Sunday Links

by admin · 2023-08-24

It took a while longer than I thought it would, but Wily Mo Pena has finally inked his deal with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. The same Softbank Hawks that our possible future boyfriend Munenori Kawasaki (I spelled it without looking!) is still currently playing with. It’s a two-year, $3.29 million deal, which is likely more than he was being paid here in Seattle, though I cannot confirm that with the 10 or so minutes of reading/research I just did. I’m happy for him, and I hope the Hawks fans like slugging.

A friend of mine sent this link to me a while back, and I only just got around to reading it. It’s a Slate.com article, and interview with both Michael Lewis and Billy Beane, and it’s quite good. It was written almost a month ago, so if people have already read it I wouldn’t be surprised, but if you haven’t, give it a look. Especially after actually seeing the movie, it gives a little more insight into Beane’s character, and how the Moneyball book came about.

It’s old news by now, but the Mariners broadcasting team will make a repeat performance in 2012. It was strange at first, because nobody will ever replace Dave Niehaus; but I became accustomed to the switching-off of Rick Rizzs’ booth companions, and turned out to really enjoy the more-the-merrier approach of both the radio team and the ROOT Sports folks. Speaking of the broadcasting rotation, both Rick Rizzs and Jay Buhner will be at the Bellevue Mall Team Store on Friday December 16th from 5-6.30pm. Why are these things always so far away from me? And on work days? There will be other signings as well, and the Hot Stove League will be live broadcasted from at least one team store as it starts up over the next few weeks. Details here. I am tempted to go do some damage at the season ticket holder sale mentioned in the link, but since I’m already having problems with affording Christmas presents as it is, I don’t know if that’s a very good idea. Setting me loose in the Team Store is never a very good idea.

Just had an opportunity to sit and read this. It’s a bit of Dave Cameron analysis of John Jaso’s offensive production. Not knowing anything about Jaso, I have to say that I’m pretty excited about a player that can be compared offensively to guys like 2008 Joe Mauer, or 2009 Denard Span. Those guys were reliable at the plate, and if Jaso’s performance in 2012 comes even remotely close, I’ll be totally pleased with it. Home runs are great and all, but I have come to fully appreciate the world of small ball and would like to see more of it from the Mariners.

In football news, it looks like the Green Bay Packers (my team) are selling some stock shares fairly cheaply. If I had a spare $250 laying around, I’d pick up a share. It is very cool that the Packers are fan-owned, and everything I’ve heard about the team and the way it interacts with its fans reminds me a lot of the Seattle Sounders. I really like the fact that the Sounders respect their fans as much as the fans love them. The ECS has worked very closely with the front office there to make sure that they can maintain their presence in the stadium in a way that makes it lively and fun for the rest of the fans, too. In the inaugural season, I remember sitting in 122 and being in direct shouting competition with the band, who were seated in section 123. It wasn’t much fun to be drowned out by the brass, and I’m sure the band didn’t enjoy getting the glares that undoubtedly were shot at them whenever they were trying to do their job. Eventually, the band was moved across the stadium, and now they can play and the ECS can chant and sing, and neither group interferes with the other. And all because the team listened to the ECS and worked out the problem. I understand from a friend of mine who has been to Lambeau Field a few times now that Green Bay players will go to bars or restaurants and sit and chat with their fans, and both parties treat each other with mutual appreciation. Teams acting like they are not above the fans needs to happen more often. I won’t hold my breath, though.

I thought I had way more to write about, but I guess not. I’m going to try to get to a hockey game sometime before Christmas. The Seattle Thunderbirds are playing at home a few times between now and then, and I’m getting anxious about trying out my new camera on a sporting event soon. I also found out that my Cooperstown trip is going to be a little more of a big deal than I initially thought it was. We are actually going to be there overnight, which means a day at the museum, and then maybe part of a day to just be in the city. Or village. Here is a screen shot of Cooperstown from Google Earth. It is quite obvious where the Hall of Fame is: