If only Erik Bedard could have stayed in the game. He left after four innings, having reached his managerial imposed pitch-count limit for the game with three-straight shutout innings and eight strikeouts.
Despite a rough start, he was dominant. But that would come to an end in the fifth, and it didn't take long before the Orioles batters punished the M's bullpen.
Relievers Chris Jakubauskas and Shawn Kelley combined to give up nine runs in two innings, and the Mariners went on to lose 12-4 tonight at Safeco Field.
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After surrendering two hits and two runs in the first inning, Bedard settled down to strike out the side in the second. He would allow no more base runners until being relieved to start the fifth.
Franklin Gutierrez, after making a rare throwing error to give up a run in the first, homered in his first at bat, driving in three runs to put Seattle up 3-2.
While Bedard shut down the Orioles, the Mariners continued to put runners on base but would strand all of them, including two in scoring position, before the Orioles big sixth inning.
The Orioles gave starter Jerremy Guthrie the early hook as he lasted only 2.1 innings, giving up two hits, three runs and walking four.
Reliever Mark Hendrickson was less generous as he struck out four Mariners in 2.2 innings of work.
The teams square off for the series win at 1:40 p.m. tomorrow.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat8:29 PM
TUKWILA, Wa -- The Sounders FC brought the attack to Kansas City all match during the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match. Their resilience paid off late in the match when Fredy Montero was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, in the 88th minute, leading to a penalty kick.
The team decided striker Sebastien Le Toux should take the penalty kick and he didn't let the match go into overtime as he netted the game's only goal for a 1-0 Sounder win.
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Seattle threatened all night, relentlessly attacking into Kansas City's back third but was not finishing. It looked like the match would be going to into a 30 minute overtime but Montero was brought down by Hartman by what was almost certainly a clear scoring opportunity. Seattle out shot KC 12 to 6 with Seattle having a slight advantage with shots on goal 3-1.
Seattle will face the Houston Dynamo in the USOC semi final match on July, 21st at Starfire Sports Complex. The winner will advance to the cup final.
Video interviews from Montero and others coming soon.
Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Another piece of the 2009 Mariners has landed on the disabled list. Only this time it is not an infielder but rather the veteran designated hitter Mike Sweeney. This move was partially made so the Mariners would be allowed to activate Tuesday’s starter, Erik Bedard.
The five-time All-Star as a first baseman had back spasms during Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox and left mid-game to be checked out. But this move may actually help the Mariners.
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His main value is in the clubhouse where he will continue being while injured. So on the field the Mariners will be able to play Wladimir Balentien more often than he is now. The only time Balentien has been able to play now is when two of either Mike Sweeney, Ryan Langerhans or Ken Griffey Jr. are absent.
Sweeney will be retroactive to Monday.
Reach Ben Brown at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Seahawks fullback Owen Schmitt pleaded not guilty to a DUI charge today at an arraignment hearing in Black Diamond.
The not guilty plea is no surprise because it gives Schmitt and his attorney time to work out a plea agreement with the prosecuting attorney.
First time offenders in the state of Washington normally receive a lesser charge of negligent driving in the first degree, which amounts to watered-down DUI penalties.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for later this month, according to Danny O'Neil of the Times.
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Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
One of the more disappointing aspects of the 2008 Seahawks wasn't so much things they couldn't help, e.g. injuries, but the things they could. Falling into that category was the poor play of rookie first-rounder Lawrence Jackson.
After starting the season with promise as a starter, he would eventually be relegated to the bench by week seven and finish the year with just 29 tackles and two sacks.
But don't label him a bust quite yet. He's shown the drive and ability to improve this offseason. And with his blend of talents, the Seahawks defense could benefit greatly from his contributions.
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Stopping the run It's not something one often thinks about when looking at defensive ends, but stopping the run is an important function, especially for those operating on the strong side.
For Jackson, this aspect of his game proved to be a strength, which it should be given his 6-foot-4 271-pound frame.
With Patrick Kerney out late last season to injury, Jackson proved himself to be an invaluable asset in run defense, one thing the 2008 Seahawks weren't terrible at.
While a disappointment as a pass rusher both at end and tackle, his ability to seal the edge against the rush is something his rival to start, Darryl Tapp, has always lacked.
Potential It can be a scary word. It's been thrown around to describe every player who took up a roster spot but never amounted to anything.
But if the 2009 Seahawks defense is going to be effective, it's going to need the individual players along the front seven to live up to their potential.
Jackson is at the top of that list. With his blend of size and speed, the 'Hawks have a player capable of doing it all from the defensive end position.
While Jackson will never be amongst the league leaders in sacks, ala Kerney, he needs to at least be a threat on first and second downs. Around eight-to-10 sacks should be the goal.
Front-seven pressure While the Seahawks should blitz more this year than they have in the past, pressure still needs to come from the front four, so the linebackers can concentrate on coverage.
If Jackson can't provide that pressure then Seattle will have to start Tapp, making the rush defense suffer.
There should be no doubt that Jackson is the ideal candidate to start alongside Kerney at defensive end. The only question is whether he'll step up the way Seattle needs him to.
Seattle played stride for stride with the Eastern Conference leading D.C. United. How will they fare against the other two conference leaders this month?
Seattle appears to have found their groove, most recently coming away with a 3-0 win against the Rapids. The shutout was reminiscent of their three-goal inaugural blank against the Red Bulls, which had the whole MLS talking.
Now the team ranks third in the league with 25 points as they attack a crucial home stand stretch against two of the toughest teams in the MLS.
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Seattle will finish off their home stand by playing the entire month of July at Qwest Field against two of the MLS's top ranked teams: the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Fire and Western Conference leading Houston Dynamo.
Midway through the season, these two July games should show how talented Seattle is compared to the MLS's cream of the crop.
