Uncustomed Heroes of 2017: Mariners

Like usual this stretch of the 2010s, the Mariners were SOOOOO CLOSE.

They had a winning formula by adding Jean Segura to the infield, and emphasizing rookies like Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger, but they just got damn well unlucky, losing most of their rotation over the course of the season, and relying too heavily on home run guys like Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz.

Even King Felix, the once-beloved starter, had his second down, injury-plagued season in a row. Ms fans are hoping this isn't a normal thing for Hernandez, as he's still one of the most legendary pitchers in Seattle history.

Danny Valencia was the Mariners' starting first baseman, and did an alright job of it, though he took more of a backseat after Yonder Alonso was added to the roster. I imagine he'll be starting again now that Yonder's going somewhere else.

Ariel Miranda was one of the few young pitchers that actually did an admirable job of covering for the cavalcade of injured veterans in Seattle, so much so that he'll probably have a nice spot in the rotation for 2018.

As will Mike Leake, who was very helpful during the last stretch of the season, coming in from inconsolable St. Louis. I imagine he'll keep things up, though we were all a bit worried about him there for a few seasons.

Edwin Diaz continues to be the closer in Seattle, and with the 34-save season he gave the Ms, he seems to be in pretty good shape, though he may be in danger of losing the job.

Meanwhile, let's talk about this guy. Carlos Ruiz may have had a small but ineffective season as the backup to Mike Zunino, and it looks like he may be looking to retirement in 2018, but...the amount of admiration I have for Chooch as the guy that caught for my team in its prime made it inevitable for me to make a Mariners custom of him. It's what he deserved, even if it wasn't the most memorable tenure. Well done, Chooch.

Coming Tomorrow- They're currently being gutted, but let's talk about them!

Chooch Update: 'Backup My Ass' Edition

The MLB trade season has been underway for a few days, but nothing absolutely huge has occurred. Nori Aoki's gone to Houston, okay, fair I guess. Cameron Maybin's gone to the Angels, alright I guess that's kind of cool.

Now, about a week in, we finally have a trade that sort of...kind of means something.

Carlos Ruiz, aka Chooch, was the 2nd-to-last member of the 2008 Phillies to leave the team, in a waiver deal to the Dodgers in late August. This worked out extremely well for the Dodgers, who used Carlos as a steady backup with better averages and numbers than Yasmani Grandal, and allowed him to make several great postseason moments happen, before the inevitable happened and the Cubs booted them out slightly early.

Now, for Chooch's next act...he's going to the Mariners.

At a glance, this works extremely well, because the Mariners haven't had a good catcher since Dan Wilson (arguably...but also probably). The last few years, their choice has been Chris Iannetta or Mike Zunino, and neither have been hitting exceptionally well lately. Chooch works as a better bat, as well as a better catcher, even if his defense isn't what it used to be.

The alarming part is that the Mariners are allegedly using Chooch as an 'extended backup'. Which means a team that has LITERALLY NO BETTER OPTIONS at catcher will be saving a legitimately good catcher for what is essentially a backup role.

...Why?

I don't know if there's another catcher waiting in the pipeline, or if the Mariners are trying to court a younger catcher that can actually hit for the starting position...but you can just start Chooch and get a younger professional backup to just go for defense/two-a-week. Takes a lot less effort.

I don't wanna play GM for the Mariners, and I don't know what kind of plan the Mariners have...but they've squandered the catching position before (by trading Welington Castillo to Arizona), and I think they need to at least be careful.

Still, I'll be on the lookout for more semi-interesting trades.

The DS' Close With a Scorcher

I was nervous for a while, but it looks like the team I was rooting for wound up getting the win anyway. Like, that was an incredibly even series, and I predicted that crap, too.  I wasn't sure if we'd be facing a Nats-Cubs series or a Dodgers-Cubs series, and I would have been fine with either, but...but to be honest, I was running out of Nats customs to make. Look, once you get past the starters and main rotation, you don't have much. Joe Ross wasn't giving me good photos, and I didn't have a lot of options otherwise.

Now, the Dodgers have a wealth of pitchers and bench players that I can totally customize in the future. Plus, they have Carlos Ruiz, and Carlos Ruiz is awesome, now that he's hitting like hell for the Dodgers.

