Rattling the Snakes, Part 1

By Patrick

Oh, you said Wade Miley...Awkward

It's amazing with a team as streaky as the Mariners that after a potentially season damning six game losing streak, they can snap back just like that and take a series from a solid Giants team. They did that though, and now head off to play a struggling Arizona side for a chance to continue ripping it up with the bats on the road. 

Justin Smoak may have kicked it in gear just at the right time. He had a pretty rough home stand, and his average fell around ten points. But he delivered a big confidence walk-off single in the ninth on Sunday, and will look to ride that momentum into a hitters' park in Arizona. If he can deliver some big offense, the Mariners can grab some important wins.

Under the radar from this weekend went the promotion of Oliver Perez from AAA for Steve Delabar. Perez used to be a stud starter, but flopped after Mets took a gamble on him with a big contract. he struggled in the spring, and consequently didn't receive an initial roster spot. He might see time in this series. More likely, he'll become the new Hisashi Iwakuma. On to the matchup.

June 18: Hector Noesi (2-7, 5.54) vs. Wade Miley "Cyrus" (7-3, 2.39)

The Mariners have some solid momentum, and Noesi fared really well last time out against the Padres (even though he got Safeco'd by getting shit for run support). However, Miley will provide a stiff challenge for the M's. He's the prototypical Mariner killer, and the M's should be counting their lucky stars that he's in the National League. He's a young lefty with serious strikeout potential who relies on his fastball in the low nineties to set up his off-speed stuff. He hasn't allowed more than four runs in any start in 2012, so he's a solid number two starter type in his first full season in the bigs. He's a former first round draft pick out of Southeastern Louisiana, so you know he was highly touted. Noesi on the other hand has an ERA around 8.00 on the road this year. Yikes. Momentum seems to be the only factor favoring the M's tonight.

Players to Watch:

Miguel Montero: The other Montero. OK, maybe Jesus Montero is the other one for now. That's because Montero is not a catcher to look past. He's regarded as one of the top five hitting catchers in the league, and Arizona proved they share that opinion by locking him up with a big extension earlier this year. So far in 2012, his .253/6/32 doesn't necessarily put fear in the hearts of pitchers, but it does challenge the mentality that the catcher should be an easy out.

Michael Saunders: Saunders has fallen into a deadlock for the M's batting lead among qualifiers, after Montero's recent success has vaulted him up to .270, where the Condor currently lurks. Saunders will lead off for the second time in his big league career today, and that role will come with a lot of responsibility. Can he continue his recent road success and keep hitting lefties better than righties (weird, since he's a lefty himself)? The M's will have to hope so.

Prediction:

Diamondbacks 6, M's 3: I really liked the Mariners chances going back on the road with momentum and confidence. Then I read about Miley. It just looks like another long day ahead for Mariner hitters. Plus throwing Noesi into a big time hitters' park with that lethal 8.00 ERA won't help the Seattle cause. I'm just not seeing it for the M's tonight. They'll fall behind early, and a late rally will come up short. Go M's.