We’re just 13 days from the draft, when the Seahawks reap the reward of their surprising playoff run and Jake Locker becomes the highest UW QB draftee ever. But, for the Hawks, who? And, for Jakey, where? Huh. Well, what are experts saying? Chart time!
Two of the mock drafters, including our own Doug Farrar, have our Seahawks taking hometown hero Jake Locker. Two more suggest our pick will be Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod. National Football Post stands alone in suggesting that Temple DT Muhammad Wilkerson is to wear the silver and blue.
Four of the five drafters have Jake Locker going in the first round, but none have him in the top 5. That exalted and remunerative honor will go to one of nine players, according to these five drafts. Only Texas A&M OLB Von Miller is listed on all the mockers’ top fives.* Links to all of these are at the bottom of the post.
Royals 5, Mariners 1 (8 innings): A rain-shortened game in Kansas City, which matched the Mariners’ offensive effort. Adam Kennedy, who has never homered more than 13 times in a season got the start in the “clean-up” spot (what’s there to clean up?). Doug Fister once again suffered from awful run support, writes John. Mariners 4-9, 4th place, 5.5 GM. Next game tonight @ Kansas City, Bedard vs. Hochevar.
In other news…
Franklin Gutierrez will do his rehab assignment at Class-A High Desert in the California League, not Tacoma. Booo.
Sounders striker Fredy Montero will travel to Philly for the Sounders game Saturday, but whether he plays is a game-time decision.
Tonight’s target: Luke Hochevar…
Hochevar was the first overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft, one of six pitchers taken before the Giants snared Tim Linecum at #10. He’s now in his fifth major league season, but he’s yet to post more than seven wins in a year. Despite this, he was the Royals’ opening day starter. He’s been getting better lately thanks to an improved cutter, but he needs to hit spots with that and his other fastballs to be successful. Anyway HE REMINDS ME WE MISSED OUT ON LINCECUM! DESTROY HIM, MARINERS!
Seven days closer to a championship…
Today, April 15
Mariners @ Kansas City, 5:10 p.m. (ROOT)
Saturday, April 16
Mariners @ Kansas City, 10:10 a.m. Felix Day! (ROOT)
Sounders @ Philadelphia Union, 1 p.m. (KONG)
Sunday, April 17
Mariners @ Kansas City, 11:10 a.m. Pineda Day! (ROOT)
Monday, April 18
Mariners vs. Detroit @ Safeco, 7:10 p.m. (ROOT)
Tuesday, April 19
Mariners vs. Detroit @ Safeco, 7:10 p.m. (ROOT)
Wednesday, April 20
Mariners vs. Detroit @ Safeco, 12:40 p.m (ROOT)
Thursday, April 21
Mariners vs. Oakland @ Safeco, 7:10 p.m. (ROOT)
Mock drafts used: Rob Rang, Chad Reuter, Wes Bunting at National Football Post, Adam Caplan at Fox, Nolan Nawrocki at Pro Football Weekly, Doug Farrar at Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner. Doug recommended these four. I added in the estimable Mel Kiper’s ESPN mock (premium).
4 Comments
Time for a new coaching staff
There’s nothing to be done; a new coaching staff won’t help. We need better players. I’ve never felt so pessimistic about the Ms, and I’ve been following them for a really long time (don’t ask why, i couldn’t tell you). What we need is new ownership; Lincoln and Armstrong are dessicated, emotionless old coots who don’t have any idea what they’re doing, and now the budget is dropping every year, and we keep trading pitchers for guys who can’t hit (montero being an apparent exception), and, well, it’s a death spiral. I hope the old man sells the team, and I never, ever have to see or think about Lincoln and Armstrong ever again. New ownership is a gamble, yes, but who knows, we might get a rich guy who really wants to win. We might also get the second coming of Jeff Smulyan, but at this point, things could hardly be worse.
I think you are correct on trying to get a new ownership.
New ownership? Like George Argyros or Jeff Smulyan were “new owners” when they bought the Mariners? Frank McCourt was a “new owner” when he bought the Dodgers…how’d that work out? Be careful what you ask for.
The problem with Mariners upper management isn’t the owners (who’ve been smart enough to sign the checks and largely stay the hell out of the way), but the two dunces they’ve put in charge of things stateside. As long as Lincoln and Armstrong are given authority over the Mariners, more attention will be paid to distractions like hydro races on the scoreboard or ATV-riding doofs in mascot suits than committing to building a competetive team, which would be the best marketing tool they could have.