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
This Week’s Man Crush: Clay Bennett 2008-07-06 03:00:12 Clay, I view you as a role model, as an extraordinarily gifted executive, a deep and compassionate thinker, and a person with a rare and unique charisma that brings out the best in everyone you touch. You are just one of my favorite people on earth.I must confess that I plagiarized your e-mail to David Stern, but I couldn’t find the words that captured the depth of my feelings. There are so many Read more:Bennett
This Week’s Man Crush: Dave Niehaus 2008-07-28 16:55:40 For people of a certain age, Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus is the only baseball voice they’ve ever known.Transplants to Seattle might not understand, but for baseball lovers who grew up in the Northwest, Niehaus was the soundtrack to the summers of their youth. His baritone catch phrases and rousing calls are unique as they are cherished.Yesterday, major league baseball agreed. Niehaus was i
Morning Notes: Ichiro nears 3,000 hits, all with wood bats 2008-07-25 09:07:12 M’s outfielder Ichiro
Suzuki is five away from 3,000 hits as a professional baseball player. In nearly eight seasons in the major leagues he’s hit 1,717, while the rest have come playing in Japan. When asked if people will dismiss the milestone because 1,279 of his 2,995 hits came in Japan, Ichiro told the P-I: "I'm not expecting much, but I hope people realize Japanese professional baseball i Read more:Morning
, Notes
Morning Notes: How low can M’s go? 2008-07-24 12:44:45 It’s getting harder and harder to watch this team. They can’t hit with runners in scoring position. They’re dropping routine fly balls and the Red Sox just completed a sweep of the M’s yesterday with a 6-3 loss in 12 innings. Just brutal.Allen ranks 12th on NFL owner listMike Silver of Yahoo! ranks Seahawks owner Paul Allen 13th on his owner rankings list. Allen gets docked points for not Read more:Morning
, Notes
Seahawks Preview: Sports Scene Saviors 2008-07-23 16:33:18 The Seahawks
are poised to save Seattle sports fans from their summer of discontent.It’s time to move on from heartbreaking story lines about the See-ya-later SuperSonics and Misguided Mariners. Thank the football gods.Training camp opens Friday and we’ve got some stuff to keep an eye on. So, here goes:Running backsObviously, the biggest story of the offseason, president and general manager Ti Read more:Preview
, Sports
Morning Notes: OKC wants Squatch 2008-07-23 13:00:07 Because destroying a 41-year basketball history and ripping out the hearts of basketball fans in the Northwest wasn’t enough, some fans and hacks journalists in Oklahoma City want Squatch, too. The funny thing about this is that most true Sonics fans would probably say, “OK, take him.” Now, if it were The Wheedle, we’d have to file another lawsuit.Get Carlson signed and into campThe Seahaw Read more:Morning
, Notes
, wants
Morning Notes: Red Sox Nation calls Safeco Field home 2008-07-22 11:20:35 The number of Red Sox
fans at the game last night was embarrassing. I fully expect to see those same people wearing Cubs jerseys next year during interleague play. Read my extended rant here. Back to the game: Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester of Tacoma went 7-1/3 innings and former Mariner farm hand Jason Veritek hit a two-run homer as Boston beat the M’s 4-0. Big ups to The Mitten’s brother-in-law Read more:Morning
, Notes
, calls
, Field
, Red Sox Nation
Red Sox Glory Leeches descend on Seattle 2008-07-21 10:44:01 Beginning today, the Mariners will host the Red Sox
for a three-game set at Safeco Field. Up until their 2004 World Series Championship, I readily enjoyed Boston coming to Seattle
and watching the home town nine dismantle the Sox.That version of Red Sox Nation was tolerable and even a little endearing. Its anguish and self-loathing was somewhat justified. Even though they had won five series champ
Morning Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder … air ball 2008-07-21 03:00:02 Bwaaah, ha, ha, ha! Oklahoma
City Thunder
? Come on, this is just cat nip for sports bloggers, right?According to a report from The Oklahoman, KOCO-TV says the city’s new NBA team is going to call itself the Oklahoma City Thunder. I don’t want to make fun of any Oklahomans because there is no way the fine people of Oklahoma pushed for this name.Oh cripes, they actually did.In a contest by The O Read more:Morning
, Notes
This Week’s Man Crush: Ichiro 2008-07-20 11:19:44 The Mariners only All-Star returned to Seattle from the bright lights of New York and the mid-summer classic where he went 1 for 3 in the AL’s win over the NL.And when he got here, he was greeted by a chorus of detractors calling for the future hall of famer to be traded. Nice.Token Wazzu Cougar and P-I columnist Jim Moore made national news this week when he, with a little help from ESPN dipshi Read more:Ichiro
