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.



Horror-Arm


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Horror-Arm is the number three pitcher in the Mariners' rotation. Horror-Arm coughs up any lead given to him by the offense. Eleven hits in five innings should be expected in a typical start by Horror-Arm. Horror-Arm likes to play soft toss to the opponents' bats, and attempts to set personal best for most extra base hits allowed with each start.

Horror-Arm is my new nickname for Horacio Ramirez, who's line over his last two starts definitely is something to cringe at: 9.2 innings, 22 hits, 14 runs (all earned), and a 13+ ERA. There is talk of a pitcher coming over to influence the rest of the thread. The San Diego brass, for example, were excited over the influence Greg Maddux would have on such talented young arms as Jake Peavy and Chris Young. The Diamondbacks were hoping for a similar positive influence by Randy Johnson upon last year's Cy Young winner Brandon Webb. Although there is no way to mathematically quantify the influence Jeff Weaver is spreading through the Mariners' staff, but it does appear that Horror-Arm is taking whatever pearls of wisdom Weaver has to offer to heart. Then again, Horror-Arm may just have brought a middling skill set and a sub-average arm to the Mariners, putting forth the obvious fact that the team got fleeced for Rafael Soriano. Horror-Arm has yet to allow fewer than seven hits in any of hist starts, and has pitched into the seventh inning just once. though his 43 hits allowed in 26 innings results in a .368 batting average against- is better than Weaver's 40 hits in 17 innings for a .465 batting average against, but you can always refer to him s Weaver Lite if Horror-Arm doesn't suit you.

Obviously, the play of Weaver and Ramirez over the past five weeks has been maddening and disappointing, and does not spell for a competitive season by the Mariners. With their pattern of getting blown out of the water in each of their starts, that demands pressure on the other three spots to be completely perfect and win every time out. And with Felix's return pushed back another week, that is obviously impossible to expect from the other starters. Batista has settled down and has provided a return on his signing, Washburn has kept the M's in the game in every start he pitched, and the jury may still be out on Cha Seung Baek (after last Friday's start against the Yankees, no sure rotation spot can be settled for him) I think there is little disagreement that he would be a marked improvement in the rotation over Jeff Weaver. But the bottom line is, the Mariners can't compete in a tight division with three-fifths of a rotation. I know its only May, but perhaps its become necessary to promote some of the young starts that we caught a brief glimpse of last fall, or begin to start looking for what we can salvage from the bottom-feeders in the standings (i.e. Shawn Hill or Jason Bergmann from Washington, or Jorge de la Rose from Kansas City).

At any rate, Beltre picked up two hits and an RBI in yesterday's 9-7 loss to the Tigers, raising his average to .255. Other highlights included a three-run home-run by Richie Sexson in the top of the first (the three-run lead that Horror-Arm coughed up the next inning) while Yuniesky Betancourt had three hits and three RBIs. This goose-bump inducing game came the day after a gift from an umpire helped the M's edge the Yankees 3-2 in the series final. To any Yankee fan who may come in here to read this, yes, Bloomquist was out. Anyone with a pair of eyes could see that. Why Don Mattingly (filling in for the one-game suspended Joe Torre) didn't come off the bench to offer at least a meek protest I'll never know. But in the end, it doesn't matter because after a situation like that Kyle Farnsworth has to strike out Kenji Johjima. And he didn't, so the M's capitalized. Seriously, as a Seattle sports fan I know all about having poorly made calls hurt you. (Super Bowl XL anyone?) The fact of the matter is you have to overcome those calls, or put yourself in a position where they won't prevent you from winning the game.

Cha Seung Baek takes the hill tonight, looking to atone for last Friday's dismal performance in his first career start against the Tigers. His opponent on the hill is left-hander Nate Robertson who, holds a career 4-2 record and a 2.34 ERA in six starts against the Mariners. Beltre has really struggled against Robertson collecting just two hits (both for extra bases) in thirteen at-bats. Ichiro Suzuki, however, has hit Robertson pretty well, with a .318 average in 22 at-bats, though that average is pretty empty, devoid of any extra base hits or, indeed, even an RBI. Richie Sexson is the only other Mariner hitter with at least 10 at-bats who has enjoyed any degree of success versus Robertson, with a 1.235 OPS in 11 at-bats.

It could be worse. Jeff Weaver could be starting. Oh wait. That's tomorrow's game. No way the M's stop the blazing hit Tigers in today's game. Final score, 7-4, Detroit.

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