Weekend Picks

Huskies -6.5 over Cougars - This game could easily turn into a high scoring affair with both teams struggling mightily on defense this season. I like the Huskies ability to run the ball well, which should allow them to control the time of possession. Look for the Cougars to throw the ball a lot, possibly 40-50 times. I'm guessing Alex Brink racks up some pretty good numbers through the air, but this should also allow the Huskies more opportunities to snag some turnovers. In the end the Huskies run game and the fact that the game is at UW leads the Dawgs to victory.

Huskies can win if: They run the ball similar to the way they did last week and win the turnover battle. They also have to limit big scoring plays by the Cougars. UW 42, WSU 33

Seahawks -3 over Rams - The Rams are probably a much better team now than they were when they played in Seattle. Bulger is playing healthy and playing well and they have Steven Jackson back. However, the Seahawks have played two very good games in a row, especially on defense and the Hawks have won in St. Louis two years in a row and four games overall in a row against the Rams. Hasselbeck is playing great right now and he should be able to pick apart a weak St. Louis defense.

Seahawks can win if: They continue to put pressure on the quarterback and can get the passing game going early to also open up some holes for Mo Morris. This is a game they should win as long as they don't give up big plays or make big mistakes. Seahawks 30, St. Louis 17

Bavasi's Shopping List

The World Series hasn't even been over a month yet, but the off season is already well underway. The Yankees have already committed nearly $400 million in contracts, including $97 million over the next four years to two players who are 36 and 37 years old. The division rival (and winning) California Los Angeles Anaheim Angels have bolstered their already deep rotation with a trade for Jon Garland. So the question is, do you know where your general manager is? If you're an M's fan, then he's probably somewhere keeping that head shiny and his goatee nicely groomed, instead of filling gaping holes on a team that was in playoff contention all season until completely unraveling in September. That being said, if Mr. Bavasi is hard at work, below is what his list should look like.

1. Starting Pitching - Once again the Mariners have two spots in the rotation to fill after last year's Bavasi acquisitions didn't exactly work out. (Hey, at least we didn't sign Jeff Weaver to a three year contract, right?) Most likely the M's will try and fill one spot from within and that is the right thing to do. I'm pretty sure Cha Seung Baek could have matched Weaver's numbers last year and he would have cost 1/10 the price. Brandon Morrow is being moved from the bullpen (he was drafted as a starter), but if he isn't ready to start the season they will give opportunities to Baek, Ryan Fenderbender, oops, Feierabend, and Ryan Rowland-Smith (also being moved from the bullpen). The other spot will be filled by either free agency or trade, with the big chip apparently available being Johan Santana. Bavasi should probably trade for him just so Larry Stone will stop writing columns saying the Mariners should trade for him. Larry, we get it, Santana and King Felix are both from Venezuela.

2. Bullpen - The bullpen was the strength of the team for most of last season, but it wore down and was also a big reason for the collapse. The M's probably could have used one more arm last season and now Morrow is being moved to the rotation, leaving another hole. Maybe the Braves would trade us Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez? Nice one Bill. Maybe sports should be more like video games with fair trades turned on in franchise mode. No way EA Sports lets you snag Soriano for Ramirez in MVP Baseball. Eric Gagne should be a possibility, because he lowered his price tag quite a bit after being traded to Boston and forgetting how to pitch.

3. Returns - Maybe Bavasi can't get his money back on Richie Sexson, but he should be able to find someone to take a chance on him. The M's will probably have to eat at least half his salary, but that sure beats the alternative of poor Richie suffering through another season with that ruthless Seattle crowd. The All-Sensitive team would like to welcome it's newest member, Richie Sexson! Maybe Sexson has a rebound year, but are you really willing to bet $15 million on that? Just give Ben Broussard the full time job and use the money saved to upgrade the pitching. Of course with the M's luck Sexson will get traded and end up dropping 40 bombs and everyone will wish we hadn't traded him.

Great Weekend

It was certainly a great weekend if you're a Seattle sports fan with wins from Husky football and basketball, the Seahawks win over the Bears and Kevin Durant's game winning shot for the Sonics in double OT on Friday night. Not too often over the last few years that the Huskies and Seahawks both win on the same weekend. Below are some of my thoughts from the weekend.

• Where would the Huskies be if they had anything that resembled a decent defense this season? The Dawgs have developed into one heck of an offense, particularly rushing the ball. The D has been bad, even historically bad, but sometimes it's nice to look at some positives and Tyrone Willingham and Tim Lappano deserve some credit for what has now become a tremendous ground attack. It's also something that they should be able to build on for next year and beyond. Four out of the five starting offensive linemen should be back next year and although Louis Rankin will graduate, Brandon Johnson and Jake Locker are both just freshman.
  

• The Seahawks "new" offense looks great. I'm glad Mike Holmgren decided to start using the team's strengths rather than be stubborn and try to fix their weaknesses. It's also an offense where I don't see a place for Shaun Alexander and it will be interesting to see where he fits in when healthy. Mo Morris and Leonard Weaver are both great fits for the new pass oriented offense, because they can catch the ball and block, both things that Alexander can't do.
  

• Tim Ruskell seems to make all the right moves. I admit I was among those furious when Ruskell traded Darrell Jackson to the 49ers for a 4th round draft pick. Just look at D-Jack now; the Niners probably wouldn't mind their 4th rounder back. How bout signing Patrick Kerney and making room for Darryl Tapp by cutting Bryce Fisher? Against the Bears Kerney had three sacks and a forced fumble and Tapp had a sack and fumble recovery. They have been key parts of the defense all season long. Any chance Ruskell could replace Bill Bavasi as Mariners GM?