KORSTCENTER is back!

Hello sports fans!  Ok so let’s do some catching up.  The Mariners season has ended, The Seahawks are 2-3 and the Huskies and Cougars have winning records through week 7.   There is no question a lot has happened since the last time I brought you the latest in northwest sports news.  Oh yeah and I also went and got married and then packed up and moved.  It has been a crazy ending to an amazing summer.  I appreciate your patience with the lack of activity on this site, but rest assured I’m back and ready to bring you my views on some of the top stories in sports from the Pacific Northwest.

Lofa Tatupu Released

                Lofa Tatupu met with Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Saturday night and asked for his release from the team.  Taken in the second round of the 2005 Draft, Tatupu has spent his entire career with the Seahawks.  He has been to 3 Pro Bowls and in his rookie season helped lead the Seahawks to their first and only Super Bowl appearance.  Tatupu has been a team captain for the last 3 years, but injuries have kept him off field as of late.  Last season he was lost due to a torn pectoral muscle.  Tatupu was set to make 4.35 million dollars in base salary this season with Seattle.  His production has been in decline over the last few seasons, but his leadership both on and off the field will surely be missed.

Hasselbeck Out! Jackson In?

                The Seattle Seahawks announced today that they would not be resigning quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.  In March of 2011 the Seahawks offered Hasselbeck a one year deal before the lockout started.  Hasselbeck declined the offer because he was looking for a two year contract.  When the lockout came to a close, Hasselbeck and the Seahawks were still at a standstill.  The Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and possibly the San Francisco 49ers are all in the running to obtain Hasselbeck as their newest quarterback. 

                While Hasselbeck entertains each team’s offers the Seahawks have moved on, looking to bring in two new players at the quarterback position.  Tarvaris Jackson, who is formerly of the Minnesota Vikings has agreed in principle to a deal with the Seahawks.  He is rumored to be in the running against current Seahawks quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst, for the starting job for the 2011 season.  Jackson’s former coach from the Vikings, Darrell Bevell has also joined the team as the Seahawks new offensive coordinator.  Also rumored to be in talks with the Seahawks is quarterback Matt Lienart.  Lienart played for Carroll during his time at USC.  In the NFL Lineart has been a quarterback for both the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans. 

Top Ten Hitters in Mariners History

Number 10: Jose Lopez

 On July 31, 2004 the Seattle Mariners called up Jose Lopez from Triple A Tacoma.  By the end of the 2004 season Lopez had a batting average of .232 with 5 home runs and 22 RBI’s.  The 2005 Season was an injury plagued sophomore season which saw Jose spend the majority of the year with Triple A Tacoma.  During his career with the Mariners, Lopez was looked upon to provide the power in the lineup.  He was selected as an All Star in 2006.  He played Short Stop, Second Base and Third Base.  Jose’s best year as a Seattle Mariner came in 2009, He had an AVG. of .272, 25 home runs, 167 hits and 96 RBI’s.  Lopez’s Mariner career came to an end after the 2010 season when he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitcher Chaz Roe.



Top Hitters in Mariner's History

                As I sit writing this article the Mariners are currently losing to Boston 10-3 in the bottom of the 5^th.  Like many other Mariner fans I’ve been beyond frustrated with the lack of offensive production this season.  This current losing streak is at 14 games, and if their game today finishes in another loss, they will be at 15 straight losses.  I started thinking about past seasons, when it was a regular occurrence to see hits, home runs, and high scoring games.  My favorite lineups were from ’95 and ’01, teams that stole our hearts and captured our imaginations.  Griffey’s majestic home runs, Edgars doubles, Boone’s Bombs and Buhner’s toughness.  After thinking about all the great moments in the past I decided to write a 10 week series featuring the top 10 hitters in Mariners history.  Tomorrow will be my first post featuring number 10 Jose Lopez, who played for the Mariners from 2004-2010.  The top 10 ranks players by hits, home runs, RBI’s, doubles and AVG.

