Seattle

It seems like only yesterday that the Sacramento Kings were due to be sold to a group that intended to move the team to Seattle in an effort to revive the SuperSonics.

And yet, there's been no official word yet as to the future of the Kings franchise, thanks in large part to the last-ditch efforts of Sacramento Mayor (and former NBA All-Star) Kevin Johnson to keep the team in California's capital.

For now, anyway. According to Aaron Bruski of USA Today, the fate of basketball in Sacramento may well be decided by the start of March:

Source close to the situation says 'whale' announcement relating to Sac's bid for Kings will come by Friday if not sooner.

— Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) February 25, 2013

Lost amidst the tug-of-war between the cities of Seattle and Sacramento is one simple question: why doesn't the NBA just re-expand into the Pacific Northwest?

It wasn't all that long before the latest Kings relocation hoopla began that NBA commissioner David Stern mentioned that the league would probably have a presence in Europe within the next 20 years or so. Such wouldn't constitute franchise expansion, per se, since in all likelihood the Association would simply absorb some of the continent's most prominent clubs and create a separate transatlantic division thereabouts.

At present, the time, toll and expense associated with long-distance travel render the NBA's dream of regular European play less than feasible. What's more, there's no guarantee as of yet that there's sufficient fan interest in basketball across soccer-crazy Europe to make such an expansion sustainable and profitable for the league's existing owners. 

The New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons played in front of a full house at the O2 Arena in London earlier this season, though the success of that one-game stint likely had as much to do with the residual excitement from the 2012 Summer Olympics as anything.

(Not to mention whatever other concerns the powers that be might have about facilities and all the other logistics that factor into the day-to-day operations of a professional franchise.)

Seattle, on the other hand, comes equipped with few (if any) such hangups. Hoops heads in the Emerald City have been lobbying for the return of the Sonics ever since Clay Bennett turned the team into the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. Between Sonicsgate and Save Our Sonics, it's clear that Seattle has more than sufficient fandom at the grassroots level to justify the return of pro basketball to King County.

Moreover, Seattle is already well on its way to giving an ownership group led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen the "green light" to build a brand new, state-of-the-art arena in the city's SoDo district.

But that's not the issue here. Of course Seattle has the necessary infrastructure—physical, fanbase and otherwise—to support a team. Otherwise, there'd be no talk of bringing the Sonics brand back to life to begin with.

The concern, rather, is that Sacramento deserves to keep its team, too. The mayor has done everything in his power to keep the Kings in town, from lobbying sponsors and lining up local business magnates to bid on the team, to pushing city government to approve plans for a new arena.

The team has had trouble filling seats in recent years, though that's hardly a reflection of Kings fans, who are often mentioned among the best in the NBA. Rather, Sacramento's loyal followers have been driven away by the Maloof brothers, who currently own the Kings and have mismanaged the franchise since the twilight of the Chris Webber era. With new local ownership and the proper commitment to winning and player development, the Kings could once again emerge as a powerhouse in the Pacific Division.

Why deprive Sacramento of that? Why rob the city of its only major pro sports franchise when this whole situation could be averted by granting an expansion franchise to Seattle?

To be sure, expansion is far from a perfect proposition in any sport, including the NBA. The Grizzlies lasted just six years in nearby Vancouver before relocating to Memphis. To be fair, though, the Grizzlies inability to connect with Western Canada was largely the byproduct of poor decisions made by the front office, led by current league executive Stu Jackson.

The Charlotte Bobcats have struggled to attract fans in a basketball-crazy city that was previously home to another NBA franchise (the Hornets). Of course, any team that's as historically bad as the Bobcats have been over the last two seasons would be hard-pressed to appeal to a town with such close ties to the blue-blooded tradition of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Keep in mind, too, that the Hornets moved from Charlotte to New Orleans only after the personal transgressions of much-maligned owner George Shinn made him persona non grata in Crown Town.

As far as flat-out revivals are concerned, the NFL's Cleveland Browns have been nothing short of a quagmire, with but one playoff appearance since 1999. But that's the concern of a different league in a far different market, one with a "storied" history of pro sports putridity.

And it's not as though the modern NBA has been opposed to bringing new teams into existence. David Stern has never shied away from the fact that seven franchises were born on his watch. If anything, he counts each one as a feather in his soon-to-be-retired cap.

Is he concerned about having an odd number of teams playing in the NBA? That's never been a problem for the league before. Most recently, the NBA went nearly a decade with 29 teams in its membership before the 'Cats came around. 

In any case, Seattle and Sacramento have both proven their worth as viable NBA markets. If David Stern truly intends to bring basketball back to Seattle without slighting Sacramento during what amounts to the lame-duck session of his nearly 30-year stint as commissioner, why not expand?

It sure would save these cities plenty of heartache and hassle while growing the league itself.

Sounds like a win-win, which is far better than the current zero-sum scenario on the table.

Remember Kyle Seager?

Third baseman for the Seattle Mariners? 

It's strange, for a guy that led his team in a handful of key offensive categories last year, you're not hearing too much about him so far this spring. 

With all of the excitement surrounding Felix Hernandez's contract extension, the additions of Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales, and the questions surrounding the young trio of Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero, and Justin Smoak, Seager seems to be a bit of an afterthought.

I myself am guilty of this oversight given the fact that I lumped Seager in with the rest of the M's youngsters during my 2013 season preview earlier this week. 

