Owner: Assist by The Mitten URL:http://www.assistbythemitten.com/ Join Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:54:24 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Assist by The Mitten is a new Seattle sports blog that looks at the Seattle sports landscape through the eyes of a fan who has witnessed flashes of brilliance and a fair amount of mediocrity from his hometown teams. Site statistics:Click here
Sonics Trial Day 2: You too can be a sports economist 2008-06-18 09:45:20 After paging through transcripts of the first two days of testimony in the Seattle v. Oklahoma City Rat Bastards case, I realized I was in the wrong business. Actually, I’m probably overqualified to be Mayor of Seattle or even an expert sports economist.The transcripts detail how on Day 1 of the trial Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels threw up all over himself during his bumbling testimony. Day 2 broug Read more:Sonics
, Trial
Bavasi is gone, but this team is still full of losers 2008-06-17 19:57:57 I suppose I’ll never forget where I was when I learned Mariners General Manager Bill Bavasi was fired. Not because of the magnitude of the news, but because I was having lunch and watching the playoff round of the U.S. Open between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.Two competitors playing at the top of their games - battling it out for the right to hoist the trophy. I thought to myself: the Mariners
Sonics Trial Day 4: Alexie emerges as unlikely voice of reason 2008-06-20 12:56:56 Sonics fan and award-winning author Sherman Alexie took the stand yesterday and emerged as the unlikely voice of reason. Alexie spoke eloquently, if not melodramatically, about the importance of the Sonics in Seattle and was the consummate voice of the fan.“Seattle, it is amazing,” he said. “We have had a renaissance of professional basketball players coming from Seattle. Right now there are Read more:Sonics
, Trial
McLaren done in by his player’s coach approach 2008-06-19 18:17:15 John McLaren’s firing today is a classic case of ousting the manager because you can’t fire the player
s. Although, it’s looking like the M’s are taking a hard look at that as well, with rumors that first baseman Richie Sexson’s days are numbered.McLaren was always characterized as a player’s coach and it’s that managerial approach that probably did him in. It’s still amazing to me
Leave government out of Seattle arena solution 2008-07-04 11:39:22 Much has been written in this space about the Sonics lease issue, the injustice of it all and then the final blow to the crotchular region as the Oklahoma City carpetbaggers move the team out of town.Bottom line, fans got screwed and the city of Seattle
got paid. Pretty simple, really. Now, hoops fans are being called on by governments large and small to help lure a new NBA franchise back to the a Read more:Leave
, arena
Sonics are gone and the city hopes you’re hoping 2008-07-03 13:24:27 The city of Seattle would like you to cross your fingers and start hoping.Mayor Greg Nickels announced this afternoon that the city reached a settlement with Sonics
owner Clay Bennett. Ownership agreed to pay the city of Seattle $45 million in exchange for leaving town. Bennett will have to pay another $30 million if the city doesn't find another basketball team and renovate KeyArena by 2013.The N
M’s perfect winning when it doesn’t matter 2008-07-02 12:43:30 There are a lot of reasons to rail against the Seattle Mariners this season. But there is one thing you can never take away from them. They know how to win when it no longer matter
s.Since Jim Riggleman took the helm as interim manager, the M’s have won 7 of 11 games including a road series sweep of the equally sad San Diego Padres. Last night, bench player and hometown boy turned Mariner Willie
Felix hits grand slam, gets hurt – fans kicked in the seeds 2008-06-29 09:30:38 Starting pitcher Felix
Hernandez took a hack at a pitch over his head and hit an opposite-field grand slam to help the M’s top the New York Mets today, 5-2.The Seattle P-I is reporting that it’s the first home run by a pitcher in Mariners history, and the first slam by an American League pitcher since May 11, 1971.However, Felix left the game in the fifth inning after getting spiked in the ank
Trade Ichiro? Please, shut up 2008-06-29 09:30:16 There is a long-standing tension in my family over Ichiro
Suzuki. It’s been there for years. My wife and I know that discussion or analysis of the Mariners outfielder is off limits.When she bought an Ichiro jersey for my son, I kept my mouth shut. When I make mid-game flip comments about him, she turns the other cheek.So, what’s the source of the tension? She thinks he’s the best hitter in Read more:Trade
, Please
This Week’s Man Crush: Felix Hernandez 2008-06-29 09:29:12 Seattle pitcher Felix
