Sunday, May 02, 2004
ALL GROWED UP
Full recap here, just late because I was out doing stuff for most of the afternoon. To hopefully keep my stuff half-original, I've fasted from Mariner weblogs for the day to keep the material fresh and hopefully not ripoff anyone else's postgame reactions; just me being paranoid, I guess, and not wanting to be redundant by subconscious instead of by chance. If that happens, then I guess great minds think alike.
Jeremy Bonderman had his longest start of the year and the way his first six innings went, I thought he would at least make it to the 9th and have a chance for the complete game until the Mariner offense showed some shred of worth in the later innings and started fouling some pitches off and even scoring runs. Two of them.
With the 4-2 loss, the Mariners once again find themselves at the familiar .333 mark, now at 8-16. Not too long ago, we heard some people (maybe even a couple players and/or people in the organization) saying something along the lines of "hey, there's still hope, the Yankees are struggling too."
The Yankees have won five straight. Before their current winning streak, the Yanks were 8-11, which could be construed as their "rock bottom." The Mariners got their 8th win on Friday, but are now 8-16. Not surprisingly, the better team out of the Yankees and Mariners managed to right the ship. That team that did isn't the one whose name fits better with the nautical play on words.
To the game, one where Bretn Boone was scratched from the lineup with back spasms. I think this conversation might have taken place before the game...
Boone (seeing Edgarless lineup card): What the hell is this crap? Hansen as the DH? What the hell's the point today?
Melvin: Do you have something to say about the lineup, Boonie?
Boone: I think I've got "back spasms," Bob...
On to the game...
top 1 -- Ichiro 1-1 1B LF; McCracken 1-2 SAC 2-3; Spiezio 1st-pitch 8; Ibanez 0-2...1-2 F5
bot 1 -- Sanchez 2-2 8; Vina 1-0 2B LF corner; Rodriguez 1st-pitch HR CF (DET 2-0); Higginson 1-1 6-3; Monroe 1-2...full 5-3
>> Looks like Ichiro has to hit a leadoff bomb if he ever hopes to score early in a game. He got aboard and was on second with one out, but was left there. I wish I was tracking that Mariners-start-out-behind stat, because I would have been able to add to that right here and bring a little more legitimacy to the post. Anyway, Fernando Vina doubled into the corner in left and Ivan Rodriguez made Ryan Franklin look like the homer-yielding wizard that he is. It was called a double at first, but an umpire conference got it right, and they were proven right with the quick replay that showed the ball going off the top of the wall and off the padding of the old wall. No argument from me. Two run deficit right away.
top 2 -- Hansen 1st-pitch U3; Cabrera 1-1 5-3; Olerud 0-2...1-2 slider swing K
bot 2 -- Guillen 1-2...look K; Pena 0-1 IF 1B (SS); Norton 1-2...full swing K (Pena SB); Inge 1B CF (DET 3-0, Inge out 8-3-5?)
>> The Mariner offense was futile, which would become a familiar site over the next few innings as Bonderman started to catch fire. As for the Tiger bats, they added another run, thanks in part due to a bad Dan Wilson throw when Carlos Pena took off on a full count, which put the runner in scoring position. Brandon Inge came through with the two-out hit, and was gunned down going to second in another one of those weird plays where John Olerud cuts off Randy Winn trying to nail a guy at home with a 50mph throw. The run scores, but they nail the guy for the last out of the inning. It's like yesterday when I was doing laundry and I had all the quarters I needed. I had to wash three loads, and that's 12 quarters total. I tried to put the quarters in for the first load, and one quarter seemed to be unusually pesky, and I thought, "hey, maybe it's just one of those pesky quarters that just doesn't go in the first time." So I hit "coin return" and took the quarter out and put more quarters in to add up to 75 cents before trying to put in the suspect quarter again. It still wouldn't worked, so I looked at the quarter. It was Canadian. I can't tell you how much I hate the fact that stateside quarter slots won't take Canadian quarters, yet people are stupid enough to keep the Canadian quarters in circulation here, however so anomalous it is. Point is, the damage was done, so I had to leave my laundry unattended for two minutes and climb up the stairs to my room to get a single quarter. Grr. Okay, maybe the story had nothing to do with the Mariners except for me forcing the punchline. My laundry did get done, but I had to be unlazy and get the final quarter. The Mariners got the last out of the inning, but the run scored.
