Needle Ball wants you, random citizen Mariners fan!

As 2013 kicks off, we’re looking for the best and brightest fans to help us analyze and enjoy the upcoming season.

Our ideal Needle Baller possesses one or more of the following qualities:

• The precision of King Felix’s fastball
• The discipline of Ichiro Suzuki
• The creativity of Munenori Kawasaki’s baserunning
• The flexibility of Brendan Ryan’s defense
• The enthusiasm of the Mariner Moose
• The Twitter presence of Casper Wells

As a staff writer, you have the opportunity to contribute once or twice a week (or more!), on topics ranging from breaking news and trade speculation to opinion pieces and baseball poetry. If you have something to say about the Mariners, we want to hear it!

Interested? Excited? Ready to show off your Mariners mojo? Drop us a line on Twitter (@NeedleBall) or email us at westcoastfan@ymail.com.

In five days, the head honchos of MLB will convene in Nashville for the 2012 Winter Meetings. Among the madness of free agent signings (or, more likely, free agent talks shrouded in mystery), the 2012 GIBBY Awards will be revealed. If you haven’t voted for the Mariners yet, you can do so here.

The Dodgers’ New TV Deal, the Mariners, and Irrational Exuberance — Dave Cameron explains the burgeoning media market for MLB teams, the audience they are both losing and driving away, and what the Mariners might be eying in 2015.

On Chone Figgins and His Player Type — If you think you can write off this article by answering ‘bad,’ think again. Jeff Sullivan mercifully bypasses the details of Figgins’ downfall in Seattle, opting to look into the aging patterns of shorter players.

Don’t be surprised by Mariners’ pursuit of Mike Napoli — Although I feel squeamish thinking about the Mariners signing another Olivo-esque player, Geoff Baker remains certain that a veteran player is needed to keep the prospects and young’uns grounded throughout the season.

Time for Zduriencik to earn stripes — Prospect Insider’s Jason Churchill examines the ramifications another losing season will have on the front office, most notably, GM Jack Zduriencik. In a nutshell: if things don’t improve quickly and drastically, there may be trouble ahead.

Thanksgiving Leftovers — Tacoma broadcaster Mike Curto dives into the minor league news and emerging trade rumors of the offseason.

Munenori Kawasaki Personality Quiz — There was a time when the mention of Munenori Kawasaki’s name lifted the hearts of even the most disillusioned Mariners fans. Now, it has been reduced to this. (If I sound bitter, it’s only because Jeff pegged me as a #3, and I’m dealing with the difficult transition to a #2.)

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

Replaced on the field but never in our hearts.

It’s not Josh Hamilton, but it’s something. According to MLB.com’s Greg Johns, the Mariners have traded Trayvon Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles for Robert Andino.

Robinson, a 25-year-old switch-hitting left fielder, is coming off his sophomore year in Seattle. In 46 games, he batted .221/.246/.324 with 3 home runs, 12 RBI, and a 78 OPS+.

In 2012, Andino put up his worst offensive season since 2008, going .211/.283/.305 with 7 home runs, 28 RBI, and a 61 OPS+ over 127 games. His most valuable asset, however, will be the flexibility he brings to the Mariners’ infield, with significant experience at second base, third base, and shortstop. As Johns points out, Andino is a significant upgrade from Munenori Kawasaki, who provided infield depth in 2012.

Jack Zduriencik’s statement, per the official trade report:

“The addition of Robert Andino gives us some experienced infield depth with a player who has played multiple positions […] With Robert having Major League and playoff experience and still relatively young, we thought that it made sense to make this trade and let him come in and compete.”

Robinson was out of minor league options, facing the pressure of making the 25-man cut in the spring or being placed on waivers. Andino is out of options as well, but has two years of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent in 2015.

As the Hot Stove continues to simmer, Jack Zduriencik reminds Mariners fans that the team is still maintaining a fairly frugal approach in their rebuilding process.

