Sunday, July 03, 2005
GAME 80: MARINERS 2, RANGERS 1
Mariners 2, Rangers 1
In 25 words or less: The Mariners didn't get many hits, but they got great starting pitching and the ability to scratch out a couple of runs.
Yes, it's my first Mariner recap from the new digs. Cable and internet were installed yesterday at my place in glorious Aiea. How did not doing Mariner recaps for the better part of a month affect me? Well, I don't think I really have another creative outlet. My musical instruments are at the Bremerton bunker, and I don't know how to draw. Basically, I went nuts.
This one featured the appealing-his-suspension Kenny Rogers against the mild-mannered Jamie Moyer. Contrary to what one might think, the game's start time was not moved to the afternoon because both starting pitchers are in their 40s and need to go home and get adequate sleep afterward.
This one did not feature second baseman Bret Boone, who was designated for assignment before the game. Maybe the designation of a veteran player for assignment can be a yearly thing. Last year we had Rich Aurilia and John Olerud get the pink slip, this year Bret Boone, next year...who could it be?
Anyway, Dave Hansen was put onto the 15-day disabled list as well. To fill the two spots on the roster, Jose Lopez was called up from Tacoma to play second base, and Chris Snelling was recalled to take the extra bench spot.
TOP 1ST
Grade: B-
The hole was dug quickly. Gary Matthews, Jr., fresh off hitting the go-ahead homer the night before, walloped the first pitch of the game just to the right of the manual scoreboard in leftfield. Before many people at the Safe had found their seats, the Hometown Nine were already behind.
»» RANGERS 1, MARINERS 0
Michael Young flew out to rightfield. Mark Teixeira flew out to the track in leftfield. Hank Blalock fell victim to the whiff on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: C-
Inactivity. Ichiro grounded out to second. Randy Winn whiffed on a 2-2 pitch. Raul Ibañez hit a ball toward first, but was robbed on a diving stab by Teixeira, who underhanded to a covering Rogers for the out.
TOP 2ND
Grade: A-
A decent inning for Moyer. Alfonso Soriano grounded the first pitch to short. Kevin Mench walked on an inside 3-1 pitch. Richard Hidalgo popped out foul to Scott Spiezio near the first-base dugout. Sandy Alomar, Jr. grounded the first pitch to short to end the inning. The leadoff walk always comes around to score unless it doesn't. The jury's out on what happens with a one-out walk.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: C-
Again, not much. Adrian Beltre grounded out to second to lead off. Scott Spiezio whiffed on a 2-2 breaking ball. Jose Lopez flew out to center on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.
TOP 3RD
Grade: B
Moyer avoided turbulence. Laynce Nix hit the second pitch softly into centerfield for a leadoff single. Matthews didn't homer this time, instead working an 0-2 count full with a bunch of foul balls. Nix stole second on the 2-2 pitch to Matthews, which was a ball. On the next (full-count) pitch, Matthews whiffed. Young got ahead 2-0 before flying out to Ichiro in shallow foul territory down the line (long way to run). Teixeira flew out to centerfield on the first pitch to end the inning.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: C-
The bottom of the lineup continued their slumber. Mike Morse got behind 0-2 and later popped out to short. Willie Bloomquist hit the first pitch for a shallow fly to leftfield, caught by a running Matthews. Pat Borders flew out to Young in shallow leftfield to end the inning.
TOP 4TH
Grade: A
This may have been Moyer's easiest inning of the game. Blalock grounded the first pitch to second. Soriano grounded out to Beltre at third. Mench whiffed on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning.
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: C
A minor two-out threat was quickly extinguished. Ichiro grounded out to second to lead off. Winn lined a ball to Young to short. Ibañez fouled off a 3-0 pitch before taking the next pitch for a ball and a walk. Beltre singled a 2-1 pitch through the hole on the left side. With two on and two out, Spiezio hooked a 3-0 pitch just foul down the leftfield line. Spiezio fouled the next pitch in front of the first-base dugout to end the inning. Unclutch.
TOP 5TH
Grade: B+
Moyer would get out of a mini-jam. Hidalgo tapped the 2-0 pitch back to the mound. Alomar doubled a 2-0 pitch down the leftfield line. Nix grounded a 2-0 pitch to second, moving Alomar to third. Matthews got behind 0-2 and whiffed on a 1-2 pitch. Not a homer, but better yet, a strikeout. Yippee.
