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The Hutch Effect: Hall of Famer Providing ‘Unbelievable Resource’ For Seattle Seahawks

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2 years ago

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The Hutch Effect: Hall of Famer Providing ‘Unbelievable Resource’ For Seattle Seahawks


Putting an emphasis on the trenches in their first draft entering the Mike Macdonald era, the Seattle Seahawks invested three of their eight picks on offensive linemen, including snagging UConn guard Christian Haynes in the third round as a potential day one starter.

Considering Seattle lost all three of its interior starters from last season in free agency, starting with four-year starting left guard Damien Lewis, the shift towards the line of scrimmage shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Luckily for general manager John Schneider, he has an asset at his disposal that most NFL teams can’t rival in Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson, who serves as a football consultant for the front office and actively takes part in pro scouting.

Having witnessed Hutchinson’s fantastic NFL career and building a strong relationship with him dating back to his time as a scout for the Seahawks, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy believes his presence gives the organization a tremendous advantage evaluating the offensive line, which unfortunately wasn’t a strong suit for the scouting department during most of Pete Carroll’s tenure as head coach.

“They’re lucky to have Hutch as part of that scouting department now, that is an unbelievable resource for them.” Nagy said during an interview on the Locked On Seahawks podcast. “Not all players who scout are great scouts. But just talking offensive linemen over the years with Hutch, he knows exactly what he’s looking at. He’s really dialed into the makeup of these players.”

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Since Hutchinson, who earned All-Pro honors seven times in his illustrious career, joined the scouting department prior to the 2020 season, Seattle has found more success selecting quality offensive linemen via the draft. In his first year back with the organization, Lewis arrived as a third-round pick out of LSU and immediately earned a spot in the starting lineup at left guard. Prior to bolting for Carolina in March, he started 61 games in four seasons with the franchise.

With only three picks in the 2021 draft, Hutchinson carried a strong voice in Seattle’s decision to select of Stone Forsythe in the sixth round. Thrust into action for eight starts at right tackle in 2023, the former Florida standout has developed into a solid reserve swing tackle as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, providing good value for a late day three pick.

Two years ago, the Seahawks reinvented their offensive line by selecting tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, installing them as Week 1 starters and only the third pair of rookie tackles to open a season starting for an NFL team since 1970. Though injuries marred Lucas’ second season, both players remain foundational pieces for the offensive line moving forward, while center Olu Oluwatimi and guard Anthony Bradford, who were drafted in 2023, will have a chance to carve out long-term starting roles this summer.

As Nagy noted, Hutchinson has continued to swing a big stick for Seattle’s scouting department, spending extensive time visiting with line prospects this past fall as well as at the Senior Bowl.

“When you get a Steve Hutchinson coming to your school, you’re not going to treat him like every other scout on the road right?” Nagy said. “I’m surprised more teams haven’t done that with legendary players because these schools roll out the red carpet for Hutch when he goes in. Not only does he get to watch the guy practice and watch tape like all the other scouts, I’m sure he sits there for however long as he wants to sit there and watch tape and talk football with them. So you know it’s a great resource for John [Schneider].”

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Having done his homework on the road meeting and speaking with numerous prospects, Schneider leaned heavily on Hutchinson’s expertise and opinion throughout draft weekend. As everyone in the room sweated out the process waiting to pick at 81 overall, per Seahawks.com, the esteemed general manager turned to Hutchinson and asked him what he thought of Haynes.

In response, Hutchinson told Schneider he thought Haynes was going to be a “really good [expletive] player,” and moments later, the Seahawks turned his name in as the selection. With the Hall of Famer actively involved throughout the process entering a busy day three of the draft, the team later added Utah guard Sataoa Laumea and Findlay tackle Michael Jerrell in the sixth round, adding more depth and upside to the offensive line.

Seahawks rookie Christian Haynes listens to instructions from coach Scott Huff prior to a sled blocking drill at OTAs.