This Saturday the rebounding Houston Dynamo, who lost to the L.A. Galaxy two weeks ago but won 1-0 against Kansas City Saturday, flies to Seattle to take on the streaking Sounders.
While Houston leads the league in goals allowed with just 10, they'll be facing one of the most efficient offenses led by Fredy Montero's eight goals, which is tied for second in the MLS. Seattle has 24 goals on the season, which is good enough for outright second place in the league.
After a friendly match against Chelsea FC July 18 Seattle returns to MLS competition against the Chicago Fire the next Saturday. The Sounders appeared outmatched in the last meeting but came away with a 1-1 draw.
Both matches are crucial games for Seattle, who appear to be improving by finding chemistry on the offensive side of the ball, because the Fire and Dynamo are two of the best teams in the league.
Seattle has already come away with a 3-3 heartbreaking tie against Eastern Conference leading D.C. United during their home stand.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
_ Today Seattle sets their sights on Kansas City in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.
If the team wins, Seattle will play at Starfire again on July 21 against either the Houston Dynamo or the Charleston Battery of USL-1.
The match won't be televised but the club will be streaming audio at soundersfc.com with Thom Beuning calling the action and Peter Fewing with the analysis.
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World Cup Despite underwhelming non-MLS game attendance, Seattle still has a good shot at hosting a World Cup match.
However, projected attendance figures are not expected to be a primary factor in determining which United States cities would host games if the World Cup returns to this country for the first time since 1994.
“We honestly believe that if the World Cup comes back to the United States that we’ll sell 5 million tickets,” David Downs, executive director of the USA Bid Committee said during his weekend visit to Seattle. “… I think that’s a realistic number. What that is is 64 matches times roughly 78,000 per match. I don’t think there’s any question that we would sell out every single match.”
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
One day after missing out on the All-Star game despite a sterling ERA this season, Jarrod Washburn served up one more reason why he may have been a snub.
Through nine innings, he was near-flawless, limiting the visiting Orioles to just one hit, no walks and no runs. It was the first one-hitter by a Mariner at Safeco Field and the first in Washburn's career.
The winning run, as it turned out, came on the Mariners second at-bat of the game as Russell Branyan sent a shot into deep center field for a solo home run. The M's (43-39) went on to win 5-0 today.
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The Mariners added to the lead with four runs in three innings, with newcomers Ryan Langerhans and Chris Woodward accounting three of those RBIs.
After struggling through three innings without a hit against Orioles starter Brad Bergesen, the Mariners broke through in the fifth with a run off just two hits.
Over the next two innings, they would load the bases and come away with three more runs, two of which came off a two-run double in the sixth off the bat of Woodward.
Washburn would finish with only three strikeouts, but his excellent command of the fastball and varied pitches relegated Orioles hitters to ground out after ground out and fly out after fly out.
Franklin Gutierrez was the only one to get multiple hits, going 3-for-4 in his ninth-straight game with a hit. During that span, his batting average has risen from .258 to .293 now.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
NEW YORK (July 6, 2009) - Major League Soccer has unveiled the official logo for MLS Cup 2009, the League's 14th championship game. The marquee matchup will take place on Sunday, November 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, the home of Seattle Sounders FC. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
Created in-house by the MLS Creative Services Department, the new logo marks a turning point in the branding of MLS Cup. Past MLS Cup logos integrated strong visual and architectural elements of each host city while the new logo highlights the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy through a simple and elegant glyph of the trophy. This glyph will remain a consistent element in the MLS Cup logo for years to come. In the new design, the host city -- Seattle for the 2009 edition -- is symbolized by a specific typeface and color accents in the handles of the trophy.
The Philip F. Anschutz Trophy was created by Tiffany and Co. and introduced in October 2008. The Columbus Crew were the first MLS Cup-winners to lift the new trophy and the battle to be crowned champion this year at MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle is intensifying as the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs approach.
Qwest Field will become the eighth venue to host MLS Cup. Tickets to the game are included in Seattle Sounders FC season ticket packages, and are also available by calling 877-MLS-GOAL or visiting www.soundersfc.com. With the Sounders setting MLS attendance records, soccer fans in the Pacific Northwest will make the Emerald City an ideal venue for Major League Soccer's championship match.
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat6:00 PM
It was a perfectly clear summers day in Seattle as 15,000 fans celebrated the Fourth of July with the United States Men's National Team as they defeated Grenada in convincing fashion. Here are some photos from the match.
After going 5-4 on one of the toughest road trips of the season, the Mariners will use their momentum against the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series. Both teams struggled to win games last season, but only one of the two has actually made any improvements this year--the Mariners.
Starting off game one is left-handed veteran Jarrod Washburn (4-6; 3.37 ERA), who will duel the O’s young right-hander Brad Bergesen (5-2; 3.53 ERA). Bergesen’s last start was nearly flawless as he only allowed one earned run over eight innings against a very potent Boston offense.
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Former Baltimore ace, LHP Erik Bedard (5-2; 2.47 ERA) will face off with the team’s current ace Jeremy Guthrie (6-8; 5.20 ERA) for the series’ middle game. The right-hander has struggled this season by allowing a league-high 19 home runs.
Finishing off the series will be one of Seattle’s brightest stars in left-hander Jason Vargas (3-3; 4.14 ERA). He has been one of many surprising off-season acquisitions. The Birds will use RHP David Hernandez (2-2; 4.15). Both pitchers carry nearly identical stats, which should call for a good game.
Yet another piece of the dreaded Erik Bedard trade will be making their 2009 debut. This time it is prized relief prospect Kam Mickolio, who had played nine games last season, finishing with a 0-1 record and 5.87 ERA. Expect to see him in Safeco Field at least once during this series.
In SI's annual fantasy football guide a 32-page section breaking down each team's fantasy outlook proved unkind to the Seahawks. An unnamed NFC West coach basically said the Seahawks stink.
