Sunday, July 25, 2004
PEENYERRO
Joel Pineiro today wasn't the sharpest I've seen him, but I can't really complain after one look at his line: 8 innings, 1 run (Jose Guillen solo shot), 5 hits, no walks, 7 strikeouts, 114 pitches (77 strikes). Very solid indeed.
That said, not a lot of offense was needed to net the Mariners a victory over Ramon Ortiz, a pitcher who in the past has taken the alter-ego of Pedro Lite and made the Mariners look like mince meat. Now without a stable rotation spot, Ortiz is relegated to spot starting in situations such as Jarrod Washburn getting scratched (i.e., today). Ortiz wasn't all that bad, but Joel was better today, plain and simple. Ortiz gave up three runs in his seven innings, all via Mariner longballs. Dave Hansen put a frozen rope off the rightfield foul pole in the 2nd with Raul Ibanez aboard, and Bucky Jacobsen took an outside pitch the other way in the 7th for a solo BuckyBlast(TM).
After both starting pitchers were out of the game (mid 8th), the score was Mariners 3-1. What happened next? Long story short, Kevin Gregg done lost his mind. I suppose that's what happens when you realize you gave up a leadoff triple to the catcher (Miguel Olivo, and now I can actually believe the assertions that he runs well for a big man) on a full count. While watching Kevin Gregg's pitching motion makes me uncomfortable, Angel fans undoubtedly were made more nauseous by Gregg's four wild pitches and the three runs that crossed the plate in the inning. Bucky Jacobsen saw wild pitches on a 2-1 count and a full count.
Then Eddie Guardado came on in the 9th to protect a five run lead and get some work. He threw some pitches, that's for sure. Bengie Molina hit a leadoff homer over the manual scoreboard in left. Jose Guillen lined out to Dave Hansen at first (ESPN Web Gem recognition), then Darin Erstad bounced out to Bret Boone. Guardado then walked Robb Quinlan and Tim Salmon before getting Jose Molina to whiff.
Also, Ichiro extended his hit streak to 17 games. In a related story, I'm not sure I care.
Another notable play happened in the 2nd. Jolbert Cabrera had singled after Dave Hansen homered with two out. With Scott Spiezio up, Ortiz caught Cabrera napping off of first. This is when Hole-Cab showed us a new and exciting way of trying to avoid/prolong pickoff rundowns: fall down. He tried this at least twice in the rundown, being successful once, and getting "tagged" (it's debatable) by David Eckstein the final time. What can I say, the result was the same old story, but it was new and exciting. Yes, friends, this is the type of morsel we have to reach for nowadays as Mariner fans.
Gameball: Joel Pineiro. His line is just too good for me to go with anyone else, though Miguel Olivo had the Mariners' only multi-hit game (2-for-3, double and triple...extra-base hit madness!! Explolivo!!)
Goat: Scott Spiezio. I'm trying to think of whether some gas stations in Oregon were having a silent "Scott Spiezio's batting average is our gas price" promotion or if some gas station chains are trying to pay him off to have him tank it (pardon the brutal pun). In any event, he's hitting a grand .210. In a related story, I took a tip from one of the OSU students: only tip the gas attendants in Oregon IF they squeegee your windshield. It's a good rule to follow. You're giving up an extra dollar or two anyway when they try to stuff your gas tank to an even dollar amount.
Blackley. Zito. Tomorrow.
[Edit Tue ~12:18a -- Ichiro's streak was 17 after this game, as opposed to the 19 I had originally posted. Bad info or memory lapse...I'm not sure which.]
That said, not a lot of offense was needed to net the Mariners a victory over Ramon Ortiz, a pitcher who in the past has taken the alter-ego of Pedro Lite and made the Mariners look like mince meat. Now without a stable rotation spot, Ortiz is relegated to spot starting in situations such as Jarrod Washburn getting scratched (i.e., today). Ortiz wasn't all that bad, but Joel was better today, plain and simple. Ortiz gave up three runs in his seven innings, all via Mariner longballs. Dave Hansen put a frozen rope off the rightfield foul pole in the 2nd with Raul Ibanez aboard, and Bucky Jacobsen took an outside pitch the other way in the 7th for a solo BuckyBlast(TM).
After both starting pitchers were out of the game (mid 8th), the score was Mariners 3-1. What happened next? Long story short, Kevin Gregg done lost his mind. I suppose that's what happens when you realize you gave up a leadoff triple to the catcher (Miguel Olivo, and now I can actually believe the assertions that he runs well for a big man) on a full count. While watching Kevin Gregg's pitching motion makes me uncomfortable, Angel fans undoubtedly were made more nauseous by Gregg's four wild pitches and the three runs that crossed the plate in the inning. Bucky Jacobsen saw wild pitches on a 2-1 count and a full count.
Then Eddie Guardado came on in the 9th to protect a five run lead and get some work. He threw some pitches, that's for sure. Bengie Molina hit a leadoff homer over the manual scoreboard in left. Jose Guillen lined out to Dave Hansen at first (ESPN Web Gem recognition), then Darin Erstad bounced out to Bret Boone. Guardado then walked Robb Quinlan and Tim Salmon before getting Jose Molina to whiff.
Also, Ichiro extended his hit streak to 17 games. In a related story, I'm not sure I care.
Another notable play happened in the 2nd. Jolbert Cabrera had singled after Dave Hansen homered with two out. With Scott Spiezio up, Ortiz caught Cabrera napping off of first. This is when Hole-Cab showed us a new and exciting way of trying to avoid/prolong pickoff rundowns: fall down. He tried this at least twice in the rundown, being successful once, and getting "tagged" (it's debatable) by David Eckstein the final time. What can I say, the result was the same old story, but it was new and exciting. Yes, friends, this is the type of morsel we have to reach for nowadays as Mariner fans.
Gameball: Joel Pineiro. His line is just too good for me to go with anyone else, though Miguel Olivo had the Mariners' only multi-hit game (2-for-3, double and triple...extra-base hit madness!! Explolivo!!)
Goat: Scott Spiezio. I'm trying to think of whether some gas stations in Oregon were having a silent "Scott Spiezio's batting average is our gas price" promotion or if some gas station chains are trying to pay him off to have him tank it (pardon the brutal pun). In any event, he's hitting a grand .210. In a related story, I took a tip from one of the OSU students: only tip the gas attendants in Oregon IF they squeegee your windshield. It's a good rule to follow. You're giving up an extra dollar or two anyway when they try to stuff your gas tank to an even dollar amount.
Blackley. Zito. Tomorrow.
[Edit Tue ~12:18a -- Ichiro's streak was 17 after this game, as opposed to the 19 I had originally posted. Bad info or memory lapse...I'm not sure which.]
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