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, at what point did the Mariners lose this game? Was it when Michael Cuddyer tripled in the first inning, knocking in Joe Mauer with the Twins' second run of the opening frame? Or was it when Torii Hunter reached out and knocked a 78 mph slider from Jeff Weaver over the wall in the fifth for his seventh career grand slam. I'm going to assert that the game was lost the moment that Weaver took his first step on the field.
Weaver's presence on the mound gives me absolutely no confidence that the Mariners have a chance to win any game he starts. Little wonder, considering the two games he's started the Mariners have dropped both by a combined score of 25-5. Yeesh.
At one point- like in 2001- yesterday's pitching match-up of Jeff Weaver and Ramon Ortiz would have been a duel of young, promising hurlers. Now its a battle of two washed up fringe veterans, filling slots in the back end of their respected teams' rotation. But it's hard to take anything away from Ortiz's start- he did only allow two runs in seven innings. And Ortiz was very efficient as well, not giving up a single walk or recording a single strikeout. On the other hand, although Weaver allow seven runs in six innings, he did cut his season ERA in half, from 31.50 to 15.75. So, I guess that's a small success....
Sigh. At any rate, all it does for the Mariners is ensure that they will only win one game in the series versus the Twins, as Felix takes the hill for them in today's game, before they face Johann Santana tomorrow. As has been noted, Felix has yet to give up an earned run 17 innings this year, and for his career has allowed only six earned runs in 30 career innings versus the Twins. Of course as no Mariner pitcher has had success in getting him out, Joe Mauer has had success facing Felix, picking up six hits in 11 at-bats for a .545 average and 1.615 OPS. If Felix decides to walk Mauer every time he faces him in today's game, it would be understandable as it takes the biggest Mariner-killing bat the Twins have out of the line-up.
The Twins counter on the mound with Carlos Silva, who despite his 0-1 record has been off to a great start himself this season. Silva has allowed just one earned run in nearly twelve innings for an 0.77 ERA so far. And in his career, Silva has a 3-1 record versus the M's, with a 2.41 ERA in 41 innings. Ben Broussard enjoys the greatest success against Carlos, hitting .308 with a .987 OPS in 28 at-bats versus Silva. So of course instead of having him start at DH, Mike Hargrove will probably keep Broussard on the bench, where he'll have the minimum amount of opportunities to inflict damage.
Today's game has the makings of a pitcher's duel, one that I feel confident the M's will come out on top with a score along the lines of 3-1.
Weaver's presence on the mound gives me absolutely no confidence that the Mariners have a chance to win any game he starts. Little wonder, considering the two games he's started the Mariners have dropped both by a combined score of 25-5. Yeesh.
At one point- like in 2001- yesterday's pitching match-up of Jeff Weaver and Ramon Ortiz would have been a duel of young, promising hurlers. Now its a battle of two washed up fringe veterans, filling slots in the back end of their respected teams' rotation. But it's hard to take anything away from Ortiz's start- he did only allow two runs in seven innings. And Ortiz was very efficient as well, not giving up a single walk or recording a single strikeout. On the other hand, although Weaver allow seven runs in six innings, he did cut his season ERA in half, from 31.50 to 15.75. So, I guess that's a small success....
Sigh. At any rate, all it does for the Mariners is ensure that they will only win one game in the series versus the Twins, as Felix takes the hill for them in today's game, before they face Johann Santana tomorrow. As has been noted, Felix has yet to give up an earned run 17 innings this year, and for his career has allowed only six earned runs in 30 career innings versus the Twins. Of course as no Mariner pitcher has had success in getting him out, Joe Mauer has had success facing Felix, picking up six hits in 11 at-bats for a .545 average and 1.615 OPS. If Felix decides to walk Mauer every time he faces him in today's game, it would be understandable as it takes the biggest Mariner-killing bat the Twins have out of the line-up.
The Twins counter on the mound with Carlos Silva, who despite his 0-1 record has been off to a great start himself this season. Silva has allowed just one earned run in nearly twelve innings for an 0.77 ERA so far. And in his career, Silva has a 3-1 record versus the M's, with a 2.41 ERA in 41 innings. Ben Broussard enjoys the greatest success against Carlos, hitting .308 with a .987 OPS in 28 at-bats versus Silva. So of course instead of having him start at DH, Mike Hargrove will probably keep Broussard on the bench, where he'll have the minimum amount of opportunities to inflict damage.
Today's game has the makings of a pitcher's duel, one that I feel confident the M's will come out on top with a score along the lines of 3-1.
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