g15 | series win!

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Mariners 3 | Orioles 1
And some were worried about the 3,4,5 .... hmph!
As mentioned previously, we'll cut Ian some slack with the emotional AND physical stuff he's had to deal with the past 10 days or so.  We saw Mister Fister last night and the start before last and now.... methinks some difficult decisions coming for Skip and crew when Mr. Lee returns...

on the hill
~ Jason records his second SOLID start...
7IP - 3H - 1R (in the first) - 2BB - 5K
~ Mark in the 8th
~ David in the 9th
The way it's spoze to be :-)

at the plate
Not quite the hit explosion of last night, but certainly adequate, considering the pitching performance.  Nice to see the hits spread throughout the lineup and a couple more doubles (Adam and Jack)

leather-works
Jose had a little boo-boo, but also a really nice bare-handed charge play.  Again, just lookin' more and more like he belongs at the hot corner.  And Kotch continues to dig...

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Tomorrow.... Felix Day!

Cliff's late to the one-two punch party, but....

Better late than never!

Doubly great news today for the M's regarding Mr. Lee....

Suspension suspended!

Sim game went well - rehab start scheduled for Sunday in Tacoma and then his Mariner debut will be either April 30th or May 2nd - on one side or the other of his one-two punch partner who starts tomorrow, Monday in KC and then back at home on May 1st.

Good news regarding Guti too ~ there was a bit of a scare last night when he left the game in the 7th with tighness ins his groin but, Wak says likely weight-lifting related, not a pull or a strain (although I thought the weights were out for the most part - hmmm).  In any case, Guti was back in the line up tonight - 1/2 so far with an rbi....

g14 | and they call him Mister Fister

Elaine Thompson   The Associated Press

Mariners 8 | Orioles 2
Well this was quite the game to have missed!  We had dinner guests and had the radio with the game on in the background - paying just enough attention to know that the M's had gone up big, early.  It wasn't till after our guests left, when I sat down to watch from the bottom of the 8th, that I realized we'd missed something special.

on the hill
Mister Fister was on the mound and he had no-hit the O's through six innings.  Markakis (same guy who spoiled Jarrod's last season) broke it up in the 7th but, what a performance!  In the first, he allowed walk and hit a batter, then retired the next 16-in-a-row.  After the game, Wak said he was extremely impressed with Doug's composure and command and how he has learned from every start in his young ML career.

at the plate
7 runs in the 3rd! and one in 7th - you almost feel sorry for the O's ...
And it doesn't appear there were any cheapies either ~ we are talking FIVE doubles and a homer (one of each from Casey "with the bat" Kotchman!).  The rbi's were bunched in the middle of the order (even Jr. got into the scoring action with a 2-run single in that 3rd inning) while batters 1-2-3 accounted for 4 hits, all 5 walks and 5 of the 8 runs.

leather works
Rarely does a pitching performance such as the one Mister Fister turned in come without some outstanding defensive plays - and this one did not disappoint (even rated TWO of the top five ESPN WebGems) including a great DP by Jack and Doug helping out his own cause with a super pick at first of a snazzy spin and throw from Figgy.

g13 | no brooms for you

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Mariners 2 | Tigers 4
Now there's a rare sight, a Mariner hitting a home run.  It was Casey's second of this young season and he commented after the game that it would be nice to hit one in a win.  It was a solo shot and accounted for the second and final run of the game for the M's.

Casey continues to show off his lovely glove over at the cold corner (ok, I made that up, I just figure if third is the hot corner....).  He did, however, commit a bit of a base running blunder, though he's certainly not alone in that regard of late.  Coach Lee Tinsley isn't too worried though, [paraphrased] "It's like the old saying, about being easier to rein 'em in than crack the whip."

All things considered (death in the family, having the flu and not pitching in 8 days) Ian really pitched okay today.  Sure, the 4 walks weren't great (and the NINE by the combined staff - brutal!) but seems there were only a couple of pitches he'd take back - like that one to Mags that didn't come back.

The bullpen wasn't super sharp (maybe a little rusty?) each walking at least one and allowing at least one hit - except Tex who pitched a hitless/scoreless 6th.  Jesus struggled the most, needing 33 pitches to get through the 8th and allowing that insurance run.

