I'm writing this less than two weeks before the start of the 2012 season! A lot changed, we lost Greg Halman in November. In January, Pineda was traded to the Yankees for Jesus Montero, the young catcher we initially were going to get for Cliff Lee. Instead, we got Smoak, Beavan, and Josh Lueke.
I like the trade for a couple of reasons... we need hitting and maybe it will get Damn Yankees off our back over Felix. They have been in pursuit of our ace for a couple of years. Pineda is still young, nobody know exactly what type of pitcher he'll turn into. His sophomore year will be interesting, especially under the New York spotlight. Same goes for Montero, not really sure what we are getting. He is projected to be great, but it all comes down to what happens on the field. Supposedly not that great behind the plate, but anyone is better than Olivo!
The Mariners are opening in Japan on March 28th and 29th vs Oakland. That's right, in Japan. I'm not pleased on many levels. These are games that will count in the standings! Exhibition games during the off season are fine, but regular season?? NO! They are trying to make up for the jet lag/travel issues by not having another regular season game until April 6th, in Oakland. Between the games in Japan and the "real season" we are playing a few more spring games. I know they played exhibition games in the old days during the regular season sometimes, but this is 2012. Let the players go out there during the off season.
Another reason I don't like it, is that I will somehow have to avoid spoilers on the games as they are played live, in Japan, at around 2 or 3 in the morning. Thankfully I have Tivo, but avoiding the tv/internet/radio until I get home from work is going to be daunting.
Other issues, Florida changed their name to the Miami Marlins with horribly garish new uniforms and colors. It was announced that the Astros are joining the AL West in 2013. Are you fucking kidding me? This is to even out the leagues at 15 teams apiece and coincides with another huge change, adding yet another wild card team for the playoffs.
Instead of 4 teams from each league making it (3 Division winners, 1 Wild Card) there will now be 5. With 30 teams in MLB that means 1/3 will make it. It dilutes the sanctity of the postseason, and in my opinion is done solely for ratings as you can pretty much guarantee Boston and New York will make it practically ever year. The two wild card teams will have a one game playoff. They should have only expanded the playoffs if they expanded the league. They could have added 2 to the AL which would have left 16 in each league. Split that up into 4 Divisions and each Division winner makes the playoffs. No wild card! Or, go back to two divisions and the top two teams make it from each division.
The realignment means that interleague games will have to go on every day. I HATE INTERLEAGUE. It ruins the excitement that you used to have over the All-Star game and World Series. Okay, if they had to have realigned they could have picked someone better than Houston. Denver seems more like an AL city than Houston. That would have been much better for us travel wise.. Or, Milwaukee should have returned to the AL. But why did it have to occur at the same time as expanded playoffs??? By the way, MLB announced expanded playoffs are going to start this year.
They were mulling expanding instant replay but thankfully are holding off on that, for now.
Instant Replay is evil. Baseball is an imperfect game with split second decisions, they are always talking about trying to speed up the game... yet instant replay will only take away from the flow. I have been against IR from day one, and I will go to my grave hating it. If you look at the replays on TV, most of the time the umpires are spot on. The way MLB is going there will soon be robots.
For some reason MLB continues to try and ruin the game I love: Interleague, steroids, instant replay, realignment, and expanded playoffs. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I had been born before the DH rule came into effect. Yet, for some reason, I keep coming back.
Our Division keeps getting tougher. Texas lost in the World Series for the second straight year, and added Yu Darvish, a Japanese pitcher, in the offseason. He's supposed to be good, but there is a reason all of the best players come to MLB. It is the highest level of baseball competition in the World and just 'cause he was successful in Japan doesn't mean that will translate here. The Angels signed Albert Pujols to a 10 year contract and pulled C.J Wilson away from the Rangers. I was angry with the Pujols situation. He left the Cardinals, arguably the greatest fan base in baseball, after spending his whole career there. There is no loyalty in sports anymore. St. Louis must be heartbroken. The 10 year contract is a big mistake too. Pujols is "32" years old. He's from the Dominican Republic. They are notorious for fudging ages down there to attract scouts. Some rumors are that Pujols is more in the 35/36 age range. If that's the case, his numbers will start to decline in the next couple of years. Remember, steroids are supposedly out of baseball now. No miraculous feats of prowess after the age of 40 anymore.
I almost forgot, Eric Wedge announced that Ichiro is no longer the leadoff batter! This brings me such joy, I can't express it! Unfortunately he has been moved to the 3rd spot in the lineup. Ideally Ichiro would bat 8th or 9th. He has yet to prove to me that he can hit with runners on, or with power. Supposedly he can hit a home run whenever he wants to. Well, he's going to need to prove it. And he's going to need to do more than hit choppers in the infield. The first month or two should be very interesting. Usually when I player is in decline they don't put him in the middle of the order.
We look to be an improved offensive team, but anything would be an improvement over last year. Our big question will be pitching. After Felix and Vargas, all of our starting spots are pretty much up for grabs, and numbers wise the Bullpen doesn't look too strong. Time will tell. I can tell you that I am excited by the possibilities of this year. You can see that we are turning in the right direction. I'm aiming between 73-75 wins. Anything more than that and it will be above and beyond expectations.
