Seattle, WA
Mariners’ Scott Servais: High expectations of fans ‘a great thing’
There’s a special feeling across the Mariners going into the 2023 season, which has all the pieces to do with their back-to-back 90-win campaigns and reaching the playoffs final 12 months.
Drayer’s Pocket book: Mariners set spring invitations, add LHP with native ties
That additionally comes with completely different expectations from the fan base, a phase of which has been vocal throughout this offseason by which the Mariners have made some key additions however haven’t been a serious participant in free company.
Now what’s it wish to be the Mariners supervisor amidst that fervor? Scott Servais himself joined Seattle Sports activities’ Wyman and Bob in-studio on Tuesday afternoon, and he was requested whether or not it’s one thing he pays a lot consideration to.
“Does it really feel completely different for you?” Bob Stelton requested Servais. “Do you sense a distinction in anticipation, expectation going into this season as a result of the followers have been given a style (of success)? They’re reinvested now. … And within the final two seasons, everyone – it’s Mariner fever. And now, ‘Hey, gotta take the subsequent step,’ and I’m a part of that. You gotta take that subsequent step, you gotta shut that hole between you and the Astros. Do you get a way of that, or do you simply type of tune out all the pieces that’s occurring and are simply trying on the product on the sector?”
Servais’ reply?
“Heck yeah, I get a way of that,” he exclaimed. “That’s a nice factor.”
Servais, who’s second in Mariners group historical past to solely Lou Piniella in seasons as supervisor (he’s getting into his eighth 12 months), wins (528) and profitable proportion (.512) – is aware of that’s one thing what comes with being a playoff group.
“There have been a number of offseasons I’ve are available right here and these conversations haven’t been as straightforward,” he stated. “You’re attempting to clarify how we’re going to get this all rotated, and we’re not speaking about one or two issues, we’re speaking about eight or 10 issues. So the truth that the expectations are increased is nice. That’s precisely what we’re taking pictures for.”
The skipper added that he’s feeling the joy for the Mariners firsthand round city.
“It’s been a special offseason for me in Seattle this 12 months. Each time I am going someplace, anyone’s gonna acknowledge. ‘I used to be on the 18-inning sport.’ I believe we had 250,000 individuals on the 18-inning sport as a result of everyone I speak to was at that sport. … It’s enjoyable to see this complete factor come collectively and simply what it’s meant to the group. Dwelling right here all 12 months spherical and getting out, I inform my spouse I can’t go to Dwelling Depot. Each time I am going to Dwelling Depot, that’s the place the place guys are ‘I must get an image with you’ or ‘Why did you do that on this sport? Why didn’t you carry on this man?’ It’s the great thing about baseball. All people’s into it.”
“All people” features a youthful era that he hopes is connecting to those Mariners like followers had been capable of earlier than within the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.
“I believe it’s thrilling to have a group that now younger followers, younger youngsters can hook up with,” Servais stated. “For years I heard – and also you noticed all through baseball – everyone was a Ken Griffey Jr. fan. ‘I grew up watching Griffey, I grew up watching Junior and Jay (Buhner) and Edgar (Martinez) and Randy (Johnson) and Jamie Moyer and Dan Wilson.’ Now, possibly we’re shifting to a different group or one other era of gamers, which is nice for younger individuals.
“That’s what’s going to drive our sport. Younger gamers drive the sport on the sector. … We’ve received gamers that our fan base can hook up with. In the event you can’t hook up with Julio (Rodríguez) and the Massive Dumper (Cal Raleigh) and (George) Kirby and (Andrés) Muñoz – we’ve received guys that may do this, they’re actually good gamers and so they’re good individuals.”
The hope for Servais is that younger group will proceed to strengthen its connection to town by assembly the brand new, increased expectations.
“I’m excited in regards to the expectations,” he stated. “I do wish to take the subsequent step – I wish to win the division. That’s the subsequent step.”
You may catch all 22 minutes of Servais’ dialog with Wyman and Bob within the video close to the highest of this submit or within the podcast beneath.
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Seattle, WA
Seattle Sounders at LAFC: community player ratings form
I know we were all ready to pop in a bunch of 10s at around 10:00 p.m. Saturday night, and here it is Tuesday morning, but such is life.
The Seattle Sounders visited LAFC and came away winners for the first time in forever, thereby advancing to the Western Conference Finals where they will face the other LA squad. They did so via an LAFC own goal, and a Jordan Morris winner in the 109th minute.
Rate some dudes. Put a 10 if it’s a 10.
Here is a direct link to the form; we hope this allows everyone to submit a response.
Here’s the scale:
(Substitutes can be left blank if the player did not play enough to judge)
1 – Not a pro quality performance
4 – Average USL Championship starter
6 – Average MLS starter
9 – MLS All Star
10 – MLS MVP-quality performance
Seattle, WA
Seattle Public Schools official scraps plan to close schools
In a letter to parents, teachers and staff sent Monday, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Brent Jones announced the school district will not close or consolidate schools for the 2025-26 academic year.
Jones wrote in his letter that he plans to withdraw his preliminary proposal to the Seattle School Board to close four schools.
