Dearest Readers,
As some of you have undoubtedly noticed, we really suck at posting consistently. And I am getting really good at writing about why we suck at posting consistently. This time, our break from posting is permanent. Patrick, Charlie and Myself have started writing for Sodo Mojo where Patrick has been hired as the editor.
When Patrick and I started this blog a little over a year ago it was more a pet project than anything else. We both loved the Mariners and at least one of us was interested in journalism. We never really had high hopes for our blog, we could only aspire to the Dave Cameron level of popularity. It was just something we did for fun and as a way to share our opinions about something we love. It has evolved into a stepping stone on our blogger path and unfortunately we must move on. We are all very excited to be working over at Sodo Mojo and hope most of our readers here will follow us over as well.
Thank Your for Reading, Go M's
Anthony
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Prodigal Son(s)
Book of Zduriencik 15:11-32
11 Wedge continued: “There was an organization who had four sons: Jesus (not that Jesus), Dustin, Justin, and Kyle. 12 The right side of the infield and the catcher said to their father, ‘Father, give us our share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, Jesus, Dustin, and Justin got together all they had, set off for a miserable start to the season and there squandered their skills and and the faith of Mariner fans in a miserable existence. 14 After they consistently batted under the Mendoza line, there was a severe famine of victories for the Mariners, and these three were in need of sustenance and extra-base hits. 15 So they went early to BP, studied film, and 'got their minds right'. They practiced with Dave Hansen who sent them to his fields to feed pigs (okay, maybe Big Z got a little careless with the allusion here). 16 They longed to fill their stat sheets with the hits and averages and confidence that others were having, but it would not simply be given to Jesus (the other one, remember?), Dustin, and Justin.
17 “When they came to their senses, they said, ‘How many of the Mariners are struggling right now, and here we are only making things worse! 18 We will work hard and go back to the Mariners and say: Edgar (the most beloved Mariner of all-time is God), we have underperformed against you and all the Mariners faithful. 19 We are no longer worthy to be called Major League Baseball players; make us like those baseball players who play in Tacoma.’ 20 So they left their respective homes and went to Minute Maid Park in Huston, Texas (Why Houston? That's a very good question).
“But while they were still a long way off from batting and statistical competency, the Mariner fans saw them and were filled with compassion and hope; they watched the Aprill 22nd game against the Astros, and after the game ran and embraced Jesus (THE OTHER ONE!), Dustin, and Justin.
21 “They said to the Mariners fans, ‘Mariners fans, we have sinned against you, against the Mariners organization, and against Mendoza. We are no longer worthy to be called Mariners.’
22 “But the fans said to the three, ‘Quick! Take us to Houston; we can celebrate by PLAYING THE (L)ASTROS. 23 Put Felix on the mound and let him get number 100. Let’s have a batting feast: a combined 6-10 with 1 walk, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs scored for the lost players. 24 For these cornerstones of the Mariners organization were dead but are alive again; Dustin has almost found the other side of the Mendoza line!’ So they began to (prematurely) celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, Kyle was over at third base. When he came the dugout at the end of the 7-1 victory, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the reporters over and asked what was going on. 27 ‘Your teammates have come around,’ he replied, ‘and the Mariners fans have prematurely put their faith back in these three young hitters.’
28 “Kyle became angry and refused to go in. So the Mariners went out and spoke with him. 29 But he answered the Mariners, ‘Look! All this year I have been hitting and playing the field consistently. I'm on an 11-game hitting streak and have gone a combined 5-9 with 3 runs scored, 4 RBIs and 2 home runs in the last two games. Yet you never talk about my success and let me basque in the glory of being the only consistent Mariner position player. 30 But when Jesus (THE OTHER JESUS PEOPLE GET A HINT), Dustin, and Justin decide to start playing competently again, even if only for one game, you celebrate and make it seem like the Mariners are a-ok again!’
31 “‘Kyle,’ the Mariners fans said, ‘you are always good, and all of our cheers and hope rest in you. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because your three teammates were sufficiently dead at the plate now they are alive again; they were lost and now they maybe are found.’”
