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.
But the Mariners lost. Again. 9-7 at the hands of the Angels, stretching their major-league record to 19 straight losses against divison rivals. At least the Mariners had some sort of record-setting season this year...
Their loss was no surprise, as it was what I and every knowledgable marienrs fan was expecting. What makes it just a little tough to swallow, however, was that the M's played tough baseball, and even held the lead, albeit a brief one. After falling behind 4-0, the M's stringed together six hits in the top of the fifth and produced five runs thanks to some heads up base-running by Ichiro, and a home-run by Ben Broussard.
Regardless, the Marienrs lost as Jarrod Washburn wasn't able to maintain the lead, and Richie Sexon- he of the four grand slams so far this season- struck out twice with the bases loaded. The only bright spots of the game was the fact that the Mariners chased Angels starter John Lackey out of the game by the fifth inning for the third time this season. Broussard going 4-for-5 with the home-run and three RBIs, and Beltre extending his hitting streak to 15 games by picking up three hits and raising his average to a season-high .267.
Are the mariners going to win tonight? Hell no. Tongiht marks the first major-league start of Jake Woods, the M's erstwhile middle reliever who is no playing the role of Joel Pineiro. Woods is the second ex-Angel to start against the team from Southern California, and has a 3-1 record with a 4.11 ERA on the season. In three games versus the Angels so far this season, Woods has given up two runs in four innings and picked up his only save. The odds of him making it past the fourth inning? Not too likely.
Ervin Santana takes the mound for the Angels in tonight's ballgame. Ervin may have a 1-2 record and career 8.27 ERA versus the Mariners, but both those marks should be improved by the time this game is over. Raul Ibanez has given the most trouble to Santana, with a .571 average and 1.911 career slugging percentage against Ervin, so here's hoping that Ibanez will contribute some big hits in tonight's loss. Beltre has gone 2-for-8 against Ervin in his career, so let's hope that he can continue his hiting streak.
I mean, at this point the only thing that Mariners have left to play for is individual accomplishments, right? Sexson and Ibanez can have arace to see who will reach 30 HRs first. Ibanez needs five RBIs to have 100 on the season, while Ichiro needs to turn his game up a notch to score the 20 runs he needs to continue hsi streak of scoring 100 runs every season. Felix Hernandez is the only pitcher with a shot at a .500 or better season. THese are pretty much the only reasons to follow the M's at this point.
The Angels haven't swept a four-game series versus the M's at home in over twenty years. That stretch will end tonight. 9-1 Angels.
Their loss was no surprise, as it was what I and every knowledgable marienrs fan was expecting. What makes it just a little tough to swallow, however, was that the M's played tough baseball, and even held the lead, albeit a brief one. After falling behind 4-0, the M's stringed together six hits in the top of the fifth and produced five runs thanks to some heads up base-running by Ichiro, and a home-run by Ben Broussard.
Regardless, the Marienrs lost as Jarrod Washburn wasn't able to maintain the lead, and Richie Sexon- he of the four grand slams so far this season- struck out twice with the bases loaded. The only bright spots of the game was the fact that the Mariners chased Angels starter John Lackey out of the game by the fifth inning for the third time this season. Broussard going 4-for-5 with the home-run and three RBIs, and Beltre extending his hitting streak to 15 games by picking up three hits and raising his average to a season-high .267.
Are the mariners going to win tonight? Hell no. Tongiht marks the first major-league start of Jake Woods, the M's erstwhile middle reliever who is no playing the role of Joel Pineiro. Woods is the second ex-Angel to start against the team from Southern California, and has a 3-1 record with a 4.11 ERA on the season. In three games versus the Angels so far this season, Woods has given up two runs in four innings and picked up his only save. The odds of him making it past the fourth inning? Not too likely.
Ervin Santana takes the mound for the Angels in tonight's ballgame. Ervin may have a 1-2 record and career 8.27 ERA versus the Mariners, but both those marks should be improved by the time this game is over. Raul Ibanez has given the most trouble to Santana, with a .571 average and 1.911 career slugging percentage against Ervin, so here's hoping that Ibanez will contribute some big hits in tonight's loss. Beltre has gone 2-for-8 against Ervin in his career, so let's hope that he can continue his hiting streak.
I mean, at this point the only thing that Mariners have left to play for is individual accomplishments, right? Sexson and Ibanez can have arace to see who will reach 30 HRs first. Ibanez needs five RBIs to have 100 on the season, while Ichiro needs to turn his game up a notch to score the 20 runs he needs to continue hsi streak of scoring 100 runs every season. Felix Hernandez is the only pitcher with a shot at a .500 or better season. THese are pretty much the only reasons to follow the M's at this point.
The Angels haven't swept a four-game series versus the M's at home in over twenty years. That stretch will end tonight. 9-1 Angels.
0 Responses to “Stop me if you've heard this one...”
Leave a Reply