Seattle

After watching the San Francisco 49ers badly lose a game to the Seattle Seahawks for the second time, I’m struck by the incompetency of the strategic play calling against a beatable team.

Seattle is a good, solid and tough team, but is not unbeatable by any means. And the 49ers seem to have all the cards needed to beat them.

The running game, a Niner speciality, was abandoned after a few half-hearted tries. Usually, this part of the strategy pays off heaviest during the second half of the game, peaking in the fourth quarter when the opposition is slowed by fatigue and weakened by repetition and bruises. 

But the running game, some 20 rushes for 100 yards for the Niners versus 47 rushes for 172 yards for the Seahawks, was not a major part of the play-calling. I missed it.

The passing game of the 49ers has for a generation been based on high percentage passes in the short to intermediate range, advancing the ball as much by short passes as by rushes.

But this game the ball was targeted long range way too often, and receivers famous for YAC, like Williams and Patton, were pretty much ignored. A total of 107 passing yards is not a prescription for a win against a tough team. Along with a high of three interceptions, the passing game could only be rated a failure.

Also, Kaepernick did not look confident and crisp behind the offensive line, like he was being asked to do things at the edge of his knowledge, skill and talent.

So the 49ers fell behind, and no significant changes to tactics and play calling were made during the halftime break. It looked to all the world like a major breakdown of the coaching staff and their vaunted brilliance and creativity. They seemed to be uncharacteristically locked into an unsuccessful plan.

Knowing the brilliance of the coaching staff, one cannot escape the niggling paranoia that someone was laying in the bushes, pulling the wool over someone else’s eyes, playing snake in the grass.

In other words, a game lost this early in the season is less important by orders of magnitude from a game won later in the season against the same opponent, to be played in a friendly environment at home.

If the opposing team is convinced they have the 49ers' number and come unprepared thinking the second game will also be a romp; imagine their chagrin when the play-calling is tight, the run game is persistent, and the passes are short with intermediate throws resulting in a high percentage of completions? Also, there will be a noticeable difference when receivers like Patton, Williams, Moore and Vance McDonald are featured while Boldin and V. Davis play decoys catching only a few, really tough and important ones.

It is, in short, difficult to believe Harbaugh and Company went bonkers over a game in Seattle, when they have been so proficient in games against even tougher foes.

As a follower since 1979, I do not like thinking this way, but it seems like a possible explanation for the whipping the 49ers took Sunday night on National TV.

Hey Seattle Mariner fans, do you remember Wladimir Balentien?

Go ahead, take a minute to think back to the time, not too long ago, that spanned the final year when Bill Bavasi was still running / ruining (take your pick) the Mariners and the honeymoon period when Jack Zduriencik arrived in town to help clean up the mess. 

Ok, now dig a little deeper and remember one of so many outfield prospects with "tons" of power that didn't quite pan out. 

Still not sure? 

Perhaps you've simply buried the memory of Balentien's 130 games in a Mariners uniform spanning parts of three seasons (via ESPN) because, quite frankly, his time in Seattle was so unimpressive. 

Meanwhile, if we fast forward to this past weekend, Balentien, now more than three seasons removed from playing in the major leagues, has just broken (via Japan Times) legendary Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh's single-season Nippon Professional Baseball home run record. 

Now, depending on your point of view, you may either see this as tragic or comical, but to me it's curious. 

As usual, there are two sides to every story. Did the Mariners give up on Balentien too soon, or is this simply the case of another failed / washed up slugger making it "Big in Japan?"

It's hard not to be a bit skeptical of Balentien. Even if you look beyond his past MLB performance, three points remain hard to dispute. 

For starters, the level of competition in the NPB isn't exactly on par with the MLB.

Second, parks in Japan have a tendency to run a bit small, especially Balentien's home park with the Yakult Swallows, Meiji Jingu Stadium (via wikipedia).

Finally, the ball being used in Japan this season is juiced (via NBC Sports). 

Do these points help discount what Balentien has accomplished?

Not really when you consider his full body of work in Japan.

Over three seasons with Yakult, I think it's safe to say that Balentien's perfomance has improved each season (via Nippon Professional Baseball). 

Beyond the raw power though, what's interesting to me is how his average and walks have gone up each year since arriving in Japan and how for this season his slugging and OBP figures (via NPB) would give him a cartoonish OPS of 1.278 compared to .783 for his first season in Japan back in 2011. 

