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.
It could've been worse. No, really. It could've.
With Horacio Ramirez on the mound against Chen-Ming Wang, this game was pretty much over before it began. But once it started, it was a remarkably close contest, with the Yankees holding a 1-0 lead through five innings. Granted, they widened that lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning, when Horacio petered out. But still, the game was within reach. Until Seattle's bullpen- which has been nothing short of remarkable all season long- came in and tossed batting practice in the latter half of the game, allowing a seven-run seventh inning in which six straight Yankee batters reached base. And just like that, the Yankees steam-rolled the M's on their way to a 12-3 victory.
Horacio actually pitched one of his strongest starts of the year, holding the power house Yankee line-up to just three runs in 5.2 innings. Of his 99 pitches, two-thirds went for strikes. Once the benefit of tremendous run support at the start of the season, Horacio has now allowed three runs in each of his past three starts- with just a 0-1 record to show for it. But this game was all but decided even before it began. By holding the Mariners to one run in 7.1 innings, Wang improved his career record against the M's to 6-0 while lowering his ERA against the team to 2.51. Considering the fact that Roger Clemens appears to have lost the dominating touch against Seattle that he's had throughout his career, it appears that another pinstriped pitcher is stepping in to dominate the M's in every start. Every time Wang is scheduled to pitch against the Mariners, Johnny Mac or whoever the manager might be that week should go ahead and write 'L' over the schedule and make preperations for the next day.
Speaking of preperations for the following game, hopefully John McLaren's plan for tomorrow is to incorporate more of the younger players who got called-up with the roster expnasion into tomorrow's game. Conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that in these "must" wins against a formidable opponent that the M's are trying to best for a play-off spot, it would make most sense to stick with the veterans. However, it was also these veterans that helped lead to this embarrassing blow-out tonight in the Bronx. There weren't many positives in tonight's ballgame. Adrian Beltre , who is quietly having the second-best season of his young career, hit his 22nd home-run of the season. Otherwise, it was the M's top half of the eighth inning that provided the other highlights.
Two longtime Mariners prospects made their debut in a Mariners uniform in the eighth inning of last night's ballgame, former first-round draft pick Jeff Celement, who struck out in his first at-bat, as well as Wladimir Balentien, who despite having an incredible year at AAA Tacoma it was doubtful he'd be able to make it to the big club after he dislocated the little finger on his left hand a month ago. But Balentien was able to make it and suit up for the big club when rosters expanded, and in his first major-league at-bat hit a two-run double, knocking in Adam Jones and Charles Jimerson, who had reached base when Wang left the ball-game. It was a little bit of life, and far too little too late when the Yankees were sitting at an 11-1 lead, but it's nice to see the youngsters inject a little bit of life into the line-up and bring in more runs then the veterans were able to.
Which brings up the question about who should play/sit in tonight's rubber game of the series. Rookie right-hander Phil Hughes- who has been disappointing this year, with a 7.85 ERA at Yankee stadium and the Yankees losing the last four games he's started- is making his first career start against the M's, which means that he'll twirl a two-hit shutout. Considering that the M's have been 1-9 the past ten games, it's of little surprise that a number of Mariners batters have been struggling at the plate. Raul Ibanez (.222), Jose Vidro (.222), and Jose Guillen (.185) have all been ciphers in the line-up over the past week. Perhpas it's time to have them sit and take a rest? Willie Bloomquist can man second base, while Adam Jones takes over for Ibanez in left and Balantien can take a turn as the DH. Jones may not have as good a split against right-handed pitching as the other two do (Balentien sluged .519 against right-handers at AAA this year) but considering the fact that Hughes is a struggling rookie, it might be the most appropriate time to start Jones against a right-hander and, possibly, increase has confidence facing righties.
Jarrod Washburn, the M's hard luck pitcher of 2007, takes the hill for the M's this evening. Jarrod has intermixed some strong starts with some stinkers, but only has a 1-6 record over his last seven decisions due to woeful Mariners offensive support. His last start against the Blue Jays was undoubtedly a stinker, allowing six runs in 3.1 innings, walking five and giving up three home-runs while striking out none. However, Jarrod has been impressive against the Yankees in his career, with a 5-4 record and 2.48 ERA over 69 innings in ten starts against them, including a 2.73 ERA at Yankee Stadium despite a 1-3 record there. Derek Jeter's given Washburn the fits, with a .355 average in 31 at-bats, while Alex Rodriguez has slugged five home-runs off Jarrod for a 1.013 OPS over 43 at-bats. However, Hideki Matsui (2-for-14), Robinson Cano (2-for-10), and Bobby Abreu (1-for-13) have largely been nullified by Washburn.
If both pitchers perform as they're expected to, then it should be safe to assume that the M's will have this one in the bag, possibly even early. However, I'm feeling skeptical and doubtful that the M's are going to be able to stand up to a Yankees team that has the playoffs in their eyes. I'm going to side with the Yanks iver the M's, with the final score being along the lines of 8-5.