Seahawks rookie Christian Haynes listens to instructions from coach Scott Huff prior to a sled blocking drill at OTAs. / Corbin Smith/All Seahawks

Per Nagy, who reached out to Hutchinson after the draft concluded, the consultant couldn’t have been happier with the trio of linemen Seattle landed despite not having a second round pick due to the Leonard Williams trade from last October.

“I know he liked Christian Haynes,” Nagy said, again referencing Hutchinson’s presence as an underrated move for the Seahawks front office. “He was fired up after the draft after those three guys. I texted him and he was excited about all of the offensive linemen they took.”

Looking towards the 2024 season and beyond, the Seahawks have plenty of questions left to address along the offensive line with a new coach in Scott Huff taking over. After missing 11 games last season, Lucas underwent offseason knee surgery and likely won’t be back on the field until the start of training camp at the earliest, while Cross has yet to take the jump towards becoming a top-10 left tackle as the organization envisioned when they drafted him ninth overall two years ago.

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In the interior, with three starting jobs left to fill, Oluwatimi has just one career start under his belt and Bradford endured a rocky stretch of play starting 10 games as a rookie last season. It remains to be seen whether either of them will emerge as a viable long-term option, but veteran center Nick Harris and Haynes will be ready to push them for a starting spot right away, while Laken Tomlinson should provide a steady stop gap at left guard for Seattle with Laumea developing behind him.

Given the youth and lack of experience overall up front, time will tell if the Seahawks can finally assemble a cohesive offensive line that becomes a strength for the team. But unlike most of the 2010s where the franchise struggled to draft and develop linemen, with Hutchinson leaving a major imprint on the construction of the group and Huff ready to make his mark, there’s no shortage of optimism and excitement about what the unit can potentially become.



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Seattle, WA

FOLLOWUP: Seattle Parks’ official announcement of this year’s beach and boat-ramp hours

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3 hours ago

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April 14, 2026

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FOLLOWUP: Seattle Parks’ official announcement of this year’s beach and boat-ramp hours


(WSB photo, Saturday night)

As we first reported last month, some of Seattle Parks‘ “summer” hours this year are starting on May 1 – and this past weekend, we photographed illuminated signage announcing that along Alki, while noting the city had yet to make a full detailed announcement. Today, it’s finally out, including info on beach-fire season, which will start the Friday before Memorial Day:

With the summer season approaching, Seattle Parks and Recreation is reminding visitors of summer park hours, boat ramp access, and beach fire rules at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens.

Below are key details to help you plan ahead, including summer hours and beach fire season dates.

Summer Hours at Parks and Boat Ramps
This summer, starting Friday, May 1, 2026, the permanent summer hours will be in effect at select parks and boat ramps across Seattle:

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Alki Beach and Golden Gardens:
Summer Hours (May 1, 2026 — September 30, 2026): 4 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Non-Summer Hours (September 30, 2026 — April 30, 2027): 4 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Don Armeni and Eddie Vine Boat Ramps:
Summer Hours (May 1, 2026 — September 30, 2026): 4 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Non-Summer Hours (September 30, 2026 — April 30, 2027): Open 24 hours

These seasonal hours help support safe, enjoyable use during peak visitation while aligning with staffing and safety resources.

Beach Fire and Park Rules
Starting Friday, May 22, 2026, beach fires will be permitted at designated fire pits at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens seven days a week on a first come, first served basis. Bringing your own fire pit is not allowed, and no propane fire pits/rings are allowed.

-Fires must be extinguished by 10 p.m.
-Fires allowed 7 days a week starting Friday, May 22 through Tuesday, September 1.
-Staff will be on-site to manage and assist with putting out fires at 10 p.m.
-Parking lot gates will be locked and the park will close at 10:30 p.m. for summer hours.
-Please only burn clean (natural, bare, dry cord-wood) wood and douse your fire completely before leaving.
-Light a fire ONLY in one of the installed fire containers
-Use only clean, dry firewood
-Please douse your fire with water, not sand
-Fires are not allowed during air pollution alerts; we will post sign
-Please don’t remove any materials from the park, beach or dunes
-Please dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each. (SMC 18.12.260)
-Be considerate of others–please, no loud or amplified music! (SMC 18.12.170)
-Remember, no alcohol or smoking are allowed, and parks are drug-free zones.
-Beach fire rules are outlined in detail in the Seattle Municipal Code section 18.12.270 and in our Beach Fires Policy.

