.

In the Tacoma News Tribune, they are making noises like Dan Vogelbach is the Opening Day first baseman in 2017.  Lind appears to be gone, and if Dae-Ho Lee is here it looks to be a type of platoon again.  (DiPoto also made noises like Leonys Martin is the center fielder for next year, Ben Gamel / Guillemo Heredia platoons notwithstanding.

DiPoto takes it as a foregone conclusion that Vogelbach will hit; at the moment is is simply "out of gas" and "tense" having his first cup of coffee.  But "he doesn't swing at bad pitches ever" and the Mariners are sold on his .417 OBP with 23 homers and 96 RBI.  Great White Whale, baby.

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SEAHAWKS

Pete Carroll gives you the vibe that this is his best defense ever, which would be saying something, since they've led the NFL in points allowed for four straight years.

Niners fans were vapor-locking over the 0-10 third down conversions, most of them 3rd-and-6 completions for four yards.  But when the Seahawks are playing their game, a throw past the sticks is as likely to hit a blue shirt as a gold shirt, and an attempt to "knife" upfield to the first usually meets with a Bobby Wagner concussion.

Dr. D has been savoring way Russell Wilson's career trajectory has been headed towards Drew Brees' or Tom Brady's, and now the first-down throws are reflecting his development.  Looks from here that 2016 could be the Seahawks' best team.

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LOBBY

SSI denizens are agreed that there should be one general / cohesive place to talk about matters unrelated to any specific thread.  Here y'go amig-O's.

BABVA,

Dr D