A supremely interesting article that runs in ironic contrast to the general theme across ESPN.com.

I happen to wonder if the Seattle-based Caple doesn’t still harbor some love for A-Rod from the shortstop’s now-charmed days in the city of the Mariners.

At the same time Caple puts a lot of this in perspective. We’re really angry about the steroids, legitimately, but then use a number of other very personal items (some of them awful decisions, some of them not at all) to degrade his entire character. Maybe it’s even true, but no person deserves that kind of treatment in the media, particularly not the apparent psychological evaluation Selena Roberts offers.

As I write, I’m obsessively following the Mariners-Angels game on ESPN GameCast. Welcome to the life of a Seattle fan abroad (this makes the dearth of nationally televised Seahawks games hurt hard).

I wonder if I’m caught up in the same frenzy as most other Mariners fans or observers. I’ve found it laughable how quickly attitudes about the Mariners have shifted. Somehow Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times and the crew of columnists there have suddenly found the bell of hope, conveniently timed after a nice road win streak. These same men just two weeks ago termed the Mariners a “rebuilding” club and many other similar epithets. So when they write about the M’s defying early expectations, remember that these guys, expert journalists without any apparent willingness to take a risk, had those same low expectations.

You see, I wish I had made time to write my predictions for this season on the blog. I’m not at all surprised by the Mariners’ start, though apparently these guys are pretty willing to change their tunes eight games into the season. I’m not surprised that the Mariners are winning, and I’m not surprised that there are still major problems (like the lack of an offense impressive beyond its timeliness). Above all, I would have written that the Mariners will be fun to watch. They won’t stand for mediocrity – anyone, even Griffey, will lose playing time or lineup status with poor performance. They have two many young, hungry players to let that happen, and they have leadership that now understands this.

So here’s my state of mind, and my suggestion for you: don’t be surprised, but don’t be overwhelmed, either. Just enjoy the ride and continue to love baseball!

So Adrian Beltre, who struggled with injuries last season, might play in the World Baseball Classic. The word “defy” used by ESPN.com is a little strong.

I’m with Beltre, no matter what. As a fan, I want one of my best players to care, to have pride in winning. That’s why it’s fine if he plays for the Dominican Republic in the WBC. We can only hope he’ll bring the same passion, and inclusive leadership, to the Mariners clubhouse.

Just writing about baseball makes me excited, so let’s hope that the GMZ and Wakamatsu don’t start off the season on a negative tone here. If Beltre gets injured, hindsight will be 20-20. I don’t remember any significant injuries from the last WBC, though.

Almost all dissension from Mariner fans went away once the team signed Ken Griffey, Jr. Maybe it was the rumors that he’d chosen Atlanta that came right before his homecoming decision.

Leadership – I don’t think this is wishful thinking. First, Junior chose the Mariners. That matters. Too many M’s played last season like athletes condemned to 162 games. Second, Junior has been a leader with this franchise before – almost 10 years ago – and will immediately command respect as the team’s elder statesman. Griffey bridges two decades of Mariner history.

Emotional Impact – Wednesday’s news affected the landscape of Seattle-rooted Facebook statuses across the country, and probably across the world. The Seattle Times featured a startling array of links that must have required work from all their remaining staff members. Junior’s first at-bat at SAFECO during the regular season could cause a 15-minute standing ovation. Imagine his first home run. Imagine his first walk-off home run (it’ll happen). Imagine the hyperbolic heights I’ll reach then…No, it’s not just about economics. Griffey will stir the M’s fan base to a rabid pitch and increase excitement in a ballclub that needs to win back its fans. Last year they didn’t play baseball the right way. Junior has always played baseball the right way, from his leadership, to his effort, to his joy, to his production when healthy, to his humor. With success, he will inspire fans and stir passion for good baseball’s return to Seattle.

Production – I list production third, whereas for almost any other player, it would be first. Because I list it third, it’s easy to devalue Griffey’s on-field production. Every Mariner fan hopes for Griffey to continue his recent trend of odd-year production. In 2005 he hit .301 with 35 homers and 92 RBIs. in 2007 he hit .277 and put up 93 RBIs on 30 homers. That was just two seasons ago. At SAFECO, 25 homers is a more realistic number. Especially for an M’s fan, it’s easy to devalue Griffey’s entire time in Cincinnati (and Chicago) as a complete waste. That would be foolish, because Griffey showed in Cincinnati that when healthy, he can provide numbers worthy of a corner outfielder/dh/#5 or 6 hitter in the lineup.

The major drawback: As mentioned before, Griffey doesn’t fit with the whole “everything is up for grabs” idea promulgated by the GMZ and Don Wakamatsu. He’s uncuttable under any circumstances and he’s probably unbenchable as well. Let’s just stay optimistic over spring training, though.

