MARINERS: Small ball isn't enough as Morrow, Batista blow save opportunities

Bedard struck out eight with no walks in five innings
Welcome to small ball. Building off their Opening Day win against the Minnesota Twins, the Mariners continued their success of moving runners over but couldn't hold their lead in the ninth.

In his first appearance of 2009 as the closer, Brandon Morrow hit 98 mph on the radar gun but walked the bases loaded with two outs before manager Don Wakamatsu brought in Miguel Batista.

Batista allowed back-to-back hits to Denard Span and Alexi Casilla, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth and ending the game 6-5.

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Endy Chavez led off the game with a single, Franklin Gutierrez doubled moving Chavez to third and after a Ken Griffey Jr. pop out, Adrian Beltre hit a sacrifice fly scoring Chavez.

It was more of the same in the third and just enough for starting pitcher Erik Bedard, who was throwing all of his pitches for strikes with tremendous composure, until the fifth inning.

Bedard gave up a lead-off triple to Carlos Gomez, struck out catcher Jose Morales then hit Nick Punto.

Right fielder Span, who was 3-for-5, singled to right scoring Gomez and moving Punto to third. Span stole second then Bedard struck out Casilla.

Twins designated hitter Micheal Cuddyer singled to center scoring Punto and Span. Justin Morneau struck out stranding Cuddyer at first.

It took Bedard 31 pitches to get out of the inning. He hadn't thrown more than 19 pitches in any other previous inning.

The majority of Seattle's runs came early. After a one-out single in the third Chavez stole second on the first pitch to Gutierrez who would ground out to the short stop later in the at bat. Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn walked Griffey and on the first pitch to Beltre he shot a single to center scoring Chavez.

If Chavez hadn't stolen second Gutierrez's ground-out would have been nothing more than a double play, ending the inning.

Aggressive base running in the fourth manufactured two more runs. Wladimir Balentien moved from first to third on Yuneski Betancourt's single. Betancourt moved to second on the throw. Both would score on Chavez's single to right.

Betancourt flashed some serious leather in the seventh to rob Punto of a base hit by laying out Superman-style to snatch the line-drive out of the air.

Coming into relief for Bedard, Roy Corcoran threw two perfect innings, striking out two.

In the eigth David Aardsma in his Mariner debut had a perfect 1-2-3 inning, striking out Cuddyer.

Reach Josh Stilts at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Game three analysis

James Riley defended valiantly against a
potent Toronto attack.
Aaron Weinberg / NSS

The Sounders FC are now tied with Chivas USA for first place in the Western Conference after their 2-0 victory over Toronto FC, Saturday April 4 at BMO Field. Goals by Freddie Ljungberg (15') and Steve Zakuani (45') left Toronto FC shell-shocked in front of a sell-out home crowd.

Though many things are going right for the Sounders, it's still early in the season and there's room for improvement. Here's an analysis of the team's play from forward to defense.

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FORWARDS
Nate Jaqua played the full 90 minutes for Seattle as the post-up forward and was constantly hounding the Toronto defense. Jaqua assisted Ljungberg's opening goal and continued to be a physical presence up front. He remains one of the only out-and-out strikers the Sounders have and has played 90 minutes in two of the last three games. How long can Jaqua keep his work rate at a high level without head coach Sigi Schmid giving him a rest soon?

Ljungberg played 78 minutes in his first start for Seattle and scored his first goal in the 15th minute of play. Although coming off a hip surgery and only 30 minutes of game time last weekend, Ljungberg looked confident and surefooted when he received the ball. He provided a good link between the midfield and Jaqua and wreaked havoc in a playmaking-role that Fredy Montero played in the last two games. When healthy, Ljungberg is one of the most dangerous players the Sounders have and should be on the field as much as possible.

MIDFIELD
Quietly, the tandem of Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso and Sebastian Le Toux are becoming a threatening midfield core. Evans provides a steady presence as the true central midfielder and combined well with Ljungberg and Le Toux when Seattle kept possession on the right-hand side of the field.

The only word to describe Alonso's work rate is dogged. The Cuban was constantly breaking up Toronto's attack and set the tone in midfield as a hard tackler, which deterred Toronto from playing through the middle.

Le Toux has done everything that Schmid has asked him to do. Against Toronto, Schmid called on the Frenchman to play on the right side of midfield, and Le Toux did a tremendous job of hindering Toronto's Dwayne DeRosario. Le Toux is another player who's work rate has been extremely good and he has played a hand in several of the Sounders' goals thus far.

Zakauni was a disappointment on the left side of the midfield. Starting his second game on the left, the MLS rookie looked quiet and unsure, as several of his passes went astray. Zakauni had a tendency to drift into the middle too often when he had the ball, which hindered the Sounders' width going forward.

Although it was not all bad, as he was able to score the game-clinching goal just before halftime. This goal shows the predatory instinct the young player has and his play on the left side can only improve from here.

DEFENSE
A big round of applause for Zach Scott and James Riley, who defended valiantly against a potent Toronto attack. DeRosario had few touches on the ball in his left midfield position and Riley deterred the playmaker from probing the right side of the Sounders' defense. Riley helped provide an outlet when Seattle were defending deep and also sent some good balls forward to relieve pressure.

Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado remained physical in the middle and never gave Toronto's forwards a yard. Hurtado even got a yellow card for coming to the defense of his teammate, Alonso, after he got into a scuffle with a Toronto player.

Kasey Keller has helped the Sounders become the first team in MLS history to start the season with three shutouts. Keller may not be the quickest or strongest player, but is a true professional goalkeeper that when called upon, makes the saves he needs to make.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
It will be interesting to see what lineup Schmid selects for Saturday's match against the Kansas City Wizards at Qwest Field. Montero (illness) and Ljungberg (hyper-extended knee) should be available, which means someone in the starting lineup at Toronto may be dropped.

Schmid may bring Montero back to play behind Jaqua after last weekend's absence, which means Ljungberg may take Zakuani's place wide on the left. Although Ljungberg will play in left-midfield, Schmid may give him the license to roam, as it is the most effective way to utilize his skills and creativity on the ball.

This means that Le Toux, Alonso and Evans may play a bit deeper to give Ljungberg space to work. Alonso and Evans in the middle will provide an outlet and allow for Le Toux and the other attackers to create chances in front of goal. Watch for a few early fouls on the other team by Alonso, just to show K.C. who they are playing.

The defense will most likely remain the same, nothing more to say about how well they have played so far. Keller is commanding between the post and the team's confidence will only be boosted in front of Seattle's home crowd.

The match this Saturday is sold out, which means the fans will be in full voice. The Sounders have scored five goals in front at Qwest Field, two before the 20 minute mark. Watch for the team to try to get an early goal to get the crowd behind them.

Reach Jesse Amorratanasuchad at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: LB Hill skips first camp of 2009

Linebacker Leroy Hill, who still has not signed the one-year $8.3 million franchise tender, did not attend the first Seahawks voluntary camp.

Mora said he understood it was a business decision and did not perceive there to be any animosity between 'Hawks staff and Hill.

Other notable absences were wide receiver Deion Branch, defensive lineman Cory Redding and tackle Walter Jones, who joined eight other players that sat out due to injuries.

