Eastlake’s Incredible Run Comes to a Close

by Jackson Safon

This year’s Eastlake Little League 12U all-star team was the first ever to make it to the World Series from Eastlake, and they made their trip count. The team finished 3-2 and ended up falling just short of reaching the United States championship, however, they did end up being the third best all-star team in the nation. That is an incredible feat and something that should never be forgotten. I am proud to say I once played for Eastlake Little League.

Losing yesterday against Connecticut was tough, especially because Eastlake was up 13-5 after the top of the fourth inning. An offensive explosion in that inning lead by Eastlake’s bench led to ten runs in the inning alone and a seemingly insurmountable lead. Adam Carper, Zach Olson, Jack Titus and Jack Rud (the four bench players) all came up with hits in the fourth to spark the run.

Eastlake made a deep run in the Little League World Series, but in the end, Connecticut was just too much to handle.

Matt Slocum/The Assosciated Press

However, Connecticut did not go away and scored once in the bottom of the fourth and then seven in the bottom of the fifth to eventually tie it up on a Chad Knight solo homerun. After a scoreless sixth and top of the seventh, Chad Knight came up big once again for Connecticut with a walk-off RBI that was ripped into deep left field. Give credit to the kids from Connecticut because they didn't quit and they played a great game.

One player from Eastlake I want to give credit to is Dalton Chandler. He pitched an incredible four and one third innings in his last time on a Little League mound. Dalton left it all out on the field and came up big in the most important situations. Even after he left the mound, he came up with a couple of big plays at shortstop and was a threat at the plate the entire game. Dalton is arguably the best player on Eastlake’s team this year and he showed why with a great all-around performance in yesterday’s loss to Connecticut.

Dalton Chandler had an amazing LLWS.

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Even though Eastlake’s season came to a sad finish, they deserve endless praise for an unbelievable run through the district, state, regional, and World Series tournaments. Every single player had big moments. The coaches had tough decisions to make that all helped lead the team deep into the tournament. The fans were incredible in Williamsport and back on the home front. The Northwest team hats were the only hats to be sold out at the World Series and the Sammamish Teen Center was packed every game for viewing parties. Finally, the parents of the players need to be thanked for the time they had to take out of their schedules to chaperone their kids around all summer and eventually across the country.

Eastlake Little League has the third best all-star team in the nation. It cannot be said too many times. The kids and coaches will return to a heroes welcome and it is most deserved. Go Eastlake.

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Eastlake Little League Making a Run in the World Series

by Jackson Safon

Eastlake Little League from Sammamish, Washington has one of the top three all-star teams in the United States of America. Let that statement sink in for a moment.

With a population of 46,700 in Sammamish, there were 13 twelve year olds that came together and have created something great. You might be thinking ‘Hey! There are 14 kids on the team!’. Of course there are. But as you may or may not know, Jacob Dahlstrom actually lives right on the Renton/Maple Valley border, and is only a member of Eastlake Little League because there is no little league where he lives. He attends Eastside Catholic, which is in the Eastlake zone, and therefore he plays on the Eastlake team. Fourteen kids, three coaches, and an innumerable amount of fans.

With their 6-5 win over Nashville, Tennessee yesterday, Eastlake Little League moved into the United States semifinal, with an opponent to be determined by the loser of the California vs. Connecticut game on Wednesday.

The game against Tennessee started out horrifically for Eastlake, going down 2-0 after the first inning and after the first two innings not only had Eastlake not had one hit, they had not even put the ball in play; all six of their batters had struck out (five of them looking). Tennessee pitcher Trae McLemore looked dominant early, but all Eastlake had to do was just put a crack in the dam, and soon the floodgates would be opened.

Nate Fitzgibbons was walked to start the third inning, followed by Dylan Matsuoka who was pegged on the hand. Bryce Delay then fought off a pitch that flared into center, which just bounced off the glove of the second baseman. For the first time all game, Eastlake actually had runners on base and all of a sudden the bases were loaded with no outs. The next play was one of the more controversial in the whole game. Both sides were in disbelief. It was the type of play that flips momentum 180 degrees. The floodgates were opened.  

