Sunday, April 25, 2004
COWBOYS 14, SEAHAWKS 6
Folks, this was bad. I think Dave Niehaus said when it was all over that the Mariners have just been swept in Texas for the first time since 1998. For those who remember, that was the year that Randy Johnson may or may not have tanked it (depending on who you ask) before going 10-1 after the deadline for Houston.
On to the recap...
top 1 -- Ichiro 2-2...full...6; Spiezio 1st-pitch 8; Boone 1-2...2-2 look K
bot 1 -- E Young 0-2 1-3; Blalock 1st-pitch 5; M Young 2-2...(outside?) full 1B CF; Fullmer 1-1 FC 4-6
>> This was an easy inning for both Ryan Franklin and John Wasdin. Niehaus pulled up a stat saying that the Mariners had scored in the first three innings of a game only once in the last 11 games.
top 2 -- Edgar 1-1 F3; Ibanez 0-2...2-2 9; Aurilia 0-2 look K (no argument)
bot 2 -- Dellucci 0-2...2-2 7; Mench 2-0 HR ~12 rows LF (now 3-for-5 against Franklin, 8 HR for Franklin...stat wrong?); Nix 0-1 1B CF; Barajas 2-2...(one foul nearly goes over top of foul pole) (lots of pickoff moves)...reaches low 1B CF (lots of fouls, quite a battle); Gonzalez 1st-pitch 2B CF (Winn TOTALLY should have had it, dropped it...TEX 2-0); E Young 1st-pitch 1B CF (TEX 3-0...runner held against Winn?!!); Blalock 1-1 1B RF (TEX 4-0, 6 straight hits); M Young 0-1 line 9; VILLONE WARMING; Fullmer 1-0 in diving 8
>> The Mariners bowed 1-2-3 to John Wasdin. Dave Niehaus showed more signs of senility, referring to Dave Dellucci as "Mike" Dellucci. Niehaus caught his own mistake, saying he may have known a Mike Dellucci at one time, and that he even had the incorrect name written in his scorebook. Niehaus then went on to refer to a Yankee pitcher named Ramon Vazquez, but he didn't catch that mistake (Javier as the correct Vazquez). Kevin Mench roped a fat 2-0 pitch about 12 rows above the wall scoreboard in left to give Texas the first run of the game. Rod Barajas engaged Franklin for a long at-bat that seemed to hang for a long time at 2-2 before Barajas reached down to poke a single into center. The Barajas at-bat seemed to me like the one that really unraveled Franklin. The next two hitters both swung at the first pitch and before anyone knew what hit them, two more runs had scored. Gonzalez' double was a ball that Randy Winn had hit his glove and drop just short of the wall. In this case, it's not a matter of saying Mike Cameron could have had that ball, it's a matter of saying anyone with a semi-sure set of hands would have caught that ball. Eric Young then hit a single where on run scored but the runner behind him mysteriously held at third on a ball to Randy Winn. You may never see that happen for the rest of the season. Hank Blalock then hit the sixth and final consecutive hit of the Ranger 2nd, giving them a 4-0 lead before Franklin mercifully got the next two hitters out, and Winn reminded us he does have some semblance of defense in him, diving in to glove a Brad Fullmer fly. Of course, there's a chance Winn may have misjudged the ball and moved a couple steps backward before charging forward and necessitating the dive. Horrible and mean thinking, I know.
