Things I Believe About 2008

Dave · March 30, 2008 at 2:20 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

I believe that King Felix is going to throw a no hitter this year.

I believe that I’m going to give Erik Bedard a standing ovation in my room before June ends.

I believe that Tampa Bay might be the fifth best team in the American League.

I believe that pitchers should cry themselves to sleep the night before they face the Tigers.

I believe that I’m going to get tired of saying “Adam Jones would have caught that.”

I believe that DiamondVision will no longer list Jose Vidro’s favorite snack as a hot dog.

I believe that I hope I’m wrong.

I believe that Geoff Baker and I will disagree about the value of defense.

I believe that Bill Bavasi and I will disagree about the value of practically everything.

I believe that I’ll still get along well with both of them anyway.

I believe that we’ll be talking about the “surprising” Texas Rangers during the summer.

I believe that the Angels are going to look back at last winter as a giant missed opportunity.

I believe that I’m going to get sick of watching Boston and New York on ESPN.

I believe that MLB.TV will continue to be the greatest thing ever. Except during blackouts.

I believe that whoever supports MLB.TV’s blackout policy deserves a swarm of bees.

I believe that Jeff Sullivan will write a 10,000 word sonnet about some random bench player.

I believe that it will be hilarious.

I believe that Carlos Triunfel will be a shining beacon of goodness for Mariner fans.

I believe that, when Jarrod Washburn pitches, we’re going to need said beacon.

I believe that half of the people reading this blog could cover more ground than Raul Ibanez.

I believe that Ichiro will insult at least one more American League City.

I believe that John McLaren will blame global warming on the team’s inexperienced bullpen.

I believe that Rick Rizzs will continue to say Willie Boom Boom without any touch of irony.

I believe that baseball is finally back. I believe I’m happy.

Tags:

Comments

42 Responses to “Things I Believe About 2008”

  1. HamNasty on March 30th, 2008 2:24 pm

    I believe USSM will still be the best place to blog about a M’s game with other crazy M’s fans.

  2. Matthew Carruth on March 30th, 2008 2:25 pm

    hear hear.

    though I adamantly disagree about the Rangers though I suppose it depends on your definition of surprising.

  3. Teej on March 30th, 2008 2:32 pm

    I believe you guys deserve a refreshing beer. Thanks for all your work.

    Go M’s!

  4. Dave on March 30th, 2008 2:44 pm

    I think Texas is a 78-82 win team. I think most people have them in the 70-72 win range, so that qualifies as a surprise to me.

  5. Jeff Nye on March 30th, 2008 2:48 pm

    I believe in the power of ponies.

  6. Mere Tantalisers on March 30th, 2008 3:03 pm

    Do you believe the 08 Tigers will score more runs than the 07 Yankees? It’s looking pretty likely.

  7. Jeff Sullivan on March 30th, 2008 3:14 pm

    Too much pressure

  8. hairofthedawg on March 30th, 2008 3:14 pm

    [seriously, stop with steroid speculation and/or implication]

  9. fermorules on March 30th, 2008 3:23 pm

    I believe Rick Rizzs will say….

    Hey….William Bloomquist!

    I know it’s a tired subject but Willie Bloomquist is one of those guys who figures things out at a young age….

    He’s a white guy, with a relatively low salary, who shows up on time and is Mr. Cheerleader in the dugout. As for actually helping the Mariners win games, Willie Boom Boom isn’t above-average at any one particular thing….

    Yet here he is, again.

  10. DAMellen on March 30th, 2008 3:48 pm

    I foresee one of our starting pitchers getting hurt. Hopefully, it won’t Bedard or Felix, but those seem like the two prime candidates. Anyways, sometime, while we’re still only a few games out of first, some starter is going down. Bavasi, believing that as long as they can fill that pitcher’s spot with a veteran quickly trades Carlos Triunfel for Jon Lieber. Bavasi will make a big point of saying that Lieber has won twenty games before and won double digits six times. He’ll say that he’s happy to have a proven veteran to provide leadership. Lieber will immediately get injured.

  11. lailaihei on March 30th, 2008 3:51 pm

    I believe that Texas has the worst rotation in baseball, and that 75 wins is a stretch.

  12. Taylor H on March 30th, 2008 3:58 pm

    I believe that we will all be listening to Dave Neihaus broadcast M’s games in October.

  13. Taylor H on March 30th, 2008 3:59 pm

    Wait, I didn’t mispell Niehaus!

  14. atcrb on March 30th, 2008 4:41 pm

    AWESOME…especially the “adam jones would have caught that”

  15. thefin190 on March 30th, 2008 5:01 pm

    Very well said, Dave. I hope you’re right about the Felix no-hitter.

  16. bongo on March 30th, 2008 5:06 pm

    I believe that Mike Morse will be a pleasant surprise this season, and that Brad Wilkerson will eventually end up on the bench.

    I believe that Richie Sexson will be released before the end of the season.

    I believe that neither Bavasi nor McClaren will be rehired next year.

