Fundraiser for Cory MacKay

There will be a fund raiser in Issaquah on July 19th from 12-4 PM at Gina Mary Hair Design. All haircuts will be $20. With all proceeds going to the Cory MacKay Fund. For more info click on the link below, and follow the links there after.

Thanks to Dancing Football for bring this to my attention. I will be waiting to cut my hair now! Hope to see all my fellow shaggy haired Cougs there with me!

http://www.cougcenter.com/2009/6/24/923436/cory-mackay-fundraiser

Ducks hit New LOW!

Well well well...leave it to the Oregon Duck Athletic department to make their football team looks absolutely disgusting! They have by far the worst uniforms I have ever seen, though I do have to hand it to them for ditching the John Deer/Dodge truck bed jerseys. I know Oregon has different Marijuana laws...but come on.

I have added below a link to the official highlight video via their athletic department:

http://www.goducks.tv/oregonducks/console.jsp?DB_OEM_ID=500&id=702&catid=33

Thank you Oregon, for giving the state of Washington entertainment for another football season. I know your team will not be as bad as the uniforms!

Cougs Land Future QB

Two weeks after receiving his "dream" offer Conner Halliday, has committed to WSU for their 2010 class. He has rocketed up the boards as of late as numerous Pac-10 schools have taken notice. More to come on this story tomorrow!

3 Players from Washington State to play for USA

Three players from Washington state were announced today as a part of two different teams to compete as members of Team USA.

DeAngelo Casto (WSU), Klay Thompson (WSU) were both selected to be a part of the U19 team to play in New Zealand next month as a part of the U-19 World Championships.

Also, Quincy Pondexter was named to the squad playing in 2009 World University Games July 2-11 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Congratulations gentlemen, I hope you the best of luck and you wear the colors well!

Letter to ESPN...

Please stop with the BS...switch to the Sounders game...The Washington areas are getting extremely let down tonight...

Locker hurts shoulder at Baseball Camp

According to a person who has asked to be nameless, told me today that they were speaking with someone who is contracted to work with the athletic department. Said while Locker was helping at a youth baseball camp over the last two weeks dove for a ball injuring his NON-throwing shoulder. The injury is said to NOT be serious at this time.

Okay, that being said, as a person who has had shoulder injury problems throughout my athletic days. Shoulders if not protected regardless if it is your throwing shoulder can be serious.

Does Washington have the O-line to help protect Locker's shoulder?

Well that is it for tonight, have a great night everyone!

Bedard Headed to DL, Carp to Start at 1st Base tomorrow

Erik is headed to the DL with left shoulder inflamation. This is retroactive to June 8th.

The earlier mention of Mike Carp takes his spot of the 25 man roster.

M's go Fishing in Tacoma for Carp

The Mariners' today according to a blog post by Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, says " None other than Mike Carp just emerged onto the field for early batting practice, shook some hands, and is getting ready to step into the cage."

I think this is an excellent move it places another non-singles hitter is the order for the Mariners depending on how Wakamatsu decides to use the long left-handed slugger.

If you would like more information please visit the post on the Times' website at:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2009351408_mike_carp_joins_mariners.html

Thanks....we have an interesting story regarding Husky Football coming up later tonight...maybe even a joint Sounders/Mariners game thread!

Mighty Distraction

Well well well....The Mariners' search for an Ace may have ended tonight. I saw what I feel could be the completion of the growth of King Felix. He tonight had control of all his pitches tonight. Yes, this was against the worst hitting team in the league, but those who truly understand baseball would notice the command and presence Felix possessed this evening.

Sorry for the delay the Mariner draft report will continue tomorrow! Thanks! I hope for the Mariners' sake Brandon Morrow and Garrett Olson provide a much needed distraction for this team.

Thanks! Everyone have a great night and we will see you tomorrow!

Remembering the Little Guy-Intro & Part I

In today's media outlets a lot is made of the so-called "bonus babies." Going into the draft the clear cut #1 prospect hands down was Stephen Strasberg, RHP from San Diego State. A lot will be written about the record setting bonus he is set to receive. That is all fine and good, but this is not what I am about. I am about the grunt work that goes into scouting thousands and thousands of players all of North America.

Over the next 10 days or so I am setting out to profile some of the lesser known talent that could very well litter the Mariners' opening day roster.

I will start by covering the 20th round selection, and finishing with the 10th round selection. So that being said where does that leave us?

With the #593rd pick in the 2009 First-year Amateur draft the Seattle Mariners select:

Johnathan Hesketh, LHP, New Mexico. 5'11'', 190 lbs.

Jonathan is originally from Langley, B.C.

He started his college career north of the boarder in his native country at Vernon College (B.C.).
Where he played for two years before transferring to University of New Mexico.