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Eric Williams over at Seahawks Insider commented on the intensity of practice and the big hits delivered, despite players practicing in no pads, just helmets.

He thinks a fight will break out at some point over the next two days due to the aggression demonstrated by players on the first day.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck practiced and seemed to move well. His comments to the press have yet to be released.

Despite being listed as a guard in earlier reports, Ray Willis practiced at tackle to replace Jones. Rob Sims played at his usual right guard.

Players that did not practice due to injury: WR Deion Branch, K Brandon Coutu, WR Michael Bumpus (broken bone in foot), CB Kelly Jennings, CB DeMichael Dizer, LB D.D.Lewis, G Mike Wahle (shoulder), T Walter Jones (knee), DT/DE Cory Redding, DE Patrick Kerney (shoulder), DE Brandon Miller.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Around the pitch - Ljungberg knee hyperextension leaves him day-to-day

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Writhing on the turf clutching his knee, Freddie Ljungberg appeared done for the game against Toronto FC. Minutes later, he was back on the windswept BMO Field, running and pursuing like nothing happened to his left knee.

However, Ljungberg is listed as under day-to-day evaluation due to a knee hyperextension that has him limited in practice.

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The midfielder turned striker for Saturday's 2-0 victory scored the team's first goal of the game.

Late in the second half, Ljungberg went down clutching his left knee. After being helped off the field he went back on the pitch and played for a few minutes before being subbed out. It's unclear whether the injury will affect his ability to start this Saturday's game against the Kansas City Wizards.

The fact he was up and running after the injury shouldn't provide solace to fans because the knee didn't have time to swell and become sore. Recovery time depends on the severity of injury. The fact that he is day-to-day suggests the injury will only take a few days to recover from.

Game sold out
The game against the Kansas City Wizards is sold out at Qwest Field with a capacity of around 28,000 for the game. As the team's success continues, many games are selling out.

Qwest capacity is 68,000 so the Sounders are creating a high demand for tickets by only opening the lower bowl of the stadium.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Quick update: Three players added - Willis listed as G, Babineaux at SS

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Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune reports three new players have been added to the roster to try out for spots: linebacker Shane Simmons, fullback David Kirtman and linebacker Kelly Poppinga.

Also noted by Williams, the depth chart reads that Jordan Babineaux is listed as strong safety and Ray Willis is listed as right guard.

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Ray Willis played right tackle last year. Moving him to guard may indicate the Seahawks are looking to draft a tackle high come April 25.

Babineaux has primarily been used as the dimeback, but his skillset aligns favorably at safety, a position lacking play makers last season. Babineaux's nickname "Big-play-Babs" is indicative of his abilities.

Shane Simmons of Western Washington was an undrafted free agent last year. He signed with the Raiders and was cut before the season began.

Kirtman was among the last cut by the Seahawks last season.

Poppinga was an undrafted free agent in 2008. He signed with the Dolphins and was cut. He has also played with the 49ers and Rams.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Column: Ten predictions for 2009, Part I

If Jose Lopez bats in the middle of the
order, he'll lead the team in RBIs.

The start of baseball season means optimism, excitement and massive amounts of predictions.

Some think the Mariners will surprise everyone and climb out of the AL West cellar they have occupied for four of the last five years. Others, like ESPN's Steve Phillips, think the Mariners will be even more wretched than they were last year.

Everyone seems to already know what the Mariners record will be. So here's my prediction, plus nine more.

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Part I, predictions 1-5:

1. Ichiro will get his 200 hits, barely. He's done it in each of his eight seasons with the Mariners, but this year might be his biggest challenge. He'll already miss the first eight games and considering he's dealing with an ulcer, he could miss more. Couple that with the fact that he tends to start slow (.281 BA in April the last three seasons), and Ichiro has some serious work to do.

2. Ichiro will spend some time batting third. It won't happen that often, but we should see it in a handful of games. I've written about the most likely scenarios in which we would see this. Don Wakamatsu has shown that he's not just another old-school manager who does everything by the book. He'll experiment with the lineup every once in a while.

3. Jose Lopez will lead the Mariners in RBIs. He bat second for most of last season and still drove in 89 runs. He could spend more time in the middle of the order this year (he bat sixth last night), which means more RBI opportunities. He's added some muscle in the offseason, which should equal more power. He also drove in three runs on Opening Day, putting him on pace for 486 RBIs.

4. We haven't seen the last of Chris Shelton. After a strong spring, he was edged out by Mike Sweeney for the right-handed first base/designated hitter job and optioned to Tacoma. But let's consider what's going to happen to Sweeney. If he stays healthy, finds some of his old power and shows he can still produce, a contender will probably trade for him at the deadline. If his surgically repaired knees don't hold up and he starts to look like a corpse a la the 2004 John Olerud, the Mariners will let him go. Either scenario opens the door for Shelton.

5. Ken Griffey Jr: .265 BA, 22 HR, 65 RBIs. No, it's not just my man-crush on Griffey that makes me think he'll have a decent year. Consider the last time he was healthy and playing at a ballpark favorable to his swing. It wasn't that long ago. With the Reds in 2007, Griffey hit .277 with 30 homers and 93 RBIs while playing about half of his 144 games in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. He won't get as many at-bats this year, but he will do some damage at Safeco Field, which was literally built for his swing.

Part II, predictions 6-10 will be posted Wednesday.

Reach Brady Henderson at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Ken Lucas could provide much needed size at cornerback

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Former Seahawk and now free agent ex-Panther Ken Lucas visited Seattle last month in hopes of talking contracts.

At 6-0 202 lbs, Lucas could provide much needed size and physicality at a position that was dominated by bigger and stronger wide receivers last year.

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Though not a perennial Pro Bowler, which is what the Panthers thought they were getting when they signed him to a big free agent deal in 2004, Lucas can still start on most teams. He excels at press coverage and his veteran presence and knowledge of the game would leave stress off the safeties.

His size will also come as a welcome addition. Kelly Jennings (5-10) and Josh Wilson (5-9) are often targeted for their height.

Here is a list of big, physical wide receivers the Seahawks will play in 2009:


Most pundits agree that Larry Fitzgerald was the best wide receiver in the league last year, practically carrying his team to the Super Bowl.

What makes Fitzgerald so good is he knows what he can and cannot do and he has refined his abilities accordingly. The end result is a physical marvel with complete control over his body in terms of athleticism. He’ll muscle cornerbacks out of position using his strength rather than speed, which is his worst asset.

However, he hasn’t shown an ability to dominate bigger cornerbacks, which is to be expected.

As an example for big, physical receivers (Seattle also have to play these guys twice a year) here is how Fitzgerald performed matched up against cornerbacks throughout the season:



Red indicates shorter than 6-0. All 6-0 and taller CBs held Fitzgerald to less than 100 yards except for ex-Seahawk Shawn Springs. A 54 yard touchdown pass went against him when Springs let Fitzgerald go to the safety. The safety blew the coverage and Fitzgerald coasted in.

Fitzgerald and Boldin decimated the secondary during there first meeting, with Boldin amassing 186 yards and Fitzgerald racking up 151. Trufant was injured that game.