  17. coasty141 on March 30th, 2008 5:28 pm

    I like the I believe format. But I would likee the last line to be “I know I’m happy”. Probably nitpicking though.

  18. skipj on March 30th, 2008 5:36 pm

    I believe I’m going to Opening Day tomorrow.

    I believe I’m sitting in the terrace club infield midpoint between home and third (I have the tickets right here: Section 237 row 8).

    I believe I will buy a beer for any USSM reader,(or DMZ, Jeff, Dave) who comes by seats 1 and 2 and says: “Hey, skipj, where’s my beer?!”

    I can’t believe that my brother,(a football fan), spent a stupid amount of money on stubhub to get me this gift.

    I believe that I’m happy; I believe that I owe a debt of gratitude to the creators and moderators of this site

  19. Tom on March 30th, 2008 5:57 pm

    Let the season begin!

  20. johndango on March 30th, 2008 6:07 pm

    I believe that when I visit my girlfriend’s family in Baltimore I’ll have to buy and Adam Jones jersey.

    I believe that for the rest of my years I’ll wear that jersey and think about how great it’d be to have in teal and blue instead of orange.

    I believe someday I’ll try to remember how the Mariners did in 2008 to no avail.

    And I too believe I’m going to opening day. Right field field left.

    I believe that I’ll see Wilkerson miss a ball that any decent player could have gotten.

  21. johndango on March 30th, 2008 6:08 pm

    Crud. I meant field level.

    I believe I should double check what I type more frequently.

  22. teacherrefpoet on March 30th, 2008 6:12 pm

    I hope you’re right about Felix’s no-no, and I hope it’s a game I attend.

  23. outtathequestion on March 30th, 2008 6:31 pm

    I believe that whoever is starting for Kennedy High School (!!!) on Thursday at Safeco Field (!!!) vs. West Seattle High School (…) will pitch better than Carlos Silva.

  24. go_cougs on March 30th, 2008 6:37 pm

    I believe that I will be going to Yankee Stadium before it closes in the fall.
    I believe that if I don’t cheer for the DamnYankees someone will beat me up.

  25. Chris Miller on March 30th, 2008 6:39 pm

    I’m thinking (hoping) Felix is a pleasant surprise this season. He’s already a #1 pitcher, without further improvement. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t improve.

  26. King on March 30th, 2008 8:32 pm

    I believe that Mariners fans are spoiled with superior blogs.

    I believe a Mariner will win the Cy Young award.

    I believe we will make the playoffs, and that are 2 aces will be a nightmare for any team to face.

    I believe I am extremely giddy for the game tomorrow.

    Go M’s!

  27. avideo on March 30th, 2008 9:20 pm

    I can hardly wait to be in our half season seats on the aisle in Section 115 – Row 16.

    I can hardly wait for the fireworks to start as the startinbg players run out onto Safeco Field during the pre-game introductions.

    I can hardly wait for Ichiro and Adrian to receive their gold glove awards for the 2007 Season.

    I can hardly wait to see Dave Neihaus throw out the first ball.

    I can hardly wait to buy a set of post season tickets in early September.

  28. DKJ on March 30th, 2008 9:24 pm

    I believe a sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines of ten syllables each, so is unlikely to extend to more than 140 one-syllable words.

    This means at least one of your beliefs is groundless, and can be struck from the list.

    Since it is as much a fear as a belief, you may thank me.

    And since this is a rare opportunity for me to display anything like technical acumen in the presence of a whiz bang stat head like yourself, I thank you.

  29. msb on March 30th, 2008 9:28 pm

    I believe I am getting out my longjohns for tomorrow’s balmy 50 degree game, as viewed from the 300 level.

    I believe that we’ll be talking about the “surprising” Texas Rangers during the summer.

    I believe that could even start this week, if their offense gets going.

    I believe that I’m going to get sick of watching Boston and New York on ESPN.

    I believe I already am.

  30. Colm on March 30th, 2008 11:29 pm

    “I’m happy”
    DMZ

    “And I’ll punch the man who says I’m not”
    Ivor Cutler

  31. Bender on March 30th, 2008 11:48 pm

    I believe watching Ichiro play will make me feel like a kid again.

    I believe I will love Ichiro forever because of that.

    I believe the children are our future.

