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.
The Diamondbacks series is going just as planned. Similar to the San Diego series, the Mariners are beating up the DBack's bullpen, having scored 13 runs in the last three innings of both games combined. In fact, in the series as a whole, the Mariners' bats are just beating up whatever offerings are coming from any of the DBack's pitchers.
In short, the first two games are exactly how the Mariners should be playing a team that has now lost 19 of their last 22. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Mariners visit and dominance of the Snakes in Phoenix costs Arizona's mananger (and former M's skipper) Bob Melvin his job?
Pitching-wise, Washburn may have struggled a bit in Wedensday night's start. After being spotted a five-run lead in the top of the first, Jarrod must've thought "Gosh, with the lack of run support I've had all year, I'm not quite sure what to do with this 'lead,'" as he promptly gave up three runs in the bottom half of the ining, on a three-run homerun blast by Luis Gonzalez, who ended a Beltre-like string of 204 at-bats without a home-run.
Despite giving up a home run to Shawn Green in the second inning, Washburn settled down and made it through six innings. He only needed 89 pitches, and his six baserunenrs allowed won't hurt his WHIP any. Only two pitches kept Washburn from having a quality start, but luckily the Mariners were playing a NL team so he was never on the hook for a loss.
The M's beat up DBacks ace Brandon Webb, roughing him up for seven runs in seven innings. That was a season high of runs allowed for Mr. Webb, and brought his ERA up to a season-high of 2.85. ALthough there wasn't a cover story of Webb in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, there was a profile about him & his sinker within the magazine. Perhaps that cuased a slight example of the dreaded SI jinx, as whatever Webb's sinkerball was doing, it sure wasn't sinking. In fact, as Webb gave up six extra-base hits, it could be safe to say the Mariners had no problem with Webb's sinker, unlike the struggles they had versus Derek Lowe's last week.
Obviously, Kenji Johjima had no problems with Webb's offerings in the slightest, nor from what one-time DBacks relief ace Brandon Lyon in the ninth either. Both of Kenji's two hits were home runs, his second consecutive two home-run game. This extended his hitting streak to eight games (soon to become nine on Wedensday), in which Kenji has gone 18 for 36, batting .500 and slugging a ridiculous 1.028. There was worry that catching the most innings in the American League and playing a longer season than in Japan would wear Kenji's production down. It appears that does not seem to be a problem, as of yet.
Beltre went 3-for-5 with two doubles, raising his average to a season-high .255 (finally getting over that .250 mark) and his slugging to a season-high .386. Beltre also extended his hitting streak to ten games (11 on Wedensday). Raul Ibanez joined Kenji and Beltre as Mariners with multiple hits as the team pounded out 12 of them, scoring 11 runs and leaving a measly five runners on base.
Wedensday's game could be summed up in two words: Felix Hernandez. And if you wanted to add another word, it would be "dominating." Good Felix returned to take the mound in Phoenix, much to the Diamonbacks' chagrin. In 95 pitches over seven innings, an unusually economical start by Felix, he held the DBacks to two runs while striking out four. The DBacks did take a brief 2-1 lead on a weak ground-ball to third in the fourth inning, but Jeremy Reed was having none of that as he tied up the score with a home-run leading of the fifth.
The DBacks never had a chance for the rest of the game. Edgar Gonzalez kept it close in his continual quest for his first win since 2003. Gonzlez allowed three runs in seven innings before turning the ball over to his bullpen, which promptly gave up seven runs in the game's last two innings.
Kenji Johjima was at it again, continuing his offensive heroics by providing the tie-breaking RBI single in the sixth inning to give the M's the lead for good at 3-2. Johjima finished with yet anotehr multiple-hit/ multiple-RBI game. The question's got to be asked: why is he not in contention for the starting spot as the AL's catcher in the All-Star game? That's where my vote's gone all season!
Beltre went 2-for-4 in his quest to raise his batting average to the .260 mark, finishing at .258. Both of his hits went for extra bases, a double and a triple, as his slugging percentage rests just below .400 at .397. Is it just me or has Beltre become a barely passable third baseman?
Every batter in the Mariners' line-up got a basehit as the team supported Felix's outing by cranking out 14 hits in total. Tonight the Mariners face another of the DBacks' E. Gonzalezes, this time Enrique Gonzlez. Enrique has only six caeer games under his belt, so pitchers of that ilk have historically given the Marienrs fits. I find it highly doubtful, however, that the Mariners' hot bats can be turned off in a dramatic manner. Then again, the Mariners have never swept a series in Phoenix (to be fair, this is only the second series played there). After throwing seven shut-out innings versus the Giants on June 13, Enrique has been awful giving up 12 earned runs in 9 innings over his last two starts.
Gil Meche is taking the mound for the Mariners. He has won his only career start versus the Diamondbacks, allowing five hits and three runs over seven innings at a start in Safeco. He brings an incredible June track record into tonight's game, allowing four earned runs in nearly 27 innings. And none of these current Diamondbacks have hit Meche particularly hard, except for Orlando Hudson, who has four hits in ten career at-bats versus Meche as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
While it seems to ridiculous to believe the Mariners can pull off yet anotehr sweep, it seems the factors are lining up to allow that to happen. Have I ever shared with all of you how much I love the National League, and their willingness to become sacrifical lambs for the betterment of the Seattle Mariners' season?
