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MLB Trade Deadline Breaking News: Seattle Mariners Deal Doug Fister to Detroit

According to the latest reports, the Seattle Mariners‘ Doug Fister was dealt Saturday morning to the Detroit Tigers, in addition to reliever David Pauley.

In a tweet, Danny Knobler of CBSSports reported that a deal between the two teams was on the verge of completion, which would send Fister and Pauley to Detroit for outfielder Casper Wells, pitcher Charlie Furbush, third baseman Francisco Martinez, and a player to be named later.  

Okay, first, let me get this off my chest. No Fister or Furbush jokes (Casper is a funny name though).

The Tigers needed a starting pitcher badly and could’ve used another bullpen arm. What they got was a tall 27-year-old lefty in Fister with club control through 2015 with a 3.33 ERA and impeccable consistency.    

For the Mariners, a trade was imminent for one of their pitchers. With one of the league’s best rotations, it was a commodity that needed to be taken advantage of. And while the return was a bit light, it addressed some positions of concern.

The centerpiece of the prospect package is 26-year-old Casper Wells, who fills an immediate need in the outfield and can play all three outfield positions. With 206 at-bats in the majors in two seasons combined, Wells holds a .286 average with eight home runs and 29 RBI.

Wells is by no means a polished hitter and has his share of issues at the plate, but he provides decent pop and an average that if replicated, would instantly make him among the best hitters on the Mariners.

Casper “the friendly ghost” is a young player who should hang around the M’s as a part-time starter for the rest of the season.

The next part of the deal, you could see it as a bit of a swap. The Mariners dealt Pauley and got 25-year-old lefty Charlie Furbush in return. Furbush is currently a reliever and has a 3.62 ERA in 32.1 innings pitched, but with the potential to be a future starter.

The Tigers have even tried him as a starter where he performed respectably well, allowing three runs in 4.2 innings to the Angels and none in five innings to Boston.

The last part of the deal provided the Mariners some potential at third base with 20-year-old Francisco Martinez. Ranked as the No. 6 Tigers prospect but not expected to be up until 2013, Martinez is a speedster with a nice bat but questionable defensive skills.

In Double-A Erie, Martinez was hitting .282 with seven home runs and 46 RBI. The strategy going forward could be throwing Kyle Seager, Alex Liddi and Martinez against a wall and seeing who sticks.

For the Mariners, the prospect package wasn’t terrible but you would have liked to see them get a bit more in return. I’m excited about Casper Wells long term, though, and he should be in our lineup very soon.

“Mister Fister” will certainly be missed, but he gains the opportunity to go to a legitimately contending ball club that can improve his 3-13 record.    

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MLB 2011: Ranking the Top Seven Starting Pitching Rotations in Baseball

It’s no secret that a solid rotation is key for success. An offense, no matter how formidable, can be silenced by effective pitching, keeping the team in the game.

Closing in on two months into the 2011 MLB season, a distinct group of starting pitching staffs has risen to the forefront as being capable of taking their teams to the playoffs. 

To be a truly fearsome rotation, a team needs five established starters who can all deliver quality outings reliably. Looking back at the 2010 season, we saw the San Francisco Giants (who made this list with almost the same rotation) ride their starters all the way to their World Series title. 

Without further ado, let’s look at the top seven starting pitching staffs in baseball a third of the way through the season. 

Begin Slideshow


Smoakin’ Aces: Why Justin Smoak & Michael Pineda Are the Future of the Mariners

For the past several years, the outcry among critics of the Mariners was that while the team could field viable rosters–think ’07 and ’09, of course–there was no home-grown talent outside of the dazzling Felix Hernandez.

AAA Tacoma was the breeding ground for players who would achieve little, if anything, at the major league level. Haunting memories of prospects who have failed to live up to their billing have come and gone with Rob Johnson, Matt Tuiasasosopo, Brandon Morrow, and Wladimir Balentien (some of you may go, ‘who?’).

The Jose Guillens and Russell Branyans of the M’s free agent signings have made their impact on the team, and so have the Carlos Silva’s and Miguel Batista’s. But the problem remained that while we could buy a few more expensive wins with a guy like Cliff Lee, we were left with Brandon Morrow while another team flourished with Tim Lincecum.

In order to win and to stay competitive for more than a couple years, a team needs to develop its own talent rather than relying on pricy free agents, and that was the issue with the Mariners. But today, I’m telling you that this era is coming to a close.

