ODE ~ Opening Day Eve...

Well, it's almost here and I find myself rather antsy.  Between breakfast with my BFF and chores and other errands, I did at least manage to make it to the Team Store today to check out the new merchandise.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you're my debit card) not a whole lot I couldn't live without (although I only made it to the South Center location, I'm sure the Safeco Field one will have LOTS of goodies to choose from - I'll check that out tomorrow).  Anyhoo, I did pick up some gloves and a cute/cozy little hat...

Here are some links about some new stuff around my "summer home"...

New eats at The Safe
Something for everyone with everything from vegan soup to prime-rib nachos!

Oh no - whistle stops?!?
New overpass may force train whistles to cease when passing Safeco Field.

And there's the new LED Out of Town Scoreboard...

They say it's better in person.
I think maybe they are right - you've gotta be there - and, thankfully, I will be!

And then there's the latest on the re-habbing lefties - both seem ahead of schedule

Now, here's to a homestand that features the Mariners...
~ starters goin' long and strong
~ bullpen working effectively and efficiently
~ defense sparkling like we know it can
~ offense proving that home runs are boring (but surprising ups with a few anyway) by showing that hit 'n' run, sacrifice and thievery are where it's at

Come on M's, do what you do and let's get this ALW party started!

g7 | the ugliest of all...

AP

Mariners 2 | Rangers 9

Never a good sign when the manager makes a visit to the mound in the first inning and, this visit proved no different.  Ian just didn't have it today (allowing 4 earned runs through only 5 innings) and the Rangers bats did (recording 2 doubles, a triple and a home run along with 12 other hits).  The bullpen didn't fare any better - allowing four earned runs of their own.  While the M's managed 9 hits, only one was for extra bases (a Figgy double) and w/RISP they went 2/9

Okay .... time for our boys to head back to Seattle and feel the hometown love!

OPENING DAY at THE SAFE tomorrow!!!

I'll be there - will you?

Go Mariners!!!

g6 | the Guti show!

Associated Press

Mariners 4 | Rangers 3

Yesterday was good start, bad finish.

Today was mediocre start, excellent finish ~ and, Guit had a hand (er, bat AND glove) in it :-)

on the hill
Felix Day!
~ He wasn't super sharp, but still managed to get through seven, keeping his team in the game - and good to see the walk totals significantly reduced (only one)
the pen comes through!
~ Mark was a bit shakey (walked two) but was able to get out of the 8th unscathed.
~ the D.A. pitched a scoreless 9th striking out batter #1 and batter #3 and allowing a VERY loud, long fly ball, that if 't weren't for Guit would likely have tied the game.

at the plate
Started well, scoring in the first by stringing three singles together and advancing on a wild pitch.  A good throw got Guti at home, otherwise would have scored more.  Then, at least a hit an inning in all but 5th, 6th 8th - but no runs.  Then came the 9th ... yowsa - what a comeback!  Nothing more than singles, but when you string 'em together along with a walk and a sacrifice, sometimes it's enough.  And, in this case, the 3-run 9th was JUST enough.

leather-works
Well, there was a nice DP (as depicted in the photo above).
But, the talk of the town (and SportsCenter's #5 play of the day) was this ....

MTC

Paul Moseley MCT

Some thoughts on "the catch"...

“That’s the greatest catch I’ve ever seen,” batting coach Alan Cockrell said.

Aardsma wasn’t totally surprised.  “I thought it was long gone, but if it’s in our hemisphere, Franklin can catch it,” he said.

And in the Seattle dugout, the manager turned to the man next to him and shook his head.  “I said, ‘If he’s not the best center fielder in baseball, I’ll kiss your (rear),’ ” Wakamatsu said. “I’ll challenge a lot of guys to make that play.” 

Starting pitcher Felix Hernandez, who worked seven tough innings and allowed two earned runs, watched that catch from the clubhouse on television.  “I got a little excited,” he acknowledged. “After losing four in a row, that’s just what we needed.” 

Gutierrez was asked if he’d ever had a better ninth inning – game-winning hit, game-winning catch. He thought a moment and shrugged, the way Edgar Martinez used to do.  “Given the circumstances, losing four in a row, that inning was pretty important,” Gutierrez said. “I’d put that catch in my top 10.”

g5 | good start, bad finish

AP

Mariners 2 | Rangers 6
Once again, not a great start time for optimal viewing/listening pleasure (since the game was more than half over by the time I left work) but here's what I gather from what I did catch and read about...

on the hill
Jason got off to a great start - yielding only five hits and one run (solo shot) through five innings.  Then, the wheels fell off and unfortunately, Shawn wasn't much help, although Sean did well after that - too little, too late.

at the plate
Not a lot to crow about here either - only six hits.  Although with three for extra bases (including Casey's first home run as a Mariner) you'd expect at least a couple more runs - but no when you go 0-7 w/RISP.

leather-works
A couple trademark "Guti-gloves" (one in the photo above) were the defensive highlights.
No errors (like the nightmare that was the Oakland series) but no DP's either.