On an 0-2 count, Jack Carper sliced a ball to right field. From the angle showed on television the ball looked clearly foul at first glance, but the umpire called it fair, to the disbelief of most. Two runs scored on the play and just like that, the game was tied. The Tennessee manager went out to challenge the play, and after ESPN showed several replays I still wasn't sure, but the more I watched it, the more I believed that the call was correct. Sure enough, the umpire came back out with an emphatic, “the call stands” and that was that. Tie ballgame.

The players from Tennessee were visibly rattled and it led to an onslaught for Eastlake, scoring six runs in that inning. This was not the end of the game obviously and credit will be given where credit is due. The kids from Tennessee never quit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the fourth, making it a 6-5 game. As nervous as all the fans were, Jack Matheson was not and in the bottom of the sixth, he closed the game out, looking confident the entire time.

Celebration ensued, but while this was the end of the game, it is not the end of the story because of the pesky pitch count rules. Eastlake plays again on Thursday, but it will be without both of their top two pitchers Jacob Dahlstrom and Jack Matheson, because they both pitched over 35 pitches yesterday, which means that they need at least two days rest (Wednesday and Thursday).

Eastlake Little League looks to continue their historic run Thursday night at 5 p.m.

Washington Post

This means that whomever Eastlake plays, whether it be the same Connecticut team that beat them earlier in the tournament, or powerhouse and United States favorite Chula Vista, California, they will be without their top two pitchers. Hope is not lost however, as Will Armbruester, Dalton Chandler, and Jack Carper have all proven to be more than capable of having success in Williamsport. Furthermore, we will presumably not be going against the number one pitcher for either California or Connecticut because they will be pitching against each other in a game on Wednesday. Eastlake absolutely has the talent to win the game against whomever they face, however it will remain to be seen whether they can put it all together and continue their historic run.

Only two more wins and Eastlake is the United States champion. Three more and they are the best 12U all-star team in the world. But we must go one game at a time. And the next one is on Thursday at 5 PM Pacific Time on ESPN2. Stay tuned.

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Washington in the Little League World Series: Who They Are and How They Got Here

by Jackson Safon

Eastlake Little League, located in Sammamish, Washington has had some chances to get to the Little League World Series before, but never anything like this. Essentially only encompassing the area that feeds into Eastlake High School, Eastlake Little League is small enough that it only has one league in the area; as opposed to Redmond (both Redmond North and West), or Kirkland (American and National). It was not always this way however, as just six years ago Eastlake had an American and National team as well. With the amount of 12 year olds in the system seemingly getting smaller and smaller, as they do not need a second all-star team, one could question their chances of making the World Series. But this year there was a unique set of circumstances, along with an abundance of talent that allowed this group the opportunity to make history.

I, being an alumni of Eastlake Little League myself, and having an 11-year old brother in the league this year, have had a unique chance to meet most of the kids on the World Series team this year, and have been able to follow them throughout their all-star journey. Because of this, I will be able to give insight about the players that ESPN might not have, so before I talk about how they got here, let’s learn who they are.

The Players

Jack Carper: Jack is the leadoff man for the team and starting left fielder. He has a twin brother Adam, which you already know if you have watched even a second of the ESPN broadcast, and he is a very very good leadoff hitter. Jack has been a mainstay at the top of the lineup the entire all-star season for Eastlake, and batting between .400 and .600 throughout the various tournaments has helped him keep that spot. He is also a solid pitcher, reaching the low 60’s, but because of this team’s depth, he is merely the fourth or fifth option. Jack is a funny kid and a very successful baseball player.

