Looking for something to do between now and February 12? Not only do the Mariners broadcast highlights from the 2012 season on ROOT Sports every Monday night, but the 710 ESPN Seattle crew hosts their Hot Stove League show throughout the offseason. Tune in from 7-9pm tonight to hear interviews with Shawn Kelley, Mike Zunino, Mike Brumley, Dave Hansen, and Larry LaRue.

• Kevin Millwood has announced his intention to retire from Major League Baseball. MLB.com’s Zack Meisel reported the following:

“Millwood reportedly told his agent, Scott Boras, that he only wanted to pitch if he could do so for the Braves or Rays, two teams closest to his home in Gainesville, Ga. Neither team expressed interest.

“I feel like I can still throw it well, and going out on a high note is a big deal,” Millwood told the newspaper. “I just felt it was time to be closer to home and be around the kids more often.”

Millwood finished his career with the Mariners, posting a 4.25 ERA and 4.42 xFIP in 28 starts and 161 IP. He made two especially memorable appearances during his time in Seattle, kickstarting a 6-man no-hitter in June and commanding a 2-hit complete game shutout in Colorado just a month prior.

• This week, ESPN’s Keith Law ranked the top 100 prospects in MLB, as well as the farm systems of each team. Here’s how things shook out for the Mariners:

Top prospects: Taijuan Walker (#4), Mike Zunino (#15), Danny Hultzen (#66), Nick Franklin (#69).

Organizational ranking: #8. With their promising band of starting pitchers, the Mariners fell just behind the Cardinals, Twins, Rays, Astros, Cubs, Padres, and Pirates.

Honorable top prospect mention was given to RHP Brandon Maurer.

• According to Corey Brock, the Mariners are making progress with their 40-man roster, having signed over half to contracts for the upcoming season. Last week, ten players signed deals: Blake Beavan, Lucas Luetge, Francisco Martinez, Julio Morban, Carlos Peguero, Chance Ruffin, Kyle Seager, Justin Smoak, Eric Thames, and Casper Wells.
• Interested in working with the Mariners? The club has opened up several job openings for the 2013 season. You can find descriptions and applications for their full-time and part-time positions by clicking on the links below:

Game Day Staff
Navigators Team Member
Team Store Sales Associate
Sales Account Manager
Finance Intern
Aramark Cleaning Crew

With a quiet Hot Stove and another year almost in the books, here’s a look back at some of the more special moments from the Mariners’ 2012 season.

1. Felix Hernandez’s perfect game.
27 up, 27 down. 113 pitches. 12 strikeouts. An RBI single by Jesus Montero. A perfect summer afternoon.

Felix’s perfecto didn’t erase the Mariners’ 87 losses, but his moment in the sun will be one of the single moments remembered from their 2012 season.

2. A combined no-hitter featuring Kevin Millwood, Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League, Tom Wilhelmsen and rookie catcher Jesus Montero.
Backed by sharp defense from Brendan Ryan and Kyle Seager, the Mariners snagged another gem that, incredibly enough, managed to be overshadowed by the first perfect game in franchise history.

It’s even stranger to think that the first Mariner to throw a solo no-hitter this year might’ve been Kevin Millwood, who was excused in the 6th inning with an untimely groin strain.

» Continue reading “Top 5 Mariners Moments In 2012″

With a hearty congratulations to the 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants, the offseason is now officially underway.

• After taking home a 2012 Fielding Bible Award for best defensive shortstop, Brendan Ryan was snubbed a Gold Glove award by Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy. Dustin Ackley, who was nominated at second base, was beat out by Robinson Cano.
• As reported by MLB Trade Rumors, Brandon League has signed a $22.5M extension with the Dodgers through 2015, effectively preventing any chance of a return to the Pacific Northwest.
• Submissions are now being accepted for the 2013 MLB Fan Cave. If you love (Mariners) baseball, are 21 or older, and want to spend an entire MLB season watching every game, interviewing players, and hosting celebrities in NYC’s elaborate baseball-themed haven, fill out an application here.
• According to the Mariners’ official Twitter account, the free agent pool now includes Kevin Millwood, Oliver Perez, and George Sherrill.

In lieu of a postgame recap (Mariners won 3-2, Kevin Millwood left with shoulder tightness, Miguel Olivo did the unthinkable and hit a home run), here is the Mariners’ schedule for next season.

Sure, it may be a little early to think this far in advance, but remind yourself that they get to face the Astros in 2013. If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will.

