The time has come...

It is 5 AM here in Seattle. I'm just about ready to head to another day at work in the rain. I hear the Mariners are playing live. I'm not real hip on them being there. I understand the opportunity it is giving MLB to make some cash. This is the beginning of the 36th season for the team, even though they say they are celebrating their 35th anniversary. I know that they will replay it tonight at a normal time for me to watch King Felix. What I really don't understand is how both them and the A's will come back from Tokyo and play more Cactus League games before getting back to the season. I know it is going to be a long trying season for us M's fans. I never tire of the endless hope that we can do something every year.

Coming this weekend: A season preview and a look at how the roster sits for the Mariners if you care.

Retro Mariner Sunday 3/25/12

It was after the non-waiver trade deadline of 1993. The Minnesota Twins had a player coming back from injury that they didn't want. The Mariners made a deal sending Greg Shockey to the Twins. In return, they got a veteran reliever in Steve Ontiveros. After growing up in New Mexico, Steve would attend the University of Michigan and receive a degree in Physical Education and pitching for the Wolverines. Steve had spent time with Oakland from 1985-1988. Next next two years in 1989 and 1990 would see him as part of the Phillies teams.

The next year it was down to the minors, and Steve would miss all of 1992 with an injury. He would come to the Mariners for a month and a half. He would see time in 14 games finishing 8 of them. Steve would have a nice 1.00 ERA but would finish 0-2 for the M's. The next two years of 1994 and 1995 would see Steve return to the Athletics. From there it would be five years of toiling in the minors and independent ball. Steve would spend time in independent leagues, to low A ball, all the way up to AAA. Steve would return to the majors for a brief 3 games with the Red Sox in 2000.

Steve would spend all of 2001 in the minors a again before calling it quits. In his time from getting drafted in 1982, it would be nearly 20 years of pro ball. Steve spent part of 10 different seasons on major league rosters. He would spend 15 of those years on minor league rosters at one time or another. Steve played on 4 different teams, being the A's, Phillies, Mariners and Red Sox. He spend time 13 different organizations going from Oakland to Philly, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle, back to Oakland, on to the Angels, Cardinals, Orioles, Devil Rays, Brewers, Rockies, Red Sox, and finally the Mets. Of all those teams, Steve would see time on 17 different minor league teams.

Since retiring from baseball, Steve has been a pitching coach in Scottsdale, AZ. He works with kids and adults at Player's Choice Academy AZ. He also would have the honor of being the pitching coach of the Chinese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Another year of a great

I know it's late in the day. I wanted to wish a Happy Birthday to one of my favorites. Dale Murphy turns 56 today. Dale grew up a few hours away in Portland. I loved watching Dale and the Braves on the old SuperStation WTBS. Big Birthday wishes to a Braves great and one of my favorite players to collect.

I missed it-- for 500

I can't believe I saw it until it was too late. I had forgotten that yesterday was the birthday of one of my favorite players. Yesterday would have been the 72nd birthday of the late great "Pops".

 It is hard to believe that Willie has been gone from us for so long. I think this a great way to celebrate post #500 in honoring a man that I missed most of his career, but he inspired me to watch and become a baseball fan. I dedicate this momentous post #500 to you "Pops", may you rest in peace, and thank you for the ball that I got to watch you play.

It's official--I'M OLD!!

Last night the three of us were sitting down watching a little TV. The fact that all three of us are together, let alone watching TV is a rare occurrence. It was in a commercial break that I saw something I couldn't believe. I see a car commercial, and the music kicks in.



One of the bands that I listened to and really liked in my pre and teen years was this band out LA. I asked my 13 year old son,"if a band of my youth is being sponsored by a car company, am I now old?" He looked me straight in the eye and only said "yeah dad, you're old." This is the Crue I remember, not the car sellers.

Let's play Go Fish

You all played the game Go Fish when you were a kid right? Let's try it. Do you have any "Kings"? No, go fish. Okay I'm trying to "Fish" the blog world to see if anyone has an extra of this King:

The one card I need to finish off Series 1 contains King Felix. Anybody want to help the King make it back to his castle??