Monday, September 08, 2003
CARBON COPY
Moyer got screwed Saturday by the Mariner offense. Today it was Garcia’s turn.
(Today’s stuff is brought to you for the first time by my own game notes from the FSNW telecast, in combo with pitch counts from CBS SportsLine’s GameCenter.)
Stats from Ron Fairly (adjusted to include this game)—
--The Mariners have hit four home runs in their last 13 games.
--The Mariners are 61-17 (.782 win pct.) when they score first, and 21-44 (.323 win pct.) when they do not. That’s right, everyone, the Mariners win OVER THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR TIMES when they score first. The 61-17 record is comparable to two big Sonics teams of the 1990s – the 63-19 team that lost to the Nuggets in the first round, and the 64-18 team that got to the Finals and got Jordan-ed. When the Mariners DON’T score first, they lose WELL OVER TWO-THIRDS of the time. It’s pretty apparent the Mariners are a brutal come-from-behind team and need to score first to win. It sure as hell helps. I mean, when they don’t score first, it’s like they play .600-ball…except they’re LOSING more than 60% of the time. That’s sick considering the Mariners for a big part of the season were playing .600 WINNING baseball.
Stat from the AP wire story from afterward—
--The Mariners have scored first ONCE in their past SEVENTEEN games for a record of 6-11 (.353 win pct) in that span.
Weird stuff about the lineup today: Mabry at DH (ugh), Borders behind the plate. Niehaus and Fairly pointed out that the first thing Borders did was try to establish a rapport with Freddy on the mound by meeting with him right before Freddy had thrown a pitch. I don’t know what the guy said to him, but Freddy would throw a great game on three days’ rest.
On to the game.
Top 1: Ichiro tried to drag bunt himself on, not a bad idea. Mac got a first-pitch ball and flew out to the warning track in RF on 1-2, though the ball was breeze-aided. Guillen got a first-pitch strike and bounced out to second on the next pitch. It was a very quick inning. I can’t remember the last time the Mariners scored a first-inning run. Hentgen: 6 pitches, 5 strikes.
Bot 1: Roberts grounded out (rare because the Mariners couldn’t get this guy out this weekend) to Boone on the first pitch. Garcia threw a first-pitch strike to Mora, got him down 0-2, then whiffed him on a nice breaking ball. Ditto for Bigbie. Like Hentgen, it was a quick inning for Freddy. Garcia: 7 pitches, 7 strikes.
Top 2: Olerud got down 0-2, dodged being caught looking on a 1-2 pitch that apparently was low, then singled on a 2-2 pitch for a NINE-GAME HITTING STREAK?? Perish the thought. Boone took the first pitch for a strike, though it appeared to be down and away. He hit a hard single between 3B and SS on the next pitch. THIS IS A SCORING OPPORTUNITY: TWO ON, NOBODY OUT. Winn hit the first pitch back up the middle and RIGHT TO MORBAN, who caught the ball, stepped on second, and had ample time to nail Winn at first for the double play. THAT’S THE KIND OF CRAP THAT’S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY. So with a runner on third and two out, Cameron flies out on a 1-0 pitch. THEY BLEW IT AGAIN. Hentgen: inn – 11 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 17 pitches, 13 strikes.
Bot 2: Gibbons got a first-pitch strike, fouled a high breaking pitch on 1-1 that Freddy got away with, then grounded out to Olerud, despite Ole’s bobbling it. Batista took a first-pitch ball, and the count went to 2-2 before Garcia whiffed him on a slider. Surhoff took a first-pitch fastball for a ball, turned on a high breaking pitch (bad Freddy) and pulled it foul. The count went full before Freddy got a groundout to Boone on a low pitch. Freddy battled and got through it with a 1-2-3 inning. Garcia: inn - 15 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 22 pitches, 16 strikes.
Top 3: Mabry took a first-pitch ball, but then golfed a 1-2 curve for a flyout to CF. Borders took a first-pitch ball. According to my dad, he was crowding the plate on 2-2 and was caught looking. Given that, the ball was probably right under his elbows, and unless you’re amazing at turning on the ball low and in, it’s really hard to hit that pitch. Ichiro took a first-pitch strike, got ahead 3-0, then on 3-1 hit a one-hopper that Gibbons jumped to spear and step on first with. All three Mariners were ahead in the count in this inning. Result: 1-2-3. Hentgen: inn – 15 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 32 pitches, 22 strikes.