Yet when you really think about it, it seems ridiculous to ignore a player who in his first full season as a professional hit .259 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI as the M's starting third baseman after he barely made the team's opening day roster.

As we look ahead to 2013, the big question is whether Seager can build upon last year's breakthrough performance or will he end up like Mike Carp?

Remember Carp and his breakout performance in the second half of 2011? 

On opening day in 2012 he was the team's starting left fielder in Tokyo, but before most of us were even awake to get the final score, Carp was on his way to the DL after spraining his right shoulder.  From there things only got worse and just this week Carp was shipped off to Boston for either cash or a player to be named later. 

Could the same thing happen to Seager?

It's possible, but I have my doubts. 

Looking back to last season, what impressed me most about Seager was his consistency.  Beyond a rough stretch at the end of June/early July, Seager made contact from April through October.  Every time you thought he would fade, he would go out and deliver a clutch hit to drive in two runs. 

While I doubt he will lead the M's in home runs and RBI in 2013, it will be interesting to see how additions like Morse and Morales in the middle of the order will affect Seager's numbers.  Right now the current projections from Fangraphs have him hitting roughly .270 with 15 HR and 70 RBI. 

By themselves those numbers won't quite amaze anyone, but if you add them to a reasonably healthy and more consistent lineup, perhaps the Mariners offense will actually start to frighten opponents?

It's all part of a domino effect that will hopefully take hold this season, but even if it doesn't I doubt Seager will embarrass himself.  

Deep down I believe Seager will remain a key fixture in Seattle as one of the team's more productive players at the plate for this and several years to come.

Feel free to doubt him, as Kyle Seager is the kind of gritty player that is easy to underestimate, but in time I like to think both fans and foes alike will come to realize that he's a keeper. 

In 2012 the Seattle Mariners won 75 games, an improvement of eight wins over 2011, yet at times last season it was difficult to judge whether the team was moving forward, backward or stuck in neutral. 

Mixed between the highs and lows of a season that saw Felix Hernandez throw a perfect game and Ichiro leave Seattle, the Mariners' young lineup struggled at times to adjust to life in the major leagues, especially at home at Safeco Field.

Over the winter, the Mariners’ front office set out to help the team's offense by moving in the fences at Safeco Field and made attempts to add outfielders Josh Hamilton via free agency and Justin Upton in a blockbuster deal with Arizona to the lineup. Instead, the Mariners opted for trades that netted Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse with Los Angeles and Washington in addition to signing veteran free agents Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay. Then, just prior to the start of spring training, the team extended Felix Hernandez’s contract through 2019 while making him the richest pitcher in baseball; thus putting a bow on what had overall been a disappointing winter.

Can the Mariners with the fences moved in and a retooled lineup backed by the richest pitcher in baseball continue to progress toward respectability in an already stacked AL West?

Let's take a look and see how the Mariners are shaping up heading into 2013.

2012 Record: 75–87, fourth in AL West

Key Arrivals (courtesy of official site): 2B Robert Andino (from Baltimore), OF Raul Ibanez (FA), RHP Jeremy Bonderman (FA), 1B Mike Jacobs (FA), 1B Kendrys Morales (from LA Angels), LF Jason Bay (FA), C Ronny Paulino (FA), LF Michael Morse (from Washington), RHP Kameron Loe (FA), RHP Jon Garland (FA), LHP Joe Saunders (FA), C Kelly Shoppach (FA).

Key Departures: SS Munenori Kawasaki, LF Trayvon Robinson (to Baltimore), LF Chone Figgins, LHP George Sherrill, RHP Kevin Milwood, C Miguel Olivo, LHP Jason Vargas (to LA Angels), C John Jaso (to Oakland), RHP Shawn Kelley (to New York Yankees). 

Projected Starters (per official site)

 

C: Jesus Montero (.260 / 15 / 62)

1B: Justin Smoak (.217 / 19 / 51)

2B: Dustin Ackley (.226 / 12 / 50)

3B: Kyle Seager (.259 / 20 / 86)

SS: Brendan Ryan (.194 / 3 / 31)

LF: Michael Morse (.291 / 18 / 62)

CF: Franklin Gutierrez (.260 / 4 / 17)

RF: Michael Saunders (.247 / 19 / 57)

DH: Kendrys Morales (.273 / 22 / 73)

Projected Rotation

1. Felix Hernandez (R) (13-9, 3.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP)

2. Hisashi Iwakuma (R) (9-5, 3.16, 1.28)

3. Joe Saunders (L) (9-13, 4.07, 1.34)

4. Blake Beavan (R) (11-11, 4.43, 1.26) 

5. Erasmo Ramirez (R) (1-3, 3.36, 1.00)

6. Hector Noesi (R) (2-12, 5.82, 1.37)

Bullpen

Closer: Tom Wilhelmsen (R) (4-3, 29 SV, 7 HLD, 5 BLSV, 2.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP)

Stephen Pryor (R) (3-1, 5 HLD, 3.91, 1.52)

Charlie Furbush (L) (5-2, 1 SV, 6 HLD, 2.72, 0.95)

Oliver Perez (L) (1-3, 0 SV, 5 HLD, 2 BLSV, 2.12, 1.25)

Lucas Luetge (L) (2-2, 2 SV, 12 HLD, 1 BLSV, 3.98, 1.50)

Carter Capps (R) (0-0, 2 HLD, 3.96, 1.44)

Josh Kinney (R) (0-3, 1 SV, 9 HLD, 1 BLSV, 3.94, 1.22)

Scouting the Starting Pitching

The good news is that Felix Hernandez isn't going anywhere and that help is one the way with a special group of youngsters who could make it to Seattle some time this season. 

