Follow

Our Authors

Jon Shields Brendan Gawlowski Nathan Bishop Patrick Dubuque

Jon Shields : @ProBallNW

Author @ Pro Ball NW Since November 7, 2007

Owner, Editor-in-chief
shields@proballnw.com

http://www.proballnw.com/article/314/then-we-came-to-the-end/

Jon Shields's Last 20 Articles

And then we came to a new thing Written on March 17, 2013 @ 11:03PM "I'd like to gauge your interest in ever coming back to blogging about the Mariners again." Huh. That's a weird question to be to be asking someone who just published his farewell post three weeks ago. "I'm certainly open to it but it's far from my mind right now." --- I first quit…	Then we came to the end Written on February 11, 2013 @ 06:44AM The time has come for me to board up Pro Ball NW step away from the world of baseball writing after five Seattle Mariners seasons. This is a decision that’s been a long time coming and is literally years in the making but still made with a heavy heart. This site has been a major part of my…
Pro Ball NW Podcast, Episode 9 - Baseball Hooligans Written on January 26, 2013 @ 07:31PM Jon Shields and Brendan Gawlowski discuss how a cup series running alongside the regular season would play in baseball, soccer fans versus baseball fans, gut feelings about how much impact Safeco Field's new dimensions will have, players who are auditioning the new dimensions for future free agents,…	Time for Bourn? Written on January 26, 2013 @ 09:16AM Back in October, MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes ranked Michael Bourn as the third best free agent behind Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton, but Bourn's market never developed. His most recent employer, the Atlanta Braves, eliminated any chance at a reunion by signing B.J. Upton and trading for Justin…
Potential Catcher Signings Written on January 24, 2013 @ 10:48PM CBS Sports' Jon Heyman has confirmed that Ronny Paulino is Seattle-bound, adding that he'll join the Mariners on a minor league contract. When I wrote about Paulino the other day I made the incorrect assumption that he was being brought in on a Major League deal as the primary backup to Jesus Montero.…	If Smoak Clicks Written on January 22, 2013 @ 11:49PM Justin Smoak owns a .223/.306/.377 batting line through 1,421 career plate appearances across three seasons. That's hardly acceptable from a glove-first shortstop, but it's downright dreadful for a lumbering first baseman expected to be a force in the middle of a big league lineup. Now 26 years…
Mariners to Sign Paulino, Commit to Montero? Written on January 22, 2013 @ 12:33AM The Seattle Mariners have agreed to sign veteran catcher Ronny Paulino to a one year contract worth $1 million plus incentives, according to reports out of Mexico (1, 2), pending physical. Paulino can be viewed as a backup catcher as opposed to a part-time catcher (if that makes sense). The 31…	Pro Ball NW Podcast, Episode 8 - Josh Bard's brothe Written on January 20, 2013 @ 11:56PM Nathan Bishop is back by popular demand*, joining the podcast as we discuss the Michael Morse-John Jaso trade (duh), our current view of GM Jack Zduriencik, what Morse and Kendrys Morales' performances could mean for the Mariners' future free agent pursuits, whether Michael Bourn should be viewed as…
Zunino's Timeline Written on January 18, 2013 @ 12:05PM One of the justifications for Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik's trading of John Jaso and his three years of team control is the stellar first impression made by Mike Zunino, the third overall pick in last summer's amateur draft. Zunino, 21, debuted in low-A Everett before being promoted to AA…	Safeco Field and Michael Morse's Power Written on January 17, 2013 @ 08:25PM Right-handed hitters will appreciate the fences coming in a few feet at Safeco Field, though the difference it will make is up for debate. Personally, I'm not expecting a noticeable difference and think the park will continue to frustrate most righty sluggers. But only time will tell. One player…
Was the Morse-Jaso trade really so bad? Written on January 17, 2013 @ 12:35AM Late Wednesday afternoon news broke that the Seattle Mariners were close to reuniting with 1B/OF Michael Morse. It didn't take long before it was revealed that the Mariners' export was catcher John Jaso, sent to the rival Oakland Athletics as part of the three-team trade. The move raised some…	Justin Upton Declines Trade To Seattle Written on January 15, 2013 @ 12:52AM On Thursday evening news broke that the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks had agreed to a trade that would have sent young up-and-coming outfielder Justin Upton to Seattle in exchange for a package of young talent: top starting pitching prospect Taijuan Walker, middle infield prospect Nick…
Edgar Martinez hangs tough... for now Written on January 12, 2013 @ 12:18AM The Baseball Writers Association of a America announced the results of the 2013 Hall of Fame voting on Wednesday, and no player pulled in the 75% of votes required to get a plaque in Cooperstown. Craig Biggio, who many believed would have little trouble garnering support in his first year on the…	Rangers offseason Q&A with Jamey Newberg Written on January 07, 2013 @ 11:02PM Following back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011, the mighty Texas Rangers slipped up just enough in 2012 to wind up vulnerable in the newly established one game Wild Card playoff, in which they fell to the Baltimore Orioles. This offseason hasn't been particularly kind to Texas' top…
Athletics offseason Q&A with Jason Wojciechowski Written on January 07, 2013 @ 09:21AM In an American League West division expected to be dominated by the juggernaut Texas Rangers and free-spending Los Angeles Angeles in 2012, the Oakland Athletics improbably rose to the top thanks to strong performances from unproven youngsters and journeyman misfits-- a run reminiscent of Billy Beane's…	Edgar Martinez and the 2013 Hall of Fame Ballot Written on January 04, 2013 @ 12:58AM Few among us would argue against Edgar Martinez's Hall of Fame credentials. We're biased, of course, but there are plenty of very smart people out there, including a fair number of BBWAA voters, who agree. Edgar has received votes in the 30% range over his first three years of eligibility, safely…
Montero's Four Theoretical Dingers Written on January 03, 2013 @ 10:50PM Given that the fences from left field to right-center are being moved closer and the left field wall will be made shorter, we can predict with some certainty that Safeco Field will be more hitter friendly in 2013, particularly for right-handed sluggers. The bigger question is the degree of difference…	Guti at the Track: A Tribute Written on December 30, 2012 @ 12:03AM I've begun warming up to the idea -- the reality -- of the fences coming in at Safeco Field. Initially, I was disappointed. I liked the idea of GM Jack Zduriencik building a team that excelled thanks to Safeco's unique conditions rather than in spite of them. Baseball is a game centered around…
Maybe Casper Wells Should Start Written on December 28, 2012 @ 12:03AM Franklin Gutierrez is arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game; if he shows the tiniest glimmer of hope with the bat during Spring Training and makes it to Opening Day healthy, he'll be the Seattle Mariners starting center fielder. Michael Saunders put in the work and miraculously turned…	Pro Ball NW Podcast, Episode 7 - Building a baseball career from scratch Written on December 26, 2012 @ 07:52AM Drew Samuelson joins the podcast to discuss his quick ascent from prospect video blogger to the Australian Baseball Federation as we continue Episode 6's theme of getting a job in baseball, keeping it, and advancing your career. Job seekers in baseball (or any industry for that matter) can take a…

Browse The Archives

SPONSORED BY

SweetSpot Blogs

MLB Team Pages

Search ESPN