Bot 3: Freddy’s only misstep of the game came right here. Matos took a first-pitch strike, was down 1-2, then took three straight balls for a walk. Machado singled to CF, Cameron muffed the ball, threw it in, and then Mac apparently didn’t think Matos was gonna try to score and there wasn’t even a throw made. Cam got the error from the scorer on the play, but Mac makes just as big an error in my opinion in not being alert and keeping Matos on third and Machado on first. If he does, it’s possibly a whole different ballgame considering how crappy your offense has been and is still about to be. Instead, it’s O’s 1-0 and Machado on second. Roberts then got ahead 2-0, then singled to RF to score Machado (no throw from Ichiro) for O’s 2-0. GAME OVER!!! THAT’S ALL THE RUNS THEY’D NEED. Let’s rest the guys for the next six innings, because it ain’t gonna happen today. If you don’t wanna be ticked off for the rest of the post, you can probably stop reading it now. Mora swung at a breaking ball for a first-pitch strike, then flew out to Ichiro when he just missed on another high breaking pitch from Freddy on 1-1. With Bigbie up, Freddy caught Roberts leaning the wrong way at first. Garcia: inn – 17 pitches, 10 strikes; tot – 39 pitches, 26 strikes.
Top 4: Mac took a first-pitch ball, then bounced out to SS. Guillen took a first-pitch strike, swung at and missed a nice breaking pitch on 1-1, then single to CF on a full count. Olerud took a first-pitch curve for a strike, got down 0-2, turned on a pitch (no, really, he actually did try to pull the ball) on 1-2 but it went foul, then flew out to LF. Boone took a first-pitch ball, took a nice curve for a strike on 1-1, somehow took a 2-2 pitch off the corner that was apparently a ball, then did an impression of Mac by flying out to the warning track on a full count. This team can’t buy a home run right now. Hentgen: inn – 20 pitches, 12 strikes; tot – 52 pitches, 34 strikes.
Bot 4: Bigbie took a first-pitch ball, then bounced out 3-1. Gibbons took a nice first-pitch curve for a strike, got ahead 3-1, then bounced out to SS. Batista took a first-pitch strike, then Freddy got away with a pitch that was up that Batista fouled off. The count went full before Batista was sawed off and bounced out to Guillen. Garcia: inn – 14 pitches, 7 strikes; tot – 53 pitches, 33 strikes.
Top 5: Winn took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, then doubled down the 1B line to extend his hit streak to 4 games. Cameron bunted to move Winn to third. THE ONLY WAY THIS MAKE SENSE (bunting for one run when behind two), according to Dave and Ron, is that Cameron was trying to bunt somewhere between the pitcher and first, but in any event, NOT RIGHT BACK TO THE PITCHER. But anyway, THIS, TOO, WAS A SCORING OPPORTUNITY with a man on third and nobody out. Mabry took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, then hit a fly ball to CF. Matos looked like he was going to catch it, but slowed down and Bigbie didn’t have it either. Winn scored on what was ruled a Mabry double, and it was O’s 2-1. SPOILER: MO MORE RUNS WILL SCORE. Borders took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, and was walked on four pitches. Big deal. Ichiro was on with 2 on and 1 out, and grounded right to Gibbons at 1B, who stepped on first and threw to second where Morban laid the tag down on Borders. Note: Ichiro also grounded right to Gibbons in his last at-bat, in the 3rd. Hentgen: inn – 14 pitches, 5 strikes; tot – 66 pitches, 39 strikes.
Bot 5: Surhoff took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, then bounced out to Olerud. Matos took a first-pitch ball, then whiffed on Garcia’s 60th pitch of the game. Machado took a first-pitch ball, waved at a great breaking pitch on 1-1, worked the count full, and then walked. Bad Freddy. Morban then bounced out to Boone on the first pitch. Garcia: inn – 14 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 67 pitches, 41 strikes.
Top 6: Mac took a first-pitch ball, then bounced out to 2B on 1-1. Guillen too a first-pitch ball, then golfed a flyout to LF. Olerud flew out to LF on the first pitch. Easy inning for Hentgen. Hentgen: inn – 9 pitches, 6 strikes; tot – 75 pitches, 45 strikes.