• The Mariners have shown interest in Nick Swisher, according to reports from Jon Heyman and Mark Feinsand. Swisher rejected a $13.3M qualifying offer from the Yankees at the Friday deadline, officially making him a free agent.
• In a one-on-one with Lyle Spencer, Jack Z made his first statements concerning the team’s approach to potential trades this winter. While specific names are, of course, kept under tight wraps, Jack hinted that the Mariners’ targets may be a little less flashy than fans hoped for:

“Everyone would say get a big this or that,” Zduriencik said. “Sometimes that’s not the thing you can do. No doubt a veteran bat would be great to have. We like what we have, but if we can add another piece who carries a heavy load … that can be good for you.”

• Award season is right around the corner, and while the Mariners have escaped the attention of the BBWAA this year, they are well-represented in the Greatness in Baseball Yearly Awards, which is open to fan voting here.

Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez
Defensive Player: Brendan Ryan
Breakout Pitcher: Tom Wilhelmsen
Oddity: Munenori Kawasaki’s dugout dance
Must C Play: Brendan Ryan’s 9th inning grab during the combined no-hitter
Pitching Performance: Felix Hernandez’s perfect game
Pitching performance: Combined no-no
Cut4 Topic: Young fan reuniting with military dad

• Barry Zito received the annual Hutch Award, presented to the player who embodies the tenacity and dedication of former Seattle Rainier Fred Hutchinson. The award ceremony will be held at Safeco Field on January 30, 2012, during a Hutch Award luncheon and silent auction. Event information is in the sidebar.

With the annual GM meetings well underway, trade rumors are brewing afresh. Here’s the latest in important awards, impressive mustaches, and other offseason strides from the team:

• Yesterday, the Baseball Writers Association of America released their nominees for the upcoming ROY, MVP, and Cy Young candidacies. Felix Hernandez, the only Mariner mentioned in conjunction with these awards, did not make the cut for his second Cy Young. Felix finished 2012 with a 2.84 FIP, 3.06 ERA, and 6.1 fWAR, but fumbled in September, going 0-4 with a 2.92 FIP and 6.62 ERA.
• Speaking of awards, the Mariners selected Munenori Kawasaki as their recipient for the 2012 Heart & Hustle Award earlier this year. Kawasaki remains in the running for the overall MLB vote, which will be announced on November 13 at the Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City.
• Tim Kissner, the newly-appointed director of international relations, is taking measures towards building a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. Instead of sharing a rented facility with the Dodgers, the Mariners will utilize a 24-acre property to invest in new players. From Greg Johns’ report:

“The facility will house up to 80 young Dominican prospects who will be able to live, train, attend school and develop their baseball skills. Final construction cost is expected to exceed $7 million. [...] The academy will include two full-sized fields, with room to build a third if needed, as well as lighted batting cages, bullpen facilities with six mounds and a practice field. Adjacent to the fields will be the dormitory, dining hall, classrooms and computer labs.”

• According to Ken Rosenthal, Brandon Maurer has been lumped in the same category as the “Big Three” of James Paxton, Danny Hultzen, and Taijuan Walker. Whether Maurer is used as a trade piece or becomes a key component of future Seattle rotations remains to be seen.
• King Felix is, as always, off the table. The latest rebuff from Jack Zduriencik, via Nick Cafardo: ”Think I’ll carry around a recording: ‘I am not trading Felix Hernandez’.”
• Names on the trade block include the recently-freed Jason Bay and Arizona’s Justin Upton. Jon Heyman believes the M’s will participate in the bidding war for Josh Hamilton as well. Jon Morosi keeps things short and sweet, tweeting, “Mariners will be active in OF market.”
• Finally, and not to be forgotten, the Mariners are in the middle of a heated Movember Madness competition. Round 2, which ends on November 12, pits Eric Wedge against Goose Gossage, Ken Griffey Jr. against Griffey Sr., and Brendan Ryan against Henry Cotto, among many others. Voters are encouraged to evaluate facial hair based on fullness and sheen. You can cast your vote here.

According to the team’s official Twitter account, the Mariners have declined Miguel Olivo’s $3M option for 2013 and released Munenori Kawasaki.

