What I Expect From Each Mariner in 2022

 I've already done an MLB predictions post and a post about keeping my expectations for this Mariners team not too high, but I thought I'd do one more post before the season starts.  I'm going to go through the opening day roster and give a sentence or two on what I expect from each of the members of the opening day roster. 

Catchers
Tom Murphy: Help the pitching staff, play solid D, and hit somewhat respectively.  Is .220 too much to ask?
Luis Torrens: Fill in at catcher (and maybe even first base) once in a while and be a good pinch-hitter, because otherwise Luis will be cut to make room for someone else.
Cal Raleigh: Make some progress and steal some starts from Murph and Torrens.  Show why you're our cacher of the future.

Infielders
Ty France: Be a force at the top of the lineup, hit for a fairly high average and hit a lot of doubles, and continue to play great D at 1st.  Don't allow Evan White to steal your job when he gets healthy.
Adam Frazier: Be our offense's spark at the top of the lineup, hitting close to or above .300 and score a ton of runs.  Provide adequate D at 2nd.
JP Crawford: Play some more gold glove shortstop and hit well enough to force Servais to move you to the top of the lineup... again.
Eugenio Suarez: Hit above the Mendoza Line and provide some pop in the middle of the lineup.  Play adequate D at 3rd.

Outfielders
Mitch Haniger: I expect Mitch to lead us in home runs; I think he had a great offseason and may even be one of the Top 5 in the AL in home runs and compete in the home run derby.  All-Star season and MVP runner up.  
Jarred Kelenic: With the spotlight not directly on Jarred anymore, I expect him to grow, raise his batting average while providing pop and great outfield defense.  I don't think 25, 80, and .240 is too much to ask for in terms of his numbers.
Jesse Winker: Hit for a high average in the middle/top of the lineup, be at least a borderline All-Star again.
Julio Rodriguez: Make sure the J-Rod Show comes to Seattle and generate buzz and be in the running for the AL Rookie of the Year.

Bench
Abraham Toro: Had a great spring so I expect that to carry over.  I'd like to see him steal some starts from Suarez, if possible, or force Servais to move Suarez to DH a few times.  
Dylan Moore: Be an effective pinch-runner, occasional sub for JP or Adam or Eugenio.  

Starting Pitchers
Robbie Ray: Lead the team in strikeouts and lead an effective rotation.  
Logan Gilbert: Make a jump in year two and show capability of being a frontline starter.
Marco Gonzales: Prove you're still one of our best pitchers and show grit and determination.
Chris Flexen: Led us in wins last year, just get more wins this year; don't have to lead the team in them though.
Matt Brash: Don't have to be perfect, but show flashes and generate buzz.

Relievers
I'm not going to go over them individually, but I expect our bullpen to be nearly as effective as last year at the very least.  I'd expect Sewald, Castillo, Romo, and Steck to all get closing opportunities.  

If most of these guys can live up to my expectations for them, the Mariners should finally end their 21-year long postseason drought.  I can't wait to see it!

Plan for Buying My First Home

The last time I blogged about my living arrangement, it had been a month or two after we moved and I listed the pros and cons of our current place.  We are still living there and really enjoying it.  However, the next time we move, it will be because we are purchasing a new place.  However, that won't be until 2023, for a few reasons which I will get into.  I've never bought a home myself, and now that I work for a mortgage broker, I know about the industry and I would easily be able to finance a loan for a mortgage.  

My sister bought her first home (which she still lives in currently) in 2017.  Soon it will be time for me to buy my first home.  But like I said, it won't be until 2023, and here's why:
- Save up for down payment
I know, I know, if you can make the minimum down payment, it's better to buy earlier rather than later.  But my savings took a hit recently because of a purchase, which leads me to...
- Paying off my car loan
I know that my car loan on my credit will affect my ability to purchase a home.  For lenders, I won't be able to qualify for as much.  My goal by the time we plan to purchase is to pay off my car, which I bought six months ago (as of the time of writing this).  I am making larger than necessary payments in order to do so.  I would much rather have bought a place first, but my car before this one was falling apart and was becoming unreliable.  I had it for a decade, and it was time to move on.
- Insurance record
I'd have to ask my girlfriend again, who works in insurance, but we have a... record of an incident on our insurance.  In July 2020, I accidentally set off a sprinkler in our apartment which caused damage (long story).  My girlfriend told me it would be on our record if we were to try to get homeowner's insurance for about 3 years.  So if we were to try to get homeowner's insurance now, it would be a bit more expensive because of that claim we had to file.  
- Not wanting to move again so soon
My girlfriend and I have moved so much in the decade plus that we've been together, at least once every three years.  Her nor I want to move again so soon.  