top 3 -- Olerud 2-0 HR dug low RF; Davis 1-2...look K inside corner; Winn 2-2...swing K; Ichiro 2-2...(pitch almost there) full 4-3
bot 3 -- Dellucci 2B RF line; Mench 2-1 3B LF (TEX 5-1); VILLONE WARMING AGAIN; Nix 1-0 track 8 (TEX 6-1); Barajas 0-2...swing K; Gonzalez 0-2...full BB; E Young 0-2 HBP; VILLONE IN; Blalock 1st-pitch 1B RF (TEX 7-1); M Young 3-1 BB; Fullmer 1-0 spear line 6
>> John Olerud dug out a low pitch on 2-0 and showed us that yes, indeed there is a little power left in the tank. Ron Fairly called this "encouraging" because he got the bat head out in front instead of trying to go the ther way when he was ahead in the count. When Ichiro was up, Fairly noted that Ichiro is "so aware of pitches in on him right now" and that as a result, he gets out in front of the off-speed pitches. Ichiro watched a pitch on 2-2 that I probably would have wrung him up on. With the score 4-1, Dellucci hit a ball into rightfield that he got a double on, which I thought Ichiro wasn't quite going 100% on (this wouldn't be the first time in the game where I thought this was so); that ball didn't roll to the wall or get past Ichiro -- it was in front of him, for goodness' sake. Then a second straight weird play happened involving an outfielder (and third of the game) as Kevin Mench hit a ball to the track in leftfield; Raul Ibanez had the ball INSIDE his glove and dropped it, then banged into the wall (not sure if the tailbone was involved). I won't nail him for not catching with two hands due to how far he had to run and the speed of the play, but once again, a sure set of hands catches that ball. The plays involving Winn and Ibanez didn't look like very tough plays. This gave Texas a 5-1 lead and Laynce Nix drove in Mench with a fly ball to make it 6-1. Dave and Ron talked about how Franklin wasn't coming inside enough and the hitters were diving out for pitches low and away as a result. Dave Niehaus reminded us once again that baseballs in the Majors last an average of 4.5 pitches. After striking out Rod Barajas, Franklin went 0-2 on Adrian Gonzalez and walked him, then went 0-2 on Eric Young and beaned him before Bob Melvin came out with the hook. Yes, Ryan Franklin had absolutely lost it today. He said himself afterward that his location was never there. Any ticket recipients from Spiro at the game today went home disappointed. Ron "Vanilli" Villone came out and rubbed it in by allowing a Blalock RBI single and walking Michael Young before Brad Fullmer was robbed on a jumping spear play by Rich Aurilia.
top 4 -- Spiezio 0-2 U3; Boone 2-2...full 1B CF; Edgar 1-2 bat-shatter 2B LF corner (499th double, TEX 7-2); Ibanez 0-1 hard running 7; Aurilia 1st-pitch hard 1B LF; Olerud 1st-pitch HBP; Davis 1-0 9 -- Score one, leave three. Wasdin shows human qualities.
bot 4 -- Dellucci 1-2 3-1; Mench 1st-pitch HBP foot; Nix 1-1 HR CF sod farm (TEX 9-2); Barajas 1-1 5-3; Gonzalez 0-1 8
>> Niehaus began the 4th by asking Clyde the AFLAC duck if he was ready to eat some crabs in Baltimore. Edgar hit his 499th career double, which scored the Mariners' second run. the Mariners sustain something (albeit minimal) against John Wasdin, loading the bases with two out. We know how that goes, though. Kevin Mench was beaned in the foot with the first pitch, making Dave and Ron wonder whether he had a target on him because of his homer and beacuse of Franklin beaning Eric Young, etc. I'm guessing that wasn't the case, because Villone didn't go for an area above the waist. Laynce Nix then blasted one onto the sod farm in center to make it 9-2 as the rout was on.
top 5 -- Winn 1-0 2B LF; Ichiro 0-2...1-2 4-3; Spiezio 9 (Winn scores from 3rd, TEX 9-3); (more crew talk about needing to bunch up hits) Boone 1-0 1B CF; RAMIREZ WARMING; Edgar (Fairly: "look at this...some Texas gals...") 1-2...2-2 1B RF (loooong at-bat there); RAMIREZ IN (bitch move...Wasdin 1 out short of the win) Ibanez 1-0 6-3 -- Another single run...no two-out flurry. Two pitches to get one out for Erasmo.
