Remember the Mariners? Daily Links

by Mike Salk

MARINERS/MLB

Hey, remember the Mariners? Everyone seemed to forget about them after they traded Jarrod Washburn and Seahawks training camp started. To be fair, losing three of four in Texas didn’t help, but after series wins over Kansas City and Tampa Bay, they are right back in the Wildcard hunt. The Yankees completed a 4 game sweep of the Boston Red Sox last night and now the Mariners sit 4.5 games back of Boston and Texas. It was cool seeing players watching the Sox and Yanks on Saturday and rooting for the Yankees to win. It may have felt odd for some of them to root for New York, but the desire to go to the playofgfs wins out. Must have been even weirder to root for the Angels over Texas last night…

Russell Branyan and Ryan Rowland-Smith lead the M’s to a 11-2 win yesterday, Mike Sweeney is taking some credit as well. Players and coaches tell Shannon Drayer that Rob Johnson just understands how to catch. Doug Fister made an appearance for the M’s on Saturday and is scheduled to start on Tuesday. Jason Churchill scouts him.

Carlos Silva is apparently still alive. He’ll be throwing a bullpen session tomorrow. Weird question, but if the Mariners somehow made it into the playoffs, Erik Bedard was hurt, and Silva was available…would he start one of the games? I know Felix would throw Game 1. I think RRS would throw Game 2. But then you would have a lot of options for the next game or two. Where does Silva rank? Speaking of Bedard, while the fans may have given up on him, Art Thiel says the Mariners haven’t.

In an interview with Aaron Levine of Q13, Jack Zduriencik said that talks of a contract extension have not begun with Felix Hernandez and that Ian Snell is going to be a main contributor. USSMARINER looks at some Venezuelan League numbers and points out that Brandon Morrow had a pretty good week in AAA. I had a lot of fun at their event on Saturday. It was really impressive how much their fans/readers care and know about this game and this team.

SEAHAWKS/NFL

Aaron Curry is signed, sealed and practicing with the team. Brock likes the deal but isn’t wild about the system that created it. He also plays Voltron with some linebackers he faced. Seahawk linebacker David Hawthorne is simply known as ‘Heater’ and he is making plays at camp this year. Brock thinks Brandon Mebane is going to be this year’s break out player, John Boyle believes the thanks belongs to Dr. Verda Delp. The Seahawks secondary looked bad last year. But they are getting another chance this year. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp has never seen a wide receiver roster battle that has been this competitive.

John Morgan sees Darryl Tapp as a playmaker and likes how interchangeable the defensive line is. Deion Branch isn’t worried about his numbers, he just wants to win. I think ‘Hawks fans would settle for “play.” Mike Sando answers some key questions and gives an in-depth Hawks camp update.

Tennessee beat the Bills to kick off the NFL preseason last night.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

With Husky camp opening today Bob Condotta previews what the team will look like this year. Can Jake Locker take the next step and who will play in the secondary?? Those are just two of the questions facing the Huskies. Scott Johnson has some UW questions too.

Notes:

–Luke French (2-2, 3.93) is making his first Mariner start in Safeco field

–Gavin Floyd pitches for the White Sox, he’s 9-6 with a 3.91 ERA

-Washburn pitched poorly again, he has an 8.74 ERA with Detroit