top 3 -- Wilson 0-2...2-2 9; Bloomquist 0-2...6-3; Ichiro 2-2 3-1
bot 3 -- Sanchez 1st-pitch 1-3; Vina 0-2 4-3; Rodriguez 0-2...3-1
>> Bonderman had set down nine straight. Franklin had a fairly short inning against the top third of the Tiger lineup.
top 4 -- McCracken 2-2 4-3; Spiezio 1st-pitch 9; Ibanez 1-2...full 3-1
bot 4 -- Higginson 1st-pitch 9; Monroe 1st-pitch 4-3; Guillen 1-2...full BB; Pena 1-0 U3
>> Bonderman ran his streak to twelve straight as Scott Spiezio flew out on the first pitch for the second time in the game. Dave Niehaus congratulated Ron Fairly on getting the AFLAC trivia question correct, saying Ron could have a "12-gauge shotgun to take care of Clyde." Clyde must have rubbed Dave the wrong way or something. We'll look into this. Franklin got two outs on two pitches, walked Carlos Guillen, then used two pitches to get the third out.
top 5 -- Hansen 1-1 lineout ladder climb 3; Cabrera 1st-pitch running 8; Olerud 1-0 7
bot 5 -- (AURILIA IN) Norton 1-0 HR RF (DET 4-0); Inge 0-2 swing K; Sanchez 1-2 1B LCF; Vina (1st-pitch sanchez CS 2-4) 2-2 1B RF; Rodriguez 1-1 F3
>> Jeremy Bonderman threw six pitches in the 5th to run his streak to 15. Rich Aurilia came into the game not because Willie Bloomquist sucked, but because Bloomquist wrenched his back touching first base on a groundout. Greg Norton capped the Tiger scoring with a SHOT to right field which cleared the bullpen and reached the stands. Luckily the Mariners guessed right on a pitchout and nailed Alex Sanchez at second, because he probably would have scored in Vina's single into centerfield, because I'm pretty sure that was Winn's ball.
top 6 -- Wilson 0-1 near track 8; Aurilia 1st-pitch 1B LF; Ichiro 2-0 4-6-3 DP (4th this year)
bot 6 -- Higginson 1-0 F5; Monroe 1-1 F3; Guillen 1st-pitch 8
>> Rich Aurilia's first at-bat of the game broke Jeremy Bonderman's string at 16 straight Mariners retired. The Aurilia single was all for the Mariners though, as Ichiro bounced into his 4th double play of the year. Simple stupid multiplication says he's on pace to GIDP over 25 times this year. If that really happens...yikes. As small worthless consolation, Franklin set the Tigers down 1-2-3 in the 6th. Now for something completely stupid, Jeremy Bonderman had thrown 56 PITCHES through SIX INNINGS. Did the Mariners try to use the same game plan they used the first time against Tim Hudson this year? Is Paul Molitor behind this? I'll elaborate on this later if I don't forget...
top 7 -- McCracken 1-2...2-2 7; Spiezio 3-0...3-1 9; Ibanez 1-2...full...3B RCF; Hansen 2-0...2-1 4-3
bot 7 -- Pena 0-2...1-2 1B RF; PUTZ WARMING; Norton 1-2...2-2 DP 4-6-3; Inge 1-2...2-2 1-3
>> Raul Ibanez hit a triple, but who cares? It's anomalous, and it's with two outs, so he's not going to score. Carlos Pena's leadoff single went for naught as Greg Norton bounced into a double play. On another note, the Mariners finally started ramping up Bonderman's pitch count, as Quinton McCracken, Spiezio, and Ibanez got into some deep counts and fouled off a few pitches.