The second game, Trufant was back but was torched by Fitzgerald for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Trufant was left to play man coverage for much of that game.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Reading the field - Veteran mini-camp begins today

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The Seahawks begin their first mini-camp of 2009 today, alloted to teams with new head coaches. It will be Jim Mora's first chance as head coach to man the helm in Seattle as he organizes team drills.

The three-day camp will also serve as an early barometer measuring how the new-look 'Hawks are shaping up for 2009.

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Spring is in the air and so is change. The Seahawks have a plethora of new coaches including head coach Jim Mora, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and defensive coordinator Casey Bradley. Look for reports coming out of camp as to how the big three acclimate to their roles and any notable drill changes or what is emphasized during camp.

Also, keep an eye out for reports on wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle's big free-agent acquisition, will need to build chemistry with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. It's also unclear what his role may be in the offense, so pay attention to where he lines up if the team runs any mock scrimmages.

Meanwhile, Burleson is toward the end of a long injury recovery. He won't be participating much in camp, but he may be present on the sideline working on individual drills.

One of the most media friendly topics has been Hasselbeck's recovery from his back injury. He is reportedly recovered and expects to participate fully in camp.

The defensive line will also be important to monitor. The addition of defensive tackle Colin Cole and lineman Cory Redding brings change to what may have been Seattle's weakest unit on defense.

Lastly, watch for who receives the most reps next to linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill. D.D. Lewis and Lance Laury may have to battle for the roster spot there.

Terrill to perform on draft day
Sando reports Seahawks defensive tackle Craig Terrill will perform at the Tulalip Casino on April 25. Terrill plays guitar and sings. Check out his MySpace page, where you can listen to and buy some of his songs. One that may interest Seahawks fans, 12th Man Scream, sells for $.99.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Day 18 - LB Aaron Curry

He's been called the best player in the draft, a player any team would be foolish to pass on.

He's a three-time all-conference selection, a two-time all-American and the 2008 Butkus Award winner for the nation's best linebacker.

But what makes Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry so good, and why should Seattle take him in the unlikely scenario he lasts until the fourth overall pick in the draft?

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Strengths

There isn't much Aaron Curry can't do.

He can move sideline to sideline tracking down ball carriers. He can drop into a backpedal and cover the tight end or a receiver coming over the middle (four interceptions in 2007). He can blitz the line and get to the quarterback.

Like most great linebacker prospects, Curry has terrific instincts and has shown the ability to read offenses very well. Once he makes the read, Curry explodes to the ball carrier and uses his long arms to make a sure tackle.

For all his skill, intelligence and aggression, Curry does it all at 6-foot-2, 254 pounds and running a 4.56 40-yard dash. Basically, you'd be hard-pressed to build a more perfect linebacker physically.

It's been a long while since a linebacker as talented as him has come along (maybe LaVar Arrington in 2000).

Weaknesses

Despite being effective in rushing the quarterback, he's rarely had the success that results in a sack. In four seasons, he finished his career with nine sacks, never more than three in a season.

Curry is also a bit stifff in the hips, which is to be expected at his size. The result is Curry will have to rely much more on his instincts and ability to read an offense to be effective in coverage in the NFL.

That's it.


How does he fit in Seattle?

Ah, there's the rub.

While Seattle just traded linebacker Julian Peterson, they did so because there was too much money invested in the position with Leroy Hill franchised and Lofa Tatupu signed long term.

At fourth overall, Curry would make more than either of them. Last year's fourth overall pick, Darren McFadden, signed a six-year $60 million deal. Tatupu is about to enter the second year of a six-year $42 million deal.

Still, as good as Hill and Tatupu are, there's a chance Curry earns that money and becomes Seattle's best player on defense. He'll almost certainly be better than Hill if not quite the pass rusher he is.

For more info on Curry with the 'Hawks, check here.

Draft position

Entering the NFL combine in February, Curry was a top 10 pick and said he wanted to perform well enough to cement a top five spot in the draft. He did just that, weighing in at more than 250 pounds and running the top 40-yard dash amongst linebackers.

That was enough to show NFL scouts that what they were seeing on film was not an illusion.

Now, there's a good chance Curry is selected by any team in the top four with it being highly unlikely he makes it past three to the Kansas City Chiefs, who should be desperate for a leader on defense.

Should he make it to four, will Seattle take him? Probably. He really is the best player in the draft. And GM Tim Ruskell knows that redundant players can be traded, but you can't re-draft your picks.

At the time of the draft, Curry won't be the most exciting pick for a team, but he should prove to make an entire fan base very happy for many years to come.

Of course, who knows? He'll have to be much better than Arrington was if he wants to live up to the same level of hype. Safest doesn't always mean best when it comes to the draft. After all, no one's laughing at the Texans for taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush anymore, are they?

Here's a whole lot of highlights, six minutes worth:



Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Griffey homers, Felix brilliant in Opening Day win

Ken Griffey Jr.

He's still got it.

Ken Griffey Jr. christened the 2009 season like only he can, hitting his eighth carer Opening Day home run to help the Mariners beat the Twins 6-1 in Minnesota.

Griffey's solo home run to lead off the fifth inning tied him with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for most home runs on Opening Day.

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But the big blast for the Mariners came from center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, whose two-run home run in the sixth inning off Twins ace Francisco Liriano gave the Mariners a 4-1 lead.

That was more than Felix Hernandez needed.

In his second Opening Day start, Hernandez (1-0) allowed just one run in eight innings. He worked through a bases loaded, no out jam in the fifth inning, giving up only an RBI single to Michael Cuddyer. Hernandez got former MVP Justin Morneau to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Hernandez rolled his ankle fielding a chopper in the first inning and after a visit from the Mariners training staff, he stayed on the mound. Despite limping and grimmacing throughout the rest of the game, Hernandez allowed five hits, walked three and struck out six.

Before the Griffey and Gutierrez home runs, the Mariners scored their first run via the small-ball style of play the team had focused on during Spring Training.

Adrian Beltre led off the second inning with a double off the right-field wall. He advanced to third on Griffey's groundball to second and scored on Jose Lopez's sacrifice fly to left.

Lopez, batting sixth, added a two-RBI single in the ninth inning.

Miguel Batista worked the bottom of the ninth and did what he should have done with a five-run lead; he went right after batters. Batista retired three of the four Twins he faced to give Don Wakamatsu and the Mariners their first win.

Game Notes: Monday's game marked the first time since 2003 that the Mariners opened the season on the road. It also marked the last Opening Day in the Metrodome, as the Twins will move into a new outdoor stadium next season. The Mariners played in the first ever game in the Metrodome on April 6, 1982.

Reach Brady Henderson at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Curious decisions highlight Opening Day roster

Matt Tuiasosopo unexpectedly made the Mariners Opening
Day roster.
The Mariners begin their 2009 season tonight but not without some questions about the decisions of their Opening Day roster.

Third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo made the team, essentially filling the roster spot left vacant by Ichiro Suzuki, who will be on the disabled list until at least April 15 with what had been a bleeding ulcer.

The Tuiasosopo decision is a bit curious for a couple of reasons.

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Instead of replacing an injured outfielder with another outfielder, the Mariners instead went with Tuiasosopo, who can pretty much only play third. He does no good if the team is in an emergency and needs an experienced outfielder. This isn't a huge deal because utility infielder Ronny Cedeno can also play outfield.