Bot 6: Roberts took a first-pitch strike, got ahead 2-0, then doubled on a 2-2 pitch. Freddy then buckled down. He threw a Mora a ball on the first pitch, but then got him to fly out to Ichiro, and Roberts didn’t break for third. Bigbie took a first-pitch ball, the count went full, then was caught looking on a pitch that looked up and in. Gibbons fouled off his first pitch, got down 0-2, then smoked one right to Olerud on the fly. Garcia: inn – 20 pitches, 14 strikes; tot – 87 pitches, 57 strikes.
Top 7: Boone took a first-pitch ball then hit a slow roller groundout to Hentgen. Winn took a first-pitch ball, then foul-tipped a 1-2 pitch into Machado’s glove. Cam took a first-pitch ball, then grounded out to Batista on 1-1. Hentgen: inn – 13 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 88 pitches, 54 strikes.
Bot 7: Batista took a first-pitch ball then hit a high 1-1 pitch for a single to LCF. Surhoff took a first-pitch strike, got down 0-2, worked the count full then flew out to LF on Garcia’s 100th pitch. Matos took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, Batista stole second, the count went full, then Matos whiffed on a nice breaking pitch. Machado took a first-pitch strike, the 0-1 pitch was apparently just off the corner, the count went 2-2 then Machado whiffed on a breaking pitch. Garcia: inn – 24 pitches, 15 strikes; tot – 111 pitches, 72 strikes (SportsLine says 69 strikes). It should be noted here that Freddy needed 60 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings, and then needed 40 to get through the next 2 innings. Surhoff’s marathon 11-pitch at-bat didn’t help either.
Top 8: LAST GASP FOR THE MARINERS. Mabry took a first-pitch strike then got beaned on a 1-2 pitch, and Strong pinch-ran. Bloomquist ran for Borders, and his first bunt attempt was a fly ball foul along 1B foul territory. His second attempt got the job done, and the TYING RUN WAS ON SECOND WITH ONE OUT AND FLEET FEET. Ichiro took a first-pitch strike, then bounced out to second to move Strong to third. This is great and all, but dammit, WE NEED A HIT OUT OF ICHIRO RIGHT THERE. I sure as hell don’t expect this team to do anything with two outs anymore, and neither should you. Mac took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 3-0, then walked on 3-1. Guillen bunted the first pitch foul along 3B because Batista was playing back. I wish that would have worked. He took a 1-2 pitch just off the outside corner, and he was lucky with that call. There’s no way anybody should be taking that pitch with two strikes. But he did it again, and was caught looking. I’m not sure why that wasn’t a strike the first time, but I don’t know how ANYBODY can take that pitch TWICE for a strike. Hentgen: inn – 26 pitches, 14 strikes; tot – 114 pitches, 68 strikes.
Bot 8: Soriano and Wilson came in for Seattle. Morban took a first-pitch ball then whiffed on 1-2 high cheese. Roberts took a first-pitch ball then flew out to Guillen on a 1-1 pitch. Mora flew out to Ichiro on the first pitch. Soriano: 8 pitches, 6 strikes.
Top 9: Jorge Julio and Cruz in for Baltimore. Olerud took a first-pitch strike, went down 0-2, then hit a lazy flyout to CF. Boone took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0 and 3-1, went full, then whiffed on a low-and-away pitch and I totally called it. Boone fouled off balls on both the 2-0 and 3-1 hitter’s counts. He just can’t jack the ball like he used to earlier this year. He’s off just a little, but the results are off a lot. Winn fouled off the first pitch, fell behind 0-2, then bounced out to short. Endgame. Julio: 17 pitches, 12 strikes.
Scribbled on my game notes after game: “SAME OLD CRAP!!!”
From the AP wire article, “Doubles by Randy Winn and John Mabry brought Seattle to 2-1 in the fifth, but the Mariners got only one runner in scoring position the rest of the way.”
My bashing for tonight: Ichiro was 0-for-4 and left 2 runners on base. Please tell me the MVP talk has moved away from him. Please. The Orioles leadoff hitter, Brian Roberts, went 9-for-14 in the series. THAT’s leadoff hitting. THAT is a tablesetter right there.
