Two years into a five-year, $64 million contract, Adrian Beltre has produced a .262 average, 44 home runs, and 176 RBIs. However, after the All Star break in 2006, Beltre slugged .552 with a whopping 18 home runs. Does this strong second half bode well for a turn-around in 2007, or will Mariners fans have to deal with 'A-Drain' once again? This blog intends to follow the 2007 season for Adrian Beltre, and the Seattle Mariners, and promises to hold no punches.
Ah, well. All good things had to come to an end eventually. The Mariners couldn't have been expected to sweep every series for the rest of the year. And I found it doubtful that they'd reach .500 in this series versus the Dodgers. For a brief, shining moment it seemed like it would happen, but the conventional wisdom I had regarding Derek Lowe and his sinker stymieing the Mariners' offense won out.
Derek Lowe pitched a complete game seven-hitter, as the Dodgers prevailed 4-2. Of the 27 outs Lowe needed, 17 were from ground balls. When the M's did figure out his mistakes, they capitalized as both runs scored were by solo home-runs from Yuniesky Betancourt and Raul Ibanez. But it was not enough to defeat Lowe's sinker.
It should be interesting to point out that in the latest Sports Weekly, Lowe and Penny are listed as the 1-2 National League "most valuable pitchers" rankings in regards to opposing players' OPS against. This is figured by those pitchers whose opposing batters' OPS is the furthest below the OPS against their team's collective staff. Lowe ranks first in the NL with 128 OPS below, with Penny right behind at 123 OPS below. Indeed, coming into the series, both pitchers had given up 8 home runs in nearly 180 innings pitched. Obviously, the Mariners roughed up Penny on Tuesday night, touching him for five extra-base hits (three doubles, two home-runs), and hit three extra-base hits versus Lowe last night. Indeed, now of the 12 home-runs given up by the two Dodger stalwarts, a third of them have come from the bats of the Mariners. At least the Mariners were able to get one win against the two tough Dodger right-handers.
Felix reverting back to Bad Felix didn't help the Mariners' chances last night either. He was able to strike out six in nearly six innings, but his 11 hits and 4 earned runs isn't going to help his WHIP or ERA any. One interesting thing to point out about Felix's performance versus the Dodgers is that LA was unable to collect any extra-base hits off of Hernandez. So, even if they were touching Felix, they weren't exactly roughing him up hard. And it should be noted that Felix was able to keep Nomar hitless in four at-bats (Nomar did hit an eighth inning single off Eddie Guardado), so my "key" to the series- keeping Nomar under control- proved to be fruitless, as they did keep the elder Garciaparra at 2-for-9 the last two games, which ended up being split between the two teams.
Beltre was unable to keep his hot bat swinging against his old team, as he collected just a sixth inning single in four at-bats. He does keep his average at a season-high .250, however, and his six-game hitting streak is still intact. (Beltre's only been hitless in two games so far in June, hitting in 17 out of 19!) Ichiro's streak, however, was ended at 20 as Lowe was able to limit the damage done by the one Mariner batter who had a history of success against him, hitting .471 against Lowe in 17 at bats coming into the game. "Going into the game, my No. 1 priority was to keep Ichiro off base," Lowe said. "Keeping him off base was huge." With his ability to minimize Ichiro's impact in the game, Lowe was able to set the tone and dominate the Mariners' line-up.
The Mariners continue their stretch versus the National League, and their quest for .500, with a short bus ride down the California coast today as they take on the San Diego Padres and the always tough Jake Peavy. Peavy has been nothing short of dominating in his career versus the Mariners, racking up a 4-0 record against the M's in four career starts, with a career 1.69 ERA in nearly 27 innings versus Seattle. In those innings he has only allowed 17 hits, with one home-run, and struck out 18. Although he did not pitch against the Mariners in Seattle's May sweep of the Padres in Safeco, it should be pointed out that Peavy has been one of the NL's worst tough-luck pitchers so far this year, as the Padres have only given him an average of 3.6 runs per start so far. Plus, Peavy has been extremely hittable recently, high strikeout numbers or no. In nearly 22 innings over his last four starts, Peavy has given up 28 hits and 20 runs, raising his ERA from 3.64 to 4.81. Even the friendly confines of Petco Park hasn't helped Peavy out much this year, as he carries a 5.13 ERA in his home stadium. Beltre has seen Peavy the most out of the current Mariner line-up, factoring in his Dodger days, and in his 25 at-bats has mustered six hits, including a home-run.
Gil Meche, coming off a complete-game five-hitter versus the Giants last weekend, takes the mound for the Mariners. Meche has enjoyed success versus the Padres in his career as well, going 3-0 in four starts versus San Diego, with a 3.16 ERA. Meche won his only career start at Petco, even if he did give up five runs in five innings.
