 Mariners. Not a good day at the plate for the Mariners. Besides Santana's home run only Mitch Haniger and Ryon Healy had a hit. 

Erik Swanson pitches Sunday for the Mariners. He has pitched well so far though suffering two losses. We all hope he does well again and this time has a victory. Go M's. 

Seahawk Pics NFL Saturday

The first pick of the Seahawks in the fourth round on Saturday was Gary Jennings a wide receiver from West Virginia. He is an interesting pick because he played youth basketball with Russell Wilson's sister and Russell was his coach while in high school. It is amazing how life works sometimes. 

The Seahawks drafted #22 in the fourth round for guard Phil Haynes out of Wake Forest. Like many of these players don't much about him, however, he does add depth to the Seahawks offensive line. We will have to see whether he will start at guard for the Seahawks or be a backup.

The 3rd pick for the Seahawks in the 4th round was Ugo Amadl a free safety from Oregon. The fourth pick in the 5th round was a local favorite in Ben Burr-Kirvin linebacker from the Washington Huskies. He like most of the Huskies draft picks he has a good attitude in playing football. He should learn a lot from linebackers Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright.

The Seahawks drafted two players in the sixth round running back Travis Homer out of Miami University and defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas from Florida State. The Seahawks made a trade picking up wide receiver John Ursua who played at Hawaii. 

Washington Huskies players drafted were.

Besides Ben Burr-Kirvin being drafted by the Seahawks defensive tackle Greg Gaines was drafted ahead of him in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Rams. He joins teammate safety Taylor Rapp who was taken by the Rams early in the 3rd round.

Cornerback Jordan Miller was drafted in the fifth round by the Atlanta Falcons joining teammate offensive tackle Kaleb McGary who was drafted in the first round. 

Finally Myles Gaskin Huskies all-time rusher was drafted in the 7th round by the Miami Dolphins. Quarterback Jake Browning signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent. 

The only Washington Cougar taken today was quarterback Gardner Minshew in the 6th round by the Jacksonville Jacquars. He will be competing for the backup job.

Running James Williams who decided to come out early was not drafted however he signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.