Tomorrow = FELIX DAY!

g4 | leaving OakTown...

Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Mariners 2 | Athletics 6
Thank goodness!
Opening Day was great, and it seemed to go down hill from there.

Unfortunately, due to the start time, I was unable to see/hear the game (hate it when work gets in the way of baseball!).  Let's just say, it does not appear that things went well.

I decided to take my best friend up on her offer to attend the Tacoma Rainiers Opening Night to help distract from the not-so-good feelings of the past couple days.  That game didn't go too well either (and it was frEEEzing!).  But, it was live baseball and good for the soul :-)

On to Arlington they go... 
Here's hoping the defense sharpens up, the offense lightens up and the pitching buckles up.

g3 | another walk-off loss

BENMARGOT/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marniers 5 | Athletics 6

on the hill
He ended the season strong last year, after being injured early, and had a decent spring this season, so, expectations were high for RRS (especially with Cliff on the DL to start the season).  His first start of the season is not likely one he'll be writing (or tweeting) home about, but I'm sure he'll learn from it.

Unfortunately, RRS wasn't alone in the less than stellar performance category.  In fact, other than Sean White, none of the arms were at their best.  't is early ... 

at the plate
The scoring was back and forth all evening betwixt these two "power-houses" and the M's showed some offense life and a little bit of everything...
~ Milton with his first hit as a Mariner - a two-run home run
~ Figgy with his first RBI as a Mariner - a sac-fly
~ Jack W with his first hit this season - an RBI single
~ Jose with a stolen base!

But, though they answered well, they just couldn't add on despite multiple chances.

leatherworks
As Matt Pitman was complaining about the 2 errors on the post game (Ichiro and Adam), I thought I'd take a quick peek at Baseball-Reference.com to see how this platinum gloved team fared early on last season - sure enough - they had 3 errors in a series in Oakland.  Must be something in the water....
Anyhoo, then there was that play, depending upon your vantage/view point, that Milton should/could have made - but instead ended up being the game winner for the A's.  It was a pretty tough play, I don't think I'm willing to blame him for the loss (he did after all contribute offensively with his blast in the first and made a couple of great run-saving plays in the field). 

And so, despite this being the first game the M's recorded any errors and no double-plays, I'm not worried about the defense.  It will be fine.  More than fine, in fact.

Now, if the M's ever need a good 7+ innings from a starter, today would be the day...
You go, Mr. Fister - help salvage the split!!

g2 | We knew there'd be nights like this...

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Mariners 1 | Athletics 2
So you look to the positives, namely, the pitching .... 

• Ian ~ 6.0IP - 3H - 1ER - 2BB - 4K
• Mark and Shawn ~ a scoreless inning each
• Tex ~ yes he surrendered the winning run, but he also showed poise and promise

“He’s our long guy and we have to stretch him out as long as we can until we score a run,” Wakamatsu said. “We weren’t able to do that but what a gutsy performance.”

And the defense ...

• Casey was showing some of that leather he's known for
• another double-play
• and Eric running into wall

But, at the end of the day (as Jack would say) when the only run your team scores is via a wild pitch, you know the offense has stalled and/or the opposing picher is locked in - likely a bit of both on this night in Oakland.

g1 | See Ichi-Fig run, see KC hit, see M's win!

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Mariners 5 | Athletics 3

Let's have some "Fun with Opening Day Numbers"!

We could go with that new pest known as the "Ichi-Fig" that combined for...
1H - 3BB - 3R - 3SB

Or, we could look at the exHalo combo "KC-Figgins" that combined for...
3H - 2BB - 2R - 2SB - 4RBI

And let's not forget "RoboRob" who had...
1H - 2BB - 2R and, oh yeah, a home run (all by his lonesome!)

Any way you slice it, it adds up to a Mariners win!!!
What fun to watch Ichiro and Chone running wild, forcing errors - love, Love, LOVE it!

Felix....
He started a little slow, then cruised, then ran out of gas - probably about par for Opening Day. The walks (six!) were a bit concerning, although I wouldn't be the only one if I happened to mention some of the umps calls that were also a bit concerning...