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: B
The bottom of the lineup would show signs of life. Lopez lined a 2-1 pitch into the corner in leftfield for a leadoff double. Morse came up completely empty in his at-bat, bunting a ball that trickled foul, and then grounding out to the left side of the infield, not good enough to move Lopez. Bloomquist flew out to centerfield on the first pitch, and it was sufficiently deep to advance Lopez to third. Unfortunately, Lopez was a bit slow getting up, enough for trainer Rick Griffin to come out and assess the situation. Needless to say, this wasn't a good development especially because a certain second baseman was designated for assignment before the game to make room for this guy. Lopez stayed in the game. Borders hit a 1-0 grounder that was stopped by Young, but he couldn't throw over in time to get Borders. In came Lopez, and the game was tied.
»» RANGERS 1, MARINERS 1
Ichiro hit a ball off the end of the bat to rightfield to end the inning.
TOP 6TH
Grade: B-
Moyer had his toughest inning of the day. Young got ahead 2-0 and stung the 2-2 pitch into the gap in leftcenter for a leadoff double. Moyer fell behind 3-0 on Teixeira before working the count full, but then walking him. Blalock fell behind 0-2 and fouled off a few pitches before stinging a line drive toward Spiezio, who reached across his body and leaped to snag the ball. Soriano hit a high fly to Ichiro. Mench harmlessly popped up on the infield to Beltre to end the inning and the jam.
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade: C-
The Mariners would respond with nothing. Winn flew out to rightfield. Ibañez grounded the 3-1 pitch softly to third. Beltre took Hidalgo to the track in rightcenter to end the inning.
TOP 7TH
Grade: A-
Moyer recovered from the jam fairly nicely. Hidalgo fell behind 0-2 before whiffing on a 1-2 pitch. Moyer fell behind 3-0 on Alomar, but got him to roll one to short on 3-1. Nix flew out to center on the first pitch.
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: C-
Time was running out on the Mariners. Spiezio flew out to the wall in leftfield on the second pitch. Lopez flew out to centerfield, also on the second pitch. Morse took an 0-2 pitch for strike three.
TOP 8TH
Grade: A
Moyer finished brilliantly. Matthews grounded out to short. Young popped a ball foul to Beltre in the coaches' box. Teixeira popped out to Ichiro in shallow rightfield.
Moyer's line: 8 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 107 pitches (66 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: B
Timely. Bloomquist singled an 0-1 pitch down the leftfield line, and it may have gone for a double if not for Matthews getting to the ball quickly. Borders bunted foul twice. He took an 0-2 high fastball that backed him off the plate, and the crowd booed Rogers mercilessly. Borders popped the next pitch to shallow center. Bloomquist stole second on the first pitch to Ichiro, drawing no throw since Alomar had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. Ichiro trickled the 2-0 pitch to Young at short, who had no play. Ichiro's 100th hit of the season moved Bloomquist to third with one out. Winn grounded his second pitch right to Blalock at third, who appeared ready to start the 5-4-3 inning-ending double play. He went to second and got the out (as opposed to going home to possibly get Bloomquist), but Soriano couldn't get the ball out of his glove. Bloomquist scored, and the Mariners led.
»» MARINERS 2, RANGERS 1
Ibañez looped a single into leftcenter on the second pitch.
Kameron Loe came in for Rogers, who had boos rain down on him from every corner of Safeco Field. The Mariners pulled off a double steal on the first pitch to Beltre to make things dicey for Loe, who responded by getting Beltre to look at two strikes and whiff at a third.
Rogers' line: 7 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 95 pitches (58 strikes)
Loe's line: 1/3 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 3 pitches (3 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: B+
Eddie Guardado came in to slam the door. Blalock whiffed on an 0-2 pitch, which Borders dropped, but he was able to make the 2-3 putout. Soriano got behind 0-2, and whiffed on 1-2, but the ball went off Borders' glove. This time, Borders wasn't able to throw to first in time. Mench took his first pitch to the wall in centerfield, where Bloomquist came down with it. Soriano stole second on the 1-1 pitch to Hidalgo. Hidalgo fouled off the 3-1 pitch before flying out to center. Ballgame. Losing streak.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 14 pitches (10 strikes)
---
Gameball: Jose Lopez.
