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.
Remember yesterday when I stated that it only seems like John Lackey dominates the M's when he pitches against them? Well, other times, as in the seven-hit shutout he tossed against them in yesterday's 8-0 Angel victory, he actually does.
Of course, it doesn't hurt Lackey any when his teammate Gary Matthews Jr. goes 4-for-5 with two home-runs and three RBIs. Or when Orlando Cabrera and Maicer Izturis pick up three hits each, with Izturis hitting his second home-run of the year. Nor does it hurt the Angels any when Jeff Weaver delivers another start more reminiscent of a AAA journeyman- as he was doing at the beginning of the season- allowing six runs in four innings, with three walks and no strikeouts.
All in all, an ugly game for Mariners fans, which all but erase the spectacular 2-0 victory the night before.
Jose Vidro was the "big bat" for the Mariners in last night's game, picking up two singles in four at-bats. In fact, he was pretty much the M's lone bat, as the team could only muster seven singles on the night, being out of it early and struggling against Lackey's dominance. In the AP write-up on the game, Lackey said he atributed throwing more diving, split-fingered pitches against the M's for his success against Seattle this year. (He has tossed 15 scoreless innings against Seattle over two starts.) Thanks a lot for that, Lackey. Oh, and news flash for you: Maybe you should pitch like that in all your starts rather than than just against the M's. Something tells me you'll be one of the league's most dominating starters. Unless simply being an All-Star is good enough for you.
Beltre went hitless in four at-bats, bringing his hitless streak to two games, and dropping his average to .274. Urgh.
So the M's aren't going to be in a position to finish the series a game behind the Angels, and therefore all pressure should be off the team for tonight's ball game. Let's hope the pressure is really off Felix Hernandez, who as we all know, allows himself to implode emotionally when the going gets tough, affecting his pitching in a negative manner. Felix is coming off a brilliant seven-inning, one-run effort against the A's in his last outing, but it's been a couple weeks since he strung together two consecutive starts. And he has not fared well against the Angels this season, allowing 10 earned runs in 9.2 innings for a 9.31 ERA, allowing 16 hits and three home-runs. Indeed, Angels batters feast upon Felix's pitching. Orlando Cabrera has been perfect in six at-bats against Felix so far this year and hold a career .600 average against Felix in 20 at-bats. Vladimir Guerrero has three hits in three at-bats against Felix this year, with a home-run, and holds a career .412 average in 17 at-bats against him. Gary matthews has hit Felix exceptionally hard in his career, with a .417 average, with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 24 at-bats. At least Felix has minimzed the damage from the Angel's new catalyst, Reggie Willits, holding him hitless in four at-bats this season and seven in his career. Maybe its just Willits' turn to break out tonight....
Jeff's younger, more talented, brother Jered is taking the hill in tonight's game for the Angels. Jered has a history of success against the Mariners, sporting a 2-1 record and 4.24 ERA in four career starts against them. Of those four starts, three have been head-to-head match-ups against Felix, with Felix coming out on the losing side all three times. So this could be shaping up to a classic AL West pitching match-up for years to come. Assuming, of course, that Felix gets over that bump and actually beats Jered. Of course, a little help against Jered by the offense against Jered would be nice. The M's big bat against Weaver is Ben Broussard, who holds a .455 average and 1.1.36 OPS against Jered in 11 at-bats. Considering that Richie Sexson has been held hitless in nine career at-bats, and Broussard loves mashing righties, I hope McLaren gives Richie a night off tonight and lets Broussard's bat do the talking against Jered. Raul Ibanez and Ichiro have also enjoyed success against Jered, combining to go 9-for-19, each hitting a home run against Jered. Adrian Beltre has three hits, including a double, in eleven career at-bats versus Jered.
Given the track record of the end results when Felix faces Jered, I'm not confident in the M's coming out on top this evening. If Broussard starts, he could pick up a couple timely hits and keep it close, but I'm still calling this one for the Angels, 9-3.
Oh, and with the passing of the trade dealine and the M's only doing a minor deal involving Julio Mateo (who was sent to Philadelphia, where he can join a "wife beaters" club with Bret Myers) I believe it's safe to say that the M's did the best move this trading season by signing Ichiro and insuring that he'll stick around in blue-and-teal for the next five years. Huzzah! And it sounds pretty confident that superstar prospect Adam Jones will be called up to the big club this week. With the M's collection of young prospects- Jones, Balentin, Clement, Morrow- and their refusal to move any not only gives explanation as to why the team was so quiet on the trading front, but also means the front office knows they have the nucleus of the next young, dominant Mariners team of the future.