So without a big need for a backup at any specific position, why not add someone with enough speed to pinch run? Tuiasosopo isn't slow by any means, but Reegie Corona would be a much more ideal option as a pinch runner.

It's possible that manager Don Wakamatsu chose Tuiasosopo as a reward for his impressive spring. But if that was the determining factor, maybe Mike Wilson was just as deserving. Wilson, a corner outfielder, set the club record with eight home runs this spring and led the team with 19 RBIs.

Of course, Ichiro will be eligible to play next Wednesday, so there's a strong chance Tuiasosopo or any other would-be replacement won't even play.

The other notable roster move was Wakamatsu's decision to start the season with no left-handed pitchers in the bullpen.

Injured lefties Tyler Johnson and Cesar Jimenez could be ready before the end of April, so the Mariners won't be in trouble for long. As Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times pointed out, teams have gone with all-righty bullpens for entire seasons. The Montreal Expos did it in 1994 and the Anaheim Angels did it in 2004.

The Angels did have the benefit of three pretty good right-handed relievers in Troy Percival, Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Shields. Percival is eighth on the all-time saves list, Rodriguez set the single season saves record last year with 62 and Shields is one of the better relievers in the game.

But again, the lack of a left-handed pitcher in the bullpen might not be a big deal. If the current relievers can hold their own for a couple weeks and get some tough outs against left-handed batters, the bullpen will be fine.

Reach Brady Henderson at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Welcome to the Zduriencik years

How will Zduriencik fare in his first season as a
general manager?

The new Seattle Mariner's slogan, "A new day, a new way," may not start for a few more years.

When ex-general manager Bill Bavasi took over the team in 2004, the Mariners were poised to be World Series contenders, and Bavasi said he was going to restock the farm system with young talent and bring in high-caliber free agents.

But during Bavasi's tenure, Seattle only had one winning season.

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Two games behind the Angels in 2007, Bavasi had plenty of opportunity to pull the strings and make the necessary moves to take the Mariners to the postseason. Instead he did nothing, and the Mariners missed the playoffs again.

Four and half years later and Seattle is still suffering from Bavasi's mistakes. The Seattle Times is reporting after a week-long discussion, rookie prospect Phillipe Aumont is getting the fast track to the majors but not as a starter.

"Nothing is carved in stone," Zduriencik said. "This is an experiment we're doing to see if we can get [Aumont] to the big leagues quicker."

Aumont becomes the latest victim of Bavasi's poor scouting evaluation and drafting. Aumont was drafted 11th overall because of his tall figure and ability to throw his fastball in the upper 90's.

Moving Aumont to the bullpen could result in several scenarios. First, it could mean Seattle has other teams interested in closer Brandon Morrow, or 2008 1st round draft pick Josh Fields. Second, recent speculation is the Washington Nationals might not be able to pull off signing prospect Stephen Strasburg with the first pick in this year's MLB draft.

Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, is familiar with Zduriencik after striking a $1.7 million signing bonus for Fields.

After the 2007 season even Forbes magazine was taking shots at Bavasi ranking him 87th out of the 98 General Managers in professional sports.

Bavasi's overall record of 298-350 isn't nearly as bad as the trades he did make and the payroll he spent and left.

Richie Sexson cost the M's $50 million for four years, Jarrod Washburn: $37.5 million for four years, Carl Everett: $3.4 million for one year, Jeff Weaver: $8.325 million for one year and Carlos Silva: $48 million for four years.

Bavasi also made the following trades: Freddy Garcia for Miguel Olivo Jeremy Reed and Mike Morse, Carlos Guillen for Ramon Santiago, Asdrubal Cabrera for Eduardo Perez, Shin-Soo Choo for Ben Broussard, Randy Winn for Jesse Foppert and Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez and of course Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Tony Butler, Chris Tillman and Kam Mickolio for Erik Bedard.

Bedard was traded to the M's Feb. 9th 2008 just a few days after season tickets had gone on sale. Largely argued as one of the worst trades in Seattle history, Bedard coming to the Mariners did draw fans in and season ticket sales instantly rose.

The new look M's will be tested right away as they face Minnesota's ace Fransisco Lirano. Seattle has depth and almost every position but don't expect them to challenge in the AL West this season.

Fearless Forecast: M's finish in second place with 85 wins and 77 losses.

Reach Josh Stilts at nextseasonsports@gmail.com

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SEAHAWKS: Concerns over Crabtree's work ethic

In Pro Football Weekly's "The Way We Hear It", a compilation of anonymous quotes from NFL scouts, coaches and front office personnel, Crabtree's name came up and it wasn't to praise his college efforts.

The nameless source said they would pass on Crabtree if he dropped to them late in the draft due to his work ethic.

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“If (WR) Michael Crabtree was available to us late in the first round, I’d pass on him. I’m not saying that he won’t be good, but I’m not sold on his work ethic, and coming from the offense he did, he’s going to have to work at it to make the adjustment.”

Crabtree's name has been linked to the Seahawks ever since draft talk began. Seattle was crippled by injuries at wide receiver in 2008 and with a perceived lack of playmakers, Crabtree became the obvious pick for the team.

That was before the team picked up free agent WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Still, Crabtree's name continues to appear at no. 4 on countless mock drafts.

Character concerns have recently surfaced against Crabtree. For Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell, the trait is a big factor in selecting prospects.

Crabtree accumulated 41 touchdowns, 3,127 yards on 231 reception in two years at Texas Tech.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Fredy Montero legal update

Montero is under investigation for alleged
sexual assault. Aaron Weinberg / NSS

The Seattle Times reported today that Helmut Wennin, an agent representing Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero, spoke openly about Montero's alleged sexual assault investigation currently underway.

Wennin told a Columbian daily newspaper, El Tiempo, that Montero tried to end the relationship with the woman who made the allegations last week.

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The Times reports law-enforcement sources told them that King County prosecutors are reviewing a Bellevue police investigation into alleged sexual assault by Montero.

The Sounders leading scorer is reportedly "very hurt and sad about the situation" and refuses to answer any questions that aren't soccer related.

Montero did not make the trip to Toronto to battle Toronto FC this weekend because of an illness, but could have traveled if he weren't, despite the allegations.

The police reports reads:

"Victim [name redacted] reported she was raped twice by [suspect] Montero on 3/15 and 3/22."

From Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer (responding to the report from Colombia):

While we know firsthand of the stress and frustration this situation has caused, we have counseled Fredy, his family and associates to have faith in our system of law and to allow due process.

Reach Stephanie Castillo at nextseasonsports@gmail.com

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SEAHAWKS: Day 19 - OL Troy Kropog

When Bears running back Matt Forte was at Tulane destroying defenses for more than 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, no one was more responsible for paving the way than offensive tackle Troy Kropog.

While his former running back has burst onto the scene as a rookie, Kropog now hopes to make a splash of his own in the NFL.

The four-year starter was an all-Conference USA selection as a junior when he helped his team finish 20th in the nation in rushing after improving by more than 110 yards rushing per game from the previous season.

To continue...

Strengths

Kropog has good overall athleticism. He's light on his feet when pulling and has the sustained speed to get to the second level with ease.

As a pass blocker, he has improved greatly against speed rushers off the edge and shows good balance and technique.

