g4 | from the rocking chair to the seats edge

Mariners 8 | Athletics 7

first SWEEP!
(unless this was supposed to be a continuation of the A's "home series" in Tokyo - in which case, we'll settle for 3/4)









Obviously, not Felix's best ever start (but, he'll take the win)...
Can you blame him?
He was a bit shocked and uncertain how to pitch with a large lead ;-)
Felix basically cruised through the first 3 innings, allowing only one hit (a single) and then his focus seem to stray a bit in the bottom of the 4th (after the M's scored 6 in the top of the inning) and he allowed the first two batters to reach via singles, they then advanced on a wild pitch to Cespedes and then he hit him to load the bases. Luckily, he escaped major damage that inning by only allowing a sac fly. The A's would continue to chip away at Felix, until a one time 7-0 lead had dwindled to 8-4 when he left in the 7th inning.

~ Enter, Lucas Luetge making his major league debut with two on and one out .... strike out!
~ Next up, Steve Delebar who threw a wild pitch and then gave up a 3-run homer to Cespedes
~Thankfully, Brandon's first SaveOp was converted

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Figgy continues to go wild...
~ he led off the game with a triple on the EIGHTH pitch from Colon and scored on Ackley's ground out
~ he extended the big 4th inning by doubling in the M's 6th and 7th runs

Munenori Kawasaki made his ML debut (Ryan scratched prior to the game due to a stiff neck)...
~ he bowed to the 3B umpire as he took his spot at SS
~ and collected his first hit, first RBI and first run scored

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Talk about balance...
~ EVERY batter had at least ONE hit (Figgy, Ichi, Seager all had multiple hits)
~ only two didn't record at least one RBI (Figgy had TWO)
~ only one didn't score a run

Then there was Michael's beautiful solo shot in the 6th...
it turned out to be the difference in the game!
So great to see Michael carrying his great spring over into the regular season - off a lefty even!

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the King has spoken...

"This team looks way better than last year," said Hernandez. "We're going to surprise people. We've got young talent over here and we can be good."

g3 | Happy 35th Birthday, Mariners!

Mariners 7 | Athletics 3

Here's a stat for you...
There are TWELVE names on the M's Opening Day roster that had never graced one previously - including SEVEN rookies. Yes, Virginia, there is rebuilding in Seattle.

Sure, it's only one game but, if this is just an example of what the O is capable of, it could at least be a fun and interesting summer, DESPITE of, or maybe BECAUSE of, the youth.

~ 2 at the top ~ 6/9 with 3rbi and 2r
~ 2 in the middle ~ 3/8 with 3rbi
~ 2 at the bottom ~ 4/7 with 4r

The combination of some nice hitting by the M's and some sloppy defense by the A's equated to FOUR runs in the 3rd and eventually...

13 hits + 7 runs = 1 WIN

And, look at Figgy go!
3 hits - 2 rbi - 1 run - 1 sb (including a squeeze play!)
Now THAT is the Figgy we remember in Angel red - nice day at that new lead-off office!

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As for the pitching (normally not an after-thought, but you'll have to forgive the attention to the novelty that is Mariners offense ;-) )...
~ Jason wasn't as sharp as his start in Tokyo yet he managed to get the win, go figure.
~ Delabar was awesome, posting 1.2 scoreless with a couple of K's
~ Wilhelmsen has an adventurous inning, allowing a run on 3 singles and getting K's on his last 2 batters

Oh, and there was a little hub-bub on the broadcast (Krueger dubbing him a "slider speed bat) regarding the fact that Cespedes seemed to stand and admire his 462 foot homer off Jason just a bit too long. M's had the last self-admiration though since they not only got the win but saw Cespedes strike out in his next two ABs vs. Delabar and Wilhelmsen :-)

g2 | scarce as hen's teeth

Mariners 1 | Athletics 4

Yes, one of Dave Niehau's favorite phrases could very aptly apply to the M's offense in general but, it could also apply to...
1) the fact that every run in the game was scored via the long ball, and
2) the fact that it happened in a game between the M's and the A's

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Unfortunately, the M's only had 1of the 4 total home runs...
(Justin's first of the season) and it was of the solo variety. A pattern seems to be forming (ok - only two doesn't really make a pattern but, it's hard to set aside last year's experience) where a good to great starting pitching performance is not justly rewarded.  Jason Vargas pitched 6+ and gave up two hits and two walks and one run (aboard via a walk that scored when Kelley gave up a homer in relief of Jason) at one point retiring 14 of 15 batters.