Matt Hasselbeck has gotten the s--- knocked out of him the last two years. Last year you could see the cumulative effect of the big hits on him. He's on the downsing.
Other noteworthy lines from the anonymous coach were, "They're very pedestrian at running back," "Houshmandzadeh is not a home run hitter," and "[Carlson's] production may go down."
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They made a massive change offensively, bringing in [coordinator] Greg Knapp, who will install the zone running game .... Matt Hasselbeck has gotten the s--- knocked out of him the last two years. Last year you could see the cumulative effect of the big hits on him. He's on the downswing.... They're very pedestrian at running back. Julius Jones [below] is not a guy who keeps you up nights defensively.... T.J. Houshmandzadeh is not a home run hitter, but at the end of the day he'll catch a lot of balls.... The key for them is Deion Branch coming back healthy. If he does, with Housh, you're looking at some real good play at receiver.... John Carlson benefited from [former head coach] Mike Holmgren's throwing the ball so much, forcing defenses to play Cover Two on the outside. His production may go down with Housh also working the middle.
Three decades Deion Branch turns 30 today, making him Seattle's second oldest WR behind Houshmandzadeh, 32.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
There's no way around it. The Seahawks wide receivers are injury prone. Even highly touted new arrival T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been known to miss some games to injury.
So rookie Deon Butler stepping up and being more than just a rookie becomes all the more important.
Even if he enters the season the number four receiver, chances are he'll get his chances either out of the slot or as a starter. And he'll need to make the most of them.
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One thing working in Seattle's favor is Butler's history as a quick learner. Upon entering Penn State as a walk-on, one-star athlete, Butler immediately emerged as a starter and go-to player.
Here are his college stats:
Backups float or sink The Seahawks have a history of backup wide receivers being relied upon to come in and produce in a pinch. The success of those players has often determined the success of the offense as a whole.
In 2005, Seattle lost its top three receivers at once for a stretch (Darrell Jackson, Koren Robinson, Bobby Engram).
Rather than flounder offensively and lose some key games, players such as Joe Jurevicius and D.J. Hackett stepped up in a big way to make key plays.
On the flipside, players such as Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent failed miserably as starters last year, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had no one to go to. Butler's rookie projection In the Projecting the Rooks series, Butler's rookie numbers were projected to be 426 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Now, obviously someone pulled those numbers out of their ass (cough, cough).
But if Butler is forced into the starting lineup for more than a few games, then he's going to have to put up far better numbers than that.
Seattle needs him to be more productive than your average rookie receiver taken in the third round if they're to have consistent, long-term success throwing the ball this season.
And if Seattle isn't throwing the ball successfully, then they aren't heading to the playoffs. Because of that, Butler may wind up being Seattle's most important rookie this year, and the one they most need to make an instant impact.
_ If you were to tell people before the season started that Seattle would go 5-4 against the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox, most people would have thought you were crazy. But that's exactly what this scrappy team did.
Sadly though, even Brandon Morrow's best start of the season wasn't enough for Seattle to sweep Boston at home. In six innings of work Morrow allowed just three runs, all solo home runs, on six hits, walked just two but struck out a season-high seven in the 8-4 loss on Sunday.
Morrow left the game after 97 pitches with a 4-3 lead but three walks by the bullpen was all Boston needed to spark a rally.
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After getting Nick Green to fly out, walking JD Drew and giving up a single to Dustin Pedroia, relief pitcher Miguel Batista got Kevin Youkilis to fly out, but David Ortiz was waiting for a fastball and drove it to right. Drew scored and Pedroia moved to third.
Mark Lowe, overworked from a 20-plus pitch outing in Friday's game, couldn't command his pitches and walked Jason Bay on four pitches to load the bases, then walked Jacoby Ellsbury on five pitches to give Boston the lead.
Mark Kotsay, filling in at first base while Mike Lowell is on the disabled list, singled scoring Pedroia and Ortiz. Ellsubry moved to third. Sean White relived Lowe and Ellsbury scored on a wild pitch and Kotsay moved to second, but White settled down and struck out Jason Varitek to finally end the inning.
Three of Seattle's four runs came on a triple by shortstop Ronny Cedeno in the fourth. Ken Griffey Jr., who replaced Mike Sweeney after Sweeney experienced back spasms scored as did Franklin Gutierrez, who singled to left, and Kenji Johjima was safe on a rare error by Pedroia.
Tacoma/Puyallup native Jon Lester, who threw 121 pitches in the game, gave up four runs, just one earned, on eight hits and three walks but struck out nine.
With the loss, Seattle now stands three games back in the AL West standings but could be 3 1/2 games back with the Angles and Rangers still playing.
This last home stand with three games against Baltimore and four against the Rangers will really show if Seattle can stay in the race.
Reach Josh Stilts at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
The 2009 All-Star team was unveiled today, and just two Mariners made the team, doubling last season's showing.
For Felix Hernandez, this will be his first appearance at an All-Star game while Ichiro Suzuki will make his ninth-straight.
Hernandez, coming off being named the pitcher AL pitcher of the month for June, ranks third in the league for ERA amongst starters and sixth in wins.
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All Ichiro has done is lead the majors in hits, and his .365 batting average trails only Joe Mauer. He's been named an All-Star in every season of his career.
The last Mariner other than Ichiro to be named to the All-Star team was Jose Lopez in 2006.
Only one pitcher being named to the team for the league's third-best staff in terms of ERA is a bit disappointing but not surprising.
The only player you could make a legitimate argument for is closer David Aardsma. His 1.41 ERA is better than all but one-of-the-five relief pitchers named to the team. Still, his 17 saves ranks just seventh in the AL.
Neither Jarrod Washburn nor Erik Bedard have the wins total to be an option, an unfortunate penalty of their poor run support.
