Did you know that, since dropping down to his sidearm slot, Sean Green has thrown 14.1 innings, striking out 14, walking 6 and posting an ERA of 1.88? Small sample? Yeah - but I'm liking the new & improved Sean Green. Sidearmers rule!

YouTube Friday…better late than never!

“The Bigs” came out this week and I hope to get it soon. When I do, look for a review. Until then, check out the trailer!


Another commercial for something I want to buy. Check out that curveball!


An awesome, old Griffey commercial…


I’m stoked that Oregon State won back-to-back National Championships! Here is some inside footage from SS Darwin Barney…


Alright…one more commercial, but I think I might have saved the best for last. Can your blender handle a baseball? LOL – why is this a selling point?

Working right down by Safeco Field the past couple days has made me realize how lame Mariners fans really are. Between the fact that they do the wave during critical situations, complain about people cheering too loudly, that the biggest roars from the stadium come from the hydroplane races and all the love for Bloomquist, I already knew most M's fans were lame, but watching this series against the Red Sox really cemented my beliefs. The M's were about to sweep the Boston Red Sox this afternoon. It was about 4:30 and the game was tied in the 8th inning, but people were flooding out of Safeco like the place was on fire. I couldn't believe it. How can you even call yourself a fan? Why even bother going to the game if you're going to leave when it's tied, so you can go sit in rush-hour traffic?

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled the M's swept the Sox and have won 5 in a row. They're one of the hottest teams right now and they're only five games out of first and two games back in the Wild Card. It's going to be a fun summer - but it would be better if Mariners fans weren't so pathetic!

Let's do a quick comparison between typical Red Sox fans and typical Mariners fans...

Red Sox fans get decked out for games. Almost every Sox fan wears at least three team-related items to the ballpark. You can tell who they're rooting for because they're all wearing shirts, jerseys, hats, jackets and red socks. Mariners fans, on the other hand, look like they're going to a PTSA meeting. Jeans, a polo shirt tucked in, sandals (with socks) and a North Face fleece? Yep...there's your typical Mariners fan.

Red Sox fans know what they're talking about. They know Kevin Youkilis is a beast and that he's hitting .330/.415/.498. They come to the ballpark to watch baseball and they cheer louder for a single than M's fans cheer for a home run. Mariners fans show up late, drink a few microbrews, eat some $8 strawberries on a stick, talk about their portfolios and their kids' soccer teams and leave in the 8th inning of a tie ballgame.

It just pisses me off that Mariners fans are so boring. If they were more passionate, there would be more pressure on the front office and we'd presumably have a better product on the field. Instead, we're stuck with Raul Ibanez: Mariner For Life. Do you think Red Sox fans would put up with a DH that has a .716 OPS? How about a $13 million 1B hitting .209? Of course they wouldn't - they'd be screaming bloody muder because they wouldn't put up with that crap. But, if you go to Safeco Field, it's obvious that 80% of the people there just don't care. They're there for a fun night out with the family or to impress some clients.It's not a library, folks. You don't have to use your 12" voices at the ballpark. Get rowdy! Show some pride in your team and in this city! Please - the next time you go to Safeco Field, make a point to do something you don't normally do. Buy a jersey and wear it to the ballgame. Cheer for your favorite Mariner - even if the big screen isn't flashing "Make Some Noise!" and your section has the vibe of a funeral parlor. Make a sign. Paint your face. Let's get behind this team, so it doesn't feel like Fenway Park everytime the Red Sox come to town!

That's all just a long rant, when all I really needed to say was that I wish every Mariners fan was a little bit more like Red.

I went to the game tonight and it was easily the best 16-1 loss I've ever attended. All jokes aside, it really was magical. Their were positive vibes around Safeco all day - people sharing their favorite memories of Griffey, dads telling their young sons about how special it was to watch Junior in his prime, it was electric down there and it was a great day to be a Mariners fan. I was interviewed by Kiro TV (I'm at the very end of the video, which you can see here) about my favorite Griffey moment. I said my favorite moment was when he hit back-to-back shots with his dad, because that was the first thing that popped into my head. While that was a great moment, and I remember watching it with my dad, I kept thinking of other Griffey memories throughout the day and thinking, "Ahh...I should have said that!" I'll always remember his sweet swing and when he hit homeruns in eight consecutive games. The catches he made were legendary and I love how he was always having fun out there. But, there are some special memories for me - like the time Griffey played in a charity basketball game against teachers from my elementary school. Or, when dad and I had first row tickets at the Kingdome, right over the M's dugout and Griffey tossed me a ball as he was running into the dugout. Griffey was my favorite player as a kid and there will always be a place in my heart for him, and that's why I had to get a ticket for tonight's game.

