Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma have both gotten off to amazing starts so far this year, and are pitching at all-star levels. As is always however, they are not getting enough run support to have an overwhelming amount of wins, and that combined with the fact they are on the Mariners, means they will not get much national credit. But locally, fans are starting to take notice. Iwakuma’s 1.67 ERA is third among American League starters, and Felix’s 1.90 ERA was sixth among American League starters coming into Friday, but his dominant performance against Toronto dropped it even further to 1.60. These stats beg the question, where does Seattle's pitching duo rank among other American League starting combos? There is certainly room for debate in the following rankings, but they are based off performance thus far this season.

Photo Credit: Sonics Arena

Although a final decision will not come until around May 13^th, the debate surrounding the Kings and their potential move to Seattle could not get any more heated than it already has. From Kevin Johnson taking shots at the Sonics attendance to David Stern personally calling out KING 5 News reports, this dilemma has it all. Depending on one's opinion, some may think Seattle’s offer is better or some may agree with Kevin Johnson and believe Sacramento has what it takes.

When the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, it gave the team a fresh new start. Even though the fans in Seattle were devastated, OKC fans and general fans of the NBA were ecstatic. In the years leading up to the move, the Sonics were not playing well, but the future looked bright with Kevin Durant. This move gave everybody on the team a renewed energy and really jump started Kevin Durant’s career. Oklahoma City has made the playoffs every year but their first in town. The new mindset the move gave the Thunder cannot be underestimated.

Photo Credit: Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

Franklin Gutierrez has been known to be a fragile player over the past couple years, not even coming close to playing a full season. But in his first two years in Seattle, he sat out only 19 games total, yet in his last two he has missed over 100. At this point, Seattle fans have simply begun to expect an injury from Guti, and this year is no different as he sat out a few games earlier in the season with some leg soreness and now, most notably, has been sent to the DL for a hamstring injury.

With Michael Saunders already on the DL, the Mariners outfield is all of a sudden lacking depth, something it had plenty of before the season. Losing two of three starting outfielders can do that to a team, and with Michael Morse being in the middle of a slump since his return from a pinkie injury, all members of the opening day outfield for the Mariners are either hurt or not performing. Injuries happen to every team, but what’s important is how the team responds to these injuries. Can guys step up?

Photo Credit: Seattle Sounders FC Official Website

It’s been a few days since the Sounders earned their first three points of the 2013 MLS season.  The team came into Colorado desperate for a win, or at least a goal.  They ended up getting both with a 1-0 victory.  It was most certainly a successful match and an obvious stepping point for the Sounders to move forward from, but there are still many questions left on the field.

Seattle's overall cohesiveness still looked incomplete, and not just because of absences such as Eddie Johnson.  Mauro Rosales, who was a focal point in the last two seasons, didn’t enter the fray until midway through the second half and even then looked uncharacteristically out of place.  Is his age starting to show?  Has he lost favor with Sigi Schmid or his teammates?  Hopefully neither of these are the case because an in-form Rosales would be an asset to the struggling Sounders.

Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

This was supposed to be the year. Two new power-hitting additions, shorter fences, health and improvement from the guys already here. This is the year the offense was supposed to really arrive. But where is it? Some early season injuries haven’t helped as Michael Morse, who is leading the club in home runs, missed four games with a pinkie injury. Franklin Gutierrez, who has also been hitting well, missed a couple games with some leg soreness. These injuries, along with Michael Saunders being placed on the 15-day DL for a sprained right shoulder, have created revolving doors in the outfield. Jason Bay, Raul Ibanez, and Endy Chavez have gotten more playing time than expected.

Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

The truth of the matter is, Sounders FC fans have been spoiled over the last few years.  Since the team entered the league in 2009, the Sounders have become one of the premier clubs in Major League Soccer.  Sounders fans are used to success.  But with Saturday’s 0-0 draw with New England, their continued bad form is giving Seattle soccer fans their first real taste of what it’s like to be a losing team.

Saturday’s performance was little more than the stereotyped depiction of a soccer match; lots of movement and running around but little real action.  The Sounders did dominate possession and the passing game in addition to outshooting the Revolution 13-5.

Photo Credit: University of Washington

Longtime basketball coach Marv Harshman passed away Friday morning at age 95. Harshman went 642-448 in 40 total seasons as a head coach at Pacific Lutheran, Washington State and Washington. 

Harshman was elected to the Husky Hall of Fame in 1985, following his coaching stint at UW from 1972-85 where he led the Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Harshman graduated from Lake Stevens High School and Pacific Lutheran University, where he was a standout athlete, before joining the Navy.

Johnathan Hankins. Photo Credit: Scott Boehm/Associated Press

Not many teams can say they had a better free agency period than the Seattle Seahawks. After trading and then signing an extension for perennial All-Pro wide receiver Percy Harvin, the Seahawks then signed defensive end Cliff Avril to a two-year, $14 million deal. Avril is coming off a nine-and-a-half sack season with the Detroit Lions. Then just when it seemed like they were done, the Seahawks made a splash and signed defensive tackle Michael Bennett to a one-year deal. He, like Avril, is coming off a nine-sack season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but is dealing with a rotator cuff injury.

Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

The Seattle Sounders have made some substantial changes to chase the goal of winning the  MLS Cup.  Fredy Montero was sent on loan, and Sharlie Joseph and Obefemi Martins were signed.  The team is in an ambitious transition period.  With transition comes some frustration and disappointment.  This was certainly the case with the 1-1 draw to derby rivals Portland Timbers.

The crisp spring evening match began well for the Sounders.  Dangerous scoring opportunities were made early and in the 13^th minute the Sounders drew first blood.  Steve Zakuani collected a loose ball at midfield and took the ball in speedy stride, outpacing the Timbers by a long shot and carrying the ball into the box where he unleashed a devastating curling cross to Eddie Johnson who tapped the ball in to give the Sounders the 1-0 lead.

Photo Credit: Kevin Casey/Getty Images

After an offseason of dramatic changes and a positive training camp, the Sounders felt ready for the start of the 2013 MLS season.  But the opener did not end as planned for Seattle, as the Impact picked up a 1-0 victory.

The match’s lone goal came in the 35^th minute when Davy Arnaud collected a through ball missed by Zach Scott and then chipped it over an onrushing Michael Gspurning for what would prove to be the game winning goal.  The play started when possession was lost at midfield uncharacteristically by Jon Kennedy Hurtado.  The success of Montreal’s counterattack was a clear message that some action must be taken to revitalize the depleted Sounders backline with the trade of Jeff Parke and the injury to Patrick Ianni.