After watching Pineda bind the Kansas City Royals to one run in six innings and Justin Smoak go 2 for 4 to continue both of their remarkable seasons, it became clear to me that these two guys could be top contributors on the team for years to come.

First, let’s talk about every M’s fan’s current infatuation, Michael Pineda. He’s had less success facing left-handed batters and can get smacked around a bit if he gets behind in the count too much, but besides that, you couldn’t ask for a better start for Pineda.

In his first three starts, Pineda has combined for 19 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 16 and posting an extraordinary 2.33 ERA. Although Pineda will likely stumble at some point, all doubt has been removed whether the rookie can pitch at the major league level.

Said Toronto’s Jay Patterson of Pineda in an interview with Larry Stone (Seattle Times), “I think he has a chance to be something special, and I really don’t like complimenting pitchers that much”.

Pineda’s high 90’s fastball rivals that of King Felix and his breaking stuff is effective enough when paired with that fastball. His dominance and confidence exudes when he is on the mound and it seems to augment as a game wears on.

22-year-olds just don’t get this good, this fast. The Mariners struck gold when they signed him at the age of 17, and they are about to reap the immense rewards.

My prediction is that by the end of the season, Pineda and Felix will have become a formidable 1-2 punch that can anchor the rotation for the future and even draw fans to Safeco. When you talk about being a playoff contending team, you need those two studs who can give you a chance to win every outing, like Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum did with the 2010 World Champion Giants.

And next, we come to Justin Smoak. After being acquired in the Cliff Lee deal from the Rangers last year, Smoak disappointed and was even sent back down to the minors.

But this season, Smoak has hit for a .300 average, and to some that pales in comparison to some of the excellent campaigns other first basemen have been putting together around the league.

However, as a 25-year-old with limited experience in the majors and in a stagnant Mariners offense, Smoak has emerged as a top hitter in the lineup. His development since joining the M’s has been outstanding, especially his ability to stay patient at the plate which most young hitters don’t learn.

This is seen best by Smoak’s ability to work the count and draw a walk- Smoak has struck out ten times this season, but has walked eleven times. Those eleven walks are good for sixth in the AL and tied for 11th in all of baseball.

Even his defense has been showcased this season, best seen in the outstanding play made against the Blue Jays in which he caught a foul popup and gunned Corey Patterson out at home trying to tag-up from third by a wide margin, a throw equivalent to one which an outfielder would have to make.

Smoak hasn’t fully developed yet and I expect some more pop from his bat as the season wears on, but there’s no question that after Richie Sexson and Russell Branyan have come and gone, the first baseman spot will be Smoak’s to keep. He’s shown an ability to get on base consistently and with mediocre bats in so many other positions, first base may be locked up for years to come.

And with the farm system featuring prospects like Dustin Ackley, Carlos Peguero, Alex Liddi, Josh Lueke, and Carlos Triunfel all developing, it may be only a matter of time before the youth movement hits the majors.

Is this the start of a great influx of young talent? Only time will tell, but Michael Pineda and Justin Smoak are an encouraging beacon of hope in a desolate wasteland of second-rate players. 

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Ichiro, Mariners Rally but Fall Short to Royals 6-5

If only the Seattle Mariners offense could actually show up before they found themselves hopelessly behind—such has been the underlying theme of the Mariners’ 2011 campaign. And Friday night was a microcosm of that very issue, too little too late.

Against the Kansas City Royals, the Mariners offense floundered for the first seven innings, registering just one lone hit. Three up, three down was the story for the offense through innings three through seven, as Royals starter Luke Hochevar dominated the hapless hitters.

After 100 pitches in seven innings, Hochevar was finally done for the night and the M’s immediately took advantage in the eighth inning. Off reliever Blake Wood, Ichiro singled in Luis Rodriguez to cut the lead to 6-2.

Then, in the ninth inning off closer Joakim Soria, the M’s were able to get four walks and a Michael Saunders RBI single to narrow the lead to 6-4. With the bases juiced with one out and Ichiro, the team’s strongest hitter at the plate, suddenly things were looking hopeful for the M’s.

But like they’ve done all season, the offense failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Ichiro did manage a weak ground-out to score another run, but Chone Figgins lined out hard to end the rally and the game.

Granted, Soria’s pitches were all over the place and offered the offense several opportunities they wouldn’t have normally gotten. But regardless, the game tonight reaffirmed a lot of things about this team for me.

Off to a slow start, things have been tough for the offense to get in a groove. The Mariners are mired in a slump, and it’s no new concept that good teams tend to get lucky. Look no further than Figgins’ stinging line drive with the game on the line in the ninth…straight to the third baseman.