My day at work felt like it was 17 hours long. The clock laughed in my face and I continuously checked every couple minutes to see how long until I could get out of there and join the party happening outside the store. 6:30 finally came and I dashed out of the store, chugged a Red Bull and went in through the team store entrance (no line!). I found my seat and sat down, anxiously awaiting the pre-game festivities. I don't remember at time in my life when I've been that excited for a baseball game. The ceremony started and it was truly magical. As they showed Griffey highlights on the big screen, I got goosebums. Everyone was cheering like we just won the World Series, chanting, "GRI-FFEY! GRI-FFEY!" and "JU-NIOR! JU-NIOR!" I know Griffey said he was afraid we were going to boo him, like we boo A-Rod, and I think he was astonished at the overwhelmingly genuine love flowing from the stands. As they called The Kid up to the microphone, I got goosebumps on top of my goosebumps, my hands hurt from clapping so much and I was beginning to lose my voice. I even shed a few tears throughout the ceremony - it was just awesome. I'm so glad I bought a ticket. What a great night. I was hoping they would retire his number, but they didn't. As the game spiraled out of control, I was hoping to see a position player pitch, but that didn't happen either. It didn't matter though - nothing after about 7:15. Yeah, the M's lost 16-1, but the pre-game cermony was worth twice the price of admission.

Thanks, Griffey. See ya in Cooperstown!

Bold: Oregon State will win the College World Series.
Bolder: J.J. Putz will be snubbed from the All-Star team.
Boldest: The Mariners will retire #24 this weekend.

Attention stupid YouTube whores: stop putting “baseball” as one of your keywords. If people want to find porn on the Internet, there are a million better ways than by searching for baseball videos on YouTube…

This is why they make first base coaches wear helmets in Little League…


I hope Masaru Uno could hit, because he was apparently a horrible defender.


Ichiro’s amazing throw. This never gets old…


A Japanese news piece on Matsuzaka’s mythical gyroball


David Eckstein, Braden Looper & Alex Gordon talk about playing in the College World Series. That reminds me…GO BEAVERS!

What do Roger Clemens, Geoff Jenkins, Jason Varitek, Huston Street, Eric Wedge, Brad Hawpe, Terry Francona, Willie Bloomquist, Jacque Jones, Nomar Garciaparra, Andrew Miller, Mark Kotsay, Paul Byrd & Morgan Ensberg all have in common?

Highlight below this sentence for the answer (white text)...

They all played for the championship in the College World Series.

First off, no this post isn't about Beavis & Butthead. Short-season ball in the Northwest League is right around the corner and I can’t wait to head up to Everett and catch some Aquasox games. I’m excited to see who will make the Aquasox squad – hopefully I’ll get to see Phillippe Aumont, Matt Mangini, Denny Almonte, Joe Dunnigan, Nick Hill, Kris Sanchez and maybe even Juan Carlos Ramirez.
 

The NWL rosters haven’t been completely set yet, but here are some of the players in other organizations that I’m hoping to see…



Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks)
I really hope some of these guys sign quickly, because the Bears open the season in Everett, June 19-23rd. The Diamondbacks took Jarrod Parker, a high school pitcher from Indiana that has been described as a “Scott Kazmir from the right side.” After that, they went with a lot of interesting college guys like Wes Roemer, Ed Easley, Barry Enright, Sean Morgan, Scott Maine and Josh Collmenter. Now, I don’t know if any of them will start out in the Northwest League, but if they sign late and are added to the Bears’ roster after they play in Everett, I might just have to spend a weekend in “The Palm Springs of Washington”




Eugene Emeralds (Padres)
The Emeralds visit Everett next (June 29th – July 1st and August 28-30) and they could have a lot of guys I’m excited to see, as well. Another college-heavy draft started out with Nick Schmidt, and they also have Kellen Kulbacki, Mitch Canham, Danny Payne, Eric Sogard and Jeremy Hefner. Schmidt doesn’t really excite me too much – other than the fact that he was a first rounder. I interviewed Kulbacki, so I’m excited to possibly see him play, Canham is the rapping catcher out of Oregon State, and Payne (an OF from Georgia Tech) and Sogard (ASU-2B) have both been described as Dustin Pedroia clones. Hefner was on the list of pitchers I liked prior to the draft. I might have to head up to Everett for both of the series against the Emeralds. Geez…by the time this post is over, I’ll be buying season tickets!




Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants)
The Giants had a lot of early picks in the draft, and I’m hoping to see some of the in the Northwest League this year. I’m most excited about Madison Bumgarner, but I’d also like to see Tim Alderson and Nick Noonan. Also, if Angel Villalona is tearing up the Arizona League, I’m really hoping to see him this summer in Everett. According to Kevin Goldstein at BP, Villalona was the top talent in the Dominican last summer and the Giants signed him for $2.1 million. He’s only 16 right now, so it would be very surprising to see him in the Northwest League, competing with guys coming out of college. My fingers are crossed – probably next year, though. The Volcanoes are in Everett from July 7-9 and from August 13-15.




Boise Hawks (Cubs)

There aren’t a lot of guys I’m itching to see that will be on the Hawks’ roster. Obviously, if Josh Vitters starts in Boise, I would love to see him – but that’s about it. Another guy that could be interesting is Chris Huseby, a 6’7” pitcher that was drafted in the 11th round, dropping because of Tommy John surgery in 2005. The Hawks fly through Everett July 17-21.