This Week’s Man Crush: Justin Forsett 2008-08-17 11:01:45 Seahawks rookie running back Justin
Forsett wants a job real bad. And after Saturday’s preseason performance against the Chicago Bears, he’s going to get one.Forsett had 15 carries for 136 yards, his longest a 36-yard scamper. He punched one in from 10 yards out to give the Seahawks a short-lived lead in the fourth quarter. The Hawks eventually won a wild one at home 29-26 in overtime.The seve
Hawks Preseason Game No. 2: Da Bears, Da Hawks 2008-08-15 14:04:07 Preseason football – where the score means nothing, but the injuries could last a lifetime. Saturday’s fake game No. 2 for the Hawks
will match them up against a Bears
team trying to find some traction on offense.Bears fans have been treated to the crap show that is Kyle Orton vs. Rex Grossman. Things have been so dire at the quarterback position, fans are clamoring to see more of undrafted ro
Morning Notes: M’s brass blow waiver deal 2008-08-15 11:49:49 No deal could be made for left fielder Raul Ibanez and pitcher Jarrod Washburn after they were claimed on waivers on Tuesday. M’s brass had until Thursday afternoon to make the deal and couldn’t figure it out. Also gone is a great opportunity to dump Washburn’s massive $10.35 million salary for 2009. Reports are the Twins were willing to pay Washburn’s salary, but weren’t willing to give Read more:Morning
, Notes
Quick, someone get Don James a gun 2008-08-14 08:44:47 Legendary Washington Huskies football coach Don James
made his annual summertime appearance at camp yesterday. You know, stroll around. Shake some hands. Take a few pictures. Maim an athletic director.Commenting on Washington’s ridiculous non-conference schedule that has the Dawgs playing BYU, Oklahoma and Notre Dame at home this year, James said: "I don't like it at all … I'd shoot my athleti Read more:Quick
Seahawks receivers must now wear name tags 2008-08-13 21:13:19 When I first looked at it, I thought it was a list of the starting five for the '09 University of Texas basketball team. But no, it’s the four-deep roster for the Seahawks
as of today. I reserve the right to begin freaking out about this situation after the Bears game on Saturday night:1. Nate Burleson2. Courtney Taylor3. Ben Obomanu4. Logan Payne5. Jordan Kent The rest: Michael Bumpus, Joel Fil
Serious test for secondary unlikely to come from Bears 2008-08-13 15:57:00 The Seahawks secondary will have a shot at redemption Saturday night against Chicago, but the Bears
passing game doesn’t appear as if it will give Seattle too many problems. If it does, and the Bears throw all over the field, we’ll know how much trouble the secondary is in.Much maligned Bears quarterback Rex Grossman will get the start over Kyle Orton and has had to endure shots from former te
Ouch! My receiver hurts 2008-08-12 16:03:31 So … let me get this straight.We’ve lost our top two receiver
s (Bobby Engram and Deion Branch) for maybe the next couple of months to injuries? Nate Burleson, who caught 50 passes last year and just 18 the year before, is No. 1 on the depth chart?Second-year player and nearly invisible Courtney Taylor, who has five catches in his pro career, could be the guy slotted at flanker? Ben Obomanu, wi
This Week’s Man Crush: Raul Ibanez 2008-08-11 14:09:30 Raul Ibanez’ performance at the plate last week sort of mirrors the Mariners season. It started with such promise only throw up all over itself in the end. In the first four games of the week, he hit .588 with two jacks and 14 RBIs. Fourteen!But he returned back to Earth the last three games, bringing his average for the week to .413 with a total of 3 home runs and 15 RBIs. He still deserves a l
Say it ain’t Mo? I don’t think so 2008-08-09 13:07:16 The Seahawks first preseason game offered up some intriguing plot lines. The most interesting focal point: Maurice Morris. Entering into his seventh season with the Seahawks, Morris has no intention of passively letting the coaching staff relegate him to a lesser role at running back. By bringing in T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones in offseason moves to replace Shaun Alexander, Morris instantly becam Read more:think
Seahawks Preseason Game No. 1: Pray for Health 2008-08-08 12:01:21 It's game simulation day! Today’s “game” between Seattle and the Minnesota Vikings marks the beginning of a four-week stretch of daily nightmares for Coach Mike Holmgren.You think he wakes up every morning at 2 a.m., drenched in a cold sweat, with visions of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck snapping his leg in a such a grotesque manner that Joe Theisman himself would curl up in the fetal position Read more:Seahawks
