gowazzu02":1mhssc82 said:
Hawkscanner":1mhssc82 said:
IndyHawk":1mhssc82 said:
Go M's!!!I think this team may suprise people..
I'm a huge baseball fan and a long time baseball poster. In fact, I've been posting on baseball longer than I've been posting on the Seahawks. On Mariners forums, I go by the handle Mariner Analyst in case some of you and I might have rubbed elbows with one another in the past.
I completely agree with you that I have a funny feeling this particular M's team is going to sneak up on and surprise a lot of people. I love what Jerry Dipoto has done here this offseason in shoring up a lot of areas that were real weaknesses on this team last year. Not only has he improved the defense (especially up the middle) with the additions of Segura and Dyson ... but he has significantly upgraded the SPEED on this team. One of the biggest deficits that this team has had over the past several years since the departure of Ichiro ... is that we've not had a whole lot of real stolen base threats. The Mariners have been relegated to station to station baseball ... to relying on the home run to generate offense. I think fans are going to see an end to that (as they now have guys who are legitimate threats to swipe a bag) and a pretty exciting brand of baseball. JeDi has upgraded the bullpen ... and bolstered that starting rotation with better depth. As far as 1st Base being a potential hole -- Danny Valencia is a quality MLB bat and DJ Peterson is sitting right there in AAA (I fully expect to see him up in the Bigs with the club before the end of the season). If Drew Smyly can overcome his "soggy arm" and return to the form he showed here in Spring Training, then I really like the M's chances of ending their playoff drought this year. And if for some reason they don't, I don't see that as a slight against the team at all. After all, just look at the rest of the AL West. Top to bottom, that is honestly THE BEST division in baseball, as there are basically no cupcakes whatsoever. The Rangers, The Angels, The A's, and now even the Astros -- they're ALL very good baseball teams. I see the M's as being right there and think they WILL be in the hunt for October. Happy Opening Day People -- the annual day where optimism reigns supreme everywhere throughout all of baseball. Now -- PLAY BALL -- and Go M's!!!!
MA
Any quality Mariners boards you'd recommend? I love talking M's here at .net but know the activity level is usually pretty low on the sports bar board.
THAT's an easy one. I will tell you that it’s nowhere near the biggest forum as far as number of posters go, but in terms of overall class and quality of posters, IMO there is no better Mariner Forum than
Mariner Central …
http://www.marinercentral.com/forum/index.php?/forum/3-the-show/
There are a LOT of really bright, knowledgeable, insightful, and just overall respectful baseball posters on that site. Lonnie, who owns and runs it is a VERY knowledgeable baseball mind – a really cool guy to talk M’s and baseball in general with. He’s dealt with some health issues the past few years, so doesn't post nearly to the level he used to. Prior to that though, he used to be really active in putting out real quality stuff on a regular basis. Lonnie used to go down to Spring Training every year … and he would give posters there daily updates on how players were looking and how the team was shaping up. He’d talk to coaches and players alike and post stuff -- insights and tidbits that you couldn’t get anywhere else on the ‘net. He also did a lot of podcasts in the past that he’d post for those who were interested in listening to good in depth baseball conversations. He’d not only do podcasts with posters (
I did one with him once) … but he’d even get respected M’s reporters (like Shannon Drayer) from time to time. I hope he gets back to feeling better and to doing that again -- because that was great stuff!
When I had more time in the past, I’d do in depth research articles that I’d post there. These are a pair of in depth research posts that I was particularly proud of …
The Seattle Mariners and the Business of Baseball … (Part 1)
The Seattle Mariners and the Business of Baseball … (Part Deux)
A few years ago, that site was really bustling with activity. Years of losing though has taken its toll, as there are nowhere near the number of posters there used to be. Still in my opinion though,
Mariner Central is the class Mariner forum out there. AND – I fully believe that WHEN the M’s turn things around and start winning … fans will be back in droves once again. If you’re looking for a place to talk baseball with guys who know their stuff (and have a great sense of humor in doing so), then that’s the place for you. I still consider it home in many ways … and plan on posting there from time to time as the season goes on.
MA