Vancouver Canadians (A’s)
The A’s Northwest League affiliate will make two trips south of the border this season. First, from July 22-24, then again from August 31 – September 2 and they could be smuggling a lot of talent. Not surprisingly, the A’s went with a lot of college guys in the draft and I’m hoping to see Sean Doolittle, Corey Brown, Grant Desme, Josh Horton, Sam Demel and Travis Banwart.




Spokane Indians (Rangers)
 The Spokane Indians come to town August 20-24 and they could have a killer rotation with Blake Beavan, Michael Main, Neil Ramirez and, one of the guys I’m most excited to see…Fabio Castillo. Castillo is an 18-year-old righty that’s a big 6’3”, 220 lbs. He has a fastball that’s in the upper 90s and probably has the highest ceiling of any player in the Rangers system.

Tri-City Dust Devils (Rockies)
The Dust Devils will be in Everett from August 3-7, but they don’t have a lot of guys that I’m dying to see. Vanderbilt’s closer, Casey Weathers, was their first-round pick, but how excited can you get about a minor league reliever? Brian Rike is a hard-hitting OF from LSU that could be fun to watch, but I’m hoping for some diamonds in the rough…

I highly encourage you to get up to Everett this summer. It’s cheap, it’s a whole lot of fun and it’s good baseball. I’m going to try and get up there as much as possible this summer, and I’ll be sure to post some pictures and maybe even some videos and scouting reports. See you there! Go Frogs! 

Here's how I predict the AL West standings will look like at the All-Star break...

Angels 54-34 .614

Mariners 50-35 .588

A's 43-45 .489

Rangers 32-57 .359

It's not often (ok, never) that I see baseball-related graffiti. So, when I got off the bus this morning and saw Keith Hernandez's face staring back at me, I knew I had to take a picture. This is at 2nd & Main near Pioneer Square...

I wish there were more video clips of HS and college players on YouTube - I would have loved to do a draft edition of YouTube Friday, but the footage just isn't easily accessible. Maybe next year. Have a great weekend!

Remember last week when I told you not to play baseball with your cell phones? Don't play baseball with your electric guitar, either!


Here's an absolutely horrible NESN commercial featuring a very young Roger Clemens...


The Mississippi Braves manager, Phillip Wellman, went absolutely insane after being tossed from a game last week. If you haven't seen it - you have to watch. If you have seen it - watch it again!


Remember Kaz Tadano? He was the pitcher for the Indians a few years ago that said he made money in college by making a gay porn movie. Anyway - he's on the Sacramento River Cats now and he throws an eephus pitch. Woo!


Here's a new Everett Aquasox commercial featuring new owner, Jay Buhner. I can't wait for Everett's opening day on June 19th!

With all the talk about the Mariners zoning in on Daniel Moskos, Casey Weathers or Nick Schmidt, it was a very nice surprise when Phillippe Aumont fell to them with the 11th overall pick.

Aumont has a very imposing presence on the mound. At 6'7", 225 lbs., he's a big kid. His fastball is big too - sitting in the mid-90s and topping out at 97 (or 156 KPH, if you prefer!). He uses his size well and gets good downward movement on his pitches, inducing a lot of groundballs. Throwing out of a 3/4 arm slot, a slider will work well for Aumont. He has one now that's a work in progress and once he can throw that with more consistancy, he should provide a great mix of strikeouts and groundballs.

Because he's from eastern Canada, Aumont's arm is fresh, compared to HS kids from California, Texas, Florida, etc. - so that's a positive. He'll also be a relatively easy sign, and I'm excited to see him in Everett this summer. Great pick!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Oh wait, it's just draft day - which feels like Christmas for draft nerds, like myself. As a Mariners fan, I'm hoping they don't give me a big lump of coal this year. Many mock drafts have them picking Nick Schmidt, Dan Moskos or Casey Weathers - all of whom could be a big mistake in the long run. Matt Wieters is considered the best pure hitter in the draft. He's a 6'5", 230 lb. switch-hitting catcher from Georgia Tech. On the Cape last summer, he hit .307 with 8 homeruns and he walked more than he struck out. This year, he hit .358 with 17 doubles and 10 home runs. He also had 51 walks to only 37 strikeouts. While Wieters is a premium talent, he's represented by Scott Boras, so he's expected to fall in the draft because of bonus demands. But, I find it disgusting that a team that can reach into their pocketbook and sign Jeff Weaver for $8 million would pass on a premium talent like Wieters. C'mon, Mariners...do the right thing. Don't pick Wieters because you gave Jason Varitek away, don't pick him because Jeff Clement's hitting .254 in AAA, pick him because he'll very likely be the best player available!

I wanted to write a little bit about some of the players I’ll be following during the draft this afternoon – “my guys,” per se. These aren’t all the players I like and they're not the guys that I think are necessarily the best, but just guys that I like for one reason or another and that I’ll be following on draft day. I’m not including guys that I interviewed or guys that I took in John Sickels’ mock draft, because I’m obviously already invested in those guys. So, here are 10 hitters and 10 pitchers that I really like and will be tracking during the draft…

Ten hitters I like
1) Matt Mangini
Junior 3B – Oklahoma State – L/R – 6’4” / 220 lbs.
Mangini led the Cape Cod league last summer with a .310 average – very impressive for a college player hitting with wood. Mangini hit .343/.409/.531 for North Carolina State as a sophomore before transferring to Oklahoma State for his junior year. The switch to the Big 12 didn’t seem to phase Mangini, as he hit .343/.444/.548 for the Cowboys this season. I’ve watched Mangini’s scouting video about 20 times and, while I don’t like how he side-saddles a lot of groundballs, I love how smooth and easy his swing looks. I would love to see the Mariners pop Mangini in the supplemental round…if he’s still there.