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to seing what a AAA-seasoned Jones, who has nothing left to prove in the minors, can do in the bigs. As far as I'm concerned, whenever Jones arrives, then so has the future....
Of course, it doesn't hurt Lackey any when his teammate Gary Matthews Jr. goes 4-for-5 with two home-runs and three RBIs. Or when Orlando Cabrera and Maicer Izturis pick up three hits each, with Izturis hitting his second home-run of the year. Nor does it hurt the Angels any when Jeff Weaver delivers another start more reminiscent of a AAA journeyman- as he was doing at the beginning of the season- allowing six runs in four innings, with three walks and no strikeouts.
All in all, an ugly game for Mariners fans, which all but erase the spectacular 2-0 victory the night before.
Jose Vidro was the "big bat" for the Mariners in last night's game, picking up two singles in four at-bats. In fact, he was pretty much the M's lone bat, as the team could only muster seven singles on the night, being out of it early and struggling against Lackey's dominance. In the AP write-up on the game, Lackey said he atributed throwing more diving, split-fingered pitches against the M's for his success against Seattle this year. (He has tossed 15 scoreless innings against Seattle over two starts.) Thanks a lot for that, Lackey. Oh, and news flash for you: Maybe you should pitch like that in all your starts rather than than just against the M's. Something tells me you'll be one of the league's most dominating starters. Unless simply being an All-Star is good enough for you.
Beltre went hitless in four at-bats, bringing his hitless streak to two games, and dropping his average to .274. Urgh.
So the M's aren't going to be in a position to finish the series a game behind the Angels, and therefore all pressure should be off the team for tonight's ball game. Let's hope the pressure is really off Felix Hernandez, who as we all know, allows himself to implode emotionally when the going gets tough, affecting his pitching in a negative manner. Felix is coming off a brilliant seven-inning, one-run effort against the A's in his last outing, but it's been a couple weeks since he strung together two consecutive starts. And he has not fared well against the Angels this season, allowing 10 earned runs in 9.2 innings for a 9.31 ERA, allowing 16 hits and three home-runs. Indeed, Angels batters feast upon Felix's pitching. Orlando Cabrera has been perfect in six at-bats against Felix so far this year and hold a career .600 average against Felix in 20 at-bats. Vladimir Guerrero has three hits in three at-bats against Felix this year, with a home-run, and holds a career .412 average in 17 at-bats against him. Gary matthews has hit Felix exceptionally hard in his career, with a .417 average, with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 24 at-bats. At least Felix has minimzed the damage from the Angel's new catalyst, Reggie Willits, holding him hitless in four at-bats this season and seven in his career. Maybe its just Willits' turn to break out tonight....
Jeff's younger, more talented, brother Jered is taking the hill in tonight's game for the Angels. Jered has a history of success against the Mariners, sporting a 2-1 record and 4.24 ERA in four career starts against them. Of those four starts, three have been head-to-head match-ups against Felix, with Felix coming out on the losing side all three times. So this could be shaping up to a classic AL West pitching match-up for years to come. Assuming, of course, that Felix gets over that bump and actually beats Jered. Of course, a little help against Jered by the offense against Jered would be nice. The M's big bat against Weaver is Ben Broussard, who holds a .455 average and 1.1.36 OPS against Jered in 11 at-bats. Considering that Richie Sexson has been held hitless in nine career at-bats, and Broussard loves mashing righties, I hope McLaren gives Richie a night off tonight and lets Broussard's bat do the talking against Jered. Raul Ibanez and Ichiro have also enjoyed success against Jered, combining to go 9-for-19, each hitting a home run against Jered. Adrian Beltre has three hits, including a double, in eleven career at-bats versus Jered.
Given the track record of the end results when Felix faces Jered, I'm not confident in the M's coming out on top this evening. If Broussard starts, he could pick up a couple timely hits and keep it close, but I'm still calling this one for the Angels, 9-3.
Oh, and with the passing of the trade dealine and the M's only doing a minor deal involving Julio Mateo (who was sent to Philadelphia, where he can join a "wife beaters" club with Bret Myers) I believe it's safe to say that the M's did the best move this trading season by signing Ichiro and insuring that he'll stick around in blue-and-teal for the next five years. Huzzah! And it sounds pretty confident that superstar prospect Adam Jones will be called up to the big club this week. With the M's collection of young prospects- Jones, Balentin, Clement, Morrow- and their refusal to move any not only gives explanation as to why the team was so quiet on the trading front, but also means the front office knows they have the nucleus of the next young, dominant Mariners team of the future.
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to seing what a AAA-seasoned Jones, who has nothing left to prove in the minors, can do in the bigs. As far as I'm concerned, whenever Jones arrives, then so has the future....
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