top 8 -- Cabrera 1-0 IF 1B (3rd); Olerud 0-2...full 2B RF foulish (DET 4-1); PATTERSON WARMING; Wilson 1-0 4-3; Aurilia 0-2 (MYERS, PUTZ WARMING)...(Dave and Ron on Aurilia circling after foul balls)...2-2 swing K (12 pitches); Ichiro 1-2...2-2...1B E6 (SS, DET 4-2, Guillen throw foul ground); PATTERSON IN; EDGAR PH 0-2 slider low/away K
bot 8 -- WINN, MYERS IN; Sanchez 1-1 bunt 1B (Myers bobble); Vina 0-1 SAC 5-3; Rodriguez IBB; Higginson 1-0 4-6-3 DP
>> The Mariners finally put up a crooked number as Bonderman was running into trouble. Two straight hits netted the Mariners their first run, followed by two straight outs, the latter of which was a very long at-bat by Rich Aurilia where he fouled off a bunch of outside pitches. Dave and Ron noted Aurilia's circle-clockwise-around-behind-the-umpire-and-back-to-the-box routine. Ichiro got aboard, then Guillen threw the ball way wide of first base. I was unclear if Ichiro's ball would be ruled as a hit, and it was, giving Ichiro a multi-hit game, his first since April 23rd against Texas. In the stretch since the last multi-hit game, Ichiro went 4-for-27, which is a spectacular .148 clip. The Guillen play gave the Mariners their second run. Then Edgar struck out on three pitches in the pinch. Mike Myers came on in the 9th and gave up a leadoff bunt single when he had trouble fielding the ball off Alex Sanchez' bat. The little ball approach for the insurance run backfired for the Tigers here, as Ivan Rodriguez was walked and Bobby Higginson bounced into the double play.
top 9 -- URBINA IN; Spiezio 1-2...2-2 swing K; Ibanez 2-0...3-1...full...9; Hansen 2-1 8
>> Ugueth Urbina had a 1-2-3 9th. Raul Ibanez had two favorable counts and flew out to rightfield.
Jeremy Bonderman threw 56 pitches in the first six innings. Just to give somewhat of an indication of just how good he was, the only three-ball count he got into in the first six innings was to Raul Ibanez in the 4th. His next three-ball count was to Scott Spiezio in the 7th, a five-pitch flyout after McCracken had forced an 8-pitch at-bat.
In the first six innings, Bonderman threw a first-pitch ball to five of 19 hitters. What happened to these five batters? (source)
(2nd, 1 out) Jolbert Cabrera: Ball, Foul, grounded out to third.
(3rd, 2 out) Ichiro Suzuki: Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, grounded out to first.
(4th, leadoff) Quinton McCracken: Ball, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, grounded out to second.
(5th, 2 out) John Olerud: Ball, flied out to left.
(6th, 1 out) Ichiro Suzuki: Ball, Ball, grounded into double play second to shortstop to first, Aurilia out at second.
So, even when Bonderman fell behind the hitters to begin with (I'd have to REALLY have no life to look at what happened if he got behind with 2-1 counts because I really only take note of 2-0, 3-1, 2-strike, and full counts), he got ALL FIVE of those hitters out in those first six sparkling innings.
Sure, the Mariners scratched across their two runs in the 7th, but to only have one batter to be at the plate for more than 5 pitches in the first six innings (Ibanez 6-pitch groundout in the 4th)...AAARGHGHGHHH!!! The Mariners also swung at the first pitch seven times in those first six innings (Spiezio twice). So, to sum the Mariners' first-pitch doings in Bonderman's first six innings, they took five first-pitch balls (and got outs in all of those at-bats), swung at the first pitch and made outs four of five times (Aurilia singled), fouled off the first pitch twice, and took seven strikes.
The Mariners did not draw a SINGLE WALK in this game.
Ryan Franklin's outing? Okay. He gave up four runs, which on a good team might net him a win a little more than half the time (anyone keep stats on that?). On this team, probably not. He gave up 8 hits, 2 of them being homers.
Gameball: John Olerud. 1-for-3 with an RBI. Ichiro with his first multi-hit game in a while could be here, but this double play crap has got to stop.
Goat: Scott Spiezio. The guy made outs on two pitches total in his first two at-bats. In his other two at-bats, he flew out after having a 3-0 count in the 7th then whiffed on a 2-2 count in the 9th.
