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 bases-clearing double by Ichiro sounded by home-runs by both Joses in a seven-run sixth inning, it didn't take much from Jeff Weaver on the mound as the Mariners coasted to a 9-4 win over the Mariners. Luckily, however, Weaver dialed in another spectacular August start, allowing seven hits and three runs in six innings, throwing 60 of his 82 pitches for strikes.
The M's entered the sixth inning behind 3-1, due to home-runs hit by the Rangers' Brad Wilkerson and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. But after Jose Guillen hit a lead-off home-run and Raul Ibanez flied out, the M's strung together two hits, a hit by pitch, fielding error, which loaded the bases for Yuniesky Betancourt popped out to Saltalamacchia behind the plate. Then with a 3-2 count on Ichiro, Rangers' starter Kameron Loe tossed a breaking-pitch on the outside right-hand corner that Ichiro just barely got a piece of. After staying alive, Ichiro reached out and slapped the low curveball delivered by Loe out over the head of center-fielder David Murphy- who was playing close for the slap-hitting Ichiro. After knocking Loe out of the game, Jose Vidro rudely welcomed new Rangers reliever with a home-run to right-field. His two-run shot were RBIs numbers 50 and 51, becoming the ninth Mariner to have 50 RBIs on the season, a Mariner first.
Kameron Loe tossed 100 pitches as he was unable to finish six innings for the Rangers. So far this season, Loe hasn't shown much stamina as he's only been able to minimize damage through 45 pitches. From pitches 46-60 Loe's BAA is .321, 61-75 it's .333, and pitches 76-90 batters are hitting .306 against Loe. Without the numbers of OPS or a corresponding breakdown of his BABIP for these later innings, I cannot say decisively that Loe has been getting hammered or has been a victim of bad luck or sloppy defense. But with the high number of hits he's allowed so far this year (142 in 121 innings) it's safe to say that Loe has been hittable, and the longer he stays in the game the Rangers' chances of winning drops lower, as tonights win probability from Fangraphs can illustrate. Once touted as a key member of the Rangers' future rotation, Loe has developed to be a four-inning pitcher, at best. having a swingman start every fifth game for you is a recipe for certain disaster, which is what the Rangers have become synonymous with in recent seasons anyway...
Adrian Beltre went 2-for-5 to bring his average up to .280, a height it hasn't reached since July 15th, when it was perched at .281. Ichiro picked up three hits to bring his average to .352, just a tick off Magglio Ordonez's .353 average. Three other Mariners picked up multiple hits as the team tallied 15 basehits, and even Richie Sexson had an RBI single, now picking up hits in 13 of his last 15 games.
The Mariners attempt to stretch the winning streak to multiple games by facing Kevin Millwood tomorrow night. Millwood has good career numbers against Seattle, with a 7-4 record and 4.22 ERA over 79 innings. He picked up a win when he faced the M's at Safeco a few weeks back even if he didn't pitch particularly strong, allowing four runs on eight hits and four walks in 5.1 innings as the Rangers edged the M's 8-7. Both Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson have had success facing Millwood, each hitting three home runs off of Kevin- in 51 career at-bats for Beltre and 45 for Sexson. Jose Vidro has also had success against Kevin, batting .333 with an .899 OPS in 75 at-bats.
On the mound for the Mariners tomorrow night is Felix Hernandez, who has not had good success either against Texas or at Ameriquest Field. Felix is 2-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 46 innings against Texas, and has gotten pounded for a 9.15 ERA over 19.2 innings at the Rangers' home ball-park. Sure, it would be nice for Felix to put it all together, and have another one of those masterful two-hit, eight scoreless inning starts, but don't bank on that for tomorrow. Michael Young has done the most damage against Felix- with a .375 average and .983 OPS in 24 career at-bats, but then again Young has consistently put up solid numbers against the Mariners in general.
