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 Mariners finished up their homestand, dropping their finale against the Twins 7-3 to finish the 7 game homestand with a 5-2 record. That's acceptable, considering they were facing perhaps the best left-hander, or best starting pitcher period, in Johann Santana.
It wasn't a bad homestand at all. It's always a welcome respite for any team to play the Kansas City Royals four times, and the Mariners were able to avenge a horrendous sweep at the hands of the Twins at the Metrodome a couple of weeks back, beating two of three pitchers they had lost to in the last go-around.
Summing up the homestand, some Mariners players have some interesting stat lines, which could bode either good or bad, depending on interpretation. Here are the following stat lines of Mariners batters over the past 7 games, with comments:
Ichiro: a ridiculous .576 BA (19 for 33), .588 OBP, .788 SLG, and 1.376 OPS. Ichiro scored six runs in the past seven games, and had 26 total bases in 33 at-bats.
Beltre: .226-.273-.484-.757. Obviously, AB has had trouble getting on the bases, but he has been swinging with more authority, as the slugging percentage indicates. Four of hits seven hits went for extra bases.
Lopez: .154-.303-.385-.688. With the lowest OPS amongst Mariner regulars over the past seven days, Lopez is hurting his All-Star chances just when he needs to play his best. He did score 8 runs, and all four of his hits went for extra bases.
Ibanez: .500 (11 for 22)-.556-.864-1.420. Getting kicked out of that game down in Texas must have switched a button for Mr. Ibanez, as he has certainly been on the past week. He has been a certifiable RBI machine, with 10 ribbies and 19 total bases in 28 at-bats.
Sexson: .286-.300-.643-.943. Welcome back, big guy, with your three home run and 9 RBI week.
Everett: .143-.182-.286-.468. Carl has been reduced to a platoon role, splitting DH duties with Mike Morse. Though those numbers are bad, there is a game-winning home-run in there somewhere.
Johjima: .227-.261-.318-.579. Johjima leads the American League in innings caught, and its beginning to show on his numbers. Perhaps he can split DH duties with Mike Morse, and have Rene Rivera spend more time behind the plate?
Bloomquist: .100-.182-.300-.482. Granted, he only had ten at-bats, but his one hit was a triple, and he scored.
Betancourt: .375-.423-.625-1.408. Who's the third Mariner with an OPS over 1.000 the past week? Surprisingly, it's Betancourt, who piled up 15 total bases in 24 at-bats.
Reed: .133-.188-.133-.321. Is he still on the team? After a decent May, Reed has fallen out of favor with Hargrove and is in a center-field platoon with Bloomquist.
Morse: .444-.500-.778-1.278. Though nine at-bats is not enough to make the claim that Morse should be the full-time DH... ah, heck. Morse should be the full-time DH! Three of his four hits have been doubles, plus he's had 3 RBIs, 7 total bases, and even stole a base!
It is of interest that the problem spots in the Mariners line-up have been the second and third batters, Beltre (no surprise) and Lopez. But, as these numbers show, they've managed to be productive even when they're not. They have provided enough power, and gotten on enough, to allow RBI opportunities for Ibanez and Sexson. Betancourt has out-produced from the number nine slot, and that has helped with the RBI possibilities as well.
The other problem spot has been from center field. Bloomquist and Reed have combined to go 3 for 25 for the month of June. I know it's ridiculous to wax longingly for the days of Ken Griffey Jr., but there must be somebody more capable then this available. Perhaps the Mariners should contact the Rangers over the availablity of Jerry Hairston, Jr. Or (my dream-case scenario) perhaps the Mariners could talk to the Phillies about what it would take to get Portland, OR-native Aaron Rowand to man center field?
The Mariners' rotation stepped up as well. They almost made it one whole trip through the rotation with excellent starts, minus Washburn's melt-down versus the Royals. Minus that start, and today's typical Pineiro performance, the Mariners' rotation contributed 35 innings pitched, 29 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, 9 walks, and 18 strike-outs for a 1.54 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. All in all, a great week, minus some hiccups in the bullpen by Eddie Guardado and George Sherrill.
Can the Mariners continue their winning ways as they embark to leave the friendly confines of the Safe for 15 of their next 18 games? The road trip starts off on the right foot, at least, by taking the M's down to Anaheim to face the Angels. The Mariners are only a half-game behind the Angels as they attempt to creep out of the cellar and inch towards respectability. According to Sports Weekly, the Mariners have the Angels "number", with a 64-49 record against the Angels, and having took four of six games from LA so far this year.
Beltre, however, has struggled against Los Angele's pitching, hitting just .154, even if he did hit one of his home runs against LA on May 12. Let's see if he can hit another one in the next few days...