2) Justin Jackson
SS – TC Roberson HS (NC) – R/R – 6’2” / 175 lbs.
Jackson goes to the same high school that produced Cameron Maybin. Like Maybin, Jackson profiles as a five-tool talent. Why he isn’t projected to go in the first round really has me scratching my head – especially in a year where quality shortstops are few and far between. I’ve watched Jackson’s scouting video quite a bit as well and he sure passes the eye test. He’s a great athlete that makes everything look very easy. In the field, he’s very fluid and looks like he can stick at SS. As a hitter, he has a quick bat, makes hard contact and his wiry frame should fill out nicely. He’s fast and the overall package reminds me of Derek Jeter.

3) Dominic de la Osa
Junior SS/OF – Vanderbilt – R/R – 5’11” / 190 lbs.
All of Vanderbilt’s focus has been on pitcher David Price, who is projected to go first overall tomorrow. But, Dominic de la Osa has been a great contributor to the Commodore’s success as well. Last year, de la Osa hit .319 with 9 HRs at Vanderbilt before heading out to the Cape, where he hit .270 with 8 2Bs and 2 3Bs before being named to the All-Star team. This year he hit .378/.452/727 with 23 2Bs and 20 HRs. Seeing as how he’s listed as SS/OF, I’m guessing he won’t stick as a SS in pro ball, but he could probably be a good offensive 2B, no?

4) Blake Stouffer
Junior OF – Texas A&M – B/R – 6’1” / 185 lbs.
Stouffer is a switch-hitting OF for Texas A&M that has both power and speed. His sophomore campaign was poor, as he hit only .259/.389/.362, but he came alive this season, hitting .402/.490/.663 with 11 HRs and 22 stolen bases. Stouffer’s dad, Blair, played in the Texas Rangers’ organization. Texas A&M’s site lists Stouffer as an OF, but Baseball America lists him as a 3B/1B, saying that he doesn’t have the bat to handle a corner spot, but probably doesn’t have the glove to play 2B. So, while he might be limited defensively and could be a “tweener” of sorts, I like the gap power & speed combination.

5) Matt Spencer
Junior OF – Arizona State – L/L – 6’4” / 225 lbs.
A 24th-round selection by the Red Sox out of high school, Spencer instead chose to attend North Carolina. He didn’t see much playing time as a freshman, but started 46 games as a sophomore (playing in 64), hitting .278 with 6 HRs. That summer, he played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod league before transferring to Arizona State for his junior season. The Sun Devils lineup is just lethal and Spencer’s joined the hit parade with a .380/.446/.626 line this year.

6) Brandon Waring
Junior 3B – Wofford College – R/R – 6’4” / 195 lbs.
Wofford College is a private, liberal arts school in Spartansburg, South Carolina. The Terriers play in the Southern Conference and Waring was the cornerstone of their offense this year. Last year, as a sophomore, Waring hit a respectable .266/.395/.563 before breaking his wrist and undergoing season-ending surgery. The wrist seems to be healed and this year he was an absolute monster, posting a ridiculous line of .401/.518/.851. I don’t care what conference you play in – slugging .851 is downright impressive.

7) Steven Hill
Senior 1B – Stephen F. Austin State University – R/R – 6’0” / 195 lbs.
I know, I know…he’s a senior, he’s a bad-bodied, right-handed first baseman and he’s playing for a team that hasn’t ever produced a Major Leaguer. But, the guy knows how to hit a baseball. As a sophomore at Eastfield Junior College, Hill clubbed 31 home runs. Last year, at Stephen F. Austin, he hit .348 with 14 home runs and this year he punished Southland Conference pitchers to the tune of .385/.486/.819 with as many HRs (24) as strikeouts. To show that he wasn’t just a bopper, Hill added 10 stolen bases for good measure. But, if history is any indication, I don’t think Don Henley’s title as most famous Stephen F. Austin alumnus is in jeopardy.

8) Robbie Widlansky
Junior OF – Florida Atlantic University – L/R – 6’2” / 210 lbs.
Widlansky was drafted in the 34th round out of high school by the Yankees. However, he turned them down to attend Florida Atlantic University. Widlansky became the Owls’ everyday third baseman as a freshman and hit .286. As a sophomore, he hit .317 with 7 home runs. That summer, he headed out to the Cape, where he hit .250 with three homers for the Bourne Braves. He started the first six games of his junior year for FAU before a hamstring injury forced him to be a medical redshirt. This year, with a pair of healthy legs back under him, Widlansky hit .433/.498/.729 with 24 doubles and 15 home runs.