  32. wlad on March 31st, 2008 12:07 am

    I believe that Beltre and Ichiro will finish in the top 10 in MVP voting.
    I believe that Bedard and Felix will combine for the highest strikeouts/ wins and lowest era/whip for any two starters, both will finish top 10 in CY young voting with Erik winning it.
    I believe that McLaren and Joe Maddon will finish 1-2 in manager of the year,not necessarily that order.
    I believe that A-Rod, David Ortiz and Pujols will be mentioned in steroid allegations.
    I believe that the blue jays are way overrated.
    I believe that the Ms will have 3, 15 game winners: Bedard, Felix and Silva.
    I believe Putz will end season with the most saves
    in the AL.
    I believe that Bonds will DH for the Yankees.
    I believe the mariners will finish at least 20 games ahead of Oakland and Texas.
    I believe that Erik will lead league in wins and Ks.
    I believe the mariners will have 5 all stars: Ichiro!, Bedard, The King, Putz and…..BELTRE!
    I believe the mariners will have 3 players with over 100 RBIs(Beltre, Ibanez and Sexson), 2 with 30 homers (Beltre and Sexson), one with 40 homers BELTRE!
    I believe Jimerson will be off the team by the end of June.
    I believe the M’s will go on a 15 game tear and never lose more than 5 in a row.
    I believe ichiro will break his own hits record.
    I believe we will win the season series vs the Yankees, Bo-Sox and Angels.
    I believe during the 11th hour of the trade deadline M’s and Reds will be discussing Griffey’s status.
    I believe Lopez will bounce back to his All-Star season form (but not make the All-Star team).
    I believe I love the Yuniesky Betancourt commercial.

    I beleive the Mojo is back. Go M’s!

  33. John D. on March 31st, 2008 12:55 am

    I BELIEVE

    Mel Stottlemyre was jesting–probably trying to deke the opposing batters–when he said that he wanted FELIX to throw more fastballs.
    According to Friday’s P-I (3/28/08; P. F-4) opposing batters hit .346 off FELIX’s fastball last year, and were below the Mendoza line for his other three pitches.
    Surely you jest, Mel.

  34. lemonverbena on March 31st, 2008 9:09 am

    i believe USSM remembered my login/pass after a long winter.

    i believe the M’s will revive my Sea-town sporting hopes again, after said long winter of Seahawks and (gulp) Sonics travails. at least through July anyway.

    i believe the online M’s community is going to have a collective miscarriage when Bedard falters in the slightest.

    i believe we deserve so much better than Bavasi’s value judgements and McLaren’s everything.

    i believe we are blessed with Safeco Field, quietly solid ownership, a good-to-great amateur scouting program, and are blessed to witness a true Hall of Famer in talent, performance and character. i believe in Ichiro!

    i believe Ichiro! will seriously piss me off by swinging at first pitches, then blow me away with a stretch of impossibly great play.

    I believe i’ll never understand 85% of the hardcore stat geek stuff in the M’s blogosphere, but i believe i’ll make more of any effort this year. maybe.

    i believe, as an M’s fan living in the out-of-state capital of M’s fandom (San Diego), that i’ve got the best of both worlds.

    i believe the M’s unis are in need of an overhaul. i also believe the front office/MLB would fuck it said overhaul badly. i believe Ebbets Field Flannels should be on retainer.

    i believe that if i ever saw myself saying that the M’s blogosphere isn’t the best in baseball, i’d punch myself in the face, because i’m lying.

    i believe it’s Opening Day! Play Ball!!

  35. go_cougs on March 31st, 2008 9:16 am

    I believe it is a privilege to watch Ichiro play baseball.

    I believe that a beer, a hotdog, and a baseball game altogether are one of lifes simple pleasures.

    I believe that watching Bull Durham and Field of Dreams the day before Opening Day is the proper way to start the baseball season.

  36. lordbison on March 31st, 2008 9:27 am

    I believe humor becomes you.

  37. JerBear on March 31st, 2008 9:29 am

    I believe that Ichiro will insult at least one more American League City.

    I believe you just made me laugh out loud at work.

    I believe I’m going to be covertly watching the game today on MLB.com at work.

    I believe it’s a shame to be at work on Opening Day, and it should thus be declared an official holiday – giving us an appropriate occasion to celebrate the end of a long winter and the beginning of all things new.

    I believe that Bavasi/Johnny Mac will continue to frustrate the crap out of me. Though they’ve already left me speechless, so I’m not sure how much worse it can get.

    I believe this will be a fun team to watch.

    I believe solidly in 55% of our starting lineup, 40% of our bench, 60% of our starting rotation, and 83% of our bullpen.

    I believe I appreciate this blog in all of it’s entertaining, educational, and enlightening glory – much thanks to the authors.

    I believe this is the best day of the year.

  38. Evan on March 31st, 2008 9:33 am

    Aren’t sonnets only 14 lines long?

  39. lemonverbena on March 31st, 2008 9:39 am

    i believe the not-to-be-mentioned-in-writing host of Lookout Landing’s redesign SUCKS. i can’t believe LL is still down on Opening Freaking Day.

  40. JerBear on March 31st, 2008 11:01 am

    i believe, as an M’s fan living in the out-of-state capital of M’s fandom (San Diego), that i’ve got the best of both worlds.

    Word up. Except, of course, being able to go to home games at Safeco and such…*tear* Guess I’ll settle for a couple games out of the year surrounded by Padres “fans”.

  41. Jake N. on March 31st, 2008 11:46 am

    I believe there is no one happier to see the heavier air at SafeCo then Erik Bedard. He spent spring training throwing batting practice to the rest of the teams there.

  42. joser on March 31st, 2008 11:48 am

    I believe I will stand up and yell at Tim McCarver’s stupidity on a Fox Saturday game. At least once. Per broadcast.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.