A Night At The Ballpark

My Trip to the Mariners game on July 3^rd was all set to be a great evening, Little did I know just how great It was actually going to be!  As a kid growing up in western Washington like most kids I’m a Seattle Mariner Fan through and through.  I have lived and died with the team and as most longtime Mariner fans through the teams existence we have done a lot of dying!!  But on July 20^th 1988 unbeknownst to then 5 year old me the Mariners acquired an outfielder from the New York Yankees named Jay Buhner.  For as long as I can remember I have been a huge fan of Jay’s, with his signature bald head and goatee, his unconventional batting stance to the giant smear of pine tar on his pants.  He played with a toughness that forces you to think of a time when baseball was more than a game, it was a way of life.  Growing up during my childhood the popular thing was for kids to like Ken Griffey Jr, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco and Ricky Henderson to name a few, but not for me.  I was definitely in the minority with my friends and I was ok with that.  I remember my senior year of high school it was the spring of 2001 I was the starting right fielder wearing number 19 and sporting my best attempt at a goatee I could not have been prouder.  Jay and the Mariners made their run at a World Series with a regular season record 116 wins and my Hoquiam High Grizzlies were doing our best to mimic them by getting to the Washington State 2A Final Four.  The Mariners Lost that year in the ALCS to the New York Yankees in 5 games and the Grizzly Baseball team lost to Pullman High in the first round and ended up taking 4^th.  2001 marked the end of Jay Buhner’s long and illustrious career, he will always be remembered as one the greatest and most recognizable Mariners of all time.  “THE BONE” was his nickname and right field was his position and Buhner Buzz Night will live forever as one of the great promotional nights in Mariners history.  Thanks Jay for all the memories and Thank You for making June 3^rd one of the Greatest Nights a long time Mariner Fan has ever had.

A New Quaterback in Seattle?

The 2011 Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback is….Matt….Leinart??  It could happen.   It’s almost as easy as connecting the dots, Pete Carroll shows up and you saw an influx of former USC players.  Some are still with the team and others didn’t last very long, one thing’s for sure Coach Carroll isn’t afraid to cut ties with his former players (i.e. LenDale White).  Matt Leinart was one heck of a college quarterback he won a national championship, a Heisman Trophy and a ton of games.  So what the heck happened when he got to the NFL and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals?  He struggled with the popularity and the fame, but to his credit he did shed that image and started working harder and then that’s when his lack of physical skills started to show through.  He was widely known as a guy who would rather check down to a running back instead of making the big throw.  He was cut by Arizona and then signed by the Houston Texans as a back up to Matt Schaub.  During this past Aprils Draft the Texans Drafted Taylor Yates in the 5^th round and that all but puts the final nail in the coffin for Leinart in Houston.   So after that little history lesson, would Matt Leinart be able to resurrect his dying career in Seattle?  If you are having a hard time believing that this is even remotely possible look no further then former USC All World wide receiver Mike Williams!  His career was dead and a phone call from Pete Carroll and a whole new mind set and work ethic and he has become a force.  So it is possible and there is no better place than in Seattle with Leinarts former coach Pete Carroll.  With the NFL lockout in effect this is purely all speculation and there is no telling what the Seahawks might do when it’s over, but one thing’s for sure, anything is possible when Pete Carroll and John Schneider are in charge. 

Pineda's Dominance Continues

Last night was what is becoming routine for Pineda and the 2011 Seattle Mariners.  A game in which the Mariners won and Pineda went 7.0 innings, gave up only 2 hits and 0 earned runs with a devastating 9 strikeouts. The season of Pineda has been anything short of amazing thus far.  His ability to baffle and over power hitters at such a young age and in his first full season is truly remarkable.  Watching him pitch and seeing his wins and strikeouts pile up reminds us of the days of Dwight “Doc” Gooden, Fernando Valenzuela, and just as recently as a few years ago the Mariners very own Felix Hernandez.  He leads all American league rookie pitchers in Wins and Strikeouts (6 wins, 61 strikeouts).   The Mariners in their team history have had only a few dominant pitchers (Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Freddy Garcia, Felix Hernandez) Michael Pineda has begun his run to make it to that list.  His physical presence on the mound alone is dominating!  Standing at a height of 6’7” and weighing in at 255 pounds his look is menacing and his attitude and command resembles that of a seasoned veteran.  What Seattle Mariner fans are witnessing is the beginning to what could be an absolutely amazing and historical run.  Michael Pineda and Felix Hernandez could quite possibly become the most dominate tandem to ever be in the same rotation.  Eclipsing such legendary duos such as Johnson and Schilling, Maddux and Glavine, Koufax and Drysdale.   There is hope Mariner’s fans and it comes in the form of a 22 year old from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.



WELCOME

First off let me say thank you for stopping by and checking out my blog. This is the first of what I hope will be many posts on here.  I have decided to start this blog simply because I am fan of sports just like you.  I’m excited to share with you my opinions and views on what is going on in the wide world of sports.  In the 28 years I have been alive, I have spent almost all of that time watching, playing and coaching sports. Some would say that sports have been my life (ok most would say that ).  I take what happens in sports seriously and I like to know what’s going on with everything from Golf to NASCAR and everything in between.  I feel from a fans perspective I have my finger on the pulse of the sports world.  I love listening to sports talk radio, watching Sportscenter, catching different games on TV and researching up to date sports news online.  I am very excited to get going on this and plan on posting as many things as my busy days will allow me.  I am also looking forward to hearing your opinions as well, It wouldn’t be fair if only my opinion was the one being shared here.  Have a great night and weekend and you will be hearing more from me soon.

Aaron