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If you see an illegal fire, call 911. For current burn ban and air quality questions, contact Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

Fire pits at Golden Gardens and Alki are unlocked by 5:30 p.m. Please extinguish all beach fires (using water, not sand) by 10 p.m. in order to ensure that all fires are completely extinguished in ample time before the park’s closure.

We’re committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all that visit Seattle parks! Thank you for doing your part to follow park guidelines and help keep these spaces welcoming for this summer.

Summer plans on Alki are expected to be among the topics at the Alki Community Council‘s monthly meeting Thursday (April 16), 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).





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Seattle, WA

Slog AM: A Missing Beaver in Seattle, Trump Fights With the Pope, Hungary’s Right Wing Prime Minister Loses Election Handily  – The Stranger

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15 hours ago

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April 13, 2026

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Slog AM: A Missing Beaver in Seattle, Trump Fights With the Pope, Hungary’s Right Wing Prime Minister Loses Election Handily  – The Stranger


Answers: Authorities believe that those 21 skinned canine carcasses that washed ashore on Guemes Island around two weeks ago were foxes, not dogs. The fox carcasses were being transported to be used in a commercial fishing operation as bait. According to the Skagit County Sheriff’s office, they were bought out of state, legally, and brought to Washington. But the boat they were on experienced mechanical difficulties that somehow dumped its cargo in the water. It’s unfortunate when your cargo is 21 skinned fox carcasses that then wind up on a small community’s shores and they think there’s a dog serial killer in their midst. Nope, nope, just fishing bait.

While you were sleeping this weekend there was a swarm of 18 offshore earthquakes near the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Shh. Go back to sleep. They pose no threat to land. It’s just the tectonic plates moving apart.

In Other Animal Carcass News: People found a decapitated cougar partially submerged in Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille. Park rangers say the cougar died of natural causes and, even though its head was clearly cleanly severed by a human, there was no foul play. Stealing a cougar’s head from its carcass is perfectly legal under Idaho salvage laws. Finders keepers?

Beaver Missing: Someone stole Capitol Hill’s Waxon Spa’s taxidermy beaver mascot. The stuffed beaver wears pink bunny ears, purple heart sunglasses, and has pink painted nails. The waxers there need this beaver in order to wax other beavers. “Please help bring our baby home,” the spa pleads in a missing poster. They are offering a $400 reward

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ICYMI: The new Ichiro Suzuki statue the Mariners unveiled Friday had a hard time uh, keeping it up. 

A Gas Works Facelift: A new hazard correction order from Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections may force the parks department to take out “unsafe ladders, piping and catwalks by May 15.” A teen died last summer after climbing—and falling—from Gas Works’ structures. Two others have died in similar incidents since 2012. The SDCI order breaks through a six month stalemate between parks and the Landmarks Preservation Board which has blocked any attempt to remove hazards from the park for fear of it altering history.

The Weather: Overcast, rainy, but not too rainy.

A WEAK on Crime Pope: Donald Trump sent out a Truth Social screed against Pope Leo XIV, calling him weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy, and weak on nuclear weapons. After that, Trump shared an AI-generated photo of him as Jesus healing the sick. The Jesus pic crossed a line for some evangelicals. 

When asked about these statements, Leo said, “I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’” The president of Iran was not above entering into the fray. He tweeted that he condemned Trump’s “insult to your excellency” and then tagged the Pope in the tweet.

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Master Negotiators: Despite sending in ringer Vice President JD Vance to smooth things over with Iran, the 21-hour peace talks between the US and Iran failed after Iran failed to agree to stop its nuclear weapons program. It’s unclear what’ll go down after the two-week ceasefire ends. And, as of this morning the US has started a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and all Iranian ports. Trump posted on Truth Social that any Iranian ships that approach the blockade will be “IMMEDIATELY ELIMINATED.” Surely this will help with skyrocketing gas prices ($104.24 a barrel for crude oil in the US). And that ceasefire. 

