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Saturday, July 10, 2004

EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU 

"Seether", great song.

Anyways, CAN WE PLEASE MAKE THIS A "0 FOR THE ROAD TRIP?" DEAL? I would find that quite hysterical. Hey, it's been a long season.

And guess what? I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!

God I can't wait for Freddy to shut down the M's tomorrow on WGN. AND YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD, YES!

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U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS UPDATE 7/10/04 

In what should be no surprise, Dana Kirk will be in the 200 Butterfly final tomorrow evening in Long Beach.

Dana had the best time in the semifinals, recording a time of 2:09:36, almost 2 seconds ahead of Mary Descenza. She did not qualify for the Olympics in the 100, but it is the 200 that is her specialty. We'll see tomorrow evening.

As for Tara Kira, she will compete in the 200 Breaststroke prelims and semifinals tomorrow. The 200 finals are on Monday. She has already qualified for the Olympics in the 100 Breaststroke.

NBC will air coverage of the trials tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. Central, 7 p.m. Pacific.

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THE KILLER IN ME IS THE KILLER IN YOU 

Thanks to Monk Mojo

The Sports Pickle does it again!

Dishonored by Mariners’ poor play, Ichiro takes his life

"To Ichiro, it was much more honorable to take his own life than to watch his team die dishonorably at the bottom of the A.L. West," said Andy Thompson, Ichiro’s interpreter. "He felt falling on his bat would demonstrate his honor, courage, loyalty and moral character. He is a great modern samurai warrior."

Ichiro is the best right fielder in the game. Bob Melvin said so.

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MASTER OF THE F***ING OBVIOUS 

Rich Aurilia has been designated for assignment by the Mariners.

"I think everybody is in agreement this isn't something that anybody wants to see go on much longer than this," Melvin said. "We are losing with a bunch of veteran guys here and we don't have much energy out there. We are probably a little slower than we should be, we don't have as much power as we should have. We are seeing a lot deficiencies that we need to take care of."

REALLY BOB? YOU JUST FOUND THAT OUT ON JULY F***ING 10TH???

Speaking of deficiencies, I would consider our f***ing moron of a manager a "deficiency". It's time for Bob Melvin to go, 2005 contract extension be damned.

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Friday, July 09, 2004

I'M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!!! 

Steve at Mariner Wheelhouse

The Angels are one of the few contending teams that could possibly lure Randy Johnson out of Arizona. So chew on this, if you will:

---Bill Bavasi was the general manager of the Angels in 1995
---The Angels led the A.L. West for much of 1995, but lost to the Mariners in the one-game playoff Oct. 2, 1995
---Randy Johnson pitched in that one-game playoff
---Bavasi is now the general manager of the Mariners, 9 years later
---Johnson could be an Angel, 9 years later

And to top it all off, if Johnson is traded to Anaheim, the Angels have to be considered one of the favorites to win the World Series. I'll gladly take a Johnson/Bartolo Colon/Jarrod Washburn rotation in October. With that offense, if they add Johnson, look out.

By the way, if the Angels win the World Series this season with Randy Johnson, can we just honestly say that we would be in baseball hell? Am I taking crazy pills here? I don't think I am, but let me know.

Being a Mariner fan is like being in a glass case of emotion. Stark raving sick sad little world, indeed.

("Anchorman" is hysterical. In lieu of watching Matt Thornton walk everybody in Chicago tomorrow, including the old ladies in the projects, go see "Anchorman". Stay classy, San Diego! God damn I need to visit San Diego one of these years.)

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U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS UPDATE 7/9/04 

TARA IS GOING TO ATHENS!!!

Tara Kirk finished second to Amanda Beard in the 100 Breaststroke final earlier this evening in Long Beach with a time of 1:07:69, just 5 tenths of a second behind Beard.

I would have posted this earlier, but I wanted our West Coast readers to be able to see the results on NBC. The trials were tape-delayed on the West Coast while they were shown live in the Eastern and Central time zones.

This weekend's schedule
SATURDAY
Prelims 200 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)
Semifinals 200 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)

SUNDAY
Prelims 200 Breaststroke (Tara Kirk)
Semifinals 200 Breaststroke (Tara Kirk)
Finals 200 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)

NBC will air coverage of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. Central, 8 p.m. Pacific.

Congratulations, Tara!!! BRING HOME THE GOLD!!!

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COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON 

No, I'm not talking about KING 5. But I did count on their coverage before moving to Arkansas.

Anyways, check out the front page of The Seattle Times sports section. Notice the headlines. The Kirk Sisters (Tara and Dana) and the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials are at the top.

The Mariners?

The M's/Blue Jays coverage is behind not only the Kirk stories, but a Bud Withers column on Oregon's probation. Folks, if that's not an indication of how bad the Mariners are right now, then I don't know what is.

I will not have access to Friday's print edition of The Seattle Times. But I'm definitely curious as to what the print edition will look like.

