Why is everyone so judgmental?

New Mariners Manager Scott Servais

I've been looking on the internet at the comments on 710 KIRO Radio's comment section about the new Mariners Manager Scott Servais and I am extremely mad at my city. The Mariners haven't even put a team on the field yet and they are already being written off by the majority of the fan base (then again, they are jilted/converted Seahawks fans, so I'm not surprised). I'm going to at least give the man the courtesy of having a chance to fail miserably before I say they have, well, failed miserably. We've given every other manager a chance, including Lou Piniella, who, believe it or not, was not well received by some of the fans here in the Pacific Northwest even when he was here. He was supposedly too "Old School" in his managerial style to get guys to play for him. The fight with Rob Dibble in Cincinnati, being accused of playing favorites and not playing the youngsters (i.e. Derek Lowe) when we had a bunch of younger players as the core of the team. Those were just a few of the concerns with bringing in Lou. I'm excited if, for nothing else, than it will be different than it was. A new guy gets a shot and that's the only way to find out who the next big deal at the managerial position is. Heck, people were all kinds of happy and excited when the Mariners hired Dick Williams (the only person to manage two different leagues in the World Series) and that turned out to be a DISASTER with a capital "D"!

The Tampa Bay Rays are searching for a new home..sort of...

The Rays are contractually binded to Tropicana Field until 2027

The New Home of the Rays? Probably not...maybe Montreal...

Since the franchise's creation in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays have played at Tropicana Field, which was also home to soccer's Tampa Bay Land Sharks from 1990-1996. However, due to the lack of fan-friendly seating for baseball games and the poor, aging condition of the dome, Tampa Bay Rays ownership has continued to explore options in building a new ballpark. In November of 2007, the Rays primary owner (Stu Sternberg)announced plans of building a sparkling new, downtown ballpark on the site of the team's old Spring Training Facility, Al Lang Field. At a cost of $450 Million, the ballpark would seat 34,000 fans and be open to the elements, but have a retractable roof that will open or close within eight minutes. It would have been the most unique in baseball because the roof consisted of a light weatherproof fabric pulled over the playing field by a hoist tower in center-field. It would have all the same modern amenities as every other ballpark built and have air conditioned concourses with views of the field (because, well, it's Florida). In May, 2008, the Rays announced their financing plan to construct the park. Owner Stu Sternberg would contribute $150 million, $70 million would come from the sale of Tropicana Field, $75 million from the City of Tampa Bay, $100 million from the tourist development tax that was used to construct Tropicana Field and $55 million from parking revenues. The Rays would pay for any cost overruns. Unfortunately, on June 24, 2008, the Rays announced they were abandoning their ambitious plans to build the park on the downtown waterfront by 2012. The stadium has been delayed indefinitely because Tampa Bay officials complained that the city and county were being rushed to commit millions of public $$$ for the project. In June, 2010, the Rays announced that they would explore all options outside of the Tampa Bay area. Since 2012, there has been little to no progress in the Rays quest to have a new ballpark built as the team is contractually tied to Tropicana Field until 2027. In 2014, Stu Sternberg talked with his friends on Wall Street about moving the Rays to Montreal if the stadium issue is not resolved and/or Tropicana Field crumbles down to it's own accord.

The Story of Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson's Rookie Card in 1998

Anderson (center) in 1999 Spring Training

In June, 1997, the Seattle Mariners drafted a 6 foot 11 pitcher named Ryan Anderson out of Divine Child High School in East Lansing, Michigan. He was nicknamed "The Little Unit"  because of his similar size & pitching ability to 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee Randy Johnson. But, a day after pitching batting practice to the Mariners at the Kingdome, Anderson was quoted in newspapers talking how he "dominated" the big leaguers. Copies of the story made the clubhouse bulletin board as well as then-outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s locker, according to The Seattle Times.

There was also a box of baseballs, with a typewritten note to Anderson that read, "Will you sign the case of baseballs from, 'The Greatest Player of All Time?' "

Griffey's best friend Jay Buhner later said: "That kid has got to learn you don't go saying (expletive) like that, at least not in his position." Anderson has no comment on the incident these days.

By 2000, Anderson had worked his way up to the Mariners' Class AAA team in Tacoma, Wash., figuring he would be in the big leagues in 2001. He pitched in the Futures Game — a minor league All-Star game in conjunction with the big-league All-Star Game — and made 20 starts for the Rainiers in '00, tossing 12.6 strikeouts a game, best in the minors that season. After the season Anderson was named the #2 prospect in baseball behind Josh Hamilton (now with the Texas Rangers). 

Then it all went down the drain.

In July 2000, Anderson's shoulder problems started overnight. A day after striking out 13 batters in 6 2/3 innings against the Las Vegas 51's, he tried to play catch.

"Instead of 80 feet, I could only throw 10 feet," he says. "I was throwing 93-99 (mph) in the game, and I didn't feel anything. I thought I had slept on it wrong. You know how your arm feels when you sleep on it wrong? This felt 10 times worse."

He was never the same.

He had surgery for a torn rotator cuff that sidelined him for the 2001 season. In 2002, he had a torn shoulder labrum and a second surgery, wiping out 2002. The problems continued and Tommy John surgery was needed when Anderson gave up the dream in 2003.

"That kid had great talent, and there was always a lot of talk about him during Spring Training," says New York Yankees Third Baseman/Designated Hitter Alex Rodriguez, a former Mariner. "He was supposed to be the next Randy Johnson, and it never worked out that way, which was a shame. I remember he threw hard. He was a big guy and he pitched that way. He would always open your eyes during spring training."

Now, at age 35, Ryan Anderson is a sous chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America. Obviously, it's easy to spot him because he's the tallest one.

At this point, cooking clearly has his attention, but Anderson has not forgotten baseball.

"Maybe in a couple of years, I'll give it another shot," he says. "I made mistakes. Of course, I'd like to be 18 again. Wouldn't everybody?"

UPDATE 10/13: 

I recently found a quote from Ryan Anderson in a sushi article for an online food magazine. Here is that quote: 

"The Japanese want the vegetables to taste like vegetables, and along with appreciating the taste, they understand the health benefits of making vegetables such an important part of the cuisine," said sous chef Ryan Anderson.

The story of Ryan Anderson leaving baseball's frustrations behind for a career in being a sous chef for Iron Chef America is an odd one, for sure. The man's still at it. It's a weird sensation to read his name in this context. He could've been so much. He could've been the best pitcher in the game of baseball (aside from Felix Hernandez, of course). Could you imagine a pitching rotation that included Felix Hernandez & Ryan Anderson? The Mariners would have been an incredible team! 
Ryan Anderson. It's not tragic. That isn't the word. He quit doing one thing his body couldn't do in order to do something else that it can. But, those statistics, my god. Ryan Anderson, today, is 35 years old. He's the same age as Aaron Harang and Cliff Lee! Although it's great for Ryan Anderson that he found something he's good at, I think that baseball's worse off without the career he could've and should've had. But cooking isn't a bad 2nd choice either.

5 quick things you should know about New Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto

Since the Mariners have a new GM, I have decided to write 5 things you should know about Jerry Dipoto:

1. He was the first good relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. There haven't been many pitchers who have succeeded in Coors Field, but he's one of them. 

2. He was a stat guy when he was still an active player.

3. When he was GM of the Angels, he drafted Mike Trout, arguably the best all-around player in baseball right now.

4. He is perfect for the Mariners.

5. From what I've seen, he's smarter than I am!