Of course, the blame rests equally on the oft-injured shoulders of Erik Bedard. For the third straight outing, Bedard failed to pitch more than five innings. Falling to 0-3 with an 8.56 ERA on the season, it’s clear that Bedard has been the weak chain in the link that is the M’s starting rotation.

Bedard was able to get out of  a couple jams, but gave up too many runs to keep the M’s in the game. The team can’t afford to keep trotting Bedard out on the mound every fifth day expecting a taxing game for the bullpen and a probable loss (combining a poor offense and mediocre pitching and that’s what you get).

Falling to 4-10 two weeks into the season, the M’s face serious questions with almost every facet of their team.

To make sure this doesn’t just become a rant, and to give credit where credit is due, it’s important that we highlight the successes of first baseman Justin Smoak. Pinch hitting for Brendan Ryan in the ninth, Smoak worked a seven pitch walk to force in a run. Smoak has hit .273 on the season, good for second on the team, and has walked as many times as he has struck out (nine times).

King Felix will try to stop the bleeding Saturday afternoon (10:10 AM PT) against Sean Sullivan, who has an 11.25 ERA in two appearances this season. 

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Macklemore the Highlight as Jason Vargas, Mariners Disappoint in Home Opener

With the team headed to Safeco Field for the home opener against the Cleveland Indians Friday, hopes and expectations were high.

Sure, the M’s had won just two of their first six games. Sure, they had gone into Arlington and gotten their behinds handed to them by the Rangers.

But it was Opening Night, and somehow all was momentarily forgotten. Ichiro and King Felix were set to receive their awards in front of a sold-out crowd.

Local icon and rapper Macklemore performed his hit song, “My Oh My”, a lyrical tribute to the late broadcaster Dave Niehaus.

But boy, did the Mariners flop on Friday night. In what was one of their worst home openers in team history, the Mariners were thrashed by the Indians.

In the fourth inning, everything unraveled for Jason Vargas and the M’s. Five consecutive base hits were knocked off of Vargas, and it took him six batters to record his first out, an RBI sacrifice fly.

After former Mariner Jack Hannahan joined in on the batting practice session and  delivered an RBI single, Vargas’ night was over.

Vargas lasted just 3 1/3 innings as he was tossed around, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits. He struck out only one batter as the same command of his strikeout pitches exhibited against the Athletics was nowhere to be seen.

And the bullpen, one of the most well-rested in all of baseball, was in for a rude awakening. Reliever Tom Wilhemsen could not stop the bleeding, as he surrendered five runs in less than 1 2/3 innings.

But the chief concern for the Mariners tonight was Jason Vargas and his puzzling inconsistency. Vargas was impressive if not brilliant in Safeco Field last year, going 9-6 with a remarkable 2.84 ERA.

But after he followed up his outstanding performance against the A’s with this stinker, doubt has suddenly been cast as to whether or not he can stay as a reliable contributer in the rotation, much less the No. 2 starter.

Ichiro was the only M’s batter to accomplish anything of note, going 2 for 5 with 2 RBI on the night. Justin Smoak went 1 for 3 with a walk, continuing his streak of increased patience at the plate.

The problem with Friday evening’s game went past the 12-3 result that the scoreboard indicated. The M’s offense only generated six hits compared to the Indians’ 17, but it went past that too.

What pained me was the lack of effort and fight in the team, an indictment commonly made against the ’10 Mariners, who seemed to quit when things didn’t go right.

This lack of focus was epitomized by the throwing error and wild pitch made in the same play in the fifth inning, giving away an easy run.

And things certainly aren’t going right as the team falls to 2-5, desperately searching for a win.

But to quit now after a disappointing start would be ludicrous. The Mariners are obviously in dire need of a win, or at least something positive to build off. They’ll need the veteran leadership to step up as well.

But to seemingly toss in the towel as they did against the Indians is something the team cannot stand for. 

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Felix Hernandez in Midseason Form as Seattle Mariners Dominate in Season Opener

Everything looked a bit different on Opening Day today as I watched the Mariners after six months of waiting. Maybe it was because of the new ROOT Sports look instead of FSN. Maybe it was all the changes the M’s had made to their team in the offseason.

Maybe it was the fact that we were missing Dave Niehaus and his sweet, sweet voice…I found my eyes misty as I watched the pre-game Opening Day introduction narrated by Niehaus.