Three...three-three! Not the number of the beast by any means. If the Mariners won at the same clip as Iron Maiden's hit song, they'd be winning two-thirds of their games. With this number, well, I'd rather have Shaun Alexander rush for that many yards twice against the Rams next fall. a, I just saw Shaun Alexander in an ad for Christian Life Center. I was sort of surprised, not being one conditioned to see a pro athlete of such high stature in such a commercial for a religious organization. I guess if you like the idea, you like the commercial, and if you hate it, then I guess the commercial's worth it to see pastor Casey Treat get leveled near the end when Shaun participates in Take Your Pastor to Work Day.
Before I leave here, I have one off-topic thing...I've watched Saturday Night Live since I was a third-grader or so. The 17th-19th season were some golden times for the show, then the 20th season came, and the cast ran its course. Everyone was fired, and the cast started anew, making the 20th and 21st seasons the weirdest of my years. Things started picking up steam, then Norm Macdonald was axed by then-NBC president (and OJ golfing buddy) Don Ohlmeyer basically for making one too many OJ jokes during the Weekend Update, which has never been as good since, with Colin Quinn being lackluster and Fallon/Fey being twenty times more indulgent that Norm ever was (Fey's stupid rants against Norm's many anal rape jokes). Will Ferrell left, and the show's been treading water since. Darrell Hammond is STILL their only truly solid impressionist (this basically means Jimmy Fallon has been misused this whole time).
Anyway, my SNL point is this. This season has been really weird, and tonight the guest combo was Lindsay Lohan/Usher. Lohan, 17, is promoting the flick Mean Girls, a Tina Fey vehicle, so getting a host for this episode probably wasn't too tough. They had a Harry Potter sketch where the feminine character (sorry, I forgot her name) came back from the summer and "grew up," so to speak. Is it just me, or is there something seriously wrong with making a comedy sketch centering around references to the chest endowment of a 17-year-old girl? If she was 18, okay, make the sketch, but the girl's 17!!! If my 17-year-old daughter was in that sketch and wore something with THAT neckline, taking away her car for a month wouldn't be the worst punishment I'd give. Just something I had to say.
Meche. Cornejo. Eight hours.
Jeremy Bonderman had his longest start of the year and the way his first six innings went, I thought he would at least make it to the 9th and have a chance for the complete game until the Mariner offense showed some shred of worth in the later innings and started fouling some pitches off and even scoring runs. Two of them.
With the 4-2 loss, the Mariners once again find themselves at the familiar .333 mark, now at 8-16. Not too long ago, we heard some people (maybe even a couple players and/or people in the organization) saying something along the lines of "hey, there's still hope, the Yankees are struggling too."
The Yankees have won five straight. Before their current winning streak, the Yanks were 8-11, which could be construed as their "rock bottom." The Mariners got their 8th win on Friday, but are now 8-16. Not surprisingly, the better team out of the Yankees and Mariners managed to right the ship. That team that did isn't the one whose name fits better with the nautical play on words.
To the game, one where Bretn Boone was scratched from the lineup with back spasms. I think this conversation might have taken place before the game...
Boone (seeing Edgarless lineup card): What the hell is this crap? Hansen as the DH? What the hell's the point today?
Melvin: Do you have something to say about the lineup, Boonie?
Boone: I think I've got "back spasms," Bob...
On to the game...
top 1 -- Ichiro 1-1 1B LF; McCracken 1-2 SAC 2-3; Spiezio 1st-pitch 8; Ibanez 0-2...1-2 F5
bot 1 -- Sanchez 2-2 8; Vina 1-0 2B LF corner; Rodriguez 1st-pitch HR CF (DET 2-0); Higginson 1-1 6-3; Monroe 1-2...full 5-3
>> Looks like Ichiro has to hit a leadoff bomb if he ever hopes to score early in a game. He got aboard and was on second with one out, but was left there. I wish I was tracking that Mariners-start-out-behind stat, because I would have been able to add to that right here and bring a little more legitimacy to the post. Anyway, Fernando Vina doubled into the corner in left and Ivan Rodriguez made Ryan Franklin look like the homer-yielding wizard that he is. It was called a double at first, but an umpire conference got it right, and they were proven right with the quick replay that showed the ball going off the top of the wall and off the padding of the old wall. No argument from me. Two run deficit right away.