Banner Weekend for Vance: Despite support from the Kremlin and the Trump administration and Vance’s eleventh-hour trip to Hungary to drum up support, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary lost his re-election bid. Populist and anti-Ukraine Orban lost only earned one third of the vote. He lost handily. And, he conceded quickly and graciously. Peter Magyar, an Orban-loyalist-turned-opposition-party-leader, will be the new prime minister.

Jealous:

Good for Him: Former New York City mayor Eric Adams is now an Albanian citizen. Albanian’s president gave Adams citizenship and a passport from Albania under a special decree.

I Love the Bike Bus: Videos of Portland’s bike bus—a peloton of school children and parents biking to school, others joining them as they pass by their homes—really knock the wind out of me.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners’ Gilbert hits key mark in dazzling start

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1 day ago

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April 13, 2026

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Seattle Mariners’ Gilbert hits key mark in dazzling start


It had been quite a while since Logan Gilbert pitched through the seventh inning for the Seattle Mariners.

So long, in fact, that Gilbert was surprised hear the last time it occurred was on opening day last season.

“I didn’t know it’s been that long. That doesn’t feel great,” he quipped after the Mariners’ 6-1 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Seattle Mariners 6, Houston Astros 1: Box Score

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Gilbert snapped his streak 27 straight starts without pitching through the seventh with his best outing this season against the Astros.

Perhaps most encouraging for Gilbert was the fact that he did it in an efficient manner. The right-hander needed just 85 pitches to get through seven innings of one-run ball while striking out 11 and giving up just four hits and one walk. Gilbert had only three three-ball counts on the day.

“It’s nice to keep going and get back to that,” Gilbert said. “We talked about it like two days ago, so it’s nice that we put the plan in place and did it, and hopefully more of those to come.”

The plan? Gilbert said he talked with pitching coach Pete Woodworth and catcher Cal Raleigh about forcing more contact to shorten at-bats.

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“I have plenty of options. It’s just really (that) quicker at-bats sometimes are good. Almost treating it like if they swing, it’s a good thing,” said Gilbert, who still racked up 15 whiffs on the day. “If they hit it, we win, instead of just trying to out-stuff everybody. Sometimes if they swing, sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s not. But just continually doing that usually puts us in a pretty good spot.”

It’s a goal of Gilbert’s this season to get deeper into ballgames. After leading MLB with 208 2/3 innings pitched in 2024, Gilbert’s 2025 season saw him strikeout batters at a higher clip at the cost not typically going into as deep into games as the season prior.

During Gilbert’s 2024 campaign, he pitched seven innings or more 10 times, including getting through the eighth four times. He lasted less than six innings in just seven of his 33 starts.

But in a 2025 season that was shortened to just 25 starts due to flexor injury in his right elbow, Gilbert pitched less than six innings on 17 occasions.

His seven-inning start Sunday marked his second straight outing of at least six innings. Gilbert had just one streak of two or more starts with at least six innings pitched last year.

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Getting through seven innings wasn’t the only highlight of Gilbert’s day. He also picked off a runner for just the second time in 150 career starts when he caught Jose Altuve leaning at first base in the first inning.

Gilbert wasn’t sure at the time whether or not it was his first career pickoff in the majors.

“I was about to throw the ball out, but I didn’t know if that would like look bad,” he said with a laugh. “But I was fired up because it’s been so long and I never pick guys off. But that was just called from the dugout. It was a glove drop (by Raleigh). So we were trying to catch him bouncing.”

Gilbert got an assist on the play with a deke from Josh Naylor, too. The first baseman flashed his glove and stepped towards the bag to get Altuve to jump back towards the base, then he faked to step away and Altuve shuffled towards second as Gilbert fired to first for the out.

“It was called by the dugout, Naylor deking him, Cal reading it. So basically, everybody else picked him off. I just threw the ball,” Gilbert joked.

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