07 Seattle Mariners

[Coug00]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Another win against Oakland...4-1 against them so far. The Oakland offense is just what the M's struggling pitching staff needed.

[Stoud]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Another win against Oakland...4-1 against them so far. The Oakland offense is just what the M's struggling pitching staff needed.

Well, I'm not quite sure that's it...I mean, you look at some of the other teams that they have faced and had success against this year and do the same for the M's and their unsuccessful attempts, and I think you have to come to the conclusion that this won't last. It's great to get such a good start versus our biggest enemy (wrong word here, I'm sure, but all my overworked brain could think up at this point), but do you really expect it to continue over the course of the entire season? I highly doubt it.

Regardless, I have to say I'm impressed with the type of play the M's have made in the past couple games. It's at least a LITTLE more comforting. Looks like the M's bats might be waking up just another tad -- if Ibanez and a few others could just get it going we might be in business.

[Coug00]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Well, I'm not quite sure that's it...I mean, you look at some of the other teams that they have faced and had success against this year and do the same for the M's and their unsuccessful attempts, and I think you have to come to the conclusion that this won't last. It's great to get such a good start versus our biggest enemy (wrong word here, I'm sure, but all my overworked brain could think up at this point), but do you really expect it to continue over the course of the entire season? I highly doubt it.

Regardless, I have to say I'm impressed with the type of play the M's have made in the past couple games. It's at least a LITTLE more comforting. Looks like the M's bats might be waking up just another tad -- if Ibanez and a few others could just get it going we might be in business.

They're missing Swisher, Kotsay, and Bradley. At this point that's a bad lineup and the M's benefited from it with a 2 game sweep. I'll take it though.

The M's are playing .500 ball with most of the roster under performing and only a couple playing out of their minds (Vidro and Johjima). Considering no one is going to run away with the AL West and the bad individual numbers should trend upwards the M's should have a shot deep into the season.

[Stoud]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Well, just as I predicted, Horacio is actually having some pretty good games here -- through 6 IP against the Royals (yeah, I know) he's kept them scoreless.

The thing is, in this league a young lefty starter is a great thing to have, and I am not surprised at all by Horacio's success early on here. We'll have to see if any of this continues, though.

It's the Mariners -- I don't expect too much, even if they are my team.

[Stoud]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Who the hell are these commentators? They suck, whoever they are. They sound like they are just...entirely out of place, and just taking the place of the normal guys while they are away....given, I was getting a little tired of the guys we had before, but these guys....geez....

[pennstlbu]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

How about Brandon Morrow. He's been looking pretty good the last few games he's appeared in. That's a nasty fastball he has. Hopefully he can develop another pitch like that, just like how Putz did with his splitter.

[Stoud]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

How about Brandon Morrow. He's been looking pretty good the last few games he's appeared in. That's a nasty fastball he has. Hopefully he can develop another pitch like that, just like how Putz did with his splitter.

My sentiments exactly -- he was dazzling until he'd thrown his fastball so much that he couldn't even locate the plate with it. Then they came out to calm him down and basically tell him to THROW SOMETHING ELSE, he finally does, and he gets another strikeout.

If he can keep working on that and get his fastball to be more than just fast (it's a tad straight), we might be looking at our answer to our need for a setup man. However, this is just presupposition and wishful thinking -- I think Morrow is still far off from taking the job seriously. Eventually if he keeps throwing that same fastball, hitters are going to catch on and catch up and hit him hard -- he really needs to develop another pitch fast if he wants to stick around.

[Seahawk76]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

I took the day off work yesterday and took my nephew to the game against the White Sox. It was a small crowd since they moved the game up to the middle of a workday so we were able to sit in the second row right off third base.

This was the first time I've seen Batista pitch live and I've gotta say he was lights out yesterday other than the solo shots by Dye and Konerko. He's got better stuff than I thought. And Sherrill and Putz did their usual thing to close the game out.

I'm starting to become cautiously optimistic about this team. The starting pitching, with the glaring exception of Weaver, has been pretty good the past two weeks, and that's without Felix in the rotation. Once we get him back and hopefully have Baek replacing Weaver the M's might have a decent starting rotation. Fingers crossed.

[dieselboy]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Weaver is awful. 31 hits in 11.1 innings! Are you kidding me? Ramirez has been so-so. I'm not ready to call that trade a complete bust for us. Batista has been pitching pretty good the last few outings. And his K-BB ratio is very good for the season thus far.

The Joses (Vidro and Guillen) have both actually played well for the M's. I am surprised. I thought Guillen was going to be our Carl Everett addition to the OF and Vidro would decline.

If Felix can come back strong, I don't see why we can't continue to contend in the AL West.

[ty5oke]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

What a game last night...didn't know the m's could score like that and get the win. By the way, being a braves fan here in the northwest, I think Ramirez was a horrible deal for the M's. The braves were glad to get rid of an inconsistant pitcher who can't hit the strike zone half of the time. Especially for one of the top set up man in the league. You guys think Morrow will be placed in the rotation for weaver or ramirez?? Or will they leave him in the pen and save his arm?

[WazzuRC]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

I'm really impressed with the M's this year. They are exceeding my expectations tremendously. Which could be bad because in a way I want them to fire Bavasi, which would mean they'd have to do horrible.

Anyway, I can't wait until Weaver is gone. Felix-Washburn-Ramirez-Batista-Baek isn't a horrible rotation, especially since Washburn has pitched very well this year. The bullpen is one of the best in the AL, even without Soriano IMO. Vidro has been a lot better too and if Sexson ever hits his weight, this team could contend for at least 2nd in the West.

[Seahawk76]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

Man, the M's bats have been hot this past week. Even Sexson has a couple of dingers and his BA is creeping up to .200. This team can put some runs up and the bullpen has been great all year, so if we can just get some more consistent starting pitching the M's can compete for the AL West this year.

Vidro and Guillen have both worked out so you have to give Bavasi credit for putting together a solid hitting and defensive team. His pitching acquisitions still suck though.

[Coug00]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

The M's are going to need some serious help to win the West, meaning an Angels collapse, but its possible. I'm extremely impressed how well this team has done without a healthy Felix since his 2nd start of the season and with negative contributions from Weaver, Ramirez, and Batista.

You knew coming into the season the M's lineup would be difficult to pitch to. Not a great 3-5, but one of the best 1-9 in baseball. Really, the only terrible bat this season has been Sexson (-1.7 VORP) and he's starting to come around.

Thankfully we've seen the last of Weaver and possibly Ramirez. Feieraband isn't the solution, but let's hope he can be a stop gap until Bavasi can bring an arm in near the deadline. Knowing Bavasi's incompetence he'll get rid of Jones now that he's tearing it up in Tacoma.

[Seahawk76]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

I suspect we haven't seen the last of Jeff Weaver. Or Ramirez. There's too much invested in those two rag arms.

The Mariners are second in the majors in team batting average and 25th in team ERA so it's no secret where the problem lies, and it ain't the bullpen. If Felix stays healthy they'll have two good starters; maybe three if Baek continues to pitch well. When any of the other starters is on the mound, though, it's a total crapshoot if they'll even last five innings and not leave the M's in a deep hole.

[Coug00]

Re: 07 Seattle Mariners

What is wrong with Betancourt's glove (and arm for that matter)?!?! Last season his range, footwork, and glove skill reminded me of a young Omar, but he's been awful in the field this season. His ole' on Vlad's ball in the first inning, comically ruled a hit, led to a bunch of Angels runs in the 1st.

Nice hustle by Broussard.