bot 5 -- E Young 1-1 near-track 7; Blalock 1st-pitch F5; M Young 3-1...full...drop-down BB; Fullmer 0-2...1-2 4
>> Randy Winn led off with a double and scored on a Spiezio sac fly. Dave and Ron lamented more on the Mariners' ability to get one run here and there as well as their inability to not bunch their runs together. Such would hold true in this inning, an inning in which the camera operators got bored and showed five women in tank tops spelling out TEXAS, to which Ron Fairly said "look at this...some Texas gals!" Edgar had a long at-bat and singled, which chased John Wasdin, who left with two on and two out. Yes, Buck Showalter managed to screw John Wasdin out of a win, yanking him one out short of the required 5 innings. It's things like this that make me realize why I hate Buck Showalter as a manager. Wasdin wasn't even close to losing that game. A home run by Ibanez would have made it 9-6. THEN maybe you could pull Wasdin, but he still was in no danger of losing. Also, why the hell would you be in a hurry to use your bullpen if you're the manager of the Rangers? Anyway, Ron Villone managed to hold the Rangers scoreless for the first time since the 1st, which was a welcome change.
top 6 -- Aurilia 0-1 6-3; Olerud 2-1 4-3; Davis 3-1...full 1B RF; Winn 0-1 1B RF; Ichiro 0-2 1B RF (TEX 9-4); ALMANZAR WARMING; Spiezio 2-0 1B CF (TEX 9-5, 4 straight hits); ALMANZAR IN; Boone 1-2 1B RF (TEX 9-6); Edgar 0-2...2-2 swing K
bot 6 -- JARVIS IN...TOWEL!!; Dellucci 1-0 over-shoulder F5; Mench 1-1 1B LF; Nix 0-2...1-2...HR CF (TEX 11-6); Barajas 2-0 HR line LF (TEX 12-6); Gonzalez 1-2...2-2...1st ML HR RF (TEX 13-6, three straight bombs!!); NOBODY WARMING; E Young 0-2 near-track 9; Blalock 1-2...2-2 8
>> The Mariners mounted a little something of their own, managing to kick a field goal with 2 outs. Ben Davis got a hit (they took advantage of it too!) and so did Winn, Ichiro, and Spiezio, which chased Erasmo Ramirez. Bret Boone hit a single to rightfield to bring the Mariners to within three. Boone's hit was the fifth straight hit for the Mariner offense. So the Mariners come back to within three and given the "strength" of the Ranger pen and the success they had against the Mariner pen on Friday, surely you'd want a long relief man that could keep the game close, right? Does Kevin Jarvis fit this description??!! TOWEL!!! TOWEL!!! Julio Mateo threw THREE PITCHES the night before after resting on Friday. What happens next? Pure hilarity, of course! Kevin Mench singled, then Nix, Barajas, and Gonzalez all went yard, causing me to laugh deliriously in my Ellensburg apartment. After the Gonzalez home run (his first oin the Majors), no one was warming up and bullpen and it was apparent that Kevin Jarvis would be left out there to rot and save the remaining arms for the Baltimore series. After it was all over in the Texas 6th, Dave Niehaus said "the carnage is over." The three-run deficit and a small chance to win the game had gone up in smoke, becoming a SEVEN-run deficit instead. The rout was back on, and back for good.
top 7 -- Ibanez 0-2...full corner track 7; Aurilia 1-2...full 9; Olerud 2-1 F5
bot 7 -- M Young 1-1 9; Fullmer 1st-pitch 5-3; Dellucci 1-2...4-3
>> Ron Fairly took the radio play-by-play in the top of the 7th, leading me to believe Niehaus needed a bathroom break or a walk around the park to refresh his mind or something. In the 1-2-3 Mariner 7th, Ron told us how Carlos Almanzar is a licensed barber (family trade) in the Dominican Republic and that Carlos occasionally cuts the hair of his teammates, saving them money. At least I was able to take something out of the inning. Dave returned to the booth in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Fairly made a remark comparing the Mariners' struggles to those of the Yankees. I hardly believed that. Offensively, nothing happened in the 7th for either team.