top 2 -- Hansen 1st-pitch U3; Cabrera 1-1 5-3; Olerud 0-2...1-2 slider swing K
bot 2 -- Guillen 1-2...look K; Pena 0-1 IF 1B (SS); Norton 1-2...full swing K (Pena SB); Inge 1B CF (DET 3-0, Inge out 8-3-5?)
>> The Mariner offense was futile, which would become a familiar site over the next few innings as Bonderman started to catch fire. As for the Tiger bats, they added another run, thanks in part due to a bad Dan Wilson throw when Carlos Pena took off on a full count, which put the runner in scoring position. Brandon Inge came through with the two-out hit, and was gunned down going to second in another one of those weird plays where John Olerud cuts off Randy Winn trying to nail a guy at home with a 50mph throw. The run scores, but they nail the guy for the last out of the inning. It's like yesterday when I was doing laundry and I had all the quarters I needed. I had to wash three loads, and that's 12 quarters total. I tried to put the quarters in for the first load, and one quarter seemed to be unusually pesky, and I thought, "hey, maybe it's just one of those pesky quarters that just doesn't go in the first time." So I hit "coin return" and took the quarter out and put more quarters in to add up to 75 cents before trying to put in the suspect quarter again. It still wouldn't worked, so I looked at the quarter. It was Canadian. I can't tell you how much I hate the fact that stateside quarter slots won't take Canadian quarters, yet people are stupid enough to keep the Canadian quarters in circulation here, however so anomalous it is. Point is, the damage was done, so I had to leave my laundry unattended for two minutes and climb up the stairs to my room to get a single quarter. Grr. Okay, maybe the story had nothing to do with the Mariners except for me forcing the punchline. My laundry did get done, but I had to be unlazy and get the final quarter. The Mariners got the last out of the inning, but the run scored.
top 3 -- Wilson 0-2...2-2 9; Bloomquist 0-2...6-3; Ichiro 2-2 3-1
bot 3 -- Sanchez 1st-pitch 1-3; Vina 0-2 4-3; Rodriguez 0-2...3-1
>> Bonderman had set down nine straight. Franklin had a fairly short inning against the top third of the Tiger lineup.
top 4 -- McCracken 2-2 4-3; Spiezio 1st-pitch 9; Ibanez 1-2...full 3-1
bot 4 -- Higginson 1st-pitch 9; Monroe 1st-pitch 4-3; Guillen 1-2...full BB; Pena 1-0 U3
>> Bonderman ran his streak to twelve straight as Scott Spiezio flew out on the first pitch for the second time in the game. Dave Niehaus congratulated Ron Fairly on getting the AFLAC trivia question correct, saying Ron could have a "12-gauge shotgun to take care of Clyde." Clyde must have rubbed Dave the wrong way or something. We'll look into this. Franklin got two outs on two pitches, walked Carlos Guillen, then used two pitches to get the third out.
top 5 -- Hansen 1-1 lineout ladder climb 3; Cabrera 1st-pitch running 8; Olerud 1-0 7
bot 5 -- (AURILIA IN) Norton 1-0 HR RF (DET 4-0); Inge 0-2 swing K; Sanchez 1-2 1B LCF; Vina (1st-pitch sanchez CS 2-4) 2-2 1B RF; Rodriguez 1-1 F3
>> Jeremy Bonderman threw six pitches in the 5th to run his streak to 15. Rich Aurilia came into the game not because Willie Bloomquist sucked, but because Bloomquist wrenched his back touching first base on a groundout. Greg Norton capped the Tiger scoring with a SHOT to right field which cleared the bullpen and reached the stands. Luckily the Mariners guessed right on a pitchout and nailed Alex Sanchez at second, because he probably would have scored in Vina's single into centerfield, because I'm pretty sure that was Winn's ball.