Dalton Chandler: Dalton bats second for the team and is the starting shortstop. Dalton is one of my brother’s best friends, so I have had the privilege to get to know him more than some of the other players. I have also helped coach him in basketball. Dalton is one of the best youth athletes I have seen in a while. He excels at basically everything he tries, and while he is not necessarily the most skilled basketball player, he is still one of the best on the court because of his pure athleticism. He is an unbelievable shortstop, and although he hit a little bit of a cold spot in the regional competition, he is one of those kids that you legitimately think is going to get a hit every time he gets up. A good analogy would be how you expect Kevin Durant to hit a jumper every time he takes one. That’s how good of a hitter he is when he is on. Dalton also pitches for this team, which makes him one of the more versatile players on this team. In addition to being a great kid, I would consider him one of, if not the best player on this team.

Will Armbruester: Will bats third for the team and is the starting first baseman. Will is simply a monster. He is 5’11’’ and 160 pounds as a 12 year old. Although it hasn’t quite materialized at the plate in the all-star season, Will led the league in homeruns throughout the regular season and has a lot of pop in his bat. Although struggling with the curveball at times, Will is a masher and will drive in a lot of runs for this team.

Jacob Dahlstrom: Jacob is the starting third baseman (when he isn’t pitching) and bats fourth. But he is the unique set of circumstances I was talking about. Jacob is new to the area this year, but he doesn’t exactly live in the area. In fact, Jacob lives in Renton. So obviously one would ask why he plays for Eastlake Little League if he lives in Renton. Well there isn’t a Little League where he lives, so the rule is to play in the area of your school, and Jacob goes to Eastside Catholic, which is in the Eastlake zone. Considering Jacob has been the ace of the pitching staff and lead the team in homeruns, I think it is fair to say that adding him to the team this year has made a massive difference. I don’t think this team makes it this far without him.

Jack Matheson: Jack bats fifth and starts in center field. Jack is a very athletic kid, and another part of our three-headed monster of size, as he, Jacob, and Will are all between 5’10’’ and 6’. Jack is also the fastest player on the team and when he connects with a pitch at the plate, it gets to the outfield wall in a hurry, which results in lots of triples for the speed demon. He is also the second pitcher on the team and is a flamethrower, topping out at 74-75 miles per hour. Although he can be a bit of a wild card at times with his accuracy and his attitude, Jack is a crucial part of this team.

Dylan Matsuoka/Austin Oh: This is another unique storyline for this team, as Austin Oh, who many thought would be the starting second baseman for this team, broke his wrist two days after the team was announced and couldn’t return until the Northwest Regional tournament. This left Dylan to take his place. Both are very good athletes and good second baseman, but there has been a debate as to whom should get the start at second base. Both have made errors at times, and both have had some good hits. The most memorable moment however came in the regional final when Austin had a three RBI triple and a two RBI double. Both players are close friends with my brothers so I am rooting for them both, but it will be interesting to see how the playing time continues to work between the two of them.

Nate Fitzgibbons: Nate plays third when Dahlstrom pitches and center when he doesn’t. Fitz can be inconsistent at the plate, but has come up with some huge hits for the team, as he hit a game-winning homerun in the district tournament and had a clutch two out, two RBI single in the most recent game. He is a very athletic kid who is a crucial bat for this team as the team moves lower in the lineup.

Cameron Bowers: Bowers is the starting catcher for the team and has had a tumultuous all-star season behind the plate. At times he looks like the best catcher out there, but then the next inning he will allow two passed balls. I believe he is the right player for the job and really is a good catcher, but there have been a few more passed balls than I’m sure the coaches would like.

Bryce DeLay: DeLay is the starting right fielder for this team and bats ninth. He has the reputation as a hitter, and rightfully so, as he started off 7 for his first 9 in the regional tournament. He has cooled off some since, but his best asset is definitely his bat. In the outfield, he has made some spectacular plays, one even making it on the SportsCenter top 10. But there was also a time when he made an egregious error, so we will have to see which Bryce DeLay shows up in the field. He was on my brother’s team during the regular season, and is also new to the area from Texas, but Bryce DeLay could come up big for this team late in games.

Jack Titus: Jack is one of the players to come off the bench, but that does not mean he isn’t talented. Jack was one of the more skilled catchers during the regular season and although he is not a big kid, he can hit the ball pretty well. In the regional tournament he started 3 for 4, and came up with some really big hits for this team so do not be surprised if he gets some extra at-bats during the World Series.

