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.
With a solid outing by Miguel Batista- who didn't allow any walks in seven innings- and another superlative-filled night by Ichiro, who scored the M's first run and knocked in the second on a bad-hop groudner to Angels first-baseman Casey Kotchamn, last night the M's shut down a team that had scored 34 runs in a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers by a score of 2-0. Oh, and did I mention J.J. Putz striking out Vladimir Guerrero with a fastball up around the Angels slugger's eyelids? Can't forget that.
The highlights were few, but they were dramatic in an exciting game. The fact that the M's were able to keep the Angels scoreless after their offensive outburst in Detroit is why I love baseball: you just never can tell what's going to happen.
Unfortunately, Adrian Beltre went 0-for-4, dropping his average to .277 after it reached a high-water mark of .280. Considering that Beltre is batting a career .219 with seven hits in 32 at-bats against John Lackey, tonight's starter for the Angels, don't look for him to raise his average in tonight's game. It may just seem that Lackey dominates the Mariners in every match-up, but in truth he comes into Safeco with a career 7-8 record and 4.61 ERA against the M's. Raul Ibanez and Ichiro in particular have enjoyed facing the portly right-hander, combining to hit .324 in 102 at-bats, though Lackey has limited them to just five extra-base hits. Richie Sexson has also enjoyed success against lackey, batting .375 with a 1.153 OPS in 24 at-bats.
Angels cast-off Jeff Weaver takes the mound for the Mariners, hoping to have a better outing against his former team than the three runs he allowed in three innings in a 6-1 loss last April 22. Despite his career 5-6 record against the Angels, Weaver holds just a 3.03 ERA against them in 77 home-runs, limiting the damage by giving up just five home runs to Halo sluggers. However, most of the current roster hasn't done much damage versus Jeff. Vladimir does have one home-run against Jeff in 11 at-bats, but Garret Anderson is the Angel batter who has faced him the most, and he's hit just .226 in 31 at-bats. Considering it'll be a roster of unfamiliars facing him, if Jeff is able to get his veriety of arm angles and ball speeds, he may be in store for a confounding evening.
However, the Mariners have also struggled to get Weaver run support despite his current streak of solid outings. I say they're able to give him a handful of runs tonight, but it won't be enough. The Angels will end the M's streak at four, as they come out on top by a score of 6-3.
The highlights were few, but they were dramatic in an exciting game. The fact that the M's were able to keep the Angels scoreless after their offensive outburst in Detroit is why I love baseball: you just never can tell what's going to happen.
Unfortunately, Adrian Beltre went 0-for-4, dropping his average to .277 after it reached a high-water mark of .280. Considering that Beltre is batting a career .219 with seven hits in 32 at-bats against John Lackey, tonight's starter for the Angels, don't look for him to raise his average in tonight's game. It may just seem that Lackey dominates the Mariners in every match-up, but in truth he comes into Safeco with a career 7-8 record and 4.61 ERA against the M's. Raul Ibanez and Ichiro in particular have enjoyed facing the portly right-hander, combining to hit .324 in 102 at-bats, though Lackey has limited them to just five extra-base hits. Richie Sexson has also enjoyed success against lackey, batting .375 with a 1.153 OPS in 24 at-bats.
Angels cast-off Jeff Weaver takes the mound for the Mariners, hoping to have a better outing against his former team than the three runs he allowed in three innings in a 6-1 loss last April 22. Despite his career 5-6 record against the Angels, Weaver holds just a 3.03 ERA against them in 77 home-runs, limiting the damage by giving up just five home runs to Halo sluggers. However, most of the current roster hasn't done much damage versus Jeff. Vladimir does have one home-run against Jeff in 11 at-bats, but Garret Anderson is the Angel batter who has faced him the most, and he's hit just .226 in 31 at-bats. Considering it'll be a roster of unfamiliars facing him, if Jeff is able to get his veriety of arm angles and ball speeds, he may be in store for a confounding evening.
However, the Mariners have also struggled to get Weaver run support despite his current streak of solid outings. I say they're able to give him a handful of runs tonight, but it won't be enough. The Angels will end the M's streak at four, as they come out on top by a score of 6-3.
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