Look who's coming...

Tom Wilhelmsen will get his first shot at the big leagues. If you didn't see my small write up with a link to his history, go here first. This guy was out of baseball for five years. After getting busted for dope twice, he retired and became a bartender in Tucson. Last year, Jack Z gave him a 15 minute workout, signed him and sent him to rookie ball to work. Tom only made it to A ball in Clinton last year. He has never even seen AA yet. Tomorrow night he will be sitting in the bullpen of the Seattle Mariners in Oakland, CA. Congratulations to Tom, and good luck this season.

Everybody loves Larry

I thought since we are close to the open of the season, I would show off some genius. Every year like most teams the Mariners do TV commercials. Most years, they are really good. This year is no exception. Say hello to the Mariners new ace, Larry Bernandez.

He also can be known as Jerry, and throws lefty.


If you go to the Mariners page here, you can watch all the commercials from this year. They also have an archive of past year's commercials. Some are good,, some are OK.

Good Luck Larry!

A little surprise

As we move closer to Opening Day, the Mariners have made one surprising move. The other was a much expected move. The move we all expected was to see Michael Pineda make the rotation.

In a shocking move to me, the M's released Josh Wilson, and have Luis Rodriguez on the roster to be a back-up infielder.

Now this all could change with the waiver wire starting to heat up. The only other battle it seems is Cesar Jimenez or Tom Wilhelmsen. It will be interesting to see who is the final 25 that has to be set by 9 AM on Thursday. Friday night in Oakland starts the 162 game marathon. Let the games begin!!

Angels, Mariners, and an auto OH MY!!

Recently, I put up a partial wantlist for a new side project, Angels in the desert. It highlights the California Angels cards with photos taken at spring training in Palm Springs, CA. Tom, the great mind behind The Angels in Order was the first to step up and help get this project a few new cards to start it out right.

Tom sent me some cards that are bordering on real old. He also sent some that were when the Angels were near the end of their run in the desert. He even sent the Bobby Grich Fleer card that I hadn't even found was a desert shot yet.

What trade with me would ever be complete without a few Mariners cards? That is kind of what I'm all about after all, right? Tom didn't disappoint here either. He sent me six more cards to take off the Super Set. Two nice 82 Donruss, 2 from the 83 Fleer set, and two 85 Donruss, including the Diamond King which was a Prime 9 card.

To was cool enough to also include a auto card of 2004 cult hero Bucky Jacobsen. This kid came out of nowhere in the summer of 2004 and the fans in Seattle fell in love with the kid from Oregon. Unfortunately, the fame was short lived, and Bucky was out of baseball in 2007. He is now running a baseball facility called Bucky's Baseball Academy in North Bend, WA.

Thanks again to Tom for the help, and I look forward to making trades with him and you in the future. If you haven't read his blog, go and learn some Angels history.

Picking the Final

25 man roster for the Mariners. Trust me, I don't know squat about the Elite 8 that are left in the tournament.

Starters

34 Felix Hernandez( Opening Day Starter)

38 Jason Vargas

58 Doug Fister

45 Erik Bedard

36 Michael Pineda

Bullpen

-- Aaron Laffey

43 Brandon League

-- Josh Lueke

39 David Pauley

--  Chris Ray

-- Nate Robertson

50 Jamey Wright

(53 David Aardsma 15 day DL)

Catchers

30 Miguel Olivo(Starter)

10 Adam Moore

Infielders

17 Justin Smoak(Starter 1B)

2 Jack Wilson(Starter 2B)

26 Brendan Ryan(Starter SS)

9 Chone Figgins(Starter 3B)

4 Adam Kennedy

16 Josh Wilson

Outfielders

15 Milton Bradley(Starter LF)

55 Michael Saunders(Starter CF)

51 Ichiro Suzuki(Starter RF)

12 Ryan Langerhans

(21 Franklin Gutierrez 15 day DL)

29 Jack Cust DH

Coaches

22 Eric Wedge MGR

18 Mike Brumley 1B

28 Jeff Datz 3B

6 Robby Thompson Bench

40 Chris Chambliss Batting

47 Jamie Navarro Bullpen

48 Carl Willis Pitching

62 Jason Phillips Bullpen Catcher

On the road to...

If you don't know the story of Tom Wilhelmsen, then you need to click on his name and read the story.

I think it is awesome that he is trying to make it back. To think the guy was suspended by the Brewers in 2004, and filed for retirement in 2005 at age 21 is amazing. While Tom has had to deal with drug rehab, and being a bartender in Tucson to make ends meet, he is making his comeback. Thankfully Jack Z remembered him from his days in Milwaukee, and called him for a walk on tryout last year. While he hasn't pitched above the A ball level, and probably won't start the season in Seattle, it possible he on the track to make it to Seattle eventually. Here's to hoping that at 27, Tom is on the right track to making it back and being successful in regaining his playing career, and his life to come.

Who needs a Shortstop?

If you or your favorite team are interested in obtaining one, please call Jack Zduriencik at the Seattle Mariners.

It seems as though Eric Wedge has decided to play Brendan Ryan as the starting shortstop, and move Jack Wilson to second. Jack has played 1,251 major league games at shortstop. He has not played a regular season game at second since his days at Oxnard Junior College in 1997.

I guess the writing is on the wall. If Jack doesn't have some kind of monster season, I believe Dustin Ackley will be in Seattle by mid season playing second. Jack will be dealt to somebody who will want him at the trade deadline. There is my look in to my crystal ball for the day. Anybody want their team to just trade for Jack right now??

SuperSonic in the sky

The long time owner and man that brought the Sonics some of their best years has passed. Former owner Barry Ackerley passed away in Rancho Mirage, CA after suffering a stroke at age 76.

 Barry owned the Sonics from 1983-2001. Barry could be abrasive at times, but he loved his team and everyone associated with it. While owner of the team the Sonics made the playoffs 13 times, winning 4 division titles and making the NBA Finals in 1996.

Barry was also head of the Ackerley Group that owned TV and radio stations, along with outdoor media in 20 markets in 6 states. Barry Ackerley was one of the most loved owners in Seattle due to the fact that he loved to give the fans the best team he could. We will miss you Barry, bring back the Sonics.

Off the tracks

I didn't have anything in mind to post today, so I dug out a random card from a box of Mariners cards.

2001 Stadium Club Ryan Anderson
There was a lot of hope for Ryan in Seattle. With his 6' 10" frame, he was dubbed "the Little Unit" in reference to Randy Johnson. After being drafted in the first round in 1997, he shot his way through the minor league system. He spent 1998 in A Wisconsin, in 1999 he went to AA New Haven, and by 2000 was in AAA Tacoma. Then it all went horribly wrong. Ryan would miss from 2001-2004 with surgeries to repair a rotator cuff tear, and twice to repair a torn labrum. Ryan would try to return in 2005 through the Brewers system. When Ryan wasn't able to completely come back, he decided to retire. Ryan attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute to pursue a cooking career.

Hello and goodbye

It is time to say hello to paying attention full time to baseball. My Mariners will be front and center in my mind.

I will pay part time attention to my boys in teal--the San Jose Sharks. They will get my attention when the playoffs start in a few weeks.

I say goodbye to the NCAA tournament. All the teams that I would pull for are out.

Washington-OUT!

Gonzaga-OUT!

Michigan-OUT!

What a crappy weekend for the teams I like. Oh well, on to my first love, baseball. Not only MLB, but my son starts his season tonight if we don't get rained out.