So...the Dodgers snagged a win, and I get to cover a Dodgers-Cubs series, which is...pretty nice. It's like the two flagship teams sort of, for the NL. Just, going back to the 40's. Doesn't get more basic than Dodgers and Cubs. And one of them's gonna go to the World Series. That's weird.

Also, in terms of the departed...

Look, it's not like the Nationals didn't try. They're one of those teams that, like the Giants, only really thrive in even years. Unlike the Giants, they can never really get past the NLDS, and, like usual, this is where the Nats train stops. It's sad, as they're a nice, competing team, but...it's still proving that the depth isn't there- hopefully they'll find their way back once Bryce Harper returns to being awesome.

Now...we get a slight reprieve, and then right into the madness of the Championship Series. Oh boy.

Where did the 2015 Phillies go Right?

In order to fully articulate how awful the Philadelphia Phillies have been this season, look no further than this custom. Amazing, right? I had to take a photo from LAST YEAR in order to make it. As in, nothing this cool happened to Carlos Ruiz this year.

The Phillies have been atrocious this year, trading away their talented players, getting their replacements injured, and relying on unreliable players, especially in the pitching staff. Plus, they've had to call up a TON of people that might not have been ready. It's a good thing that Aaron Altherr, Aaron Nola, Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco were all ready, because that hasn't been the case for everyone.

The one Phillies game I went to this year, they beat the Blue Jays, which was pretty damn miraculous, especially considering that this was during the second half, when the Blue Jays were unstoppable. I don't know happened, but they pulled out. It was one of the few times that actually happened.

I have no idea what the Phillies can do to pick this up, because they're gonna have to rely on youth for a WHILE until this whole thing cements itself, so that they don't have to trade all their big guns. They're probably getting the #1 draft pick next year, and they're likely gonna get somebody huge, so they will need to build their foundation NOW so that by the time this kid comes up, he'll fit right in and not flop hard.

The Phillies being good again won't happen for another few years. But I'm not saying it can't happen. It just won't happen in 2016.

Coming Tonight (?)- The hard-hitting shortstop for a team that probably won't be making the playoffs this year.

NO, CHOOCH!

 

Earlier this month, I said that I'd be enraged if anybody got busted for steroids in 2013.

It's not even 2013 yet. Hell, it wasn't even a full month later. And nevertheless, I'M ENRAGED. Especially considering it's a player on one of my favorite teams, who had a great season this year.

Chooch...you know, you really had me there. That was a terrific season. I thought you actually pulled it off. And then today, everybody found out you'd taken amphetamines, which is basically steroids only using a longer word. Just what I needed. First Galvis, now Chooch. You're really killing me.

I mean, you could say it's not so bad since it technically isn't steroids. Bartolo Colon took testosterone, and he still got the MLB-version of a whipping. And HE still got re-signed! 

It's bad enough when somebody you respect gets outed as a substance abuser. It's worse when it's someone you admire. And this kills me. Not as much as A-Rod, but still deadly.

Even worse, he's not even TRYING to appeal it. He's saying "I'll face the suspension and get back to what I do best." So, I admire that he's owning up to it, but you're a member of the Phillies! You're not supposed to fail THAT easily! Even Ryan Braun had the balls to lie about his steroid use, or lack thereof, and THAT worked!

So yeah...not very happy right now. There better not be ONE MORE PERSON to get caught taking banned substances this year. Give me THREE DAYS...JUST THREE DAYS without ANYTHING. PLEASE!

Custom Card of the Day: Chooch Edition

 

I never really gave the Phillies' catcher all that respect for a while. Now that he did a nice job in the All Star Game, I finally landed a good custom of him. But this disrespect I speak of stems back to his rookie season.

Even in 2007, when he was brought up, I thought the Phillies catcher was still Mike Lieberthal. When corrected, I then guessed Rod Barajas, and finally Chris Coste. 

In 2008, I saw his Topps card looked exactly the same as the one from the year before. I refused to put him into my Phillies binder.

In 2009, 2010, and 2011, despite the fact that he was still playing, and now the once and future starter, I still refused to acknowledge his existence. 

Of course, this year, he's been hitting well, and holding one of the best Batting Averages in the league. So I guess I was wrong. 

And that never happens. Not even with posts about Melky Cabrera.

Coming Tomorrow- Ever since Michael Young got injured (ba-dum)

He played in the All Star Game (ba-dum)

And all you'll hear about him is the guy that shares his name

(He's feeling so lonely, I take it.)