't was definitely not the bullpen's night...
Larry Stone tweeted that Sherrill faced 81 lefties last year and gave up ONE homer and this year gave up a homer to the first lefty he faced.

It wasn't exactly a steller night for the O either....
Only THREE hits but, good to see Montero get his first M's hit, breaking up the no-hitter in the 5th
And, look at this - SEVEN walks - definitely should have scored more than ONE run.

But, they came away with a split...
which, apparently, is how every MLB season opening series in Japan (this being the 4th) has ended up.

Now, back to Zona...
for some jet-lag recuperation and last bit of tuning up before their "next" opener - in Oakland one week from Friday.

Going to take some time....

To put into words the experience of the last day of the 2009 season...

M's 4 | Rangers 3

I'll be back later to try...

G161 | Snowman doesn't get to eight, but finishes season strong

M's 2 | Rangers 1

Typical Mariner win in 2009...
~ SOLID starting
~ SHUT DOWN relief
~ JUST ENOUGH offense
~ GREAT defense


Fun to see Junior's 630th in person :-)


Ryan has grown SO much as a pitcher this season...
I'm starting to think that his injury early in the season was a blessing in disguise. Can't wait to see what he can accomplish next season (and beyond) if/when he is healthy and with the big club from day 1



AP Photo/John Froschauer

G160 | One tired 'pen

M's 4 | Rangers 7

Tonight..
the Rangers did what they have long been known for
- not so much what they have been know for this season -
hit and hit with authority.

Tonight..
Ian showed his tendencies for rough starts and so-so finishes.
Mark and David showed rare glimpses of their mere mortality.

Tonight...
the M's lost their chance to go from last place with 101 losses to a possible tie for second place.

Tonight...
I was a bit melancholy as I left the stadium. Not so much about disappointment for this specific loss, more so about afternoons and evenings at my "summer home" coming all too soon.

Tonight...
There is also hope and excitement for the future where there once was despair and dread.

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

G159 | Sweep complete.

M's 4 | A's 2


Good to see Mr. Fister back on track...
Should be an interesting battle for the rotation come spring.


Congrats to Adrian...
going out on a good note with a home run
(man alive, will I miss that D at the hot corner!)










AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

G158 | Talk about ending on a high note!

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson


M's 7 | A's 0

Now THAT is the Brandon we all knew existed...
Gone was the self-doubt replaced by confidence in abundance!

To record ONE hit and NINE strikeouts through SEVEN innings against one of the hottest September lineups was truly fabulous! And, to do it with less than 80 pitches and NO walks was simply icing on the cake. Brandon did allow a couple walks in the 8th, but was able to work out of trouble without incurring any damage and turn it over to Shawn, who kept the shutout in tact.

I'm hopeful that Brandon's direction (from himself and from the team) is more definitely defined now. No more 'flip-floppin' ... If that is the case, seems that this type of performance may be more the norm than what we saw earlier in the season - when he wasn't truly physically ready and mentally/emotionally conflicted for whatever reason.

other notes...
~ Junior hit his 629th career home run (another 3-run shot)
~ Adam Moore (who was 4 years old when Jr hit his first) hit his first major league homer :-)

G157 | Felix at less than his best is better than most all others...

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

M's 6 | A's 4

Felix wasn't at his best to be sure...
but Junior (with his 3-run homer in the 5th) and Mark Lowe (relieving Felix in the 8th with the bases loaded and two outs and getting a strikeout) were able to help ensure team victory and add to Felix's CY Award candidacy.

And, getting to .500 was no small feat for this team of 101-losses last year...

"It means a lot. ... Winning 81 games is pretty good for this team," Hernandez said. "It's way different. In the clubhouse and on the field it feels different. Last year it was kind of quiet. This year we just have fun."