Hernandez’s week was a microcosm of the Mariners 2008 season. On Monday, Hernandez was humming along, throwing well in a game against the Mets. He had pitched 4-2/3 innings of two-hit ball, giving up just one earned run.In the second inning, he took a letter-high fastball from Mets pitcher Johan Santana and deposited it over the opposite-field fence for a grand slam. It was
Sporting News: Sonics 'F' Draft 2008-06-28 15:28:08 Sam Smith of the Sporting
News doesn’t like the SuperSonics
’ 2008 draft very much. He takes the whole crew to the woodshed:Seattle doesn't deserve this franchise. Seattle is too classy a city. They continue to stockpile draft picks and now players with late first-rounder Serge Ibaka, who'll likely play overseas. Russell Westbrook is a nice combo guard talent, but they shocked everyone by picki Read more:Draft
Meet the new M’s, same as the old M’s 2008-06-28 09:47:14 The Seattle Mariners donned the circa 1978 powder blue road uniforms last night for a turn back the clock game in San Diego. Sadly, the current roster is playing about as bad as the ’78 team.Here’s a high-level comparison of the two squads:1978 MarinersRecord: 56-104 (.350)Team batting average: .248, ranked 13th in the ALTeam ERA: 4.67, 14th in the AL2008 MarinersRecord: 29-50 (.367)Team batti
Sonics Draft: It’s all just OK(C) 2008-06-27 09:16:11 I couldn’t help but notice the background image read nothing of the city in which Russell Westbrook may be playing his next two seasons. But there stood the fourth overall pick of the Seattle SuperSonics
in this year’s NBA draft, shaking hands with the hated David Stern, mere minutes after the city of Seattle and the Sonics wrapped up final arguments in their federal court lease dispute case.T Read more:Draft
Good Mitten, Evil Mitten debate Sonics future 2008-06-23 17:20:16 Right now there is a wicked love/hate relationship between me and my favorite professional basketball team. To most natives, the SuperSonics
are the most beloved of Seattle teams. However, the last year’s trials and tribulations surrounding the team have even the most faithful fan feeling scorned.My ego has split, each side creating hopes and expectations about the team’s draft picks and lease Read more:Mitten
This Week’s Man Crush: The Seattle Sports Fan 2008-06-22 14:57:41 Man, this last week has absolutely sucked to be a sports fan in Seattle
. We used to have the fallback of beautiful summers to take our minds off terrible teams, but that hasn’t materialized either. At one point in June, Seattle was three degrees colder than Siberia.Last week, Seattle has been the sports equivalent of Siberia. It’s a very lonely time for the Seattle fan. We’ve endured the par Read more:Sports
M's breakout win changes little 2008-06-21 10:16:35 Unfortunately, the current roster of Mariners is now making a pitch to hold on to their jobs, avoiding a trade or outright release. A 10-2 drubbing of Atlanta has everybody in the clubhouse atwitter over what could be if the bats come alive.The M’s finally came through in the clutch against the Braves with Jose Lopez’s three-run double in the eighth inning sealing the win. Is this the beginnin Read more:changes
, little
Morning Notes: Seahawks are still really good 2008-07-18 11:19:54 This has been the first Seahawks
preview that hasn’t begun with, “Thanks to a weak NFC West division, the Seahawks have been able to win four consecutive division titles.” No backhanded compliments here as Clare Farnsworth briefly highlights the offense, defense and breakout-year candidate Leroy Hill.Anxiety over Husky recruiting heightensRecruiting geeks are already worried about the Husky Read more:Morning
, Notes
New York signs Sexson while Yanks fans clear their throats 2008-07-17 15:59:33 Former Mariner first baseman Richie Sexson looks to be headed to the New York
Yankees. And if you’re Sexson, there couldn’t be a worse place to land.The fact alone that he won’t be able to sit around and collect his paychecks for doing nothing is a bummer. But if he thought the Seattle fans and media were hard on him, he’s in store for a world of pain.I wonder if Yanks
fans boo him before Read more:signs
Morning Notes: More Ichiro trade blather 2008-07-17 11:24:22 Jim Moore of the P-I asks no one in particular “isn't it time to blow this thing up and start over?” Then he gets some back up from one of the many World Wide Leader’s radio blowhards who said Ichiro
is overrated. "Ichiro's a really good player, but the phenomenon has been exposed. He's a .300 hitter with speed with a mediocre on-base percentage,” blowhard said. I’ve already given my opi Read more:Morning
, Notes
Home run derby a success despite attempts to ruin it 2008-07-15 11:26:52 The guy who hit the most home runs during the All-Star Game Home Run Derby last night at Yankee Stadium didn't win the contest.The Rangers’ Josh Hamilton hit a total of 35 home runs in three rounds, including three amazing measuring tape blasts over 500 feet. But Justin Morneau of the Twins hit 22 total with five in the third round to win. A tired Hamilton could only muster three. I guess it’s Read more:derby