Zach Olson: Zach is another one of the players to come off the bench for this team, but is another that has plenty of talent and deserves to be there. Zach made an appearance on the mound in the regional tournament and pitched very well, and has hit the ball very hard in a few of his at bats, so it is clear that he comes to play.

Jack Rud: Jack Rud is another bench player and another one of my brothers close friends so I have gotten to know him as well. Jack is a happy kid who definitely deserves to be on this team. He is often a pinch runner, but when he gets his at-bats he always finds ways to get on base. He takes advantage of his opportunities, as shown by his two clutch hits to keep his team in the game against Iowa.

Adam Carper: Adam is Jack’s twin brother, but is a slightly different player. He is not quite as good of a hitter but has just as good if not better speed, which makes him an excellent pinch runner. He is also one of the funniest kids on the team and never fails to make anyone laugh.

The Eastlake Little League All-Stars.
Eastlake Little League

How They Got Here

Now that I have finished introducing the team, and if you aren’t bored to death already, reading about Little Leaguer’s, I will give a brief overview of how they got here.

This Eastlake team is now 27-1 after winning their first World Series game, so obviously it wasn’t too difficult for them to get here, but what the ESPN guys don’t tell you is how critical a loss that was. Eastlake lost their very first game of the state tournament, which sent them down to the loser’s bracket, which for those of you who don’t know is very hard to escape because of the massive amount of consecutive games you need to play. They fought back and made it to the championship game, but because it was a double elimination tournament, they had to beat the champion of the winner’s bracket twice. To add even more drama, this team from Federal Way, was the same team that beat them in the very first game. But obviously Eastlake was able to pull out two victories and advance to the Northwest Regional.

In the regional they went 6-0, but they had to come back from big deficits in two of their games, being down by four runs in the fifth inning against Oregon, and the next game were down going into the sixth inning against Idaho.

The Eastlake Little Leaguer’s are a great group of kids, and with the pitching, hitting, and depth that this team has, I don’t see why they couldn’t win the whole thing. Be sure to stay tuned.

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Seattle Seahawks Training Camp 2013

by Jackson Safon

One year ago. Just one short year ago our training camp storylines were completely different. It was Flynnsanity. Few truly thought Russell Wilson could break out in the way he did and not only take Flynn’s job, but take it and run. There were questions about Lynch’s health. Now it’s questions about Percy Harvin’s health. We were wondering if a rookie from Utah State could truly be the answer at middle linebacker. We thought this Richard Sherman guy could be a solid little player, and now he is going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A lot has changed in a year.

This year the plot is very different, but much more exciting because of the success achieved by the Hawks last year. There are always story lines everywhere, but I will give a few of my favorites on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Offense:

1. Percy Harvin-This story line became much more interesting today in wake of the news that Harvin has a potentially torn labrum and could require surgery. However the injury plays out I still think this is one of the most interesting and exciting story lines of this upcoming season. Let’s set aside the injury for a moment. Whenever Harvin comes back to the team it is going to be fascinating how they integrate him into the lineup. In the second half of the season last year the Hawks offense turned it up and was one of the top units in the entire league. So how are they going to add in one of the most dynamic players in the NFL? Last year they were a run first team, with Marshawn Lynch being the NFL’s third leading rusher behind Adrian Peterson and Alfred Morris. With the addition of Harvin and the progression of Wilson lead to a change in offensive identity? Do the Hawks play a lot more three or four wide receiver sets? Does Percy Harvin get a lot of time in the backfield? So many questions that I have about the offense this year and I am so excited to see how it plays out.

www.seattleseahawks.com

Percy Harvin will have to undergo surgery on his torn labrum. He will be out 3-4 months.

