A Magical Start

First of all, accept a hearty apology from me for a lack of activity to start 2009. Long story short, I have all sorts of commitments outside of the Mariners Musings that will not go away until mid June. It's all I can do to keep track of the Mariners and all the news they are making this year.

The season could not be starting any better for the Mariners. They are 7-2 (stunning enough), and have a 3 game lead in the AL West (perhaps even more stunning). The M's have already swept the A's, on the road no less, and guaranteed a series win against the Angels. To top it all off, a bevy of exciting and memorable plays have taken the hot start and made it magical.

Seriously, what is the signature moment of the season so far? Is it Ken Griffey Jr.'s opening day home run? Is it the standing ovation(s) Griffey received in the home opener? Perhaps it is Griffey's 400th career homer, a mammoth shot where he dropped his bat and watched, just like in his glory days? Or maybe the return of Ichiro is the signature moment so far, when he hit the grand slam on a full count in the seventh to blow open what had been a close game. As cool as Felix's grand slam was last year, there was no moment in 2008 like a handful we have already had in 2009.

Erik Bedard looks like an ace, nothing falls in the outfield anymore, Griffey is bringing back memories of the mid-'90s, and the M's are off to their best start since 2001. Admittedly, the team has some issues that are eventually going to pop up. They are converting virtually every scoring opportunity right now, so the offense is bound to cool off a little. Also, the bullpen has stranded more baserunners than is likely sustainable. Still, there are a bunch of smiles in the clubhouse. Players are stepping up in huge spots. The team clearly believes in itself right now, and that puts them in a much better position to continue to open eyes.

Japan WBC Champs Again

Amid all the hoops madness (which is not all that mad considering all the 1, 2, and 3 seeds made the Sweet 16), the World Baseball Classic marched on to a truly grand finale. Japan and Korea met for the fifth time this Classic, after splitting their first four battles two apiece. This last game took extra innings, with Japan ultimately prevailing to defend their 2006 title. Between a riveting game, the recent history between the two teams, and rich history between the two nations, in many ways this championship was all the World Baseball Classic can be.

However, despite a quality final and deserving champion, the 2009 Classic may be remembered for as many furrowed brows as shining moments. The shortcomings of the event came to a head yesterday in the semifinal between Japan and the United States. Japan rocked USA starter Roy Oswalt for six runs before it was said and done. Immediately, the commentators wondered if the team stuck with Oswalt because he needed the work to get ready for the MLB season. Similar concerns were raised when Evan Longoria pinch hit for Curtis Granderson in the eighth inning.

I am more skeptical than most that both questioned decisions were motivated primarily by the need to give Oswalt and Longoria the respective work they need. However, the fact that it is such a prevalent question will always hamper this tournament. The commentators talked about how much it hamstrings the USA, but it impacts every team except Cuba. Venezuela did not even have Johan Santana. Japan could have potentially also had Hideki Matsui and Hiroki Kuroda. Canada did not have Erik Bedard. Moreover, the pitch counts seem to heighten the awareness that this tournament is taking place during spring training. It creates an odd atmosphere, where players, teams, and fans have passion for the tournament, but the whole there feels a need for it to be restricted. It feels a little like a kid putting training wheels back on their bike after getting their driver's license.

The World Baseball Classic has potential for incredible moments. We saw it tonight. Dodger Stadium was packed with rabid baseball fans, even without USA in the final. The rivalry two nations can have, especially ones like Japan and Korea, are well beyond anything possible in Major League Baseball, or any professional sports league. There is not just international interest in baseball. There is true international passion and talent, and as the WBC grows, that will only grow too.

However, the time of the tournament needs to be moved, and I would move for it to be in November. It needs to take place after the Major League Baseball season for two reasons. First of all, players will be in shape, and things like pitch counts will not be needed. Second, teams should be less reluctant to let their stars play, because they will have time to recover from most injuries that could happen. Many more players would be able to compete at a level that they simply cannot with the current setup.

Would Roy Oswalt have still given up six runs, or Evan Longoria pinch hit for Curtis Granderson? I do not know, but if they did, the question would have been what Davey Johnson was doing, not whether he needed to give them enough work before the season started. The final may have still been Japan and Korea with the way the two teams performed, but the tournament would have been even better in November. The looming cloud spring training puts over the World Baseball Classic needs to be lifted. There would be complications with moving the WBC to November, but they are worth the gain. We have seen the potential in the World Baseball Classic, and it is time for it to take the next step.

Fields Signs

A surprising story came out of Mariners camp today. Pitchers and catchers start their first drills in a matter of hours, but news continues to be made off of the field. Reports are that the Mariners have agreed to a deal with their 2008 first round draft pick, RHP Josh Fields. Ever since the M's drafted him, they have refused to go above a $1.5 million signing bonus, while Fields (and his agent Scott Boras) have not been willing to discuss less than $2 million.

I figured all along that Jack Zduriencik would give up on signing Fields. I know I probably would have. He is a nice pitcher, and there is a chance that he could make the majors fast. He may now be the closer of the future, with the future as early as 2010 or 2011.  It was fun watching his power fastball and hammer curve devastate college hitters, and the combo should translate well as a professional.

Still, I am not sure that I am happy the Mariners signed Fields. The Mariners would have received a compensatory draft pick in this year's draft in the late first first round if Fields had not been signed, and I wanted to get as many draft picks in Jack's hands as possible. Plus, I doubt that Fields would go in the first round of the 2009 draft, meaning that the M's might have been able to select a better prospect as "compensation" for losing him.

All I hope is that Fields signed for $1.5 million or less. I do not understand why he did not sign at slot value in the first place, and I am glad that Bavasi never caved in. Fields was fortunate to get picked as high as he did, and both he and Boras should have realized he likely would not get $1.5 million in the 2009 draft. Plus, the M's were even thinking about bringing Fields up to the majors by the end of last year! Why Fields passed up such a golden opportunity for $500,000 that he should not get (and hopefully did not get) I will never understand.

Well, Fields is a Mariner now. I'm excited to add a power arm that could progress through the system quickly. I will revisit this decision in June though, to see what the M's could have had. All of a sudden, Josh Fields is now one of the more interesting stories in camp though. He will not make the opening day roster, but what he does in Peoria may go a long way towards deciding what level he starts his professional career at.