Mariners Bold Predictions Revisited and Our Team Awards

By Jackson Safon

Before the season, I made a series of bold predictions for the Mariners 2013 season. I warned that the predictions would be bold. I did. I came closer on some of these than others, but before I get ridiculed on the predictions I want it to be clear that I warned you that they would be bold. That being said, the short version is the predictions were pretty far off. Enjoy laughing at how wrong I was.

Prediction 1: “Justin Smoak will lead the team in RBI”
Smoak was 30 RBI short of the team lead as Kendrys Morales had 80. The fact is I was dead wrong. But looking closer, how wrong was I really? If you pro-rate Justin Smoak’s numbers from when he returned from injury, he would have led the team in RBI. So really I wasn’t that far off. Okay I was way off. But mark my words this kid will be good. I believe that he is seeing the ball much better than he has been in the past and that if he continues the trajectory he is on, he could be a key part of the Mariners infield for years.

Justin Smoak has proved his abilities in the field, but can he continue to prove himself at the plate?

Ben Van Houten/Mariners

Prediction 2: “Brandon Maurer will be the MVP of the pitching staff"
Yikes. Brandon Maurer had approximately one good start out of many before he was sent down to the minors. It took him a while to get back up where he was a reliever and spot starter. In his return to the big leagues, Maurer actually pitched decent and ate up some innings when they were needed. He wasn’t spectacular by any means but he showed some signs of life and I don’t think all hope should be lost for this kid. But once again we are a no-go for my predictions. 0-2 so far.

Prediction 3: “The Mariners will not be last in the division”

There we go! That’s right folks, I correctly predicted that the Mariners could beat out the Astros this season. Sometimes even I’m amazed at my foresight capabilities. This prediction wasn’t all that bold, but to be fair, it wasn’t close. The M’s beat the Astros by 20 games and were only 7 back of the Angels for third in the division. No matter how cheap, this point still goes to me. 1-2.

 

Prediction 4: “Franklin Gutierrez will miss nine or less games this year"

Oh boy. Gutierrez played in only 23 games this year. That is horrendous. This prediction wasn’t based on any facts, simply a gut feeling. No matter, still a brutal loss that I wasn’t even close on. 1-3.

 

Prediction 5: “Felix Hernandez will set a career high in wins with 20”

Nope. Felix finished 12-10 and missed a couple starts due to a back injury. He was pitching fantastic in the first half of the season, but simply wasn’t getting the wins due to a lack of offense. In the second half of the year, he slipped just a tick and then had some back issues which led to his performance slipping even more. Felix didn’t even lead the team in wins, but I put most of the blame on the team seemingly not wanting to hit whenever Felix pitched. 1-4.

 

Prediction 6: “The Mariners will win get 90 wins and contend for a wild card spot”

The irony is that they actually finished with 91 losses. Rough year after there was more optimism going into the season than I had heard in a while. I was dead wrong here, but I don’t think many people predicted them to be this bad. Oh well. Always next year. I promise there is reason to be optimistic about next year. Taijuan Walker and James Paxton looked fantastic in their limited action in the major leagues. If they can continue that success the Mariners will have Felix, Kuma, Walker, and Paxton as the first four in their rotation next year. Dirty.

 

One of the most effective pitchers towards the end of the year was James Paxton.

Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press

Well that’s that for my bold predictions. Finished one for six. Not very good. But hey, if that was my batting average I would have been better than the Mariners starting catcher for 35 games this season (Henry Blanco batted .125). I hope you had a good time laughing at my stupidity in thinking the Mariners had a chance to be good this year. Whether you did or didn’t, I hope you enjoy my team awards.

MVP: Hisashi Iwakuma
Kuma was dirty good this season, finishing third in the American League in ERA, second in WHIP, and a remarkable eighth even with the Mariners horrific offense. Iwakuma was absolutely fantastic this year and he should be a part of a great starting rotation next year.

Cy Young: Hisashi Iwakuma
See above.

*Honorable mention goes to my man Danny Farquhar. Lord Farquhar pitched great when he took over the closer role and had some absolutely dirty stuff. Can’t wait to see him in that role next year.