33 And somewhere off in rehab Michael Saunders is shouting: 'hey! Don't forget about me, the Condor!'
*Note: this is a dramatization of the recent existence for the Mariners. This series could be a breath of fresh air for the M's and these struggling hitters, or it could be an anomaly and they will fall off the map again. But two things need to happen:
1) Morse needs to get healthy and start hitting well again.
2) Saunders needs to be healthy and playing because he could solidify this Mariners lineup.
Go Mariners -- and blessed be those who take the time to turn the parable of the prodigal son into a blasphemous blog about the recent success of the struggling Mariner hitters.
Long Live the King.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Cool Hundo
Can Felix do it tonight? Third times a charm, right?
For all who live under a rock or choose to avoid technology for religious reasons, Felix Hernandez is going for his 100th win tonight against Miguel Cabrera *ahem* a Detroit team that has been hitting the snot out of the baseball. His last two times out the King has put up un-regal numbers, more jester-like if you asked me.
But tonight is the night the King nabs the cool hundo. Write that down as fact; if it isn't the case I will do something crazy and never tell any of you about it. But know I am confident he can do it tonight. Even if Max Scherzer strikes out the first 27 Mariners batters he faces, Felix will find a way to win this game.
This is going to be a fun game to watch if you enjoy playing chess, long drawn out games of risk, or enjoy the intricacies of competitive crocheting. This will be a pitching duel... unless the Mariners hitters come out of hibernation tonight. Dustin Ackley with an extra-base hit and a multi-hit game anyone? (I know I will never let it go).
But back to Felix.
I have no doubt in my mind that he is going to be a great pitcher throughout his time in Seattle *hopefully his entire career*. I want him to get that 100th tonight because he deserves it, because the Mariners deserve it, and I don't want the M's to have 10 losses already. He, and the Mariners, will find a way tonight.
On a note not entirely related to tonight's game, the Mariners are dropping like flies due to injury. In recent games Saunders (the condor not the lefty number 3 in the rotation who always looks so damn smug), Guti, Morse, and Pryor have been hampered by injuries. Arguably, those four make up a majority of what has been going good for the Mariners so far this season. Hopefully Saunders and Pryor can come back soon from the 15-day DL. And hopefully somebody is making Guti stretch and pray and take ice baths every half hour. And maybe somebody should start reminding Morse to keep his pinkies to himself.
As for the rest of the Mariners offense, they need to step it up and get that SoDo Mojo back. What happened to that Spring Training confidence? They youngsters seem more tentative and scared than ever, and can somebody please tell me if Ack and Smoak are going to ever figure it out? And what about Montero? The way the tea leaves read nowadays, it seems like Zunino will be up sooner than expected and Montero will be off floating in space- a place where the rare skill of being able to move your legs quickly in a forward direction is useless because you float around aimlessly and run into satellites manned by Soviets who were sent into the atmosphere during the Cold War. Maybe some 40 year old potato vodka could whip Montero into shape, and help me curtail my run-on sentences. I guess only someone named Fyodor or Illyich would know.
It just always seems like the M's hitters choose to be patient when they need to be aggressive, and choose to be aggressive when they need to be patient. And is it just me or does it always seem like the Mariners run into teams while they're getting hot? Or maybe it's just that the Mariners make other teams look hot because of how poor they often play. I've thought about this way too much and it's a vicious mental cycle, like watching too many episodes of the Twilight Zone in a row.
Regardless of those offensive woes though, Felix is going to notch W number 100 tonight (wow that last sentence reads more awkwardly than it sounded in my head).
Happy Felix Day to all, and to all in Seattle good afternoon; I am already consumed by darkness on the East Coast.
Look forward to that victory tonight... maybe this game will be a little more entertaining than the last couple... as a college student I've decided to go to bed at 10:30 instead of watching the games. I think that says it all.
Long live the King.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
For all who live under a rock or choose to avoid technology for religious reasons, Felix Hernandez is going for his 100th win tonight against Miguel Cabrera *ahem* a Detroit team that has been hitting the snot out of the baseball. His last two times out the King has put up un-regal numbers, more jester-like if you asked me.
But tonight is the night the King nabs the cool hundo. Write that down as fact; if it isn't the case I will do something crazy and never tell any of you about it. But know I am confident he can do it tonight. Even if Max Scherzer strikes out the first 27 Mariners batters he faces, Felix will find a way to win this game.