Meanwhile, Russell Branyan has the home runs, second in AL, and slugging percentage, third in AL, but his 45 RBIs lags far behind the leaders.
Like his pitching counterparts, this has more to do with the team he plays on than his own performance this season, but thus is the nature of the game.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Finally, after a Cy Young award caliber season, Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has now gained the national recognition he has lacked since signing with the club back in 2002.
The 23-year-old right-handed starter impressed many in June by going 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA. That and his 35 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings earned him the American League Pitcher of the Month.
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Wakamatsu has recently been chosen to be on the American League All-Star coaching staff and may have a few of his own to coach in the mid-summer classic.
King Felix hopefully will be one of those few.
Reach Ben J. Brown at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
At draft time for fantasy football, us Seahawks fans tend to have an advantage when it comes to Seattle's players. After all, no one seems to know much about our team, often even our star players.
The result is Seahawks tend to drop further than their real value where us 12th Men get to greedily snatch them up and reap the benefits.
This year is even better than most. Coming off a 4-12 season, no one is giving Seattle's players much, if any, value.
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So after sharpening my skills in the mock drafts, here's a list of some sleeper Seahawks and what round you can get them in for great value.
Julius Jones By the time Jones comes off the board, he's surrounded by backups like Buffalo's Fred Jackson and Baltimore's Ray Rice, which is criminally low for a full-time starter.
A perfect fit for the zone-blocking scheme, Jones should show the same effectiveness he put on display in back-to-back 100-yard games in 2008. This time, Maurice Morris won't be around to steal his thunder and carries.
The only concern is well-practiced touchdown vulture T.J. Duckett coming in for goal-line situations.
Speaking of Duckett, he managed eight touchdowns last year and should be in line for just as many, if not more, this year. He may be worth an additional pick later.
Between the two, you're looking at a probable 1,000-yard rusher and double digits in touchdowns. Either one should serve as a solid number-three back and a great number-four. Jones can be had in the 11th round or later.
Seahawks defense Mark my words. This defense will be vastly improved in 2009. Vastly. With the new coaching staff in charge and a number of players, new and old, ready to improve, the Seahawks defense could be a top-10 unit and at least top-15.
With that said, you can draft the Seahawks unit for the low, low price of dead last.
Personally, I have a policy not to take a kicker or a defense until my last two picks, depending on where I pick. As far as defenses go, the units at the top of the rankings fluctuate so much from year to year that it's just not worth taking one high when you can add depth to receiver or running back instead.
But whether you're looking for a starter or backup, the 'Hawks are there for the plucking. It helps that their first game of the season is at home against the Rams, who did little to improve an awful offense.
John Carlson It's hard to believe that the record holder for receptions by a Seahawks rookie can be rated so low, but such is the case for Carlson.
This year, he should have a healthy Hasselbeck throwing the ball and also a healthy and improved receiver corps to contend for catches with.
What will likely happen is his receiving yards total of 627 in 2008 will increase maybe a little while his touchdown total of five should rise.
Personally, I like to get in on the tight ends early as there isn't much depth at the position, but should you choose to wait, Carlson is a fantastic pick in rounds 12 and on where the Visanthe Shiancoe's and Vernon Davis's of the world reside.
Matt Hasselbeck Is it just me or is this guy underrated in fantasy football every year? Other than 2008, he has been a consistent performer since 2003, and there are few quarterbacks in the league you can say that about.
Should you pass on one of the top quarterbacks then it may be worth your while to wait as late as round 11 to get your starter. There, you'll find Hasselbeck amongst other such fantasy studs as Kyle Orton and Eli Manning.
You'll of course want to immediately grab a solid backup, but a healthy Hassselbeck should prove to be a weekly starter and a 3,000-yards-plus, 20-touchdowns-plus performer.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Now Mariners fans have even more reason to celebrate.
Following up a game-one victory in Boston, the Mariners (42-38) secured a series win after a ninth inning blooper off the bat of Chris Woodward landed just shy of the first baseman's glove, scoring the winning run.
Closer David Aardsma finished off the Red Sox, and the Mariners won 3-2 today in Boston.
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Seattle got a strong start from Garrett Olson, who pitched 6.1 innings with two earned runs, four hits, four walks and five strikeouts. Roy Corcoran made a rare appearance in relief and got out all five batters he faced.
Russelll Branyan drove in two of Seattle's runs with a double in the third, in which he was called out going for three, and a sacrifice fly in the third.
The win put an end to the Red Sox' streak of seven-straight series wins. It also puts Seattle at 5-3 on the most difficult road trip of the season with one game to go.
Seattle goes for the sweep at 10:35 a.m. tomorrow in Boston.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
The Mariners had plenty of opportunities to let the game get away. But after watching a two-run lead evaporate in the eighth inning, catcher Rob Johnson made sure they went up for good.
His streaking shot over the first baseman's glove brought home two runs in the top of the 11th.
Not even a near meltdown from pitcher Mark Lowe in the bottom of the 11th could keep the Mariners from leaving Boston with a game-one 7-6 victory today in Boston.
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The winning shot was the cap on a powerhouse performance by the young catcher. Johnson finished the game going 3-for-5 with three doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Felix Hernandez got the start and pitched a strong seven innings with three earned runs and seven strikeouts. He left the game with a 5-3 lead, but the victory was taken from him after Sean White and Shawn Kelley combined to give up two runs, sending the game to extra innings.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield, who leads the Red Sox with 10 wins, was beat up giving up five earned runs and 10 hits.
Boston went up early with two runs in the first, but Hernandez settled down and the Mariners bats lit up.
Russell Branyan and Johnson each brought in a run before Ronny Cedeno put the Mariners up with a two-run homer, as Seattle scored four runs in two innings.
Boston's J.D. Drew and Jose Lopez traded home runs before Nick Green's two-run double in the eighth off Kelley tied up the game at five-apiece.