While Kropog doesn't have great physical strength, he uses his hands well to lock onto a defender and direct them away from the ball.

He mostly gets by on good movement and a strong understanding of the game. A team captain his senior year, Kropog is a mature, smart player with a strong work ethic.

Weaknesses

Kropog probably doesn't have the initial quickness to be a left tackle in the NFL. In addition, he can be susceptible to the bull rush, as he doesn't have great strength.

His lack of great overall strength hurts his run blocking as well. Though he is effective in locking onto a defender, he is not always able to sustain blocks.

Though he was dominant at Tulane, the level of competition makes it difficult to determine if he'll have the strength and speed to be anywhere as effective in the NFL.


How does he fit in Seattle?

Kropog was a four-year starter in a zone-blocking scheme, and his future in the NFL is clearly in such a scheme. He is most effective blocking on the move and may have a great future as a starting guard in the NFL.

For Seattle's purposes, Kropog would be able to backup at either guard or tackle positions, eventually developing into a replacement for guards Mike Wahle or Rob Sims.

Kropog has everything general manager Tim Ruskell looks for in a player. He's a high-character kid with the work ethic and understanding of the game to excel at the next level.

Draft position

Kropog is projected to go at about round three. He compares favorably to starting zone-blocking guards like Denver Chris Kuper.

Come day two, he'll likely be high on the draft boards of all zone-blocking teams and even a few power-blocking teams and shouldn't last beyond round four.

He likely won't be dominant player at the next level but could develop into a quality starter at guard or right tackle.

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Week 3: MLS top 11

Keller earned his third shutout and deserves
to be listed as the top performer at goalkeeper.
Aaron Weinberg / NSS

MLS fans were treated to a goal-filled weekend and two forwards grabbed hat tricks to lead their teams to victory. D.C. United and the Chicago Fire each had a player sent off, while five out of eight games produced more than one goal.

This article is a weekly look at the top 11 performers, lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, around the league from goalkeeper to forward.

To Continue...

Goalkeeper
Kasey Keller (SEA) - Keller posted his third shutout in as many games to help lead the Sounders to an undefeated start to their first MLS season.

Defenders
Bryan Namoff (DC) - provided the assist for United's only goal and helped post a shutout while DC defended with ten-men for nearly 20 minutes.

Tim Ward (CHI) - Chicago played with 10 men for most of the game after John Thorrington was sent off in the 14th minute. Ward helped defend against New York's attack for nearly 75 minutes.

Jamison Olave (RSL) - Olave was a presence on the back line in Real Salt Lake's home opener on their way to a 4-1 against the Columbus Crew.

Aaron Holbein (KC) - Holbein scored the opening goal en route to a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Midfielders
Steve Ralston (NE) - Ralston scored the game-winning goal from the penalty spot against FC Dallas after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Marco Pappa (CHI) - He scored Chicago's only goal against the New York Red Bulls from a left-footed volley in the 33rd minute.

Freddie Ljungberg (SEA) - The Swedish star opened his MLS account with Seattle's opening goal in a 2-0 win against Toronto FC.

Landon Donovan (LA) - Donovan has been proving why he is a U.S. national team player after assisting L.A.'s two goals in a losing effort to Colorado.

Forwards
Robbie Findley (RSL) - Findley scored the first hat trick of the MLS season in Real's 4-1 win against the Columbus Crew.

Conor Casey (COL) - Casey scored the second hat trick of the gameweek at the Home Depot Center in L.A. in a 3-2 win.

Reach Jesse Amorratanasuchad at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: NFL ignores West Coast travel woes, places new emphasis on Knapp and Mora's plans

During the 2008 offseason, Mike Holmgren tried extending the players’ curfew when flying to the East Coast. He talked of watching movies and playing video games to alleviate some of the stress of flight.

But when the first game of the season rolled around against the Bills, Holmgren’s plan seemingly backfired in a 34-10 loss.

The Seahawks still weren’t awake on the East Coast.

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This offseason, the league gave more lenient travel plans to East Coast teams, ensuring they'd never have to play two away games against the Seahawks or 49ers when drawing NFC West schedules, and so they wouldn't play away games against both the Chargers and the Raiders when drawing the AFC West.

So while the East gets easier travel plans, the West is left to cope with their cross-country struggles.

In 2009, Mora will try a new approach with his players. This is what he had to say during his first press conference as head coach.

One of the things we’re doing is talking to some of the world renowned track and field coaches that take athletes across time zones and expect them to perform at their peak efficiency. We’re saying, ‘What kind of things do you do as a coach with these world class athletes to get them ready to perform one weekend in Munich, Germany, and the next weekend in Australia?

For some, waking early isn’t a problem. Matt Hasselbeck says he's alert and ready to go come 10 a.m. kickoff. However, not every athlete feels the same.

It’s impossible to tell exactly why the Seahawks struggle on the road as an outsider looking in.

The Seahawks were 0-4 on the East Coast in 2008, rushing for 388 yards total. That's 97 average rushing yards per game. The running backs rushed for only 59 yards during losing games against the Steelers and Panthers in 2007.

Winning? 129 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles in 07.

Run game
One thing that must change is the team's ability to run the ball, which is something Knapp offenses have routinely excelled at. Time of possession always seems to be a problem during road games. It will also silence the crowd and flip momentum if the team can move the ball on offense, which is something Mora addressed in his press conference.

Knapp has said he is looking to evenly split play calling between running and passing plays, which should help the Seahawks control the ball and the clock, compared to Holmgren's 60/40 or even 70/30 split between passing and running plays.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Reading the field - Houshmandzadeh takes 84

Houshmandzadeh will don the number 84 on his
jersey this season.

Hopefully nobody ordered their custom Houshmandzadeh no. 18 jersey, the number he held up during his press conference introducing him as a Seahawk.

No. 84 belonged to former Seahawk Bobby Engram, but his departure to the Chiefs left the number up for grabs and Houshmandzadeh was happy to swap no. 18 for Engram's old threads.

To Continue...

Houshmandzadeh wore no. 18 in college but has worn no. 84 since playing in the NFL with the Bengals.

Veteran Camp
A veteran camp allotted to teams with new coaches begins this week. Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune has an extensive write-up of things to look for this season.

There is also a discussion going on over at Seahawk Addicts about some of the needs the team will need to fill and who to look at for improved seasons.

April Fools prank not all false?
An April fools prank spread a fable about the Seahawks working on a third jersey that would feature lime green as the base color.

Despite the revelation that the third jersey news was a prank, rumors continue to swirl that point to an air of truth in the April fools joke.

Mike Sando reports there is still a possibility of an alternate jersey in the future for the 'Hawks.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Column: Monday morning coffee: Match day recap

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What a beautiful weekend in the Emerald City and I am not talking about the weather. Spring is finally here and Sounders FC won an impressive game against a vastly improved Toronto side in front of a sellout crowd of rabid fans.

Well, they were rabid for a brief spell anyway.

To Continue...

It seems that Ljunberg and Zakuani quieted the Toronto faithful down quite a bit before halftime. Many of the folks dressed in red headed to the beer garden before half time. And, once half ended I am not sure many of them left the beer garden.

So this is the first match day where our boys were on the road. My ritual is very similar. Get up, check my e-mail, do a few twitters, Read my colleague's pre-match report right here on Next Season Sports, don my kit for the match and head downtown.