This is going to be a fun game to watch if you enjoy playing chess, long drawn out games of risk, or enjoy the intricacies of competitive crocheting. This will be a pitching duel... unless the Mariners hitters come out of hibernation tonight. Dustin Ackley with an extra-base hit and a multi-hit game anyone? (I know I will never let it go).
But back to Felix.
I have no doubt in my mind that he is going to be a great pitcher throughout his time in Seattle *hopefully his entire career*. I want him to get that 100th tonight because he deserves it, because the Mariners deserve it, and I don't want the M's to have 10 losses already. He, and the Mariners, will find a way tonight.
On a note not entirely related to tonight's game, the Mariners are dropping like flies due to injury. In recent games Saunders (the condor not the lefty number 3 in the rotation who always looks so damn smug), Guti, Morse, and Pryor have been hampered by injuries. Arguably, those four make up a majority of what has been going good for the Mariners so far this season. Hopefully Saunders and Pryor can come back soon from the 15-day DL. And hopefully somebody is making Guti stretch and pray and take ice baths every half hour. And maybe somebody should start reminding Morse to keep his pinkies to himself.
As for the rest of the Mariners offense, they need to step it up and get that SoDo Mojo back. What happened to that Spring Training confidence? They youngsters seem more tentative and scared than ever, and can somebody please tell me if Ack and Smoak are going to ever figure it out? And what about Montero? The way the tea leaves read nowadays, it seems like Zunino will be up sooner than expected and Montero will be off floating in space- a place where the rare skill of being able to move your legs quickly in a forward direction is useless because you float around aimlessly and run into satellites manned by Soviets who were sent into the atmosphere during the Cold War. Maybe some 40 year old potato vodka could whip Montero into shape, and help me curtail my run-on sentences. I guess only someone named Fyodor or Illyich would know.
It just always seems like the M's hitters choose to be patient when they need to be aggressive, and choose to be aggressive when they need to be patient. And is it just me or does it always seem like the Mariners run into teams while they're getting hot? Or maybe it's just that the Mariners make other teams look hot because of how poor they often play. I've thought about this way too much and it's a vicious mental cycle, like watching too many episodes of the Twilight Zone in a row.
Regardless of those offensive woes though, Felix is going to notch W number 100 tonight (wow that last sentence reads more awkwardly than it sounded in my head).
Happy Felix Day to all, and to all in Seattle good afternoon; I am already consumed by darkness on the East Coast.
Look forward to that victory tonight... maybe this game will be a little more entertaining than the last couple... as a college student I've decided to go to bed at 10:30 instead of watching the games. I think that says it all.
Long live the King.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Sports Reality Check - the Boston Marathon
This post has nothing to do with Mariners baseball. It has to do with humanity and the power of sports and the goodness of people in a time of crisis.
Yesterday I was running the Boston Marathon for charity, as a 'bandit' runner, along with 250 other Boston College students. One of the greatest sporting events in the U.S., I was wrapped up in the energy and excitement of it all. Running past BC dressed as Forrest Gump elicited shouts of "Run, Forrest, Run!" while a number of my friends jumped out of the crowd and raced down Comm ave. with me, urging me forward.
I felt like I was dying those last couple of miles, but a half mile from the finish line came the reality check.
Boston PD stopped the runners at Mass ave and Comm ave, halting an endless stream of exhausted, emotional, and anxious competitors.
We didn't hear the explosions, we didn't know what had happened.
Some of us stood while others tried to stretch, to keep themselves warm, unsure if we would be able to finish the race.
I went to the side street, seeing droves of people moving quickly away from the middle of the city. I asked two women with a "Run On" poster what had happened.
They replied: There were two explosions at the finish line.
Reality set in, and finishing the marathon was no longer important.
I'm sure you've all read about and heard about the panic that ensued, but there were moments of kinship, of humanity as well. A man still dressed in his chef clothes came out of a nearby restaurant, passing out water bottles to the exhausted and dehydrated runners. People were helping each other over the barriers, giving up their sweatshirts to keep each other warm.
Then came the phone calls, and the text messages.
By the end of the day over 50 people called or texted me to be sure I was safe and unaffected by the attack. Fifty people! Close friends, roommates, people I hadn't seen or spoken to since high school. It was an outpouring of attention and human concern that I will never forget. And it wasn't just for me. Almost every runner I knew got the same treatment; the world concerned not about whether or not they finished the race, but concerned about their safety and well-being.