He had the Mariners' only extra-base hit of the game, leading off the fifth inning with a double and then scoring to tie the game. That was his only hit of the game in three at-bats, though as mentioned, no Mariner had a multi-hit game. Also an added factor is that he was called up before the game and stepped right in for Bret Boone. Let the Jose Lopez Era begin at second base.
Goat: Mike Morse.
Only because it has to be somebody. This is the type of game where Scott Spiezio reaching up for a line drive is enough for me to not make him the goat even though he went 0-for-3 with his travails at the plate in the fourth, though he did take a ball to the wall later in the game. Morse's biggest gaffe was failing to lay down a bunt to advance Lopez in the 5th, and grounding out to the left side in the same at-bat. Morse just didn't stand out enough to not get goated, that's all. No big whoop.
Of course I know the obvious gameball would be Jamie Moyer, who more than buckled down after surrendering the homer to Gary Matthews, Jr. on the first pitch of the game. I don't know about you, but I, along with a few thousand people over at the Safe simultaneously muttered, "what the hell next?" as Matthews wrapped the first pitch out of the yard. I know teams don't get bounces when they lose seven straight, but surely that had to right itself sometime. Having the other team homer on the first pitch of the game doesn't make it look too nice though.
Kind of an aside here, but I have to get a couple quick lines off about the lineup today. Needless to say, the absence of Bret Boone was going to make the lineup look different no matter what. Further, I can bet that Richie Sexson probably fought tooth and nail to not take the day off. This is a guy that's played all 162 games of a season before; he's not a guy that likes to come out a lot. But man, Scott Spiezio fifth and Willie Bloomquist eighth in addition to having no Sexson in the lineup? I guess I wouldn't mind having one of the two spot starting, but not both. Once again, I'll note that I'm really not a big fan of sitting Jeremy Reed against semi-tough lefties. He's gotta learn to hit these guys sometime.
Since I'm typing this late enough, I already know that Eddie Guardado has been snubbed from the All-Star Game. Shame. He's been great this year. Of course, Danys Baez has been better. I'm joking. Of course, Terry Francona decided to stash the lone Oakland and Tampa Bay representatives into the bullpen, so no Guardado. Though the Mariners gave you a week where you didn't get much meaningful work, enjoy the break, Eddie. You deserve it. Meanwhile, Ichiro's brutal June knocked him out of the starting lineup but not out of reserve consideration. Oh well, it's a popularity contest, so of course the starting lineups will always be a screwed-up affair. In a weird note, former Mariner Brian Fuentes is the Rockies' lone representative in Detroit.
I'm sure someone is wondering about this, and I did have some extra time on my hands before I got hired on at work, so since I'm sure you want to know...
Yr W-L Pct GB
2001 59-21 .738 --
2003 52-28 .650 7
2002 51-29 .638 8
2000 48-32 .600 11
2005 34-46 .425 25
2004 32-48 .400 27
Yes, this year's Mariners are a mere 25 games off the pace of the 2001 team. Of course, I'm more concerned about the two-game cushion over last year's team. The further the Mariners can get from that, the better. Any win the Mariners get in the next six games will vault them further ahead of the pathetic 2004 team, who were busy losing nine straight going into the All-Star break at this point last year.
It's too bad the Mariners didn't round up some people from Nikon and have a free camera giveaway like Jeremy suggested, but it was still fun to see the Gambler lose to the Mariners, since he usually owns the Mariners. The fans didn't get free cameras, but they booed Kenny Rogers lustily during the pregame introductions and when Bucky Showalter came out with the hook in the eighth inning. As a fan, I might have gone to the game with taped-up fingers or fingers in a cast or splint or something.
I'd have liked the Mariners to get some more hits, but I'll take the win, and I'll just be glad that Jamie Moyer didn't get screwed. He held a great hitting team to four hits over eight innings. The Mariners needed a start like this. The Mariners needed a win.
It's good to be doing this again, it really is. One of my missions is to use the weekends to go back and do the games I missed retroactively, but we'll see how that goes. That'd be a large proposition to go back and do a month's worth of recaps while the season is still taking place, but if I have time, I'll try my damnedest. Not that I have to, but because I want the season's worth of recaps to be complete, that's all.
The last time the Mariners were in Kansas City, I was taking physicals to get to the job I have now. The Mariners also swept the Royals, and Ryan Franklin threw that crazy game. Let's hope for another sweep. And some barbecue.
I just saw one of the Fox promos for the All-Star Game. Carlos Delgado is in the promo. This is me laughing. Or maybe I should be appalled.
