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.
Great Start, Poor Start, Great Start, Poor Start
Published 5/13/2007 by true_slicky | E-mail this post
Well, it should've been obvious that Miguel Batista was going to struggle against the Yankees. Jarrod Washburn did just throw eight shutout innings the game before, and going with their trend of alternating great starts and poor starts, far be it for Batista to be able to toss a second consecutive great- or even a good- start.
All it took was the first four Yankee batters to reach base in the fourth, followed by stringing a single and two doubles later in the inning. After the Yankees had batted around, they had jumped to a 5-0 lead. With Robinson Cano's two-run single an inning later (one run unearned due to Jose Guillen's error), the Yankees had completed their scoring for the game. But it was all that was necessary, as Yankee starter Matt DeSalvo allowed only two runs in 6.2 innings as the Yankees topped the M's 7-2.
With his strong start, DeSalvo ensured that he would be able to duplicate the success against the Mariners that he exhibited last Monday. Over his two starts against the M's in the span of a week, DeSalvo has allowed three earned runs in just under 14 innings, with ten hits, six walks, and only two strikeouts. DeSalvo's tendency to not miss Mariner bats makes me wonder if he hasn't been the beneficiary of good luck in these two starts, but regardless it appears there is another Yankee-pinstriped Mariner killer to join Chien-Ming Wang.
Jose Vidro was the lone offensive star for the Mariners in Saturday's game, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, thus tripling his amount of doubles on the season and raising his slugging 24 points. Beltre went 1-for-4, thus maintaining his average at .246.
Considering the Mariners' starters' trend of alternating great and poor starts, logic dictates that Horacio Ramirez will have a strong start against the Yankees on Sunday. But, then again we are talking Horacio Ramirez facing the Yankees, so logic dictates that Horror-Arm will get blown out of the water. Then again, in his only career start against the Yankees, Horror-Arm tossed eight innings of one-run ball. So he may very well continue the flip-flopping trend and follow up batista's poor start with a gem on Sunday. Bobby Abreu may have 22 at-bats against Horror-Arm from their days in the national League East together, but has only picked up six singles during their confrontations. Jorge Posada is the only current Yankee to have an extra-base hit off Horror-Arm, a double.
Meanwhile, left-hander Andy Pettitte takes the mound for the Yankees. Pettitte hasn't been consistent in his career versus Seattle, with an 8-9 record in 17 starts with a 4.97 ERA. Of course, the present Mariners' line-up is one that doesn't have much experience facing Pettitte, but it still hits left-handers .43 points higher, and outslugs them by a .150 margin.
My gut instinct tells me I shouldn't, but I'm going with Horror-Arm in Sunday's game. The Yankees may just be the tonic that he needs. Although New York's offense is strong, nothing is a given, as Washburn proved on Friday. Final score: 7-4, M's.
All it took was the first four Yankee batters to reach base in the fourth, followed by stringing a single and two doubles later in the inning. After the Yankees had batted around, they had jumped to a 5-0 lead. With Robinson Cano's two-run single an inning later (one run unearned due to Jose Guillen's error), the Yankees had completed their scoring for the game. But it was all that was necessary, as Yankee starter Matt DeSalvo allowed only two runs in 6.2 innings as the Yankees topped the M's 7-2.
With his strong start, DeSalvo ensured that he would be able to duplicate the success against the Mariners that he exhibited last Monday. Over his two starts against the M's in the span of a week, DeSalvo has allowed three earned runs in just under 14 innings, with ten hits, six walks, and only two strikeouts. DeSalvo's tendency to not miss Mariner bats makes me wonder if he hasn't been the beneficiary of good luck in these two starts, but regardless it appears there is another Yankee-pinstriped Mariner killer to join Chien-Ming Wang.
Jose Vidro was the lone offensive star for the Mariners in Saturday's game, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, thus tripling his amount of doubles on the season and raising his slugging 24 points. Beltre went 1-for-4, thus maintaining his average at .246.
Considering the Mariners' starters' trend of alternating great and poor starts, logic dictates that Horacio Ramirez will have a strong start against the Yankees on Sunday. But, then again we are talking Horacio Ramirez facing the Yankees, so logic dictates that Horror-Arm will get blown out of the water. Then again, in his only career start against the Yankees, Horror-Arm tossed eight innings of one-run ball. So he may very well continue the flip-flopping trend and follow up batista's poor start with a gem on Sunday. Bobby Abreu may have 22 at-bats against Horror-Arm from their days in the national League East together, but has only picked up six singles during their confrontations. Jorge Posada is the only current Yankee to have an extra-base hit off Horror-Arm, a double.
Meanwhile, left-hander Andy Pettitte takes the mound for the Yankees. Pettitte hasn't been consistent in his career versus Seattle, with an 8-9 record in 17 starts with a 4.97 ERA. Of course, the present Mariners' line-up is one that doesn't have much experience facing Pettitte, but it still hits left-handers .43 points higher, and outslugs them by a .150 margin.
My gut instinct tells me I shouldn't, but I'm going with Horror-Arm in Sunday's game. The Yankees may just be the tonic that he needs. Although New York's offense is strong, nothing is a given, as Washburn proved on Friday. Final score: 7-4, M's.
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