9) Marcus Davis
Senior OF – Alcorn State – R/R – 6’4” / 205 lbs.
The Marlins drafted Davis in the 21st round of the 2004 draft out of East Central Community College in Mississippi, the alma matter of Detroit Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames. Davis did not sign and transferred to Alcorn State, where he blistered the ball in 2006, hitting .393/.447/.820 with 8 HRs and only 6 stolen bases in 23 games. This year, Davis played in 45 games and hit .393/.494/.841 with 16 HRs. Although he has always had good speed, Davis worked on improving his baserunning skills and strategy this year and swiped 29 bags. He also improved his contact skills and cut down on his strikeouts considerably. In 2006, he struck out 27 times in 89 at-bats. This year, he struck out just 28 times in 145 at-bats.

10) Tyler Mach
Senior 2B – Oklahoma State – R/R – 6’4” / 220 lbs.
Yes, the local connection helps. Mach is from Kent, WA and transferred to Oklahoma State after playing at Edmond Community College. However, the main reason I like Mach is because he can flat hit. Tyler’s dad is a financial adviser and one of his clients is Edgar Martinez. One time, Martinez took Mach on a tour of Safeco Field, showing him what he did every day – his workout routine and how he always hit balls off of a tee. The tips sure didn’t hurt. In 2006, Mach was the Big 12’s Co-Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after hitting .364 with a conference-best 16 HRs. How he was drafted in the 40th round, I’ll never know. This year, he continued to be an offensive force, hitting .401/.463/.700 with 24 doubles and 16 HRs.

Ten pitchers I like
1) Madison Bumgarner
LHP – South Caldwell HS (NC) – 6’5” / 220 lbs.
It’s really hard not to like big leftyhanders with gas – especially ones named Madison Bumgarner. Seriously – great baseball name, right? Bumgarner throws 95 and what I really like about him – actually what I really like about his dad - is that his dad didn’t let him start throwing breaking balls until just last season. So, when you read scouting reports or writers complaining about his secondary stuff being behind his fastball (and, really, what HS pitcher’s secondary stuff isn’t behind his fastball), take that with a big grain of salt and know that you’re getting a power lefty with a fresh arm. Watching his scouting video, Bumgarner reminds me of what Andrew Miller might have looked like in high school. Yes, please!

2) Jake Arrieta
RHP – Texas Christian University – 6’4” / 225 lbs.
Baseball America ranked Arrieta the 7th-best college junior in the nation at the beginning of the season. Arrieta was coming off of a TCU sophomore campaign where he went 14-4 with a 2.35 ERA and 111 Ks over 111 innings pitched. He was the first Horned Frog to ever pitch for Team USA, and he was great there as well – going 4-0 over six starts with a microscopic ERA of 0.27. His stock has fallen this year because Arrieta has somewhat of a control problem. While he struck out 93 batters over 98.2 IP, he also issued 50 free passes. But, he’s got a great pitcher’s body and while his fastball was down a bit this year, he was hitting 94 last season with a great slider. I like him better than any other college RHP in the draft.

3) Nick Hagadone
LHP – University of Washington – 6’5” / 230 lbs.
Nick Hagadone is a beast. Seriously, he’s a very athletic 6’5”, 230 lbs. with a big square jaw – he looks like a prince from a Disney movie, or something. He emerged as the Huskies best pitcher this season, coming out of the bullpen for the most part. His fastball jumped from the mid-80s to the mid-90s between his sophomore and junior seasons, and the differences show in the statistics. Hagadone made 25 appearances and tossed 68.1 innings, striking out 72 and walking 17 while compiling a 2.77 ERA. I’m not a fan of drafting relievers – unless they can be converted to starters in the minor leagues. Hagadone has started for UW, but his success came in the bullpen. I don’t know if he can start in pro ball, but I’d be willing to give him the chance.

4) Kyle Blair
RHP – Los Gatos HS (CA) – 6’3” / 200 lbs.
Blair is a very athletic kid – aside from being a great pitcher, he’s also a good hitter and was an all-conference water polo player. The next time you’re in a pool, try and tread water for 10 minutes – it’s tough! His fastball sits in the low 90s, but can hit 95. His curveball was a little loopy last year, but he’s tightened it up and, according to Baseball America, it now ranks as a solid 60 on the 20-80 scale. They also say that his makeup is universally lauded, and that’s always a plus in my book as well.

5) Wes Roemer
RHP – Cal State Fullerton – 6’0” / 200 lbs.
I really like Wes Roemer. Yeah, he’s on the small side and he doesn’t have overpowering stuff. But, he’s a bulldog on the mound and has impeccable control. Over the past two seasons, Roemer has pitched 282 innings, striking out 281 batters while walking only 29. However, Roemer has a reputation as somewhat of a red ass because, if he’s about to walk somebody, oftentimes he’ll just plunk them instead (he has hit 41 batters over the past two seasons). But, that just adds to his fiery, competitive nature. Roemer’s fastball sits in the high 80s, low 90s, but it has good sink (Roemer’s only allowed 14 HRS the past two seasons) and arm-side run. He has a good slider and decent changeup. Plus, his favorite team is the Seattle Mariners!