top 8 -- Davis 1st-pitch 1B CF; Winn 0-2 swing K; Ichiro 1st-pitch 6-4-3 DP
bot 8 -- Mench 1-1 1B LCF (no cycle); Nix (WP, runner to 2nd) 1-2 U3; Barajas 1st-pitch F3; Gonzalez 2B RCF gap (TEX 14-6); E Young 0-2...1-2 swing K
>> Ben Davis managed to get his second hit of the game. Randy Winn made quick work of himself, then Ichiro got his 6-4-3 on. Niehaus noted that this was the second time Ichiro has grounded into a double play this year, today being the 19th game of the year. Ichiro grounded into ONE double play ALL of last year. Kevin Mench just missed the cycle but tore the Mariners a new one, going 4-for-4 in this game. He would score on a Gonzalez double to the wall in the gap that I thought Ichiro took a bad route on, looking like he ran to where the ball was rather than where the ball was going to be. In sum, I just think he could have gotten to the ball quicker. If he didn't want to, though, I can't blame him after Jarvis' doings in the 6th. The Mariner offense can put up runs, yes, but they're not going to put up a seven-run inning anytime soon with the way it's going.
top 9 -- MAHAY IN; Spiezio 2-1 IF 1B SS low throw not picked; Boone 1-1 FC 4-6 (no DP); Edgar 0-1 1B dinker CF MC CRACKEN PR; PH CABRERA 0-2...1-2...swing K; Aurilia 1-1 4 -- TEX sweeps SEA in Texas for first time since 1998
>> Ron Mahay came in to handle an 8-run lead. Some turbulence, but the job was done. Spiezio got aboard on what could have been an error. Boone beat out a double play, then Edgar singled. To prove that Melvin indeed didn't give a crap about this one, he put in Jolbert Cabrera to pinch-hit for Ibanez, who was 0-for-4 and stranded three on the day. Crap goes out, crap comes in. Cabrera struck out to make his average a nice .067. Rich Aurilia then flew out to second to mercifully end the game.
Gameball: Edgar Martinez. 3-for-5 with an RBI and his 499th career double. This wasn't too hard to choose.
Goat: Kevin Jarvis. Like I said, I wanted Julio Mateo to be that first guy out of the pen once the Mariners were down three. Jarvis comes in, gets Dellucci out, then surrenders a single and three home runs in succession. Can they cut this guy loose already? Is there really more value in having Kevin Jarvis sucking up a roster spot as opposed to, say, just about anyone else? Sure, Ryan Franklin sucked (royally) in this game, and quite frankly, Freddy's been the most consistent guy (scary, isn't it) in this rotation so far this year. The bottom line is, the game was still within reach going into the bottom of the 6th. This was almost a carbon copy of Friday's game. Mariners get within reach, Jarvis comes in (bottom of 7th down 7-5 on Friday), and it all goes to hell. THIS GUY SUCKS!!!!! Without looking back on recaps, I think Jarvis has blown situations like these at least four times this year. Just speculation, but for sure, he's blown two in three days (two outings in a row).
After 19 games of divisional play, the Mariners are 6-13. After cashing in on divisional opponents in April for the first three years of the unbalanced schedule, the Mariners crapped the bed this year but somehow find themselves only five games back of the division lead (Angels/Rangers).
To put it simply, the pitching doesn't show up when the offense is there, and the offense doesn't show up when the pitching is there.
The infield defense isn't looking quite as bad as it did the first couple games of the season, but the outfield defense hasn't given me any indication that it will get better. Today, everyone who said that Ryan Franklin would be worse off because Mike Cameron was no longer roaming centerfield for the Mariners were definitely given some ammunition today. Overall, the same people have been given ammunition quite a few times as a result of Winn's play in centerfield.
I think it was Bill Krueger a couple years ago that said the perfect bullpen is one where the pitchers know who's going to warm up right when the bullpen phone rings (i.e., without picking up the phone). I can't say the roles have been defined in the bullpen at all. There only seem to be two roles that are defined right now. If the Mariner offense just got done coming back to pull a game within reach, Jarvis is coming in. If the Mariners have a lead in the 9th, it's Guardado (boy, that hasn't happened often, has it?). Who knows other than this? If Melvin pulls the starting pitcher or makes a move in the middle innings, the only thing I know as to what pitcher is coming in is "not Guradado." Granted, the return of Soriano should alleviate the situation a bit, but does Bob Melvin know what the hell he's doing with this bullpen?
