Look to Tacoma for the Best Mariners Coverage

While exiled on the East Coast, we relied on the Internet for Mariner coverage. And we learned something surprising. The local paper that covers the Seattle Mariners best is the Tacoma News Tribune.

Too often, the Times and the P-I are content to share the same story. But the Tribune reporters, Larry LaRue and Corey Brock, always seem to have something different. Today, it's a thorough recap of second-base hopeful Fernando Vina's career. Brock maintains a readable and, for the mainstream media, quirky blog (hope you and your girl had fun in Vegas, Corey).

Part of the reason for the News-Tribune's extensive coverage is that lesser-known Mariners who the Seattle papers ignore end up in Tacoma as AAA Rainers. But, if last season is any guide, many of them will eventually jump on the I-5 shuttle up to Safeco. So it's interesting to see longer pieces about longshots like Vina, Roberto Petagine, Matt Tuiasosopo, Jesse Foppert, and Lindsay Gulin.

And maybe it's the distance from Seattle, or the lack of immediate local competition, but the News-Tribune beat writers seem far more willing to criticize Mariner management and players.

One thing vexes--you must register to read older stories. But it's worth the hassle for info that the other papers just don't have.

Today, USS Mariner has a pretty good recap of Monday's goings-on. Most notably, 372-year-old rotation candidate Kevin Appier got shelled in an intrasquad game. If you can't even get Mariners out, you don't stand much chance against the rest of the American League.