With Seattle's bullpen looking shaky, Chris Jakubauskas came in to pitch two shutout innings before Lowe finished things up in the bottom of the 11th, though not before surrendering a home run and allowing the tying run to reach base.
As for the new Mariners, Ryan Langerhans continued his strong performance in his first Mariners appearance, batting 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Chris Woodward was left effective as he failed to reach base.
Seattle will bring Garrett Olson to the plate to start the Fourth of July matchup at 10:05 a.m.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat3:17 PM
_ Press Rlease from Sounders FC
RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC signed midfielder Michael Fucito, the club’s fourth-round selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Harvard, the club announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Fucito, who has been diagnosed with sesamoiditis in his right foot, has been placed on the disabled list for all MLS matches through August 15. He will be eligible to play in U.S. Open Cup and friendly matches prior to that date. Fucito has been added to the roster as Senior Development player.
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“Fucito adds for us a left-sided player, and we don’t have many left-footed players on our team,” said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. “He can play wide left and can also play up front. He’s a little bit different player; he’s quick with a low center of gravity, so he’s different from the other forwards we have.”
Fucito, 23, was taken by Seattle with the 46th pick overall in the draft. He was a second team All-American as a senior, leading the Ivy League in total points and helping Harvard reach the second round of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Fucito finished as the Crimson’s No. 4 career scorer with 32 goals and 24 assists.
Due to injuries, Fucito played in only three preseason games for Seattle, scoring one goal. He rejoined the team for training in early June following his graduation.
Transaction: Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Signed MF Michael Fucito; placed on disabled list
With the IFA period beginning today, reports say that Seattle has already signed one of the top international free agents of this year, OF Guillermo Pimentel, for $2 million, according to ESPN's Jorge Arangure and Baseball America's Ben Badler.
The news comes after months of speculation that Pimentel would sign with the Rangers, even allegations that Texas had hidden the 16-year-old away so no other team could scout him.
In past weeks, however, Seattle emerged as the front-runner. Pimentel is rated as the number-three prospect at Baseball Prospectus and the number-four at Baseball America.
At the plate, Pimentel has a short swing, an advanced approach and plus power that some scouts say could rate a 70 down the road. He'll still get fooled at times at the plate, but his pitch recognition and ability to adjust to offspeed pitches are advanced for a 16-year-old. Pimentel has showcased for teams as a center fielder, but he is expected to move to left field. He's not a great runner and projects to get slower as he fills out. His range in the field is limited and his arm is a 40 or a 45 on the 20-80 scale.
Pimentel is a big lefty at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds. Here's a rare video of him taking some practice swings:
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat10:17 AM
Sounders fans chanted: "You're in the MLS because of us!" Timber Jim cut down the Space Needle with his chainsaw and Portland's public enemy number one, Sounders striker Roger Levesque cut through Portland's defense to drive a header into the back of the net one minute into the match in quick response to Portland's "friendly" gesture.
A banner that was displayed at the bottom of the Timbers Army supporters section read: "Tonight your legend becomes history" (a response to a Sounders sign that reads, "Tonight our history becomes legend")
A sign that read "Keller, do the Cobain" was proudly hoisted by a Timber Army recruit. Bad form? Poor Taste? Probably, but this is Seattle verses Portland folks and there ain't no pitty in "the rose city". This is the kind of stuff that is part of the charm of one of the greatest derby's in U.S Soccer.
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If I were to describe my experience in Portland in two words, it would be sensory overload. The sights, the smells and the sounds were spectacular. Sixteen thousand fans make a lot of noise at PGE Park. The place has history and charm. While gazing out into the stadium, One could not help but recall the days when Pele and former Sounder Jimmy McCalister battled it out on the pitch in "Soccer Bowl 77'" One only imagine how nice it will be when the renovations take place to turn the venue into a real futebol stadium.
Being on the pitch was like being at a rock concert. You had the Timber Army on their end and the ECS in their area, both doing their thing in full effect. Sandwiched between the two groups, you had Portland and some Seattle fans all doing their thing. Freddie Ljungberg shared how impressed he was with the crowd in the tunnel after the match and after training yesterday. Not a bad endorsement, he has seen it all.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I came to Portland. I have heard the stories about the "hatred" between the two clubs. "Should I take my Sounders bumper sticker off my rig?" I seriously asked myself before the drive down.
I thought the fans and the press staff in Portland were terrific. Yes, The Timber Army are passionate, but even if I were wearing my Sounders kit, I would not have felt like I needed to walk around with a bodyguard. Sure there were a few isolated incidents that involved rowdy soccer fans and alcohol, but you are always going to have these kinds of situations at a real derby. All in all, there were no major skirmishes that were worth reporting on. The bloggers will probably cover that one anyway.
Tuesday night was Portland's MLS coming out party two years ahead of schedule. The night was colorful, loud and full of passion. It was a great night for U.S soccer. Portland and Seattle both did themselves proud in giving the rest of the soccer community a taste of what a really authentic derby can be in Major League Soccer. Portland may have lost the match, but they won by providing a great match-day experience and environment for soccer fans, regardless of the color of one's kit.
Check out the sites and sounds from Portland with SFI TV...
Reach Greg Roth-Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
It's been some time since Seattle had a starting corner at least 6-foot, 200 pounds. It's been since, well, Ken Lucas was in town.
Now he's back, and Seahawks fans all over are hoping he can be the solution to Seattle's Larry Fitzgerald problem. Not likely.
But at the very least, he'll have to be an integral part in reviving a Seahawks pass defense that ranked dead last in yardage and 29th in interceptions in 2008.
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Of course, Seattle will need much more of a pass rush in order to improve on those rankings. But it won't matter much without Lucas' size and physicality on those big receivers.
