October 18-24, 2010
- Good Week — Mike Williams looked like a long shot to stick with the Seahawks when they signed him to a one-year deal last spring (in fact, his career seemed kaput). But in the past two weeks, Williams has caught 21 passes, including 11 on Sunday in a 22-10 win over Arizona. Pete Carroll clearly saw something in Williams (the clubhouse leader for NFL Comeback Player of the Year), his former USC pupil, that the rest of us didn’t see. Which is why Pete’s the head coach, and we’re not.
- Bad Week — The Mariners absorb another rake to the forhead when World Series starting pitchers are announced. For the National League, San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum, whom the Mariners should have drafted in 2006 instead of Brandon Morrow. For the American League, Cliff Lee of Texas, whom the Mariners were forced to trade in July when they plummeted out of the race. Once again, Seattle on the wrong end of sports history.
- Sunday, Oct. 24 — The Seahawks (4-2) somehow parlay five field goals and five turnovers into a victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field. The outcome likely would have been different if the Cardinals had started Derek Anderson at quarterback instead of rookie Max Hall, who bombed. Still, the Seahawks aquitted themselves admirably on defense in taking over the NFC West lead.
- Saturday, Oct. 23— Arizona steamrolls the Huskies 44-14 in Tucson and expose — again — Washington’s substantial vulnerabilities. Coach Steve Sarkisian simply doesn’t yet have a defensive roster than compete in the Pac-10. And his special teams, likely for the same reason, are among the worst in school history.
- Friday, Oct. 22 — By reaching the World Series in the franchise’s 50th season, the last 39 in Texas, it marks the longest it has taken a team to get to the Series for the first time. The Mariners, without a World Series appearance in their first 34 seasons, should have no problem breaking Texas’ record.
- Thursday, Oct. 21 — The Mariners introduce Eric Wedge as the club’s 15th full-time manager. Wedge says, in reference to the Mariners’ braintrust, “The passion I saw in Howard’s (Lincoln) and Chuck’s (Armstrong) eyes is one of the big reasons I’m standing here today.” We think Wedge meant “panic,” not “passion.”
- Wednesday, Oct. 20 — Ignoring his 13-12 record and focusing instead on statistics he could control, the Sporting News names Felix Hernandez the 2010 American League Pitcher of the Year. Great choice.
- Tuesday, Oct. 19 — Under the “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” file, add pitcher Cliff Lee. He fanned 11 in a six hitter for his second victory of the ALDS and gave Texas a playoff series win for the first time in franchise history. Justin Smoak, whom the Mariners received for Lee, will have to come a near Hall of Famer to balance out the trade.
- Monday, Oct. 18 — As the Mariners get ready to introduce Eric Wedge as their new manager, former Mariner Cliff Lee mows down the Yankees, allowing two singles in eight innings while fanning 13 in an 8-0 Texas victory. Lee, traded by Mariners to the Rangers in July, improves to 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA in the postseason. He will forever serve as Exhibit A of inept Mariner roster management.
