By Patrick
 |
| Stop striking out bro |
I really blew the call on last night's game. Not only did Blake Beavan absolutely suck, but Garrett Richards dominated in his first start of 2012. The M's couldn't do anything with runners in scoring position, and Michael Saunders produced pretty much all of the offense. The offensive momentum definitely came to a halt, and for tonight's game, the M's will need to cart swinging the bats a little better.
Ichiro and Dustin Ackley have really struggled recently at the top of the order. Ichiro has three hits since moving back to the leadoff spot and is 0-for-13 since his two homer game. Ackley is going through a rough patch as well, and his numbers have been much better in the leadoff spot than anywhere else. He's hitting second right now. I'd like to see Ichiro move down to seventh and Saunders hit second with Ackley first, but Wedge probably wouldn't do that. A guy can dream.
June 6: Hector Noesi (2-6, 5.51) vs. Jerome Williams (6-2, 3.68)
Wait, what? No Felix tonight? Nope. His back sucks right now I guess. So everybody who couldn't wait for Noesi's next start gets Christmas early. Oh right, that's no one. The Angels get to send Williams to the hill against the Mariners for the second time in 2012. The first time worked pretty well, as he out pitched Felix in the third game of the four win sweep from two weekends ago. Williams has an incredible comeback story, and he likes to remind the Mariners of it every time he shuts us down. He's slowly gaining Matt Harrison, Bruce Chen, and Dan Haren status. Noesi needs a good start soon. His last one sucked, but the M's survived it in that crazy, 12-inning home run derby of a game in Chicago on Saturday. Noesi must get through six innings with less than three runs allowed for the M's to win.
Players to Watch:
Mike Carp: Let's talk about Mike Carp briefly. In 2011, Carp was easily my favorite player. His 20 game hitting streak was the only respite from a horrible summer for Mariner fans. I had high hopes for him in 2012, although I knew he would probably take a step back from his incredible 2011. I didn't expect sub-.150. Sure, he got hurt. This might still be extended spring training for him. But that batting average is insulting. He's a better player than his numbers suggest, but he needs to prove that soon before the M's send him back to AAA or release him outright.
Albert Pujols: Pujols really hasn't destroyed the M's yet in this series. Does that mean he's due? Not necessarily. But since he so thoroughly obliterated Mariner pitching in the last series between the two teams, its a bit interesting at the very least. Noesi has control problems sometimes, but he does have good stuff, so maybe he'll pitch to Pujols, get him once and get too cocky, and Pujols will make him pay. He does, after all, have lost time to make up for.
Angels 6, M's 3: Noesi won't be perfect, and the Angels will capitalize, as they have with six runs in each of the first two games of the series. Six runs again? Why not? Noesi won't do much to stop it. Plus maybe Shawn Kelley comes in again and leaks some oil. The M's won't get completely shut down by Williams, but their momentum is fading, and I just don't see a win in the cards tonight. Great job not getting swept by three good teams on this road trip though. Go M's.
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