One reason why I'd like to just buy now and not wait is because our rent is likely to jump up, and I'd rather not be paying that.  But as long as we watch what we spend and cut back on a few things, we should be able to still save up. 

The location of our new home is up in the air.  My employer is moving offices for us in the next month or so, and we will be going from Woodinville to Bellevue.  Fortunately, I'll be able to carpool with my girlfriend, who works minutes away from where I will be.  But that means I'd like try to find a place a bit closer to there to ease both of our commutes.

We'll be looking for a condo or a townhouse.  I'd really like to find a place with an attached or assigned garage so that I can install an EV charging station.  I would then trade in my current car for an electric one.  Granted, I've only had it for six months now, but by the time we buy a place over a year from now and I take another few months to find the right electric car for me, I'll have had the car for close to two years.  I do like my car, but I'm not in love with it to the point that I'd hate to ever part with it.  

I want to be a homeowner so badly.  My boss is in the process of buying a place currently, and my two co-workers are each in the market to buy a place of their own as well.  It's definitely a seller's market right now, and I would much rather buy a place in a buyer's market.  I may update when the time comes if anything changes.  

My Ideal 2022 Seahawks Draft

With the trade of Russell Wilson (😢), the Seahawks acquired some draft capital this year and beyond.  I thought I'd put together my own mock draft for the Hawks.  This is assuming there will be no trades, which, knowing general manager John Schneider, is nowhere near realistic, but I am not going to try to predict any draft trades, either.  

Here's a list of guys I would take with the draft picks the Hawks have based on their needs, assuming each guy will be available.  I'll try to be realistic as to when each player will be available (for example, I won't have the Hawks take a guy in the 3rd round that is expected to be a 1st round pick).  I'll be stoked if the Hawks take just one of these guys.  It'll be interesting to see if any of these guys I select end up being diamonds in the rough.

Rd 1 Pick 9 overall: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
I'm not sure if he'll go this high, but if not, the Hawks could trade down a bit, acquire another pick, and take Penning later than #9.  He's a stud, and I'll bet he'll be a Pro Bowler someday.

The Seahawks actually took Charles Cross, who was a higher-graded tackle.  Penning ended up being drafted at #19 to the Saints.  I'd call this a win.  We'll see how each of their careers pan out.

Rd 2 Pick 40 overall: Logan Hall, DE, Houston
I was torn between Hall and Arnold Ebiketie, but I went with Hall because he's more like the Michael Bennett type D-lineman that can line up at end for running downs or at d-tackle for passing downs, whereas Ebiketie is lighter and is more like Darrell Taylor, who we already have of course.  I'd be happy with Logan Hall, who could learn from Shelby Harris and fill in for him.  

Logan Hall went #33 Tampa Bay, so the Hawks had no shot.  They ended up taking Boye Mafe at #40, so again I picked the right position, but not the right player.  We'll have to compare their careers and see who came out on top.

Rd 2 Pick 41 overall: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
I do not expect the Hawks to take a QB in the first round.  I think they'll want to try to find another diamond in the rough, and I think it could be Desmond Ridder.  I like what I've seen from him.  Draft him, have him compete with Locke just like Russ competed with Matt Flynn.  The Hawks will likely draft a quarterback, and I'd put money on it being in the 2nd, maybe the 3rd round.

Well the entire media and I were thinking the Hawks would want to add another QB, but they did not.  Instead, they drafted Kenneth Walker, which shows they want to be a run-first offense.  If Walker has a solid career and guys like Ridder and Malik Willis don't pan out, I'd call this a win.  Ridder went to the Falcons at pick 74.