There are bigger things in this world than finishing the marathon, watching a Mariners game, screaming at Dustin Ackley when he grounds out to second again. What matters are people, their families, their friends.
Yesterday reminded me of that.
The first thing I did when I heard the news was to contact those I feared were affected, happy to be assured of their safety.
But I was still overcome with grief, with a strange nausea I had never felt before. This attack was real. People I cared about had seen the explosions.
This was the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. An inspiring event that has been a symbol of charity, friendly competition, and heartbreak hill. But yesterday it wasn't about any of that, at least not at the end. What I am getting at here is that sometimes it is good to take a step back and put competition in perspective. I ran 25.7 miles and was prevented from finishing the marathon; but my frustration was short lived.
More things matter than finishing the race, winning the game, getting the strikeout. What matters are the people we love and care about, because without them we would have no one to celebrate with, and no one to chide after a victory.
I was reminded of a number of things yesterday: people are capable of doing terrible things, and that will never change; we can only try to grow out of that adversity, come together, and support one another. People care about one another, despite everything- time, distance, conflict- we are humans because we love and we feel for each other. And lastly, the power of the human spirit is miraculous, sacrificing, and beautiful.
I will never forget April 15, 2013. Yes it was the day I ran the Boston Marathon. Yes it was the Mariners first off-day of the season. But more than anything else, it was the day that reminded me of the innate goodness in people. I never heard anybody making angry, hateful phone calls.
They were only made to be sure that the people they loved were safe.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
Yesterday I was running the Boston Marathon for charity, as a 'bandit' runner, along with 250 other Boston College students. One of the greatest sporting events in the U.S., I was wrapped up in the energy and excitement of it all. Running past BC dressed as Forrest Gump elicited shouts of "Run, Forrest, Run!" while a number of my friends jumped out of the crowd and raced down Comm ave. with me, urging me forward.
I felt like I was dying those last couple of miles, but a half mile from the finish line came the reality check.
Boston PD stopped the runners at Mass ave and Comm ave, halting an endless stream of exhausted, emotional, and anxious competitors.
We didn't hear the explosions, we didn't know what had happened.
Some of us stood while others tried to stretch, to keep themselves warm, unsure if we would be able to finish the race.
I went to the side street, seeing droves of people moving quickly away from the middle of the city. I asked two women with a "Run On" poster what had happened.
They replied: There were two explosions at the finish line.
Reality set in, and finishing the marathon was no longer important.
I'm sure you've all read about and heard about the panic that ensued, but there were moments of kinship, of humanity as well. A man still dressed in his chef clothes came out of a nearby restaurant, passing out water bottles to the exhausted and dehydrated runners. People were helping each other over the barriers, giving up their sweatshirts to keep each other warm.
Then came the phone calls, and the text messages.
By the end of the day over 50 people called or texted me to be sure I was safe and unaffected by the attack. Fifty people! Close friends, roommates, people I hadn't seen or spoken to since high school. It was an outpouring of attention and human concern that I will never forget. And it wasn't just for me. Almost every runner I knew got the same treatment; the world concerned not about whether or not they finished the race, but concerned about their safety and well-being.
There are bigger things in this world than finishing the marathon, watching a Mariners game, screaming at Dustin Ackley when he grounds out to second again. What matters are people, their families, their friends.
Yesterday reminded me of that.
The first thing I did when I heard the news was to contact those I feared were affected, happy to be assured of their safety.
But I was still overcome with grief, with a strange nausea I had never felt before. This attack was real. People I cared about had seen the explosions.
This was the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. An inspiring event that has been a symbol of charity, friendly competition, and heartbreak hill. But yesterday it wasn't about any of that, at least not at the end. What I am getting at here is that sometimes it is good to take a step back and put competition in perspective. I ran 25.7 miles and was prevented from finishing the marathon; but my frustration was short lived.
More things matter than finishing the race, winning the game, getting the strikeout. What matters are the people we love and care about, because without them we would have no one to celebrate with, and no one to chide after a victory.
