Nooooooo!!

Pineda for J. Montero. 

I don't like this at all. 

Young Impact Hitter???

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Mariners are close to a trade for a "young impact hitter."

I'm already tired of the "According to Jerry Crasnick" updates, but if there actually is a trade brewing I would love to know who this hitter is.

You know who I would love.... Billy Butler.  We don't need him to field and even though he is a right handed hitter, he is more in the mold of Edgar.  Which is the type of RH that works in Safeco.  But he does ground into way too many double plays!  I'm just not sure why KC would be interested in trading him.  They do have a logjam in the infield.  Hosmer at 1B, Moustakas at 3B and Clint Robinson ready to be promoted. 

So what package could the Mariners put together that would interest the prospect rich Royals?

Working on it!

1. Phillies trade for Wigginton
2. Kershaw beats Halladay for Cy Young
3. Verlander wins AL MVP - I have to write something here.   It may come down to the other choices were not overwhelming outstanding.  But I if the pitcher is going to win the MVP, he better have a WAR over 10.  Otherwise does it really justify this elite status of MVP and Cy Young.  More later...?

Horrible!

Seattle Mariner OF Greg Halman found dead in Rotterdam, Netherlands from a stab wound.  Main suspect is his brother. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mariners-halmankillled

I'm not sure the details matter here.  This is horrible news.

40 MEN!! (or almost)

Phillies added
OF - Tyson Gillies - one last shot
LHP - Jake Diekman - might make the team
RHP - Phillippe Aumont - AAA bound, but starting to unbust himself.
C - Sebastian Valle - Catcher after CHOOCH!

Mariners added
SS Carlos Trunfiel - AAA bound.  Waiting for Franklin to pass him
OF Chiang - Well you can't not protect him.  You just traded Bedard for him
3B Francisco - Got him in trade for Fister.  Just stop striking out so much.

AFL Rising Stars Game - Franklin Shines!

For fans of future Mariners, this was a pretty exciting game.  We had our 2011 #1 draft pick, Danny Hultzen, starting the game and we had our 2009 #1 draft pick, Nick Franklin, starting at SS.  Hultzen looked in control and was around the plate in his short 2 inning outing.  Franklin looked great at the plate and showed a very good approach.  Franklin ends up as MVP in this game with his 4 hit night (2 2B, HR and 4 RBI).  Here is a breakdown of the Hultzen and Franklin's night.  Disclosure: I'm not a scout and have only looked at the tape once, so I can't say my pitch recognition is perfect.

Hultzen
1st Inning
Grossman (RH)
FB - Ball
CH - Strike 88 MPH
FB - Strike (Foul) 90 MPH
Curve - Strike (K) 81 MPH

M. Trout (RH)
FB - Strike 96 MPH
CH -Strike 88 MPH
Curve? - Ball 83 MPH
Curve? - Strike (K) 83 MPH

Junior Lake (RH)
FB - Ball 91 MPH
FB - Strike (Foul) 91MPH
Curve - Ball 81 MPH
FB - Ball 95 MPH
FB - Strike (Foul) 91 MPH
FB - Strike (K) 95 MPH

2nd Inning
Arenado (RH)
FB - Strike (Foul) 92 MPH
FB - Strike 94 MPH
Curve - Strike (Ground out) 81 MPH

B. Harper (LH)
FB - Ball 93 MPH
FB - Strike 93 MPH
FB - Ball 93 MPH
FB - Ball 93 MPH
FB  - Ball (Walk) 94 MPH

Norris (RH)
FB - Ball 92 MPH
FB - Strike (Fly Out) 92 MPH

Paulsen
Curve - Strike (Ground Out) 79 MPH


Franklin' Night
1st AB - RHP (Gerrit Cole)
Homer to Left Center (95 MPH, FB, Low and In)

2nd AB - RHP
92 MPH, FB, Low and Outside, Ball
84 MPH, CH, Low and In, Ball
93 MPH, FB, Low, Strike
85 MPH, CH, In, Double to Right

3rd AB - RHP
92 MPH, FB, In, Double to Left (Down the line)

4th AB - LHP
FB, Outside, Ball
FB, Outside, Swinging Strike
FB, High and Outside, Ball
FB, Low and Outside, Strike (Foul)
SL, Inside and Low, Ball
94 MPH, FB/Slider, Low and Outside, Infield Broken Bat Single

5th AB - RHP
88 MPH, Curve/Splitter, Low and In, Ball
92 MPH, FB, Belt High, Strike (Swinging)
91 MPH, FB, Outside, Strike (Foul)
96 MPH, FB, Low and In, Ball
84 MPH, Splitter, Low (Bounce), Ball
95 MPH, FB, At the knees, Strike (Foul)
96 MPH, FB, Low and Outside, Strike (Foul)
94 MPH, FB, Outside, Strike (Foul)
87 MPH, CH, Low and Outside, Fly Out to Center

What now?

So what do we do now?  The Phillies showed no spark in the playoffs and have a group of guys headed into surgery.  Not only that we may be missing Howard for part of 2012 and the Phillies are an aging group.  Even Manuel hinted at needing an update at 3B.  It was also upsetting to see Lee and Oswalt's pitching performances.  I don't expect CG/SHO, but these two are supposed to be aces.  If you have a 4-0 lead, you need to hold that and win that game.  So what do the Phillies do now?

1. Exercise option on Oswalt?
2. Sign Madson?
3. Can Brown handle LF?
4. Who fills in at 1B?
5. Are you able to trade Blanton?
6. Will Worley struggle in his 2nd year?
7. Do we upgrade at 3B?  What do you do with Polanco?
8. oh yeah, do we resign or can we resign Rollins?  5 years, really?
9. Can Utley come into next season healthy and with more leg strength?
10. Achilles injury.  When will Howard actually be healthy with power?

I did have one other comment about the NLDS.  I was not happy with the fielding performance of Mr. Victorino.  So that begs the question, should we trade Victorino???