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.
It's time once again for the Seattle Mariners to taunt their fans. To give them a teasing glimpse of what this season could've been like. After going 0-11 on a intra-division road trip, the Mariners returend home to face the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. For every intent and purpose, that losing streak should've reached 15 or 16 games. Instead, the Mariners are in the midst of a season-high five game winning streak.
I've always thought that 92 wins would be necessary to win the AL West. For the M's to reach that mark, they need to win 29 of their last 30 games- a ridiculous achievement. (But, of course, they've been playing .875 ball on their current home-stand.) And though it's nice to see the Marienrs rough up and spoil the Angels' chances this year, the fact that the A's have been playing just as strong over the past ten games- an 8-2 record compared to the M's 7-3- means that the Mariners have made up no ground in the division. And by beating the Angels, the Marienrs are helping the A's run away with the divisoion in a different manner than just losing to them.
Yesterday the M's trounced Angel uberstud Jered Weaver, roughing him up for nine hits and five runs in lessthan five innings. After dominating the M's throughout the season, Jered gave up four solo home-runs ot the M's bats, with Chris "Doyle" Snelling leading the hit attack with two solo shots.
This came a day after Felix showed his dominating self for truly the first time this season, throwing a complete-game five-hit shut-out. Indeed, Felix needed only 95 pitches- 70 of which went for strikes- in throwing the Marienrs' second shut-oiut in six games. Which bucks the trend of them getting shut-out for something like 20 times so far this season.
In the final game of the home-stand, Jake Woods, a former Angel, takes his thrid start in an attempt to complete the sweep. Woods has performed admirably as he has filled in for Joel Pineiro in the rotation. Woods has pitched pretty solidly against the Angels this year, with a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings, including his first start a couple weeks back inwhich Woods allowed only one run in 5.2 innings. Vlad Guerrero is the only Angel who has multiple career hits off Woods, with two in four at-bats. So it appears the Angels' offense has their work cut out for them.
For the Angels, underrated John Lackey takes the mound. LAckey has pretty good stuff, harnessing a fastball, cutter and change-up int oa 14-5, 3.44 ERA season last year. A month ago, Lackey was sitting at 10-6 with a 2.95 ERA, appearing o improve upon last year's numbers. He has failed to win a game so far in August, however, dropping three starts in five decisions to go with a 7.07 ERA. One of those came against the mariners on that god-awful road trip. Even with Lackey allowing 12 hits and 5 runs in less than five innings, the bullpen blew the lead and the marienrs eventually lost 9-7.
This time it should be better. Lackey holds a 5-8 career record and 4.90 ERa gainst the M's- clealry not a team that he dominates. Raul Ibanez and Richie Sexson love facing the Texan right-hander, with Ibanez hitting .394 in 39 at-bats and Sexson with a 1.318 OPS- and ten RBIs- in 19 at-bats. While Adrian Beltre has only a .257 average in 27 at-bats, Ichiro has 17 hits in 57 at-bats for a .298 average.
Look for hits- and more homers- galore tonight as the marienrs complete an 8-1 homestand. After that, all they have to do is go 28-1 for the rest of the season, and the division is theirs!
I've always thought that 92 wins would be necessary to win the AL West. For the M's to reach that mark, they need to win 29 of their last 30 games- a ridiculous achievement. (But, of course, they've been playing .875 ball on their current home-stand.) And though it's nice to see the Marienrs rough up and spoil the Angels' chances this year, the fact that the A's have been playing just as strong over the past ten games- an 8-2 record compared to the M's 7-3- means that the Mariners have made up no ground in the division. And by beating the Angels, the Marienrs are helping the A's run away with the divisoion in a different manner than just losing to them.
Yesterday the M's trounced Angel uberstud Jered Weaver, roughing him up for nine hits and five runs in lessthan five innings. After dominating the M's throughout the season, Jered gave up four solo home-runs ot the M's bats, with Chris "Doyle" Snelling leading the hit attack with two solo shots.
This came a day after Felix showed his dominating self for truly the first time this season, throwing a complete-game five-hit shut-out. Indeed, Felix needed only 95 pitches- 70 of which went for strikes- in throwing the Marienrs' second shut-oiut in six games. Which bucks the trend of them getting shut-out for something like 20 times so far this season.
In the final game of the home-stand, Jake Woods, a former Angel, takes his thrid start in an attempt to complete the sweep. Woods has performed admirably as he has filled in for Joel Pineiro in the rotation. Woods has pitched pretty solidly against the Angels this year, with a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings, including his first start a couple weeks back inwhich Woods allowed only one run in 5.2 innings. Vlad Guerrero is the only Angel who has multiple career hits off Woods, with two in four at-bats. So it appears the Angels' offense has their work cut out for them.
For the Angels, underrated John Lackey takes the mound. LAckey has pretty good stuff, harnessing a fastball, cutter and change-up int oa 14-5, 3.44 ERA season last year. A month ago, Lackey was sitting at 10-6 with a 2.95 ERA, appearing o improve upon last year's numbers. He has failed to win a game so far in August, however, dropping three starts in five decisions to go with a 7.07 ERA. One of those came against the mariners on that god-awful road trip. Even with Lackey allowing 12 hits and 5 runs in less than five innings, the bullpen blew the lead and the marienrs eventually lost 9-7.
This time it should be better. Lackey holds a 5-8 career record and 4.90 ERa gainst the M's- clealry not a team that he dominates. Raul Ibanez and Richie Sexson love facing the Texan right-hander, with Ibanez hitting .394 in 39 at-bats and Sexson with a 1.318 OPS- and ten RBIs- in 19 at-bats. While Adrian Beltre has only a .257 average in 27 at-bats, Ichiro has 17 hits in 57 at-bats for a .298 average.
Look for hits- and more homers- galore tonight as the marienrs complete an 8-1 homestand. After that, all they have to do is go 28-1 for the rest of the season, and the division is theirs!
0 Responses to “The suddenly unbeatable M's”
Leave a Reply