A lot of players have had good Augusts, yes. A lot have propelled their teams into playoff consideration or extended divisional leads. But, have any of them been more important to their respective teams, though, than Raul Ibanez has been to the Seattle Mariners?
In 67 August at-bats, Ibanez has 29 hits, 13 for extra bases, amassing a .433 batting average, a .472 on-base percentage and a .483 slugging percentage. His OPS (on-base + slugging) is .955, and while that isn't an enormous figure, almost 45% of his hits in August have been for extra bases (8 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs). Add in his 21 runs batted in and 17 runs scored, and we're seeing an outstanding month for a guy who isn't really known for having huge months - he's a consistent hitter that drives the ball to the gaps (38 doubles thus far in 2008), but has he ever had a month like August? Maybe, but not one so important to his team.
The Mariners are mired in the worst season in franchise history. Sporting a $117 million team salary on opening day, many predicted the M's would challenge the Los Angeles Angels for the AL West division title or at least compete for the AL Wild Card slot. In short, everything has gone disastrously wrong for Seattle in 2008 - poor hitting, poor fielding, poor pitching. Their General Manager was fired mid-season, and their field manager was terminated shortly thereafter. The batting coach was first to go, but none of this was really his fault.
Three weeks ago, on the verge of trading Ibanez and left-handed starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn (who, at the time, was in the middle of a 10-start stretch that lowered his ERA from almost 6.00 to the mid-4's), Seattle Mariners interim General Manager Lee Pelekoudas decided to not trade away Ibanez or Washburn simply to make a deadline move. While Washburn has been roughed up 2 of his last 3 outings, Ibanez has been a man possessed, playing for the worst team in the American League.
I'm sure a lot of people will have their suggestions for a player of the month that isn't Ibanez, and I earnestly welcome those ideas, suggestions, and thoughts. But, no one can deny that Raul Ibanez is having a monster August for one of the worst teams in baseball.
RAUUUUUUUUUUUL!! The guy has really made the best of a rotten year. When he hit the waiver wire my wife went into a serious funk. He has been our favourite player since he became a Mariner. I would like to see the M's offer him at least a 3 year deal with an option. Do you see them doing that? As good as Raul has been Lopez has not. I know he has improved his hitting but that doesn't offset the damage he has done in the field. He cost Rowlan-Smith the game the other night with two uncalled for fielding errors. I would like to see the M's strengthen the defensed up the middle, these guys are lollygaggers.
I saw that Hargrove wants to get back into managing. What are your thoughts? Living in the empire of Eugene we don't get the inside scoop on things that are not track and field (yawn) or duck related. Hell we don't even get the games on the radio. What happened with Hargrove I still can't believe it. Thanks Mac.
I live in Vancouver, Wa - I'm fairly separated from the Seattle sports scene, too.
I think Raul is arbitration-eligible for 2009, so if he accepts, then the M's can/should lock him up for 2 years - 3 might be a bit lengthy, but an option year might work.
Lopez has had his defensive gaffes, sure, but they come in bunches, usually when he's not hitting the ball very well. Coincidence? Maybe, I don't know. I think Seattle might push Tug Hulett to keep pressure on Yunieski Betancourt in 2009, thus improving the middle defense.
I'm just your average sports nut, I suppose. Of course I'm a bit of a homer - the Mariners, Seahawks, and Huskies are my teams - but I stick with my boys down the stretch, through thick and thin.
What can the Mariners do to rebound from their worst season in twent years? Will Erik Bedard recover in time for the 2009 season? Ryan Rowland-Smith and Brandon Morrow look to make the transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation, so can they combine with Felix to create a young and effective 1-2-3 tandem? How will the M's new front office guru fare - will Chuckie and Howie be able to stay "hands off" long enough for the new VP/GM to accomplish anything positive? Can the Seahawks recover from their early-season woes and rebound for a fifth straight NFC West title? How will the team handle the transition from Mike Holmgren's regime to the ways of Jim Mora Jr? Can the Hawks' defense stop anyone? Can the offense put up more than 200 yards?
Any of you folks out there interested in healthy and creative debate about anything, feel free to speak up!