The good news is - a series win, is a series win and the M's now have two such in a row.
O's coming in - here's hoping that series win total increases by Wednesday.

g12 | so glad we have a roof at our disposal...

courtesy Compass Rosy's PalmPrePlus

Mariners 4 | Tigers 2
While last night was GREAT (let's face it, scoring 11 runs is always a good thing) tonight was really more like we expected the M's to win - with SOLID pitching, SPARKLING defense, SPEEDY running and (it wrecks the alliteration, but) TIMELY hitting.

on the hill
~ RRS only allowed 4 hits thru 6 (the 3 walks were a little disappointing, but an improvement).  He gave up a solo shot to Magglio (who hasn't done that?) and the lead off double he allowed before leaving the game in the 7th came around to score.
~ Brandon allowed that inherited runner so score, yet he would get the eventual win ... something wrong with this picture...
~ Mark wasn't super sharp, allowing a run and a walk, but escaped unscathed via the DP
~ David with another 1-2-3 save (we could get used to this!)

at the plate and around the bases
~ Ichi-Fig = 3 hits - 3 runs - 1 walk - 1 rbi - 2 sb
~ Guti still smokin' hot with another 2 hits and 2 rbi (including an insurance run in the 8th)
~ Milty contributing with a run, a walk and a stolen base
~ Casey with a double for the go-ahead rbi in the 7th (though he was out attempting 3rd)

leather-works
~ Jose is looking more and more at home over at the hot corner and Casey's a truly great first-bagger - case in point?  The aforementioned DP (Jose to Figgy to Casey) to end the 8th.
~ Oh yeah, and that Area 51 guy ain't too shabby either
~ And what about Milty?  He made a couple of very nice catches in left

shhhh.... I think I hear bristles rustling...

A song for Hyphen and other M's notes....

In honor of his start today, thought I'd post this fun little ditty (originally found on
Larry Stone's blog) about our "wonder from down under"...

Number 18 - Ryan Rowland-Smith song

In other news....

Shannon reports that Cliff Lee's simulated game went VERY well yesterday and he'll throw another on Tuesday and likely have a minor league rehab start after that before returning to action with the big club in early May.  Suspension appeal still pending...

No definitive word, but various reports have Erik Bedard only about 2 weeks behind Cliff.  Wouldn't THAT be cool?!?

g11 | eleven is a nice number..

courtesy Compass Rosy's PalmPrePlus

Mariners 11 | Tigers 3
I usually enter the stadium through the Right Field gate because I walk from Stadium Station after disembarking from light rail.  Tonight though, I walked all the way around to the west side because I had some business to do at the Ticket Exchange window - traded three of my View Reserve seats for one Terrace Club seat (first row!) for the Friday night game vs. the Rangers on the 30th.  So, that put me near the Home Plate entrance ... little did I know when I snapped the photo above (Batting 1.000 - one thousand bats) that it would be a bit of an omen for the the M's bats tonight - and they would absolutely explode!  (of course, at this point, I'm thinking I need to enter through that gate from now on - what the heck, I could use the exercise).

Anyhoo, I was doubly, er triply excited ...
~ first Friday night game (always my favorite)
~ Felix Day
~ AND, was looking forward to sitting in my new seat in section 331
My old seat was in section 339, so I still headed to my normal concession stand to get a corn dog - but, what's this?  Gyros!  Even better ... Yum!  Then I find my way to my seat and BOY am I happy with it.  I'm in the last row of the first section of the third level (up against the wall) ... and, it's an aisle seat just a smidge to the 3rd base side of home plate - awesome.

OK, now the game - whew!
Let's have some more fun with numbers, shall we?

FOUR 0 NINE Guti's average
TWELVE hits
ELEVEN runs
TEN total Tiger K's
NINE by Felix
SIX walks
THREE sac flys
THREE two out rbi
TWO stolen bases
ONE double play (Felix to Jack to Casey)
ONE triple
ONE sac bunt
ONE bunt base hit
ZERO homers
ZERO doubles

The SIX runs the M's scored in the 5th inning was more than any game total so far this season.  Talk about a breakout ... even this pitching and defense gal can appreciate that (especially given the slumbering lumber of late).

Felix has made THREE starts so far and the M's have won all of them but, this was win number ONE for Felix. He and Bonderman both started out great, but Bonderman would lose it in the 3rd (and never recover) while Felix had a little hiccup in the 4th but, was able to regain his composure and command.  His 105 pitches wouldn't quite get him through SEVEN (he went 6.2) but with a NINE run lead, at least he could exit (with the tip of his cap to a standing "O") comfortably.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

When asked if he had everything working, Hernandez smirked and said, "Yep," before laughing."Everything was good," he said. "Everything was working."---Seattle Times

Sean and Mark gave up a couple of hits and a run respectively in "garbage time" but that was all she wrote .... M's win!! M's win!!