Offensive POY: Kendrys Morales
This award was perennially called the “Kyle Seager Award”, but this year Morales came in and stole the show. It’s hard not to give him this award as he led the team in batting average and RBI while being second in homeruns. He wasn’t the superstar this team truly needed, but he was a much needed boost, and I don’t know where the Mariners offense would have been without him this year.

The Mariners need to make resigning Kendrys Morales a priority this offseason.

Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press

Rookie of the Year: Brad Miller
Brad was fantastic to watch and he really brought energy to the Mariners. Of players who got any real playing time he was third in average, and if you pro-rated his numbers over the whole season he would have only been five RBI behind Morales for the team lead. While batting out of the leadoff spot. “Crazy Legs” is just an exciting player who puts up darn good numbers too.

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Takeaways: Seahawks Pull Out Miracle Win Over the Texans

By Jackson Safon

What an unbelievable game. The Seahawks pulled out a miracle win yesterday on the road against a tough opponent in the Texans. All signs pointed to a loss for the Hawks early on as they were down 20-3 at halftime. Nevertheless, they responded with 17 unanswered in the second half and three more in overtime to win the game. Lots to take away from a game like this.

1. The ‘Hawks are a gritty group
It cannot be overstated how great of a win this was for the Seahawks. To say the least, odds were against them: On the road, 10:00 start time, down 17 at halftime. Yet they fought and fought, and came out with a win Sunday afternoon. So many big plays from so many guys, but it all starts with Russell Wilson. He took over the game in the second half. The offensive line play was poor the entire game, so in the second half, Wilson took it upon himself to make the plays and used his legs to run and create time in the passing game. Credit to the defense as well, but the thing I love is that I can’t give credit to everyone. Want to know why? Because the Seahawks are a team. They came together in the second half and pulled this win out as a group. This is a gritty group of guys and after a win like that it’s hard to see how they lose a game the rest of the season. (Remember we still get to add Bruce Irvin and Percy Harvin)

Russell Okung will be missed along the offensive line while he is sidelined by a toe injury.

USATSI

2. Offensive line is decimated
Without three starting offensive linemen Russell Okung, Max Unger, and Breno Giacomini, the offensive line was crippled. Pressure was in Russell Wilson’s face the entire game and it really threw him off in the first half. The passing game was off as a whole, as Wilson barely completed 50% of his passes and had only 123 yards. Unger and Giacomini are not expected to be out for an extended period of time, but this is definitely something to watch out for, as this is a trend that cannot continue. It is fair to cut the new linemen some slack, as the Texans have one of the better defensive lines in the league, led by reigning defensive player of the year J.J. Watt, but going forward the line simply needs to play better in order for the ‘Hawks offense to perform at the level we all expect.

3. The defense really stepped up
Early in the game, the ‘Hawks defense was getting gashed in all phases. Arian Foster and Ben Tate were running through the front seven, while there was no pressure on Matt Schaub at all, which allowed him to connect with Andre Johnson and his two tight ends. But with 18 seconds left in the first half, star defensive lineman for the Seahawks Michael Bennett went down with what appeared to be a neck injury. He was taken to the hospital where a CT scan was negative and Bennett actually returned to the stadium late in the game. This was a turning point for the defense. The ‘Hawks defense had two options. Either be deflated by the injury, or inspired by it. They chose the latter. The second half was a dominant effort by the defense allowing no points. To add to the damage, Richard Sherman came up with a HUGE pick-six with just minutes to go in the game that tied up the ballgame. After a rough first half, the defense (specifically the Legion of Boom) played outstanding in the second half leading the team to a victory.

The Seahawks' best threat at the wide receiver position thus far has been Doug Baldwin.

Getty Images

4. Doug Baldwin – hard to quantify his contribution
Only three catches for 39 yards. Yet Doug Baldwin continues to make a huge impact week after week. With another fantastic sideline catch Sunday, Baldwin changed the momentum in the game. Making that grab really energized the offense that then went on to outscore the Texans by 20 in the second half and overtime. Stats don’t really sum up the meaning and impact that Doug Baldwin has on this team and this offense, but I want to be clear: his value cannot be understated.