Still, it's impossible to judge how these figures would translate had Balentien continued playing stateside.

Yet, given the Mariners' current lack of depth in the outfield within the highest levels of the organization, it makes you wonder if Balentien could be on some level contributing right now in Seattle?

It's tempting to believe in a grasping straws sort of way, but one passage of Jeff Passan's write-up for Yahoo!Sports late last week, discussing Balentien's approach to hitting, remains etched upon my mind:

Balentien swings a baseball bat like Happy Gilmore did a driver, an all-or-nothing uppercut full of ferocity and terror. He will not be on any instructional videos for form. Balentien doesn't step into the bucket with his front foot; he practically leaps there. He chases balls everywhere, ravenous to swing. Function, though? In baseball, where it's always function over form, one dare not trifle with results, no matter how hideous the form.

Perhaps that approach is working in Japan, but it makes me think that Balentien would still be struggling against good major league pitching beyond getting a hold of the occasional mistake.  

Even in the midst of his prime, given a few years to mature, and with the fences pulled in at Safeco Field: I can't picture Balentien employing the same technique he did five years earlier with any greater success for the Mariners today. 

So did Jack Zduriencik make a mistake in trading away Balentien?

I could be wrong, but it would seem unlikely. If nothing else, it's probably safe to assume that trading away Balentien is nowhere near as tragic as Bill Bavasi shipping off Adam Jones to Baltimore the year before.  

At any rate, I'm happy for Balentien and wish him well moving forward as he seems poised to obliterate the record with more than three weeks of baseball left to play. 

If he plays his cards right, he should be able to take the success from this season and cash in for the next decade whether he stays with Yakult or takes on the role of hired gun in Japan. So long as he can continue to hit for power, he can enjoy rockstar status in a country that truly loves the game.

Sure, the Yakult Swallows aren't faring any better than the Mariners this season, given they're in last place in the Central League. But given the excitement of what Balentien has achieved this season, at least Swallows fans have something—and more importantly someone—to cheer for.    

What's so amazing about Balentien's season is that he has managed to chase Sadaharu Oh without the cultural baggage others have faced in prior attempts as Passan explains:

Balentien has not faced lingering resentment for threatening the legend of Oh. Whatever the reason – a willingness to stray from past xenophobia, a genuine admiration of Balentien or perhaps both – it has unfurled moment after great moment, the sort befitting of a chase for a record still with meaning.

Fans of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows love Balentien. The Swallows are like the Mets to the Yomiuri Giants' Yankees. Their games are in Jingu Stadium, an old relic where Babe Ruth once played, and they struggle to fill it because they're not very good. These days, they come for Coco. That's what they call Balentien.

Having lived in Tokyo for several years and enjoyed more than my fair share of games at Jingu rooting for the Swallows, I have to admit that I'm a bit jealous at the moment in having missed out.

Instead I can only applaud "Coco" from afar for having made the most of this opportunity. 

Life is funny sometimes.

One minute the Seattle Mariners don't want you, the next you're the biggest thing going in Japan.  

In retrospect, it was probably a blessing in disguise, as he was the one that got away...away from the dysfunction and empty promises of a brighter future in Seattle that never seems to come to fruition.

It's been a long, strange year for Seattle Mariners second baseman/outfielder Dustin Ackley. 

Perhaps more than any other Mariner this season (and arguably last), Ackley has left fans in the Pacific Northwest wondering what exactly to make of him—and by extension the Mariners.

For those of you who may have lost track of Ackley after his promising debut two summers earlier and his sophomore slump last year, allow me to summarize his performance this season by the month:

April was rough after what had been a decent spring training.

May was so brutal that he was demoted and replaced at second base.

In June, he rebounded at Triple-A Tacoma and returned to Seattle by the end of the month.

In July, he really didn't distinguish himself at the plate or on the field.

Then suddenly in August, Ackley became an animal, both literally and figuratively. 

Growing out a beard more reminiscent of a man in quest of the Stanley Cup than a baseball player, "Wolfman Ack" slowly but surely put together an impressive month, per ESPN, hitting .390 with 2 HR and 10 RBI with 10 runs scored. But perhaps even more exciting was the fact that both his OBP and slugging percentage were simply off the charts. 

Yet the funny thing is that Ackley's metamorphosis occurred to very little fanfare, all the way at the bottom of the M's lineup.  