Franklin. Howell. Tomorrow.
In 25 words or less: The Mariners didn't get many hits, but they got great starting pitching and the ability to scratch out a couple of runs.
Yes, it's my first Mariner recap from the new digs. Cable and internet were installed yesterday at my place in glorious Aiea. How did not doing Mariner recaps for the better part of a month affect me? Well, I don't think I really have another creative outlet. My musical instruments are at the Bremerton bunker, and I don't know how to draw. Basically, I went nuts.
This one featured the appealing-his-suspension Kenny Rogers against the mild-mannered Jamie Moyer. Contrary to what one might think, the game's start time was not moved to the afternoon because both starting pitchers are in their 40s and need to go home and get adequate sleep afterward.
This one did not feature second baseman Bret Boone, who was designated for assignment before the game. Maybe the designation of a veteran player for assignment can be a yearly thing. Last year we had Rich Aurilia and John Olerud get the pink slip, this year Bret Boone, next year...who could it be?
Anyway, Dave Hansen was put onto the 15-day disabled list as well. To fill the two spots on the roster, Jose Lopez was called up from Tacoma to play second base, and Chris Snelling was recalled to take the extra bench spot.
TOP 1ST
Grade: B-
The hole was dug quickly. Gary Matthews, Jr., fresh off hitting the go-ahead homer the night before, walloped the first pitch of the game just to the right of the manual scoreboard in leftfield. Before many people at the Safe had found their seats, the Hometown Nine were already behind.
»» RANGERS 1, MARINERS 0
Michael Young flew out to rightfield. Mark Teixeira flew out to the track in leftfield. Hank Blalock fell victim to the whiff on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: C-
Inactivity. Ichiro grounded out to second. Randy Winn whiffed on a 2-2 pitch. Raul Ibañez hit a ball toward first, but was robbed on a diving stab by Teixeira, who underhanded to a covering Rogers for the out.
TOP 2ND
Grade: A-
A decent inning for Moyer. Alfonso Soriano grounded the first pitch to short. Kevin Mench walked on an inside 3-1 pitch. Richard Hidalgo popped out foul to Scott Spiezio near the first-base dugout. Sandy Alomar, Jr. grounded the first pitch to short to end the inning. The leadoff walk always comes around to score unless it doesn't. The jury's out on what happens with a one-out walk.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: C-
Again, not much. Adrian Beltre grounded out to second to lead off. Scott Spiezio whiffed on a 2-2 breaking ball. Jose Lopez flew out to center on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.
TOP 3RD
Grade: B
Moyer avoided turbulence. Laynce Nix hit the second pitch softly into centerfield for a leadoff single. Matthews didn't homer this time, instead working an 0-2 count full with a bunch of foul balls. Nix stole second on the 2-2 pitch to Matthews, which was a ball. On the next (full-count) pitch, Matthews whiffed. Young got ahead 2-0 before flying out to Ichiro in shallow foul territory down the line (long way to run). Teixeira flew out to centerfield on the first pitch to end the inning.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: C-
The bottom of the lineup continued their slumber. Mike Morse got behind 0-2 and later popped out to short. Willie Bloomquist hit the first pitch for a shallow fly to leftfield, caught by a running Matthews. Pat Borders flew out to Young in shallow leftfield to end the inning.
TOP 4TH
Grade: A
This may have been Moyer's easiest inning of the game. Blalock grounded the first pitch to second. Soriano grounded out to Beltre at third. Mench whiffed on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning.
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: C
A minor two-out threat was quickly extinguished. Ichiro grounded out to second to lead off. Winn lined a ball to Young to short. Ibañez fouled off a 3-0 pitch before taking the next pitch for a ball and a walk. Beltre singled a 2-1 pitch through the hole on the left side. With two on and two out, Spiezio hooked a 3-0 pitch just foul down the leftfield line. Spiezio fouled the next pitch in front of the first-base dugout to end the inning. Unclutch.
TOP 5TH
Grade: B+
Moyer would get out of a mini-jam. Hidalgo tapped the 2-0 pitch back to the mound. Alomar doubled a 2-0 pitch down the leftfield line. Nix grounded a 2-0 pitch to second, moving Alomar to third. Matthews got behind 0-2 and whiffed on a 1-2 pitch. Not a homer, but better yet, a strikeout. Yippee.