Interleague match-ups include the following teams: Padres, Pirates, Cubs, Brewers, Reds, and Cardinals. The Mariners play back-to-back series with the Padres in May, one two-game series in Seattle and one two-game series in San Diego. The Reds and Cardinals will be the only NL teams not paying a visit to Safeco Field. Follow the jump for the complete schedule:

» Continue reading “Mariners 2013 Schedule Released”

Final score: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1

Tonight, the Mariners won their 67th game of 2012. If your Seattle fandom is more than a year old, you know that the M’s have now matched their win total from last season, when they finished with a record of 67-95.

For all the complaining about a slow rebuild, the sudden surge of wins that had us eying a postseason berth, and the steady decline that put them out of the running (again), it’s nice to have tangible proof of progress.

A few highlights from the game:

• 11 of tonight’s 12 hits were singles. Dustin Ackley drove in two runs on an RBI single in the 4th, while Cody Ross claimed the game’s only extra base hit on an RBI double in the 6th.
• Kevin Millwood boosted his record to 5-12 with four hits, a run, three walks, and three strikeouts in six IP. He made it through 5.1 innings and 21 batters before allowing a run on Ross’s double.
• Following Cody’s rally attempt in the 6th, the two teams allowed just four baserunners, a Mariner and two Red Sox. Jacoby Ellsbury was the only player to reach base on a hit.
• According to Todd Dybas, Aaron Cook set a season-high record of five strikeouts, all recorded within the first three innings and 14 batters faced. Trayvon Robinson recorded two of the five strikeouts.
• Following tonight’s game, the Boston Red Sox now sit a comfortable four games behind the Mariners.

Next game: vs. Athletics | September 7 | 7:10pm

Final score: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3

The Boston Red Sox create a certain kind of atmosphere at Safeco Field. You could argue that it’s exciting or electric, with Red Sox Nation jeering the dancing grounds crew and Mariners fans trying to bellow “root, root, root for the MARINERS” over the noise of their rivals.

On the other hand, the hand that handles the actual game, Red Sox games also create the kind of atmosphere that stretches an ordinary baseball game into an extraordinarily long event. Take, for example, a recent homestand against the Angels. On August 10, the Mariners fell 5-6 in 9 innings and 2.5 hours. Tonight, they took a 4-3 loss in 9 innings and 3.5 hours.

Of course, I don’t have any legitimate reason for pointing this out, except to say that I’m upset that I watched this team struggle for four innings without tying the game. Let’s see if I can wrap things up before this recap turns into another three-hour debacle.

Through five innings, the Mariners looked relatively untouchable. Jon Lester suffered back-to-back home runs by Franklin Gutierrez and Kyle Seager, padding Seattle’s 1-0 lead on a 1st inning RBI single by Jesus Montero. Guti left the game with a slight groin strain, the latest in an endless streak of bad luck and unfortunate injuries. At this point, the move was mostly precautionary, and more information will be known tomorrow when the team reassesses his condition prior to the game.

Blake Beavan held the score to a 3-0 lead through five innings, then worked his way through a disastrous 6th, where he surrendered 4 hits and 4 runs on a 3-RBI jack by Cody Ross and Ryan Lavarnway’s game-winning solo shot.

Despite the never-ending carousel of relievers and pinch-hitters, the Mariners managed just three hits, two RISP, and zero runs in the remaining four innings. In an almost-exciting finish, Eric Thames tripled in the 9th, but Seager turned down the opportunity to be the two-out hero with a shallow fly ball to Ross.

Lost in the failed rally attempts was the major league debut of veteran Rainier Luis Jimenez, who pinch-hit for Brendan Ryan and popped up on his second pitch. He’s no Jurickson Profar, but watching September call-ups, especially with a Cinderella story such as this one, makes losses like tonight’s a little more palatable.

Tomorrow, Kevin Millwood faces off against RHP Aaron Cook in the rubber match of this three-game series.

Next game: vs. Red Sox | September 5 | 7:10pm

Final score: Mariners 5, Indians 3

Something special is happening at Safeco Field.

I don’t know exactly what it means, or how sustainable it is, or how ridiculously excited I should allow myself to become before the pennant race squashes my hope of a wild card berth. All I know is that the Mariners have won six games in a row, and they have done so in spectacular fashion, and I’m not going to learn from their snapped seven-game winning streak, I’m just not.

Tonight, Trayvon Robinson made a slam dunk catch down the left field line. Eric Thames shot a home run to the deepest point in the park. Michael Saunders launched two homers and drove in four runs. Kevin Millwood retired eleven consecutive batters. Tom Wilhelmsen put us on pins and needles in the 9th and emerged with a double play and a win.