It wasn't until last Friday night in Houston, while all eyes were focused on rookie Taijuan Walker's debut, that Ackley basically put on a clinic, spraying four hits for four RBI and made a nifty catch on his knees near the bullpen in right-center to cap off what would be Walker's first win.  

Maybe it was just one night, but is this the Dustin Ackley we've all been waiting for? 

For the better part of two years we've been waiting for a sign of something but have only captured brief glimpses amidst several false starts. 

According to Ackley, this recent turnaround may come down to a simple matter of trust, as described to Ryan Divish at the Tacoma News Tribune:

"I think now it’s just something where I can really trust in my swing, where before I didn’t really trust it and all that,” he said. “Now it’s gotten back to how it used to feel and that’s why I’m mentally focused every at-bat and ready to hit.”

Deep down I want to believe in Ackley, but it seems only fitting that since Friday night he has once again lost the magic touch. 

Which is why long-term projections for Ackley seem foolish, because in all honesty, which Ackley will show up?

I suppose the good news about his August performance is that at the very least, Ackley appears to be a serviceable piece of the puzzle with a fair degree of versatility in the field. Which is nice if you're willing to take a chance on him for your fantasy baseball team by adding him to your bench. 

The reality, though, is that Ackley still doesn't strike me as a force, an "X-Factor" type player as I had hoped he would become during spring training a few months back. For me at least, one good month doesn't wash away nearly two full seasons of mediocrity. What's even more frustrating is that you could say the same of first baseman Justin Smoak.

Next year I imagine both will have starting roles, but neither seems well equipped to do something extraordinary in helping the team contend, which if memory serves me was kind of the point in giving both significant roles with the Mariners from the start. 

Perhaps it was too much too soon?

I suppose we are well past that point in the discussion about Ackley and Smoak, but what worries me is seeing that torch passed to another group of youngsters, specifically Nick Franklin and Mike Zunino (I'm excluding Brad Miller here because he's on another planet at the moment, and Taijuan Walker because he only has another two-to-three starts left this year). 

Like it or not, Franklin and Zunino are the "next wave" and are already learning on the fly without much of a safety net in the same fashion as Ackley and Smoak did not too long ago. So far they've both shown promise, but both have also struggled—especially Franklin for the past month.  

Which begs another question: Who should start at second base in 2014?

A month ago the answer to this was obvious, but for the next few weeks it's something to keep an eye on. In an ideal world both Franklin and Ackley can coexist; however, that experiment is still in progress as the M's continue to reshape their roster.

My best guess is that unless Ackley proves that August was no fluke and brings the same confidence at the plate to spring training, he will likely start next season in the outfield while situated at the bottom of the batting order. The fact is that Ackley doesn't steal bases or hit for power, and therefore he's going to need to keep his on-base percentage high enough to make manager Eric Wedge consider moving him up.  

Essentially, he would need to become a poor man's version of Wade Boggs.

For those of you too young to remember Boggs, just take Ackley's August and stretch it out over an 18-year Hall of Fame career.  

So can a resurgent Dustin Ackley be an offensive force in the future with the Mariners?

Nothing is impossible, but it would seem to be improbable, as Ackley would need to rake morning, noon and night. Games like Friday night's in Houston would need to become the new normal for Ackley rather than Monday's 0-for-4 performance in which he couldn't even lay down a sacrifice bunt when asked.

Feel free to consider both performances outliers in what has been another long season in Seattle, but if Ackley still wants a significant role with the Mariners, he has what would appear to be a very long climb ahead of him.      

For the record, I am not a Seattle Seahawks fan.

In fact, I primarily cover the San Francisco 49ers.

Okay—get your boos, curses and smart remarks out of the way and allow me to describe some takeaways and analyses of Seattle's prospectus for the 2013 season.

As a fan of a division rival, an outsider can provide a different perspective.  External viewpoints can provide a unique analysis of what my team will have to face in the upcoming season.

Make no mistake; the 49ers will circle both matchups with the Seahawks this season and the perspective from this writer will hopefully have served some purpose.

There is no downplaying the budding rivalry between the two teams in the NFC West as both teams prepare for what promises to be an exciting season.

In many ways, both the Seahawks and 49ers are very similar.  Both have emerged as top contenders, not only in the increasingly talented division, but also as contenders for the NFC crown.  The Seahawks and 49ers are both led by dynamic and well-known head coaches that succeeded at the collegiate level.

