Fraley and Bishop

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry
Dipoto is pounding the pavement for
a veteran left handed hitting outfielder.
Whether he will find the right player
we will see.

Prize prospect Jarred Kelenic is ready

to make his jump to the majors though

the Mariners are thinking of starting 

him at triple-A Tacoma. Kelenic is a

left handed bat they can use in left field

right now. Kelenic is still only 21 years

old and there was no minor league season

in 2020. He did spend time in Tacoma

though with other players in extended

training camp.

We have to remember Ken Griffey Jr.

came up to Seattle at 19 years old. Of

course, we all know how that ended up.

Not saying Kelenic will be the next Jr.

but he could be the next best thing.

The Mariners will have Jake Fraley 

and Braden Bishop in training camp

both competing to make the opening

day roster. Both Fraley and Bishop

have played well in the minors but

haven't been able to do the same when

given the opportunities in Seattle as of

yet.

Both players have had injuries which

hasn't helped out either. In fact, injuries

happened to both when they could have 

had opportunities to play. This was true

for Bishop. The plan was to play him 

some in center field in 2019, however,

he came down with in injury right after

Mitch Haniger had his injury costing 

him the rest of 2019. Bishop returned

in September 2019 but did not show

much at the plate.

This year we hope both Fraley and Bishop

can show their hitting during training camp

and share left field if they don't bring in

another outfielder or Kelenic goes to triple-A.

This will be the break year for Fraley and

Bishop at least in Seattle anyway. They need

to show they can hit as well as play good

defense. We wish both the best. It certainly

will help out the Mariners.

Kyle Lewis and More

I don't know about you, however, I look
forward to see what Kyle Lewis the rookie
of the year will do this coming season.

Right now he will be the Mariners center

fielder. Mitch Haniger expected in right

field and who knows in left. The Mariners 

have had problems in left for many years.

It is hard to know whether Lewis will have

another good season or struggle for that 

matter. I know we will have fun watching

him. 

Even if his bat cools off we should see

good defense from him.

Right now not sur spring training will

start on time or not. We will have to see.

I hope the players are able to get the

vaccine and start on time.

 

Washington Finally Win

The Washington Huskies men's basketball
team finally won in the Pac-12 season. The

Huskies actually swept the two game series

at home first beating Colorado Thursday

night 84-80. Sunday they beat Utah  83-79.

Not only did the Huskies win both games

the first in the Pac-12 after going 0-7 they

had offense scoring in eighties instead of

the sixties the worst in the conference. 

Against Colorado they got off to a slow

start which is custom for the Huskies 

however they found a way to get back

into the game and keep to close to finally

taking the lead and keeping down the

stretch.

Against Utah Jamal Bey had 28 points 

a career  high. He only missed one shot

on the night. Finally Bey showed what

he is capable of. Usually he has one good

half but isn't there the other half.

Quade Green had 20 points on the night.

Green is the Huskies leading scorer and

really only player who has played well

over the season consistently.     

The Huskies will have a week off before

taking on state rival Washington State

Cougars. We hope the Huskies have turned

the corner and start winning consistently

The Cougars on the other hand got off to

a very good start winning all non-conference

game going 7-0.  They opened the Pac-12

season beating Oregon State and have only

beat California since who are near the bottom

of the Pac-12. They lost to both Utah and

Colorado this week. Both of the schools

have good teams so it would have been

hard to lose to Washington and Washington

State. 

The Cougars are just ahead of the Huskies

in the stands. The game this coming Sunday

will be in Seattle. The Huskies played like

against Colorado and Utah it will be hard

for the Cougars to win though it likely will

be a close game. 

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are still number one

team in the nation after beating Pacific very

handily 95-49.  They were led by Drew Timme

in scoring with 22 points. The Bulldogs 

will take on San Diego this coming Thursday

followed by Pepperdine both games on the

road. We see whether Gonzaga will go all

the way undefeated till the NCAA tournament.

         

Mariners Mitch Haniger

We are now down to less than three
weeks before spring training begins
for the season. We have no idea how
many fans can be at spring training
and for that matter when will be able
to be at games in Seattle.

Be looking here at players leading

up to spring training, well as during

the spring and the regular season.