In his letter, which has been republished in full on the Seattle’s Child website, Jones noted the Seattle School Board had directed him to come up with a plan for closures and consolidations to “address enrollment declines, budgetary challenges, stabilizing programs and services.” Jones and the district will not move in that direction.
“After much deliberation, reflection, and engagement with our community, it is clear there is no longer a pathway for this approach for the 2025-26 school year,” Jones wrote. “I am withdrawing my preliminary recommendation, and we will not pursue school closures and consolidations for the upcoming school year. The Board will vote Tuesday to formally approve this direction.”
Jones explained this latest decision “was not made lightly and reflects the Board and my shared priority: the needs and well-being of our students, families, and community.” The decision allows those involved look at the situation more and “thoughtfully determine” the next steps.
“The projected $5.5 million savings from the proposed closures are significant,” Jones wrote. “However, we agree that achieving these savings should not come at the cost of dividing our community.”
The superintendent went on to state in the letter the district will address the budget shortfall that exists through “legislative and levy renewal advocacy, as well as pursuing operational efficiencies aligned with our shared values and priorities.”
They came to America looking for better lives — and better schools: The results were mixed
Why the Seattle School Board considered closing schools
Earlier this year, SPS stated it is contending with a $104 million budget shortfall. Therefore, the district came up with two different options earlier this fall to close the gap in funds.
The first option is to operate 52 attendance-area elementary schools, closing 21 elementary and K-8 schools. This option would have saved SPS 31.5 million.
In the second option, the district would operate 56 schools, including attendance-area elementary and one K-8 school per region, closing 17 schools. This second option would have saved SPS $25.5 million.
“Many of our schools are struggling to provide the resources our students deserve,” the district wrote in a statement at that time. “To address this, we are working to ensure our schools are the right size and have the resources needed for preschool through 5th-grade students to succeed.”
As the fall went on, SPS plan went from as many as 21 schools closing all the way down to four closing and consolidating with four others. Four schools — one each in the Northwest Northeast, Central and Southwest regions — were announced as the places of learning set to shut down. They were announced as the following:
- North Beach Elementary, consolidating with Viewlands Elementary at Viewlands.
- Sacajawea Elementary, consolidating with John Rogers Elementary at John Rogers.
- Stevens Elementary, consolidating with Montlake Elementary at Montlake.
- Sansilo Elementary, consolidating with Highland Park Elementary at Highland Park.
“We understand this change is difficult,” SPS stated on its website at the time. “We chose these schools based on factors like building condition, space, and the goal of minimizing disruption to students and families.”
Protests from parents within the district soon followed, including one late last month outside Sacajawea Elementary.
All four of Joshua Newman’s children attended or are currently enrolled at Sacajawea. He said both state and district school leaders need to balance their budgets better.
“The district needs to look at its own operations and its own administrative costs and not lay the burden on where, frankly, the value is actually added and that’s the teachers, and by the individual principals and staff who are involved in the kids’ lives,” Newman said to KIRO Newsradio.
Rachel Kubiak and her child showed up at the rally as well. They illustrated how closing the school would close a part of their community and their lives.
“We’re really sad. When we heard the news, I was texting with my husband and just — I’m crushed,” she said to KIRO 7.
Last week, Jones shared a key update about the potential school closures, explaining the district was canceling prescheduled community meetings at the schools set to close.
“We are doing so as the board has decided to delay the December closure and consolidation hearings, in part based on important input from families that we all value,” Jones wrote in his statement available on SPS’ website. “As a result, I am considering withdrawing my earlier recommendations for closure and consolidation.”
Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; Luke Duecy, KIRO Newsradio
Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, or email him here.
Seattle, WA
Uchenna Nwosu Returning To Practice & Other News From Mike Macdonald’s Press Conference
Seahawks will “take a long look at “Sataoa Laumea” following Anthony Bradford’s injury.
Starting right guard exited Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, and after the game Macdonald said Anthony Bradford will likely miss at least this week’s game. And while Christian Haynes, who took over for Bradford after the injury, would seem the likely candidate to take over, especially considering he split reps at that spot with Bradford earlier this season, Macdonald said the Seahawks will also look at another member of the 2024 draft class, sixth-round pick Sataoa Laumea.
“Sataoa is someone we’re going to take a long look at as well,” Macdonald said when asked about Haynes in that role. “But Christian played winning football for us, but we want him to grow. Keep growing man, you’ve got to go prove it every week on the practice field and in preparation. But right now, he deserves all the credit for being a guy that was rotating in, then AB took over, he still prepared, knew all the things that we—no mentals on the day, but some technique stuff we’ve got to get cleaned up. But overall, good enough to win the game, so, happy with his ability to step in and help us win the football game.”
Asked about Laumea’s rookie campaign so far, Macdonald said, “Just a guy who continues to work his craft and take it day by day. He can play both left and right guard. Just a guy we were really excited about bringing him in, and then to see his approach every day, and now that he gets an opportunity, it’s another example of, ‘Hey, what are you going to do with it? Go to work.’”
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