Both moves were anticipated, following Olivo’s waning performance in 2012 and the emergence of Jesus Montero and John Jaso as viable alternate backstops. Olivo collected 232 hits, 90 extra bases, and batted .210/.239/.370 in 321 games and 4 years as a Mariner.

The Mariners are about to enter into a crucial off-season in which the front office has made clear that it will be active. There will be moves made to improve this team for 2013 and beyond, whether it be solely through free agency or with the acquisition of players via trade. One question, however, has been eating at me these past few days. If the 2012 Mariners were foods, which would they be?

John Jaso – Pumpkin. Pumpkin is probably one of my favorite flavors but, because the higher-ups in the world have decided that it doesn’t match up well with the other seasons, we are only allowed to enjoy it for a small portion of the year. I can’t think of a flavor that is more underutilized than pumpkin.

Brendan Ryan – Spinach. I used to hate spinach. Hate it. I think I mostly hated it, though, because I was told to hate it. Spinach has the unfortunate fate of being labeled as unappetizing by many. As I’ve grown older and wiser, however, I’ve learned to like spinach. A lot. Sure, I wouldn’t want to eat spinach for every meal, but it’s a solid side dish.

Dustin Ackley – Mixed Drink. Except the drink wasn’t mixed properly. In the first sip, we got all of the sugary mixer. It was delicious. We thought the whole drink was going to be amazing. Well, guess what we’re left with now? Straight vodka. I don’t know about you, but that wasn’t what I was expecting. And, frankly, this drink sucks now.

Chone Figgins – A Half Pint Of Milk. That expired three years ago. Why is this still in the fridge? Why hasn’t anybody thrown this away yet?

Justin Smoak – Homemade red wine. We invested a lot to make this red wine. We gave up a lot of time and resources making this wine. It’s wine, so it has to be good, right? Nope. It’s cool that we made it though, right? No, because it’s terrible. But it will get better with age, right? Probably not. Couldn’t get much worse though!

Jason Vargas – Bubble Gum. With bubble gum, you know what you’re going to get. Sure, some may be sweeter than others, but you can’t really be too surprised with gum. Sometimes, though when you try to blow a bubble, it will blow up and you’ll be left with a real mess. All over your face.

Hisashi Iwakuma – Ramune. If you don’t know what Ramune is, welcome to my life three years ago. They started selling it in my dorm though, and I bought it. It was some kind of Japanese soda and I really had no idea what to expect. After I finished my first, I realized that I actually really liked it. A lot. Over the next few months. I had a lot of ramune. I hope to have a lot more in the future too.

Blake Beavan – Triscuits. Has anybody ever been really excited because somebody had Triscuits at a party? Not that I know of. Does it get more bland? I don’t think so. Sometimes, though, you’re hungry. Starving. All you have are Triscuits. Will they get you full? Technically, yes. Will you enjoy it? Not a chance.

Franklin Gutierrez – A bunch of grapes. Oh look! This looks good! Nevermind, it’s squished. Here’s one! Ewww… rotten. How about this one? A bug ate half of it. Why do I even bother trying?

Jesus Montero – Strawberries. In May. These things are going to be so good soon. You can see it. If we eat them right now, though, we’ll be disappointed. Don’t expect much for a few more months. They’re going to be so sweet eventually.

Carter Capps and Stephen Pryor – Sprinkles. Everybody likes sprinkles. They’re sweet, but you only get a few at a time. They’re pointless if you don’t have a cake to put them on though.

Felix Hernandez – Pizza. Ask 50% of adults and 100% of kids what their favorite food is. Pizza. Pizza has a little bit of everything – vegetables, proteins, breads, even fruit sometimes. Pizza can do it all and it does a pretty damn good job. In one word, it’s perfect.

Miguel Olivo – Durian. Definitions of durian from across the internet: “evokes intense disgust.” “Described variously as rotten onions and gym socks.” “If the smell doesn’t kill you, the taste will.”