In addition, both teams employ quarterbacks that can utilize a hybrid skill set which is becoming more popular in today's NFL.  The running game is also a primary factor in both team's offense.  Both have a stout defense.

Plenty of similarities exist between the two teams and, in many ways, the two franchises are very evenly matched heading forward into 2013.  It is a safe bet that the division title will be determined by what happens between Seattle and San Francisco.

What I Like about the Seahawks

For all the talk about San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Seattle's man under center Russell Wilson is a clear-cut stud. 

All one has to do is look at the statistics from his 16 starts in his rookie season last year to determine that: 252 completions for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in the passing game.  To think all of that was done without a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver threat is pretty incredible.

Then, one can add his mobility and rushing capabilities into the mix.  Having nearly 500 rushing yards along with four touchdowns is also pretty special.

He deserved his Pro Bowl selection—no doubting that.

If any 49er fan wants to point out how great Kaepernick is, he or she would not be able to get very far without mentioning Wilson.

Behind Wilson on offense is running back Marshawn Lynch.  Like San Francisco, Seattle relies heavily on the running game and Lynch—a First-Team All-Pro last year—will again carry the bulk of the Seahawks' ground attack.

Lynch's running style, which was once heralded by Washington Post writer Matt Brooks as "jaw dropping and earthquake inducing," epitomizes the nature of Seattle's ground attack.  His uncanny knack for breaking tackles is part of the reason why he has been able to easily crest the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last two seasons.

Considering just how well San Francisco was able to stop the run last year, Lynch's 214 rushing yards between the teams' two matchups is quite impressive.

It is no wonder why Seattle signed him to a four-year, $31 million contract before the 2012 season.

Of course all of that would not be possible without an effective offensive line. 

Lead by Pro Bowlers Russell Okung and Max Unger, the offensive line should be just as effective as it was last year.  I do have some questions and concerns—which shall be described later—but the line needs to be viewed as a strength heading forward.

Unger elaborated on the recent success by saying via Oregon Live:

You have to score points, you have to win games in order to get a lot of recognition.  Especially on the [offensive] line you have to keep your quarterback clean, you have to do that kind of stuff and the benefit of that is people recognize our quarterback is not getting touched, we're running the ball a lot something good must be happening.

It is a simple statement from Unger yet his points are critical to ensure continued success.

Then there is the defense.

That defense should be putting fear into the minds of every 49er fan and around the league.

Seattle's defense is hard-hitting and aggressive and there should be no lack of that in 2013. 

Last year, the Seahawks defense was first overall in the NFL in points allowed.  Notably, San Francisco was second by 28 points—I did mention similarities.

There are some notable changes that took place over the offseason including the addition of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to replace Gus Bradley who left the team for a head coaching job with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, along with linebacker O'Brien Schofield, were brought in to bolster a pass defense that had 36 sacks last year. 

Rookie defensive tackles Jesse Williams and Jordan Hill may also factor into the equation.

Linebacker Bobby Wagner expressed his hopes about Seattle's defense in a recent interview published via The Everett Herald by saying:

I think it's going to be a lot better.  We've got a lot of players coming back, so we've got that chemistry going and we're just picking up where we left off last year.  So I feel like it could be a little scary for everybody else.

Of course one cannot discuss Seattle's defense without noting the secondary. 

Led by cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman along with safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, the backfield only got better by adding veteran corner Antoine Wilfield during the offseason.

It is no wonder why CBS Sports columnist Pat Kirwan cites the Seahawks secondary as one of, if not the best in the NFL.

What Concerns Me about the Seahawks

While Seattle's question marks may be music to 49er fans' ears, there are a number of things I would be worried about if I were a Seahawks fan.

Moving back to the offensive side of the ball, questions still have to be asked about the passing game.  Granted, Seattle relies heavily upon Lynch and the running game and Wilson can make plays as well as anyone else in the league.

Yet the passing dimension is something that cannot be overlooked entirely.  Last year, wide receivers Golden Tate and Sidney Rice hauled in a net total of 95 receptions but neither broke the 1,000 yards-receiving plateau.

The offseason addition of receiver Percy Harvin was supposed to alleviate this to a large extent, especially considering the lofty trade made in the process, but now Harvin is on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list and will miss a large portion, if not all, of 2013.