I was reminded of a number of things yesterday: people are capable of doing terrible things, and that will never change; we can only try to grow out of that adversity, come together, and support one another. People care about one another, despite everything- time, distance, conflict- we are humans because we love and we feel for each other. And lastly, the power of the human spirit is miraculous, sacrificing, and beautiful.
I will never forget April 15, 2013. Yes it was the day I ran the Boston Marathon. Yes it was the Mariners first off-day of the season. But more than anything else, it was the day that reminded me of the innate goodness in people. I never heard anybody making angry, hateful phone calls.
They were only made to be sure that the people they loved were safe.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
Monday, April 8, 2013
Things to Take Away from the First Week of Baseball
By: Anthony
Well the
Mariners are 3-4 going into their home opener tonight. They have left some wins
on the table and also have gotten away with some wins, this is all to be
expected. There is no point to freak out, yet. The number of panicked texts
from Patrick about the team has been relatively low for this week, although I
think that may be more a part of him being at the Elite Eight and Final Four
than with the amount he is panicking already. Here are some things that I have
noticed.
Full disclosure though
I haven’t actually watched a game yet. I have had other things on my plate and
forgot the password for the MLB.tv account I used last year.
Dustin Ackley is not
the new Brendan Ryan
It is really easy to look at his current batting average or
really any batting stat and write off Ackley already. But before we cut the guy
one pick from Stephen Strasburg after a week into his junior season, he has
changed his stance and it will take him some period of adjustment. I actually
saw this in Spring Training and failed to bring it up. He starts with his bat
on his shoulder and basically swings from that point. He cut out a lot of the
extra movement before his swing. In theory, this will keep his body relaxed and
allow him to see the ball better. It hasn’t worked yet, but Ackley has hit the
ball hard and those will start falling in for hits.
"Hit the ball out there please"
Mike Morse is Strong
Patrick has texted me this a few times after some of his
more impressive home runs this season. And I’ll be clear, I am not opposed to
Morse as a hitter, just as any position other than DH. His defense has been
shaky by all accounts and that has not helped the rotation out much. However,
Homeruns!! Yay!!! And 10 K’s in 29 at-bats!!! This is essentially the Josh Hamilton
approach that I preached against when we were courting him. It’s not
sustainable and if he doesn’t change it pitchers will stop throwing him
pitchers that he can hit 450 feet. But hey, Homeruns!!!
Joe Saunders is the
new Kevin Millwood
Congratulations to you Joe, you have received the dubious
honor of being my least favorite pitcher in the rotation. I don’t know if it is
the AAA game I saw you give up numerous runs to AAA players or just something about
you being awful. But welcome to the Kevin Millwood Club, I hope you don’t get
comfortable.
I still love your beard Brandon
Brandon Maurer
Welcome to the Big Leagues
So Brandon Maurer wasn’t stellar in his first start, sorry
folks who thought we had the next Stephen Strasburg hidden under the radar. I
still need to watch one of his games to issue some judgment of my own, but I heard
he was struggling with his fastball command. That’s something that happens, he
could have been nervous, but any pitcher will get an ERA of 9.00 when they can’t
command their fastball.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
The Rubber Match, or Trying to End the Roadtrip with a Winning Record
Today is a big game for the Mariners for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, it is a regular season baseball game and when you win or lose one of those you get a + in the win column or the lose column that usually improves or hurts the trajectory of your season.
But in reality this early in the season there is a big difference between 4-3 and 3-4 for these uncertain Mariners. A winning record on this first road trip of the season against a division champ and a team we CANNOT seem to beat in Chicago would mean a lot for this team. Confidence wise. Record wise.
Felix did something yesterday that he hardly ever does. Giving up a Righty home run on an 0-2 pitch. We can forgive that because that hardly happens and you just have to live with it when it rarely does because it's Felix and Felix is the King.
However, the offensive is inconsistent and that is something that needs to change. Even though we've been scoring runs, our batting average is low and a couple of guys who need to get going still haven't. Smoak and Ackley have been patient at the plate, drawing a number of walks. But they need to get it going swinging the bat.
I understand Ackley has hit a few hard and has nothing to show for it, but he was a number 2 overall pick and my patience is starting to wear thin for a guy that I'm emotionally attached to as an athlete. We know you can do it Ack! Let's just hope these two are working out the kinks in their swings and all will end well.
