Grip on Sports: Mariners, Cougars and Seahawks all improved yesterday, which seems like a good thing – and day
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Mariners got better yesterday. The Cougars did too. Maybe even the Seahawks. In other words, it was a good day for Northwest sports. Which, no matter how cold and ugly it was outside, made it good day in most area households. Read on.
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• The Mariners’ rebuild continued yesterday, with the bottom line being they added a tough left-hander to their starting rotation, Drew Smyly.
It’s funny. When the offseason began, it became apparent the best available starters in the trade market all came from Tampa Bay. The Rays had three they were dangling and the Times’ Ryan Divish made it clear the best fit seemed to be Smyly.
Not just because of his talents. But also due to his contract status and the type of pitcher he was.
Those were the elements general manager Jerry Dipoto mentioned when talking about the addition Wednesday.
Smyly is under club control for two years, which seems about right for the M’s current playoff-possible window. He’s a fly-ball pitcher, which is OK in Safeco, especially with the new – speedy – outfield Dipoto has put together.
The M’s needed another starting pitcher or two. Of all the mid-level options available, Dipoto thought Smyly was the best. He reeled him in Thursday.
• Luke Falk announced yesterday morning he will return to Pullman for his senior season.
It was immediately followed by an Eastern Washington windstorm – caused by Cougar fans all exhaling at the same time.
Falk’s return means a couple things. The Cougars have another year to allow Tyler Hilinski, or whomever, to develop into the starting role. That can’t hurt.
It ensures them of having one of the most accurate passers in the nation, a skill that might really be in demand considering the wide receivers they are losing. The group WSU puts on the field early next year will need to prove they can gain separation from defensive backs, something that wasn’t happening often the final three games of last season.
And it means Falk will lead the offense in off-season workouts, an underrated aspect of a quarterback’s role at the college level.
Now if Joe Salave’a will come to his senses and tell Oregon to jump in a duck pond, then the off-season will be a complete success.
• The only way the Seahawks get better this time of year is through the training room. The more folks who can make it back from injury, the better.
Fullback Marcel Reese was banged up in the Lions game. He wasn’t on the injury list yesterday. That’s good. Rookie running back C.J. Prosise, who seems to have been injured more than he’s played, practiced yesterday. That’s also good.
When he’s healthy, Prosise has a burst. It gives the Hawks another offensive dimension. And they could use all the dimensions they can get Saturday in Atlanta.
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Gonzaga: The Bulldogs host Loyola-Marymount tonight in the Kennel. The students are still not back in class – they won’t be until next week, but a large contingent should be in the place when Saint Mary’s visits on Saturday – but that shouldn’t matter tonight. Though, as Jim Meehan points out in his advance, the Lions, led by guard Brandon Brown, have lost a lot of close games this season. Mostly, though, over the (recent) years, this series hasn’t been close. … The GU women are in Los Angeles to face the Lions. Jim Allen has an advance of their weekend. … Elsewhere in the WCC, I actually saw a headline this week about BYU folks unhappy with coach Dave Rose. Really? The Cougars have struggled some but do have some weapons that bother everyone in the conference. … Despite the bad weather in Portland, the Pilots’ game with Saint Mary’s will go on as scheduled tonight. The crowd will be down, sure, but the game will be played. Contrast that to the GU postponement and you might understand a bit better why Mark Few wasn’t happy.
WSU: The Falk announcement was the biggest news yesterday, but not the only piece. Jacob Thorpe covered his decision while John Blanchette also added his thoughts in this column. But Jacob also added his story on Salave’a’s still-not-officially-announced defection to Eugene and a piece on a proposed bill in the State legislature about college athletic departments. One thought on that last one: It’s a bill, and any legislator can propose a bill – the road to it becoming a law is a long one. … Stefanie Loh has the Falk and the legislative news covered in the Times as well, with Matt Calkins adding his thoughts on Falk returning. … Willie Taggart is remaking the entire Oregon football coaching contingent. … Mark Helfrich’s final season didn’t go well, did it? … Arizona State found its new defensive coordinator. … California has to make some decisions before it hires a new coach. … Stanford doesn’t have a lot of quarterback depth. … In basketball around the Pac-12, Colorado has had some issues this season. … California was happy to get Ivan Rabb back for another year. … Utah was happy to get a transfer. … Does Bobby Hurley still wear a black hat? In Tucson, yes he does. … USC still has another step to take. … Stanford found something last weekend.
EWU: The Eagles hit the road this weekend, traveling to Idaho State and Weber State, schools led by their guards. Jim Allen has an advance of the weekend. … Elsewhere in the Big Sky, Portland State couldn’t get out of town yesterday, so the Vikings’ game at North Arizona was moved to Monday night. … Northern Colorado will try to win in Missoula again tonight. … Southern Utah will host Sacramento State in its first conference home game.
Chiefs: Spokane is on the road for more than a week. The trip didn’t start all that well, with a 5-0 loss at Everett.
Preps: It’s Thursday, so we have the Prep Page items to pass along, starting with Greg Lee’s column about the WIAA’s new RPI for hoop. Bottom line? Greg likes it. … Greg also has a feature on a local wrestler who should be the GSL’s first four-time state champion. … We also can pass along roundups from wrestling, basketball and gymnastics as well as a history lesson.
Seahawks: There are a lot of connections between the Falcons and the Hawks, including Michael Bennett. … The Hawks want to make connections with Matt Ryan as often as possible. … Steven Hauschka offered a decent reason why extra-point attempts are missed more often now. … Russell Wilson is happy not be wearing a brace.
Mariners: The Smyly trade was preceded by a trade that brought one of the big pieces to Seattle, albeit for 45 minutes or so.
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• The Zags play at 6 tonight. I’ll sit on the couch and watch the KHQ broadcast. Then I will have some thoughts here by about 10:30 or so. Until then …