top 6 -- Wilson 0-1 near track 8; Aurilia 1st-pitch 1B LF; Ichiro 2-0 4-6-3 DP (4th this year)
bot 6 -- Higginson 1-0 F5; Monroe 1-1 F3; Guillen 1st-pitch 8
>> Rich Aurilia's first at-bat of the game broke Jeremy Bonderman's string at 16 straight Mariners retired. The Aurilia single was all for the Mariners though, as Ichiro bounced into his 4th double play of the year. Simple stupid multiplication says he's on pace to GIDP over 25 times this year. If that really happens...yikes. As small worthless consolation, Franklin set the Tigers down 1-2-3 in the 6th. Now for something completely stupid, Jeremy Bonderman had thrown 56 PITCHES through SIX INNINGS. Did the Mariners try to use the same game plan they used the first time against Tim Hudson this year? Is Paul Molitor behind this? I'll elaborate on this later if I don't forget...
top 7 -- McCracken 1-2...2-2 7; Spiezio 3-0...3-1 9; Ibanez 1-2...full...3B RCF; Hansen 2-0...2-1 4-3
bot 7 -- Pena 0-2...1-2 1B RF; PUTZ WARMING; Norton 1-2...2-2 DP 4-6-3; Inge 1-2...2-2 1-3
>> Raul Ibanez hit a triple, but who cares? It's anomalous, and it's with two outs, so he's not going to score. Carlos Pena's leadoff single went for naught as Greg Norton bounced into a double play. On another note, the Mariners finally started ramping up Bonderman's pitch count, as Quinton McCracken, Spiezio, and Ibanez got into some deep counts and fouled off a few pitches.
top 8 -- Cabrera 1-0 IF 1B (3rd); Olerud 0-2...full 2B RF foulish (DET 4-1); PATTERSON WARMING; Wilson 1-0 4-3; Aurilia 0-2 (MYERS, PUTZ WARMING)...(Dave and Ron on Aurilia circling after foul balls)...2-2 swing K (12 pitches); Ichiro 1-2...2-2...1B E6 (SS, DET 4-2, Guillen throw foul ground); PATTERSON IN; EDGAR PH 0-2 slider low/away K
bot 8 -- WINN, MYERS IN; Sanchez 1-1 bunt 1B (Myers bobble); Vina 0-1 SAC 5-3; Rodriguez IBB; Higginson 1-0 4-6-3 DP
>> The Mariners finally put up a crooked number as Bonderman was running into trouble. Two straight hits netted the Mariners their first run, followed by two straight outs, the latter of which was a very long at-bat by Rich Aurilia where he fouled off a bunch of outside pitches. Dave and Ron noted Aurilia's circle-clockwise-around-behind-the-umpire-and-back-to-the-box routine. Ichiro got aboard, then Guillen threw the ball way wide of first base. I was unclear if Ichiro's ball would be ruled as a hit, and it was, giving Ichiro a multi-hit game, his first since April 23rd against Texas. In the stretch since the last multi-hit game, Ichiro went 4-for-27, which is a spectacular .148 clip. The Guillen play gave the Mariners their second run. Then Edgar struck out on three pitches in the pinch. Mike Myers came on in the 9th and gave up a leadoff bunt single when he had trouble fielding the ball off Alex Sanchez' bat. The little ball approach for the insurance run backfired for the Tigers here, as Ivan Rodriguez was walked and Bobby Higginson bounced into the double play.
top 9 -- URBINA IN; Spiezio 1-2...2-2 swing K; Ibanez 2-0...3-1...full...9; Hansen 2-1 8
>> Ugueth Urbina had a 1-2-3 9th. Raul Ibanez had two favorable counts and flew out to rightfield.
Jeremy Bonderman threw 56 pitches in the first six innings. Just to give somewhat of an indication of just how good he was, the only three-ball count he got into in the first six innings was to Raul Ibanez in the 4th. His next three-ball count was to Scott Spiezio in the 7th, a five-pitch flyout after McCracken had forced an 8-pitch at-bat.