, Health
M’s begin making roster room 2008-08-06 13:02:45 The light at the end of the tunnel is faint, but at least we know it’s not an oncoming train. Slowly, but surely, the Mariners are making
the moves that fans had been clamoring for.Richie Sexson has taken his strikeout circus to the Bronx, Jose Vidro is packing up his suburban home for Puerto Rico and Brandow Morrow is bombing down I-5 for Tacoma to relearn the art of starting pitching.Vidro has Read more:begin
This Week's Man Crush: Seattle Special Teams Coach Bruce DeHaven 2008-09-08 10:40:58 You know, Bruce
, I used to love having coaches like you when I was playing pee wee football. They didn't get bogged down in too many details or over prepare our team. They just let us go out there and let it fly.I could only image what special teams practice is like for you guys. I bet it was a lot like the ones we had in junior high school.We'd stand around and take turns kicking field goals or p Read more:Seattle
, Special
, Coach
Seahawks passing game worse than expected 2008-09-07 18:22:01 In my preview of the Seahawks
vs. Bills Week 1 match up, I likened the Seattle passing
game to an airplane flying on fumes with two busted landing gear. On Sunday, we learned that the damage is much worse thanks to a 34-10 whipping in Buffalo.With receiver Nate Burleson leaving the game with a knee injury and a young receiving corps that has real problems catching the football, you could make the
UW, BYU screwed out of an instant classic 2008-09-06 18:41:48 It would have been fun to watch an overtime shootout between UW’s Jake Locker and BYU’s Max Hall. But we couldn’t do that because the Pac-10 had to show us once again how terrible their officiating crews are.With seconds left in the game and the Huskies down by a touchdown, Locker scrambled from the BYU 3-yard line and into the end zone for the score. An extra point would tie the game and we
BYU at UW: First Half Thoughts 2008-09-06 15:43:13 For a fan base still nauseous from last week’s debacle at Oregon, BYU’s first possession scoring drive tested our collective gag reflex.Cougar quarterback Max Hall completed 5 of 6 passes, capping the drive with a 38-yard TD strike on third and 14 yards to go. Again, the defense was pushed around and the secondary was full of holes. It didn’t help when on the ensuing drive, the Huskies went Read more:First
Another take on the Thunder brand 2008-09-06 13:31:52 I’ve been trying to take the high road with the recent “unveiling” of the Oklahoma City Thunder
name and logo design. I mean, we knew the name six weeks ago. I was positive the logo would be underwhelming and AC/DC’s song “Thunderstruck” would somehow make its way into the press conference dog and pony show. Well, check, check and check.I’ve also realized when it comes to Clay Bennet
Morrow is electric in first start 2008-09-06 09:55:09 I’m so glad the Mariners wasted nearly two seasons of Brandon Morrow’s career as a setup reliever. No, really, it’s been great watching the worst team in baseball trip all over itself.Fans of this beleaguered franchise got a little something to be excited about last night. Morrow threw 7 2/3 innings of one-hit ball against the Yankees in his first major league start.Most onlookers, aside fro
Locker’s season will mirror UW’s fallen mascot 2008-09-05 20:02:28 According to a press release by the University of Washington, the team’s canine mascot Spirit suffered a shoulder injury that will keep the Alaskan Malamute sidelined indefinitely.If the Huskies continue to play like they did against the University of Nike, you could expect quarterback Jake Locker
to suffer the same fate. The good news is the sports information department will be able to use Spi
Hawks at Bills: Ground Holmgren? 2008-09-05 16:10:32 It’s a good thing the Seahawks are carrying six running backs on the roster. They may need every one of them this week on the road against the Buffalo Bills
.Until proved otherwise, the precision Mike Holmgren aerial attack is flying on fumes with two busted landing gear.Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and his well-documented sore back will get the start for Week 1, but he’ll be throwing to three r Read more:Hawks
Armstrong: And the whining begins... 2008-09-05 15:52:46 Why is Mariners president Chuck Armstrong
allowed to make any plans regarding the future of this team? He’s ushered this team through 20-plus years of futility (sorry, almost getting to the World Series is loser rationalization).In a pair of interviews this week, one with the Seattle Times and one with Los Angeles Times, Armstrong signaled the end of free agent signings and a move towards a tota
Recommend Site To A Friend