The bad news is that until the likes of Danny Hultzen and James Paxton are ready to join the rotation, the Mariners will have to hope that a mix of veteran imports and fledgling youngsters can hold down the fort.  

At first glance Hisashi Iwakuma may seem like a stretch as the team's No. 2 starter entering his second season with the M's after arriving from Japan, yet during the second half of last season he was arguably one of the better pitchers on the roster.  Assuming that Iwakuma is far more comfortable going into this season with himself and playing in the major leagues, I'd like to believe he's capable of posting some decent numbers across a full season as a starter while notching double-digit wins.  

Coming in at No. 3 in the rotation, veteran Joe Saunders is no stranger to the AL West and Safeco Field having pitched for years with the Angels.  Of course it's one thing to pitch against the Mariners rather than with them.   Saunders though, much like Iwakuma, may not be young or flashy, but he can hopefully be relied upon to eat innings and occasionally make people forget about the recently traded fan-favorite, lefty Jason Vargas.  

It's at this point in the story that I'm not quite sure what to say?

Essentially the No. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation are first come first served with Blake Beavan, Erasmo Ramirez, and Hector Noesi serving as potential candidates until someone else from a crop of veterans like Jeremy Bonderman or Jon Garland or the aforementioned group of prospects such as Hultzen, Paxton, or Brandon Maurer steps forward. 

The possibility of one of the youngsters emerging is certainly exciting and not out of the question given how Michael Pineda's performance in the spring of 2011 translated to a spot in the rotation, but nothing short of a "preseason Russell Wilson" month of March will get any of the prospects to Seattle by April. 

Instead I can picture the M's taking the best option from the Beavan, Ramirez, Noesi trio and either Bonderman or Garland based on which one can get the ball over the plate with the greatest degree of consistency hoping they can stay healthy long enough to promote the likes of Hultzen by mid-June. 

In short, you will continue to love Felix, feel a sense of indifference towards Iwakuma and Saunders, and pray for rain until one of the top prospects comes up from Tacoma some time before the All-Star break. 

Scouting the Bullpen

Last season the bullpen looked like a disaster in the early going as closer Brandon League struggled mightily before giving way to journeyman Tom Wilhelmsen. 

Meanwhile beyond the pleasant surprise of Wilhelmsen and his 29 saves, several other "spare parts" began to click as Charlie Furbush, Oliver Perez and Josh Kinney carved roles for themselves while rookies Lucas Luetge, Stephen Pryor, and Carter Capps cut their teeth to varying degrees of success at the major league level. 

So what's next for the M's bullpen in 2013?

Perhaps no one individual stands out as here exceptional, yet I can see this unit being greater than the sum of its parts and believe they can be the key to how many games this team wins and loses. 

With an eclectic mix of lefties and righties, youth and experience, power and finesse, the Mariners bullpen may make believers of even the most jaded fan this season if they can help the team not only hang on, but button down close games. 

If not it could be another long summer in Seattle.   

Scouting the Hitting

For the Mariners there's really nowhere to go but up following years and years of mediocrity.

With the infusion of veterans Michael Morse, Kendrys Morales, and to a lesser extent Raul Ibanez along with Jason Bay, the Mariners offense would look to be moving in the right direction provided general manager Jack Zduriencik has a time machine hidden somewhere in Safeco Field. 

Joking aside, it will be certainly be interesting to see if the mixture of veterans and youngsters will properly mesh into a productive or at the very least entertaining lineup. 

Yet who can be trusted to lead the way?

Last year the M's banked on a trio of youngsters in Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero, and Justin Smoak, only to see them struggle, in some cases mightily.   Meanwhile third baseman Kyle Seager and outfielder Michael Saunders seemingly came out of nowhere to lead the team in several offensive categories after earning every day roles.  Beyond them and catcher John Jaso who was traded to Oakland for Morse, it proved difficult to find any meaningful signs of consistency, especially at home at Safeco Field.  

Things became so bad for the Mariners at home last year, that the powers that be decided to change the dimensions of the ballpark with the hopes of changing the dynamic...namely that Safeco is a hitters graveyard. 

Not convinced?  Feel free to check out these home and away numbers for the M's from Fangraphs.      

At the same time let's not forget that the change is neutral for both the Mariners and their opponents which makes me feel the move is more of a placebo to help kick-start the offense. 

Of course if it does work will the results be attributed to the altered nature of Safeco or the nurturing of a young lineup with power hitting vets?

That depends on whether Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales can stay healthy and productive enough to form a solid foundation in the middle of the order capable of taking the pressure off the younger guys to do all of the heavy lifting. 

That's not to say anyone like Justin Smoak for example should be given a free pass, but according to manager Eric Wedge via Geoff Baker at The Seattle Times, Smoak will be the M's starting first baseman to open this season unless 'something drastic' happens.    

What worries me is how do we define drastic with this team?