David Steele of The Sporting News broke down the trade as one of the worst made in recent history.  He elaborates further by writing:

The Seahawks were—and they’re no closer to the Super Bowl today than they were before they gave up three draft picks, including last April’s first-rounder, and $25.5 million guaranteed to get him from Minnesota back in March.  That’s why they got [Harvin], to get closer to the Super Bowl, past the 49ers in the NFC West, and in the NFC.  [The Seahawks] didn’t get him so they could run in place while Harvin rehabbed—again.  That was always the caveat in the deal.  Harvin would be a difference-maker, the weapon that would separate the Seahawks from the 49ers, where otherwise they were running neck-and-neck in just about every way.  But only if Harvin stayed healthy.

The criticism may be pushing it a bit. 

First off, Seattle was great in 2012 without Harvin and there are few reasons to suspect anything different this year.  Secondly, Harvin is signed through 2018 and will eventually have his impact.

Whether or not the passing game will improve in 2013 is up for debate, yet Rice, Tate and rookie Chris Harper may be able to step up. 

Doug Baldwin may also be a player to watch according to head coach Pete Carroll.

While the offensive line is regarded as one of Seattle's strengths, there are some concerns about both guard positions.  Paul McQuistan retains the starting job at left guard resulting from James Carpenter's foot injury suffered earlier this month.

When healthy, Carpenter is a beast and for Seattle's sake, the injury is not long term.

The battle over right guard is still up in the air as described further by Field Gulls columnist Danny Kelly.  He writes:

Because of injuries to Carpenter and still developing competition between a slew of guys at right guard, it's still pretty unclear who will be starting at either guard position in 2013.  Overall though, is this a group that can make a big jump in 2013 from their form in 2012?

Hopefully these concerns do not become a proverbial crack in the line.

Another note of concern surrounds Seattle's defense and, more specifically, the pass rush.

The team amassed 36 sacks in 2012 with defensive end Chris Clemons leading Seattle with 11.5.  Now Clemons is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in last year's playoffs and how effective this element will be shall hinge on his return.

Last season, the Seahawks ranked 18th in sack percentage—where they were able to get to the quarterback at times he threw.

While the defense was good, could they strive to be more consistent in 2013?

The additions of Avril and Bennett help alleviate this problem to a good extent. However, statistics, being what they are, will have to be proven on the field during the regular season. 

That is yet to happen.

Instead of relying on two or three players to generate the pass rush, Seattle may be more inclined to shuffle its formations and utilize some of its additions and depth to generate chances.

An article by Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times highlights this approach.  He writes:

In other words, this will be far from a one-man job. The Seahawks think that between adding a few new pieces, refining a few existing ones, and changing a few schemes that they will find the right answers. We’ll find out soon.

Whether or not these schemes work is yet to be determined.  If it does work, Seattle's defense will be that much more potent.  If not, the secondary will again have to bear the brunt of the passing game—a prospect not all that bad considering their talent.

Difference Makers

Seattle is deep—really deep.

That is an unquestionable bonus.  There is an allotment of depth along both the offensive and defensive lines where attrition can take its toll. 

Both Wilson and Lynch have reliable backups in QB Tarvaris Jackson and running backs Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. 

What the Seahawks lack in wide receiver star power, they more than make up for it in depth. Chris Harper may be a player to watch during his rookie year and it would not be surprising to see Doug Baldwin benefit from the absence of Percy Harvin.

The secondary also has plenty of depth which gives them numerous options in the various nickel and dime packages necessary against the plethora of pass-first offenses they will face.

If one had to match Seattle's depth against the 49ers, the edge clearly goes to the Seahawks.

One also does not have to question the Seahawks dominance at home over recent years. 

Yet the consistency is almost night-and-day between home and road games which is something that should be a legitimate concern.

At home, Wilson threw 17 of his 26 touchdowns and was only intercepted twice leading the Seahawks to an 8-0 home record.  On the road, his touchdown/interception ratio was 9-8.  The Seahawks were 3-5 away from CenturyLink Field.

By contrast, the 49ers were 5-3 on the road under head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2012 and 6-1-1 at home.

While Seattle has a decisive home field advantage, going undefeated at home a second year in a row will be more than challenging.  Even a 6-2 home record could cost them the division if their road record does not improve.

In a division that is likely to see some tight races, this could be a key factor in what happens come playoff time.

The road factor easily goes to San Francisco.