(Today’s stuff is brought to you for the first time by my own game notes from the FSNW telecast, in combo with pitch counts from CBS SportsLine’s GameCenter.)
Stats from Ron Fairly (adjusted to include this game)—
--The Mariners have hit four home runs in their last 13 games.
--The Mariners are 61-17 (.782 win pct.) when they score first, and 21-44 (.323 win pct.) when they do not. That’s right, everyone, the Mariners win OVER THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR TIMES when they score first. The 61-17 record is comparable to two big Sonics teams of the 1990s – the 63-19 team that lost to the Nuggets in the first round, and the 64-18 team that got to the Finals and got Jordan-ed. When the Mariners DON’T score first, they lose WELL OVER TWO-THIRDS of the time. It’s pretty apparent the Mariners are a brutal come-from-behind team and need to score first to win. It sure as hell helps. I mean, when they don’t score first, it’s like they play .600-ball…except they’re LOSING more than 60% of the time. That’s sick considering the Mariners for a big part of the season were playing .600 WINNING baseball.
Stat from the AP wire story from afterward—
--The Mariners have scored first ONCE in their past SEVENTEEN games for a record of 6-11 (.353 win pct) in that span.
Weird stuff about the lineup today: Mabry at DH (ugh), Borders behind the plate. Niehaus and Fairly pointed out that the first thing Borders did was try to establish a rapport with Freddy on the mound by meeting with him right before Freddy had thrown a pitch. I don’t know what the guy said to him, but Freddy would throw a great game on three days’ rest.
On to the game.
Top 1: Ichiro tried to drag bunt himself on, not a bad idea. Mac got a first-pitch ball and flew out to the warning track in RF on 1-2, though the ball was breeze-aided. Guillen got a first-pitch strike and bounced out to second on the next pitch. It was a very quick inning. I can’t remember the last time the Mariners scored a first-inning run. Hentgen: 6 pitches, 5 strikes.
Bot 1: Roberts grounded out (rare because the Mariners couldn’t get this guy out this weekend) to Boone on the first pitch. Garcia threw a first-pitch strike to Mora, got him down 0-2, then whiffed him on a nice breaking ball. Ditto for Bigbie. Like Hentgen, it was a quick inning for Freddy. Garcia: 7 pitches, 7 strikes.
Top 2: Olerud got down 0-2, dodged being caught looking on a 1-2 pitch that apparently was low, then singled on a 2-2 pitch for a NINE-GAME HITTING STREAK?? Perish the thought. Boone took the first pitch for a strike, though it appeared to be down and away. He hit a hard single between 3B and SS on the next pitch. THIS IS A SCORING OPPORTUNITY: TWO ON, NOBODY OUT. Winn hit the first pitch back up the middle and RIGHT TO MORBAN, who caught the ball, stepped on second, and had ample time to nail Winn at first for the double play. THAT’S THE KIND OF CRAP THAT’S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY. So with a runner on third and two out, Cameron flies out on a 1-0 pitch. THEY BLEW IT AGAIN. Hentgen: inn – 11 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 17 pitches, 13 strikes.
Bot 2: Gibbons got a first-pitch strike, fouled a high breaking pitch on 1-1 that Freddy got away with, then grounded out to Olerud, despite Ole’s bobbling it. Batista took a first-pitch ball, and the count went to 2-2 before Garcia whiffed him on a slider. Surhoff took a first-pitch fastball for a ball, turned on a high breaking pitch (bad Freddy) and pulled it foul. The count went full before Freddy got a groundout to Boone on a low pitch. Freddy battled and got through it with a 1-2-3 inning. Garcia: inn - 15 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 22 pitches, 16 strikes.
Top 3: Mabry took a first-pitch ball, but then golfed a 1-2 curve for a flyout to CF. Borders took a first-pitch ball. According to my dad, he was crowding the plate on 2-2 and was caught looking. Given that, the ball was probably right under his elbows, and unless you’re amazing at turning on the ball low and in, it’s really hard to hit that pitch. Ichiro took a first-pitch strike, got ahead 3-0, then on 3-1 hit a one-hopper that Gibbons jumped to spear and step on first with. All three Mariners were ahead in the count in this inning. Result: 1-2-3. Hentgen: inn – 15 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 32 pitches, 22 strikes.