6) Marc Rzepcynski
LHP – UC-Riverside – 6’3” / 210 lbs.
Rzepcynski missed some time earlier in the season with arm soreness, but he showed great stuff since then, quieting those concerns. As the Saturday starter for the Highlanders, behind James Simmons, Rzepcynski pitched 72.2 innings with a 2.72 ERA, 84 Ks and just 25 BBs. But, what I like best about Rzepcynski (who desperately needs an easier-to-spell nickname) is that he didn’t give up a home run. Not one. His season ended with a broken knuckle on his pitching hand, but as a senior already, he could have some helium as an easy guy to sign.

7) Adam Mills
RHP – UNC-Charlotte – 6’0” / 195 lbs.
Adam Mills is an easy guy to root for. As an undersized righty, Mills doesn’t have electric stuff, but he’s just a good pitcher – a pitcher’s pitcher. He may not light up the radar guns, but he knows how to get outs. There’s an interview with him over at BaseballAnalysts where he said, “Pitching is not about being 6'5" and throwing 98. It's about getting outs.” And Mills sure knows how to get outs. As a junior last season, Mills threw 114 innings, racking up 111 strikeouts and only 19 walks. This year, he pitched 142.2 innings and struck out 141 while walking 27. Oh, and did I mention he had an ERA of 1.01 and gave up only one home run? You can have Andrew Brackman and his tired arm…I’ll take Adam Mills.

8) Jeremy Hefner
RHP – Oral Roberts University – 6’5” / 200 lbs.
To answer your first question – I’m not sure if he’s related to Hugh, or not. Whether he is or isn’t, I like Hefner – but not as much as the Mets, who have drafted him twice (46th round in 04 and 48th round in ’05). Hefner throws a fastball in the low 90s with an effective slider. Hefner moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation this year and is still working on a curve and changeup. He has a good pitcher’s body and performed well for the Golden Eagles this season, going 9-2 with 107 strikeouts and 29 walks over 86 innings. I also really like his teammate, senior Chance Chapman.

9) Josh Collmenter
RHP – Central Michigan University – 6’4” / 235 lbs.
Collmenter is like a guy you’d create in a video game. Baseball America said, “…Collmenter isn’t pretty, but he is creative.” His motion is apparently “stiff” and “over the top” with a fastball that tops out in the low 90s with cutting action. He also throws a big curveball and has been known to mess around with an eephus and a knuckleball, but he gets results. Collmenter was the Mid-American Conference pitcher of the year after going 9-4 with a 1.93 ERA over 116.1 IP. He struck out 17 and walked 26. Throw in the fact that he has a sweet mustache that looks like it belongs in a ‘70s porn movie, and this guy is just straight awesome!

10) Tyler Levin
RHP – Central Washington University – 6’4” / 230 lbs.
Levin rounds out the list because if any player is drafted from CWU (my alma matter) this season, it will probably be him. A big righty from Everett, Levin was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year after going 10-2 with a 3.35 ERA. He was just the fifth pitcher in CWU history to record 10 or more wins in a season and his 67 strikeouts led the GNAC. I didn’t get out to a game this season, so I’m not sure what he throws, but his size and statistics indicate that he probably has solid stuff. He also allowed only two home runs over 82 IP. Go Wildcats!

Nevin Griffith is an awesome high school pitcher from Tampa, Florida. The 6’4” righty has shot up draft boards this spring with his projectable, athletic body and great stuff – including a fastball that touches 96, good sinker and plus slider. Griffith should be drafted very highly on Thursday, perhaps even creeping into the first round. I had the pleasure of interviewing Nevin via e-mail, and here is what he had to say…


PerfectGame.org

First off, start by telling everyone where you grew up, how you became interested in baseball and a little about your prep baseball career.
I grew up in Brandon, FL. My older brother played baseball, so the game was introduced to me early in my life. My first time out of the house as a newborn baby was actually to the baseball field - to one of my brother’s games. Naturally, I was interested in the game and when I was four years old, I enrolled in tee-ball. In high school, my coach decided I was going to be a pitcher.

How would you describe yourself as a pitcher to someone who hasn’t seen you pitch? What pitches do you thrown? How do they rank? How do you like to attack hitters? Write your autobiographical scouting report!
I pitch to get outs. That is not my main focus as much as it is my only focus. I throw a fastball that usually sits around 93-95 MPH and a sinker around 91 MPH. My slider is my out pitch and it’s usually in the range of 82-84 MPH. Those three pitches are my bread and butter in the course of a game. My curveball and change-up are usually used later in the game as a surprise pitch. I like to stay away from hitters most of the time unless they are a strong hitter then I’ll come inside. I mostly throw outside to lefties and like to backdoor them with my slider.

Tell us about your pre-game preparation and what you do on the days you're not pitching. What routine do you go through when you're on the mound that day. What do you do after the game, when you're done pitching? Do you ice? Stretch? How often do you throw on your off days?
First off, I try to throw everyday whether it is just a short toss or flat ground to a long toss and a bullpen. I like to long toss before I pitch and run just two poles. After the games I pitch, I don’t ice as many pitchers do. My arm usually feels good so I run about four miles the day after just to get all of the lactic acid out of my arm built up from the game.

