A little three game winning streak can do a lot for the morale, can’t it? No, not the morale of the team. My morale.
The Mariners are 4-1 against the hated Oakland Athletics this year. They are 3-1 against the Rangers and 0-3 against the Angels. Still it is an improvement over last year. What changed over the past three games? The starting pitching kept them in the game and then the bullpen could take over.
Cha Seung Baek only went 4 1/3 innings on Monday, but left with the game tied 4-4. He gave the M’s a chance to win. Brandon Morrow came in and dominated. Putz finished it up. No more runs for the Rangers.
Then Washburn pitched very well (I don’t care that the A’s line up was less talented than a paraplegic blind Catholic all-girls school team) in throwing a complete game shutout. No need for the pen.
Batista went 5 1/3 yesterday and only gave up two runs, leaving with a 3-2 lead. Reitsma, Sherrill, Morrow, and Putz closed it out.
Contrast this with the three starters in the Angels series (Weaver, Ramirez, Batista) who went 13 total innings and
gave up 15 runs. The starters left the game down 6-0, 6-0, and 3-0. No runs, but no chance either.
This won’t necessarily ever be a good team. They are still last in on base percentage in the American League and the 4-6 hitters are scuffling. They only have two stolen bases. The #3 starter’s ERA is 7.54, the #4 is 6.30 and the #5 wow. 13.91. I hate you Jeff Weaver. But they have some good components.
Washburn is now 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA. Batters are hitting only .216 off him and he really succeeds ahead in the count. That is what he did against Oakland two days ago. If he keeps this up (not at this level, but 3.50-3.90 ERA), Wash will be a solid #2 behind The King. By the way, he is scheduled to pitch again May 4th at Yankee Stadium. I am counting the days.
Ibanez is hitting .500 with runners in scoring position and Ichiro is at .455 in the same situations. The problem is neither of them get many chances. Stupid Jose Guillen is hitting .154 with one RBI with runners in scoring position. Stupid Guillen. And that is one of the Mariners’ biggest problems right now. They do not drive runners home, especially with no or one outs and a runner on third. Unbelievable how inept they are at that.
If Ramirez or Batista can keep them at least in games, the M’s will be ok. Weaver? He is a lost cause.
0-3, 13.91 ERA. Batters hitting .436 off him. They hit .439 in innings 1-3. They hit .429 in innings 4-6. They hit .688 after they get ahead 1-0. They hit .294 when Weaver gets ahead 0-1. Somehow they hit .375 when Weaver gets ahead 0-2. Oh and 1.000 when hitters are up 2-0. Man I hate him right now.
Get on base for Ibanez. Sexson hit a home run every once in awhile. Lead going into the 6th and the M’s will win. O’Flaherty and Sherill as lefties in the pen. Both 0.00 ERAs. Morrow has shown value as a set up guy despite a couple rough outings (4.15 ERA). Reitsma 1.23 ERA. Putz 2.16 ERA. Domination.
So the M’s need Ramirez to pitch well tonight and get a win. They lose to the Royals tomorrow with Weaver pitching (against Gil Meche too, I hate you dirty Meche). And then Baek gets a win on Sunday.
10-10 heading into next week.
The Mariners are 4-1 against the hated Oakland Athletics this year. They are 3-1 against the Rangers and 0-3 against the Angels. Still it is an improvement over last year. What changed over the past three games? The starting pitching kept them in the game and then the bullpen could take over.
Cha Seung Baek only went 4 1/3 innings on Monday, but left with the game tied 4-4. He gave the M’s a chance to win. Brandon Morrow came in and dominated. Putz finished it up. No more runs for the Rangers.
Then Washburn pitched very well (I don’t care that the A’s line up was less talented than a paraplegic blind Catholic all-girls school team) in throwing a complete game shutout. No need for the pen.
Batista went 5 1/3 yesterday and only gave up two runs, leaving with a 3-2 lead. Reitsma, Sherrill, Morrow, and Putz closed it out.
Contrast this with the three starters in the Angels series (Weaver, Ramirez, Batista) who went 13 total innings and
gave up 15 runs. The starters left the game down 6-0, 6-0, and 3-0. No runs, but no chance either.This won’t necessarily ever be a good team. They are still last in on base percentage in the American League and the 4-6 hitters are scuffling. They only have two stolen bases. The #3 starter’s ERA is 7.54, the #4 is 6.30 and the #5 wow. 13.91. I hate you Jeff Weaver. But they have some good components.
Washburn is now 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA. Batters are hitting only .216 off him and he really succeeds ahead in the count. That is what he did against Oakland two days ago. If he keeps this up (not at this level, but 3.50-3.90 ERA), Wash will be a solid #2 behind The King. By the way, he is scheduled to pitch again May 4th at Yankee Stadium. I am counting the days.
Ibanez is hitting .500 with runners in scoring position and Ichiro is at .455 in the same situations. The problem is neither of them get many chances. Stupid Jose Guillen is hitting .154 with one RBI with runners in scoring position. Stupid Guillen. And that is one of the Mariners’ biggest problems right now. They do not drive runners home, especially with no or one outs and a runner on third. Unbelievable how inept they are at that.
If Ramirez or Batista can keep them at least in games, the M’s will be ok. Weaver? He is a lost cause.
0-3, 13.91 ERA. Batters hitting .436 off him. They hit .439 in innings 1-3. They hit .429 in innings 4-6. They hit .688 after they get ahead 1-0. They hit .294 when Weaver gets ahead 0-1. Somehow they hit .375 when Weaver gets ahead 0-2. Oh and 1.000 when hitters are up 2-0. Man I hate him right now.
Get on base for Ibanez. Sexson hit a home run every once in awhile. Lead going into the 6th and the M’s will win. O’Flaherty and Sherill as lefties in the pen. Both 0.00 ERAs. Morrow has shown value as a set up guy despite a couple rough outings (4.15 ERA). Reitsma 1.23 ERA. Putz 2.16 ERA. Domination.
So the M’s need Ramirez to pitch well tonight and get a win. They lose to the Royals tomorrow with Weaver pitching (against Gil Meche too, I hate you dirty Meche). And then Baek gets a win on Sunday.
10-10 heading into next week.
1 comment:
Impressive and hopeful analysis for the Mareeners.
So, is the JW the Mareener you despise this year?
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