Or maybe it was that the Mariners actually had some offense tonight (too soon?). Regardless, there were some positive signs to build from after tonight’s ball game.

The M’s stranded several runners early on, but showed great patience at the plate.

Oakland A’s starter Trevor Cahill lasted just 4 2/3 innings, throwing a whopping 105 pitches, as the Mariners hitters forced the ace to exit early and then capitalized on the weak bullpen.

“[Eric Wedge] was in the dugout telling us, ‘We’re knocking on the door. Keep going, keep grinding,’ ” Mariners DH Jack Cust said.

Chone Figgins showed a rare flash of power as he cranked a solo shot off reliever Craig Breslow in the sixth inning, putting the M’s ahead and matching his entire season home run total from last year.

After a Cust walk and a Justin Smoak double in the seventh, Oakland’s defensive play melted down and allowed the Mariners to score three easy runs to widen the lead to 6-2.

M’s batters walked a combined seven times, demonstrating outstanding patience and an ability to put up runs and make King Felix’s night much easier.

Speaking of Felix Hernandez (or should I say ‘Larry Bernandez’?), the ace picked up right where he left off after his Cy Young-winning campaign last season.

After an understandably shaky first inning in which he gave up a two-run shot to Josh Willingham, Felix settled down and retired 24 of the next 27 batters.

Felix was dominant, allowing just five hits in all nine innings of work. He had ‘just’ five strikeouts, but got 15 ground-ball outs as he forced the A’s into submission.

“If you talk about Opening Day, you can’t ask for much more than that,” Wedge said of Felix’s performance.

Overall, the offense showed the potential for productivity. Ichiro did what he needed to by getting on base and stealing his way into scoring position. Smoak showed some pop as he belted a double to initiate the three-run seventh inning.

Miguel Olivo contributed well to the offense, going 2 for 5 with an RBI and showing that maybe the catcher position won’t be the black hole offensively that it was last season.

On Saturday, the A’s and M’s square off again as Jason Vargas faces Brett Anderson at 6:05 PT.

Notes:

Ichiro is one hit shy of tying Edgar Martinez’s franchise record of 2,247 hits.

Felix Hernandez was the first Mariner to throw a complete game on Opening Day.

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Felix Hernandez in Midseason Form as Seattle Mariners Dominate in Season Opener

Everything looked a bit different on Opening Day as I watched the Mariners after six months of waiting. Maybe it was because of the new ROOT Sports look instead of FSN. Maybe it was all the changes the M’s had made to their team in the offseason.

Maybe it was the fact that we were missing Dave Niehaus and his sweet, sweet voice—I found my eyes misty as I watched the pre-game Opening Day introduction narrated by Niehaus.

Or maybe it was that the Mariners actually had some offense. (Too soon?) Regardless, there were some positive signs to build off of after Friday night’s ball game.

The M’s stranded several runners early on, but showed great patience at the plate. Oakland A’s starter Trevor Cahill lasted just 4.2 innings, throwing a whopping 105 pitches as the Mariners hitters forced the ace to exit early and proceeded to capitalize on the weak bullpen.

“[Eric Wedge] was in the dugout telling us, ‘We’re knocking on the door. Keep going, keep grinding,'” Mariners DH Jack Cust told the Seattle Times.

Chone Figgins showed a rare flash of power as he cranked a solo shot off of reliever Craig Breslow in the sixth inning, putting the M’s ahead and matching his home run total last year.

After a Jack Cust walk and a Justin Smoak double in the seventh, Oakland’s defensive play melted down and allowed the Mariners to capitalize with three easy runs to widen the lead to 6-2.

On the night, M’s batters walked a combined seven times, demonstrating outstanding patience and an ability to put up runs and make King Felix’s night much easier.

Speaking of Felix Hernandez (or should I say “Larry Bernandez”), the ace picked up right where he left of after his Cy Young-winning campaign last season. After an understandably shaky first inning in which he gave up a two-run shot to Josh Willingham, Felix settled down and proceeded to retire 24 of the next 27 batters.

On the night, he was dominant, allowing just five hits in all nine innings of work. He had just five strikeouts, but got 15 ground-ball outs as he forced the A’s into submission.

“If you talk about Opening Day, you can’t ask for much more than that,” Wedge told the Associated Press.

Overall, the offense showed indications of potential for productivity. Ichiro did what he needed to by getting on base and stealing his way to scoring position. Justin Smoak showed some pop, as he belted a double in the seventh inning to initiate a three-run inning.