---

Regardless of perspective, both the 49ers and Seahawks are in excellent shape to make a run for a Super Bowl appearance. 

It is no wonder why both San Francisco and Seattle sit atop the NFL power rankings—No. 1 and No. 3 respectively.

Both appear to be equally matched at the outset and the Seahawks have arguably the best chance of any other team to thwart the 49ers current reign atop the division.

There is depth behind a dynamic defense and Wilson and Lynch shall continue to be forces when the regular season begins.

San Francisco, and the rest of the NFL, should fear Seattle this season and there are plenty of reasons why. 

Yet the regular season still has to play itself out and plenty of factors are yet to enter the mix.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.

 

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Hockey in the Pacific Northwest has a future again.

Less than a month after the Coyotes fell off the relocation radar, reports have circulated that NHL GM Gary Bettman is seeking to bring hockey to the Seattle area via expansion.

Per Seattle radio host Mitch Levy via Twitter:

Per Brian Stubits of CBS Sports:

Levy went on to say that a franchise would cost $275 million to acquire and if that became a reality, it would begin operations in 2014-15. Of course, it would all be based on an ownership group coming forward and the plans for a new arena continuing down the path of becoming reality. Key Arena likely would serve as the home of a team until an arena came to be.

Obstacle No. 1: Venue

The first of many pitfalls Seattle would have to work around in the expansion process would be the arena.

Key Arena, the only viable temporary home for the team, is a 51-year-old building that seats just 15,177 for ice hockey—only Winnipeg's MTS Centre would have a smaller capacity.

The WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds played there for one season before a cringeworthy rink arrangement convinced them to move elsewhere. Fans can only sit alongside one-half of the ice and the jumbotron hangs over the blue, rather than red, line. Simply put, it's a poor fit for ice hockey.

So, indeed, the first few years would be rough for Seattle—but that's not exactly unusual for an expansion team.

In the long term, a proposed new Sonics Arena could serve both future NHL and NBA teams in Washington State. The approximately $200 million project in the same district as Qwest Field (NFL and MLS) and Safeco Field (MLB) would seat around 17,500 for hockey in a modern, cutting-edge facility.

Such a project would take years to build, though, even if it made it through the approval phase unscathed and on time. Moreover, the majority of the City of Seattle's Memorandum of Understanding with the Arena group is also focused on the NBA in particular; it's unclear whether the NHL would be able to garner an equally large investment of taxpayer dollars.

All things considered, Seattle should be able to handle physically supporting a major league hockey franchise in decades ahead—but the next few years could be less than ideal.

Obstacle No. 2: Ownership

Ray Bartoszek, a 47-year-old Connecticut hedge fund manager and New York Yankees shareholder, has been mentioned often as a potential Seattle owner. In June, a family spokesperson told Washington news channel KING 5 that "[Bartoszek is] interested in Seattle’s economic well-being and its future."

Little else about Bartoszek—including his exact ownership share in the Yankees—is publicly available. However, nothing about the mega-millionaire indicates he wouldn't be capable of covering a $275 million expansion fee.

But can Seattle support a hockey team strongly enough to keep it profitable from that point forward?

Obstacle No. 3: Fan Support

Demographically, Seattle is a fantastic location.

The metro area boasts 3.4 million people, ranking as the 16th-largest in the U.S.— and bigger than that of 16 current NHL clubs, as well. It's the nation's 12th-best TV market (per Nielsen)—bigger than that of 19 current NHL clubs. It's the nation's eighth-youngest city. And, according to Men's Health 2011 rankings, it's the most active city in the country.

All of those statistics look extremely favorable to an expansion franchise from a relatively up-and-coming sport.

The Thunderbirds and Silvertips of the junior league WHL haven't exactly gone wild in attendance—the Kent-based Thunderbirds ranked 14th of 22 teams in attendance in 2012-13, averaging just 4,036 per game in a 6,000-plus seat arena, while the Everett-based Silvertips (about 30 minutes from downtown Seattle) ranked 10th with 5,062 per game.

Conversely, Seattle is well known for its feverish support of professional franchises.

The NFL's Seahawks averaged 67,946 fans per game in 2012, a whopping 101.4 percent of Qwest's reported capacity. The MLS's Sounders lead the league in attendance by a mile; their average 40,650 fans per game in 2013 is nearly double that of the second-ranked club. Even the now-relocated NBA's SuperSonics averaged 90 percent or better attendance most seasons.

