Emerald Rumblings...

Closer we get to the arrival of Santa and his gift-giving. If you're a fan of the Hot Stove League and you reside in Seattle, you now get to fantasize about a return to the playoffs with the newest acquisitions made by Mariner management.

Felix Hernandez is a hoss. We know this as it's a given. Add to that a Cy Young winner from 2007 who will eat up innings with a strong track record, and I dare you have the best 1-2 punch for starters in the American League. Felix and Cliff Lee at the very least will make the Angels an aging and unlikely favorite to win.

I REALLY applaud the arrival of Chone Figgins from the Angels! If you think the 1-2 pitching staff is nice, how do you like the thought of Ichiro and Chone as 1-2 in the lineup? Having spent eight summers in Texas I can tell you the Fig-man is an absolute pain to deal with on the basepaths.

It really surprised me that the Blue Jays gave away Halladay for a bunch of prospects. I wondered for a while if Lee and Halladay could co-exist as starters in Philly? Alas, that was not to be!

I am still scratching my head at what Texas did earlier this week. Bye-Bye Milly and hello to Rich Harden. Younger yes, but with a track record for injury. Quite frankly as long as there is a question about Ranger ownership, I have no intention or desire to renew for an umpteenth story about 'the new plan'. I feel so sorry for Michael Young and Ian Kinsler and all the fans since 1972...

It's a long way until April 4th. There will be more trades and more shuffles. From where I sit Christmas came early to the Mariners. It will soon be feeling like 1995 and 2000 all over again...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will