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: B
The bottom of the lineup would show signs of life. Lopez lined a 2-1 pitch into the corner in leftfield for a leadoff double. Morse came up completely empty in his at-bat, bunting a ball that trickled foul, and then grounding out to the left side of the infield, not good enough to move Lopez. Bloomquist flew out to centerfield on the first pitch, and it was sufficiently deep to advance Lopez to third. Unfortunately, Lopez was a bit slow getting up, enough for trainer Rick Griffin to come out and assess the situation. Needless to say, this wasn't a good development especially because a certain second baseman was designated for assignment before the game to make room for this guy. Lopez stayed in the game. Borders hit a 1-0 grounder that was stopped by Young, but he couldn't throw over in time to get Borders. In came Lopez, and the game was tied.
»» RANGERS 1, MARINERS 1
Ichiro hit a ball off the end of the bat to rightfield to end the inning.
TOP 6TH
Grade: B-
Moyer had his toughest inning of the day. Young got ahead 2-0 and stung the 2-2 pitch into the gap in leftcenter for a leadoff double. Moyer fell behind 3-0 on Teixeira before working the count full, but then walking him. Blalock fell behind 0-2 and fouled off a few pitches before stinging a line drive toward Spiezio, who reached across his body and leaped to snag the ball. Soriano hit a high fly to Ichiro. Mench harmlessly popped up on the infield to Beltre to end the inning and the jam.
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade: C-
The Mariners would respond with nothing. Winn flew out to rightfield. Ibañez grounded the 3-1 pitch softly to third. Beltre took Hidalgo to the track in rightcenter to end the inning.
TOP 7TH
Grade: A-
Moyer recovered from the jam fairly nicely. Hidalgo fell behind 0-2 before whiffing on a 1-2 pitch. Moyer fell behind 3-0 on Alomar, but got him to roll one to short on 3-1. Nix flew out to center on the first pitch.
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: C-
Time was running out on the Mariners. Spiezio flew out to the wall in leftfield on the second pitch. Lopez flew out to centerfield, also on the second pitch. Morse took an 0-2 pitch for strike three.
TOP 8TH
Grade: A
Moyer finished brilliantly. Matthews grounded out to short. Young popped a ball foul to Beltre in the coaches' box. Teixeira popped out to Ichiro in shallow rightfield.
Moyer's line: 8 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 107 pitches (66 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: B
Timely. Bloomquist singled an 0-1 pitch down the leftfield line, and it may have gone for a double if not for Matthews getting to the ball quickly. Borders bunted foul twice. He took an 0-2 high fastball that backed him off the plate, and the crowd booed Rogers mercilessly. Borders popped the next pitch to shallow center. Bloomquist stole second on the first pitch to Ichiro, drawing no throw since Alomar had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. Ichiro trickled the 2-0 pitch to Young at short, who had no play. Ichiro's 100th hit of the season moved Bloomquist to third with one out. Winn grounded his second pitch right to Blalock at third, who appeared ready to start the 5-4-3 inning-ending double play. He went to second and got the out (as opposed to going home to possibly get Bloomquist), but Soriano couldn't get the ball out of his glove. Bloomquist scored, and the Mariners led.
»» MARINERS 2, RANGERS 1
Ibañez looped a single into leftcenter on the second pitch.
Kameron Loe came in for Rogers, who had boos rain down on him from every corner of Safeco Field. The Mariners pulled off a double steal on the first pitch to Beltre to make things dicey for Loe, who responded by getting Beltre to look at two strikes and whiff at a third.
Rogers' line: 7 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 95 pitches (58 strikes)
Loe's line: 1/3 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 3 pitches (3 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: B+
Eddie Guardado came in to slam the door. Blalock whiffed on an 0-2 pitch, which Borders dropped, but he was able to make the 2-3 putout. Soriano got behind 0-2, and whiffed on 1-2, but the ball went off Borders' glove. This time, Borders wasn't able to throw to first in time. Mench took his first pitch to the wall in centerfield, where Bloomquist came down with it. Soriano stole second on the 1-1 pitch to Hidalgo. Hidalgo fouled off the 3-1 pitch before flying out to center. Ballgame. Losing streak.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 14 pitches (10 strikes)
---
Gameball: Jose Lopez.
He had the Mariners' only extra-base hit of the game, leading off the fifth inning with a double and then scoring to tie the game. That was his only hit of the game in three at-bats, though as mentioned, no Mariner had a multi-hit game. Also an added factor is that he was called up before the game and stepped right in for Bret Boone. Let the Jose Lopez Era begin at second base.
