Tokyo Drifted Back: Mariners A's Part Two

By Patrick

Part two? Yeah, this is technically the continuation of the series from Japan. That's why it only lasts two games. Maybe that's common knowledge, or maybe I just solved a problem you'd been intensely grappling with for weeks. Either way, you're welcome (Kobe Bryant voice).

Where were we? Oh right, A's versus M's. Fun stuff. Nine runs in two games in Japan. Wait, Patrick, which team scored nine runs in two games in Japan? Both. Combined. Yeah, that's what this rivalry has become. In 2002, it was the plot of Moneyball. Now, you would get laughed at for trying to film it. No one cares. Baseball cared so little that they outsourced the start of this series to Japan. Oh no, we're doing this for the good of the game and continuing to spread it to Japan. Haha good one. Bullshit. It does help the A's, in that they will have fewer home games and therefore don't have to attempt to sell tickets to as many games as in previous years. Slightly less embarrassing.

OK, but really, those games sucked. The scores were 3-1 and 4-1. The mariners had three hits against Bartolo Colon. Shades of 2009, 2010, and 2011. And Bartolo Colon's Cy Young years. Yeah, that happened. On the bright side, Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak went deep and Felix and Jason Vargas pitched admirably. And that's the end of the bright side pretty much. Both teams are 1-1. Both teams will throw the same pitchers to the mound, except with the matchups flipped. Let's get this over with.

April 6: Jason Vargas (0-0) vs. Brandon McCarthy (0-0)
Both guys looked great in Japan, but every starter looked good now that I think about it. McCarthy contained the M's pretty well, scattering hits and only making one mistake on Ackley's homer. Vargas got the hook with one out in the seventh, and then the bullpen imploded behind him. He's used to that by now though, so that's okay. Both of these guys pitched in their team's losses in Japan. Both will look to continue their momentum. I think each will surrender a few runs, but neither will get lit up, since its still the first week, where nobody hits. Six innings and three runs allowed for Vargas.

April 7: Felix (0-0) vs. Bartolo "the Fossil" Colon (1-0)
These two looked slightly better than Vargas and McCarthy in Japan, and consequently their teams won both of their starts. Colon especially stood out, as he worked eight innings for the win, allowing just one run on three hits. The guy's career was on life support two years ago. Must've had some strong paddles, especially since he's such a fat ass. I don't think Colon can reproduce Japan in his first start in front of his new home fans. Felix, on the other hand, feasts on oakland. He loves pitching against them. He'll roll out another gem. I expect him to go eight innings allowing less than two runs. The M's just need to hit for him.

Three to watch:

Yoenis Cespedes: Making his home debut, Cespedes hopes to garner as much attention as he did in Japan, where he hit the game winning jack against Shawn Kelley, who now plays in AAA. Lost in that success was his complete inability to hit the curveball in that series. That's definitely something to keep an eye on. As a rookie, he'll need to make continued adjustments to major league pitching. I think he has a ways to go, and Felix and Vargas handled him pretty well in Japan. Steady diet of curveballs for Yoenis.

Jesus Montero: Jesus got his first major league hit. That's good. He didn't do much anything else. Not as good. He has a good chance to entertain M's fans in this series by continuing to show some pop. With no Mike Carp, he's definitely the secondary power option and he'll hit fifth. Any chance he catches a game? Probably not. It would be interesting if he catches Hector Noesi a bunch this year, since the probably worked together in the minors in New York. Noesi's not pitching and Jesus probably won't catch. Maybe he breaks through with his first home run as a Mariner. We might need that to have a chance in game one.

Kyle Seager: Seager will likely start game one at third base, especially now that Chone Figgins will have to play left field for the foreseeable future. The interesting develop in Seager's case is that Alex Liddi made the big league roster instead of Carlos Peguero. That means that Jack Z considers Figgins an outfielder. That in turn clears up any competition for Seager at third for now. Which will test him. And he needs a test. This guy essentially skipped AAA because he played so well in Jackson last year. He's got a lot to prove in the majors, and this series presents an ideal opportunity for hid to do so. If he can get two hits, I'll be satisfied.

Series Outlook: After the offensive performance the M's put on in Japan, it's becoming harder and harder for me to be optimistic. However, I do like their chances any time Felix pitches, especially against a fossilized pitcher. Game one will be close. McCarthy is legit. Vargas has two sides. Since hitters are still getting adjusted, I don't think Vargas will get rocked, but he won't be sharp. McCarthy will pitch well, and Oakland will snatch game one (three, really) 5-3. Game two is a different story. Felix will absolutely lock on to the strike zone, and the A's will have trouble hitting anything. A complete game shutout is a stretch, but he'll go eight solid again, and the M's will figure Colon out, and win convincingly. I'll say 5-1. Go M's.