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.



And it don't stop


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One more game in Baltimore, another 15 hits piled up by the Mariners.

It was indeed a wild and woolly game in Camden Yards- and a wet one as well, with a nasty-looking storm system rolling in and stopping the game for 24 minutes. Although the Orioles were the benefit of a gift third-inning grand slam by Miguel Tejada that shouldn't have been, and roughed up Horacio Ramirez for eight runs- seve earned- in 5.1 innings, it wasn't enough. The Mariners' offensive onslaught continued unabated, as five players picked up multiple hits, including three players who picked up three hits on the evening to roll over the Birds for a 13-8 win. Ichiro had three hits for the third consecutive night (obviously he'll miss playing in Baltimore), and the youngster Adam Jones, in his first start of the series, also picked up three hits. And scored the tying run. And the go-ahead run. And doubled up Brian Roberts off first with a throw from left field in the bottom of the first inning.

Whew. All that in one game? The Future definitely made his presence felt in Baltimore tonight.

The win put the Mariners a full game ahead of the Tigers, who lost today against Tampa Bay, and the idle Yankees in the wild card standings. Not bad for a team all but written off prior to the season by the so-called "experts." To gear up for the play-off push, the M's plucked John Parrish off waivers from Baltimore yesterday, so he swapped clubhouses prior to the game, but didn't make an appearance for his new club. Unfortunately to add Parrish onto the roster, Mark Lowe had to be dropped to make room, and to extend his return from injury down in Tacoma.

Considering how lousy Ramirez pitched tonight- admittedly it was exaggerated by Nick Markakis taking an extra pitch for ball four after swinging through strike three prior to Tejada's slam- the only way Ramirez could've picked up his first road win of the season was if the M's continued their hot-hitting ways. There has been some chatter of the M's making a gamble on claiming David Wells from the waivers, as he was designated for assignment today by the Padres and replace Ramirez in the rotation with Boomer. However, consider that Wells has allowed 26 earned runs over his last 16.2 innings, it has to be asked whether performances like that would be a noticeable difference. Considering that if the M's were to claim Wells- and that would only be if the teams beneath them in the wild card standings, particularly the Tigers, don't claim Wells first- they would have to pay the league minimum for four innings of Wells' dreck. For results like that, why not insert somebody that the M's are all ready paying the minimum to, like perhaps Ryan Feierabend or Cha Seung baek, once he's healthy?

At any rate, the M's take their offensive heroics on the road to face a White Sox team in Chicago that's incredibly in disarray. Just two years removed from winning the World Series, Ozzie Guillen's team has the vaguest resemblance to the team that took all the marbles. The pitching staff that was so dominating on a national scale can't seem to get anybody out currently. The offense is a shambles, with nearly the entire infield struggling to hit .220. For all intents and purposes, a sweep is a definite possibility for the M's (they took both games of a two-game series at Safeco earlier this year) in Chicago, or at least taking two.

The match-up in Friday's opener is Javier Vazquez against Jarrod Washburn. Vazquez is one of the few White Sox having a decent year, with a 9-6 record and 3.64 ERA. He has given up at least two runs in six straight starts, with a 3-1 record during that span. Vazquez did face the Mariners in the two-game match-up earlier this year, allowing four runs in seven innings in a 5-2 Mariners victory, in which he gave up a two-run home-run to Richie Sexson. For his career, Vazquez has split four decisions against Seattle, with a 4.05 ERA- and 26 strikeouts- in 26.2 innings. Adrian Beltre has had no problem with Vazquez's offerings, hitting him to a tune of a .464 average and 1.161 OPS in 28 at-bats. Richie Sexson (.375) and Jose Guillen (.368) have also had success against Vazquez, but as Guillen's swollen middle finger will keep him out of the field for at least one game, expect Guillen to be available for pinch-hitting duties only.

Jarrod Washburn was the winning pitcher in that 5-2 match-up, givign up two solo home-runs by Luis terrero and A.J. Pierzynski. Tomorrow represents round two between these two starters. Washburn has a career winning record against the White Sox, 6-5, with a 3.90 ERA over 94.2 innings. However, Jermaine Dye has eaten Washburn up for lunch, with a .409 average and 1.159 OPS in 44 at-bats, while Paul Konerko has also gotten the better of Washburn in their match-ups, batting .357 with 1.164 OPS over 42 at-bats. So if those two are on top of their games tomorrow, then Washburn will be on top of their game. But I highly doubt the White Sox will be able to quell the M's offensive fire. In the ened, the M's will come out on top, 7-3.

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