To me what happens to the core group of Smoak, Ackley, Montero and now Seager and Saunders is critical when you consider that Morse and Morales are only under contract for this season.  Before all is said and done, no less than three of the five youngsters need to stake their claim as part of the long-term nucleus in Seattle, otherwise I'm fearful the cycle of offensive mediocrity will continue.    

That may seem harsh, but veterans such as Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay and even mainstays such as Brendan Ryan and Franklin Gutierrez simply aren't part of the big picture regardless of their contributions this upcoming season based on their age and health.  They may contribute to the cause with their talent and wisdom, but the true measure of success will depend largely on how well the quintet of young hitters respond to the duo of Morse and Morales.  

Hitting Stud

Michael Morse

It's not often you get a second chance in life that can change the past, present and future, but for Morse a return to Seattle could accomplish all three if this year things go according to plan. 

A solid season in which Morse rediscovers the joy of playing in Seattle can hopefully erase any bad memories about his trade to Washington in 2009, help the current Mariners lineup find their stroke with him at the heart of the order and perhaps lead him to sign a deal beyond this season to stay if all parties agree that's best. 

On some levels it's wishful thinking, but it's not a pipe dream either as Morse seems to be embracing his return to the M's based on early reports coming from camp. 

Even if he decides this is only a one year stint, it still can't hurt to have someone capable of hitting .280 with 20 HR and 80 RBI potential in the cleanup spot.

Pitching Stud

King Felix

Who else?  Some day we may have a debate here, but for this season Hernandez is hands down the best thing the Mariners have going for them on their entire roster. 

Will he have a monster season now that he's inked the richest deal for a pitcher in all of baseball?

I believe Felix will be solid, but not quite perfect in 2013. 

My biggest concern though is that Felix will try to do too much especially in the early going as means of showing his gratitude and to help keep the team afloat while the rest of the roster comes together. 

Of course the last thing the Mariners need is Felix getting hurt.  Instead let's hope the King eases his way into the season and his big contract while providing the steady leadership the M's need for the better part of the next decade. 

X-Factor

 Dustin Ackley

There are quite a few players you could choose here, but I'm going with the guy who seemed like a sure thing and potential future face of the franchise going into last season.

Unfortunately, Ackley never became the catalyst the Mariners desperately needed at the top of the order and speculation swirled for the better part of the season as to the reason why. 

This spring Ackley isn't making any excuses, but he's not getting any ringing endorsements from manager Eric Wedge either according to Doug Pacey of The Associated Press: 

"I think he's going to be a good big-league hitter," Wedge said. "I don't like to make predictions like that, but I think he's going to be a good big-league hitter. I think he's going to be a better hitter this year. To what degree, I don't know. I think he's very capable of being a good big-league hitter."

During a time of year where hope springs eternal for anyone with a pulse, that's not what you want hear about the player the team drafted with the second overall pick following Stephen Strasburg back in 2009. 

The question for 2013 is which Dustin Ackley will show up?  The dynamic top of the order Wade Boggs type from the second half of 2011 or the guy that seemed to have slipped a gear or two last year. 

According to the projections, there's little need to get excited as the general consensus has Ackley hitting roughly .250 with 12 HR and 55 RBI with 80 runs scored thus making Wedge's quote sound all the more on point. 

That's a shame really because I like to think that Ackley is a much better ball player than what we're being led to believe and if given a mulligan on last year could end up becoming the dynamo we saw during his rookie year.  

If Ackley can become the table setting catalyst atop the batting order, then perhaps the guys behind him will get better pitches to drive him in and led the M's offensive resurgence?

If not it would simply be nice to see a highly touted home grown offensive player find his niche without having to leave Seattle, otherwise all our hopes and dreams will be pinned on the next guy.

Prospect to Watch

Mike Zunino

For those of you tired of wishing, hoping, and waiting on the Big Three, I present to you someone who may actually play every day for the Mariners for hopefully a very long time.

Last spring when the Mariners drafted third overall, I wasn't so sure about this pick, but over the course of the summer Zunino basically made me eat those words by knocking the cover off the ball while making it all the way up to Double-A Jackson before playing in the Arizona Fall League once the MiLB season ended.  

So what's next for Zunino? 

While I'm unsure we will see him in Seattle this year, I wouldn't rule it out.  If the Mariners quickly crash and burn and become sellers at the trade deadline, the urge to promote Zunino may be that much stronger. 

Even if things fall into place for the M's, some times talent simply wins out and at the rate Zunino is going it may be hard to keep him down on the farm for all of 2013.    

What the Mariners Will or Won't Do Well?

Well they did install a new scoreboard this winter and the hydroplane races are always a crowd pleaser, but seriously this a bit of a tricky question. 

Over the last few years the M's have been good, bad, and ugly, all while promising us that better times are just around the corner.  

Yes, the Mariners have arguably the best pitcher in baseball under contract until 2019, but the rotation behind him is a total crap shoot.

The bullpen has a few lively arms, but no one you would consider unstoppable.  

As for the offense, they're bringing in the fences with the hope that it might help.   

Defensively they have one of the best shortstops in the major leagues in Brendan Ryan, but he in all likelihood lost out on a Gold Glove because he couldn't hit above the Mendoza Line.   In center field Franklin Gutierrez actually won a Gold Glove in 2010, but hasn't played over 100 games in a season since. 

We've got plenty of young talent, but either they haven't cemented their spot as part of the core nucleus moving forward or they're still a year away from even arriving in Seattle down on the farm.

