Thursday, August 21, 2003
MARINERS...BLEAH
The Mariners did a putrid job tonight. At first, I was saying that this one is pinned on Jamie Moyer before it gets pinned on the offense because no one can expect this offense to score 6 runs every night, which is what they would have needed to overcome the runs he gave up. But I thought again and if the Mariners score a couple of runs, then Jamie probably approaches all the hitters different and definitely pitches more comfortably. That said, the way he pitched when his team was behind still wasn't good.
Two plays that put this game away. The first was Cameron getting caught looking with the bases loaded and two out in the 8th after three runs crossed the plate and Dan Wilson hit the only home run he will hit for the rest of the year (three is enough for him). The second was when Benitez had the bases loaded with one out and for the second night in a row, the Mariners blew the 3-6-1 double play and Sanchez was unjustly charged with an error, and all Benitez had to do was block the ball.
Even more mysterious was why Melvin was throwing Soriano when down 3 runs and with two runners on. If anyone listened to the KJR postgame tonight, David Locke was very dead-on when noting that we had all gotten used to the way Piniella used the bullpen. There were the guys that pitched when the Mariners were ahead, and there were the guys that pitched when the Mariners were behind. Locke also said that Lou knew they were gonna lose some games and that at times, you couldn't try to win every single game. Sounds bad, but say you try like hell to win this game, and a move you make in this game causes you to lose one or two later in the week. Case in point, Melvin brings in Soriano today and he therefore will probably not pitch tomorrow against Boston, when they'll probably need him most if say, the Mariners have a 4-3 lead in the 8th with 2 out, 2 on, and Manny Ramirez coming to the plate.
All of this said, the Mariners maintain a 4-game lead because Oakland and Rich Harden got their boo-tays handed to them. That said, there's no excuse at all for the Mariners losing TWICE this year to that hack Mark Hendrickson. Please. And the Mariners didn't get a leadoff hitter aboard until the 8th?? CRAP.
Two plays that put this game away. The first was Cameron getting caught looking with the bases loaded and two out in the 8th after three runs crossed the plate and Dan Wilson hit the only home run he will hit for the rest of the year (three is enough for him). The second was when Benitez had the bases loaded with one out and for the second night in a row, the Mariners blew the 3-6-1 double play and Sanchez was unjustly charged with an error, and all Benitez had to do was block the ball.
Even more mysterious was why Melvin was throwing Soriano when down 3 runs and with two runners on. If anyone listened to the KJR postgame tonight, David Locke was very dead-on when noting that we had all gotten used to the way Piniella used the bullpen. There were the guys that pitched when the Mariners were ahead, and there were the guys that pitched when the Mariners were behind. Locke also said that Lou knew they were gonna lose some games and that at times, you couldn't try to win every single game. Sounds bad, but say you try like hell to win this game, and a move you make in this game causes you to lose one or two later in the week. Case in point, Melvin brings in Soriano today and he therefore will probably not pitch tomorrow against Boston, when they'll probably need him most if say, the Mariners have a 4-3 lead in the 8th with 2 out, 2 on, and Manny Ramirez coming to the plate.
All of this said, the Mariners maintain a 4-game lead because Oakland and Rich Harden got their boo-tays handed to them. That said, there's no excuse at all for the Mariners losing TWICE this year to that hack Mark Hendrickson. Please. And the Mariners didn't get a leadoff hitter aboard until the 8th?? CRAP.
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