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Takeaways: Seahawks Clobber the Jaguars

By Jackson Safon

The 20.5 points that the Seahawks were favored by was one of the biggest point spreads in NFL history, and the Hawks covered with ease. The final score was 45-17 and this game was in hand from the get-go. The Hawks dominance showed early as they went into the locker room at halftime with a 34-0 lead. The performance was dominant in all phases of the game, which allowed Tarvaris Jackson, Christine Michael, and the rest of the reserves to get in the game and show what they could do. Not surprisingly, they played outstanding and Jackson showed that he is better than any of the Jaguars quarterbacks. However, even in a dominant win, there are always things both positive and negative to take away.

1. In Russ We Trust
It took two games, but the passing attack is back. Russell Wilson was in sync early and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell opened up the offense much more in this game. Wilson was spreading it around to all of his receivers, and the passing game was as dynamic as it has ever been, leading to four touchdowns from Wilson (and one more from Tarvaris Jackson later in the game). Furthermore, Wilson averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, which is a very good number. For a team that doesn’t look to throw the ball 50 times a game, efficiency in the passing game is very important, and the yards per attempt stat is an excellent measure of the way Russell Wilson is playing. Besides an interception that was dropped by a receiver, Wilson looked fantastic.

Sidney Rice caught two of Russell Wilson's four touchdown passes on the day.

AP Photo -Stephen Brashear

2. The Defense is Freakishly Good

I wrote about the defense last week, but it cannot be said enough times: the Seahawks have the best defense in the NFL and it isn’t close. Their defense could shape up to being one of the best of all time. And this is just the first week with Chris Clemons and Brandon Browner. With pass rushing specialist Bruce Irvin coming back in week five, quarterbacks better be on the lookout. I understand that the Hawks played the Jaguars this week, so defensive dominance was to be expected, but that doesn’t make this defense any less unstoppable. Seven different players had a tackle for loss, and Michael Bennett and Clint McDonald combined for three sacks. The Hawks defense is elite in every phase and shouldn’t be beat by anyone.

 

Clinton McDonald recorded 1.5 sacks on the day for the Seahawks defense.

Steven Bisig - USA Today Sports

 

3. The Seahawks Have Incredible Depth

The Seahawks are arguably the deepest team on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Tarvaris Jackson came in to replace Russell Wilson and promptly went 7/8 for 129 yards and a score. Christine Michael is electric in the backfield and will be the successor to Marshawn Lynch in a few years. Every member of the defense played well. There are more than a few teams that Tarvaris Jackson could start for right now. The depth on both sides of the ball could prove crucial later in the season as injuries for all teams begin to pile up.

 

Marshawn Lynch didn't have a huge day on the ground for the Seahawks, but the team didn't need an amazing game from him as they faced the lowly Jaguars.

Seahawks.com

 

4. Third Down Efficiency Needs to Improve

The Hawks were a mere 4/10 on third downs, which against an elite defense would be acceptable, but the Jaguars are average at best. For the season, the Hawks need to be around 50% and above on third downs, so 40% against a relatively weak defense is something to think about. No need for concern or panic, but this is just something to keep an eye on moving forward as the matchups for the Hawks become tougher with the Texans and Colts coming up.

 

5. The Seahawks are the Best Team in the NFC

And it isn’t close. Not only have the Seahawks dominated so far this season, but most other potential contenders have faltered. The Falcons, Packers, and 49ers all lost Sunday. The Bears and Saints are both undefeated, but it’s hard to say they could even come close to the Hawks after the dominance showed through three weeks. The Hawks still need to play with the proverbial chip on their shoulder, however, as the most wins the Hawks have ever had in a season where they started 3-0 was 10. If the Hawks can continue to play at the level they are capable of, anything short of a Super Bowl berth would be a disappointment.

 

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Takeaways: Seahawks Beat the Niners

By Jackson Safon

That my friends, was a good old fashioned butt-whooping. The Seahawks not only beat their archrival, the San Francisco 49ers, but they beat them handily. Now over the previous two games against the Niners, the Seahawks have outscored them 71-16. I had the privilege of going to this game (Shout out to Zack Packer and his family for taking me) and I can tell you firsthand that it was every bit as loud as it seemed. The noise was so deafening that when you walked from the concourse into the actual seating area the noise hit you like a wall. It literally slowed me down. I truly believe the 12^th man is one of, if not the most impressive and helpful home field advantage in all of sports today. I can also say that I am now a proud, world record holder as the members of Century Link Field broke the record for loudest stadium ever early in the third quarter. Well done 12’s, well done. All of that being said, after every game there are positives and negatives, so as always, I will help try and determine what is important to take from our most recent game.

