…that’s what they called the stone wall at Cemetery Ridge. The South never made it that far north again.
Is that what we’ve got here?
The big man is off to an insane start. Is this as good as it gets?
My Oh My, Read This Book
My Oh My: The Dave Niehaus Story
by Billy Mac, edited by J. Michael Kenyon
It was Burlington. Just off Hopper Road.
That’s where I got the news.
Mariners in the Playoffs!
Not those guys. But there are Ms in the postseason this year. Seriously. Once a Mariner, always a Mariner.
Sixteen — enough for a questionable starting rotation, a damn fine bullpen, and a full contingent in the field — went into the playoffs last week on seven different teams. Plus a couple honorable mentions:
Gotta start with Ron Fairly, whose 14-year color commentary career with the M’s broadcast team got him the nickname Ron Fairly Obvious as he bleated wisdom like “When ya strike out — nothing happens!”
Ex-Mariner of the Week: Luis Valbuena
“I’ll take Twisted Webs for $1,000, Alex.”
“OK then… nobody ever gets this shit… well I’ll be damned, it’s a video daily double!”
“I’m all in. I’ll risk my whole fifteen grand. I love this stuff.”
“If you say so… Dumbass… He’s an ex-Mariner whose name is forever linked with J.J. ‘Thunderstruck’ Putz… Mike ‘All-fish-name team’ Carp… Jason ‘Basset Hound’ Vargas… and Franklin ‘Death to Flying Things’ Gutierrez…” Continue reading “Ex-Mariner of the Week: Luis Valbuena”
First Pitch!
Oh yeah. Blue skies on a spring day and the season begins with the Yankees on the road, set to pound the home team… but Logan Morrison grinds out three RBIs for the hosts, Brad Miller goes 2 for 5 with a run scored, Danny Farquhar looks sharp in relief… and Tampa Bay wins?
On the other side of the country, just like old times, 40-year-old Fernando Rodney comes on in the ninth inning, gives up the go-ahead run, but watches from the bench and picks up the win as the… D-Backs walk off?
Huh? Say what? Continue reading “First Pitch!”
Springtime Mariners nametags
Twenty guys?
Exactly half the forty-man Spring Training roster has never dirtied their cleats in a Mariner big-league uniform. Here’s a list of every guy looking to make his future with your Seattle Mariners this year. Even some of our twenty returnees will have you (and their teammates) scratching your head going, “wait, who?” Continue reading “Springtime Mariners nametags”
Change is done, change is comin’…
Oh baby, Jerry DiPoto. Look what you done.
“Jerry DiPoto is a nut job…” …but he means that in the most nicest way…
Dude in the video likes Vogelbach. Playin’ in the Dirt is not sold. But there’s some solid analysis here.
Fifty-four men took the field in a Mariner uniform in 2016. Just twenty of them, exactly half of the current forty-man roster, are in camp in Spring 2017 as part of the big-league squad. Continue reading “Change is done, change is comin’…”
Ex-Mariner of the Year
Pitchers and Catchers report today!
In celebration, and you know we celebrate this day every year, Playin’ in the Dirt tips a cap to one amazing man. A man who you just have to believe is most glad for a mind-boggling trade.
Second-year pitcher Mike Montgomery had appeared in 32 games for the Ms in 2016, posting a 2.34 ERA and looking strong. On July 20, he went to the Cubs. Three months later, he was in the playoffs. Continue reading “Ex-Mariner of the Year”
A Monkey Never Cramps
There’s nothing but joy in this man’s game.
Munenori Kawasaki is remembered by Mariner fans as the bouncy Tigger® of their 2012 infield, a grin super-glued to his face saying how lucky he felt standing there, spikes caked at last with Major League dirt.
Who cares if he hit .192 in only 104 at-bats, appearing in less than half the Mariners’ games? That smile stayed on his face on the bench, lighting up the dugout. TV cameras loved the guy, check him out, what a great influence on his teammates, slapping backs, cheering on every pitch, just happy to be there. Continue reading “A Monkey Never Cramps”