Seattle Mariners = Me in Love (Opening Day Euphoria)

I dont know what it is......but I absolutely love everything that is Seattle Mariners.....

I know I say it every year.....

Blah blah blah....World series....Mariners...blah blah blah....gonna go all the way...blah blah...we are the best...blah blah...

BUT.......

THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR!!!!!!!

in 2005, 2006....yeah....its because I am a fan to the core......but this year is different....
This year We have 2 of the 6 best pitchers in Baseball....

This year....."experts" are actually picking us to make the playoffs.....(not that means anything)

This year....We are on the way to winning all the games....

162 Wins and ZERO losses.

Okay....I was just gonna do a post about the recap of Opening day.....but I just have to get this out of my system so I can give an give an unbiased recap of the game.... (if you expect that...you need to stop reading now and leave)

Erik Bedard---- --THE ACE
Felix Hernandez---The KING
JJ PUTZ----------THE DUKE of Destruction
Ichiro ------------The Prince (of all royalty...the Prince is the one everyone loves in the stories)
Adrian Beltre-----Ummm......MR STUD (yeah, its not a royal title, but the only Mariners 3B-man to ever win a Gold Glove award....no Royal title will do him Justice)

I could go on and on...I mean...look at that list....95% chance those 5 will be on the All-Star team
(you know...that game that will give the mariners home field advatage in the playoffs)

Ack....

I should have wrong yesterday.....

Here is what I would have said yesterday....
about the bench and pitchers who were contending for spots...

Morrow---- YEAH, he's going to the Minors....not because I dont like him.....but....maybe...just maybe.....if the bullpen can do well without him.....they will consider converting him to a starter......Thats my Xmas wish....Just a waste of a draft pick if we make him a bullpen guy thats not a closer....1st Round draft picks are not meant to be set-up guys.

RRS (Ryan Rowland-Smith) Booo....(note I LOVE RRS)....I actually wish he was in Tacoma...same reason as Morrow....I would have like to see Morrow and RRS looked at for potential Rotation guys next year......with washburns contract up....RRS would have been perfect as the #5 guy and upside to be a long term cheap #3 (same thing with Morrow...save the salary with quality starters from the minors)

Aurthur Rhodes ----Yeah....and Booo....Yeah that we didnt just dump him....he's looking good....more work in extended spring training....gonna be a good addition to the pen....He looked sharp from what I saw of him this spring....Maybe he wont be as dominant as 2001....but...he can get lefties out.......The Boo part was...I just wish he was ready physically to start the year with the big club.....and RRS to Tacoma would have been idea for the potential future.....

Dickey ----??????What the heck?!?!?!?!?!? How could he get shipped to AAA Tacoma....
At least they were smart enough to retain him (we got him cheap for what we gave the Twins)
I hope they have him start in Tacoma, and plan on him as the #6 starter if an injury happens.
I am still perplexed about him not being on the 25 man roster...he definately deserved it.
Maybe they just didnt get Baek traded intime for opening day....I dunno....
KNUCKLEBALL......every fan loves it....and as a lifelong Mariners fan...I demand to see it in a Mariners uniform this year.....I still cant believe he was sent to Tacoma (gonna earn another PCL pitcher of the year award)

Baek -----I half expected them to trade him to a team who needed a starter...I am not upset we didnt....depth at starting pitching is always a plus....having him long relief because he was out of options...I expected that if we didnt trade him.....he wouldnt have made it through waivers.
(Love ya Baek.....but I have a feeling ya wont be around too long unless someone gets hurt)

Mike Morse----HOLY SH@#$%$%^&#$^&T!!! he was going nuts in Spring Training....cant really argue with him making the team.

Miguel Cairo----ummm---Next ...I'm gonna love him because he's a mariner....but 2 Willies is 1 too many.

Burke---- I love this guy...I dunno why....we knew he was going to make the team...because Clement needed another year at Tacoma....but....just a good story of a Guy sticking to his dream.

Norton----hopefully, ya dont bail on us in AAA....would have been a better bench if ya made it, but because of "stupid-wisdom" the bench wasnt put together very well...and ya had to suffer.

Jimerson---Wow....what a story....I want to hug your sister (not in a creepy old guy kinda way, but in a "you are an awesome person" kinda way).....to be honest...didnt think you were gonna make the team......I like the defensive aspect coming off the bench for the outfield (except reed, C-Jim you're the best option) Please be a great 25th man and pinch run really well....and give Raul a rest in the 9th when we are ahead......it is important.....
Congrats dude.....was listening to KJR to your interview....WOW.....No go out there and do some crazy MAriner hero stuff.......try to channel the 1995 spirit of Luis Sojo.

Mark LOWE ---OH YEAH BABY Way to be healthy man....Morrow to the minors...WOOT (note I love Morrow...but I hope he's in seattle as a starter)....and I cant wait to see everyone else being surprised....except me...and a few others.....Lowe = STUD IMHO ....I love Green as the setup guy....but I will love it even more when LOWE is the 8th inning guy....reminds me of the 2001 bullpen....8th and 9th inning guarenteed win.

Willie (okay...I knew he was going to make the team, but I was hoping he would goto AAA to help the team).....Pride of Port Orchard...blah blah....now if ya can get Cairo on the DL and have a good LHanded bat on the bench....the team would be better for it.

Okay...enough....next post....

Report from opening day....WOOT