Predictions for tonight's game? Despite his record of dominance versus the M's in his career, I don't see much of a pitcher's duel between Peavy and Meche. Instead I see a battle between the two pitchers just to go five innings and give which ever team's bullpen the best shot at nailing the game down. Even though I see runs being scored early and often, and, yes, I do see Peavy racking up the strike-outs, I also see Meche getting a healthy amount of K's as well. End result? Too close to call, but given how the Mariners have smacked around San Diego so far this year, I'm going to give them the benefit of a doubt and say that they're going to eke out a victory in a close game. No home-runs for Beltre tonight, though.
Derek Lowe pitched a complete game seven-hitter, as the Dodgers prevailed 4-2. Of the 27 outs Lowe needed, 17 were from ground balls. When the M's did figure out his mistakes, they capitalized as both runs scored were by solo home-runs from Yuniesky Betancourt and Raul Ibanez. But it was not enough to defeat Lowe's sinker.
It should be interesting to point out that in the latest Sports Weekly, Lowe and Penny are listed as the 1-2 National League "most valuable pitchers" rankings in regards to opposing players' OPS against. This is figured by those pitchers whose opposing batters' OPS is the furthest below the OPS against their team's collective staff. Lowe ranks first in the NL with 128 OPS below, with Penny right behind at 123 OPS below. Indeed, coming into the series, both pitchers had given up 8 home runs in nearly 180 innings pitched. Obviously, the Mariners roughed up Penny on Tuesday night, touching him for five extra-base hits (three doubles, two home-runs), and hit three extra-base hits versus Lowe last night. Indeed, now of the 12 home-runs given up by the two Dodger stalwarts, a third of them have come from the bats of the Mariners. At least the Mariners were able to get one win against the two tough Dodger right-handers.
Felix reverting back to Bad Felix didn't help the Mariners' chances last night either. He was able to strike out six in nearly six innings, but his 11 hits and 4 earned runs isn't going to help his WHIP or ERA any. One interesting thing to point out about Felix's performance versus the Dodgers is that LA was unable to collect any extra-base hits off of Hernandez. So, even if they were touching Felix, they weren't exactly roughing him up hard. And it should be noted that Felix was able to keep Nomar hitless in four at-bats (Nomar did hit an eighth inning single off Eddie Guardado), so my "key" to the series- keeping Nomar under control- proved to be fruitless, as they did keep the elder Garciaparra at 2-for-9 the last two games, which ended up being split between the two teams.
Beltre was unable to keep his hot bat swinging against his old team, as he collected just a sixth inning single in four at-bats. He does keep his average at a season-high .250, however, and his six-game hitting streak is still intact. (Beltre's only been hitless in two games so far in June, hitting in 17 out of 19!) Ichiro's streak, however, was ended at 20 as Lowe was able to limit the damage done by the one Mariner batter who had a history of success against him, hitting .471 against Lowe in 17 at bats coming into the game. "Going into the game, my No. 1 priority was to keep Ichiro off base," Lowe said. "Keeping him off base was huge." With his ability to minimize Ichiro's impact in the game, Lowe was able to set the tone and dominate the Mariners' line-up.
The Mariners continue their stretch versus the National League, and their quest for .500, with a short bus ride down the California coast today as they take on the San Diego Padres and the always tough Jake Peavy. Peavy has been nothing short of dominating in his career versus the Mariners, racking up a 4-0 record against the M's in four career starts, with a career 1.69 ERA in nearly 27 innings versus Seattle. In those innings he has only allowed 17 hits, with one home-run, and struck out 18. Although he did not pitch against the Mariners in Seattle's May sweep of the Padres in Safeco, it should be pointed out that Peavy has been one of the NL's worst tough-luck pitchers so far this year, as the Padres have only given him an average of 3.6 runs per start so far. Plus, Peavy has been extremely hittable recently, high strikeout numbers or no. In nearly 22 innings over his last four starts, Peavy has given up 28 hits and 20 runs, raising his ERA from 3.64 to 4.81. Even the friendly confines of Petco Park hasn't helped Peavy out much this year, as he carries a 5.13 ERA in his home stadium. Beltre has seen Peavy the most out of the current Mariner line-up, factoring in his Dodger days, and in his 25 at-bats has mustered six hits, including a home-run.
Gil Meche, coming off a complete-game five-hitter versus the Giants last weekend, takes the mound for the Mariners. Meche has enjoyed success versus the Padres in his career as well, going 3-0 in four starts versus San Diego, with a 3.16 ERA. Meche won his only career start at Petco, even if he did give up five runs in five innings.
Predictions for tonight's game? Despite his record of dominance versus the M's in his career, I don't see much of a pitcher's duel between Peavy and Meche. Instead I see a battle between the two pitchers just to go five innings and give which ever team's bullpen the best shot at nailing the game down. Even though I see runs being scored early and often, and, yes, I do see Peavy racking up the strike-outs, I also see Meche getting a healthy amount of K's as well. End result? Too close to call, but given how the Mariners have smacked around San Diego so far this year, I'm going to give them the benefit of a doubt and say that they're going to eke out a victory in a close game. No home-runs for Beltre tonight, though.
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