Don't let me down

My Sharks bit the big one last night. Now the only things I have to root for are the Mariners, and my son's All Star team. I know the kids will be good, and fun to watch. Let's hope the Mariners can be as entertaining. I'm starting to see some promise out of this team. They lost on a bad balk call, but they are playing good.

I'm going to Saturday's game against the Yankees, and finally get to see Felix pitch. I'm really looking forward to it.

Thank you to the Sharks for a great season. I'm not sure why we fall flat in the WCF again and again, but maybe we can make it next year. I don't want to root for the Canucks, so I'm with whoever comes form the East.

Not feeling it...

Sorry, I just find the time or the effort to come up with anything. The Mariners continue to flounder. Felix didn't look good last night and the Orioles looked like champs. With the way the Mariners having been losing for 10 years now, I'm starting to feel Pirates fans pain.

Let's hope this guy can pull our butts out of the fire tonight in Game 7 at the Tank. If we lose this one, I might go crazy and run down my street screaming like a loon.

Why can't I ever pick a team that's a winner? Why must my teams always break my heart??

Finish the Job

What the heck happened yesterday?? One of my teams was tied and lost, and the other was ahead and let it slip. I was excited to see this and wanted some more:

I DO NOT want to continue to see this, especially when it costs us the win at home:

Also, why have my Mariners fallen apart against the White Sox? Oh, that's right you don't leave the closer in for 2 innings anymore! Brandon League shut the door in the 9th, but got hammered in the 10th and cost us the game. Well maybe both teams need to leave their respective towns, and get some wins on the road on Tuesday. M's head to Baltimore, and the Sharks are jetting back to Detroit again.

Throw that hat in the ring

Last night was a night of history for #16. Devin Setoguchi became only the third Shark player to ever record a playoff hat trick.

He joins Patrick Marleau who's done it three times,

and Ulf Dahlen as the only players to have done it.

With the 4-3 win in OT, the Sharks have a 3-0 lead. I want to say strangle hold, but the Red Wings won't give up that easy I'm sure. The Sharks are now 5-0 in OT games in this year's playoffs.  Let's hope they can pull it off in game 4 and see who's next.

This is getting good

I'm very happy to say that the Sharks are halfway to the Conference Finals. With a 2-1 win yesterday, the Sharks are off to Detroit with a 2-0 series lead. The scoring came from an unlikely pair of defensemen

Ian White and Niclas Wallin lit the lamp for Team Teal yesterday. Let's hope they can continue with good games in D-town.
The Mariners were able to take 5 of 6 on this road trip. They had a chance to sweep the road trip, but a fly ball lost in the sun cost them the game in the 9th. Still pretty impressive from this team.

Oh yeah, Bin Laden is dead, but I fear the strikes in retaliation. Let's hope this brings an end to some of the strife in the world, and we can start to work together.

Teal Theme Trade

Not long ago, I decided to focus this blog on the Sharks for awhile. I know that most of you are bored to death hearing about hockey, deal with it. Anyways, recently Mike of the newer blogs NYC Cards and Bombers Blog commented that he had some Sharks cards if I was interested. While I don't do much hockey, I'm always open to stuff from my team. I sent Mike a few Jets, Devils, and Islanders and these are some of the sweet stuff he sent me. This would be some of the cards of current players and the General Manager:

Also included were some older cards of all kinds of Sharks players. It is sad that there isn't a name I don't recognize:

After looking through the cards, my son staked his claim to these since he loves Nabby and wishes he was still in the pipes for Team Teal:

Mike blew me away with not one, not two, but three special cards. Autos of Torrey and one of my favorites, "Pickles." Also a nice black relic of Cheech. It is sad how his career has de-railed after being sent to Ottawa. Hopefully after this last season in Worcester, he might make it back.

Mike also is like everyone else and can easily see my obsession with Tony Gwynn. He sent this 1985 beauty. I have never seen these before but I kind of like it. The scan looks off, but I didn't want flatten a 3-D card.

Thanks again to Mike for some fun cards that were different than my other obsession with the Mariners.