G156 | For Snowman, eight is too much....

M's 4 | Blue Jays 5

Things were looking good early - mid...
as the M's touched up Tallet for three solo shots in the 5th inning (including Tui's first big leaue homer!) and "Snowman" had given up only two hits and no runs through six.

Things began to unravel a bit in the 7th...
after a single, a double a sac-fly and another single, the Jays were within one run.

Mikey to the rescue...
hit a solo shot in the 8th to take the 4-2 lead.

But then in the bottom of the 8th things got ugly... Ryan loaded the bases with no outs. Miggy came in and struck out the first two batters, but a siingle and a double later, the Jays took the lead (and the series) for good.


Oh well, at least the Jays' fans enjoyed their last weekend of baseball in Toronto :-)


AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Darren Calabrese

G155 | a day of "firsts"

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Thornhill


M's 4 | Blue Jays 5

~ Ian Snell's first career error
~ Adam Moore's first career RBI
~ M's first 2009 ejection (by a player OR coach)
~ Ichiro's first career (including Japan) ejection

Tough luck ND for Ian...
Despite the error (lost the ball in the lights) this was possibly his best start as a Mariner...
6.2IP - 5H - 1ER - 2BB - 7K

This one's on the offense...
Loaded the bases with less than 2 out in THREE consecutive innings and got all of ONE run
10 LOB - yuck :-(

Here's to the series split tomorrow (and a guarantee of at least a 500 season)

G154 | "Doc - tored"

AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Fred Thornhill


M's 0 | Blue Jays 5

Despite 4 doubles, the M's couldn't get on the board vs. Halladay...
In what may have been his last start as a Jay in Rodgers Centre, he certainly gave the fans something to remember - a 7 hit complete game shutout

Encouraging though, that for the first 5 innings, Doug was matching him pretty well...
in fact, Mr. Fister had a perfect game through 5, then gave up a single and then Hill homered for the Jays first 2 runs and it went downhill from there.

G153 | another step closer to Cy possibility

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese

M's 5 | Blue Jays 4

Felix was dealing today...
continuing to prove that he's not just the M's #1 starter - he is their ACE.

He made a couple of mistakes...
(and Adrian made one HUGE one behind him)
but, the 11 K's and only 3 ER's over 8 innings were good enough for his 17th victory (with a little help from the DA, who earned his 36th save) and to really make his case for the CY (more on that in anther post).

the offense was a bit "jeckel and hydish"....
~ 13 hits, including a "team cycle" (2B Jose, 3B Josh, HR Guti)
~ and Tui's first RBI (sac fly)
~ but 4 GDIP?!?!

G152 | oh those base on balls....

M's 4 | Rays 5

Five Rays got a free pass.

Only three of them were issued by Brandon...
(which is pretty good for him) it's just that two of them came to the first two batters in the bottom of the 6th, just when it seemed like he might get over that "fifth inning hump".

The other two were issued by Mark...
(who I was surprised to hear come into the game - after the long flight yesterday and a 27 pitch save last night) along with a FC and a couple of singles and before you know it the Rays had a one-run lead in a game that the M's once had a 4-0 advantage.

Tomorrow is Felix Day...
so hopefully the bullpen will get a much needed rest from their long flight and two games of much too much work.



AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Nice to see "Condor" (Michael Saunders) in there...
3 for 3 (including a triple!) and a stolen base (double steal w/Ichiro)

G151 | The Ichiro-Jose Show

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara


M's 4 | Rays 3

Of course, after I dub him "Snowman" for his propensity to go 8 innings....
Ryan has a bit of a struggle and is unable to get out of the 6th inning.
He allowed 4 walks and 3 runs in total, but he did do a pretty good Hudini impression in the 2nd - after loading the bases with 1 out, he was able to induce a couple of pop-ups. Ryan would load the bases again in the 6th - this time with NO outs. Shawn came in and allowed 2 runs that tied the game, but could have been a lot worse. From that point on Miggy and Mark nailed it down.