You've had a prestigious prep baseball career. Please talk about some of the travel teams you have been on and showcases that you have played in.
I have played for many travel teams and summer clubs but the team that outranks all of those teams is Chet Lemmon’s Juice - they are the real deal.

What player have you played with or against that makes you say, "That guy is going places!"?
I went to Atlanta for an East Cobb Showcase and I played with this shortstop named Derek Deitrick - now that guy is really going places!

On a related note, you've had some intense battles against Michael Burgess - another player from Tampa that will be a high draft pick in a couple weeks. Tell us about those.
I went at Mike like he was just an ordinary batter. He got no special treatment because of his name. I treated him like a strong-hitting lefty, so I stayed in on his hands and used the slider outside to back door him. I used the sinker and the curveball to keep him off balance.

Do you have a favorite MLB team?
No.

Who is your favorite pro baseball player? Is there a pitcher that you try and model your game after?
My favorite baseball player is Dontrelle Willis, but hopefully it will be myself pretty soon. LOL. But I try to model my pitching after Roger Clemens because in his prime he went for the win with his all and he has two power pitches, like me.

What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career?
When I threw my first perfect game this year. It was memorable because the fans for the other team were actually rooting for me.

Do you have any superstitions? If so, how did they develop? I always associate #23 with Michael Jordan - is that why you chose that number, or are there different reasons?
I have no superstitions, but I always have the number 23 because that was the date I was born - March 23rd. There’s no sense in having a number that means absolutely nothing, so I decided that my number would be 23.

We’ve now heard about Nevin Griffith, the ballplayer, but tell us about Nevin Griffith, the person. What do you like to do when you’re not playing baseball? What is something unique about you?
When I’m not on the field, I’m just a regular 18-year-old young man that likes to go to the movies, play spades and halo with his friends. Something unique about me is that I hate pizza but love sushi.

Favorite Movie? Music group/artist? Book?
“300”, Lil Wayne & To Kill a Mockingbird.

With Edgar being inducted into the Mariners' Hall of Fame this weekend, it got me wondering about how many other players have hit 500+ doubles and 300+ HRs in their career. Well, here is the list...

Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, George Brett, Carl Yastrzemski, Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken Jr., Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Eddie Murray, Luis Gonzalez, Rogers Hornsby, Dave Winfield, Al Simmons, Lou Gehrig, Frank Robinson, Dave Parker, Jeff Kent, Tony Perez, Andre Dawson, Ted Williams & Willie Mays.

A pretty impressive group, right? Of the 21 players in the group, there are 15 Hall of Famers, one eventual Hall of Famer (Bonds), one probable Hall of Famer (Kent), a guy who would/should go in, but will probably get the McGwire treatment (Palmeiro), and three other guys that came really close and may have a case for the HOF (Parker, Andre Dawson & Gonzo).

Of the group listed above, guess how many of them have a higher career OBP than Edgar's .418. Just five! Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Barry Bonds & Rogers Hornsby.

Here's to hoping that Edgar's induction ceremony on Saturday wasn't his last...

For the second year in a row, I had the privilege of being the Mariners’ “scouting director” in John Sickels’ MinorLeagueBall.com’s mock draft. I don’t have any access to inside information, but I did as much internet research as I could and I felt moderately confident, being that the mock draft only covers the first five rounds. Here is how things went down…

Round 1 (Pick #11)
My Pick: Phillippe Aumont – RHP – Ecole Du Versant HS (Quebec)
The first 10 picks went about as expected. The Devil Rays started off by picking David Price (surprise, surprise!), then Wieters, Porcello and Vitters came off the board. The Orioles picked Moustakas and then the Nats popped Beau Mills, which I thought was a little high. The Brewers took Jarrod Parker, the Rockies took Detwier, the D-Backs took Heyward and the Giants went with Bumgarner. I was happy Phillippe Aumont was available. I figured either he or Bumgarner would be there, and I would have been happy with either one. I was a bit surprised that Matt Harvey wasn’t picked in the top ten, and I considered him for a moment – but I really like Aumont and have heard that some scouts believe he’s the best pitcher in the entire draft – yes, even better than David Price. For the last time in the draft, I got the guy I really wanted (and thought would be there for that pick).

Supplemental Round (Pick #52)
My Pick: Chris Withrow – RHP – Midland Christian HS (TX)
After their first round pick at #11, the M’s had to wait until #52 to pick again. Between these two picks, guys I wanted started flying off the board. The Phillies took SS Justin Jackson at #19 in the first round, Corey Brown, Matt Mangini and Nevin Griffith also went at the end of the first round. As the first round ended, I started thinking, “Ok, maybe Nick Hagadone will be there at #52.” If you don’t know, Hagadone is a big, strong left-handed pitcher for the University of Washington. He’s a reliever for the Huskies, but he’s hitting 95 with his fastball and scouting reports indicate that he could start in pro ball. But, that idea was shattered as the Reds took him with the fourth pick in the sandwich round. Other guys I liked, like Pete Kozma, Aaron Poreda and Jake Arrieta were crossed off my list as well. So, I had it narrowed down to Chris Withrow and Kyle Blair. When the Giants picked Blair at #51, it made my choice pretty easy. Yeah, he’s another HS RHP, but I thought it was a little too early for Kellen Kulbacki. Withrow is 6’3” and what I like about him was that, according to his profile on Baseball America, he has a clean delivery, his fastball was touching 94 this spring and his dad reached double-A in the White Sox’ system.