Also, if you missed last night's Sharks game it was AWESOME!!  This team seems to thrive on living on the edge by going to OT. Four of the five wins so far all have taken extra time to decide. I didn't think they were going to pull out game 1 at home. Halfway through the 3rd period, Mr. Clutch Joe Pavelski put life in us Sharks fans.

Then, seven minutes into OT the birthday boy gets the game winner. On his 24th birthday, little used 4th liner Benn Ferriero beat Jimmy Howard for the WIN! Benn is the first player in NHL history to get an OT winner on his birthday. I don't think there was a better way for Benn to celebrate it.

I'm not too sure who these characters are that are out in Detroit, and Boston wearing uniforms that say Seattle across the front. These aren't the Mariners that I was not long ago. It is hard to believe they are only 3 games under .500 and playing good baseball. After the unfortunate passing of his father, Justin Smoak must be dedicating his season to him.

This kid is absolutely hitting the cover off the ball. I was happy to see him come from Texas last year. I think he will continue to improve. Off to the Sounders match tonight with my son for a little guy time against Toronto FC.

Northwest Beauties

I know the title is deceiving, and you wonder where I'm going with this one. Things looked beautiful in the Northwest yesterday. The biggest news of the day came from New York when UW's own Jake Locker was drafted 8th by the Tennessee Titans.

You can probably start making new #10 jerseys in Nashville. Congrats Titans fans, this kid is going to be something special for you. It was an honor and a pleasure to watch Jake bring the Huskies back to Being good and going to bowl games. How did your team do in the first round? Are you happy with your team's pick or are you waiting to see what happens in the later rounds?

Where has this baseball team come from?? Are we actually a decent team, or are the Tigers that bad of a team? Either way I will take a sweep any day. This Pineda kid is really getting excited about his future. He's getting better and better each start. It gets rougher now with a series starting in Fenway tonight.

Sharks start the second round tonight against the hated Red Wings. They have had success against them in the past, so we will see how tonight starts the series.

Nice trade post coming tomorrow, hoping for some sun today to get a baseball game in tonight.

Awesome sight in sports

One of the greatest things about a NHL playoff series is the sportsmanship. These guys will go at it for anywhere from four to seven games and will try to take each other's heads off. At the end of the series, these guys can put that aside and do this:

My question is why Kings coach Terry Murray refused to take part in the tradition? It was reported on Twitter last night by Devin Setoguchi @seto1661 that he didn't. That is one thing that really gets under my skin as a fan. I know it is hard to know you are out, but show your opponent their proper respect.

Tonight's epic game 7 between Vancouver and Chicago will determine our next opponent. A Canucks win, and we will play the Red Wings. If the Blackhawks can pull it off, the West go through San Jose, and the Sharks would host Chicago. Two game 7's tonight= MUST SEE TV!

When a win is a loss

Last night the Seattle Sounders FC played an MLS match in Colorado. In only the 3rd minute of the game, Sounders top player and one of the league's better players Steve Zakuani suffered a devastating injury. It was diagnosed last night to be a fractured tibia and fibula. That's both bones in the lower leg. If you are squeamish or have a light stomach, don't watch. It will remind you of Theismann's injury.


While the Sounders were able to pull off the 1-0 win, it is a major setback for this team. The Sounders have set up ways to show your support for Steve. You can Tweet him directly on Twitter @stevezakuani11 and/or hash tag it #forzakuani. You can go directly to the Sounders website , where a page has been set up. Also, the Facebook page can be used for good wishes. Physical mail may be sent to: Sounders FC Community Relations, 12 Seahawks Way, Renton, WA 98056. After winning tickets to take my son to next week's game, he was devastated to see the injury to his favorite Sounder. Godspeed to Steve for a speedy recovery!

Also last night, the kid Michael Pineda was on the mound again. This young man is really starting to impress me. He now goes to 3-1, and has a ERA of 1.78. His line for last night was 6 IP, 5 hits, no runs, 2 walks, and 5 K's. It's nice to have him and the King in the same rotation. Pineda is starting to look like he could become something special.

Tonight, hopefully the Sharks will close out the Kings in the Shark Tank, and we can move on to the second round...