Tara and Dana Kirk >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Willie Bloomquist

Bremerton 2, South Kitsap 0

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Thursday, July 08, 2004

U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS UPDATE 7/8/04 

Some good news and some bad news from the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in
Long Beach.

(I'm not in Long Beach for those wondering, but I wish I was)

In the 100 Breaststroke, Tara Kirk has qualified for the finals Friday evening, with a time of 1:07:33, the best time in the semifinals. Tomorrow's evening session will be televised live on NBC at 7 p.m. Central (tape-delayed on the West Coast).

However, Dana Kirk will have to wait for the 200 Butterfly to earn an opportunity to swim in Athens. Dana finished 4th in the 100 Butterfly finals earlier this evening, with a time of 59:19. The top two finishers in the 100 Butterfly were Rachel Komisarz (58.77) and 3-time Olympian Jenny Thompson (58.98). Thompson will now swim in her 4th Olympics next month in Athens. By the way, Thompson will not swim in the 200 Butterfly. The 200 Butterfly prelims and semifinals are on Saturday and the final is on Sunday.

For the up-to-the-minute info on the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, click here.

I'll definitely be watching the Trials tomorrow night on NBC. You should as well. After all, it's more entertaining than the Mariners at this point.

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HE'S NOT KEN PHELPS 

But he's Josh Phelps and he has now joined a club that features the likes of Rafael Palmeiro, Chris Hoiles, and Alfonso Soriano.

Tonight, he's 2-for-3 with a triple. He's now 8-for-21 (.381) against Seattle pitching in 2004.

Phelps career numbers against the Mariners?

12-for-35 (.343 BA), 5 HR, 21 RBI

(As of 8 p.m. Central)

Josh Phelps is a Mariner Killer. But that should be obvious to any self-respecting Mariner fan, right?

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CLASS DISMISSED 

Former Arkansas head basketball coach Nolan Richardson will get nothing and like it!

Thank God this is over.

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U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS UPDATE 7/7/04 

Lost in all of the Michael Phelps hoopla is that Bremerton's Dana Kirk has qualified for the 100 butterfly final Thursday afternoon in Long Beach.

Dana's time in the prelims Wednesday morning was 59.94. But she improved on that mark later in the day in the semifinals, with a time of 59.08. The 100 butterfly final is scheduled for the later portion of Thursday's schedule, which begins at 5 p.m. Pacific. Only the top two swimmers in the final make the U.S. Olympic Team.

Thursday, Tara Kirk swims in the 100 breaststroke prelims and semifinals. The 100 breaststroke final is on Friday evening.

I could talk about the Mariners, but I'm in a good mood. After all, there's a real possibility that two Bremertonians could be going for the Gold in Athens. I love it.

For the up-to-the-minute info on the trials, click here.

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Wednesday, July 07, 2004

2004 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS 

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials begin today in Long Beach and will end next Wednesday, July 14.

Bremerton natives Tara Kirk, Dana Kirk, and Justin Adrian have qualified for the trials and hope to become Olympians. The Kirk sisters' accomplishments have been well-documented, but Adrian is in Long Beach as well. He qualified for the trials last December in the 100 butterfly at the U.S. Open. Adrian has been one of the top swimmers at Washington for the past four years. Consider that the UW swimming program almost was eliminated before Adrian stepped foot on campus.

Tara Kirk will compete in the 100 breast and the 200 breast while Dana will compete in the 100 fly and the 200 fly. Tara owns the world record in the 100 breast (short course).

Here's the schedule this week for the Kirks and Adrian:

WEDNESDAY
Prelims 100 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)
Semifinals 100 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)

THURSDAY
Prelims 100 Breast (Tara Kirk)
Semifinals 100 Breast (Tara Kirk)
Finals 100 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)

FRIDAY
Finals 100 Breast (Tara Kirk)

SATURDAY
Prelims 200 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)
Semifinals 200 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)

SUNDAY
Prelims 200 Breast (Tara Kirk)
Semifinals 200 Breast (Tara Kirk)
Finals 200 Butterfly (Dana Kirk)

MONDAY
Prelims 100 Butterfly (Justin Adrian)
Semifinals 100 Butterfly (Justin Adrian)

TUESDAY
Finals 100 Butterfly (Justin Adrian)

Only the top two in each final make it to Athens.

NBC Television Schedule
Friday, July 9 7-8 p.m. CDT (Live)
Sunday, July 11 7-8 p.m. CDT (Live)
Sunday, July 18 12-2 p.m. CDT (Taped)

Good luck, Tara, Dana, and Justin!

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Tuesday, July 06, 2004

BLUNDER 

This didn't make ESPN 25's Biggest Blunders list?



Oh, I forgot. It wasn't a "blunder". After all, a New York Jet benefited from this "blunder".

I'll delete this picture from my memory bank the day the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. Hopefully that will happen this upcoming season. But until then...