It's 19 games into the new season...does anyone like The New Bob Melvin?
As an aside, the Baseball Tonight panel of Ravech, Kruk, and Reynolds all agreed that the Mariners are indeed "in trouble." Agreed. Ravech also said at one point "I don't know how you could argue that the Mariners are a top team in the West right now." Also agreed.
What happens next? Well, the Mariners just got done facing the team with the highest batting average (coming into today) in the AL. Coming up? Four in Baltimore (4th in AL batting average), three in Detroit (3rd), and three at home against Minnesota (2nd, NOW FEATURING TORII HUNTER!!).
Meche. Riley. Tomorrow.
On to the recap...
top 1 -- Ichiro 2-2...full...6; Spiezio 1st-pitch 8; Boone 1-2...2-2 look K
bot 1 -- E Young 0-2 1-3; Blalock 1st-pitch 5; M Young 2-2...(outside?) full 1B CF; Fullmer 1-1 FC 4-6
>> This was an easy inning for both Ryan Franklin and John Wasdin. Niehaus pulled up a stat saying that the Mariners had scored in the first three innings of a game only once in the last 11 games.
top 2 -- Edgar 1-1 F3; Ibanez 0-2...2-2 9; Aurilia 0-2 look K (no argument)
bot 2 -- Dellucci 0-2...2-2 7; Mench 2-0 HR ~12 rows LF (now 3-for-5 against Franklin, 8 HR for Franklin...stat wrong?); Nix 0-1 1B CF; Barajas 2-2...(one foul nearly goes over top of foul pole) (lots of pickoff moves)...reaches low 1B CF (lots of fouls, quite a battle); Gonzalez 1st-pitch 2B CF (Winn TOTALLY should have had it, dropped it...TEX 2-0); E Young 1st-pitch 1B CF (TEX 3-0...runner held against Winn?!!); Blalock 1-1 1B RF (TEX 4-0, 6 straight hits); M Young 0-1 line 9; VILLONE WARMING; Fullmer 1-0 in diving 8
>> The Mariners bowed 1-2-3 to John Wasdin. Dave Niehaus showed more signs of senility, referring to Dave Dellucci as "Mike" Dellucci. Niehaus caught his own mistake, saying he may have known a Mike Dellucci at one time, and that he even had the incorrect name written in his scorebook. Niehaus then went on to refer to a Yankee pitcher named Ramon Vazquez, but he didn't catch that mistake (Javier as the correct Vazquez). Kevin Mench roped a fat 2-0 pitch about 12 rows above the wall scoreboard in left to give Texas the first run of the game. Rod Barajas engaged Franklin for a long at-bat that seemed to hang for a long time at 2-2 before Barajas reached down to poke a single into center. The Barajas at-bat seemed to me like the one that really unraveled Franklin. The next two hitters both swung at the first pitch and before anyone knew what hit them, two more runs had scored. Gonzalez' double was a ball that Randy Winn had hit his glove and drop just short of the wall. In this case, it's not a matter of saying Mike Cameron could have had that ball, it's a matter of saying anyone with a semi-sure set of hands would have caught that ball. Eric Young then hit a single where on run scored but the runner behind him mysteriously held at third on a ball to Randy Winn. You may never see that happen for the rest of the season. Hank Blalock then hit the sixth and final consecutive hit of the Ranger 2nd, giving them a 4-0 lead before Franklin mercifully got the next two hitters out, and Winn reminded us he does have some semblance of defense in him, diving in to glove a Brad Fullmer fly. Of course, there's a chance Winn may have misjudged the ball and moved a couple steps backward before charging forward and necessitating the dive. Horrible and mean thinking, I know.
