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.
So Jeremy Bonderman threw 8.2 shut-out innings over the Mariners? Called it. Though the M's did score a run. I wasn't expecting that.
Sheesh, is this the most offensively inept team in Mariner history? Consider this team compared to the 1982 Mariners, which scored 651 runs and had an eye-popping .381 slugging average- and that was in the Kingdome! In comparison, the 2006 franchise is on pace to score 786 runs and is slugging .423. However, the 1982 team was shut-out all of 6 times, while the 2006 team has all ready been shut-out 10 times and nearly got #11 last night. Nearly doubled the amount of scoreless complete games than the 1982 team all ready!
Luckily the Mariners were able to string together three singles in the bottom of the ninth, the third a two-out single by Ibanez that scored Beltre, to break their 18-inning scoreless streak. 18 innings? That means the Mariners were shut-out in two consecutive games!
What has been the cause of this offensive ineptitude? The Mariners were on a roll on their most recent road trip, winning games in Arizona, San Diego, and LA. Does Safeco not provide any home field advantage for the M's, as they have won only one game over the seven-game home series so far? Plus, much has been made of the fact that Mariner's recent winning spell coincided with a lack of presence by Willie Bloomquist in the team's line-up. However, Jeremy Reed broke his finger in Sunday's 4-3 loss versus Colorado, meaning that his platoon partner Bloomquist might see more at-bats. Regardless of whether Reed's been hitless against left-handers this season or not, Reed got nine hits- including three home runs- in ten games during the recent winning spell and his provided excellent defense from center field. Reed's replacement, Shin-Shoo Choo, has only added to the Mariner's offensive futility by providing a double in 11 at-bats so far.
It's tough to admit, but perhaps it's time to let Willie Bloomquist man center field full-time. Choo just seems overwhelmed at the major-league level. At least Bllomquist's hitting .268 for the year, and is hitting lefties to a tune of .328. Or perhaps it's time to call up Adam Jones, the 20-year old uber-prospect who is hitting .277 with 13 homers and 12 steals for Tacoma, up to the bigs to man center field. If the Mariners are going to slide in the standings with Bloomquist in center anyway, might as well see if Jones' presence could halt that slide. Jones seems like the type of player that could provide an immediate impact, as Lastings Millege did for the Mets earlier this year filling in for the injured Cliff Floyd.
Though Beltre did score the Mariners' only run in last night'sgame, he went hitless in four at-bats, lowering his season average to .256. As tonight's pitcher for Detroit, Zach Miner, is making his seventh career start, Beltre obviously has no track record against him. And since Miner is a wunder-kind young pitcher, that probably means the Mariners will be shut-out for the eleventh time tonight, most likely on a two-hitter.
As I pointed out in yesterday's post, Jarrod Washburn has a 4-4 lifetime record versus Detroit, including his brilliant performace last April, throwing 8.2 innings in a loss. As long as Washburn's pitches can miss the bat of Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who has roughed Jarrod up to the tune of a .345 average and 1.103 OPS in 29 career at-bats, and keep his walks and pitch count under control, Jarrod might have an opportunity to out-pitch Miner.
I'll tell you what markers I'm going to use to gauge the Mariners' chances in tonight's ballgame: if they have at least one run by the third inning, chances are good. If they have three by the fourth, then they're chances are great. And if Richie Sexson is able to get at least one hit in his first two at-bats than I'll say their chances are really great. However, all that depends on Washburn being able to pitch well. If he's unable to keep the Tigers off base regardless of how the Mariners do, then their chances are moot.
At any rate, I don't see the M's ending their losing streak in tonight's ballgame.
Sheesh, is this the most offensively inept team in Mariner history? Consider this team compared to the 1982 Mariners, which scored 651 runs and had an eye-popping .381 slugging average- and that was in the Kingdome! In comparison, the 2006 franchise is on pace to score 786 runs and is slugging .423. However, the 1982 team was shut-out all of 6 times, while the 2006 team has all ready been shut-out 10 times and nearly got #11 last night. Nearly doubled the amount of scoreless complete games than the 1982 team all ready!
Luckily the Mariners were able to string together three singles in the bottom of the ninth, the third a two-out single by Ibanez that scored Beltre, to break their 18-inning scoreless streak. 18 innings? That means the Mariners were shut-out in two consecutive games!
What has been the cause of this offensive ineptitude? The Mariners were on a roll on their most recent road trip, winning games in Arizona, San Diego, and LA. Does Safeco not provide any home field advantage for the M's, as they have won only one game over the seven-game home series so far? Plus, much has been made of the fact that Mariner's recent winning spell coincided with a lack of presence by Willie Bloomquist in the team's line-up. However, Jeremy Reed broke his finger in Sunday's 4-3 loss versus Colorado, meaning that his platoon partner Bloomquist might see more at-bats. Regardless of whether Reed's been hitless against left-handers this season or not, Reed got nine hits- including three home runs- in ten games during the recent winning spell and his provided excellent defense from center field. Reed's replacement, Shin-Shoo Choo, has only added to the Mariner's offensive futility by providing a double in 11 at-bats so far.
It's tough to admit, but perhaps it's time to let Willie Bloomquist man center field full-time. Choo just seems overwhelmed at the major-league level. At least Bllomquist's hitting .268 for the year, and is hitting lefties to a tune of .328. Or perhaps it's time to call up Adam Jones, the 20-year old uber-prospect who is hitting .277 with 13 homers and 12 steals for Tacoma, up to the bigs to man center field. If the Mariners are going to slide in the standings with Bloomquist in center anyway, might as well see if Jones' presence could halt that slide. Jones seems like the type of player that could provide an immediate impact, as Lastings Millege did for the Mets earlier this year filling in for the injured Cliff Floyd.
Though Beltre did score the Mariners' only run in last night'sgame, he went hitless in four at-bats, lowering his season average to .256. As tonight's pitcher for Detroit, Zach Miner, is making his seventh career start, Beltre obviously has no track record against him. And since Miner is a wunder-kind young pitcher, that probably means the Mariners will be shut-out for the eleventh time tonight, most likely on a two-hitter.
As I pointed out in yesterday's post, Jarrod Washburn has a 4-4 lifetime record versus Detroit, including his brilliant performace last April, throwing 8.2 innings in a loss. As long as Washburn's pitches can miss the bat of Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who has roughed Jarrod up to the tune of a .345 average and 1.103 OPS in 29 career at-bats, and keep his walks and pitch count under control, Jarrod might have an opportunity to out-pitch Miner.
I'll tell you what markers I'm going to use to gauge the Mariners' chances in tonight's ballgame: if they have at least one run by the third inning, chances are good. If they have three by the fourth, then they're chances are great. And if Richie Sexson is able to get at least one hit in his first two at-bats than I'll say their chances are really great. However, all that depends on Washburn being able to pitch well. If he's unable to keep the Tigers off base regardless of how the Mariners do, then their chances are moot.
At any rate, I don't see the M's ending their losing streak in tonight's ballgame.
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