A different spin on sports by The Seattle Times staff and readers.

Mariners

Not giving up without fight

The Mariners obviously are displeased with the Houston Astros moving into the American League West  and trying to take their spot as division cellar dwellers. They just are not going to let that happen with out a fight.

– Jim Raab, Olympia

Hard for fans to keep faith

I have been trying to refrain from jumping to premature conclusions about the 2013 Mariners.  I realize it is early and teams with new players take time to jell.

But despite these considerations, I’m here to say it is a powerful challenge for even a level-headed Mariners fan to keep the faith.  When this team delivers pathetic performances year after year, regardless of which players come and go, it takes a toll.  A fan base has its limits and at some point loses passion.

I really like the individual new acquisitions, and I’m strongly in support of the parting of ways that involved one-dimensional Ichiro. The farm system appears to hold promise.  But overall, I’m finding it outright discouraging, and it would seem that a great many Mariner fans echo this sentiment.  A cursory look at attendance figures so far is enough to depress anyone.

– Tom Likai, Shoreline

Ackerly bat night? Why?

After watching the M’s bats turn into sawdust, I am amused at the thought of a Dustin Ackerly bat night.  Seriously, a bat night for a .200 hitter who also struggled last year to hit .220? Are you kidding?

– Zygi Goldenberg, Seattle

Watch Kyle Seager hit

In my opinion the Mariners have been screwing around lately. By that I mean they are trying to win with one swing of the bat. As the game goes on, they swing harder and miss even more.  They appear to be trying to screw themselves into the ground as they spin around after another swing and a miss.  Smoak is just finding his swing because he is taking a shorter stroke.  Morse could hit it out of any ballpark with his strength and a shorter stroke but he too is “screwing” himself into the ground with that long swing.  I think the same is true for Raul Ibanez and Brendan Ryan.  A

They need to watch Kyle Seager. It seems that every close-up of him swinging shows his eye right on the ball.  As a fan I would rather see the Mariners have 10 hits a game and no homers rather than two homers a game and no other hits.

– Don Rogers, Camano Island

Just one word for this team

Let’s play a little word-association game. When I say Mariners, what comes to mind?

How about irrelevant?

– Rick Stanton, Bainbridge Island

UW football

Spring game made fan cringe

I watched the Washington spring game in absolute embarrassment. Instead of a game, we were treated two hours of humiliating antics that made me cringe.

Fortunately, we were treated to a much-needed break from the massive amounts of football when they brought out the golf team for a closest-to-the-pin contest, followed by a hit-the-crossbar passing competition. Both should serve us well when we open our season in the fall against a Top 20 football program.  If Boise State smokes us on the football field, at least we can rest assured knowing our golfers have a better short game. The only thing missing from this train wreck was a dance-off and a game of charades.

This is coach Steve Sarkisian’s fifth year, and we deserve more than what we witnessed at the spring game. Do you think Alabama had a punt, pass and kick competition at their spring game? Do you think Oregon hosted a rhythmic gymnastics display during its spring game?

Even the Cougars even held a full game. I expected us to spring forward and instead we fell back.

– Jim DeNike, Sammamish

UW hoops

Wilcox makes right decision

Finally, a player of NBA caliber – C.J. Wilcox – decided to stay at Washington for his senior year. Let’s see what he won: A degree from an esteemed institution. To really experience big-man-on-campus stature as a highly ranked national talent. A talented coaching staff capable of refining Wilcox’s game to assure a lasting place in the league. I’m projecting he won’t see the D League, ever.

Some guys, take Tony Wroten as an example, just go too early. If only he had stayed longer to refine his game. I wish the NBA had a rule that a collegian can’t go pro until they completed their junior year. I think everyone would win.

– Keith Brown, Seattle

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