In the first six innings, Bonderman threw a first-pitch ball to five of 19 hitters. What happened to these five batters? (source)
(2nd, 1 out) Jolbert Cabrera: Ball, Foul, grounded out to third.
(3rd, 2 out) Ichiro Suzuki: Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, grounded out to first.
(4th, leadoff) Quinton McCracken: Ball, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, grounded out to second.
(5th, 2 out) John Olerud: Ball, flied out to left.
(6th, 1 out) Ichiro Suzuki: Ball, Ball, grounded into double play second to shortstop to first, Aurilia out at second.
So, even when Bonderman fell behind the hitters to begin with (I'd have to REALLY have no life to look at what happened if he got behind with 2-1 counts because I really only take note of 2-0, 3-1, 2-strike, and full counts), he got ALL FIVE of those hitters out in those first six sparkling innings.
Sure, the Mariners scratched across their two runs in the 7th, but to only have one batter to be at the plate for more than 5 pitches in the first six innings (Ibanez 6-pitch groundout in the 4th)...AAARGHGHGHHH!!! The Mariners also swung at the first pitch seven times in those first six innings (Spiezio twice). So, to sum the Mariners' first-pitch doings in Bonderman's first six innings, they took five first-pitch balls (and got outs in all of those at-bats), swung at the first pitch and made outs four of five times (Aurilia singled), fouled off the first pitch twice, and took seven strikes.
The Mariners did not draw a SINGLE WALK in this game.
Ryan Franklin's outing? Okay. He gave up four runs, which on a good team might net him a win a little more than half the time (anyone keep stats on that?). On this team, probably not. He gave up 8 hits, 2 of them being homers.
Gameball: John Olerud. 1-for-3 with an RBI. Ichiro with his first multi-hit game in a while could be here, but this double play crap has got to stop.
Goat: Scott Spiezio. The guy made outs on two pitches total in his first two at-bats. In his other two at-bats, he flew out after having a 3-0 count in the 7th then whiffed on a 2-2 count in the 9th.
Three...three-three! Not the number of the beast by any means. If the Mariners won at the same clip as Iron Maiden's hit song, they'd be winning two-thirds of their games. With this number, well, I'd rather have Shaun Alexander rush for that many yards twice against the Rams next fall. a, I just saw Shaun Alexander in an ad for Christian Life Center. I was sort of surprised, not being one conditioned to see a pro athlete of such high stature in such a commercial for a religious organization. I guess if you like the idea, you like the commercial, and if you hate it, then I guess the commercial's worth it to see pastor Casey Treat get leveled near the end when Shaun participates in Take Your Pastor to Work Day.
Before I leave here, I have one off-topic thing...I've watched Saturday Night Live since I was a third-grader or so. The 17th-19th season were some golden times for the show, then the 20th season came, and the cast ran its course. Everyone was fired, and the cast started anew, making the 20th and 21st seasons the weirdest of my years. Things started picking up steam, then Norm Macdonald was axed by then-NBC president (and OJ golfing buddy) Don Ohlmeyer basically for making one too many OJ jokes during the Weekend Update, which has never been as good since, with Colin Quinn being lackluster and Fallon/Fey being twenty times more indulgent that Norm ever was (Fey's stupid rants against Norm's many anal rape jokes). Will Ferrell left, and the show's been treading water since. Darrell Hammond is STILL their only truly solid impressionist (this basically means Jimmy Fallon has been misused this whole time).
Anyway, my SNL point is this. This season has been really weird, and tonight the guest combo was Lindsay Lohan/Usher. Lohan, 17, is promoting the flick Mean Girls, a Tina Fey vehicle, so getting a host for this episode probably wasn't too tough. They had a Harry Potter sketch where the feminine character (sorry, I forgot her name) came back from the summer and "grew up," so to speak. Is it just me, or is there something seriously wrong with making a comedy sketch centering around references to the chest endowment of a 17-year-old girl? If she was 18, okay, make the sketch, but the girl's 17!!! If my 17-year-old daughter was in that sketch and wore something with THAT neckline, taking away her car for a month wouldn't be the worst punishment I'd give. Just something I had to say.
Meche. Cornejo. Eight hours.
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