It wasn't a bad homestand at all. It's always a welcome respite for any team to play the Kansas City Royals four times, and the Mariners were able to avenge a horrendous sweep at the hands of the Twins at the Metrodome a couple of weeks back, beating two of three pitchers they had lost to in the last go-around.
Summing up the homestand, some Mariners players have some interesting stat lines, which could bode either good or bad, depending on interpretation. Here are the following stat lines of Mariners batters over the past 7 games, with comments:
Ichiro: a ridiculous .576 BA (19 for 33), .588 OBP, .788 SLG, and 1.376 OPS. Ichiro scored six runs in the past seven games, and had 26 total bases in 33 at-bats.
Beltre: .226-.273-.484-.757. Obviously, AB has had trouble getting on the bases, but he has been swinging with more authority, as the slugging percentage indicates. Four of hits seven hits went for extra bases.
Lopez: .154-.303-.385-.688. With the lowest OPS amongst Mariner regulars over the past seven days, Lopez is hurting his All-Star chances just when he needs to play his best. He did score 8 runs, and all four of his hits went for extra bases.
Ibanez: .500 (11 for 22)-.556-.864-1.420. Getting kicked out of that game down in Texas must have switched a button for Mr. Ibanez, as he has certainly been on the past week. He has been a certifiable RBI machine, with 10 ribbies and 19 total bases in 28 at-bats.
Sexson: .286-.300-.643-.943. Welcome back, big guy, with your three home run and 9 RBI week.
Everett: .143-.182-.286-.468. Carl has been reduced to a platoon role, splitting DH duties with Mike Morse. Though those numbers are bad, there is a game-winning home-run in there somewhere.
Johjima: .227-.261-.318-.579. Johjima leads the American League in innings caught, and its beginning to show on his numbers. Perhaps he can split DH duties with Mike Morse, and have Rene Rivera spend more time behind the plate?
Bloomquist: .100-.182-.300-.482. Granted, he only had ten at-bats, but his one hit was a triple, and he scored.
Betancourt: .375-.423-.625-1.408. Who's the third Mariner with an OPS over 1.000 the past week? Surprisingly, it's Betancourt, who piled up 15 total bases in 24 at-bats.
Reed: .133-.188-.133-.321. Is he still on the team? After a decent May, Reed has fallen out of favor with Hargrove and is in a center-field platoon with Bloomquist.
Morse: .444-.500-.778-1.278. Though nine at-bats is not enough to make the claim that Morse should be the full-time DH... ah, heck. Morse should be the full-time DH! Three of his four hits have been doubles, plus he's had 3 RBIs, 7 total bases, and even stole a base!
It is of interest that the problem spots in the Mariners line-up have been the second and third batters, Beltre (no surprise) and Lopez. But, as these numbers show, they've managed to be productive even when they're not. They have provided enough power, and gotten on enough, to allow RBI opportunities for Ibanez and Sexson. Betancourt has out-produced from the number nine slot, and that has helped with the RBI possibilities as well.
The other problem spot has been from center field. Bloomquist and Reed have combined to go 3 for 25 for the month of June. I know it's ridiculous to wax longingly for the days of Ken Griffey Jr., but there must be somebody more capable then this available. Perhaps the Mariners should contact the Rangers over the availablity of Jerry Hairston, Jr. Or (my dream-case scenario) perhaps the Mariners could talk to the Phillies about what it would take to get Portland, OR-native Aaron Rowand to man center field?
The Mariners' rotation stepped up as well. They almost made it one whole trip through the rotation with excellent starts, minus Washburn's melt-down versus the Royals. Minus that start, and today's typical Pineiro performance, the Mariners' rotation contributed 35 innings pitched, 29 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, 9 walks, and 18 strike-outs for a 1.54 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. All in all, a great week, minus some hiccups in the bullpen by Eddie Guardado and George Sherrill.
Can the Mariners continue their winning ways as they embark to leave the friendly confines of the Safe for 15 of their next 18 games? The road trip starts off on the right foot, at least, by taking the M's down to Anaheim to face the Angels. The Mariners are only a half-game behind the Angels as they attempt to creep out of the cellar and inch towards respectability. According to Sports Weekly, the Mariners have the Angels "number", with a 64-49 record against the Angels, and having took four of six games from LA so far this year.
Beltre, however, has struggled against Los Angele's pitching, hitting just .154, even if he did hit one of his home runs against LA on May 12. Let's see if he can hit another one in the next few days...
0 Responses to “Wrapping up the homestand: Feast & Famine”
Leave a Reply