2. Running Backs-This is an interesting one because we have so much talent at this position. Lynch is obviously a beast. Everyone knows that. But we also have Robert Turbin who will be looking to improve off of a very solid rookie campaign, and recent draftee Christine Michael who I think is every bit the part of a beastly NFL running back. I personally think Christine Michael could be the incumbent to Lynch when his contract is up in a few years. But that is thinking too far ahead. The important thing is right now, and I wonder how the Hawks will get enough touches for all three of these guys. Lynch obviously needs his touches, Turbin showed he can be very explosive, and I believe Michael is going to be an absolute stud. Running backs coach Sherman Smith has raved about Robert Turbin in previous interviews and has said that he is the backup to Lynch, which begs the question is Christine Michael going to get any real playing time at all? With Percy Harvin’s versatility and the potential shift in the offense, I am interested to see how the running back situation gets sorted out.

www.seattleseahawks.com

Christine Michael could challenge Robert Turbin for the back-up running back position.

Defense:

1. Bruce Irvin-This guy has showed so much potential at times, then at others (such as a crucial playoff game against the Falcons) he just disappears. He still had a fantastic rookie season with eight sacks, and I expect him to become not only a more accomplished pass rusher but a better run defender as well this season. Now that would be a story line as it is, but that’s not to mention the four game suspension Irvin has to serve because of violating the league’s drug policy. Losing him for the first four games, plus having Chris Clemons already out for a good while because of his injury, the front seven will have to play a bit shorthanded to start the year. I look to see how the rest of the guys respond, but also how well Irvin plays coming off his suspension.

2. Front Seven Versatility-This sort of ties in with the last part about Bruce Irvin, but I personally think it deserves a segment to itself. With the defensive line and linebackers shorthanded to start the year this won’t play nearly as large, but once Irvin and Clemons return to the team, the Hawks will almost have too many pass rushers. The question is what to do with them all. Once the team is fully healthy we will have Bruce Irvin, Chris Clemons, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Red Bryant, and Brandon Mebane. This doesn't even take into account guys like Greg Scruggs, or rookies Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams. Obviously this is too many guys for four spots on the defensive line which is actually a good problem to have. I believe Avril will move to the “Leo” linebacker spot which is essentially a pass-rushing guy who doesn't rush the passer all the time. He played this position in college as well, so I don’t think the transition will be too difficult. Even if that is how it plays out, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will have an absurd amount of versatility with this group and I cannot wait to see what he does with them. But just imagine being a quarterback on third and long with Irvin, Clemons, Bennett, and Avril all coming to get you. It gives me Goosebumps just thinking about it.

Obviously there are more story lines and position battles, many of which relate to the rookies. A couple of rookie names I believe can make an impact in this season are Christine Michael (RB), Jesse Williams (DT), Jordan Hill (DL), and Luke Willson (TE) among others. Stay tuned for more information on training camp, but just think about how close we are to the season actually starting. Go Hawks.

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Newcomers Morales, Morse and Ibanez Leading the Charge

by Jackson Safon

It is no secret that the offense of the Mariners is and has been struggling this year. However, these struggles can’t be attributed to the three main newcomers of the team Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse and Raul Ibanez. The Mariners are second to last in the American League in runs scored, third to last in hits, third to last in on-base percentage and third to last in slugging percentage, which are obvious causes for their 22-29 record. After going on a little bit of a streak a few weeks ago, peaking at 20-21 and second in the division, they have lost eight of ten and are now fourth in the division. Inconsistent pitching has plagued the team, but when it comes to hitting, they have been consistently below par. Six Mariners hitters have batted less than .200 over the past 30 days, including starting center fielder Michael Saunders, but there are some bright spots.

If Michael Morse can stay healthy, he should prove to be a huge asset for the Mariners.

Getty Images

Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse, and Raul Ibanez have really come on over the last month or so, and are leading the team in all offensive categories. Over the past 30 days, Morales and Ibanez are one and two in average, as well as tied for the team lead in RBI. Ibanez and Morse are first and second in home runs over the past month, and Ibanez has been particularly hot, with seven home runs and eighteen RBI in just fifteen games. These guys are obviously the key to the Mariners offense as of late and with all three of them being new to the team this year (even if Ibanez and Morse have had previous stints with the team), it is a testament to Jack Z. and Mariners management to have gone out and acquired guys that we need. The Mariners front offense has been trashed as of late for drafting poorly, making poor moves in the free agent market, as well as not going out to get the kind of guys this team really needs, hitters.