One minute you love this team, the next you ask yourself why you even bother...and then something wonderful happens.  Felix takes the mound and for one night each week over the course of the summer you suspend your beliefs, prejudices, questions, and doubts to watch a master at work.

Win or lose, that night you go to bed with a sense of belonging and hope for something greater...greater for you, greater for Felix, greater for the Mariners, greater for Seattle.  

Then you wake up the next morning to see that Hector Noesi is scheduled to pitch later that day, shake your head and mutter under your breath, "eh forget it..."  

Final Thoughts

This time of year fans all across America believe if one particular player stays healthy and if another player can make a few important adjustments, then maybe our team will finally turn the corner. 

Couldn't the Mariners catch lightning in a bottle similar to Oakland last season?

As much as I would like to join the ranks of the optimistic, for the Mariners this year there are simply too many Ifs and Buts required for something truly special to happen.  General manager Jack Zduriencik has tried his best this winter to retool the roster, but may be running short on time along with manager Eric Wedge if this team fails to deliver some excitement.

With the Angels, Rangers, and A's all set to compete for the division title with rosters built to win now, the Mariners will likely find themselves on the outside looking in this year. 

That's not to say that this season is already a lost cause. 

Beyond winning ballgames though what the Mariners need to is win the hearts of their fans and strive for some semblance of relevance.  Right now the Seahawks appear poised to own Seattle for the next decade if things continue to progress as planned.  Meanwhile I'm no longer certain that the Mariners are even the second most popular team in town?

If it wasn't for Felix signing an extension to stay with the M's just last week, you could argue that the mere idea of the Sonics returning to Seattle has more people excited than anything the Mariners could do on the field of play.  

Perhaps it's unfair to turn this into a popularity contest, but for over a decade now the Mariners organization has been selling us only a handful of real ballplayers (namely Ichiro and Felix) and twenty something bobble-heads to fill out the rest of the roster.

For today some of us may still feel warm and fuzzy about Felix opting to stay with the circus, but will we feel the same when Hector Noesi or Blake Beavan takes the mound in late June if the team is sitting seven or eight game under .500 and a dozen games behind at least two teams in the standings?

At some point you figure, it has to get better right?  

Sadly there are no guarantees, just ask anyone in Pittsburgh still rooting for the Pirates.   

This year I do believe the Mariners will improve upon last year's win total, but not everyone you see today will make it to the finish line.  I'm hopeful though that we will finally see the team separate the men from the boys by finding answers to many of the questions outlined here while playing an entertaining brand of baseball. 

Otherwise you're probably better off spending your time this summer keeping your eyes focused down the road in Tacoma watching the Big Three, Mike Zunino and Nick Franklin brush up on their skills before they arrive in Seattle either this year or next. 

Projected Record: 78-84, fourth in AL West.

February, the time of year when football fans and pundits alike fight over what little scraps of "news" they can find while the sports world shifts its focus away from the gridiron. 

For some, it's an opportunity to mock the draft, while others opt to see what free agents are available. Yet for most of us, players especially, it's a chance to rest following a long and grueling season.  This winter though, Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman seems to be enjoying his new found fame by letting his mouth run away with him. 

To 'Hawks fans, it's nothing new to hear the Legion of Boom's self-proclaimed "Optimus Prime" share his thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics; but over the course of the past week, Sherman has seemingly touched upon a number of sensitive issues while featured on the NFL's "ATL Debate Club Podcast."

As the seattlepi.com's Nick Eaton outlined this weekend, Sherman believes the NFL Draft is a sham:

“Maybe I didn’t have the right people pushing me (in college). Maybe I didn’t meet the right people,” Sherman added on “ATL.” If I got (ESPN draft analyst Mel) Kiper saying I’m the No. 1 corner, then I’m the No. 1 corner.

“But it doesn’t really matter if I play like the No. 1 corner, if I’m picking things off. If (Kiper) says I’m the No. 1 corner, I’m the No. 1 corner. If I would’ve got my name in those circles, how would things have changed? … That’s what I think. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

He also thinks that Seattle will once again need to deal with a lack of respect from the national media:

“I think we’re gonna end up being one of those teams that, once again, flies under the radar because we’re in Seattle. Obviously we’ll be kind of relevant because we have Russell (Wilson), we have a pretty good defense.

“And they’ll find ways to overlook it, though, and we’ll go right back under the radar. We’ll persevere though.”

Sherman went on to mock Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White by stating he's an "easy matchup."

Then, if all of that wasn't enough, Sherman offered his thoughts via Twitter on the possible addition of Charles Woodson to the Legion of Boom.

Understand me when I say that I like Richard Sherman the player and appreciate his candid take on the game, but if he played for any other team in the league you would probably be asking yourself "Who is this guy and why won't he shut up already?"

B/R's own Gary Davenport though writes that Sherman's sideshow is fun and you could even argue that a good portion of what comes from Sherman's mouth is close to what the rest of us as 'Hawks fans are thinking, but I still feel a sense of concern moving forward.  

With Sherman you never really do know what he's going to say next and that could land him in hot water if he's not careful in how he chooses his words or is misinterpreted by critics. 

For now, I hope that Sherman enjoys his taste of the limelight, but let's hope it doesn't effect his game.  Come next season, Sherman will no longer be able to sneak up on anyone as the more he talks, the bigger the target on his back grows. 