Seattle can't flaunt the nearly guaranteed fan support that expansion-seeking Canadian cities like Quebec can, but the odds still indicate that strong attendance would come in time.

Obstacle No. 4: League Balance

In the new NHL conference alignment, the Western Conference holds just 14 teams, while the Eastern Conference contains 16.

That imbalance is one of several reasons that Seattle is being pushed so strongly for consideration from within league circles. However, it could also hold up a completed expansion deal if such a situation arises.

With 30 teams currently in the league, expansion would need to occur in pairs. Even if a Seattle framework deal falls in place, the league may insist on finding a second city before going forth into a NFL-style 32-team format.

And that's where geography could become a problem.

Only Portland, Ore., could potentially be ready for a West Coast NHL expansion at the same time as Seattle, and that's still a big if. Kansas City, Mo., and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, each have one factor going for them—a state-of-the-art arena and a lengthy hockey history, respectively—but little else.

The best expansion locations outside of Seattle all fall in the Eastern half of North America.

And that's simply unacceptable in the current alignment.

Looking Forward

An NHL team in Seattle seems increasingly inevitable by the day.

The Pacific Northwest is a promising region primed for professional hockey's arrival. While ownership and fan support are both nagging concerns at the moment, both could also evolve into highly conducive factors in the very near future.

The focus of Seattle's hockey expansion obstacles revolve around the lack of a respectable venue. Tremendous amounts of money, trust and time stand between the current situation and a long-term home for a NHL franchise.

Irksome logistics, such as the league's conference alignment and less-than-stellar relationship between Commissioner and Board of Directors, could also emerge as major holdups.

In time, professional hockey will almost certainly find its way into the Seattle area.

But when?

That's an entirely less definite debate. 

Mark Jones has been an NHL featured columnist for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more, or follow him on Twitter.

With the MLB trade deadline inching closer by the day, teams all throughout baseball are currently contemplating whether they should make a move to improve or stick it out with their current roster. 

The Seattle Mariners, until recently, appeared past the point of wins and losses having much meaning in regards to their current standing within the AL West, but does their recent performance mean we should assume they will be cleaning house now? 

In recent years, the M's have been sellers working from the cellar far too often, but this year, things are a bit more complex.  

The good news is that fans don't have to read about trade rumors surrounding ace-starter Felix Hernandez for the first time in ages. 

The bad news is that, beyond King Felix, there are only a handful of players one can consider safely off-limits within the Seattle organization, as the team continues to search for answers while once again rebuilding.  

Honestly, I don't envy general manager Jack Zduriencik right now, as he will likely have quite a few tough decisions to make in the coming weeks, but for today, here's my take on what both the Mariners will do and should do before the deadline.

What the Mariners Will Do

For years now, Jack Z has taken the approach of exchanging his veterans for a combo platter of mediocre prospects. 

If this were any other year, I'd expect more of the same.  However, this year trading a veteran for another Casper Wells or Eric Thames isn't going to cut it, but the players the M's likely have available are unlikely to net a top prospect.

Unfortunately for Zduriencik, these next few weeks, both on and off the field, are critical to his job security.  Right now, I would imagine the odds of him either surviving this year or getting axed are even.

So do desperate times call for desperate measures as Jack Z cleans house? 

Or should the Mariners hold on to their current assets, as Jerry Brewer at The Seattle Times suggested, given their recent success?

Perhaps Jack Z will get creative and do something completely unexpected?

So far, he's managed to ship Alex Liddi and Eric Thames to Baltimore in two separate deals for very little in return, but with those deals and several other moves since the end of last season, I believe there is more to the story.  

Ever so quietly, Jack Z has managed to send off the likes of Wells, Trayvon Robinson, Francisco Martinez, Vinnie Catricala and, most recently, Thames and Liddi. 

What exactly is going on here? 

To me, it appears that Jack Z is systematically trying to bury a few skeletons and wipe the slate clean for next year. 

Yet without these players available to fill gaps in the field, can the M's afford to trade veterans like Raul Ibanez, Mike Morse, Kendrys Morales and Jason Bay?

Could Zduriencik be simply holding on to them to see how they fare in the coming weeks and judge whether or not to retain them for next year?

Over the weekend in speaking to The Seattle Times Larry Stone, Zduriencik hinted as much in saying, "In the end, I’m not in the mood to give anyone away," Zduriencik said. "What I’d like to do is get healthy and see how this goes. Who knows what will happen in the next 30 days?”