Even though I am not truly happy with the job Jack Zduriencik has done so far, I do think he deserves credit at least for trying to get hitters that can help bolster the offense. The team as a whole has not performed at an extremely high level offensively, but three new additions have performed at a very high level recently, which should not go overlooked. The question is however, what is the next move Zduriencik will make, as all three of these guys are going to be free agents at the end of the season. Will we resign one, two, or all three of them? Will we trade Kendrys Morales, as is of popular opinion?

Should the Mariners re-sign, trade or let Kendrys Morales go at the end of the season?
Getty Images

With the recent surge by Kendrys Morales, I think he should be the top priority for Mariners management to re-sign, but I sadly don’t think this will happen. I believe he will be traded for some assets and a middle of the pack hitter before the trade deadline, which would really make no one happy, but it isn’t really up to us. Morales’ agent is the notorious Scott Boras, who as you may or may not know, is the most brutal agent in pro sports. I believe that this is the reason that the Mariners will not be able to re-sign Morales. A four year, $43 million contract sounds perfectly natural for a player of Morales’ caliber, but because Scott Boras is his agent, this will just be the floor for the negotiations. Time will tell what happens with Morales and the other two free agents, but it is thanks to them that the Mariners offense is even staying afloat at this point in the season.

Note: Statistics taken from a week an a half ago.

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Seattle Storm: Brief Expectations

by Jackson Safon

The Seattle Storm have been a model of consistency, making the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons, which is a league record. This mark could come to an end this season however. I won’t pretend to be an expert when it comes to the WNBA, but what I do know is that losing your two best players is never good. That’s exactly what has happened with this year’s Storm team. Lauren Jackson, former MVP, is recovering from hamstring surgery this winter and Sue Bird, all-star point guard, just recently had knee surgery. Both will be out for a pretty decent amount of time, and considering there are only 34 games in a WNBA season, any and all games missed are important.

Both Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson are out this year due to injury. 

www.olympicgirls.net/sport-girls/sue-bird-lauren-jackson.jpg

With these two players out, the team will be in the hands of second year forward, and former second overall pick, Shekinna Stricklen. The Storm had to give up the popular Swin Cash and a first round pick in order to acquire the second overall pick in order to pick Stricklen. Now, with their two best players out, Stricklen will be thrust into a leadership role earlier than expected. Like I said, I am not an expert, so I won’t pretend to be, but with the Storm going 16-18 last year, and having their two best players out, I think this could be the first time in ten years that they don’t make the playoffs.

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Mariners Early Season Awards

by Jackson Safon

Forty-five games into the Mariners season and they are 20-25. After playing really well for a stretch and even getting within one game of .500, they got swept by the Indians and have now moved back well below .500. We are just over a fourth of the way through the season, which means of course that it is time for some awards. Who doesn't like awards? Also because I need something to cheer me up considering the Mariners just got swept by the Indians and are, as I’m typing, losing to the 17-27 Angels. I am going to give the standard awards and some creative ones as well.

Offensive MVP: Kyle Seager

-No surprise here as Seager probably would have won this award last year as well, but this choice wasn't as obvious as it would seem. Kendrys Morales is nipping at his heels in virtually all categories. Of players who get regular playing time, Seager leads the team in batting average, hits, runs, and RBI, which would make it obvious that he would win the award. But as I said, Morales is not far behind, as he is only three hits, one homerun, and one RBI behind Seager. Whatever the case may be, Seager has followed up his stellar season last year with a strong start to the season so far and is the offensive MVP through 45 games.

Kyle Seager has proven to be the Mariner's best option on offense this year.