My friends wanted to go to Fado so I decided to meet them there. Fado, along with George and Dragon, is one of my favorite places to watch matches. It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I was thinking that it would be a brilliant day for a home match. Oh well, perhaps this Saturday, right?

I order my favorite breakfast of Eggs Benedict and settle down in the back room with my buddies (who I play soccer with in men's league) to watch the match.

The Match
Unlike the last few weeks, Sounders FC take control of the match rather quickly. They are going against the wind and the pitch is smaller than at home, which provides a challenge.

But, Sigi has the boys well prepared. Montero did not make the trip to Toronto so Ljungberg and Jaqua start up front. The passing is short and crisp and, as usual, Alonso owns the midfield.

Ljungberg's pace looks fantastic and with about 14 minutes in, he pushes the ball up and does a quick 2 on 1 pass to Jaqua. Ljunberg cuts through the defense, Jaqua back to Ljungberg and a shot from Ljungberg results in a goal. 1-0 Seattle. The packed crowd at Fado erupts in jubilation. It was a text book give and go and a brilliant finish.

With one minute left in the half: Riley down the line to Ljunberg to LeToux to Jaqua a shot a rebound to Zakuani, In my best Max Bretos (FSC) imitation, "yeeees!" Seattle goes into the locker room with a 2 to nil lead.

That was all she wrote in terms of scoring. Toronto did have their chances; a shot off the post and a solid header from DeRosario only to be thwarted by a spectacular "save of the week" from Kasey Keller.

A few observations
Who knew that Jaqua had the makings of a WWE pro wrestler. At about 58 minutes in as he was going up for a ball, "Jaqua The Snake" executed a perfect DDT on Kevin Harmes for the win. Ladies and gentlemen, your new Intercontinental Champion is... All kidding asside, Jaqua is very great and humble guy off the pitch but on the pitch he plays the game with passion and fights for every ball. Hmm... maybe I may start refering to him as "The Snake" always ready to strike.

At about 72 minutes in Seattle fans got quite a scare as Ljungberg went down holding his left knee. You could have heard a pin drop in the place. While he was on the ground one of the Toronto faithful decided that they would waste a perfectly good $8.00 beer by throwing it on Ljungberg. Really classy move Toronto fan, I am sure your parents are really proud.

Ljungberg was able to continue and finish strong before coming out of the match at about 80 minutes. Well done.

Honorable Mentions
Again, Osvaldo Alonso was just about flawless on both sides of the ball. James Riley continues to impress with aggressive play on both sides of the ball and great runs up the right. Sebastien LeToux is just one of those types of players that gives everything he has all the time. He always seems to know where to go with the ball before he gets it. He does the little things that can impact a match.

He made a wonderful initial pass to Jaqua that ended up in a rebound goal from Zakuani.

Zach Scott once again was solid in the air at the left back, Hurtado, and Marshall kept the shots on net down to a minimum and when Keller was tested he came up huge.

Brad Evans is just solid in the midfield and works so well with Alonso and Zakuani continues to make the most of his playing time.

Sanna Nyassi came in with ten minutes left and his speed and creativity on the ball is a treat to watch. He created a couple potential scoring opportunities.

All in all
It was a great team effort in a tough environment. We are the first expansion team to win its first three games and we have scored seven goals to our opponent's 10, with the scoring coming from a variety of sources. We have a lot of weapons in our arsenal (and a former great Arsenal player on our side).

I sure am looking forward to another great match day with our boys at home. Maybe we will be blessed with some great weather. If not it doesn't matter because myself along with the rest of Sounders Nation will be there later this week in full force and full effect.

Reach Greg Roth at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: Game Preview: Seattle Mariners (0-0) vs. Minnesota Twins (0-0)

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The Mariners open the season with a revamped roster and renewed expectations against a playoff-hopeful Twins team already battling injuries.

The Twins, who lost a one-game playoff to make the playoffs last year, are projected by many to win the AL Central, while the Mariners, well, are not expected to win anything.

5:10 p.m. April 6 at the Metrodome
TV: FSN
Radio: 710 ESPN

To continue...

Pitcher Scott Baker will miss his first start of the season along with catcher Joe Mauer, who led the Twins in batting average last season hitting .328.

While the Twins will certainly be without two big guns, many more are battling injuries, though some should still play, including first baseman Justin Morneau, left fielder Delmon Young, right fielder Michael Cuddyer, shortstop Nick Punto and third baseman Joe Crede.

Morneau, the team's leader in home runs and RBIs last season, is battling a back injury, but he played in the team's final spring game on Saturday and said he will play on opening day.

For the Mariners, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, fresh off his heroics in the finals of the World Baseball Classic, is also fresh off a bleeding ulcer. He will miss a start for the first time in 197 games.

Starting pitchers

Felix Hernandez will make the opening day start for the Mariners. He faces a team that finished third in the AL last season in runs scored.

The last time he started opening day was in 2007 at Safeco Field. He shut out the Athletics on four hits in eight innings, striking out 12.

In place of Baker, the Twins will start left-hander Francisco Liriano. The 25-year-old enters his third season as a starter, finishing last season with a 3.91 ERA in 14 starts.

The hard-throwing lefty missed 2007 due to Tommy John elbow surgery and wasn't quite recovered in 2008. Now, his fastball is back in the mid-90's, and he's greatly strengthened his changeup.

Starting lineup

Mariners:

Endy Chavez LF
Franklin Guttierrez CF
Mike Sweeney DH
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Jose Lopez 2B
Russell Branyan 1B
Kenji Johjima C
Yuniesky Betancourt SS

Twins:

Carlos Gomez CF
Alexi Casilla 2B
Mike Redmond C
Justin Morneau 1B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Jason Kubel DH
Delmon Young LF
Joe Crede 3B
Nick Punto SS
*Twins lineup not set due to injuries

Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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MARINERS: 25 player pyramid

With the start of the 2009 season underway and Seattle's first game just hours away the Mariners have set their 25-man roster and there's quite a few surprises.

Matt Tuiasosopo, who had a great spring, was recalled from Triple A just 10 days after being sent down to take the empty roster spot left when Seattle placed Ichiro on the 15-day disabled list.

To Continue...

Rookie pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who led the team with a 2.08 ERA this spring, will be used in some setup and potential long relief and spot starts this season.

Another rookie pitcher with no Major League experience, Shawn Kelley will also join the bullpen ranks after a successful spring.

C: Kenji Johjima
C: Rob Johnson
1B: Russel Branyan
1B: Mike Sweeny
2B: Jose Lopez
SS: Yuneski Betancourt
2B/SS: Ronny Cedeno
3B: Adrian Beltre
LF/RF: Endy Chavez
CF: Franklin Gutierrez
RF: Wladimir Balentin
RF/LF/DH: Ken Griffey Jr.
SP: Felix Hernandez
SP: Erik Bedard
SP: Carlos Silva
SP: Jarrod Washburn
SP: Ryan Rowland-Smith
LONG RHP: Miguel Batista
MIDDLE RHP: Shawn Kelley
MIDDLE RHP: Roy Corcoran
SETUP RHP: David Aardsma
SETUP RHP: Mark Lowe
SETUP RHP: Chris Jakubauskas
CLOSER: Brandon Morrow

Reach Josh Stilts at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Winners and losers from Saturday's match

Zakuani underperformed despite scoring
the team's second goal. Aaron Weinberg / NSS

The Sounders FC faced one of the loudest crowds in the MLS in Toronto on Saturday but Seattle left the game all smiles after a 2-0 victory in the team's first away win in club history.