Initially, I saw this as your typical "canned" response to such questions before the All-Star break, but following the Liddi trade and the team's recent upswing, it seems to have a little more substance than usual. 

In other words, if someone approaches Jack Z with a solid offer, I can't see him turning it down.  At the same time, I can't see him actively shopping anyone with the hopes of getting rid of them—similar to how the M's tried to deal with Chone Figgins over the past few years.  

Ultimately though, where this leaves us will probably matter more at the end of September, rather than the end of July. 

What I mean is that based on my hypothesis, Jack Z is going to have the M's starting from scratch in terms of payroll at the end of this season, with only Felix eating up any significant portion of the budget.  From there, Jack can determine which players and prospects are worth building with, and go from there based on what he's seen over the final three months, rather than simply guess over a four-week period.

Does that mean the M's will hold on to everybody?

No, but I'm a bit hesitant to predict a full house cleaning either.

What the Mariners Should Do

Honestly though, it's really tempting to clean house even with the team starting to show signs of life. 

Ditch Mike Morse, Brendan Ryan and any of the veteran starters taking up space towards the back of the rotation, like Joe Saunders, and see if anyone can make solid offers for the likes of Kendrys Morales, Oliver Perez or Hisashi Iwakuma. 

Of course, the problem with that approach is that the M's have done it so many times now since Jack Zduriencik took over as general manager and sadly have very little to show for it.  

Yet with so many players with deals expiring, I still say the M's need to prioritize moving them. 

For starters, get rid of Morse. 

He's too old and hasn't been able to stay healthy.  Honestly, how can you miss someone that hasn't been around the majority of the season?  Could he go elsewhere and thrive?  It's possible, but long-term, I can't see making him the focal point of what Jack Z, or whoever possibly takes over next, wants to do.  

While we're here, I would also seriously listen to calls for Raul Ibanez.  Whether you see the glass being half full or empty is up to you, but at 41, his success in Seattle can't last forever, right?  Usually, I'm guilty of being sentimental in such instances, but one simple truth hangs over this team like a dark cloud. 

That truth being the M's can lose just as many games either with or without Ibanez in the present, but players past the age of 30, or in his case 40, are far too risky to build around at this stage of the process if we are looking to do something meaningful long-term.

In other words, cash in on Ibanez, Ryan, Saunders and even Endy Chavez.  Perhaps even package a few of them to see if that nets a decent prospect, provided some team gets desperate. 

As for Morales and Iwakuma, keep them unless someone makes an offer that cannot be refused.  Right now, the M's may want to consider keeping both over the long haul; therefore, trading them and then replacing each with the likes of Justin Smoak now, or prospects Taijuan Walker or Danny Hultzen come September, seems a bit shortsighted at the present time.  

Summing It All Up

Unless the Mariners drop 10 in a row at some point, I think that both Zduriencik and Wedge will keep their jobs through the deadline and probably the remainder of the season. 

At the same time, I'm not sure what to make of the team's recent performance, as the M's are holding their own while battling against some top-notch competition. 

Prior to the last week-and-a-half, this season appeared lost.  

I'd become so numb to the M's ups and downs that the two series wins against Texas and Cincinnati on the road recently left me feeling more indifferent than intrigued. 

Honestly I want to believe in and enjoy the team's recent success, but I have a sneaking suspicion that from here on out, what we will likely see in Seattle during the second half probably won't differ all that much from what we've seen thus far in the first half. 

That is unless the front office is determined to phase out the veterans wherever possible and continue to allow the recently promoted top shelf talent to play everyday. 

Bottom line, I think Jack Z will see what he can get for the vets with expiring deals, keep an open ear for players like Iwakuma or Morales who could net a decent package and continue to quietly unload all of the failed prospects with little to no shot in Seattle.  

If everything goes according to plan, this team might inch back to .500 before the end of the season.  If that happens I think Jack Z will likely keep his job along with Wedge while getting the chance to see if this group of youngsters can move the needle towards bigger and better things next year with perhaps the help of a few holdovers from this season worth keeping.  

Time will tell, but suddenly the M's are worth watching and that's what has me both frightened and intrigued.  I suppose it helps to keep an open mind about these things, yet I sincerely hope this isn't yet another false start for a team that has had far too many to count in recent years.