It was a perfect night at the ballpark. It was a perfect way to begin this series. I’m doing everything I can to rein in hopes of contending for, well, anything at this point, but I’m going to enjoy this hot streak the Mariners are riding out.

Tomorrow, the King’s Court takes over Safeco Field. The first 34,000 fans (and you can bet I’m hoping for even more than 34,000) will receive limited-edition King’s Court shirts and a K card, both of which have been specially designed to commemorate Felix’s perfecto. Perhaps, unlike me, you haven’t imagined Safeco Field rocking with the cheers of a sold-out crowd, chanting Felix’s name and waving K cards in each other’s faces. Maybe that’s just a fantasy of mine.

Take a moment and picture it now.

Now go buy your ticket.

Next game: vs. Indians | August 21 | 7:10pm

Final score: Mariners 3, Rays 2

Tonight did not feel like a loss.

Don’t worry, I haven’t gone crazy. I was at the game. I know how it ended. The Mariners rallied, Justin Smoak delivered, and Eric Thames was shaving-cream-pied in the face (and mouth). It was a fantastic night.

To clarify, however, the six innings when Seattle trailed Tampa Bay did not feel like the aimless banging our heads against the wall we’ve been trained to expect. Kevin Millwood hit a season high with 8 strikeouts, holding the Rays scoreless through 6 of 7 IP. Stephen Pryor’s fastballs aimed for 100, and peaked around 99 for a double and 2 strikeouts in 1.2 IP.

Even Smoak had a productive night, going 1-for-2 with a leadoff double, walk, and a sac fly that was Safeco’d on the warning track. It would be an understatement to say that Justin responded positively to the pressure he now faces, given a poor showing in Tacoma and Mike Carp’s trip to the 15-day DL.

By the time the 9th rolled around, I was mildly concerned that Chone Figgins and Miguel Olivo were up to bat. Joe Maddon was concerned as well, albeit for different reasons. I turned my cap inside out. Maddon turned his outfield inside out.

Fortunately for him, and unfortunately for me, Olivo was not destined to be the hero of tonight’s game. Perhaps another day he will send a two-run jack into a two-man outfield. Tonight’s win belonged to Thames, who popped a walk-off single over the head of a somersaulting Sean Rodriguez.

To cap the Mariners’ finest win in recent memory, I’ll leave you with Eric’s parting words of the night, moments after John Jaso delivered the victory pie mask: “My mouth was OPEN!”

Next game: vs. Rays | August 15 | 12:40pm

Final score: Rays 4, Mariners 1

No one said this game would be easy. In fact, some people said this game wouldn’t be easy. And they were right.

This game lasted two innings before Blake Beavan broke it with 5 consecutive hits and 4 runs over 43 pitches. Although he coasted through the next three innings, the Mariners struggled to close the gap, catching a break on the efforts of Trayvon Robinson and Eric Thames with a triple and RBI single.

From there, the carousel of relievers spun out Carter Capps (in his Safeco Field debut), Lucas Luetge, and Shawn Kelley. Capps tossed two 100-MPH heaters, averaged 95.8 MPH in 26 pitches, struck out one of 5 batters, and issued 3 walks in 1.0 IP.

Tomorrow, Kevin Millwood takes on Matt Moore. Actually, forget that. On Wednesday, King Felix faces Jeremy Hellickson. Now there’s something you can feel good about.

Next game: vs. Rays | August 14 | 7:10pm

Final score: Orioles 9, Mariners 2

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the latest trend in Major League Baseball is transforming harmless teams like the Athletics and Orioles into actual playoff contenders. No, really. It’s a thing. And the Mariners are the latest team to buy into it.

Tonight, Baltimore polished off the series with a 9-2 win on the back of Steve Johnson’s 9-strikeout performance. The Mariners did their best to play along, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and waiting until the 6th inning to put up their only two runs of the night on a Kyle Seager home run.

Kevin Millwood completed his worst outing in recent memory, serving up 8 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts in 4 IP. Barring injury, it is his briefest start since a 5-inning, 7-run meltdown against the Royals this June.

The bullpen was of little help, but since I’ve highlighted enough of the Mariners’ failures tonight, let’s focus on the positives. Carter Capps made his second major league appearance for Seattle, with 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in 2 IP. Oliver Perez and Tom Wilhelmsen effectively took care of the 9th, striking out one of six Orioles.

Tomorrow, the Mariners take a much-needed break to regroup before facing the Angels and Albert Pujols for a weekend series. After the week they’ve had, I hope the only thing they take away from Baltimore is a little of that postseason luck.

Next game: @ Angels | August 10 | 7:05pm