Pacific Northwest Sports: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Ed Stein
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PNWS has been sidelined recently. Plenty has happened in our absence.
No, this isn’t a movie review; it’s an explanation. Many have noticed that our Pacific Northwest Sports site has been mostly dormant recently. I am the one to blame.
As the head cook and bottle washer, it’s my responsibility to put out quality content. Since contracting COVID in mid-January, I have lacked the energy and conviction to do that.
Combined with some cardiac issues I experienced, sports were put to the side for health reasons. Those days are in the rearview mirror. Apparently, plenty has been going on in the Pacific Northwest sports scene in our absence.
Seattle Seahawks
As a result of sending former franchise stalwart Russell Wilson to Denver last year, the Seattle Seahawks own a top-five pick in the NFL draft. As a team that isn’t necessarily in the quarterback hunt, Seattle is poised to land either a highly talented defensive lineman or trade down for a huge haul.
One area of potential weakness was resoundingly rectified in free agency. After Jordyn Brooks suffered a knee injury at the end of last season that will keep him out for most of 2023 and the departure of Cody Barton in free agency, linebacker looked to be a sizeable looming hole next season.
12’s fears were put to rest by General Manager John Schnider. He replaced the duo with a pair of excellent free agent signings.
Former Seattle Seahawks all-everything MLB and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner is returning home after a season in Los Angeles. He is joined by Pittsburgh’s 2019 first round pick Devin Bush in Defensive Coordinator Clint Hurtt’s 3-4 scheme.
Lest I forget, the offensive side. Quarterback Geno Smith, the NFL’s 2022 Comeback Player of the Year, resigned with the Seahawks on a three-year, $75M deal, including $40M guaranteed. A contract that is both fair to Smith and gives the team some wiggle room. Now they have to fix the interior offensive line.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners got off to a slow 4-8 start. A recent 4-2 run has them 3.5 games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers (boy, that sounds weird).
Outfielder Jarred Kelenic, who went from potential franchise Messiah to franchise disappointment over the last two seasons, has found his mojo at the plate early in 2023. He leads the team with four home runs (including a monster 482-foot blast at Wrigley Field) and has a 1.023 OPS.
An injury to starter Robbie Ray is taxing the rotational depth and bullpen. Thankfully their top three starters, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby, have stepped up. So far, the trio has made 10 starts, posting a 4-2 record, 2.53 ERA, and 0.921 WHIP.
The bullpen, though not as dominating as last season, is still holding their own. As a group, they have a more than respectable 3.18 ERA but have also narrowly escaped some sticky situations.
Who would have thought the answer to inconsistent-hitting Adam Frazier, Kolten Wong, would actually be a downgrade? The new Seattle Mariners second baseman is hitting a measly .098. Worse, no one on the bench is doing any better.
But hey, it’s early, and this is a young team. A sudden burst of good health can put this team over the top.