Recently general manager Jerry

Dipoto said that Mitch Haniger 

right fielder who we haven't seen

play since June  of 2019 is healthy.

Haniger turned 30 in December so

he should be in the prime of his

career. We hope he is over injuries

for good. In 2018 Haniger was an 

all-star so we hope he can play close

to it.

Mitch Haniger played his last game

o Jun 6, 2019 so it has been some

time for sure. The Mariners plan to

play Haniger in right field along side

rookie of the year Kyle Lewis.

At this point we are not sure who

will play in left field. The player

may not even be on the team right

now.

Haniger has shown in his career in

Seattle he can be any where in the

batting order. Wherever the Mariners

lack for hitting is where he probably

lands.

We know at some point Jarred Kelenic

will be on the roster in 2021 followed

by Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners may

need to decide whether it will be the 

right thing to trade Haniger or not.

We could see four outfielders in the

lineup on a regular basis with one of

them at designated hitter. Most likely

at that point Haniger would likely dh

more than the others but at least gives

each one a day off in the field. Also,

if one of them is nursing a small injury

will allow them to stay in the lineup too.

Would not be a surprise at some point

the Mariners trade Haniger to another

team. Getting the best value will be for

him to be playing well. At least the 

Mariners are in a good place at that 

point. Go M's. 

More On Seahawk Free Agents

The Seattle Seahawks are looking at several
candidates as offensive coordinators. We should
know in several days who they hire. Again we
look at those who are unrestricted free agents
for the Hawks.

The next group of Seahawk players I mention 

are starters but not the big names for the most

part anyway. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin would

like to come back. He had an on and off season

for the Seahawks. Also, Griffin missed some

playing time too. I am sure the salary he is asking

for he will be back we will see.

Defensive Poona Ford is one I am sure the Seahawks

will like to return. He to will be what the asking price

comes along. He was a major player in run defense.

Another corner Quinton Dunbar is one we have to

keep an eye on. It could come done to him and Griffin.

On the offense we have Jacob Hollister tight end done

an excellent job as the number two on the Seahawks.

I am sure the Seahawks will like him back, however,

he sees some interest in the market he could be gone.

Ethan Pocic career with Seahawks he played some

tackle and guard. however, this season he played center.

We will see how the market goes there too.

Mike Lupati  starting guard is now 34 years old. It will

be interesting to see whether the Seahawks go get

someone or go with one of the younger lineman as well.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Seahawks don't resign him.

Another list of free agents will come out the next time

we go over the Seahawks. 
 

Free Agents Seahawks

I am not really into the off-season of the
Seattle Seahawks, however, I will share
some thoughts along the way. Soon we
will be talking about the Seattle Mariners.
I do hope spring training goes just fine.

Running back Chris Carson will be a 

free agent. Whether the Seahawks resign

him or not will depend on the asking price.

Though he has preformed well and is the

Seahawks number one running back the

last couple years he has been hurt so the

asking price for sure will make the difference.

Other teams could hold back because of the

injuries.

Backup running back Carlos Hyde is a 

free agent. His asking price will be easier

for the Seahawks to sign however he is 

34 years old much beyond prime for a

running back. I wouldn't mind him back

in a partial role. Other words keep him

at around ten carries a game. Use him

late in games when the defense is tiring

down.

Veteran linebacker KJ Wright is a free

agent to. The Seahawks should look at

re-signing him after having a good 2020

season. The Seahawks do have depth now

so pass him up would not surprise me either.

Greg Olsen is a free agent after the Seahawks

only signed him to one year He had some

injuries this year so might retire at 36 and go

into the television booth.

Over the weeks ahead look at other free agents

on the Seahawk roster as well.

Getting Closer To Spring Training

I am sure everyone is getting ready for spring

training for the Seattle Mariners. Well the pitchers
and catchers actually report one month from today
on February 16.

It will be interesting to see what moves Jerry Dipoto
will make over the next few weeks. With Covid-19
and the vaccine what will spring training look like.
Will fans be able to come to any games during the
month the games play beginning on February 27.

The one move the Mariners made this week as making

former Mariner Hisashi Iwakuma a special assistant to Jerry

Dipoto. Among his duties will be working with the 

young pitchers during spring training and do some

scouting in his native Japan. 

We hope the Mariners can pick up three more players

in the next few weeks. Go M's