In 2008, he was mainly used as a LH middle reliever. He appeared in 21 games, 2 starts with a 2-5 record and a 5.69 ERA in 49 innings.

Hesketh came into own for his final collegiate campaign as the ace of the Lobo's staff nearly doubling all of his totals from the year before (6-4, 3.45 ERA, 88 2/3 IP, SO/BB 70/24)

I think this kid may end up being a project, but in the end could be a solid 3-5 man in the rotation ala Garrett Olson...

If you would like more information regarding Jonathan please check out his profile on the Lobo's athletic website, which provided me with a lot of this information.

http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/hesketh_john00.html

Thanks and I hope to see all of you back tomorrow for pick #563...

Pedro to the Pacific...

I know it is probably out of the realm of possibility. But lets think about this for a second. The Mariners' starting rotation after King Felix, Bedard, and Washburn. Is for a lack of a better word...not very appealing. What if to shore up the tail end of the rotation the M's were to sign a two year-incentive laden deal with Pedro Martinez.

Lets say 2 years-$6 million with escalating bonuses for starts and wins. That would maybe max out at around $10-12 with a team option/player option for 2011, which is what Pedro is now wanting.

I feel this could be enough to maybe sneak past the lowly Western division foes.

What do you think?

16-Year Old to Enter 2010 Amatuer Draft

According to a report by ESPN's Buster Olney...the prepster who was the feature of a recent issue of SI. Bryce Harper enrolled in a South Nevada JC and plans to acquire his GED later this year. This is an very unique move, but not a surprise to those who cover Major League Baseball.

If you would like to hear more about Bryce there is an article courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Bryce-Harper-punches-his-ticket-to-Cooperstown-a?urn=mlb,167844


Thanks...more to come tonight!

Excitement, and Congraulations!

I would personally like to congratulate a kid that I have known for many years now. Who even at the age of 15 threw harder than me.

Brain Justice was drafted in the 27th round by the Tornoto Blue Jays out of St. Mary's College.

Congrats Brian, best wishes for you!

Mariners bring their Big Stick to the Party...

Sorry, not done yet.

I would like to say that I am very pleased with the way my man Jack Z has changed the face of the M's system in 48 hours. The Mariners, as long as I can remember, have been a team that valued Pitchers through the draft. This year that all changed. The change being their first 6 picks on position players...something that has definitley been the low light of the Mariners' Top 20 IMPACT prospects. I have quickly forgotten the days BB drafting pitcher after pitcher. Thank You, Jack!

Oh, and by the way Jack, did you receive the letter and resume I sent you in regards to me being your new unpaid assistant?

Again, thanks for all your hard for in the past few months Jack. Keep up the good work!

Every Sports Fan has a story...

Every person starts his or her life in the same place. And from this place we grow to have a passion and/or dream in life. The dream that in a sense tormented me during my childhood was the same as every other little boy I knew, professional athlete.

I heard an interview on time where a person involved with Major League Baseball stated, "People who love baseball are one of three things, a player, a coach, or a fan." I went through all three stages in my life. First, as a player playing all the way up through a RS-Freshmen year at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington (Who today might I add had there highest ever draftee in their history, I am glad the program has changed since I left.)

My second stop along this time line was as a fan. This one I feel still exists and would truly never go away no matter how many people state that baseball is so "boring." To those people, I do not dislike hockey, soccer, and other non-mainstream sports just because I do not understand them. We all know the famous Yogi Berra quote, "Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical." These people in my mind are missing the other 90%. There is so much more to every sport than what you actually witness on the boob tube on a nightly basis.

Finally, coaching...ah yes every man's dream turning your son or daughter into the next Jamie Moyer or Jenny Finch. I have had the ultimate pleasure of coaching some of the most exciting kids in my old home town over the last two years. Some of which should be invited to my wedding in the coming years. A very rewarding experience to say the least. I would not change any of it for a minute. But that too does not fill the void of of the blood pumping emotion while holding a ball in your hand with runners on first and third and no one out during your college debut. But I digress...there is much more to a life of baseball and sports in general.

I finish up my first entry, by saying why I am embarking on this roller coaster of a ride...that is the blogosphere. We all hear about the mainstream stuff....we all hear about steroids, crime and war on a daily basis. I am hoping to get across my views in a entertaining matter to indulge the reader in what sport means to me and hopefully shed a little light on the underbelly of sports that our media hides. So enjoy the one time this blog will mention steroids. Unless I some how start using them my self, and try and resurrect my playing career, anyone know Roger Clemens' phone number.

Thanks and happy reading everyone!

DISCLIAMER: This was done as a total rough draft and will from here on out be edited. Not to sound like my son I have not had yet has written it.