Goat: Mike Morse.
Only because it has to be somebody. This is the type of game where Scott Spiezio reaching up for a line drive is enough for me to not make him the goat even though he went 0-for-3 with his travails at the plate in the fourth, though he did take a ball to the wall later in the game. Morse's biggest gaffe was failing to lay down a bunt to advance Lopez in the 5th, and grounding out to the left side in the same at-bat. Morse just didn't stand out enough to not get goated, that's all. No big whoop.
Of course I know the obvious gameball would be Jamie Moyer, who more than buckled down after surrendering the homer to Gary Matthews, Jr. on the first pitch of the game. I don't know about you, but I, along with a few thousand people over at the Safe simultaneously muttered, "what the hell next?" as Matthews wrapped the first pitch out of the yard. I know teams don't get bounces when they lose seven straight, but surely that had to right itself sometime. Having the other team homer on the first pitch of the game doesn't make it look too nice though.
Kind of an aside here, but I have to get a couple quick lines off about the lineup today. Needless to say, the absence of Bret Boone was going to make the lineup look different no matter what. Further, I can bet that Richie Sexson probably fought tooth and nail to not take the day off. This is a guy that's played all 162 games of a season before; he's not a guy that likes to come out a lot. But man, Scott Spiezio fifth and Willie Bloomquist eighth in addition to having no Sexson in the lineup? I guess I wouldn't mind having one of the two spot starting, but not both. Once again, I'll note that I'm really not a big fan of sitting Jeremy Reed against semi-tough lefties. He's gotta learn to hit these guys sometime.
Since I'm typing this late enough, I already know that Eddie Guardado has been snubbed from the All-Star Game. Shame. He's been great this year. Of course, Danys Baez has been better. I'm joking. Of course, Terry Francona decided to stash the lone Oakland and Tampa Bay representatives into the bullpen, so no Guardado. Though the Mariners gave you a week where you didn't get much meaningful work, enjoy the break, Eddie. You deserve it. Meanwhile, Ichiro's brutal June knocked him out of the starting lineup but not out of reserve consideration. Oh well, it's a popularity contest, so of course the starting lineups will always be a screwed-up affair. In a weird note, former Mariner Brian Fuentes is the Rockies' lone representative in Detroit.
I'm sure someone is wondering about this, and I did have some extra time on my hands before I got hired on at work, so since I'm sure you want to know...
Yr W-L Pct GB
2001 59-21 .738 --
2003 52-28 .650 7
2002 51-29 .638 8
2000 48-32 .600 11
2005 34-46 .425 25
2004 32-48 .400 27
Yes, this year's Mariners are a mere 25 games off the pace of the 2001 team. Of course, I'm more concerned about the two-game cushion over last year's team. The further the Mariners can get from that, the better. Any win the Mariners get in the next six games will vault them further ahead of the pathetic 2004 team, who were busy losing nine straight going into the All-Star break at this point last year.
It's too bad the Mariners didn't round up some people from Nikon and have a free camera giveaway like Jeremy suggested, but it was still fun to see the Gambler lose to the Mariners, since he usually owns the Mariners. The fans didn't get free cameras, but they booed Kenny Rogers lustily during the pregame introductions and when Bucky Showalter came out with the hook in the eighth inning. As a fan, I might have gone to the game with taped-up fingers or fingers in a cast or splint or something.
I'd have liked the Mariners to get some more hits, but I'll take the win, and I'll just be glad that Jamie Moyer didn't get screwed. He held a great hitting team to four hits over eight innings. The Mariners needed a start like this. The Mariners needed a win.
It's good to be doing this again, it really is. One of my missions is to use the weekends to go back and do the games I missed retroactively, but we'll see how that goes. That'd be a large proposition to go back and do a month's worth of recaps while the season is still taking place, but if I have time, I'll try my damnedest. Not that I have to, but because I want the season's worth of recaps to be complete, that's all.
The last time the Mariners were in Kansas City, I was taking physicals to get to the job I have now. The Mariners also swept the Royals, and Ryan Franklin threw that crazy game. Let's hope for another sweep. And some barbecue.
I just saw one of the Fox promos for the All-Star Game. Carlos Delgado is in the promo. This is me laughing. Or maybe I should be appalled.
Franklin. Howell. Tomorrow.
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