Guti has looked good and so has Morse. But beyond that some serious consistency needs to develop. I hope it does too because the M's have the bullpen and the firepower to hang and win baseball games.
Today is a big game against the ChiSox's ace, Chris Sale. He can pitch, so this could be a rough game for the battery of Mariners who have had a rough start thus far.
The M's are countering with Iwakuma, who looked good last time out and needs to continue asserting himself in the number 2 slot in the rotation.
A win is a win but sometimes it is something so much more than a win. This first road trip could either portend success or mediocrity for the season-- and I think that will be defined and determined today whether or not the Mariners can gut out a win against a tough White Sox team.
Side gripe: Why does Brendan Ryan get a single when he literally THROWS HIS BAT at a pitch, where every single thing Ackley hits is either gobbled up, called for an error, or caught by a miraculously perfectly positioned outfielder? Today Ackley is going to have a mini break out of sorts (if he plays). I based that statement exclusive off of empirical evidence, facts, and statistics. And that's the truth. Trust me-- I am SOPHOMORE in college (a wise-fool for all those unfamiliar), so I really Do know everything.
*Update: Ackley isn't in the lineup today, so he will have to start the comeback against Houston at home tomorrow.
Go Mariners.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
But in reality this early in the season there is a big difference between 4-3 and 3-4 for these uncertain Mariners. A winning record on this first road trip of the season against a division champ and a team we CANNOT seem to beat in Chicago would mean a lot for this team. Confidence wise. Record wise.
Felix did something yesterday that he hardly ever does. Giving up a Righty home run on an 0-2 pitch. We can forgive that because that hardly happens and you just have to live with it when it rarely does because it's Felix and Felix is the King.
However, the offensive is inconsistent and that is something that needs to change. Even though we've been scoring runs, our batting average is low and a couple of guys who need to get going still haven't. Smoak and Ackley have been patient at the plate, drawing a number of walks. But they need to get it going swinging the bat.
I understand Ackley has hit a few hard and has nothing to show for it, but he was a number 2 overall pick and my patience is starting to wear thin for a guy that I'm emotionally attached to as an athlete. We know you can do it Ack! Let's just hope these two are working out the kinks in their swings and all will end well.
Guti has looked good and so has Morse. But beyond that some serious consistency needs to develop. I hope it does too because the M's have the bullpen and the firepower to hang and win baseball games.
Today is a big game against the ChiSox's ace, Chris Sale. He can pitch, so this could be a rough game for the battery of Mariners who have had a rough start thus far.
The M's are countering with Iwakuma, who looked good last time out and needs to continue asserting himself in the number 2 slot in the rotation.
A win is a win but sometimes it is something so much more than a win. This first road trip could either portend success or mediocrity for the season-- and I think that will be defined and determined today whether or not the Mariners can gut out a win against a tough White Sox team.
Side gripe: Why does Brendan Ryan get a single when he literally THROWS HIS BAT at a pitch, where every single thing Ackley hits is either gobbled up, called for an error, or caught by a miraculously perfectly positioned outfielder? Today Ackley is going to have a mini break out of sorts (if he plays). I based that statement exclusive off of empirical evidence, facts, and statistics. And that's the truth. Trust me-- I am SOPHOMORE in college (a wise-fool for all those unfamiliar), so I really Do know everything.
*Update: Ackley isn't in the lineup today, so he will have to start the comeback against Houston at home tomorrow.
Go Mariners.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
Thursday, April 4, 2013
There Goes the Perfect Season
Last night was rough. The M's teased us in the first with homers by Guti and Morse, only to shut down offensively for the rest of the game. Montero's slap-shot singles back up the middle were about it outside the first inning at the plate.
Saunders... oh lord Saunders... I sure hope last night was a fluke. He BARELY got through four innings, walking people left and right, serving up well hit doubles deep into the outfield gaps. And if it weren't for Guti's superior range and defensive, there would've been at least one more of those.
Saunders looked angry and confused and frustrated, while Montero was forced to slide around behind the plate preventing passed ball after passed ball.
Again, for the THIRD NIGHT IN A ROW (and the first time ever), Montero played three days in a row behind the dish. He is still looking competent, and he still tears up left handed pitching. Oh and with Morse's 3rd homer of the year the Jaso trade is starting to look less and less befuddling.