Size does matter In addition to Fitzgerald, the Seahawks will face quite a few big, strong receivers that have overmatched Seattle's smallish corners in the past.
Here's a list of those Seattle will face in 2009:
Obviously even Lucas isn't a match for these players in terms of size. But he's certainly a step up from Kelly Jennings (5-11, 180) and Josh Wilson (5-9, 192).
In fact, looking at Fitzgerald's 2008 matchups, the bulk of his best performances came against sub-6-foot corners while his worst came against those at least that height.
Here's the chart:
Playmaking ability Lucas brings more than size though. At his best, Lucas has been an amazing playmaker in his career, capable of making plays with the ball in the air.
Even Marcus Trufant in his best years has struggled with the ball in his air, which accounts for much of Seattle's troubles against the long ball.
With Lucas back, the Seahawks now have a cornerback, in addition to the quickly developing Wilson, with the ability to beat receivers while the ball is in the air.
At 30, Lucas is no longer the promising young stud he was when he last suited up as a Seahawk, and it should be expected that his athletic ability won't be what we remember it being.
But with age also comes a little more wisdom. The last time the Seahawks had both Trufant and Lucas starting, they ranked third in the league in interceptions.
If Lucas can return to the playmaker he was in his final season with Seattle and his first with the Panthers, then Seattle should have the secondary to capitalize on what hopefully, cross your fingers, will be an improved pass rush.
When it's all said and done, Lucas may well be the best addition of this offseason, but only if he steps up his game and earns a lucrative contract in 2010.
For once, the Mariners (40-38) were the ones going long, as two home runs pushed them to an 8-4 victory over the Yankees today in New York.
But the bullpen was the real star today for Seattle, going five scoreless innings, from Miguel Batista to Mark Lowe to David Aardsma, after starter Jason Vargas gave up four runs in four innings.
The win puts Seattle at an even 3-3 thus far on a brutal road trip that ends with the upcoming three-game set against the Red Sox.
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Facing Yankees ace C.C Sabathia, the Mariners offense got to him early and often, starting with a good bit of small ball in the first. After leading off with a double, Ichiro Suzuki stole third and reached home on a Jose Lopez ground out.
Seattle increased its lead to 3-0 in the second after Franklin Gutierrez hit the game's first home run, and Chris Woodward earned his first RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly.
He would earn another in a three-run fourth inning with an RBI single. Woodward would then reach home on Suzuki's second double of the game, a two-run effort that went to deep center, just off the outstretched glove of Melky Cabrera.
Hideki Matsui's home run in the bottom of the fourth would bring the Yankees within two, but they wouldn't reach home again in the game.
Russell Branyan brought the game to its final score with his 20th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the ninth.
It wouldn't be a complete breeze though. Matsui opened the seventh with a double but wouldn't get any further while Alex Rodriguez came within a foot of his third-straight game with a home run in the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Aardsma faced some trouble as the first two batters he faced reached base. But two-straight fly outs followed by a strikeout brought the game to a close.
In his first game as a Mariner, Ryan Langerhans went 2-for-4 with a double, though he didn't score or drive in any runs. He bat seventh in the lineup.
For the Fourth of July weekend, the Mariners travel to Boston, beginning at 4:10 p.m. tomorrow.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat5:16 PM
TUKWILLA, WA - The U.S. Men's National Team is in town to train for the the upcoming CONCACAF GOLD CUP matches taking place this Saturday July 4th at the X-Box Pitch.
SFI TV captured a few moments with Sounders FC midfielder Brad Evans after training at Star Fire Sports Complex to get his thoughts on playing for his country on the Fourth of July.
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Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat2:11 PM
_ Press release from Seattle Sounders FC
RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC have signed Costa Rican defender Leonardo Gonzalez, it was announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed. Gonzalez’s signing will be finalized upon receipt of his P-1 work permit and International Clearance.
Gonzalez, 28, will join Sounders FC after completing his call in to the national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He has been capped 59 times by Costa Rica, including three starts during the 2006 World Cup.
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“It’s nice to have to have a naturally left-footed player. He can play left back, play center back in a pinch, and he can also play wide and run the whole line for us,” said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC coach. “He is an attacking left fullback with good size and athleticism. He’s very willing to get forward out of a defensive position and does a good job defensively.”
Costa Rica currently leads the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF. There are five qualifiers remaining, beginning August 12 at Honduras.
The Ticos open Gold Cup play on July 3 against El Salvador in Los Angeles. They face Jamaica in Columbus on July 7 and complete group play versus Canada on July 10 in Miami. The Gold Cup runs through July 26, with the final being played in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Gonzalez last played for Liberia Mia, newly crowned champion of the Costa Rican first division. Previously he was with Club Sport Herediano, which was runner-up in 2007.
Transaction: Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Signed MF Leo Gonzalez
Position: Defender Height: 6-1 Weight: 174 Birthdate: 11/21/1980 Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica Last Club: Liberia Mia (Costa Rica)
Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Mo money, mo problems. That's the issue confronting Seahawks LB Leroy Hill this season.
With any increase in pay comes an increase in expectations. For Hill, the increase expected of him comes in one category--sacks. Now that Julian Peterson's gone, Hill needs to bring the heat off the edge.
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He'll have help with the addition of Aaron Curry, but the rookie doesn't have much experience as a pass rusher and shouldn't be expected to contribute more than five sacks this season.
That leaves Hill as the go-to guy in blitz packages. At his best, Peterson reached double-digits in sacks. The same should be expected of Hill.
Still waiting on that breakout year Let's face it, for as good as Hill has proven to be, he's yet to be a dominant player and have anything close to a Pro Bowl year.
It could be said he was having that last season, as he led the team in tackles before a week 13 injury ended his season. But he still only finished with one sack.