The Sounders players were matched up against a difficult opponent, but the play from some individual players unlocked Toronto's defense and took the crowd completely out of the game.

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Freddie Ljungberg vs. Adrian Serioux - WIN, Ljungberg
Sigi Schmid gave Ljungberg the nod to start up front with Nate Jaqua and the former Swedish international did not disappoint. Ljungberg played in between Jaqua and the midfield and was the most dangerous player while he was on the pitch. He played the ball confidently in his first MLS start and scored a timely goal in the 15th minute to silence the rampant Toronto crowd. Ljungberg controlled the tempo of the game with every step and even played a hand in the Sounders second goal.

Osvaldo Alonso vs. Amado Guevara - WIN, Alonso
Alonso has become a stalwart in the holding-midfield role for the Sounders and disrupted multiple Toronto attacks as they pressed the Seattle goal. Guevara rarely had time to look up to pass because Alonso was constantly clipping his heels. Alonso broke up passes on the defensive end and was also able to provide support in attack, sitting just above the center circle to help switch play across the field. Alonso's play as the defensive-midfielder has proven how important this position can be for a team's defense.

Steve Zakuani vs. Marvell Wynne - WIN, Wynne
Marvell Wynne clearly got the better of Zakuani throughout the game, defending aggressively and also taking part in Toronto's attack. Zakuani seemed out-of-sorts on the left and had a lot of trouble against an experienced U.S.-international defender. The rookie made up for his performance by scoring the clinching goal just before halftime, but few attacks were started or created from Seattle's left side. Zakauni seemed to drift to the middle too often, which pinched Seattle's attack and forced them to play through the right-hand side.

Tyrone Marshall vs. Dwayne DeRosario - WIN, Marshall
Although Marshall did not defend DeRosario as much as normal, the defender kept the defensive line organized against a potent Toronto attack. DeRosario always seemed to play with his back towards goal, which is a tribute to the Sounders' team defense against a dangerous scoring midfielder. Marshall made several crucial tackles and was a physical presence in the air.

BMO Field vs. the Players - WIN, the players
Both Seattle and Toronto adjusted well to 30-mile gusts of wind and the Sounders showed some slick passing to take Toronto's crowd and the weather out of the game. The Sounders almost looked like they were in a training match the way they kept possession and were able to cut through Toronto's defense by keeping the ball on the ground.

Reach Jesse Amorratanasuchad at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Day 20 - CB Keenan Lewis

Seattle has a problem at corner. Despite starting two former first-round picks with a second rounder coming off the bench, Seattle ranked dead last in the league in pass defense last season.

Part of the problem is lack of size. Between Marcus Trufant, Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings, Seattle doesn't have a corner that's at least 6-feet tall.

With free-agent cornerbacks often overpriced, there's no better place to find a press corner than the draft, and Oregon State's Keenan Lewis may possess all the talents Seattle needs.

To continue...

Strengths

At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Lewis is one of the biggest corners in the draft, and he uses that size well.

Utilizing his long reach and solid strength, Lewis was excellent in press coverage in college. He also proved to be good in run defense, reacting quick to the play and making consistent open-field tackles.

Even with his strength in press coverage, Lewis operated as a four-year starter in a man-to-man coverage scheme and has the smooth hips and quickness to follow his man downfield. He ran a 4.49 and 4.51 40-yard dash at his pro day but did not run at the combine.

Weaknesses

Like most corners in this year's draft, Lewis lacks great top-end speed, which combined with his impressive size, may make him a safety in some defenses.

Further hurting his cause, Lewis isn't great at making a play on the ball. Despite starting immediately as a freshman, he didn't register an interception until his junior season, finishing his career with seven.

Ultimately, despite extensive experience playing man coverage, Lewis will probably need to end up in a cover-2 defense if he's to remain a corner.


How does he fit in Seattle?

Lewis has the kind of size Seattle needs at corner in a division with big wide recevers like Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson.

For all their skill and quickness, Seattle's current corners don't have the ability to jam the receiver at the line like most cover-2 corners do. They've traditionally played soft coverage, several yards off the line.

A player such as Lewis would represent a step in the right direction for a pass defense that hasn't finished in the top half of the league in pass defense since 1997. Yes, it's been that bad.

Draft position

Lewis should go in rounds three or four. He ran a good 40-time at his pro day, and his ability to possibly transition to safety should make him a strong possibility in more than just cover-2 defenses.

His consistent production and ability in a conference known for its passing will also bode well for Lewis, who may be more NFL ready than many of his counterparts.

Even still, he's the type of player that could be a better pro than collegian should he wind up in the right system to suit his talents.

Here's your highlight reel:



Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SOUNDERS FC: Photos and videos from game 3

A small taste of what it would have been like to be in Toronto on Saturday...

Here are some photos and videos from the Sounders' 2-0 victory over Toronto on April 4.

For photos and videos...

Click here for the official Sounders FC photo site ... The first 20 photos or so are from the Toronto match.

Click here for an AP slideshow from examiner.com.


Freddie Ljungberg's first ever MLS goal came in the 15th minute... And as the announcer said, a very nice ball from Nate Jaqua


Steve Zakuani scores in the 45th minute by recovering a shot at goal by Nate Jaqua

"The goals just keep coming for the expansion team from Seattle!"


Postgame report from Tony Ventrella, plus an interview with Sigi Schmid


All videos are from soundersfc.com

Reach Stephanie Castillo at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Reading the field - Lions looking to trade down, finding few suitors

According to Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe, the Detroit Lions, who hold the no. 1 overall pick, are looking to trade down from the position. But interest appears "light" due to the high cost of the selection.

The Lions, also hold the no. 20 pick in the first round and are expected to use one of their selections to take a quarterback.

To Continue...

New Regime often means new quarterback
Chris Sullivan of Seahawk Addicts predicts GM Tim Ruskell will draft a new quarterback this year.

He uses history as a benchmark when making the prediction, citing a Walter Football story that shows new regimes often rebuild by getting their own quarterback, even though the story predicts the Seahawks won't do that.

Recent history, however, is not on Hasselbeck's side.

Veteran mini camp starts Tuesday
Eric Williams of the TNT posts his top ten questions for the Seahawks as they head into their veteran mini camp, scheduled for Tuesday.

1.) How much gas does quarterback Matt Hasselbeck have left in the tank?

Ken Lucas
Lucas may land with the 'Hawks if the price is right, reports Pro Football Weekly.

Word is Lucas is tight with new Seahawks DB coach Tim Lewis, his DB coach in Carolina.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Mare vs Brown

Mare

In case you didn’t notice, the Seahawks did just fine without the “slave to the businessman,” also known as kicker Josh Brown. In fact, they did much better in terms of stats and salary cap with kicker Olindo Mare.

Brown had made several clutch kicks to defeat the Rams durings his five year stint with the Seahawks.

To Continue...

