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.
Well, after a grueling four-hour, sixteen-minute showdown between the Marienrs and the Rangers, Jose Lopez was able to line an offering from Josh Rupe into center field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the thirteenth. As the ball bounced over the wall, Raul Ibanez scampered home from third as Lopez's ground-rule "single" snapped a 2-2 ballgame, and handed the marienrs their second straight win in kicking off their home-stand, and fourth win in a row over-all.
Admittedly, this was hardly the outcome of the game I was expecting prior to it's start. A Washburn-Tejeda match-up seemed to guarantee a solid offensive performance from both teams' bats. Instead, both teams' bats did nothing except flail away, doing a very good job of missing the ball in its entirety. The Rangers struck out 14 times in last nights game, compared to the Marienrs' 10 team Ks. More of an eye-opener, and which led directly to the mariners' win in the thirteenth, was the patience of the M's bats: they gained seven walks to the Rangers' three. Three of the Mariners walks came in the thirteenth inning, when both John Rheinecker and Josh Rupe exhibited a severe lack of control.
In a touching case of coming full-circle, Rheinecker picked up the loss in relief, thus losing a game against the Rangers in which Jarrod Washburn delivered an outstanding performance for the M's. Indeed, Waashburn allowed one run in six innings, allowing only eight base-runners during that span. He would've picked up the win had J.J. Putz not allowed a tying two-out home-run to Gary Matthews Jr. in the ninth inning. Matthews has been a particular pest against the Marienrs in recent years, with a .312 career average and .514 career slugging percentage against the Mariners. Against J.J., those numbers are even more severe- a .600 average with two doubles and two home-runs in 10 at-bats. So, when J.J. fell into a full-count against Matthews and delivered a fast-ball down the middle, nobody should've been surprised when a game-tying home-run was the result.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope the M's learned some lessons about 'fundamentals' from last night's game. Though chancesare the M's will revert to their hack-tastic ways in this afternoon's game against the Rangers' Adam Eaton.
In fact, with an Eaton-Hernandez match-up this game should feature strikeouts galore. Or, rather, if Felix has perhaps learned anything from this season so far, it's to concentrate on coaxing groundballs, to save both his arm as well as to maximize his innings pitched. Perhaps if Felix is able to adopt this new approach, he might be able to reversal his poor record against the Rangers. In his career, Felix holds a 1-3 record with a 6.91 ERA, allowing 45 base-runners in 28.2 innings. In his three outings against the Rangers this season, Felix has allowed a minimum of four runs in each game. Michael Young, in particular, looks forward to starts from Felix Hernandez, as he boasts a .438 average and 1.1.25 off the King in 16 at-bats, though Felix has done a good job of nullifying the offensive threat of Mark Teixieira and Hank Blalock, who have combined to hit .120 (3-for-25) off Felix with eight strikeouts.
Adam Eaton has a batter record versus the mariners- a career 2-2 record with a 4.09 ERA, though he too has allowed plenty of baserunenrs against them, 31 in 22 innings. This is hissecond match-up against Seattle this year, after holding the M's to two runs in six innings last month. Richie Seson licks his chops facing Eaton, with a .417 average and 1.333slugging percentage against Adam in 12 at-bats including two home-runs. However, Eaton has had no problem with Ichiro, limiting his output to two hits in eleven at-bats for a .182 average.
It's a shame that Beltre has been out of the line-up the past couple of days, for he has enjoyed good success against Adam Eaton in his career as well. In 42 career at-bats, Beltre has hit .310 with an OPS of .822 against Eaton. However, his wife has given birth to the couple'ssecond daughter in Los Angeles, which is thereason why Beltre has been absent and Ute Bloomquist has been manningthird. I understnad that it's possible for Beltre to return to the line-up this afternoon which bodes well for the Mariners.
Even still, I predict that the Rangers will scavenge one win out of this series. It won't be a blow-out, and I',m not expecting offensive heroics from either side, except maybe a home-run from Sexson. But in the end, I think Eaton will out-pitch Hernandez. 5-3, Rangers.
Admittedly, this was hardly the outcome of the game I was expecting prior to it's start. A Washburn-Tejeda match-up seemed to guarantee a solid offensive performance from both teams' bats. Instead, both teams' bats did nothing except flail away, doing a very good job of missing the ball in its entirety. The Rangers struck out 14 times in last nights game, compared to the Marienrs' 10 team Ks. More of an eye-opener, and which led directly to the mariners' win in the thirteenth, was the patience of the M's bats: they gained seven walks to the Rangers' three. Three of the Mariners walks came in the thirteenth inning, when both John Rheinecker and Josh Rupe exhibited a severe lack of control.
In a touching case of coming full-circle, Rheinecker picked up the loss in relief, thus losing a game against the Rangers in which Jarrod Washburn delivered an outstanding performance for the M's. Indeed, Waashburn allowed one run in six innings, allowing only eight base-runners during that span. He would've picked up the win had J.J. Putz not allowed a tying two-out home-run to Gary Matthews Jr. in the ninth inning. Matthews has been a particular pest against the Marienrs in recent years, with a .312 career average and .514 career slugging percentage against the Mariners. Against J.J., those numbers are even more severe- a .600 average with two doubles and two home-runs in 10 at-bats. So, when J.J. fell into a full-count against Matthews and delivered a fast-ball down the middle, nobody should've been surprised when a game-tying home-run was the result.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope the M's learned some lessons about 'fundamentals' from last night's game. Though chancesare the M's will revert to their hack-tastic ways in this afternoon's game against the Rangers' Adam Eaton.
In fact, with an Eaton-Hernandez match-up this game should feature strikeouts galore. Or, rather, if Felix has perhaps learned anything from this season so far, it's to concentrate on coaxing groundballs, to save both his arm as well as to maximize his innings pitched. Perhaps if Felix is able to adopt this new approach, he might be able to reversal his poor record against the Rangers. In his career, Felix holds a 1-3 record with a 6.91 ERA, allowing 45 base-runners in 28.2 innings. In his three outings against the Rangers this season, Felix has allowed a minimum of four runs in each game. Michael Young, in particular, looks forward to starts from Felix Hernandez, as he boasts a .438 average and 1.1.25 off the King in 16 at-bats, though Felix has done a good job of nullifying the offensive threat of Mark Teixieira and Hank Blalock, who have combined to hit .120 (3-for-25) off Felix with eight strikeouts.
Adam Eaton has a batter record versus the mariners- a career 2-2 record with a 4.09 ERA, though he too has allowed plenty of baserunenrs against them, 31 in 22 innings. This is hissecond match-up against Seattle this year, after holding the M's to two runs in six innings last month. Richie Seson licks his chops facing Eaton, with a .417 average and 1.333slugging percentage against Adam in 12 at-bats including two home-runs. However, Eaton has had no problem with Ichiro, limiting his output to two hits in eleven at-bats for a .182 average.
It's a shame that Beltre has been out of the line-up the past couple of days, for he has enjoyed good success against Adam Eaton in his career as well. In 42 career at-bats, Beltre has hit .310 with an OPS of .822 against Eaton. However, his wife has given birth to the couple'ssecond daughter in Los Angeles, which is thereason why Beltre has been absent and Ute Bloomquist has been manningthird. I understnad that it's possible for Beltre to return to the line-up this afternoon which bodes well for the Mariners.
Even still, I predict that the Rangers will scavenge one win out of this series. It won't be a blow-out, and I',m not expecting offensive heroics from either side, except maybe a home-run from Sexson. But in the end, I think Eaton will out-pitch Hernandez. 5-3, Rangers.
0 Responses to “M's ensure no worse than a .333 home-stand!”
Leave a Reply