For it's one thing to earn All-Pro status, but it's quite another thing to sustain that level of excellence over the course of a career.  

Unfortunately, Sherman may never shake the whispers from opponents and fans even after his victorious PED appeal as public perception in his case likely cost him a trip to the Pro Bowl. 

If anything, it will probably only motivate him...as an anti-hero of sorts while giving the Seahawks a little more attitude off the field. 

To Sherman's credit, his endless supply of self-confidence has helped him meet each and every challenge along the way as the slights of both the past and present have seemingly fueled him to become an elite player after only two seasons in the NFL.  

Let's hope he can continue to do so without letting the trappings of fame get in his way; otherwise Sherman risks becoming a one-hit wonder best remembered for letting his bark becoming too big for his bite. 

A few weeks ago, a not-so-small news story surfaced in the New York Daily News that included one of the Seattle Mariners up-and-coming players has since been eclipsed by the signing of Felix Hernandez to his big seven-year, $175 million extension. 

While it's nice to ponder the possibilities of what King Felix's signing may lead to, it's also a bit foolish to ignore the potential issues that may come from Jesus Montero's link to the Miami-based BioGenesis clinic.  

As Dave Cameron at USS Mariner wrote when the news broke, "Let’s be realistic—a player’s name being linked to BioGenesis is not a good thing. It’s not a smoking gun, and you shouldn’t automatically brand Montero a steroid user, but it’s not nothing either."

Sadly I feel like we've been here before as we saw with Seahawks cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner a few months ago, as both faced suspensions following news that each had tested positive for banned substances.

Ultimately things worked out for the 'Hawks as they managed to make the postseason even while Browner served his four-game suspension. Meanwhile, Sherman won his appeal against the NFL and was voted as first team All-Pro.

At this stage, Montero still seems a bit overwhelmed by the situation as he explained to The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker:

I don’t really know what’s going on. I didn’t have anything to do with those people. I know my agent’s been handling everything. I don’t know anything about it. I just talked to my family, I told them ‘It’s nothing, don’t worry about.’

We’re happy. I’m just doing my job over here trying to be ready for spring training and be ready for the season. What can I say? It surprised me too.

While it's still early, the situation still begs the question of whether the Mariners could weather the storm if Montero is suspended.

First and foremost this complicates the situation behind the plate at catcher, as John Jaso is now in Oakland and I doubt that anyone in the organization wants to press Mike Zunino into service with only a few months of pro ball under his belt. 

Funny thing is that only a few months ago I was foolish enough to believe the Mariners had done a decent job of setting themselves up at catcher for both the present and future with the options of Jaso and Montero with Zunino waiting in the wings. 

Instead, we face the prospect of platooning the catcher position at some point this season if anything happens to Montero.

With all due respect to veterans Kelly Shoppach and Ronny Paulino, for a team looking to turn a corner, this is hardly the kind of tandem we had all hoped for behind the plate and that's assuming both of them have enough gas left in the tank to do the job.

Making matters worse is the potential drop off at the plate for the M's. 

Bill James at Fangraphs actually projected a decent sophomore season for Montero hitting .285 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI.  While on some levels that may seem a bit optimistic, it's not unrealistic to see Montero approaching those numbers with more veteran protection in the lineup, a lower spot in the batting order and the fences moved in at Safeco Field. 

Yet surprisingly enough, if you try gluing together projections for Kenny Pauloppach (Shoppach & Paulino) "he" could hit .230 with 15 HR and 60 RBI which nearly duplicates what Montero did all by himself last year. 

For a full season, that wouldn't be all that impressive from the pair in helping the Mariners offense, but if we consider the worst-case scenario—a suspension of 50 games—it certainly seems like something the team could survive. 

In all honesty, if the worst thing to happen to the Mariners this season is seeing Montero suspended and having Shoppach and Paulino platoon in his place while producing the aforementioned stat projections, we should all consider that a not-too-tragic outcome. 

My concern is what happens if that isn't the worst thing to happen.

The starting lineup is still very much a work in progress with a mixture of youngsters and veterans jockeying for positions both on the field and in the batting order. 

What's confusing here is not whether the Mariners can survive without Montero, but whether or not Montero will even be missed.

The easy answer is yes, especially with Jaso gone. Montero's role behind the plate appeared all the more significant before the allegations surfaced.  At the same time, it's hard to judge if Montero's presence would make a significant impact. 

If all goes to plan, having Montero hit .280-plus with 20-plus HR and 80-plus RBI could be the difference in making a push for a wildcard berth, rather than simply being a .500 ballclub.

If Montero is lost for any meaningful stretch, either due to suspension or by injury, and the rest of the lineup tanks, would the M's be more or less inclined to give Zunino a shot if he has proven that he is ready?

It's just a thought, But how the situation with Montero unfolds could complicate things for the Mariners if his link to BioGenesis is something more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

As much as I hate to say it, I feel like we had better brace ourselves for more. More allegations, more nonsense and more questions than answers. Right now I'm hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst. Let's just hope the Mariners are capable of doing the same.

Montero was brought to Seattle to be a part of the big picture a little over a year ago. But this year he needs to step up, whether he's on the field or not, while also being mindful that any major problems could potentially force him out of the picture.

Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed. 

With the start of the MLS regular season now under two weeks away, could Seattle be about to pull off what might be the biggest move of the offseason?