, despite
This Week’s Man Crush: Adrian Beltre 2008-07-14 16:19:24 Pretty slim pickings last week as far as Man Crush’s go. But M’s third baseman Adrian
Beltre hit .392 and even had some of his teammates singing his praises for hustling out plays.The M’s won just two of seven games between July 7 and July 13, but the Riggle-ball era has been somewhat successful. The team is playing one game over .500 since the interim manager took the helm on June 20.About
Morning Notes: M’s head into break with a win 2008-07-14 11:47:14 Outfielder Raul Ibanez pointed to Adrian Beltre as the perfect example of leadership and “playing the game right.” That’s good because Beltre may be one of a handful of players still on this team when Mariners interim general manager Lee Pelekoudas is done turning over the roster.HR Derby previewSeaTown Sports has the lineups, a prediction and a man crush on Grady Sizemore. Fabulous!Again wi Read more:Morning
, Notes
Morning Notes: Sexson’s attitude factored into his release 2008-07-12 08:17:45 His tenure with the M’s started out with promise, but when things go bad on the good ship Mariner, they tend to go real bad.Richie Sexson, the 20th highest plaid player in MLB was released Thursday and it seems it was more than his terrible numbers that prompted the move. Manager Jim Riggleman told the Seattle Times that Sexon’s attitude
played a part as well. Sexson joined the M’s in 2005 a Read more:Morning
, Notes
Morning Notes: NBA steps in a pile of Schultz 2008-07-10 11:13:13 I think after two years of litigation, every Sonics fan should get an honorary law degree from the University of Washington. Yesterday, the P-I reported the NBA
filed a motion seeking intervention in the Howard Schultz
lawsuit saying that Mr. Coffee’s suit will interfere will stable operations of the franchise. I suppose this is under the assumption that any of the NBA franchises have stable ope Read more:Morning
, Notes
, steps
Please let me off this Sonics ride 2008-07-09 10:00:03 On the commute into Seattle for my real job I let the possibilities wash over me.True, the city of Seattle sold out its basketball fans for $45 million. But Howard Schultz could be the long-awaited white knight. Albeit, a heavily-stained white knight covered in f-bombs and used coffee grounds.But Schultz’s litigation against Oklahoma City Whatevers owner Clay Bennett just might be the answer. It Read more:Please
, Sonics
Morning Notes: Bedard interviews with Philly radio station 2008-07-09 08:06:38 Seattle Times Mariners beat writer Geoff Baker blogs that starting pitcher Erik Bedard
went on the air with a Philadelphia ESPN radio affiliate as trade rumors swirl around his possible dealing to the Phillies. Not sure how great an interview it was since Bedard has a penchant for one word answers to questions, but apparently he may be warming to the idea of heading out of Seattle. If Philly
is in Read more:Morning
, Notes
A baseball fan's training wheels 2008-07-08 15:05:37 I couldn’t think of a better way to prepare my son for a lifetime of misery as a Seattle Mariners fan.Sunday’s afternoon game between the Everett AquaSox and the Yakima Bears of the short-season, single-A Northwest League was the perfect setting for his first professional baseball
game.Minor league teams have really figured out how to make an enjoyable and relatively cheap outing for families.
Morning Notes: Mr. Coffee presses on with Sonics suit 2008-07-08 03:00:04 Former Sonics
owner Howard Schultz has no intention of dropping his lawsuit against current owner Clay Bennett and is Professional Basketball Club ownership group. Schultz’s fraud and breach suit is a long shot according to many legal experts, but the former owner thinks this is the best opportunity for Seattle to get an NBA team back. Richard Yarmuth, Schultz’s attorney said of last week’s Read more:Morning
, Notes
, Coffee
Jail advice for Lofa Tatupu 2008-07-07 20:30:05 Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu pleaded guilty today to drunken driving and will spend a day in jail and pay fines totaling $1,255. Being a team captain and the undisputed leader of the defense, it was the right thing to do.According to the AP, Tatupu will likely serve out his jail time before training camp opens July 24 and will be assigned the same jail cell as any other inmate facing the same s
Morning Roundup: A-Rod last man who thinks Madonna is attractive 2008-07-07 11:19:41 A-Rod’s wife filed for divorce today, saying the Yankee slugger and former Mariner is cheating on her. According to the filing: "The marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken because of the husband's extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct." The story has gotten better since New York tabloids have alleged A-Rod has been boinking Madonna
. The haggard ‘80s superstar told people.c Read more:Morning
, attractive
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