With Horacio Ramirez on the mound against Chen-Ming Wang, this game was pretty much over before it began. But once it started, it was a remarkably close contest, with the Yankees holding a 1-0 lead through five innings. Granted, they widened that lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning, when Horacio petered out. But still, the game was within reach. Until Seattle's bullpen- which has been nothing short of remarkable all season long- came in and tossed batting practice in the latter half of the game, allowing a seven-run seventh inning in which six straight Yankee batters reached base. And just like that, the Yankees steam-rolled the M's on their way to a 12-3 victory.
Horacio actually pitched one of his strongest starts of the year, holding the power house Yankee line-up to just three runs in 5.2 innings. Of his 99 pitches, two-thirds went for strikes. Once the benefit of tremendous run support at the start of the season, Horacio has now allowed three runs in each of his past three starts- with just a 0-1 record to show for it. But this game was all but decided even before it began. By holding the Mariners to one run in 7.1 innings, Wang improved his career record against the M's to 6-0 while lowering his ERA against the team to 2.51. Considering the fact that Roger Clemens appears to have lost the dominating touch against Seattle that he's had throughout his career, it appears that another pinstriped pitcher is stepping in to dominate the M's in every start. Every time Wang is scheduled to pitch against the Mariners, Johnny Mac or whoever the manager might be that week should go ahead and write 'L' over the schedule and make preperations for the next day.
Speaking of preperations for the following game, hopefully John McLaren's plan for tomorrow is to incorporate more of the younger players who got called-up with the roster expnasion into tomorrow's game. Conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that in these "must" wins against a formidable opponent that the M's are trying to best for a play-off spot, it would make most sense to stick with the veterans. However, it was also these veterans that helped lead to this embarrassing blow-out tonight in the Bronx. There weren't many positives in tonight's ballgame. Adrian Beltre , who is quietly having the second-best season of his young career, hit his 22nd home-run of the season. Otherwise, it was the M's top half of the eighth inning that provided the other highlights.
Two longtime Mariners prospects made their debut in a Mariners uniform in the eighth inning of last night's ballgame, former first-round draft pick Jeff Celement, who struck out in his first at-bat, as well as Wladimir Balentien, who despite having an incredible year at AAA Tacoma it was doubtful he'd be able to make it to the big club after he dislocated the little finger on his left hand a month ago. But Balentien was able to make it and suit up for the big club when rosters expanded, and in his first major-league at-bat hit a two-run double, knocking in Adam Jones and Charles Jimerson, who had reached base when Wang left the ball-game. It was a little bit of life, and far too little too late when the Yankees were sitting at an 11-1 lead, but it's nice to see the youngsters inject a little bit of life into the line-up and bring in more runs then the veterans were able to.
Which brings up the question about who should play/sit in tonight's rubber game of the series. Rookie right-hander Phil Hughes- who has been disappointing this year, with a 7.85 ERA at Yankee stadium and the Yankees losing the last four games he's started- is making his first career start against the M's, which means that he'll twirl a two-hit shutout. Considering that the M's have been 1-9 the past ten games, it's of little surprise that a number of Mariners batters have been struggling at the plate. Raul Ibanez (.222), Jose Vidro (.222), and Jose Guillen (.185) have all been ciphers in the line-up over the past week. Perhpas it's time to have them sit and take a rest? Willie Bloomquist can man second base, while Adam Jones takes over for Ibanez in left and Balantien can take a turn as the DH. Jones may not have as good a split against right-handed pitching as the other two do (Balentien sluged .519 against right-handers at AAA this year) but considering the fact that Hughes is a struggling rookie, it might be the most appropriate time to start Jones against a right-hander and, possibly, increase has confidence facing righties.
Jarrod Washburn, the M's hard luck pitcher of 2007, takes the hill for the M's this evening. Jarrod has intermixed some strong starts with some stinkers, but only has a 1-6 record over his last seven decisions due to woeful Mariners offensive support. His last start against the Blue Jays was undoubtedly a stinker, allowing six runs in 3.1 innings, walking five and giving up three home-runs while striking out none. However, Jarrod has been impressive against the Yankees in his career, with a 5-4 record and 2.48 ERA over 69 innings in ten starts against them, including a 2.73 ERA at Yankee Stadium despite a 1-3 record there. Derek Jeter's given Washburn the fits, with a .355 average in 31 at-bats, while Alex Rodriguez has slugged five home-runs off Jarrod for a 1.013 OPS over 43 at-bats. However, Hideki Matsui (2-for-14), Robinson Cano (2-for-10), and Bobby Abreu (1-for-13) have largely been nullified by Washburn.
If both pitchers perform as they're expected to, then it should be safe to assume that the M's will have this one in the bag, possibly even early. However, I'm feeling skeptical and doubtful that the M's are going to be able to stand up to a Yankees team that has the playoffs in their eyes. I'm going to side with the Yanks iver the M's, with the final score being along the lines of 8-5.
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