With his new $38 million contract, Hill now makes more than any 4-3 outside linebacker except Peterson. That's two million more than Bears LB Lance Briggs signed a year ago. Briggs happens to be a four-time Pro Bowler.
Chances are,GM Tim Ruskell didn't re-sign Hill to that much money to continue being excellent against the run and decent in coverage.
A chance to shine Now, most will say he's always been a great, maybe even dominant player. He just hasn't had a chance to shine with a mediocre defensive line and especially two Pro Bowl linebackers beside him.
But plenty of great sidekicks have failed when given the star role. Until Hill has proven it for an entire season, there is no guarantee he can be the man Seattle needs blitzing the edge and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
Perhaps in the future, Curry can be that man, but for 2009, Seattle needs Hill to step it up. If he doesn't, that contract of his could prove to be more money than Seattle can afford at the linebacker position, especially if Curry proves to be the better player.
In the video interview below, Babineaux explains his path to the NFL. He came to Seattle as an undrafted free agent with the goal of proving to everyone he could make it in the league.
"I got picked up by the Seahawks. They gave me a call, it was draft day," Babineaux said. "I'll never forget it man. 2004. They told me they weren't going to draft me but I was high priority on the free agent list.
"I knew I could go out there and open some eyes."
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He also talked about the "biggest moment" he had in his career, and that of course was tackling Tony Romo after he bobbled the snap in the 2006 Wild Card playoff game.
"It's always a good feeling to know that you're successful as a player but when you really get the glory and you're living in the moment, at that particular time it's the best feeling in the world."
The video also shows some of the work Babineaux puts into the community.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
PORTLAND, Oregon - Stephen King scored the winning goal Wednesday night as the Seattle Sounders FC defeated the Portland Timbers, 2-1, in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
In the opening minute, Sanna Nyassi found room on the right side, and crossed to a diving Roger Levesque, whose header beat Portland keeper Steve Cronin inside the near post. It was only the fourth goal allowed by Portland at PGE Park this year.
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In the 27th minute, Seattle found the back of the net again when Nate Jaqua ran into some trouble in the box then dropped the ball back to King, who drove the ball left post past Cronin.
Portland finally broke through the Seattle defense in the 43rd minute. Mandjou Keita scored his third goal of the U.S. Open Cup. David Hayes lofted the ball into the box, finding Keita front and center, and he tapped it right of goalkeeper Kasey Keller. It was his sixth goal in his last four games.
Neither side scored in the second half, and Sounders FC came out on top, halting Portland’s 12-game unbeaten streak.
King’s goal was his second in a Sounders FC kit. He scored in the 4-1 Open Cup Play-in win over Real Salt Lake on April 28. Levesque’s goal was his first with the MLS side Sounders. It was his tenth goal in his career against the Timbers. He has now played 25 matches against Portland in all competition.
With the win Sounders FC advances to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup where they will face the Kansas City Wizards on July 7 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.
Seattle’s next regular season MLS game is scheduled for July 11 at 7:00 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.
Seattle Sounders FC 2, Portland Timbers 1
July 1, 2009 – PGE Park, Portland, OR
Scoring Summary:
SEA: Levesque (Nyassi, King) 1’
SEA: King (Jaqua) 27’
POR: Keita (Hayes) 43’
Seattle Sounders FC: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Nathan Sturgis, Sanna Nyassi (Jarrod Smith 79’), Peter Vagenas, Stephen King, Roger Levesque (Tyson Wahl 92+), Sebastien Le Toux (Fredy Montero 66’), Nate Jaqua
Substitutes not used: Terry Boss, Evan Brown, Lamar Neagle
Portland Timbers: Steve Cronin, David Hayes, Cameron Knowles, Stephen Keel (Mamadou Danso 90’), Scot Thompson, Brian Farber, Johan Claesson, Keith Savage (Tony McManus 46’), Takayuki Suzuki, Mandjou Keita, George Josten (Alex Nimo 80’)
Substitutes not used: Brian Visser, Tom Poltl, Shaun Higgins, Jason McGlaughlin
With five-of-the-six runs scored in the game coming off home runs, the Yankees proved to be the team with more power, beating the Mariners 4-2 today in New York.
Facing Yankees starter Andy Pettitte, Seattle couldn't provide the offensive punch to back up another decent pitching performance from its starter.
The Mariners would finish with just six hits, all off Pettitte, with their two runs coming off a fielder's choice and a Ken Griffey Jr. solo home run.
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Starter Jarrod Washburn had his moments, but key mistakes led to three home runs for four runs, as he finished with six strikeouts, eight hits and one walk through seven innings.
Former Mariner Alex Rodriguez knocked in what proved to be the winning run with his two-run homer off Washburn in the sixth. He went 2-for-4 on the game.
Only four Mariners managed to reach base, as Ichiro Suzuki was held to a rare hitless performance. Joining him was Russell Branyan, who struck out in all four at bats, leaving Seattle's top of the order 0-for-8 today.
Griffey's home run was his first in Yankees Stadium, making it the 44th stadium he has hit a long ball in.
The loss drops Seattle's record to 39-38. They will try to avoid the sweep at 4:05 p.m. tomorrow.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Over the past five years Paul Allen appears to have spent more money than any other team owner except for one, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.
Jason La Confera of NFL.com has the scoop. He combines the total salary and bonuses for each team, which is different than what you'll find when looking at salary cap money.
Seattle has spent nearly $50 million more than the second closest NFC West team. Obviously Seattle has the wins to justify the spending.
However, the P-I is quick to point out that Seattle's record to spending ratio isn't so great.
And on that scale, the Seahawks came in a middling 15th in the league.
The team's ranking was undoubtedly affected by the freakish 4-12 season, which was hampered by injuries.