Rd 3 Pick 72 overall: Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan
Luke Goedeke has got good measurables and some scouts even like him better than his teammate who is likely a first round pick.  He's played tackle and guard, so he's versatile, and the Hawks could plug him anywhere.

Again, the Hawks went with an offensive lineman when I predicted them to, but instead of a guard, they snared another tackle in Abraham Lucas.  I like that pick.  Again, we'll have to compare Lucas to Goedeke.  Goedeke went #57 to Tampa (hey did the Tampa GM see this?), so the Hawks had no shot at him.
 
Rd 4 Pick 109 overall: Tariq Woolen, CB, Texas-San Antonio
This is a bit wishful thinking, but he's got the size (6'3") that Carroll likes, and he's athletic for his size, too.  The reason he's not graded higher is because he has some background and medical concerns, but I think Carroll and Schneider can work past that with him.

The Seahawks took CB Coby Bryant here, but the craziest thing is, they did end up taking Tariq Woolen, but later at pick 153.  He's the only pick I called; I just knew Carroll would love his size and speed.  

Rd 5 Pick 145 overall: Jesse Luketa, ILB, Penn State
The Hawks will very likely draft a linebacker who could play the mike position.  With Brooks and Barton stepping up after Wagner's departure, that means the Hawks will need to fill in the backup spots.  Jesse Luketa has great size but isn't outstanding athletically, but could definitely learn and develop in the Hawks' system.

The Seahawks traded this pick down and ended up taking DE Tyreke Smith.  Luketa went at #256 to Arizona.  Yikes.  At least I was right about taking a defensive player.

Rd 5 Pick 153 overall: Marquan McCall, DT, Kentucky
It wouldn't hurt the Hawks to get some depth at defensive tackle, because honestly, I can't remember anyone after Poona Ford and Al Woods.  McCall is a beast, almost 350 pounds.

This is where the Hawks drafted Woolen, and hopefully it will be a steal.  Marquan McCall went undrafted but signed with Carolina.

Rd 7 Pick 229 overall: Jordan Mason, RB, Georgia Tech
I got to this pick and realized that I didn't have the Hawks taking any offensive skill players; that would be so unlike them.  I could perhaps see a late pick on a running back, as I'm not sure what Chris Carson's future is.  Jordan Mason was overshadowed in college (wasn't a starter), so the Hawks may take a chance on him.

The Hawks did take a RB, but in the 2nd round.  They did, however, take an offensive skill position player here in WR Bo Melton.  Jordan Mason went undrafted but signed with San Francisco.

I think this is a fairly realistic draft for the Hawks.  The front of it is slightly stacked towards the offense, but the Hawks need offensive linemen and a quarterback they could develop.  I don't have the Hawks taking any offensive skill players until their final pick because they really shouldn't be wasting a pick on those positions.  Remember Dee Eskridge?  Sure could've used Creed Humphrey instead.  Let's hope Pete and John draft well this coming draft and hey, maybe they'll take one of my guys.  We'll see.

And just for the heck of it, why not take a look at what the roster might look like?  

QB: Drew Lock, Desmond Ridder
RB: Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, Deejay Dallas, Jordan Mason, Travis Homer
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, D'Wayne Eskridge, Penny Hart, Freddie Swain
TE: Noah Fant, Will Dissly, Colby Parkinson
T: Trevor Penning, Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe
G: Luke Goedeke, Gabe Jackson, Damien Lewis
C: Austin Blythe, Kyle Fuller
DE: LJ Collier, Logan Hall, Shelby Harris, Alton Robinson, Darrell Taylor
DT: Poona Ford, Quinton Jefferson, Al Woods, Marquan McCall/Bryan Mone
OLB: Jordyn Brooks, Uchenna Nwosu, Ben Burr-Kirven/Jon Rhattigan 
ILB: Cody Barton, Jesse Luketa, Joel Iyiegbuniwe
CB: Tre Brown, Sidney Jones, John Reid, Justin Coleman, Artie Burns
FS: Quandre Diggs, Ugo Amadi
SS: Jamal Adams, Ryan Neal/Marquise Blair
And we know who the special teamers are. Honestly, that's not a bad roster, and one I could see winning at least 6 games.