Hodgepodge

It has been awhile since I watched Jeopardy but I remember that every once in a while they would have a category that was comprised of questions that were left over from previous shows. I can’t remember exactly what the category was called but today we will call it hodgepodge.

So Alex Trebek starts the show with yesterday’s winner who says, “Let’s take Seattle sports for $200.” Alex says, “The latest WNBA champions.” Buzz…Who are the Supersonics? Oh, no sorry. Anyone else? Buzz…Who are the Seattle Storm? Correct!

“Seattle sports for $400 Alex…” “The WNBA season MVP and WNBA playoff MVP.” Buzz… Who is Sue Bird? Oh sorry. Buzz… Who is Breanna Stewart? Correct.

Seattle Sports for $600 Alex…The only player in Seattle history to have won three world championships. Buzz…Who is Sue Bird? That’s correct.

“Seattle sports for $800…The Seattle franchise that tends to start slow and rally late in the season to make the playoffs. Buzz… Who are the Seattle Mariners?

To which Alex says, “Are you kidding me? I mean, oh no.” Buzz… Who are the Seattle Sounders? Correct. As a matter of fact they are now on another late season push with a nine game winning streak!

“Seattle sports for $1000… This franchise last made the playoffs in 2001 and has the longest active streak not making the playoffs…Buzz… Who are the Seattle Supersonics? Uh, no and just to let you know the Supersonics are no longer in Seattle. Buzz… Who are the Seattle Mariners. Correct.”

So this particular game show was one that was made up but it might have been a fun one with some great questions.

The Seattle franchise with its most successful champion Sue Bird the ageless one and arguably the WNBA’s brightest star for now and the future in Breanna Stewart the UCONN alum with four NCAA titles in her past is a very talented center that can score inside and at three point range.

How much longer Sue Bird can play is a big question. Maybe she will be their coach someday. She has the competitive spirit and if you listen to her do an interview you know she is intelligent about the game and has passion. I’d like to see it once she hangs up the jersey.

You know I’m not a big soccer fan but I find it very interesting that the Seattle Sounders do so poorly in the early season of Major League Soccer and then when they are given up for dead they rally and go on long winning streaks.

How do they do that? And what would it take to start strong and finish strong.

After all the Sounders may have the best fan base in all of MLS. After going to the championship final the past two years will this team make it three in a row and get back the trophy after losing in the final last year? Only time will tell but there has to be a lot of confidence going Seattle’s way these days. Good luck!

Oh, yeah the Mariners. The M’s are by far the least successful team in Seattle. They have had very few winning seasons and that is just downright sad.

I think they have a good GM and Manager but they certainly lack the necessary starting pitching staff to make it through the season. It would be good enough but then the Mariners would have to average five runs a game.

The brightest star that they have right now is Edwin Diaz as the closer. He has 55 saves as of Sunday. Management needs to understand that Diaz is a closer not a ninth inning pitcher in a tie ball game. Closers have a different mentality when they enter a game.

If the game is still in doubt please leave the closer in the bullpen because they aren’t wired to win games only save them. I know it is a darn shame that their psyche dictates that but it is a mentality that has been around with a lot of closers.

Read the ‘Bronx Zoo’ sometime to get Sparky Lyle’s perspective on saving ball games. Just saying!

Well that is my hodgepodge for this week. I hope you enjoyed it because I had fun telling you about it.