I've mentioned it before, but the feature I want the most is called the "Catalog", which allows you to dynamically install new programs on the device. Among the first programs available on the catalog is the "Terminal Monkey" program, which allows you to use Telnet or SSH to get a command line on other computers. Pretty cool. It will also be interesting to see what other programs they start to offer. This may turn out to be just a way to sell us ringtones, but I hope it's a lot more than that.

Did I say I love this device? Aside from the less-than-appealing phone functionality, this has been one of the most useful gadgets I've ever owned. And It's worked in a surprisingly large number of places, many more than I had expected, after having had an AT&T GSM phone for a bit. That phone had an annoyingly large number of holes in coverage. Like almost the entirety of Capital Hill. But oddly enough, I had great reception with the Sidekick in places that other phones would fear to tread, like inside of the Second and Seneca building in downtown Seattle, where none of my co-workers could get reception.

I love my Sidekick.

10:29:54 AM    comments ()  trackback []  

We seem to not be able to get over the slump after the All-Star break. Even in 2001, we slumped after the break. We still set a record for wins, but that's only because we had such an unbelievable run in the beginning of the season. We pretty much played .500 ball after the break. Same in 2002, same in 2003, only in those two cases we didn't go as nuts before the break. We still did well -- it's hard to be disappointed with a 90+ win season, especially after decades of sub-.500 ball.

So what do we do? We need to get rid of Cirillo. We're probably going to lose McLemore, Cameron, and Sanchez, I can see Freddy and Joel being trade fodder (although looking at Joel's overall numbers, I would still be inclined to keep him), I can see Guillen being put up on the block, although he comes up with the weirdest reasons to be on the DL (tuberculosis? inflamed pelvis?)... I don't know. I do know that the 2004 Mariners will be a different looking team. Will we still have Sasaki? Should we still have Sasaki?

There's no way we can let Ichiro go. I'm certain that we'll do what it takes to be nice and happy in a Mariners uniform. I think it'll be easier to keep him than we expect, mainly because he seems to be an honorable guy, and he's already making more money than he can use because of all the lucrative Japanese endorsement deals that he had before he came here. I wonder what the Seattle Chamber of Commerce would have to say if Seattle was no longer as attractive a stop on the Japanese tourist itinerary because we lost Ichiro. It ain't going to happen. We'll do what it takes to keep him, as long as it doesn't prevent us from fielding a competitive team. (Are you listening, ARod?)

There's talk about trying to get Tejada for shortstop, who would add a much needed bat to the lineup. But how can we afford him? I think we need to just take a deep breath, do what it takes to get Cirillo out of town, and pony up the bucks to get the kind of bats we need. We don't need to go into a "rebuilding" phase. We don't need to resign ourselves to being out of contention for an extended period of time while our young staff figures out how to play ball. Even with the loss of several free agents and other retirees, we have enough experienced staff and regular superstars (Boone, Ichiro), that we should be able to be in contention for several years.

I'm sad the season is over. Another season of wild hopes that got ground to dust before our eyes. Perhaps we need to send copies of "Moneyball" to the entire Mariners staff. I know Pat Gillick has read bits of it. Perhaps he should study it cover to cover and take notes in the margins.

We want the World Series. We can taste it. So why do we keep missing it?

10:03:54 AM    comments ()  trackback []