The Mariners blog Lookout Landing has the most pessimistic outlook possible regarding the upcoming baseball season. That sound you hear while reading is all the hope you have exiting your body at a high velocity. Thankfully they promise that four more optimistic predictions are upcoming.

To continue with the pessimism: my hero, Kenji Johjima, can't throw people out at second. He is also the subject of this hilarious and unfortunate picture from Monday's game.

Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima can't handle a bop foul off the bat of Arizona Diamondbacks' Chad Tracy in the second of their spring training baseball game in Peoria, Ariz., Monday, March 19, 2007. Tracy then reached base on an error by Seattle's first baseman Richie Sexson.
(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

There's also been much worry about ace closer Putz and some strange arm stiffness, but so far it seems like there's no need to panic, and that he'll be okay.

I'm learning that a lot of time being a sports fan means choosing between a constant feeling of dread or blind Pollyannaism. It's hard to take the middle of the road and still be passionate and involved. There's no such thing as looking at a team and letting out an enthusiastic "hmm." What's interesting is that a lot of blogs I've been reading lately--particularly those that seem to be particularly interested in statistical analysis--seem in general to take the pessimistic road. I get the sense that they feel that they have a responsibility to be the voice of reason against the eternally optimistic mainstream media.

While on the subject of sports media and what I'm reading lately: I've been reading a lot of Geoff Baker's articles for the Seattle Times as well as his blog on the paper's website. It's interesting to see what a regular reporter does with the blogging media, and what he chooses to talk about in his blog and what he talks about in print. One of the things that I enjoy is the fact that he writes about the spring training games as they happen, meaning I can check in on how the Mariners are doing as soon as I remember that they're playing. He also provides up to the minute info on developing issues, like Putz and his stiff elbow.

Besides the promptness of the updates, the blog also allows Baker to discuss certain issues in more detail then he might in print. Yesterday he wrote this fascinating article about up and coming pitcher Brandon Morrow, and the possibility of using him in the bullpen this year. Baker discusses what he has personally seen in similar situations with other clubs. It's interesting and really helped me understand the Morrow issue in a way that a brief blurb in the paper would not. Baker even edited the article to respond to a user comment.

Basically, Baker uses the blog to give readers more information, faster, in a more informal environment. It's awesome.

Ok, that's enough baseball blather for now. 12 days until the first real live official game of the season.

Upcoming posts I'm planning: more talk about what makes me like teams--particularly what sort of strategies and tactics I find appealing in all sports; talk about the sweet sixteen in NCAA basketball; and photographic proof that my house has been infiltrated by Yankees fans.