TERRY MOSHER

 

TOP OF THE TOWN – Pro sports can be a cruel business. One minute you and your family are established in a nice community and things roll around like it’s your birthday every day. Nothing could be finer. Then you walk into a room and find out you just have been traded to who knows where. It’s not simple that happening to you. It disrupts your whole family structure – kids have to move to another state another school, have to find a good home, reestablish relationships. It’s tough. This is a roundabout way to say the Mariners’ top reliever, the guy who halts the opposition with almost certain success, has been traded. Paul Sewald is gone, gone to Arizona, which really needs his help in its chase for a National League playoff spot. The t6-foot-3 Sewald, 33 years old, has 21 saves for the Mariners this year with a 1.023 WHIP, 60 strikeouts in 43 innings and an ERA of 2.93. In other words, he was a great closer for the Mariners and was a year away from free agency. What did the Mariners get back from Arizona? Well, they got outfielder Dominic Canzone, infielder Ryan Bliss and utility guy Josh Rojas. Canzone is a 26-year-old rookie who made his MLB debut on July 8 of this season and has had 38 at-bats with one home run. He me mHade his MLB debut three years ago. He’s 29 and has had 189 at-bats this season without hitting a home run. He could play second for the Mariners, although he can also play in the outfield. Bliss, who played college at Auburn, is a shortstop who this year had 349 at-bats with 13 home runs, 35 stolen bases and a .332 batting average in the minor leagues, AA and AAA.  Obviously, Bliss, who is 23, is the anchor of this trade for the Mariners, who would have to play him at second because J.P. Crawford is established at short. I has a feeling Jerry Dipoto is not done. There may be another trade coming. Until then, who is the closer now for the Mariners? Matt Brash? Andres Munoz? The 2023 tale of the Seattle Mariners is suddenly getting interesting. That’s it for today. Stay safe.

Be well pal.

Be careful out there.

Have a great day.

You are loved.