As usual, Egan is spot-on. A particularly astute comparison of A-Rod and Michael Phelps, though the whole column centers on the issue of “young and stupid,” an excuse that expires at an unspecified age.

Also, the Mariners appear close to signing Ken Griffey, Jr. I wrote awhile ago here that it would be a good idea, but given the Mariners’ current trend toward spring training competition, why would they sign a completely uncuttable player like Griffey who might not be good enough to make the team?

Over the last day, I’ve re-thought my A-Rod reaction. I stand by the Hall of Fame notes, but I do recognize the moment as fairly monumental. Maybe it will crystallize once the season starts, very soon.

This Denver Post article contrasts A-Rod with Ken Griffey Jr. in a comparison sure to win many fans from the Seattle area. Griffey received a double-digit standing ovation in his return to SAFECO Field, while A-Rod got booed and showered with Monopoly Money.

You can read Part 1 here. In it I established “my” starting rotation.

Now it’s time to move to the bullpen. As with closers, almost all relievers experience drastic swings in their effectiveness. Few relievers remain a solid middle reliever for 15 consecutive years, unless they’re a situational lefty like the eternal Mike Myers.

From the Mariners’ roster, I gather these guys as bullpen candidates:
Randy Messenger
Roy Corcoran
Cesar Jimenez
Miguel Batista
Mark Lowe
Aaron Heilman
David Aardsma (acquired today from the Red Sox for a minor leaguer)
Ryan Feirabend
Tyler Walker

Too many. Now you’ll understand why R.A. Dickey had to go. No-brainers for roster spots include Heilman, Jimenez (one of two lefties in the group), Corcoran, Batista (who finished in the top 10 in the AL in both walks and losses last season), and Lowe.

I think Ryan Feirabend deserves a shot as the second lefthander, though Ryan Rowland-Smith, if he gets left out of the rotation (read Part 1 for why this shouldn’t happen), will make the pen. Feirabend needs a chance to develop in the major leagues, but he’s not ready for the starting rotation. From the bullpen he can learn major league hitters and become a major league pitcher. If not, then at least he’s been given a chance.

To the righthanded trio of Batista, Lowe, and Heilman, let’s add Aardsma and Walker, two guys with significant big league experience that the M’s traded for. Aardsma, with about a 1:1 strikeout/inning ratio in 2008, appears a solid candidate for the closer’s role. However, he also walked 35 in 48 2/3 innings. Way too many baserunners for a closer. Neither Jack Zduriencik, the GMZ, or M’s manager Don Wakamatsu has made any indication toward their choice for closer, meaning it almost certainly won’t be decided until the end of spring training. Aardsma and Heilman are the strongest of a weak closer’s field. Unlike the Mets, J.J. Putz’s new team, the Mariners have too few closer candidates, not too many. With the team unlikely to contend for the playoffs, the closer position shouldn’t be a major concern in the short-term.

You’ll note that we have eight pitchers in the bullpen. This won’t happen. Wakamatsu and the GMZ will have to make a difficult decision about one major-league ready pitcher, especially considering the six-man glut in the rotation. In a perfect world they would package Washburn with Lowe, who has electric stuff but hasn’t shown much ability as a pitcher in the mental sense of the position, for a prospect or two.

We’ve entered a dead period in baseball transactions, especially with the Mariners wrapping up agreements with arbitration-eligible players like Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard.

The GMZ, Mariners’ general manager Jack Zduriencik, faces difficult decisions. On a day where President Obama’s inaugural address sounded themes of hope and greatness, but also of fortitude and responsibility, the Mariners, with their hopes for greatness, would do well to practice responsibility.

Some major areas of concern/possible action:

Jarrod Washburn
As it stands, the Mariners have six bona fide major league starters, Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn and Brandon Morrow. The Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker details well the M’s botched attempt to deal Washburn to the Twins last August for an actual player. But the aging Washburn, rather than young lefty Rowland-Smith, appears on the team’s (completely unofficial) depth chart on ESPN.com.

Only one reason justifies Washburn’s presence in the rotation ahead of Rowland-Smith: the amount of money the team owes Washburn. However, Rowland-Smith demonstrated in several starts last season that he has the stamina, the makeup and the stuff to be a major-league starter. He’s on the upswing. Washburn is on the downswing. His next contract won’t last longer than a year or two, plus options. For the future, which must be the Mariners’ focus at this point, Rowland-Smith presents the only reasonable decision. It’s unfortunate that the M’s might have to eat Washburn’s contract to make this happen, but it’s their fault for not pulling the trigger last August. Otherwise, if Rowland-Smith begins the season in the bullpen, we’ll be left hoping for an injury if we want to see our favorite Australian in the rotation for a full season, and that’s not a good place to be.