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Monday, July 05, 2004

JETEDONNA 



DAMMIT! JETER ALREADY MADE THE DAMN CATCH! BUT NO, HE HAD TO BE AN ATTENTION WHORE AND DIVE INTO THE STANDS FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO MAKE THE SHEEP PROUD!

By the way, these kids have no idea what losing is like in the Bronx. Man, those Yankee teams in the early 1990s were just pitiful.

Kevin Maas, he wasn't the Pride of the Yankees. But he was the Pride of Castro Valley, California. Did you know that the starting rotation for the 1990 Yankees consisted of Tim Leary, Chuck Cary, Dave LaPoint, Andy Hawkins, and Mike Witt?

Of course, George Steinbrenner was suspended in the early 1990s. Quick, can we find some more dirt on the guy? I wouldn't shed a tear if the New York kids had to see a 1990-style starting rotation again. Not one tear.

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CUT HIM SOME SLACK 

So John Olerud doesn't want to waive his no-trade clause. Good for him.

Olerud did say yesterday that it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that he would accept a trade under the right circumstances. Those circumstances revolve around his family, who live in Seattle and have no wish to move. His son, Garrett, will start school in the fall.

"For me to accept, it would have to be a situation where it was good for my family," Olerud said. "If we were going to a place where he could go on the field to shag balls or where he could fly on the plane for road trips, that would be something I would consider.

"I think something like that might be a great memory for my son."

Garrett Olerud starts school this fall, just as he turns 6.

"Those are perks you don't get here," the first baseman said. "That being said, being here in Seattle is pretty hard to beat."


I didn't think many fans complained at the time when Olerud signed with the Mariners. While he has struggled in the last year and a half, his defense is still solid. I for one won't forget the impact Olerud has had on this Mariner ballclub since 2000.

There's a reason why Olerud left New York to come to Seattle. He wanted to come home. For a player of Olerud's caliber, I certainly won't bash him for that.

While Olerud talks about his son Garrett in the P-I today, he didn't mention his daughter Jordan. His daughter was born in 2000 with abnormalities in her chromosomes, requiring frequent hospital visits. Here's a March 2002 P-I article on Olerud and his family, one of the rare moments Olerud has discussed his family.

John Olerud has done more than enough in his career to earn my respect. He's one of the classiest people I've ever met. He's also a damn good ballplayer, his struggles in 2003 and 2004 not withstanding.

And I agree with Steve. Give Olerud a rousing sendoff. He deserves it.

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Sunday, July 04, 2004

LA GRANGE 

For the first time since 1999, the Seattle Mariners will send just one representative to the All-Star Game. Ichiro will start for the American League. Hopefully Joe Torre will start him in center field, not right field. Right field belongs to Vladimir Guerrero. That's right, Bob Melvin.

2004 American League All-Star roster

2004 National League All-Star roster

MLB 32nd Man Voting (tonight through July 7)

My 2004 All-Star Game rosters (posted on Thursday, July 1)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

---No Keith Foulke? He has 13 saves and his ERA is 1.28. Eddie Guardado deserves to go to Houston as well, but if I had to choose between Foulke and Everyday Eddie, I'd go with Foulke. After all, he's pitching for a team who's in contention.

---Ted Lilly is an All-Star. Man I wish David was here to talk about this one.

---Four Cleveland Indians? And only one Minnesota Twin? Don't worry, I'm already starting the Sports and Bremertonians Lew Ford 32nd Man campaign.

---Derek Jeter starting at shortstop for the A.L. is a joke.

---Carlos Guillen doesn't have to worry about the 32nd Man vote. He's in. Best move Torre made on this roster as far as I'm concerned.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

---Carlos Beltran should be an All-Star. When he was a Royal, the A.L. players selected him to play in the ASG. But since Beltran was traded to Houston, a N.L. team, all of those A.L. votes mean nothing. There's no way that Beltran doesn't play next Tuesday. He will be on the team. MLB can't have a terrible PR situation like this, even though they're no strangers to bad PR.

---If the All-Star Game was being played anywhere but Houston, Jason Schmidt would get the start for the N.L. But Roger Clemens will most likely get the start. And the starting catcher is Mike Piazza. Good times!

---Youppi is more deserving of being in the All-Star Game than Livan Hernandez or any Montreal Expo for that matter.

---Barry Larkin is on the N.L. squad but Lyle Overbay isn't?

---Miguel Cabrera should be starting for the N.L., not Sammy Sosa.

--- --- --- --- ---

My 32nd Men are Minnesota's Lew Ford and Chicago's Aramis Ramirez.

The All-Star Game is an exhibition. That being said, it's still fun to debate about the game. But again...

IT DOESN'T COUNT!!!

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WELCOME!!! 

M's analysis: No speed, no power and a struggling bullpen (Finnigan)

2001-2004 timeline: The downward spiral


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