It was a wet and sloppy game, but the Seahawks pulled out the win in the end.

ESPN

1. This defense is going to be legendary
In Cliff Avril’s first game as a Seahawks, he played great, getting consistent pressure on Kaepernick, and recording a sack-fumble. Michael Bennett and K.J. Wright recorded sacks as well, and the defensive line was consistently getting in the backfield and making Kaepernick uncomfortable. In addition to the sacks, the Hawks defense had three interceptions (all three healthy members of the Legion of Boom had one) and two forced fumbles. The Hawks defense has allowed 10 points total so far this year, to two pretty strong offenses with dynamic young quarterbacks. Plus, this is all without Bruce Irvin, Chris Clemons, and Brandon Browner. Once those three rejoin the defensive unit, I don’t know how anyone will be able to score on the Hawks. This defense is already the best in the NFL today, and when fully healthy, I could see this unit being one of the best all-time.

2. Beastmode is fine
Marshawn Lynch silenced all concerns about the running game following the week one struggle against the Panthers, as he ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns against one of the leagues better front seven’s in the 49ers. Granted, it took him 28 carries to reach the 98 yards, but he still ran the ball pretty effectively, and this success is what allowed Russell Wilson to be much more successful later in the game. Although the loss of Michael Robinson will hurt a bit, I think it is clear that we don’t have to worry too much about the running game.

Marshawn Lynch has destroyed the 49ers the last four times he has faced them.

Steven Bisig - USA Today Sports

3. Offensive line play continues to be questionable
The offensive line was shaky once again, leading to four sacks on Russell Wilson and constant pressure in his face as well. I believe this is one of the reasons that the passing game and offense as a whole got off to a slow start, which is something that needs to be fixed if this team is going to win a championship. Additionally, Russell Okung was forced to leave the game because of a turf toe injury. This will hurt the offensive line even more. However, it will be a good chance for guys like Paul McQuistan and Alvin Bailey to prove that they belong in this league. The offensive line play must improve if the Seahawks offense and specifically the Seahawks passing game is going to perform at the elite level we all expect.

Paul McQuistan will have to step up in the absence of Russell Okung.

Seahawks.com

4. Are we the best team in the NFL?
I know it is only week two, but the past two times the Seahawks have played the defending NFC champions, they have outscored them by a combined 55 points. Furthermore, if you matchup the ‘Hawks against any of the NFC’s best teams such as the Packers, Saints, or Falcons, I would expect the ‘Hawks to win all of those games and I don’t think they would be all that close. Obviously, the ‘Hawks had to squeak by the Packers last season in the famous “Fail Mary” game, and we lost to the Falcons in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but I think that by the time the playoffs roll around this year, we will be able to beat them handily. Think about it. Not only do we get back the three defensive starters I mentioned earlier, but potentially as soon as week 7 we can get PERCY HARVIN back. I am not sure if you realize how big of a help that will be to the offense, but I can assure you, his dynamic ability will change the offense completely. The Hawks are the best team in the NFC in my mind, which would leave teams in the AFC that we would have to match up against in the Super Bowl. With the Patriots and Texans at 2-0 by very slim margins, and the Ravens struggling to beat the Browns this week, it would seem that the Broncos are the logical team to make it out of the AFC. This would be a very intriguing matchup and one that I think would make for a much closer game than any team the Seahawks played in the NFC. Could we beat the Broncos in a game? Sure. But are we better than them right now? I can’t say for sure if that is true or not. In other words, I am avoiding the question that I myself posed. But what I can say is that the Seahawks are one of the two best teams in the entire NFL, and should only get better as the season goes on.

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SEA vs. SF: Halftime Thoughts

By Marshall Cherrington

Well I haven't seen a first half of football like that in a long time. A safety, terrible refereeing and an hour delay later, the Seahawks are clinging to a 5-0 lead. Here are my halftime thoughts.