Yet again, the bats come through J U S T enough...
M's pick up their 32nd one-run victory
~ Ichiro a 2-run homer in the 5th
~ Jose with a solo shot in the 8th (gave the M's the lead they wouldn't relinquish)

And then there is that little matter of the jerk fan who caught Jose's home run....
It was his 25th (17 was his previous season high) and he wanted the ball.
Apparently, efforts to negotiate for it (autographed bat, ball, etc.) were in vain.

Someone should have that guy read Baker's piece in the times (linked in my previous post)
Maybe THEN he'd get a heart.

G150 | Series win ... always sweet vs. da yanks

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

M's 7 | Yankees 1


It's always great to beat the Yankees, no matter the time or circumstance of the season.

But, here are some things that made this one a little extra-special....
~ Alex, Johnny and Hideki were a combined 0 for 10
~ The Yanks clubhouse champagne was left corked (they will have to celebrate their playoff clinch somewhere else)
~ And, last but not least, Mariner Central was representin' :-)

Thanks, Lonnie!
It was great to finally meet you and some of the gang!

G149 | CC shows his Cy stuff

M's 1 | Yankees 10

Well, this isn't the Mister Fister we have come to know and love, or at least like...
The last time he faced the Yanks, it ended in a 10-3 victory. Such is the life of a young pitcher - obviously the Yanks, having seen him just last month, made adjustments - he will have to learn to do the same.

Suffice it to say, it wasn't too fun to be at...
(especially compared to the thrilling 9th inning victory the night before)
The bats couldn't get anything going vs. CC and the arms were pretty out of sync individually and as a whole.

Still a chance for the series win tomorrow...
and the possibility to keep the Yanks from clinching a playoff berth on our turf.




AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

G148 | Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

M's 3 | Yankees 2

No one wanted to leave - this was FUN :-)

Ichiro's getting pretty good with this "walk-off" deal...
After going his first 8 years without a single game-winning hit, he has three so far this season
And, two-in-a-row (which hasn't been accomplished in the majors since 2006).
After getting picked off 1B (not once, but twice!) you just KNEW Ichi was going to do something special.

But, as exciting as the homer was...
(and believe me, it was a NO DOUBTER) it would have only sent the game into extras on it's own. HUGE KUDOS to Mike Sweeney for the 2-out double of Mo.

And, as thrilling as all THAT was, it would have never gotten that far if it hadn't been for Felix...He's had more dominant nights, but this IS the Yanks after all.
A complete game, giving up only 1 earned run and 1 walk while striking out 3 ain't too shabby.


One step closer to Cy contention...

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
not sure I've ever seen a bigger smile on Ichiro's face...

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

G147 | They are having fun again...

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

M's 4 | White Sox 3 (14)

What is is about the M's and WS?
Today was the 2nd 14-inning game they played each other this season...
and the M's pulled it out both times :-)

Jose and Bill both going deep to tie the game in the 9th = great

Brandon's first start at home, including 6 walks and 3 runs in 5 innings = not so great

The bullpen's 8.2 innings of shutout ball = fantastic
Oh, and what a way for Adam Moore to make his big league debut (catching nearly every arm down in the 'pen ;-)

Ichiro's game winning hit and the celebration that ensued = priceless

G146 | Shall we call him "Snowman"?

Mariners 4 | White Sox 1
Much has been made about Ryan's hyphenated last name...
He even goes by "hyphen 18" on twitter. I think, in reference and reverence to his propensity to go 8 innings (3 of his last 4 starts have been 8 innings) he should be known as ....

Snowman
:-)

Ryan has done a great job since returning from his rehab in AAA (8 quality starts, to be exact)

"He looked so polished tonight. I'm awfully proud of him," Wakamatsu said. "This is his eighth quality start since he's been back. He's learning a knack to get deeper and deeper into ballgames. I'm awfully excited about him now and in the future."

"Tonight was good because I felt like I got stronger as the game went on," said Rowland-Smith, whose ERA fall to 3.59. "I was making better pitches. The quality of the pitches was better."

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Nice to see David back in the swing...
he hadn't pitched since the 2nd - but didn't appear too rusty as he earned his 35th save

Congrats to Mike Carp,,,
he hit his first major league home run (NY Vinnie has dubbed him "the Big Fish")