Mariners Sign Robinson Cano

The Seattle Mariners, who whiffed trying to sign Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton in previous off-seasons have announced the signing of Robinson Cano.  The former New York Yankee 2nd baseman is a five-time all star and a five time winner of the Silver Slugger Awards.  He has also won two Gold Gloves for best fielder in his position.  The USA Today hailed Cano's signing as sign the Seattle Mariners are "back in business."  Cano is a native of the Dominican Republic.

Mariner's President Armstrong Steps Down

Chuck Armstrong, who many hold as the reason for the team's continued on-field woes, has stepped down from his position as President of the Seattle Mariners.  Armstrong has been running the organization since 1993 when a group of prominent local business leaders along with the Nintendo Corp Of America (headquartered in Redmond) bought the team to prevent it's relocation.  Armstrong also served as president when California real estate developer George Argyros owned the team in the early 1980s.  When Indianapolis businessman Jeff Smulyan purchased the team, Armstrong stepped down. 
Armstrong ran the organization when the team set the one season win record at 116 and during the  miracle run of 1995, however, many blogs and sports talk show hosts have vilified him for not doing enough to pull the team out of a twelve year slump.  
He is also credited with the team drafting Ken Griffey, Jr,  universally agreed to be the best Mariner of all time.

New Mariner Skipper Named

On the same day that Seattle has picked a new mayor, Seattle's baseball team has picked Lloyd McClendon to guide it through the 2014 season and beyond.  McClendon most recently has been the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.  He also managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2001 to 2005, one of Baseball's most hapless teams at the time. 

M's Looking For New Skipper

If the Seahawks are on the cusp of what could be a dream season, the 2013 Mariners season, in contrast, has been a total nightmare.  After a promising starts and an 8 game winning streak over the All-Star break, the team never gained any traction and finished a dismal 71-91.  Only the arrival of the Houston Astro's to the division kept the M's out of last place.
Mariner manager Eric Wedge gained a reputation of a team guy, who was happy to play with the hand that he was dealt.  When GM Jack Zduriencik was invited to return for 2014, Wedge waited for assurance that he would return, when it didn't come, Wedge decided to leave on his own terms.  With only one year promised to Jack Z, it may be impossible to find a capable candidate to replace the departing skipper.

Ken Griffey,Jr

Watching ceremony on TV.

Rubbing Elbows With The Greats At Hutch Luncheon

San Francisco Giants Pitching great Barry Zito (pictured above) was the 2013 winner of the Fred Hutchinson Award,  honor the famous Major League manager who was a Seattle native.    The keynote speaker of the event was former Mariners skipper Lou Piniella (lower picture).  Piniella looked trim and tanned as he spoke fondly of his time with the Mariners. 
The award is presented each year to a player who exemplifies Fred Hutchinson's spirit, Hutchinson's brother started the world renown Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. 

Mariners Pick Aaron Goldsmith

The Seattle Mariners picked a new face (or voice)to team up with Rick Rizzs on it's radio broadcasts.  29 year old Aaron Goldsmith, unknown to most Seattle area fans, was chosen to fill the spot left vacant by the passing in 2010 of the legendary Dave Niehaus.
Until now, Goldsmith was the voice of the Boston Red Sox Triple A affiliate in Pawtucket. Goldsmith will be one of the youngest Major League broadcasters.  The Mariners had announced last year that a search would be made for a full time broadcaster.  The last couple of seasons, the Niehaus spot was filled by   former M's broadcasters and players.

Ken Levine Should Be Full Time Mariner Announcer

Two years after the sad passing of  legendary announcer Dave Niehaus, the Seattle Mariners have announced they will begin the search for a full time replacement.  My choice would be the man who had the position in the early 90s.  Ken Levine replaced Rick Rizzs, who departed for a brief time to work for the Detroit Tigers.  Of course Rizzs was chosen to replace retiring Ernie Harwell.  When Harwell was talked out of retirement, Rizzs came back to the Mariners, where he has been ever since.  After the sudden death of Niehaus, the Mariners decided it was not a good idea to replace such an icon immediately, they instead, rotated amongst several former players and announcers, Levine was amongst those in the mix.
Levine is an author, a comedy TV writer and a blogger.  He loves the game of baseball and has a distinct descriptive style.  In a current poll on the Seattle PI web site, Levine is running ahead of other proposed replacements.  But first and foremost, he wants the job.

Thiel: Exclusive — Mariners on their arena fight | Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have taken plenty of heat for their opposition to the proposed NBA arena, considering the hoops that team itself had to jump to get Safeco Field built.  Veteran Seattle sports columnist Art Thiel posted his exclusive interview with Mariner CEO Howard Lincoln concerning the motivation of the baseball franchise.

thiel: Exclusive — Mariners on their arena fight | Seattle Mariners

Congratulations King Felix

Mariner Ace Felix Hernandez became the first on the team to pitch a perfect game.  A perfect game means that not only did the other team not get a hit, but no batter from the opposite team reached first base. It was only the 23rd perfect game in baseball history.  It was also the Mariners' second straight one run victory on the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Mariners came from behind last night and beat the Ray's 3-2 with Eric Thames walk-off single.

Sayonara, Ichiro

Ichiro Suzuki, arguably Baseball's first Japanese superstar, has been traded from the Seattle Mariners, where he began his American baseball career, to the New York Yankees.  Ichiro, one of very few sports figures to go by his first name only, was signed by the M's whose fans were reeling from the departure of Alex Rodriguez in 2001.  Now he will be A-Rod's teammate. 
Icharo, was already a Japanese baseball star when he came to the M's, but fairly unknown in this country.  In his first year the M's won a whopping 116 games, until today, Ichiro was the last Mariner from that team to still be on the club.
It had become clear in recent years that his skills were diminishing and with his contract running out, Ichiro's future had become a hot topic in Seattle sports conversation.

Mariners Make Dodgers Blue

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have the best record in baseball, but they were not able to get a single hit off the Seattle Mariners tonight.  Kevin Millwod (pictured above) pitched 6 innings of no hit ball before leaving the game due to an injury, 5 additional pitchers continued the "no no".  The Mariners winning and only run in  the 7th when Kyle Seager drove in Ichiro with a line shot that the Dodger Shortstop was unable to handle.  It was the 3rd no-hitter in Mariner history as well as the 10th combined no-hitter in baseball history.
Although the Mariners are having a disapointing year so far.  They have fared better while playing the better teams.  Last week the Mariners defeated the AL West leading Texas Rangers in a 21 to 8 laugher.

Mike Cameron Joins Team Then Retires

It may be impossible to replace a legend, but Mike Cameron sure made  it easier.  The Centerfielder who came from the Cincinnatti Reds to the Mariners in a trade that for Griffey, has retired as a Seattle Mariner.   Cameron played for seven different teams in his career, including the Mariners, but Seattle seems to where his heart was.  He made some incredible catches and also hit 4 homers in a single game.  This was just "what the doctor ordered" for Mariner fans who have had little to cheer about since the 2001 116 game winning campaign.  Cameron was a part of that team. Griffey would come back and also retire as a Mariner, but while Griffey seemed to be an eternal sulker many times, Cameron always seemed to play the game with a smile.

Go Mariners

Dasher wore a Mariner bandana to celebrate Mariner's Home opener.

Mariner Outfielder Murdered

Mariners fans are waking up to the tragic news that outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death in his native country of The Netherlands.  His brother is being held as a suspect.
Halman had started at all three outfield positions for the M's in the early season, then was optioned to Tacoma.