Bay and Andino got their first starts of the season. Bay was issued a walk in his first plate appearance as a Mariner and then went quietly along his merry way. But, but! he did have a nice relay throw to Ryan from the left field corner, saving a potential run at the plate by the A's 1B rookie Freiman (spelling?).
Andino didn't look like much of anything. He really wasn't tested defensively, and at the dish he hurt the Mariners more than helped.
As a keen observer, you have probably come to the realization that if Bay and Andino started, two starters had to sit. Bay played left and booted Saunders for the night (the other Saunders, the better Saunders thus far). Andino started at second, giving *tear* Ackley the day off. I think this was a smart decision on Wedge's part, giving Ackley a brain-day, avoiding the crafty lefty Milone and giving him some time in the cages to tidy up his new stance and balance at the plate.
Ok now I am done talking about last night... I stayed up till 1 am watching a game that really wasn't fun to watch as a Mariners fan. Or an A's fan I guess, their stadium looked pretty empty and I am just assuming not many people really follow the Athletics.
So now there is today... Maurer getting his Mariners debut... his beard being showcased for the world (yes, everybody and their mother watches A's-M's Thursday day-games).
I don't think anybody expects 8 innings of no-hit ball, but I would love to see Maurer find some good control and patience on the mound. We know he can strike people out, but I am more interested in seeing him get out of Major League jams like he did in spring ball.
Likewise, look for the Mariners to make a little more contact tonight, they've been walking and hitting dingers but really not getting all that many hits.
Let's see if they can't get the series here today. Although a 4-game series split against the reigning AL West division champs wouldn't be the worst way the Mariners could start the season.
Wait a minute..... the Athletics won the AL West last year??? I thought the Angels and Rangers were in that division too... huh. Kids these days.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
Saunders... oh lord Saunders... I sure hope last night was a fluke. He BARELY got through four innings, walking people left and right, serving up well hit doubles deep into the outfield gaps. And if it weren't for Guti's superior range and defensive, there would've been at least one more of those.
Saunders looked angry and confused and frustrated, while Montero was forced to slide around behind the plate preventing passed ball after passed ball.
Again, for the THIRD NIGHT IN A ROW (and the first time ever), Montero played three days in a row behind the dish. He is still looking competent, and he still tears up left handed pitching. Oh and with Morse's 3rd homer of the year the Jaso trade is starting to look less and less befuddling.
Bay and Andino got their first starts of the season. Bay was issued a walk in his first plate appearance as a Mariner and then went quietly along his merry way. But, but! he did have a nice relay throw to Ryan from the left field corner, saving a potential run at the plate by the A's 1B rookie Freiman (spelling?).
Andino didn't look like much of anything. He really wasn't tested defensively, and at the dish he hurt the Mariners more than helped.
As a keen observer, you have probably come to the realization that if Bay and Andino started, two starters had to sit. Bay played left and booted Saunders for the night (the other Saunders, the better Saunders thus far). Andino started at second, giving *tear* Ackley the day off. I think this was a smart decision on Wedge's part, giving Ackley a brain-day, avoiding the crafty lefty Milone and giving him some time in the cages to tidy up his new stance and balance at the plate.
Ok now I am done talking about last night... I stayed up till 1 am watching a game that really wasn't fun to watch as a Mariners fan. Or an A's fan I guess, their stadium looked pretty empty and I am just assuming not many people really follow the Athletics.
So now there is today... Maurer getting his Mariners debut... his beard being showcased for the world (yes, everybody and their mother watches A's-M's Thursday day-games).
I don't think anybody expects 8 innings of no-hit ball, but I would love to see Maurer find some good control and patience on the mound. We know he can strike people out, but I am more interested in seeing him get out of Major League jams like he did in spring ball.
Likewise, look for the Mariners to make a little more contact tonight, they've been walking and hitting dingers but really not getting all that many hits.
Let's see if they can't get the series here today. Although a 4-game series split against the reigning AL West division champs wouldn't be the worst way the Mariners could start the season.
Wait a minute..... the Athletics won the AL West last year??? I thought the Angels and Rangers were in that division too... huh. Kids these days.
-Charlie @C14SpencerD
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