Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners already pulled off the one big deal they had planned to make leading up to Major League Baseball's trading deadline.  The Mariners traded away Cliff Lee for one of the best offensive prospects in the game in Justin Smoak (plus other prospects).

After a season that disappointed most Mariners fans, it seems as if more disappointment is coming.

Yesterday during the game against the Boston Red Sox, Mike Cameron hit a line-drive against the left field wall. Michael Saunders picked it up threw it in to second where second baseman Chone Figgins didn't even attempt to pick it up and let it roll by, having Cameron make the double into a triple.

The play seemed like a lackadaisical attempt at anything baseball, so when Figgins came into the dugout manager Don Wakamatsu had a word with him.

A quick review of last week's least owned top performers in fantasy baseball. Justin Smoak goes yard in back to back games. Paul Maholm wins the Dr. Jeckyll / Mr. Hyde award. Edinson Volquez dominates in his return. Who will continue to dominate and who will disappear like a ninja?

SWINGERS

Chase Headley 47% owned
6 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, .500

The Mariners have had their share of All Stars come to town, but a few have been forgotten as Mariners. This is a list to remember the future and past all stars that took the diamond for the Mariners.

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Although cloudless days continue to appear in Seattle's summer sky, locals are still advised to carry umbrellas... because Jack Zduriencik is quickly plummeting downwards.

Just months after being hailed as a hero in the Emerald City for his roster overhaul filled with top-flight players, the Mariners general manager is now being scrutinized for not meeting his team's needs in the off-season.

I wrote this for my blog the day that The Kid retired.  I thought I'd bring it over here and see what you all thought of it. 

I wrote on May 13 that Ken Griffey, Jr should retire. His numbers were way down (.184 AVG, no HRs, and just seven RBIs), and he had accomplished everything he'd needed to over such a legendary career. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, Mariners’ management is taking heat for including Josh Lueke in the package of prospects they received along with Justin Smoak for Cliff Lee.

For the third time in less than a year, Cliff Lee has a new home. This time, he has joined the Texas Rangers.

Lee, 31, was brought in to help strengthen a relatively inexperienced rotation as the Rangers look to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Much like the past deals Lee has been involved in, the team parting ways with the star pitcher has looked for a huge haul of prospects in return.

The Indians', Phillies', and Mariners' prospects arrived with the glimmer of a brighter future, as each team will expect to find their value in the years to come.

Despite the departure of pitching ace Cliff Lee, tonight Mariners fans might see something special, because two stars are coming out when the Mariners take on the Yankees.

Felix Hernandez is the starter today and he is trying to come off of his great outing against the Yankees last week in New York. King Felix's start last week was the first-ever shutout by an opposing pitcher at the new Yankee Stadium!

At the beginning of the MLB season the Mariners looked like serious contenders in the AL West.

That hasn't been the case.

The Mariners are 34-51 at the All-Star break and now they are trading perhaps their best pitcher, Cliff Lee, to the Rangers.

The trade goes like this: the Mariners trade Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe to the Rangers for Justin Smoak and minor leaguers Blake Beavan, Josh Leuke, and Matthew Lawson.

We all knew this was going to happen and I think it might have been the best trade possible.