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.
Seriously. Six of the last seven games have ended up with the Mariners in the 'W' column. If we can just wipe the continued Jeff Weaver nightmare from our traumatized minds, perhaps the Mariners could stand a pretty good chance to win on any given night, against any given team.
Perhaps its too late for "I told you so's" but didn't I say before the season that the Mariners are a good enough team to compete in this division, not the near-unanimous doormats that everyone in the national media thought they would be? Yes, I believe I did.
Anyways, in the latest example of winning baseball, you have a combination of seven innings of two-run baseball from Jarrod Washburn (who has become the Mariners' savior in Felix's absence), a 3-for-4 game from Beltre, and a two-run home-run by Richie Sexson that put the Mariners ahead for good in the fourth inning. Who cares if he can't hit a single, jsut as long as he keeps winning ballgames with homers. Viva la Richie!
This afternoon's ballgame gives Miguel Batista anotehr chance to turn his season around on the right path after holding the A's to two runs in his last start. Batista might be winless against the White Sox in his career, but he does have a promising 2.93 ERA in nearly 31 career innings versus the South Siders. Admittedly, Batista has also little face time with the current crop of White Sox batters, which means he'll either struggle or get hit hard.
His opponent on the mound is young pitcher John Danks, making his fifth career major league start. Though he is winless on the season, in none of his outings has Danks been hit particularly hard. Even if he has allowed 18 base runners in his last eleven innings, he hasn't been nowhere near as combustible as Brandon McCarthy, the man he was traded for. Danks has a low-90s fastball and a devastating curve, with excellent control. The one caveat about control artists, however, is that since they're in the zone they have to be incredibly lucky with balls put into play. Danks' last start illustrates that problem perfectly. Though he walked none in six innings in Detroit, he did allow nine basehits, giving up four runs. Of course, as he hasn't faced the Mariners as of yet- and his splits are better in day games- there is always a chance that he might dominate in today's game as well.
Not likely. I think both teams will score a handful of runs, but with the Mariners riding their current Weaver-free hot streak, they'll come out on top by a score of 7-5 or something similar. Brandon Morrow will vulture another win, and J.J. Putz will dominate yet another ninth...
Perhaps its too late for "I told you so's" but didn't I say before the season that the Mariners are a good enough team to compete in this division, not the near-unanimous doormats that everyone in the national media thought they would be? Yes, I believe I did.
Anyways, in the latest example of winning baseball, you have a combination of seven innings of two-run baseball from Jarrod Washburn (who has become the Mariners' savior in Felix's absence), a 3-for-4 game from Beltre, and a two-run home-run by Richie Sexson that put the Mariners ahead for good in the fourth inning. Who cares if he can't hit a single, jsut as long as he keeps winning ballgames with homers. Viva la Richie!
This afternoon's ballgame gives Miguel Batista anotehr chance to turn his season around on the right path after holding the A's to two runs in his last start. Batista might be winless against the White Sox in his career, but he does have a promising 2.93 ERA in nearly 31 career innings versus the South Siders. Admittedly, Batista has also little face time with the current crop of White Sox batters, which means he'll either struggle or get hit hard.
His opponent on the mound is young pitcher John Danks, making his fifth career major league start. Though he is winless on the season, in none of his outings has Danks been hit particularly hard. Even if he has allowed 18 base runners in his last eleven innings, he hasn't been nowhere near as combustible as Brandon McCarthy, the man he was traded for. Danks has a low-90s fastball and a devastating curve, with excellent control. The one caveat about control artists, however, is that since they're in the zone they have to be incredibly lucky with balls put into play. Danks' last start illustrates that problem perfectly. Though he walked none in six innings in Detroit, he did allow nine basehits, giving up four runs. Of course, as he hasn't faced the Mariners as of yet- and his splits are better in day games- there is always a chance that he might dominate in today's game as well.
Not likely. I think both teams will score a handful of runs, but with the Mariners riding their current Weaver-free hot streak, they'll come out on top by a score of 7-5 or something similar. Brandon Morrow will vulture another win, and J.J. Putz will dominate yet another ninth...
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