Grip on Sports: The up-and-down Mariners make an up-and-down trade
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, ya, playing Whack a Mole with the Mariners every time they peek their head above .500. Read on.
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• It’s getting a bit redundant. The M’s get to the .500 mark and fall back. We’ve written about is so much this season it’s become expected. It happened again this week, of course, as the Mariners came out of the All-Star break blazing, hit the break-even mark Thursday and … nothing. Well, not nothing. Two consecutive losses to the Yankees, another wild-card contender.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
To make the story nearly perfect, Jerry Dipoto also did yesterday what he does.
Dipoto traded the M’s most highly sought of minor league power prospect, Tyler O’Neill, for a projected middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, former Gonzaga star Marco Gonzales.
The kicker? Gonzales is coming off Tommy John surgery, may not be at full strength all year and is seen as more of a down-the-road type of guy whose impact on this year’s race could be negligible. Does it get more perfect for those who aren’t inclined to give Dipoto the benefit of the doubt?
We aren’t in that camp just yet, but this trade is sort of a head-shaker. In a vacuum, it seems OK, with a long-term upside of a starter who could solidify the rotation some. Plus, around here, there is the local-kid-makes-good angle.
But O’Neill seems like he could have been a piece in a trade with more immediate impact, one that tells the players in the clubhouse M’s management has your back, believes in you and think this group, with a little help, can do what no Mariner team has done since 2001.
Don’t underestimate the importance of that.
But Dipoto doesn’t seem to have the go-for-it now gene. Or least hasn’t showed it up until now. So this type of trade is probably all that we are going to see.
• By the way, if you want another view, our Dave Nichols examines the deal from a more analytical perspective.
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WSU: Luke Falk is someone to watch this season. And if you needed more proof, then the award-season watch lists are a good place to start. … Around the Pac-12, the South Division seems to be tilting USC’s way. … Washington’s two quarterback commits will be competing against each other from the start. … Colorado’s success last season has led to better ticket sales. … Former Oregon player Darren Carrington has entered a not-guilty plea on DUI charges. … In basketball, Lorenzo Romar may have had a huge recruiting impact at Arizona already. … California picked up a point guard for next season.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs offer a scholarship to the son of a legendary college coach. Said player decides to attend dad’s school. What a surprise. No, no it isn’t. Jim Meehan has the story on Buddy Boeheim.
Idaho: The All-Sun Belt Conference preseason football team includes three Vandals.
Indians: Spokane headed off on the road for last night’s series opener at Hillsboro. The Indians forgot to bring their offense – and pitching. They lost 15-0. … Around the Northwest League, Everett’s roster has been churning as the major league trade deadline approaches. … The Aqua Sox defeated Boise and Eugene held off Tri-City.
Golf: I don’t know. Are these stories by Bill Ames and Bud Nameck (pictured) just supposed to make us jealous? If so, it worked on me.
Mariners: Dave has the Mariners’ Log today, so the links are there. But he also has the analysis of yesterday’s trade, which is linked above. … It was a day of news for former Gonzaga pitchers, as Tyler Olson was recalled by Cleveland.
Seahawks: Who will be the Hawks’ top running back?
Sounders: There is a change in the Seattle lineup at a key spot.
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• It’s good to be back. We are spending the weekend in Southern California. Then it’s on to Las Vegas. It’s a trip that makes more sense in February than July, but we rarely make any sense, right? Until later …