Second Round (Pick #75)
My Pick: Scott Moviel – RHP – St. Edward HS (OH)
After I picked Withrow, I was really pissed when the Rangers popped Cal Poly OF Grant Desme at #54. I love Desme, so I can obviously understand the appeal, but Baseball America has him ranked at #99 and I figured that with his season-ending broken wrist, he might slip a little bit. One thing I noticed is that, since information is a lot more accessible for college players, they seem to be favored in a draft like this. Sean Doolittle and Kulbacki also left in the supplemental round and Nick Tepesch and Mitch Canham were taken before the M’s selected in the second round. I chose Scott Moviel, a beast of a RHP from a high school in Ohio. Moviel’s brother Paul is in the Devil Rays’ system and his brother Greg was the M’s 26th-round pick out of Vanderbilt last year. Scott is 6’10” and touches 94. Baseball America says that his mechanics don’t have any major flaws, which is good for such a large pitcher, although he needs to stay on top of his pitches more. I didn’t like taking three prep arms in a row but, like I said, college guys were moving quickly. This was a projection pick and, in hindsight, I’m wondering if I should have gone with a position player instead – Travis Matthair, perhaps?

Third Round (Pick #105)
My Pick: Travis Banwart – RHP – Wichita State
Some guys I liked, like Wes Roemer, Julian Sampson, Zach Cozart, David Kopp and Chad Bettis came off the board between my second-round and third-round pick. Therefore, I chose Travis Banwart, a 6’4” righty from Wichita State. According to Baseball America, Banwart doesn’t have outstanding stuff, but he is durable, he has command of four pitches, he has a good changeup and was an all-star out on the Cape last summer. Those area all plusses in my book and, while I’m not in love with this pick, I think it’s solid.

Fourth Round (Pick #135)
My Pick: Collin DeLome – OF – Lamar University
Two guys that I liked were selected before my pick in the fourth round. I liked the scouting video I had seen and the reports I read on SS Christian Colon, and I was keeping an eye on the last remaining local guy, Gonzaga’s Clayton Mortensen. Both were selected ahead of me in the fourth round, but what irked me most was that both were selected by Sickels because the mock scouting directors for the teams that landed them spaced out and took to long to make their selection. Ah well. I know what you’re thinking: Who’s Collin DeLome, and where the hell is Lamar University? Ok, maybe you’re not thinking that, but I’ll tell you anyway. Collin DeLome is a toolsy OF that BA ranked as the 108th-best draft-eligible prospect. As a left-handed hitter, DeLome hit .329/.391/.581 for the Lamar Cardinals and led them to a 20-10 record. I was a little weary of DeLome’s plate discipline and inferior competition, but given the total package, I thought he was a good bargain in the fourth round.

Fifth Round (Pick #165)
My Pick: David Stewart – OF – St. John Vianney HS (St. Louis, MO)
Only one player that I loved (Marc Rzepcynski, a RHP for UC-Riverside) was picked between my fourth and fifth-round selections, so I knew there would be someone I felt comfortable taking with my final pick. I almost went with Jeremy Hefner, a big right-handed pitcher at Oral Roberts, but I decided to take another outfielder and chose David Stewart. Stewart is a great athlete. Standing 6’6”, 220 lbs., Stewart starred on the volleyball and basketball teams at his high school, while also playing for 4A-championship baseball teams in 2004 and 2006. He’s a left-handed hitter with power, and I would hope that the M’s could bribe him away from playing baseball for Nebraska.

So, here’s how my draft looked overall…

1-11: Phillippe Aumont – RHP - Ecole Du Versant HS (Quebec)
1S-52: Chris Withrow – RHP – Midland Christian HS (TX)
2-75: Scott Moviel – RHP – St. Edward HS (OH)
3-105: Travis Banwart – RHP – Wichita State
4-135: Collin DeLome – OF – Lamar University
5-165: David Stewart – OF – St. John Vianney HS (St. Louis, MO)

Overall, I’m pretty pleased with how things turned out. Four pitchers and two position players, and four high schoolers and two college guys. As always, it was a lot of fun and I extend great thanks to John Sickels for all the work that he puts in and for running a great site and for giving guys like me a place to totally geek out. I’m very excited for the draft on Thursday and it’ll be interesting to see where these guys really go, as well as who the M’s choose in the real deal.

It’s Friday! Summer’s right around the corner, don’t you need an awesome StopTheWave T-Shirt? Check out my CaféPress store!

Update: I just realized I posted 6 videos this week, instead of the usual 5. Whoops...BONUS video!

A broken bat grand slam…in college!


You might not think this is a baseball video at first, but stick with it…it’s AMAZING!


If you thought Aaron Rowand’s broken-nose catch looked painful, check this out…


Now this is a Web Gem!


Awesome fake out - I love these plays.


On the other hand, if you’re a catcher, don’t try and fake out a runner coming around third – it can be painful.