Of course everyone loves solid pitching and stellar D.  But, I'm likely in the minority in lovin' this kind of offense.  Maybe I'm just getting old (like a certain "Kid" we know).  Sure, home runs are exciting and sexy.  But infield hits, sac flies, sac bunts, stolen bases are interesting and ... cerebral ;-)

And, whether some like it or not ...
it's Mariners Baseball.

Oh, by the way, lovin' my view from section 331...

courtesy Compass Rosy's PalmPrePlus

g10 | series win!!!

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Mariners 4 | Athletics 2

Finally!

2 wins in a row AND a series win!
Nice for the boys to go into the off day at home on a good note.

on the hill
Another solid start by a BoR guy - gotta love it.  Way to go Jason!
6IP - 5H - 2ER - 6K - and our favorite (for the second night in a row, I might add) ZERO walks!
And, how 'bout Brandon League?  2 scoreless/hitless innings tonight (heck of a lot better than "the other Brandon") and, the DA a rare 1-2-3

at the plate
Hits all up and down the lineup (including Adam's first two hits of the season) and RBI's all in the middle (all with 2-outs!).  Only one extra base hit (Jose's double) and a few too many left on base - but hey, it was enough and looks to be headed in the right direction.

leather-works
Jose is looking comfortable at 3rd ... very nice snare of a hot shot and another cool bare-handed throw of a slow roller.  Adrian would be proud.

We'll let Wak deal with the base-running faux pas....

g9 | you go, Mister Fister and Uncle Milty!

AP

Mariners 3 | Athletics 0
Save for the error ('s okay Jose, even Adrian made a few) this game seemed to be a microcosm of what I thought the M's would show us this season...
SOLID pitching, SPARKLING defense and JUST ENOUGH offense
(ok - thought they'd run a bit more, but Ichiro's a slow starter, so come May, watch out for the Ichi-Fig!)

on the hill
What a performance from Mister Fister!
8 full innings, 100 pitches, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, 0 runs and ZERO walks for the M's first "starter W"
And the DA came in and, as per usual, made things a bit interesting, but got the job done for his 3rd Save

at the plate
Now, there WERE several frustrating moments - er, at bats, er innings, leading up to the 8th inning.  But, at least there were occasional base-runners and the frustration was gettin' 'em over and in as opposed to Opening Day, when they couldn't even get them on.  Then, the break through - Jose singled, Mike walked and, after showing bunt, Milton homered.  Relief from M's fans everywhere was audible.

AP

leather-works
2 DP's! and JW looking more like the defensive wiz that JZ traded for

The spark has been lit, can the roaring flames be long behind?

g8 | well, so much for the home cookin'

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Mariners 0 | Athletics 4
I remember turning to my mother-in-law after the great pre-game ceremonies (Jack Z and Ichiro receiving their awards, the National Anthem, Randy's first pitch, the Make-a-wish kid running the bases, etc.) and saying, "Wow, that was pretty great, and we still get to watch a ball game!"
Little did I know, the pre-game would be the highlight.

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

AP

Looks like retirement agrees with the Big Unit, that's the biggest smile I've ever seen on him.  So anyway....

on the hill
RRS was looking awesome, perfect in fact, through three.  Then the A's were able to score one in the 4th, still without the benefit of a hit when Ryan walked the bases loaded and Oakland scored on a sac-fly.  Ryan was able to escape without further damage with a pretty nifty DP turned behind him. The A's first hit didn't come until the 6th - and it counted, a home run to left.  The five walks were u g l y - but.... the 7IP and 3H (vs. a hot team) were good and hopefully something to build on.  Shawn and Sean allowed one hit and no runs each in the 8th and 9th innings respectively.

at the plate
How 'bout let's not even go there.  Suffice it to say, the M's were shut-out for the first time this season.

leather-works
A couple of awesome DP's and definitely seeing why Kotchman is manning 1B.

There was that little faus-paux by Milty in LF that allowed two runs to score - hard to say though - was it Ryan's walks, Rob's drop of a third strike or MB's error that was really to blame?  None of it was good, that's for sure.

Tip o' the cap the the A's and especially to Justin Duchscherer.

Anderson and Mr. Fister tomorrow...