Team ---------Wins---Committed Cash---Cost Per Win 15.) Seahawks-45-----552.42 M ---------12.27 M 25.) Cardinals-34-----505.30 M----------14.86 M 29.) Rams ----27-----502.08 M----------18.59 M 30.) 49ers----25------486.40M----------19.45 M
Allen's net worth is $10.5 billion.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
After a two goal output against the Colorado Rapids, Nate Jaqua earned MLS Player of the week honors and was nominated for goal of the week for his first of two goals.
Voting finished today and Jaqua came out on top to win goal of the week for the second time this year. Fredy Montero and Jaqua are the only Sounders to win the honor twice this season.
CONCACAF have just made an announcement that will impact several MLS sides, perhaps including Sounders FC. Any team playing in both the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup in the same year will be allowed to increase its roster from 23 to 30 players, CONCACAF announced Tuesday. The decision will enable the United States to add seven players to its already announced squad for the tournament that starts Friday.
The move could affect Seattle, who is only missing two players to international duties.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat9:45 AM
When one thinks of great professional sports rivalries one might think of the Boston Celtics vs. LA Lakers, Montreal Canadiens v. Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Cowboys v. Washington Redskins.
Great rivalries are not created nor are they manufactured. Great rivalries are born of blood, sweat and tears. There must be epic battles, great games with high intensity, rabid fans and of course history.
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Real rivalries derby's are just what Major League Soccer needs to generate greater fan interest. There are some signs of derby's that are developing. Chivas v. Galaxy is one. DC United and Philadelphia Union, along wth the New York Red Bulls have the makings of great derby in the future but in this writer's opinion, there is no greater rivalry or derby in U.S. professional soccer then the one that exists between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders.
The match-ups between these two teams date back to 1975 when the likes of Dave Gillet, Davey Butler and John Rowlands of Seattle took on Chris Dangerfield, Jimmy Kelly and Peter Withe of Portland.
Back then, the Sounders played in a rundown Memorial Stadium. The Timbers inturn, played in what was then called Civic Stadium. The matches between the two clubs have always drawn huge crowds and brought out the passions of the club's respective fans.
In their inaugural year, the Timbers made it to the NASL championship that was played at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. Portland lost the match 2-0 but the nickname "Soccer City USA" was established that year. Ironically, the Sounders played in their first NASL final against the vaunted New York Cosmos featuring the great Pele and Franz Beckenbauer at Portland's Civic stadium in 1977. Like Portland a couple years prior, the Sounders went down in defeat.
The two clubs have battled on and off over the course of the last 35 years. Each boasts a premier supporters group. "The Timbers Army" from Portland and the "Emerald City Supporters" from Seattle.
Although most of the individuals in both supporters groups are able to co-exist during match day, the fact is that both groups truly do not like each other and there have been a series of isolated incidents that have added to the legend. If you have any doubt as to the intensity of the rivaliy, I invite you to go out to some of the many message boards that fans from both clubs frequent.
The bottom line is this: both cities are beautiful and love their soccer. Both cities have terrific fans. Both cities have teams that play downtown and most importantly, both cities have deep and rich soccer history.
For more background and information about the history of one of the greatest soccer rivalries in U.S. soccer history, I invite you to vist GoalSeattle.com.
Seattle Sounders FC take on the USL Portland Timbers tonight in USOC action. The game will be played in Portland's PGE Park at 7:30 (PDT). There are a few seats left. The match will be televised on FSN Northwest
Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
Written byGreg Roth - Sounders Fan Insiderat7:56 AM
Sounders FC midfielder/striker Sebastien Le Toux is no stranger to Portland fans and visa verse. While with the USL Sounders, Le Toux has faced the Timbers a number of times but this is the first time the two teams will meet since Seattle has been in MLS.
Yesterday, Le Toux spoke briefly to SFI TV (HD) to share his thoughts on what tonight's Lamar Hunt USOC match with the Timbers means to him and club.
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Sounders Fan Insider and Sounderatheart.com's Dave Clark sat down last night to chat about tonight's battle between Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers. Dave shared his thoughts on the importance of the match and for soccer and sports fans and why tonight's USOC battle is "must see TV."
Reach Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider at nextseasonsports@gmail.com Read more
No one would argue that Brandon Mebane has been anything but a standout for Seattle. Since being drafted in the third round of the 2007 draft, he has been a starter and leader along the defensive line.
Unfortunately, it hasn't amounted to a great deal of team success. In his two seasons with the Seahawks, the rush defense has ranked 12th and 18th in yards allowed in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
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Now, this could hardly be attributed to Mebane. But Seattle's poor run defense in recent years, even when the defense as a whole was good, has often been due to a lack of a consistently dominant inside presence.
In 2009, Mebane needs to step up and be that dominant presence. Historically speaking In the last 10 seasons, the Seahawks have finished in the top 10 in opposing yards per attempt, perhaps the most telling stat for a rush defense, only twice.
By far their best season in this regard came in 2005 when Seattle finished fifth, along with the second-best ranking in opposing rush touchdowns and the fifth-best in rush yards allowed.
That year was a bright spot amongst season after season of mediocrity.
It's no surprise that was the year Seattle went to the Super Bowl and even less of a surprise that it was the healthiest and most productive season for former first-round defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs.
Building from the ground up Look at great defense after great defense, and you'll consistently see the same component: a dominant defensive tackle.
Seattle once had one in Tubbs, but he couldn't stay healthy. Now it's Mebane's turn.
He'll certainly need the help of those around him. But for Seattle to move into elite territory, which they have the talent to do, then Mebane will need to be that irresistible force at the center.
He needs to gobble up tacklers at the point of attack to free the linebackers. He needs to knife up the middle to force the quarterback out of the pocket. Put simply, he needs to play like an All Pro.
Now, this isn't crucial to Seattle's success, hence Mebane's appearance last on the list. But if Mebane can make that leap forward in ability then there's no telling how good Seattle's defense can be. And that's pretty exciting.
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