It's hard to pick against the King, but I don't think he'll have his best stuff tomorrow. I'm not saying Kevin Millwood will out duel him in a pitcher's match-up, but in the end I'm going to give the edge to the Rangers, as they'll squeeze out yet another one-run win over the Mariners in Arlington, by a 7-6 score.
The M's entered the sixth inning behind 3-1, due to home-runs hit by the Rangers' Brad Wilkerson and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. But after Jose Guillen hit a lead-off home-run and Raul Ibanez flied out, the M's strung together two hits, a hit by pitch, fielding error, which loaded the bases for Yuniesky Betancourt popped out to Saltalamacchia behind the plate. Then with a 3-2 count on Ichiro, Rangers' starter Kameron Loe tossed a breaking-pitch on the outside right-hand corner that Ichiro just barely got a piece of. After staying alive, Ichiro reached out and slapped the low curveball delivered by Loe out over the head of center-fielder David Murphy- who was playing close for the slap-hitting Ichiro. After knocking Loe out of the game, Jose Vidro rudely welcomed new Rangers reliever with a home-run to right-field. His two-run shot were RBIs numbers 50 and 51, becoming the ninth Mariner to have 50 RBIs on the season, a Mariner first.
Kameron Loe tossed 100 pitches as he was unable to finish six innings for the Rangers. So far this season, Loe hasn't shown much stamina as he's only been able to minimize damage through 45 pitches. From pitches 46-60 Loe's BAA is .321, 61-75 it's .333, and pitches 76-90 batters are hitting .306 against Loe. Without the numbers of OPS or a corresponding breakdown of his BABIP for these later innings, I cannot say decisively that Loe has been getting hammered or has been a victim of bad luck or sloppy defense. But with the high number of hits he's allowed so far this year (142 in 121 innings) it's safe to say that Loe has been hittable, and the longer he stays in the game the Rangers' chances of winning drops lower, as tonights win probability from Fangraphs can illustrate. Once touted as a key member of the Rangers' future rotation, Loe has developed to be a four-inning pitcher, at best. having a swingman start every fifth game for you is a recipe for certain disaster, which is what the Rangers have become synonymous with in recent seasons anyway...
Adrian Beltre went 2-for-5 to bring his average up to .280, a height it hasn't reached since July 15th, when it was perched at .281. Ichiro picked up three hits to bring his average to .352, just a tick off Magglio Ordonez's .353 average. Three other Mariners picked up multiple hits as the team tallied 15 basehits, and even Richie Sexson had an RBI single, now picking up hits in 13 of his last 15 games.
The Mariners attempt to stretch the winning streak to multiple games by facing Kevin Millwood tomorrow night. Millwood has good career numbers against Seattle, with a 7-4 record and 4.22 ERA over 79 innings. He picked up a win when he faced the M's at Safeco a few weeks back even if he didn't pitch particularly strong, allowing four runs on eight hits and four walks in 5.1 innings as the Rangers edged the M's 8-7. Both Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson have had success facing Millwood, each hitting three home runs off of Kevin- in 51 career at-bats for Beltre and 45 for Sexson. Jose Vidro has also had success against Kevin, batting .333 with an .899 OPS in 75 at-bats.
On the mound for the Mariners tomorrow night is Felix Hernandez, who has not had good success either against Texas or at Ameriquest Field. Felix is 2-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 46 innings against Texas, and has gotten pounded for a 9.15 ERA over 19.2 innings at the Rangers' home ball-park. Sure, it would be nice for Felix to put it all together, and have another one of those masterful two-hit, eight scoreless inning starts, but don't bank on that for tomorrow. Michael Young has done the most damage against Felix- with a .375 average and .983 OPS in 24 career at-bats, but then again Young has consistently put up solid numbers against the Mariners in general.
It's hard to pick against the King, but I don't think he'll have his best stuff tomorrow. I'm not saying Kevin Millwood will out duel him in a pitcher's match-up, but in the end I'm going to give the edge to the Rangers, as they'll squeeze out yet another one-run win over the Mariners in Arlington, by a 7-6 score.
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