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Why we should care about the Mariners' second half
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The biggest loss in this dismal 2008 Seattle Mariners season has been optimism. There are still 67 games left in the season as the Mariners begin the second half Friday night against Cleveland, but they have no chance. It would take a double-header miracle to turn this moribund team around.
What do we have to look forward to in the second half? Very little when it comes to team play. Collectively, this team really can't accomplish much of anything. They're even 12 1/2 games out of THIRD place. A double-digit winning streak would be shoulder-shrugging.
So why should we care? We should care because there will be some individual achievements, from the broadcast booth to the playing field, that are worth our attention. Here's what we have to look forward to in the second half:
1. It started this evening. The Mariners brought up prospect Bryan LaHair, who has been on a long journey through the minors and finally gets his chance. He'll play first base. It's always a thrill to see the next new thing, although he didn't exactly set fire to the Pacific Coast League. He hit .263 in 85 games with the Rainiers. He had 26 doubles, 12 home runs and 53 RBI. That's still a lot better than the previous first baseman.
2. Actually, come to think of it, there is one worthy team accomplishment - tanking. The team could finish with the worst record in the American League (it wouldn't take much tanking. They're already there). That would give them the No. 2 pick in the First-Year Player Draft next June (worst record in the NL gets first pick). That at least gives them a shot at what could be a once-in-a-decade pitcher, Stephen Strasburg. He's a hard-throwing right-hand junior at San Diego State who struck out 23 batters in a game this season. He is the only collegian to make the U.S. Olympic team. There's a good chance that he'll be represented by Scott Boras, which is enough to make the No. 1 team pass. The Mariners might be in (last) position to nab him.
3. Ichiro has a slew of significant milestones coming up, perhaps beginning with this homestand. He needs 11 hits for 3,000 in his two-country career. It's not recognized by Major League Baseball but still a remarkable achievement. He needs 97 hits to pass Isao Harimoto for the most hits by a Japanese professional player. He's also going for 200 hits for the eighth straight year, tying Wee Willie Keeler's record set 100 years ago. And he just might made a charge as his third batting title since no one has scampered off it it this season.
4. The trading deadline could be interesting. Interim general manager Lee Pelekoudas wants the job and may feel the need to show boldness and creativity to nail it down. Who could be moved, Erik Bedard, Adrian Beltre, Raul Ibanez, Jarrod Washburn, Arthur Rhodes or even Ichiro? Pelekoudas has said he expects there would be some movement.
5. Longtime and beloved broadcaster Dave Niehaus will be inducted into the broadcast wing of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. That's going to happen July 27 and it'll be a poignant event, if we know Dave.
6. Richie Sexson returns to Safeco Field with the Yankees Sept. 5-7. That's if he's still there. The Yankees may have their fill of looking at third strikes before then. There's a chance he could exceed A-Rod in the decibel boo level.
7. Another thing to look for is whether Erik Bedard can make at least three consecutive starts without returning to the disabled list.
8. Anytime Felix Hernandez takes the mound, he's worth the attention.
9. With Sexson gone, Bedard going (please) and possibly Beltre's departure, there's a chance that a player who actually played in the game would be available to reporters afterward and be quoted in all the newspapers/Internet stories. Probably too much to ask.
10. Over the next three months, we might see a number of the organization's best prospects earn promotions to the big club. Guys such as...ah, we'll get back to you on that one.