Bot 3: Freddy’s only misstep of the game came right here. Matos took a first-pitch strike, was down 1-2, then took three straight balls for a walk. Machado singled to CF, Cameron muffed the ball, threw it in, and then Mac apparently didn’t think Matos was gonna try to score and there wasn’t even a throw made. Cam got the error from the scorer on the play, but Mac makes just as big an error in my opinion in not being alert and keeping Matos on third and Machado on first. If he does, it’s possibly a whole different ballgame considering how crappy your offense has been and is still about to be. Instead, it’s O’s 1-0 and Machado on second. Roberts then got ahead 2-0, then singled to RF to score Machado (no throw from Ichiro) for O’s 2-0. GAME OVER!!! THAT’S ALL THE RUNS THEY’D NEED. Let’s rest the guys for the next six innings, because it ain’t gonna happen today. If you don’t wanna be ticked off for the rest of the post, you can probably stop reading it now. Mora swung at a breaking ball for a first-pitch strike, then flew out to Ichiro when he just missed on another high breaking pitch from Freddy on 1-1. With Bigbie up, Freddy caught Roberts leaning the wrong way at first. Garcia: inn – 17 pitches, 10 strikes; tot – 39 pitches, 26 strikes.
Top 4: Mac took a first-pitch ball, then bounced out to SS. Guillen took a first-pitch strike, swung at and missed a nice breaking pitch on 1-1, then single to CF on a full count. Olerud took a first-pitch curve for a strike, got down 0-2, turned on a pitch (no, really, he actually did try to pull the ball) on 1-2 but it went foul, then flew out to LF. Boone took a first-pitch ball, took a nice curve for a strike on 1-1, somehow took a 2-2 pitch off the corner that was apparently a ball, then did an impression of Mac by flying out to the warning track on a full count. This team can’t buy a home run right now. Hentgen: inn – 20 pitches, 12 strikes; tot – 52 pitches, 34 strikes.
Bot 4: Bigbie took a first-pitch ball, then bounced out 3-1. Gibbons took a nice first-pitch curve for a strike, got ahead 3-1, then bounced out to SS. Batista took a first-pitch strike, then Freddy got away with a pitch that was up that Batista fouled off. The count went full before Batista was sawed off and bounced out to Guillen. Garcia: inn – 14 pitches, 7 strikes; tot – 53 pitches, 33 strikes.
Top 5: Winn took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, then doubled down the 1B line to extend his hit streak to 4 games. Cameron bunted to move Winn to third. THE ONLY WAY THIS MAKE SENSE (bunting for one run when behind two), according to Dave and Ron, is that Cameron was trying to bunt somewhere between the pitcher and first, but in any event, NOT RIGHT BACK TO THE PITCHER. But anyway, THIS, TOO, WAS A SCORING OPPORTUNITY with a man on third and nobody out. Mabry took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, then hit a fly ball to CF. Matos looked like he was going to catch it, but slowed down and Bigbie didn’t have it either. Winn scored on what was ruled a Mabry double, and it was O’s 2-1. SPOILER: MO MORE RUNS WILL SCORE. Borders took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, and was walked on four pitches. Big deal. Ichiro was on with 2 on and 1 out, and grounded right to Gibbons at 1B, who stepped on first and threw to second where Morban laid the tag down on Borders. Note: Ichiro also grounded right to Gibbons in his last at-bat, in the 3rd. Hentgen: inn – 14 pitches, 5 strikes; tot – 66 pitches, 39 strikes.
Bot 5: Surhoff took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, then bounced out to Olerud. Matos took a first-pitch ball, then whiffed on Garcia’s 60th pitch of the game. Machado took a first-pitch ball, waved at a great breaking pitch on 1-1, worked the count full, and then walked. Bad Freddy. Morban then bounced out to Boone on the first pitch. Garcia: inn – 14 pitches, 8 strikes; tot – 67 pitches, 41 strikes.
Top 6: Mac took a first-pitch ball, then bounced out to 2B on 1-1. Guillen too a first-pitch ball, then golfed a flyout to LF. Olerud flew out to LF on the first pitch. Easy inning for Hentgen. Hentgen: inn – 9 pitches, 6 strikes; tot – 75 pitches, 45 strikes.
