What’s going on with Seattle sports? Both the Mariners and the Sounders FC started off so good and now look at them. Granted, both are still doing well if you only look at the record, but they have both entered that zone my wife likes to refer to as the “Seattle suck.” It can drag a team down quickly and without warning.
In 2001, the Mariners won 116 games before hitting that whirlpool in the playoffs. At least we haven’t had to wait that long this year. I am only half kidding here. If they continue to struggle offensively, hitting .200 on this home stand as a team, while the pitching has been so good, avoiding looking at Carlos Silva here, this year will continue to be a struggle.
I’m not trying to rain on their parade. They have played well so far and deserve to be at the top of the AL West right now. It’s early and they need to become consistent very quickly. The only thing they’ve been consistent at so far is leading the league in errors.
This current rough patch brought into town by the Detroit Tigers could be just that, a momentary hiccup that will make the team regroup. I hope so; I really do, because I want to enjoy the feeling of a baseball team that is in the race after the all star break again.
The Sounders, on the other hand, have no history to break away from. That has not stopped them from falling off the edge of the cliff.
With hindsight, this downturn was easy to spot. It showed up when Kansas City came to Seattle with an obvious game plan to keep ten and sometimes all eleven players in their side of the field and force Seattle to try and put the ball over the top. Fredy Montero was double and triple teamed which should have opened up some other channels. Normally it would but normally a team does not plan to play on its own side of the field the whole game.
Everything changed when Kasey Keller was red carded and sent off before halftime. Although Ben Dragavon did well in goal, he is not Keller. Kansas City opened up the field, Seattle was able to get some space to attack which did make the game more exciting but also badly fatigued the Sounders players. A late goal by Kansas City dropped the Sounders to their first loss but that was only the first downward step.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
The Seattle suck. Yeah, that pretty well sums up sports in our town, doesn't it?
-Glen
2 - Douglas Mays
The Seattle suck.... hhhmmm...I do have theories about that phenom, and it actually has less to do with the teams itself as opposed to some of the whiney crybabies that live in this town...
Seahawks, drafting a linebacker. Man, they have the awesome linebacking crew for next season.
Sounders FC. hhhmmm... they actually are a very good team that I think have the potential to compete on world levels, give them some development time. Ljunberg needs time to heal and gel with his team. He will come to life. Did you see that end to end run he made with the ball last Saturday? Plus his ability really shows when he even gets near the ball. Just a matter of tweeking.
They looked very good vs. San Jose last Saturday. That first goal was very creative showing good awareness and anticipation by players. Anyway, Sounders FC are the flagship team of the MLS.
Mariners? Doing OK at the moment, leading the division by a couple of games. Well, Griffey is back, and actually being useful, putting up some numbers. Hopefully his presence will help the team from pulling the handle to flush the toilet at the end of the season.
back to you, Russ....
3 - Douglas Mays
Oh yeah, Sounders FC, Keller is awesome. He had a million dollar save last Saturday. And Ljundberg did a few things that made him worth the money. Montero was solid with some crafty moves. Contributed well to the show. 4-2 early in the season, they will get better.
Oh yeah, Seahawks under Mora? Could be a good thing.
Mariners are sure solid in the first 3 pitchers of rotation. the last two get kinda shakey...
blah, blah, blah....
4 - Douglas Mays
The Seattle suck.... hhhmmm...I do have theories about that phenom, and it actually has less to do with the teams itself as opposed to some of the whiney crybabies that live in this town...
Seahawks, drafting a linebacker. Man, they have the awesome linebacking crew for next season.
Sounders FC. hhhmmm... they actually are a very good team that I think have the potential to compete on world levels, give them some development time. Ljunberg needs time to heal and gel with his team. He will come to life. Did you see that end to end run he made with the ball last Saturday? Plus his ability really shows when he even gets near the ball. Just a matter of tweeking.
They looked very good vs. San Jose last Saturday. That first goal was very creative showing good awareness and anticipation by players. Anyway, Sounders FC are the flagship team of the MLS.
Mariners? Doing OK at the moment, leading the division by a couple of games. Well, Griffey is back, and actually being useful, putting up some numbers. Hopefully his presence will help keep the team from pulling the handle to flush the toilet at the end of the season.
back to you, Russ....