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

-This was a VERY tough choice because Hisashi Iwakuma is having such a stellar season, and Tom Wilhelmsen has been virtually flawless as well, but as is the norm, Felix takes home the top pitching honors. One of the main reasons I gave him the nod over the other two guys is the fact that he might very well be the Cy Young of the American League, never mind the Seattle Mariners. He has been absolutely stellar this season, posting a 2.07 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and posting a great 6-1 strikeout to walk ratio. At this rate, Felix will not hit the 20 win mark I predicted for him before the season, but his pitching gives the team a great chance to win almost every time he goes out there and he gets my early season Cy Young.

Newcomer of the Year: Kendrys Morales

-A number of guys were up for this award and a number of guys could arguably have won it, but Kendrys is having the best overall season so far. He is second on the team in runs, RBI, and average among regular players. I just love the guy and think he has made a major impact in the middle of the lineup, even though the team’s offense hasn't been quite as good as everyone had anticipated. Honorable mention for this award goes to Michael Morse who leads the team in home runs, and Raul Ibanez, who isn't totally new to the team, but has been absolutely on fire recently and has 8 homers and 20 RBI in only 27 games.

(This is where it gets fun)

The David-Freese “Where has this been” Award: Justin Smoak

-This award is named so because of David Freese’s breakout performance for the Cardinals in the playoffs two years ago. He was always a good player, but one that people around the league thought could be so much better. He finally showed this and broke out in the playoffs that year. However, I hesitate to call this award the most improved award because it is specifically given to someone who we all expected to be good, but hasn't been up until this point. This is why this award is perfect for Justin Smoak. Everyone assumes he is having a terrible season because he has had a terrible career as a Mariner, but recently he has been playing terrific baseball. In fact, as Greg Johns of MLB.com notes, over the past 30 days Smoak is second among American League first basemen in on-base percentage (.422), fourth in batting average (.297), sixth in OPS (.922), and eighth in slugging percentage (.500). This is exactly the type of hitting we expected from Smoak when he came over from the Rangers, and if he can keep it up, he will be a force to be reckoned with. This improved hitting, plus his always stellar defense, makes him perfect for the David Freese (who also plays very good defense) award. The Smoakamotive has risen.

Justin Smoak has caught fire recently.

Steven Bisig - US PRESSWIRE

The Franklin Gutierrez “Needs to Stay Healthy” Award: Franklin Gutierrez*

-I’m just kidding. That wouldn't be fair to give the award to its namesake in the first year of its existence, but in all seriousness he does deserve it. To be fair to the rest of the team and to give it to the person that I really think means more to the team, this award goes to Michael Saunders. When Saunders is in the game the Mariners are just a different team, both on offense and defense. He obviously plays great defense, but his presence at the top of lineup absolutely makes a difference. Without him, there is so much less potency in the lineup and it just has a different feel with Endy Chavez leading off games. I really think Michael Saunders makes a huge difference to this team on both offense and defense, which is why he gets the Franklin Gutierrez Award.

The Omar Vizquel “Please God Let Me Hit the Ball Better” Award: Brendan Ryan

-This award really can only go to Ryan, because of the caveat that the award winner must play good defense, as Omar Vizquel did. Brendan Ryan is the modern day version of Omar Vizquel, who for those of you don’t know won nine gold gloves, but could never really hit the ball at a great level. I also happen to know Omar personally and used to be friends with his son, but I digress. The point is Brendan Ryan is the epitome of this award because his .178 batting average really doesn't cut it, but the fact that his defense is just so good almost makes up for it.

It’s time for my last early season award. I hope you guys have liked them.

The Hasheem Thabeet “Doesn’t Really Belong” Award: Jesus Montero

-Hasheem Thabeet is one of the more interesting players in the NBA in my opinion because he was drafted so highly at the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, was immediately sent to the D-League, but now has made it back up to the bigs. He has shown flashes of serious talent, but has never put it together for long enough to maintain relevance and every time I watch him play all I think is, “He really doesn't belong”. This is why the award goes to Jesus Montero. Occasionally, he will show what he’s got and blast a long home run, but his .208 average and lack of consistency really isn't cutting it. I personally think he should be sent down to triple-A where he can develop into a real player. I think he has shown enough potential to not quit on the project forever, but I don’t think he belongs in the MLB right now. 

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