France Football and the Seattle Times report that the Sounders are very interested in the Argentinean striker Javier Saviola, whose contract with La Liga side Malaga is set to expire in June.

Given that this is less than six months away, Seattle are able to enter into pre-contract talks with the player, and they could be about to potentially seal a move which would make him a Designated Player for the Sounders upon his arrival in the summer.

Saviola once ranked among Europe's hottest prospects, but although he featured 123 times for Barcelona and scored 49 goals during a six-year period between 2001 and 2007 after his arrival from River Plate, he never really fulfilled all of his potential.

Relatively quiet loan spells with Monaco and Sevilla followed before he made a shock move from Barcelona to archrivals Real Madrid, but he made even less of an impact in the Spanish capital, featuring only 17 times during the two years he spent there.

A move to Benfica in 2009 brought Saviola a little more success—he was part of the team that won the Portuguese title in the 2009-10 season—and he left after three years with the Lisbon side to return to Spain to join Malaga.

This season, Saviola has scored eight times in 24 appearances, including a goal against Zenit in the Champions League

Throughout his career, Saviola has struggled with inconsistency, and there have been doubts about his fitness, but his ability has never been in question. A move to the Pacific Northwest and to the MLS might well represent a fresh start for Saviola, who, at the age of 31, still ought to have a good few years left in him.

Should he make the move to sign with Sigi Schmid's side, Saviola will join up with compatriot Mauro Rosales, who's been with the Sounders since the 2011 season, and there are a number of other Spanish speakers in the squad who should make the task of settling in that little bit easier.

Michael Bourn has finally found a home, however it may not have been the one many expected. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the Cleveland Indians have come to an agreement with Bourn on a four-year deal:

Source: Bourn with #Indians: Four years, $48M with $12M vesting option for fifth year if he reaches 550 plate appearances.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 12, 2013

Bourn had been tied to the Mariners since December, but Seattle would have had to give up the 12th overall pick in the upcoming 2013 draft in order to sign him. Opinions have differed all offseason on whether or not the Mariners should have signed the speedy leadoff hitter. Some critics were worried that Bourn would turn out to be another Chone Figgins disaster, while others including myself, pointed out the positives of bringing Bourn to the Pacific Northwest.

Mariners fans will now be left wondering what Bourn would have meant to the Mariners as he spends the next four years at the top of the Cleveland Indians lineup. With Bourn in Cleveland, the Mariners now appear to be finished this offseason, but what does this mean for Seattle?

General Manager Jack Zduriencik Valued the Draft Pick

After looking at Michael Bourn's contract, one has to wonder why Seattle was not willing to sign Michael Bourn at a reasonable $12 million per year.

This contract looks like even more of a discount when you compare it to the likes of Shane Victorino, who received a three-year, $39 million deal from the Red Sox earlier this offseason. In a way, the deal pales in comparison to the five-year, $75 million deal BJ Upton received from the same Atlanta Braves who let Bourn walk away in the first place.

If Seattle had wanted to bring in Bourn, they would have had to forfeit the 12th overall pick in the upcoming 2013 draft which was apparently too much for the Mariners brass to stomach. By not signing Bourn, General Manager Jack Zduriencik may have set a precedent moving forward for free agents who come attached with draft pick compensation.

Sure, many could make the argument that Seattle was willing to give up a draft pick for Josh Hamilton, but Hamilton is a much different player than Michael Bourn. Nothing against Bourn, but Josh Hamilton is a player who could change the fortunes of a franchise. Bourn is great in his own right, but he was obviously not the player Zduriencik wanted to forfeit a first-round pick for.

Ownership is Confident in Franklin Gutierrez' Health

By not signing Bourn, Seattle has made it clear that they are confident in Franklin Gutierrez returning to his 2009 form. In 2009, Gutierrez was one of the premier outfielders in the game, posting a .283/.339/.425 line with a 6.2 WAR. However, after 2009 Gutierrez has struggled to stay healthy, battling a slew of injuries that have caused him to miss 162 games in the last three seasons.

However, Gutierrez appeared to be healthy and ready for the 2013 season by batting .349 in the Venezuelan Winter League. One has to think that Gutierrez' performance this offseason helped the Mariners organization decide not to sign Michael Bourn. Seattle very well could see Gutierrez as their own cheaper version of Bourn, feeling that they could advocate their resources elsewhere.

Putting faith in Gutierrez' health may be risky, but last season's development of Michael Saunders may have also eased the minds of Mariners ownership as well. Either way, the decision to sign or not to sign Bourn may come down to the health and success of Franklin Gutierrez. If Guti can't return to his 2009 form, Seattle may regret letting Bourn get away.

The Leadoff Spot is Still Open

Some people may think that Dustin Ackley has the leadoff spot sewn up, but his numbers last season should leave some doubt in the minds of Mariners fans. In the leadoff spot last season, Ackley batted .233/.296/.355 with only nine stolen bases. Those numbers should not be enough to fill the fanbase with confidence.

Dustin Ackley did have offseason surgery in which he had a bone spur removed from his left ankle, the same ankle that Ackley pivots on when he finishes his swing. It is very possible that the surgery could help Ackley regain his form from his rookie season in which he batted .273/.348/.417. But the problem with those numbers is that Ackley never batted in the leadoff position when he was a rookie. It very well could be that Ackley is just not a fit as a leadoff hitter.