In short, the first two games are exactly how the Mariners should be playing a team that has now lost 19 of their last 22. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Mariners visit and dominance of the Snakes in Phoenix costs Arizona's mananger (and former M's skipper) Bob Melvin his job?
Pitching-wise, Washburn may have struggled a bit in Wedensday night's start. After being spotted a five-run lead in the top of the first, Jarrod must've thought "Gosh, with the lack of run support I've had all year, I'm not quite sure what to do with this 'lead,'" as he promptly gave up three runs in the bottom half of the ining, on a three-run homerun blast by Luis Gonzalez, who ended a Beltre-like string of 204 at-bats without a home-run.
Despite giving up a home run to Shawn Green in the second inning, Washburn settled down and made it through six innings. He only needed 89 pitches, and his six baserunenrs allowed won't hurt his WHIP any. Only two pitches kept Washburn from having a quality start, but luckily the Mariners were playing a NL team so he was never on the hook for a loss.
The M's beat up DBacks ace Brandon Webb, roughing him up for seven runs in seven innings. That was a season high of runs allowed for Mr. Webb, and brought his ERA up to a season-high of 2.85. ALthough there wasn't a cover story of Webb in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, there was a profile about him & his sinker within the magazine. Perhaps that cuased a slight example of the dreaded SI jinx, as whatever Webb's sinkerball was doing, it sure wasn't sinking. In fact, as Webb gave up six extra-base hits, it could be safe to say the Mariners had no problem with Webb's sinker, unlike the struggles they had versus Derek Lowe's last week.
Obviously, Kenji Johjima had no problems with Webb's offerings in the slightest, nor from what one-time DBacks relief ace Brandon Lyon in the ninth either. Both of Kenji's two hits were home runs, his second consecutive two home-run game. This extended his hitting streak to eight games (soon to become nine on Wedensday), in which Kenji has gone 18 for 36, batting .500 and slugging a ridiculous 1.028. There was worry that catching the most innings in the American League and playing a longer season than in Japan would wear Kenji's production down. It appears that does not seem to be a problem, as of yet.
Beltre went 3-for-5 with two doubles, raising his average to a season-high .255 (finally getting over that .250 mark) and his slugging to a season-high .386. Beltre also extended his hitting streak to ten games (11 on Wedensday). Raul Ibanez joined Kenji and Beltre as Mariners with multiple hits as the team pounded out 12 of them, scoring 11 runs and leaving a measly five runners on base.
Wedensday's game could be summed up in two words: Felix Hernandez. And if you wanted to add another word, it would be "dominating." Good Felix returned to take the mound in Phoenix, much to the Diamonbacks' chagrin. In 95 pitches over seven innings, an unusually economical start by Felix, he held the DBacks to two runs while striking out four. The DBacks did take a brief 2-1 lead on a weak ground-ball to third in the fourth inning, but Jeremy Reed was having none of that as he tied up the score with a home-run leading of the fifth.
The DBacks never had a chance for the rest of the game. Edgar Gonzalez kept it close in his continual quest for his first win since 2003. Gonzlez allowed three runs in seven innings before turning the ball over to his bullpen, which promptly gave up seven runs in the game's last two innings.
Kenji Johjima was at it again, continuing his offensive heroics by providing the tie-breaking RBI single in the sixth inning to give the M's the lead for good at 3-2. Johjima finished with yet anotehr multiple-hit/ multiple-RBI game. The question's got to be asked: why is he not in contention for the starting spot as the AL's catcher in the All-Star game? That's where my vote's gone all season!
Beltre went 2-for-4 in his quest to raise his batting average to the .260 mark, finishing at .258. Both of his hits went for extra bases, a double and a triple, as his slugging percentage rests just below .400 at .397. Is it just me or has Beltre become a barely passable third baseman?
Every batter in the Mariners' line-up got a basehit as the team supported Felix's outing by cranking out 14 hits in total. Tonight the Mariners face another of the DBacks' E. Gonzalezes, this time Enrique Gonzlez. Enrique has only six caeer games under his belt, so pitchers of that ilk have historically given the Marienrs fits. I find it highly doubtful, however, that the Mariners' hot bats can be turned off in a dramatic manner. Then again, the Mariners have never swept a series in Phoenix (to be fair, this is only the second series played there). After throwing seven shut-out innings versus the Giants on June 13, Enrique has been awful giving up 12 earned runs in 9 innings over his last two starts.
Gil Meche is taking the mound for the Mariners. He has won his only career start versus the Diamondbacks, allowing five hits and three runs over seven innings at a start in Safeco. He brings an incredible June track record into tonight's game, allowing four earned runs in nearly 27 innings. And none of these current Diamondbacks have hit Meche particularly hard, except for Orlando Hudson, who has four hits in ten career at-bats versus Meche as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
While it seems to ridiculous to believe the Mariners can pull off yet anotehr sweep, it seems the factors are lining up to allow that to happen. Have I ever shared with all of you how much I love the National League, and their willingness to become sacrifical lambs for the betterment of the Seattle Mariners' season?
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