The Front Row with Mark Nelke January 29, 2012
Some things to munch on while you're getting ready for your Pro Bowl or NHL All-Star Game party:
• The Seattle Mariners have three options if they hope to someday lure a slugger to their fine city:
1) Rebuild the Kingdome - the ball flew out of there.
2) Push in the fences at Safeco Field a good 10-20 feet, or
3) Build a room at Safeco that makes baseballs do the opposite of what they do after sitting in the humidor at Coors Field in Denver.
Otherwise, why in the world would Prince Fielder want to sign with the Mariners?
Sure, Ivar's is a nice place to eat, but Safeco Field is the place where home runs go to die on the warning track.
The humidor cuts down on the flight of baseballs in the light air at Coors Field. In Seattle, they need a room that makes the balls do just the opposite - fly further.
Sure, Fielder is strong enough to hit them out of any park, but no doubt his home run numbers at Safeco would be lower that in any other yard, so why sacrifice stats - even for the reported $214 million he's expected to get over the next nine seasons.
And since options 1 and 3 are unlikely, unless the Mariners seriously consider option 2, they're going to have to get by on pitching - which they have, defense - which they have, and timely hitting.
We'll let you know the next time they come up with a timely hit.
• 49er fans should take it easy on Kyle Williams. Sure, he botched a couple of punt returns in their loss to the Giants in the NFC title game - including one where he needed to GET OUT OF THE WAY instead of letting the ball bounce off his knee.
But on the other one where he fumbled, he was at least trying to make a play. That's more than you can say for the 49ers offense, which was 1 for 13 on third down - and that 1 came on the last play of regulation, where the Giants didn't care if they completed a pass, as long as it wasn't for a touchdown. Which it wasn't.
If 49er fans want to be angry, that's where they should direct their anger. If San Francisco could have moved the ball at all on any of those drives in the fourth quarter and overtime, the 49ers might have accidentally got close enough to kick a field goal and win the game.
• Why would the Seattle Seahawks be interested in Peyton Manning at quarterback anyway?
Aren't they set at that position with Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst?
But seriously, folks, it would be sad to see Manning finish his career with any team other than the Colts. Of course, it would be even sadder if Manning, who missed this past season following neck surgery, got blasted while dropping back to pass and couldn't get up.
Manning wouldn't be the first star quarterback who had to finish his career somewhere else - think Johnny Unitas with the Chargers, Joe Namath with the L.A. Rams, Joe Montana with the Chiefs.
Ideally, it'd be nice to see Manning finish up with the Colts, then yield to Andrew Luck, but it doesn't look like the Colts want to have that much money tied up in two quarterbacks, and you can't blame them. Of course, we don't know if Manning will ever be medically cleared to play again anyway, so that might make everybody's decision easier.
But then again, if he really wants to play, I believe the No. 18 in San Francisco is still available.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.