Bot 6: Roberts took a first-pitch strike, got ahead 2-0, then doubled on a 2-2 pitch. Freddy then buckled down. He threw a Mora a ball on the first pitch, but then got him to fly out to Ichiro, and Roberts didn’t break for third. Bigbie took a first-pitch ball, the count went full, then was caught looking on a pitch that looked up and in. Gibbons fouled off his first pitch, got down 0-2, then smoked one right to Olerud on the fly. Garcia: inn – 20 pitches, 14 strikes; tot – 87 pitches, 57 strikes.
Top 7: Boone took a first-pitch ball then hit a slow roller groundout to Hentgen. Winn took a first-pitch ball, then foul-tipped a 1-2 pitch into Machado’s glove. Cam took a first-pitch ball, then grounded out to Batista on 1-1. Hentgen: inn – 13 pitches, 9 strikes; tot – 88 pitches, 54 strikes.
Bot 7: Batista took a first-pitch ball then hit a high 1-1 pitch for a single to LCF. Surhoff took a first-pitch strike, got down 0-2, worked the count full then flew out to LF on Garcia’s 100th pitch. Matos took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0, Batista stole second, the count went full, then Matos whiffed on a nice breaking pitch. Machado took a first-pitch strike, the 0-1 pitch was apparently just off the corner, the count went 2-2 then Machado whiffed on a breaking pitch. Garcia: inn – 24 pitches, 15 strikes; tot – 111 pitches, 72 strikes (SportsLine says 69 strikes). It should be noted here that Freddy needed 60 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings, and then needed 40 to get through the next 2 innings. Surhoff’s marathon 11-pitch at-bat didn’t help either.
Top 8: LAST GASP FOR THE MARINERS. Mabry took a first-pitch strike then got beaned on a 1-2 pitch, and Strong pinch-ran. Bloomquist ran for Borders, and his first bunt attempt was a fly ball foul along 1B foul territory. His second attempt got the job done, and the TYING RUN WAS ON SECOND WITH ONE OUT AND FLEET FEET. Ichiro took a first-pitch strike, then bounced out to second to move Strong to third. This is great and all, but dammit, WE NEED A HIT OUT OF ICHIRO RIGHT THERE. I sure as hell don’t expect this team to do anything with two outs anymore, and neither should you. Mac took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 3-0, then walked on 3-1. Guillen bunted the first pitch foul along 3B because Batista was playing back. I wish that would have worked. He took a 1-2 pitch just off the outside corner, and he was lucky with that call. There’s no way anybody should be taking that pitch with two strikes. But he did it again, and was caught looking. I’m not sure why that wasn’t a strike the first time, but I don’t know how ANYBODY can take that pitch TWICE for a strike. Hentgen: inn – 26 pitches, 14 strikes; tot – 114 pitches, 68 strikes.
Bot 8: Soriano and Wilson came in for Seattle. Morban took a first-pitch ball then whiffed on 1-2 high cheese. Roberts took a first-pitch ball then flew out to Guillen on a 1-1 pitch. Mora flew out to Ichiro on the first pitch. Soriano: 8 pitches, 6 strikes.
Top 9: Jorge Julio and Cruz in for Baltimore. Olerud took a first-pitch strike, went down 0-2, then hit a lazy flyout to CF. Boone took a first-pitch ball, got ahead 2-0 and 3-1, went full, then whiffed on a low-and-away pitch and I totally called it. Boone fouled off balls on both the 2-0 and 3-1 hitter’s counts. He just can’t jack the ball like he used to earlier this year. He’s off just a little, but the results are off a lot. Winn fouled off the first pitch, fell behind 0-2, then bounced out to short. Endgame. Julio: 17 pitches, 12 strikes.
Scribbled on my game notes after game: “SAME OLD CRAP!!!”
From the AP wire article, “Doubles by Randy Winn and John Mabry brought Seattle to 2-1 in the fifth, but the Mariners got only one runner in scoring position the rest of the way.”
My bashing for tonight: Ichiro was 0-for-4 and left 2 runners on base. Please tell me the MVP talk has moved away from him. Please. The Orioles leadoff hitter, Brian Roberts, went 9-for-14 in the series. THAT’s leadoff hitting. THAT is a tablesetter right there.
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