top 3 -- Olerud 2-0 HR dug low RF; Davis 1-2...look K inside corner; Winn 2-2...swing K; Ichiro 2-2...(pitch almost there) full 4-3
bot 3 -- Dellucci 2B RF line; Mench 2-1 3B LF (TEX 5-1); VILLONE WARMING AGAIN; Nix 1-0 track 8 (TEX 6-1); Barajas 0-2...swing K; Gonzalez 0-2...full BB; E Young 0-2 HBP; VILLONE IN; Blalock 1st-pitch 1B RF (TEX 7-1); M Young 3-1 BB; Fullmer 1-0 spear line 6
>> John Olerud dug out a low pitch on 2-0 and showed us that yes, indeed there is a little power left in the tank. Ron Fairly called this "encouraging" because he got the bat head out in front instead of trying to go the ther way when he was ahead in the count. When Ichiro was up, Fairly noted that Ichiro is "so aware of pitches in on him right now" and that as a result, he gets out in front of the off-speed pitches. Ichiro watched a pitch on 2-2 that I probably would have wrung him up on. With the score 4-1, Dellucci hit a ball into rightfield that he got a double on, which I thought Ichiro wasn't quite going 100% on (this wouldn't be the first time in the game where I thought this was so); that ball didn't roll to the wall or get past Ichiro -- it was in front of him, for goodness' sake. Then a second straight weird play happened involving an outfielder (and third of the game) as Kevin Mench hit a ball to the track in leftfield; Raul Ibanez had the ball INSIDE his glove and dropped it, then banged into the wall (not sure if the tailbone was involved). I won't nail him for not catching with two hands due to how far he had to run and the speed of the play, but once again, a sure set of hands catches that ball. The plays involving Winn and Ibanez didn't look like very tough plays. This gave Texas a 5-1 lead and Laynce Nix drove in Mench with a fly ball to make it 6-1. Dave and Ron talked about how Franklin wasn't coming inside enough and the hitters were diving out for pitches low and away as a result. Dave Niehaus reminded us once again that baseballs in the Majors last an average of 4.5 pitches. After striking out Rod Barajas, Franklin went 0-2 on Adrian Gonzalez and walked him, then went 0-2 on Eric Young and beaned him before Bob Melvin came out with the hook. Yes, Ryan Franklin had absolutely lost it today. He said himself afterward that his location was never there. Any ticket recipients from Spiro at the game today went home disappointed. Ron "Vanilli" Villone came out and rubbed it in by allowing a Blalock RBI single and walking Michael Young before Brad Fullmer was robbed on a jumping spear play by Rich Aurilia.
top 4 -- Spiezio 0-2 U3; Boone 2-2...full 1B CF; Edgar 1-2 bat-shatter 2B LF corner (499th double, TEX 7-2); Ibanez 0-1 hard running 7; Aurilia 1st-pitch hard 1B LF; Olerud 1st-pitch HBP; Davis 1-0 9 -- Score one, leave three. Wasdin shows human qualities.
bot 4 -- Dellucci 1-2 3-1; Mench 1st-pitch HBP foot; Nix 1-1 HR CF sod farm (TEX 9-2); Barajas 1-1 5-3; Gonzalez 0-1 8
>> Niehaus began the 4th by asking Clyde the AFLAC duck if he was ready to eat some crabs in Baltimore. Edgar hit his 499th career double, which scored the Mariners' second run. the Mariners sustain something (albeit minimal) against John Wasdin, loading the bases with two out. We know how that goes, though. Kevin Mench was beaned in the foot with the first pitch, making Dave and Ron wonder whether he had a target on him because of his homer and beacuse of Franklin beaning Eric Young, etc. I'm guessing that wasn't the case, because Villone didn't go for an area above the waist. Laynce Nix then blasted one onto the sod farm in center to make it 9-2 as the rout was on.