You might wonder why Washburn and Rowland-Smith can’t coexist. With one of those guys and Bedard, the Mariners have two lefties. Three, according to conventional wisdom, is pushing it. Of course, the Mariners seem to have other options for their rotation, which brings me to:

Brandon Morrow
Morrow deserves a spot in the starting rotation. No former first-round pick who nearly no-hit the Yankees, proved dominant as a closer, and who was drafted as a starter should be relegated to the bullpen. The Mariners risk wasting Morrow’s prime developmental years. It’s much more difficult to develop new pitches and a starter’s mentality at age 30 than it is at age 25. Now is the time. As I have written several times on this blog, the closer position isn’t as essential as K-Rod and his adorers would have you believe, especially for a team without any legitimate chance to contend. I have not spoken with ANY Seattle fan who wants to see Morrow in the bullpen next season. This is one area where the organization cannot afford a safe, conservative path.

Here’s my starting rotation:
1. Felix Hernandez
2. Erik Bedard
3. Ryan Rowland-Smith
4. Carlos Silva
5. Brandon Morrow

Part 2, with more on the bullpen and the closer issue, to come soon. Part 3 will examine position players.

According to a sports brief in the New York Times.

Though I look forward to the film’s release in spring 2010 for its look at baseball during my lifetime and for the anticipated quotations from Ichiro, I hope that Mr. Suzuki is no longer a Mariner by that time.

1. I appreciate all of the national commentators noticing Seattle’s sports woes here at the end of 2008. Where were you when the Sonics moved and the national reaction was … mute? You’re a little late, thank you. But all of this moaning shouldn’t distract us from the true positives in Northwest sports. I’m not trying to put a feel-good spin on an awful year, or to deny the pain of the Mariners season, but I hope we recognize where things have gone well. There’s no curse on Seattle – the Seahawks, Sonics, Huskies and Mariners all made major mistakes to end up in the pits (or oblivion, in the Sonics’ case).

I wish that the incredible high-school basketball landscape in Washington for both men and women would continue to flourish and garner attention on the national stage. I wish to applaud the individual and team efforts of the University of Washington women’s cross country team. I wish that the new Seattle Sounders FC can bring more big-time soccer to the Seattle metro area. I wish to marvel at Gonzaga University’s sustained national success in major college basketball and their graduation from mid-major status.

2. I wish that Jim Mora will continue the professional approach of Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks. I expect nothing less from the continually classy Seahawks organization, but I also worry about the hotheaded Mora, who hasn’t held his tongue in important situations before and already brings a little controversy to the table. With Mike Holmgren, you expect greatness. You expect absolute respect to the players and the game. You appreciate that he’s put that whole general manager fiasco behind him and concentrated on coaching a great football team.

Holmgren will probably return to coaching after his upcoming sabbatical. Good for him. I’m almost more excited to witness what he does during his sabbatical. Will he write an authoritative coaching book? Will he join the rest of his family in missionary and service work around the entire world (I think this is pretty likely)? Will he lay low and not fluff up his hair for a pregame show gig? Heavens no. He’s too erudite and substantive for a TV show. Let’s just hope that Jim Mora spent all his time over the last two seasons drinking Holmgren’s brain fluid. If so, maybe that’s why Mora’s secondary has been so lackluster until the last couple weeks. Football, more than any other sport, is about the entire team, the entire 52-man roster. That’s why good coaches mean so much. Please, Jim Mora, be a good coach.

3. I wish that the Mariners would trade Ichiro. If your team’s identity was found in a $100 millionleadoff hitter who rarely walks, sells team merchandise like crazy, seems very interested in an entertainment career, speaks like a philosopher and made waves last season because many of his teammates apparently hated him, you might have some issues. The Mariners still have no leader and now they’ve lost Raul Ibanez. My wish: trade Ichiro and his ridiculous contract for whatever we can get. Just see what we can get in return. We need position players. Why not sign Pat Burrell? Please, I’m done with Ichiro. It’s apparent he’s a clubhouse cancer, but he doesn’t make the same waves as others like T.O. because he lives in Japan half the year and because his selfishness isn’t so public. The guy won’t participate in the Home Run Derby even though he could create record ratings!

To be fair, it’s not that Ichiro is bad. Calling him a clubhouse cancer is probably going too far. He’s a good major league leadoff hitter and a very good defensive outfielder, but ultimately replaceable. His time with the Mariners has come to an end. He is not a team leader and at his contract, he needs to be one. If we’re going to rebuild, let’s rebuild. That means saying goodbye to easy merchandise money for a while and trying to move forward without Ichiro. The million-dollar leadoff man model is broken.