Munenori Kawasaki – Pop Rocks. What are Pop Rocks, anyway? What’s the point? Why do they do what they do? How do they do what they do? Nobody mistakes Pop Rocks for real food, but they sure are fun. And completely ridiculous.

The season may be finished for your 2012 Seattle Mariners, but the buzz around the yard is just beginning. There is much to do this offseason, from following the progress of young AFL prospects to physically moving in the fences of Safeco Field. Here’s the latest from the blogosphere:

Offseason Outlook: Seattle Mariners — From MLB Trade Rumors, an excellent guide to the Mariners who are under contract, arbitration eligible, and on the chopping block this winter. Of the five free agents listed, Munenori Kawasaki is the only one unable to pursue opportunities with other MLB clubs.

Ownership change may be closer — While the Mariners look to strengthen their young core, lock down Felix Hernandez, and put out feelers for any promising free agents this winter, they will also be reevaluating those heading the chain of command. At least, that’s the word on the street from Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider.

Dave’s 2013 Off-Season Plan — Two words: Melky Cabrera.

For Suzuki, Respect for Bats Is Key to Hitting — Former Mariner though he may be, Ichiro’s unique approach to baseball is still a fascinating one. The New York Times’ David Waldstein examines Ichiro’s precision in preparing for each at-bat, down to the specially crafted cases he uses for his game day bats.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

Final score: Mariners 6, Rangers 3

After a week of Twitter giveaways and #FANtasticFriday hashtags, the Mariners celebrated their annual Fan Appreciation Night with a plethora of giveaways and awards. Felix Hernandez was given the Mariners Moment of the Year for his perfecto. Munenori Kawasaki took home the Heart and Hustle Award for, well, just being himself. Randomly selected fans won round-trip airfare, autographed jerseys, signed balls, and snazzy electronics.

The best giveaway of the night, however, was a long-awaited win over the Rangers. In September, the Mariners have gone 7-11 in 18 games, swept by the Athletics and Orioles, and stringing four consecutive wins over this homestand. Against Martin Perez and a Texas lineup missing Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton, the M’s managed nine hits and a consistent multi-run lead through five innings.

Hisashi Iwakuma posted another solid outing with eight hits, three earned runs, and four strikeouts in seven innings. For the first time since Sunday, the ‘pen—consisting of Stephen Pryor and Tom Wilhelmsen—did not allow a run.

Providing all manner of run support was Franklin Gutierrez (triple laced down the left field line), Casper Wells (RBI double), Carlos Triunfel (tie-breaking double), Justin Smoak (3-for-4), and Miguel Olivo (2-run mash wrapped around the left field foul pole). Triunfel made his first MLB start at shortstop, giving Brendan Ryan an extra day of rest and turning two double plays.

Tomorrow evening, Blake Beavan will face LHP Matt Harrison. Should the Mariners emerge victorious once again, it will be the first time they’ve strung consecutive wins since last week’s trek to Toronto.

Next game: vs. Rangers | September 22 | 6:10pm

H/T to Steven for the title of tonight’s recap. I can’t take any credit for this one.

Final score: Orioles 3, Mariners 1

Here are ten takeaways from today, before I shelve this game and start looking ahead to the Mariners’ next win:

10 batters retired by Chris Tillman before he walked his first baserunner, Michael Saunders.

9 outs made by Munenori Kawasaki, who is still filling in for Brendan Ryan.

8 innings pitched by Jason Vargas, who finished off his second complete game this season, and his first complete loss.

7 hits by the Mariners. Also, 7 strikeouts.

6 runners stranded in scoring position.

5 more games left to play against Baltimore. Thankfully, only 2 remain on this road trip.

4 of the last 5 games have not seen a run scored by the Mariners in the 1st inning.

3 hits in the 9th. Also, 3 runners left on base. So we’re back to the failed rally, are we?

2 strikeouts by Vargas, his lowest strikeout count since June 20, 2012.

1 run, an RBI single by Mune to score the only extra-base hitter tonight: Eric Thames.

Next game: @ Orioles | August 7 | 4:05pm