And then there's my FAV .... 

4 DP's!!!
Figgy in three of them and Lopey started two - so far, so good for the switch-er-roo :-)

It's one of 162, but if this game is ANY indication of what's to come this season...
we are in for a VERY fun summer!

And then there were 25....

Okay - all set....

Rotation
34 Felix Hernández
35 Ian Snell
18 Ryan Rowland-Smith
58 Doug Fister
38 Jason Vargas

Bullpen
53 David Aardsma
23 Shawn Kelley
43 Brandon League
57 Mark Lowe
54 Kanekoa Texeira
46 Sean White

Catchers
32 Rob Johnson
10 Adam Moore

Infielders
13 Casey Kotchman 1B
9 Chone Figgins 2B
4 Jose López 3B
2 Jack Wilson SS
27 Matt Tuiasosopo BN

Outfielders
15 Milton Bradley LF
21 Franklin Gutierrez CF
51 Ichiro Suzuki RF
12 Ryan Langerhans BN
1 Eric Byrnes BN

Designated Hitters
24 Ken Griffey Jr.
5 Mike Sweeney

Disabled List
7 Jack Hannahan, Jack
45 Erik Bedard
36 Cliff Lee

If you ask me, far too many names in that last section. The good news is, those afflicted seem to be healing/rehabbing better/faster than expected, so here's hoping the guys in navy and teal will be at 100% in the not too distant future.

Anxious am I to see this defense in all it's regular season splendor....
~ By all accounts, the big 2B/3B switch-eroo has worked and the super sure hands at SS and 1B should only help the entire infield move forward from springtime experiment to proven success.
~ Obviously, every inch from waaaay left center to the right field wall is covered. Now that area to the left could be a bit of an adventure - have heard that MB isn't necessarily a stellar fielder - apparently he can get to most balls, but his throws tend to be ... somewhat less than accurate. Byrnes will likely get a good amount of playing time there - just cross every appendage you have that as he can keep all of his in tact. Ryan is fully capable and good a late inning defensive replacement.
~ It will be very interesting to see how the catching tandem goes. Rob seems to be healing well after his multiple surgeries and knows he has the utmost respect from his manager (and pitchers) for what he went through last year. Adam is the up-and-comer who is poised to break out, but knows there is still so much to learn and that on-the-job-training is no picnic in MLB.

The rotation and what coulda,woulda, shoulda been - but we got what we got...
~ Between that pesky little MLB suspension looming and that nasty little abdominal strain, we'll have to wait a couple/three weeks on the much anticipated one-two punch of Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Lee.
~ RRS, despite some rocky patches this spring, seems he's ready and rarin' and Jason is lookin' good.
~ But Ian and Doug both had a bit of an adventure this spring but, maybe they'll rebound once the lights come on. 
~ Encouraging words lately regarding Erik's progress. Do we dare dream of Felix, Cliff and Erik all at full strength sometime before the All Star break?!?

Small ball anyone?
Ichi-FIg is sure to be a pest on the base paths - gettin' on and running rampant and providing ample RBI opportunities. The question is, make that the questions are...
~ Who will take full advantage of said opportunities?
~ Will Guti build on his breakout season?
~ Will MB keep his head in the game and produce like he's capable?
~ Will our part time DH's, full time jester/dali lamas stay healthy and contribute as much ON the field as OFF?

Yes, that's a lot of questions but, I remain hopeful that the answers will very interesting and even a little exciting.

Last year gladiators, this year .... ?
The bullpen looks to be even stronger and steadier than last season. Everyone knows their roles going in and most of them just throw heat. If the starter can get through 7, or even 6, and offense can manage just a run or two more than the opposition, I certainly like the M's chances.

PLAY BALL!!!!

Getting to know the coaches...

It seems they are oft over-looked...
Not a lot of credit given when the goin' is good, only blame (and scape-goating) when things go awry.  Here are links to the "capsules" for the coaches of the 2010 campaign along with some links to articles written over the course of Spring Training...

Ty VanBurkleo - Bench Coach

stresses the importance of solid first base "D"

Alan Cockrell - Batting Coach

says offense won't be an issue

Rick Adair - Pitching Coach

follows his uncle's advice

John Wetteland - Bullpen Coach

says there is no substitute for "power in the pen"

Lee Tinsley - 1B Coach

Mike Brumley - 3B Coach

feels repetition (drills) are the key to success

Steve Hecht - Performance Coach