Miguel Olivo contributed well to the offense, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and showing that maybe the catcher position won’t be the black hole offensively that it was last season.

On Saturday, the A’s and M’s square off again as Jason Vargas faces against Brett Anderson at 6:05 PT.

 

Notes

Ichiro is one hit shy of tying Edgar Martinez’s franchise record of 2,247 hits.

Felix Hernandez was the first Mariner to throw a complete game on Opening Day.

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Celebrating 33 Years of Dave Niehaus in Seattle

“Swung on… and LINED DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY’RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE… LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON’T BELIEVE IT, IT JUST CONTINUES…MY OH MY!”

For long-time Seattle Mariners fans, that call during the 1995 ALDS to beat the Yankees still sends chills down their spines. It will always be connected to that year, that magical year in Seattle sports history.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that Dave Niehaus had passed on after suffering a heart attack in his home in Bellevue, Wash. He was 75.

“All of baseball is terribly saddened tonight by the tragic news that Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Seattle Mariners, has passed away. He was one of the great broadcast voices of our generation, a true gentleman, and a credit to baseball,” said MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.

“He was a good friend and I will miss him. But he will be sorely missed, not only in the Pacific Northwest, where he had called Mariners games since the club’s inception in 1977, but wherever the game is played.

“Dave was a Hall of Famer in every way. On behalf of Baseball, I offer my condolences to his wife, Marilyn, his children and grandchildren, to the Seattle Mariners organization, and to his many fans.”

Niehaus discovered his passion for sports broadcasting in college, when he called a basketball game between Indiana and Ohio State University.

After stints as a cook, page, and being drafted into the Army, Niehaus moved to Los Angeles to further his dream of broadcasting.

He called games for the L.A. Rams, USC Trojans, and UCLA Bruins, before doing play-by-play for the California Angels for seven years.

At 41, Niehaus won the lead announcer role for the upstart Seattle Mariners, beating out over 100 other applicants. Needless to say, he became an icon of baseball in the Pacific Northwest.

He was there, and made you feel as if you were there, through it all. From Randy Johnson’s no-hitter to the unveiling of Safeco Field; from the record-tying 116th win to Ichiro’s single-season hit record, Niehaus was there through the glory of Mariners baseball.

But perhaps more importantly, he was there through the years when the Mariners were a joke of a franchise, fielding MLB worst teams year in and year out. And yet, through the wholehearted and dramatic spin he put on every game he called, he made it all bearable for Mariners fans.

“Dave has been the father figure for the Mariner organization for many years,” said former Mariner Dan Wilson. “His voice and his stories have graced the transistor radios, living rooms, and kitchens of Mariner fans throughout the Pacific Northwest for several decades.

“A true professional in every sense of the word, Dave brought us all to the heights with his ‘Grand Salamis’ and ‘My Oh Mys’ and always made us proud to be Mariner fans and players. His love for the game of baseball was unsurpassed and that shone through every time he got behind the microphone.”

Niehaus won the Ford C. Frick Award and was honored as a Hall of Fame broadcaster in 2008, but he would tell you that his proudest moments were when he connected to his fellow fans and players.

Listening to local radio, the fans whose lives Niehaus touched could be heard all day and night, each with their unique story of the personal experiences they had with him. Former Mariners poured in with their own touching tributes, many of whom referred to Dave as their own grandfather figure.

“ [Losing Niehaus is] tough because he’s like that grandfather to all of us especially Jay, me, Edgar and Dan and so many other Mariners, he was like our grandfather,” said former Mariner great Ken Griffey, Jr.

“He would give you a little bit of advice, and he was tough on you when he needed to be. This is a day that I was hoping would never come. It’s just a sad day for all of us, not just his family, but for everybody in the great Northwest.”

How much Dave Niehaus meant to the Pacific Northwest, and to baseball, can never be quantified. Niehaus truly transcended the game that he loved so much, and will always be remembered for it. But he was always quick to let you know how lucky he was to be broadcasting Mariners games.

“I love the game and the fans,” he said. “If I wasn’t out here doing the games broadcasting, I’d be out here sitting in the stands. I’ve said this a million times, but I’ve never had to go to work a day in my life.”

That voice that inaugurated the ’77 Mariners when Diego Segui threw the first pitch in M’s history; that voice that graced more than 5,000 Mariners games; that voice that pervaded through 33 years of Seattle baseball, and made the lean years endurable; that voice that will never announce another game or be replaced, but will forever be ingrained in our hearts. 

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