But, Seattle still managed to beat the Rams twice in 2008, including St. Louis' blacked out home game with a Mare field goal with three seconds left, lifting the 'Hawks to a 23-20 victory.

Brown will make $14.2 mill over the five years of his contract. Mare will make $3.5 million total by the end of two years. If Mare would be signed to a five-year, his contract would have been the equivalent to $8.75 million.

Here are the stats:



Brown's foot hit a lower percentage of field goals than Mare. Mare paid huge dividends in touchbacks, something Brown was never known for in Seattle.

Overall, Mare outperformed Brown in every category for almost half the price.
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SOUNDERS FC: Team continues shutout streak with 2-0 victory over Toronto FC

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Despite playing without MLS Player of the Month Fredy Montero and competing in their first away game, the Sounders FC will return to Seattle with another victory—a 2-0 shutout of Toronto FC on Saturday.

With the win, the Sounders (3-0-0) remained undefeated and handed Toronto (1-1-1) its first loss of the season. In the first two weeks of league play, the Reds defeated the Kansas City Wizards, 3-2, and drew even at 1-1 with the Columbus Crew. The loss for Toronto FC was just their third in MLS play since the beginning of the 2008 season.

To continue...

Strikers Freddie Ljungberg and Steve Zakuani notched two early goals for Seattle—both in the first half—to secure the victory for the Sounders.

The shutout by goalkeeper Kasey Keller has continued the Sounders’ shutout streak to three consecutive games and has made Seattle the first team in MLS history to not allow a goal in its first three games.

Keller set a new MLS shutout streak, not allowing a goal in 270 straight minutes, improving upon the old record of 228 minutes set in 1996.

Ljungberg, after recovering from offseason hip surgery and injury rehab, started in his first game for the Sounders. In the last home game against Real Salt Lake, Ljungberg thrilled the crowd at Qwest Field by entering the game as a reserve for Steve Zakuani in the 61st minute of the match.

Ljungberg scored his first goal in MLS play in the 15th minute, avoiding two defenders and using a give-and-go play with Nate Jaqua to his advantage. He drove the ball past Toronto goalkeeper Greg Sutton from 25 yards out.

Zakuani, who Ljungberg replaced in last week’s Real Salt Lake game, also scored his first MLS goal in the match’s first half. Zakuani ended scoring and put the game out of reach for the Reds when he scored off a rebounded shot at goal from Jaqua.

In the second half of play, the home team substituted midfielder Sam Cronin for Rohan Ricketts and Danny Dichio for Chad Barrett to alter the Toronto FC’s offensive attack.

The closest Toronto got to scoring was in the 69th minute when Amado Guevara, with a cross from Jim Brennan, headed the ball in the direction of Keller in goal. The ball hit the goal’s crossbar and sailed above the net.

Seven minutes later, Keller dived and saved a shot at goal by Pablo Vitti from a cross by Dwayne De Rosario.

The only other scoring chance for Toronto FC was Guevara’s free kick, which floated over the goal in the 88th minute.


Game Notes:

The 42 degree temperature and 35 mph wind was a factor in Toronto’s BMO Stadium, which reportedly created an English-like futbol setting for the Reds’ home opener. The crowd of nearly 21,000 started to file out early, as the end of the second half drew closer and the 2-0 Sounders victory seemed imminent.

Ljungberg scored 72 goals when he played with Arsenal and had a season-high 17 goals in his 2001-02 season. The 2006 Swedish Player of the Year and two-time English Premiere League champ’s first goal for Seattle in the first half allowed Sounders fans everywhere to exhale a sigh of relief as the well-known scorer can hopefully live up to his high goal count potential.

Sounders leading scorer forward Fredy Montero did not make the trip to Toronto after falling ill before the team departed.

Look for game previews on NSS later this week for the next Sounders FC matchup against the Kansas City Wizards, who currently sit in last place in Eastern conference standings, April 11 at Qwest Field.

Match Stats from soundersfc.com:

Sounders Toronto FC
2 Goals 0
1 Corner Kicks 4
6 Fouls 10
3 Misconduct Fouls 2
1 Offsides 2
3 Saves 1
8 Shots 9
3 Shots on Goal 4

Western Conference Standings
W L D Points
Seattle 3 0 0 9
Chivas USA 2 0 0 6
Colorado 1 1 0 3
San Jose 1 1 0 3
Los Angeles 0 0 1 1
Houston 0 1 1 1
Salt Lake 0 1 0 0
FC Dallas 0 2 0 0


Reach Stephanie Castillo at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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SEAHAWKS: Day 21 - RB Rashad Jennings

Cardinals running back Tim Hightower proved last season that players from Division-II schools can make it in the NFL by scoring 10 touchdowns on the ground in his rookie season.

Now, Liberty running back Rashad Jennings will reap the rewards of Hightower's success.

Since transferring to Liberty from Pittsburgh, Jennings has been a force in D-II football. In three seasons, he never rushed for less than 1,000 yards and 5.7 yards per carry. He finished his career at Liberty with 41 rushing touchdowns.

To continue...

Strengths

They don't get as big and as powerful as Jennings is coming out of college. He had a very productive college career breaking tackles and punishing defenders with his huge 231-pound frame.

Like most power backs, Jennings is a one-cut runner with little wiggle in his game, which bodes well for his NFL career where some big men can flounder due to their heitancy hitting the hole.

Jennings shows no such hesitancy, but at the same time, he has the patience to wait for the hole develop then enough acceleration to plow his way through.

Despite being known as a power back, Jennings has also shown solid receiving skills, being credited for only two drops and 24 receptions in 2008.

Character-wise, he seems to be well-liked by all his players and coaches and puts in the effor on and off the field to improve his game.

Weaknesses

Jennings will not have home-run ability out of the backfield. At the combine, he ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, and though he improved on it at his pro day, Jennings will not be a big-play threat in the NFL.

He also lacks great initial burst. While he does have decent quickness, he relied too much on size and power in college. Defenders at the next level will be much more difficult to push around.

If Jennings is going to be more than a situational, goalline rusher at the next level, he'll need improved vision to find the cutback lanes and improved quickness to get through small, fast-closing holes.


How does he fit in Seattle?

Like Hightower, Jennings will probably have to make his name as a goalline runner as a rookie. In Seattle, that role belongs to T.J. Duckett, who could find himself the odd man out if Jennings is selected.

Jennings is the type of downhill power back that can have a great deal of success in the NFL. Though he's not as big, Jennings has a running style similar to New York's Brandon Jacobs and could have the same type of success if paired with the right partner.

With Jennings pass-catching ability, he could eventually develop into a three-down back capable of carrying the bulk of the rushing load. He'll rarely break the big one, but offensive coordinator Greg Knapp could certainly use an aggressive power back like Jennings to pound defenses.

Jennings will break tackles in the NFL, he will score touchdowns and he will catch passes. It's not a bad blend for a 'Hawks team likely to be a run-first team.

Draft position

There aren't many running backs in this year's draft capable of being a full-time player like Jennings. Due to this, he could find himself being drafted as high as the second round, despite issues with speed and level of competition.

With most teams using a two-back system, Jennings will likely play a valuable role for some team in 2009.

If he drops to the third or fourth round, the Seahawks won't find a better fit at running back.

Highlights:



Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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