In the Driver's seat

Last night was a step closer to the intended goal. With a convincing 6-3 win, the Sharks are in the proverbial catbird seat. Going home with a 3-1 series lead and a chance to close it out on Saturday night. In an awesome gesture, the Kings and Sharks were able to secure tickets for the family of Bryan Stow to attend the game last night. Let's finish this out on Saturday and find out who's next. What is going on in Vancouver too?

Last night also, Felix looked like the King again. 7 2/3, 4 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, and no runs. Granted, the margin for error was slim in a 1-0 game. Felix looked good last night, and let's hope to keep it rolling with "the Stank" tonight. That would be one of the new nicknames for Michael Pineda. When the late, great Dave Niehaus saw him pitch in Spring he said his ball had alot of Stank on it. Good luck kid!

BOOM goes the offenses!

Last night was a fun night to bounce back and forth on my TV. Between the Mariners offense coming to life quickly and making the Tigers lives miserable:

To the Sharks looking like a bunch of school kids to heroes:

The Mariners were able to pound out 15 hits, draw 11 walks, and get the Tigers to commit 2 errors in a 13-3 win.

I have not seen that kind of offense out of this team in a long time. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Justin Smoak. He left the team yesterday to get home to South Carolina for a family emergency. It was later found out last night that Justin lost hid dad to cancer at the age of 54 last night.

My Sharks were down and out last night. I almost gave up on them at 4-0 early in the second period. But, with 5 goals in the second to tie it at 5-5, they were in it to win it! Devin Setoguchi got the winner 3 minutes into overtime, capping the greatest comeback in Sharks playoff history.

I am a happy boy for at least one day. I love it when both my teams come up big!!

Same old, same old

As has become the norm, the Sharks win again. It was a hard fought win. The Kings looked good at times last night. They won't go down without a fight it seems. This is the best sight of the night:

The Mariners are just the Mariners. This is becoming a familiar look on this team.

Shame and Misery. Since when did the Royals get to be so good. We might want to start looking out for them the next few years. More Mariners tonight, Sharks again tomorrow night...

One at a time

So tonight the quest begins. It takes 16 wins to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. Hopefully tonight will bring the first of those wins. I have a good feeling about tonight and the Sharks should take Game 1 at home. I want to see lots of this for the next two months:

Until the Mariners can be more consistent in games or just mess up again, It's lots of Shark talk now. I put up these words in honor of Bryan Stow but not in a hateful way:

GO SHARKS!!

OH, Canada!

It is now time, the playoffs are set. The Sharks will take on in-state rivals the LA Kings for the first time in the post season. It saddens me to see that the great country of Canada only was able to get 2 teams in the playoffs this year.

The Canucks and the Canadiens made it to the party. That means the Oilers, Flames, Senators, and Maple Leafs all missed the playoffs. The state of California alone got three teams in with the Sharks, Kings, and Ducks all making it. Where has the great game of Canada gone without these teams in it. My thought for the new week or so will be:

Oh yeah, Mariners lost again. That's 7 in a row now. The sad thing is there are only about 15,000 seats sold for tonight's game against the Jays. Looks like the Safe is going to be pretty empty.

Transmission Change

OK, this car is slipping a gear really bad and it's time to change it. That's right, this blog has been hijacked by a crazed hockey fan that wants a championship.

There are many possibilities for who my beloved Sharks could play after today's games. We could be playing the Predators, Coyotes, Kings, or Blackhawks in the first round. This team has had some great milestones this year. Patrick Marleau played his career and team 1000th game as a Shark. Friday night, Joe Thornton collected career point #1000. I really hope we can make a run at Lord Stanley's cup this year.

Also, congratulations go out to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and their fans. As much as it pained me to watch them win in overtime over Michigan, it is nice to see new blood win for a change.

Oh yes, and my lowly Mariners. One run is all you can muster. I still don't get why you try to bunt your way on with two outs and a runner on third that would tie the game. You can share your opinions on when you decided to bunt in the at-bat?

Where is the direction on this team? You better kick these guys in the butt and take control Mr. Wedge or you will end up like all the past managers-- out the door. As a team with all players, we are only hitting .220 I had decent hopes, but it looks like it's going to be another LONG season. You now have lost six straight games. Please win so I don't have to worry about going 2-160. Where have the glory days gone? It has been 10 years since we've seen the playoffs.