- The offensive line needs to figure it out in the second half. With Russell Okung's return questionable, the Seahawks running backs will need to be able to chip Aldon Smith and the 49ers pass rushers effectively. Paul McQuistan will also need to put his big boy hat on and try and move a couple of inches to block Aldon Smith.

- If the Seahawks are going to win this game, it's going to be by means of the ground game. Marshawn Lynch has had a solid game so far and Robert Turbin would have 25 yards or so extra added on to his rushing total if Breno Giacomini didn't commit another boneheaded penalty. Haven't seen that one before. To Giacomini's credit. it looked like a terrible call by the refs.

- Russell Wilson needs to focus up. Multiple throws have been off target, even when he hasn't been under pressure. His accuracy wasn't on point in the preseason and I might start to get worried if I don't see an improvement here soon. However, he has been under pressure multiple times and I think Russell will work some magic in the second half and escape a couple of these collapsing pockets. He also needs to keep the dang ball on the read option. Did you see how open he was a couple of those times? man, he could have 50 yards rushing by now.

- I'm loving this defensive line. Avril is getting a great pass rush and absolutely destroyed the right tackle on a nasty bull rush in the second quarter. Michael Bennett has also been impressive and had a great shoestring sack of Colin Kaepernick. I'm expecting at least two more sacks in the second half. Oh, and when Irvin and Clemons get back, this is going to be a scary defensive line. Maybe the best in the NFL.

- The secondary is playing great tonight and will have to keep doing what they're doing to win this game. Walter Thurmond's number, 28, might need to be added to that Legion of Boom doormat that the four defensive backs have. What a play on that Earl Thomas interception. My pick to click in the second half: Big Rich. Maybe an interception or two? We'll see.

Here's to a killer second half.

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Takeaways: Gritty Win for the Seahawks in the Opener

By Jackson Safon

A tough first game for the Hawks, but they found a way to grind it out and get a victory. Neither team seemed to be in control throughout the game and there were far more punts than there were successful drives. The good news is that in a game where the Seahawk’s offense wasn’t close to what we are hoping it will be this year, they still found a way to get a win. Not just that, they found a way to get a win on the road. While down at halftime. With a 10:00 A.M. start that has been troubling for the Hawks in the past, this was a very good win to start the 2013 season for the Seahawks. This is the third overall but first this season of my weekly “takeaways” column every Monday (or Tuesday depending) after the Seahawks game where I break down the overreactions, under reactions, and important things to take from the weekend’s game.

Frank Alexander of the Panthers was ejected for punching Seahawks OT Breno Giacomini.

Fansided

1. The Defense is Legit
The Seahawks defense was missing three key members: Bruce Irvin to suspension and Cliff Avril, Brandon Browner and Chris Clemons to injuries, yet they still held the Panthers to a mere seven points. O’Brien Schofield came up with a sack and rookie Benson Mayowa showed flashes of strong pass-rushing ability as well. The “Legion of Boom” was flying around the field as always, as Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor were the leading tacklers for the Hawks this week. But early in the game, there was a missed opportunity by All-Pro Richard Sherman. He undercut a route and had both hands on a potential interception that could have even gone to the house, but instead it clanked off his hands and left Sherman with his head in his hands. Yet even with some missed opportunities and allowing the Panthers to move the ball at a decent clip, the Hawks defense stiffened up when needed and only allowed the one touchdown to Steve Smith. Takeaway: This defense is fierce now, and when fully healthy will be the most dominant unit in the NFL.

The Seahawks defense held Cam Newton to a career low in passing yards in a game.

Tacoma News Tribune

2. Russell Wilson is Human
“In Russ we Trust” has been one of the big mantra’s this offseason and I bought in as well, getting Wilson in two of my fantasy football leagues. But we have to temper our expectations and remember that he is human. He started slowly in this game, going 1/5 to begin the game, and looking rather shaky in the pocket. If/When this happens in the future, fans have to remember to take a breath and let him settle in, because when he does, the results are magical. After starting 1/5 Wilson finished the rest of the game going 24 for his next 28 passes and looked fantastic while doing it. Wilson was excellent on third down and surgical when throwing on the run. He finished with 320 yards passing and capped it off with a 43 yard touchdown to the new and improved Jermaine Kearse. The play before, Wilson threw an almost identical ball to Stephen Williams, but Williams dropped it. Then Wilson came right back and delivered a strike to Kearse, who after offseason Lasik eye surgery, is becoming a serious playmaker. Takeaway: Russell Wilson is our savior, but he is still human. Be patient with the second year quarterback and let him do his thing, he won’t let the team down.

