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.
As the series between the Angels and the Mariners commenced, the M's stood a chance of catching and even passing the Angels for the lead of the American League West. And with the 11-3 pounding they gave the Angels and Tuesday, it appeared that the team was being driven by a desire to finish the series atop the standings. However, an offensive implosion similar to the one that happened against the Yankees a couple of weeks back. The day after racking up 11 hits and 14 runs, the M's were handcuffed by Jarrod Washburn for only four hits while being shutout for the third time this season. The disappearance of the M's bats wasted an effective start by Cha Seung Baek, who allowed seven baserunners and three runs in 6.1 innings, yet was still saddled with the loss.
And last night it was the poorest start of the season by Jarrod Washburn, who allowed 11 baserunners in six runs in six innings, that did the team in for a 7-3 loss. This time, a solid offensive performance was wasted, as he collected three hits- including two doubles- off of Angels' pitching to raise his average up over the .240 mark to .243, yet was unable to knock in any baserunners. Yunieksy Betancourt also collected three hits, including a second-inning double that plated Beltre. And Ben Broussard, who was making a spot start for Raul Ibanez in left, hit a lead-off home-run in the sixth. Its a shame Big Ben's bat can't be worked into the line-up in more of a regular basis, as that .321 isolated power from a left-handed bat sure would be nice to rely on.
Oh, and Ichiro got thrown out stealing in the seventh inning, thus ending his American League record for consecutive steals at 45, falling five short of Vince Coleman's major league record. Such was the night for the M's. With their 5-1 record against the Mariners, the Angels show that they will be the powerhouse team for the M's to beat to be able to compete in the AL West this year. The Mariners may have a record of 7-2 against Oakland and Texas, but if they can't figure out a way to overcome the Angels' effective starting pitching, they're going to finish just as I predicted they would in my preseason predictions: in second place, with just a few games behind the Angels.
Interleague baseball makes a brief appearance around the majors this weekend, and if the M's .778 record in interleague from last year carries over this year, then the boys in teal must be excited. Of course, facing the padres' tough, burly right-hander Chris Young in the opener may just temper any enthusiasm. Young has enjoyed success against the M's in his career, with a 2-1 record in five starts, with a 3.81 ERA and a 22-5 SO-to-BB ratio in 28 innings. However, Young is also coming off a start in which he allowed five runs (four unearned) in five innings against an anemic Cardinals' offense. The "picks to click" for the Mariners against young are Ichiro, who besides having a great May (.338 with an .811 OPS) has .400 in a5 career at-bats against Young, with two home-runs. Richie Sexson also has two career home-runs in eight career at-bats against Young for a 1.750 OPS, but as it's still before the All-Star break, don't expect much more besides some strikeouts or some hard hit liners right at padres' defenders. Beltre's bat has all but disappeared when he's faced Young, with just two singles in eleven at-bats with four strikeouts. It's safe to say Young owns Beltre.
Miguel Batista takes the mound for the Marienrs, and he's looking to compensate for his poor outing against the Yankees last weekend, in which he allowed seven runs in just a little over two innings. That performance was a far cry against the effort that produced three straight starts allowing just two runs. Batista has also held his own against the Padres, with a 3.92 ERA and a 3-4 record in eleven starts in his career against the Friars. Brian Giles has enjoyed success against Batista, with a .360 average and 1.027 OPS in 25 at-bats, while on the flip side Miguel has dominated Jose Cruz Jr. to just two hits in 20 career at-bats.
I expect Batista to return to the form he had showed in the three previous starts before his nightmare start against the Yankees. However, I am not optimistic about this game. Chris Young is one of the best up-and-coming pitchers in the National League, who may be perhaps the best pitcher on a staff that includes Jake Peavy and who also has better numbers on the road then at home (of course, those splits may be skewed with his time spent down in Arlington). At any rate, the M's will muster up little offense and waste a great start- again. Final: 3-1, Padres, as the mariners return to the Land of Sub-.500.
And last night it was the poorest start of the season by Jarrod Washburn, who allowed 11 baserunners in six runs in six innings, that did the team in for a 7-3 loss. This time, a solid offensive performance was wasted, as he collected three hits- including two doubles- off of Angels' pitching to raise his average up over the .240 mark to .243, yet was unable to knock in any baserunners. Yunieksy Betancourt also collected three hits, including a second-inning double that plated Beltre. And Ben Broussard, who was making a spot start for Raul Ibanez in left, hit a lead-off home-run in the sixth. Its a shame Big Ben's bat can't be worked into the line-up in more of a regular basis, as that .321 isolated power from a left-handed bat sure would be nice to rely on.
Oh, and Ichiro got thrown out stealing in the seventh inning, thus ending his American League record for consecutive steals at 45, falling five short of Vince Coleman's major league record. Such was the night for the M's. With their 5-1 record against the Mariners, the Angels show that they will be the powerhouse team for the M's to beat to be able to compete in the AL West this year. The Mariners may have a record of 7-2 against Oakland and Texas, but if they can't figure out a way to overcome the Angels' effective starting pitching, they're going to finish just as I predicted they would in my preseason predictions: in second place, with just a few games behind the Angels.
Interleague baseball makes a brief appearance around the majors this weekend, and if the M's .778 record in interleague from last year carries over this year, then the boys in teal must be excited. Of course, facing the padres' tough, burly right-hander Chris Young in the opener may just temper any enthusiasm. Young has enjoyed success against the M's in his career, with a 2-1 record in five starts, with a 3.81 ERA and a 22-5 SO-to-BB ratio in 28 innings. However, Young is also coming off a start in which he allowed five runs (four unearned) in five innings against an anemic Cardinals' offense. The "picks to click" for the Mariners against young are Ichiro, who besides having a great May (.338 with an .811 OPS) has .400 in a5 career at-bats against Young, with two home-runs. Richie Sexson also has two career home-runs in eight career at-bats against Young for a 1.750 OPS, but as it's still before the All-Star break, don't expect much more besides some strikeouts or some hard hit liners right at padres' defenders. Beltre's bat has all but disappeared when he's faced Young, with just two singles in eleven at-bats with four strikeouts. It's safe to say Young owns Beltre.
Miguel Batista takes the mound for the Marienrs, and he's looking to compensate for his poor outing against the Yankees last weekend, in which he allowed seven runs in just a little over two innings. That performance was a far cry against the effort that produced three straight starts allowing just two runs. Batista has also held his own against the Padres, with a 3.92 ERA and a 3-4 record in eleven starts in his career against the Friars. Brian Giles has enjoyed success against Batista, with a .360 average and 1.027 OPS in 25 at-bats, while on the flip side Miguel has dominated Jose Cruz Jr. to just two hits in 20 career at-bats.
I expect Batista to return to the form he had showed in the three previous starts before his nightmare start against the Yankees. However, I am not optimistic about this game. Chris Young is one of the best up-and-coming pitchers in the National League, who may be perhaps the best pitcher on a staff that includes Jake Peavy and who also has better numbers on the road then at home (of course, those splits may be skewed with his time spent down in Arlington). At any rate, the M's will muster up little offense and waste a great start- again. Final: 3-1, Padres, as the mariners return to the Land of Sub-.500.
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