The leadoff spot may be Ackley's to lose, but the Mariners are still without a true leadoff hitter as Ackley is a better fit elsewhere in the lineup. If Seattle had signed Bourn, Ackley could have slid to the second spot in the lineup where he would have benefitted from batting in front of sluggers Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse.

With all things said, the Mariners will not have Michael Bourn in their outfield this season and that is a choice they will have to live with. If Franklin Gutierrez and Dustin Ackley can progress, the Mariners may look very wise for not investing a long-term deal and a draft pick in Bourn, but their progression isn't a certainty. The Mariners will still have questions heading into the 2013 season, but Michael Bourn will not be one of them.

Follow @thejagepage

For a team that was struggling for pitching depth about a week ago, the Seattle Mariners seem to be intent on having as many options as possible heading into the 2013 season.

Geoff Baker has reported that the Mariners have come to a minor league agreement with 33-year old pitcher Jon Garland. This report was broken by Jason A. Churchill of Prospect Insider as well.

Garland has not pitched since 2011, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that season, Garland finished 1-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 54.0 IP before being shut down with shoulder surgery. Garland is better known for his eight-year stretch with the Chicago White Sox, with his best season coming in 2005 when he finished 18-10 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

Garland isn't the only project the Mariners have picked up this offseason, as they signed former Detroit Tiger Jeremy Bonderman to a minor league deal back in December. Much like Garland, Bonderman did not pitch in the majors last season and hasn't since 2010, when he finished the season 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA.

The question at this point for the Mariners is whether or not either pitcher has enough left in the tank to earn a spot in the rotation in 2013 if the young talent isn't ready. Many fans will remember that the Mariners made a similar signing last season when they signed Kevin Millwood, who proceeded to throw 161.0 innings for the Mariners with a respectable 4.25 ERA. In fact, Millwood was the starting pitcher when the Mariners used six pitchers to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 8 of last season.

When comparing the track records of Jeremy Bonderman and Jon Garland, one has to think that Garland has the upper hand when it comes to potentially earning a spot in the rotation. Over his career, Garland only posted one season with a negative WAR, and that was his rookie season in 2000 when he only started 13 games.

In fact, in 2010 Garland posted a 1.1 WAR and threw 200.0 innings for the San Diego Padres while posting a 3.47 ERA, the third lowest ERA of his career. On the other hand, Bonderman hasn't posted a positive WAR since 2008 and has never had a season in which his ERA was below 4.00.

At this point, it may not be positive for the Mariners start the 2013 season with either Garland or Bonderman in the rotation. In order for that to happen, either Blake Beavan or Erasmo Ramirez would have to have had an extraordinarily poor spring training AND none of the young talent in the Mariners system would have impressed enough to warrant a spot in the rotation as well. However, nobody expected Kevin Millwood to start the 2012 season in the rotation, either.

When it comes down to it, the signings of Jon Garland and Jeremy Bonderman are truly low risk as both of them are signed to minor league deals, and it is entirely possible that one of them could show enough in spring training to keep on the 25-man roster. But needless to say, there are not many Mariners fans who would be thrilled if they did.

The offseason may not have been a win for many Mariners, but after today, it will most certainly not be a loss either. 

As reported by USA Today writer Bob Nightengale, and confirmed by Buster Olney of ESPN the Mariners have signed pitcher Felix Hernandez to a five year, $135.5 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball history. The contract will pay Hernandez a record average of $27.1 million annually through the 2019 season. The signing was also confirmed by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports:

Source confirms Felix Hernandez's deal with Mariners will be seven years, $175 million, as first reported by Bob Nightengale.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 7, 2013

With the deal, Felix surpasses CC Sabathia's $161 million deal, signed prior to the 2009 season, and eclipses Zack Greinke's $24.5 million per year he signed this offseason with the Dodgers. The deal will replace the two remaining seasons on his current deal, allowing Hernandez to become a free agent when he is 33. Perhaps more importantly for Mariners fans, Hernandez will have accumulated 10 service years with the Mariners after the 2015 season, giving Felix a no-trade clause as well.

Seattle fans were skeptical, heading into Spring Training, of the direction the Mariners franchise was heading in. After a failed attempt at signing Josh Hamilton and a trade rejection from Justin Upton, many Mariners fans were beginning to wonder how long it would be until they saw a winner again. Needless to say, this is one big step in the right direction.

Now, signing Felix to a contract extension does not make the team better right now, but it shows fans and future players alike that the team is dedicated to fielding a winner at any cost. Not only does the signing show a dedication to winning, but it also shows that ownership is willing to spend the money it takes to get superstars to come to the Pacific Northwest.

For the past few years, General Manager Jack Zduriencik was the constant target of Felix Hernandez trade rumors. But as of recently, the Mariners brass had been making it awfully clear they had no intent on trading The King:

#mariners broached multiyear deal w/ king felix. want to make him "mariner for life." talks very preliminary. sea pushing

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 4, 2012

The new contract doesn't necessarily make Felix a "Mariner for Life," but it does effectively put an end to the Felix Hernandez trade rumors—potentially for good.

For Mariners fans, the signing of King Felix finally brings an end to the months of worrying about a future without Felix and finally gives them something to be excited about.

Editor's Note: Felix's contract numbers have been adjusted after ESPN reported it was an extension, not a contract.