Russell Wilson took a while to get started passing-wise yesterday against the Panthers.

Oregon Live

3. Where Is the Running Game?
Marshawn Lynch was held to only 43 yards on 17 carries in yesterday’s game against the Panthers. Numbers like those have killed the Hawks in the past as Seattle was 1-4 in the last two years when Lynch had fewer than 50 yards rushing on the road (noted by fantastic Hawks blogger Brian Nemhauser). This could be attributed to a couple of things. First of all, the Panthers defense is actually quite good. Luke Kuechly is one of the best young linebackers in the game, and Jon Beason is no slouch either. Optimists like me would say that it was just a rough first game against a tough defense. Another angle however is that the loss of Michael Robinson proved important, as put bluntly, Derrick Coleman is not as good of a fullback as Mike Rob. There were a few occasions when I thought Coleman could have made some better blocks, and holes could have been opened for the running backs, but it is difficult to truly say whether that was Coleman or the strong play by the Panther front seven. Either way, it was disconcerting to see such a poor rushing performance. The running game will have to be better if the ‘Hawks are to be an elite team. Takeaway: Something serious was off with the running game, and while I don’t expect it to last with a running attack like ours, it needs to be fixed sooner rather than later with the 49ers coming into town next weekend.

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Game Preview: Seahawks at Panthers

Opening day. It’s finally here. The Seahawks open up their season with championship hopes, but must take the season one game at a time, and that starts with the Carolina Panthers today. The Panthers only went 7-9 last season and did not make the playoffs, but that does not mean they should be taken lightly.

The Carolina Panthers had an astonishing 1-7 record in games decided by 6 points or less, which means that they were very close to being a very good team. Offensively, they are clearly led by third year quarterback Cam Newton. Cam is one of the most talented yet immature players in the NFL, but his supporting cast doesn’t do much to help him. Steve Smith is his most talented skill player, but he is 34 years old. DeAngelo Williams was once a skilled running back, but is now on the wrong side of 30 and has been declining in production for years. That being said, Newton has enough talent to carry the entire offense on his back, and is dangerous throwing the ball as well as running with it.

The Legion of Boom should be able to shut down the Panthers passing attack, but I worry about how the front seven will be able to stop Newton when he runs the ball. He is 6 foot 5 and 245 pounds which makes him bigger than every Seahawks linebacker except for K.J. Wright. The weakness of the defense last year was the run stopping, so it will be interesting to see if the Hawks decide to stack the box against the Panthers. Whatever they decide to do, I think the Hawks will be able to hold Newton in check and keep the Panthers offense down.

The toughest test for the Hawks against the Panthers will be when we are on offense. I expect the Panthers to have one of the better defensive units in the NFL this season from their front seven all the way back to the defensive backfield. Perennial Pro-Bowler Jon Beason will return from injury to be paired with the defensive rookie of the year in Luke Kuechly to form a terrifying linebacking crew, while rookie Star Lotuleilei will add to an already solid defensive line. Captain Munnerlyn and Charles Godfrey lead a strong secondary that will test the Seahawks receivers. All of that being said, over the second half of the 2012 season the Seahawks had a top five offensive unit, and for a team with championship aspirations, the Panthers should not stop the Hawks offense.

Marshawn Lynch will still be able to get his, and I expect him to get over 100 yards. I expect Russell Wilson to continue his incredible efficiency last year keeping his interception down and his yards per attempt up. One of the questions about the offense will be how much read-option they incorporate this year, as starting around week 12 last year they used it with great effectiveness. I think this will be a tougher test for the Hawks than some people think, but we still should be able to come out with a win.

Prediction: 27-17 Hawks victory

Be sure to check out my weekly Takeaways piece the Monday after every Seahawks game.

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