This season hasn’t been much in the way of successes for the M’s, but your story is a bright spot. Add it to the improvement of young players like Matt Clement, Brian Lahair, Wladimir Balentien and Jose Lopez, and things look brighter for the future. I hope Brandon Morrow has success in adjusting to a starting role too, because with the two of you in the rotation with Felix Hernandez and possibly Bedard and eventually Philippe Aumont, or even Stephen Strasburg, the rotation could be set for years to come.

On another note, I was lucky enought to play for a baseball team that played a month in Australia one summer and we found that the most competitive teams and most baseball interest was around Melbourne. This was about 15 years ago, and we only played a select group of team, so this might have been more perception then reality. I was just wondering if this was really/still the case, or if it has become more popular in other areas.

It is what it is. Feel confident that those of us who follow the team know that our Front Office is one of the worst in all of baseball and has been for long enough. We want to see you on the mound every fifth day. Hope you don’t lose faith in management, as most of us have, and work hard to get back up I-5. Your best is yet to come.

First let me just say that my husband, who is not a real baseball fan (I know, FREAK) thinks you are a really good pitcher and keep up the good work.

Now, I am quite intrigued by how you got to the majors. Did someone send you to try out? Or did you just say – hey, I think I’ll try out for a team. And if you weren’t playing baseball, what would you be doing?

Enjoy your break, keep up the good work in the second half. Looking forward to being at the ballpark on my b’day 7/22.

I just wanted to tell you how much it meant to me that you gave my nephew a baseball when you were playing the White Sox in Chicago. You gained a family of fans for life! Best of luck to you for the rest of the season and your career.

Top 3 things to come from Australia
3. Tim Tams
2. Vegemite
1. Jennifer Hawkins

Who is also from Newcastle but – and no offence to Ryan – much better looking.

This is my first time reading your blog…I think it’s great. I was reading your profile and notice your favorite athletes growing up were surfers/boxers. Did you have a favorite baseball player/team?

I was also wondering if the younger Mariners, like yourself, have guys like Edgar/Bone/Dan the Man on speed-dial? Do you guys get access to some sort of “Mariner Phone-Book” so you can keep in touch with guys from back in the day?

One last question: You say Halladay is great for you to watch. I’ve heard that R.A. Dickey calls Tim Wakefield for advice with his knuckleball. Do you have a certain mentor/role model that you call first and foremost for advice?

cheers

So you’re dating an American, huh?
I’m going to be in Seattle later this week. I live in Texas. We’ll be at a game on the 19th. I hope you pitch that day.

Oh, I also had a shirt made that says:

Top 3 things to come from Australia
3. Meat Pies
2. Tim Tams
1. Ryan Rowland-Smith

I am a devoted Ms fan from across the Pacific all the way in Hong Kong. I try my best to watch every Ms game on MLB.TV, but unfortunately, with the time difference, I am usually at work when the games start.

I was delighted when the Ms finally decided to give you an opportunity to start. Marvelled at the first 3 innings you pitched, and then had to swallow some tears watching the 4th. Nonetheless, it was a pretty good outing. Sure hope you’ll get more chances in the future, and not just a spot start here and there.

There is hardly any baseball here in Hong Kong, where over 95% of the population have not heard of the name Derek Jeter. The closest thing we have here is a fastpitch league which I actively participate in. The next best thing would be cricket, which I’ve also spent the last 15 years playing with a lot of passion. None of my friends in Hong Kong watch or talk about baseball, and so blogs and forums like this are great for me.

Will continue coming here regularly to find out more about one of my favourite Ms.

If you ever decide to stop by Hong Kong, do give me a shout

Oh, by the way, I also wanted to ask: Which Ms players do you hang out with the most outside the ballpark and consider as your closest friends?

Also I think it’s awesome that you’re aware of Lookout Landing, it’s a great community and they love you over there….

Believe me … I think I speak for most everyone when I say that the Mariners organization is STUPID if they don’t give you a shot at starting either this year or next year!!!

Keep up the good work!

Also please please become our full time 5th starter Hyphen!

Don’t you miss cricket? Do you have a chance to follow the Australian cricket team? Recently they toured the Carribean.

Shane Warne,Adam Gilchrist & Steve Waugh are my favorite Australian cricketers.

Coming from such a successful sporting nation like Australia and having to play for the Mariners is tough indeed. Hope you guys start winning more games and bring back the great days to Seattle.

-Sriram

By the way, I’m hoping the M’s turn you into a starter for good. Why did they have both you and Morrow start in the winter league and then put you both back in the bullpen? What did the team tell you about that move?

Good to see you have a blog. I’m an Aussie who landed in Seattle in December, and will be here for quite a while. It is true that people back home would not be able to fathom the magnitude of baseball here. i am staggered. I have gone and watched you pitch a few times – the first time against the Padres. I also grabbed a few Aussies and made them come to a pub (not the K&K) and watch your first start. Good first three innings – then I had to have a few extra brews from the 4th on. The good thing about you in Seattle is it gives me a conection with the team – watch the Aussie pitch. Not sure if my wife is amused about me hogging the TV and watching 60 odd games so far this year

take care mate and will be following your progress.