top 5 -- Winn 1-0 2B LF; Ichiro 0-2...1-2 4-3; Spiezio 9 (Winn scores from 3rd, TEX 9-3); (more crew talk about needing to bunch up hits) Boone 1-0 1B CF; RAMIREZ WARMING; Edgar (Fairly: "look at this...some Texas gals...") 1-2...2-2 1B RF (loooong at-bat there); RAMIREZ IN (bitch move...Wasdin 1 out short of the win) Ibanez 1-0 6-3 -- Another single run...no two-out flurry. Two pitches to get one out for Erasmo.
bot 5 -- E Young 1-1 near-track 7; Blalock 1st-pitch F5; M Young 3-1...full...drop-down BB; Fullmer 0-2...1-2 4
>> Randy Winn led off with a double and scored on a Spiezio sac fly. Dave and Ron lamented more on the Mariners' ability to get one run here and there as well as their inability to not bunch their runs together. Such would hold true in this inning, an inning in which the camera operators got bored and showed five women in tank tops spelling out TEXAS, to which Ron Fairly said "look at this...some Texas gals!" Edgar had a long at-bat and singled, which chased John Wasdin, who left with two on and two out. Yes, Buck Showalter managed to screw John Wasdin out of a win, yanking him one out short of the required 5 innings. It's things like this that make me realize why I hate Buck Showalter as a manager. Wasdin wasn't even close to losing that game. A home run by Ibanez would have made it 9-6. THEN maybe you could pull Wasdin, but he still was in no danger of losing. Also, why the hell would you be in a hurry to use your bullpen if you're the manager of the Rangers? Anyway, Ron Villone managed to hold the Rangers scoreless for the first time since the 1st, which was a welcome change.
top 6 -- Aurilia 0-1 6-3; Olerud 2-1 4-3; Davis 3-1...full 1B RF; Winn 0-1 1B RF; Ichiro 0-2 1B RF (TEX 9-4); ALMANZAR WARMING; Spiezio 2-0 1B CF (TEX 9-5, 4 straight hits); ALMANZAR IN; Boone 1-2 1B RF (TEX 9-6); Edgar 0-2...2-2 swing K
bot 6 -- JARVIS IN...TOWEL!!; Dellucci 1-0 over-shoulder F5; Mench 1-1 1B LF; Nix 0-2...1-2...HR CF (TEX 11-6); Barajas 2-0 HR line LF (TEX 12-6); Gonzalez 1-2...2-2...1st ML HR RF (TEX 13-6, three straight bombs!!); NOBODY WARMING; E Young 0-2 near-track 9; Blalock 1-2...2-2 8
>> The Mariners mounted a little something of their own, managing to kick a field goal with 2 outs. Ben Davis got a hit (they took advantage of it too!) and so did Winn, Ichiro, and Spiezio, which chased Erasmo Ramirez. Bret Boone hit a single to rightfield to bring the Mariners to within three. Boone's hit was the fifth straight hit for the Mariner offense. So the Mariners come back to within three and given the "strength" of the Ranger pen and the success they had against the Mariner pen on Friday, surely you'd want a long relief man that could keep the game close, right? Does Kevin Jarvis fit this description??!! TOWEL!!! TOWEL!!! Julio Mateo threw THREE PITCHES the night before after resting on Friday. What happens next? Pure hilarity, of course! Kevin Mench singled, then Nix, Barajas, and Gonzalez all went yard, causing me to laugh deliriously in my Ellensburg apartment. After the Gonzalez home run (his first oin the Majors), no one was warming up and bullpen and it was apparent that Kevin Jarvis would be left out there to rot and save the remaining arms for the Baltimore series. After it was all over in the Texas 6th, Dave Niehaus said "the carnage is over." The three-run deficit and a small chance to win the game had gone up in smoke, becoming a SEVEN-run deficit instead. The rout was back on, and back for good.
top 7 -- Ibanez 0-2...full corner track 7; Aurilia 1-2...full 9; Olerud 2-1 F5
bot 7 -- M Young 1-1 9; Fullmer 1st-pitch 5-3; Dellucci 1-2...4-3
>> Ron Fairly took the radio play-by-play in the top of the 7th, leading me to believe Niehaus needed a bathroom break or a walk around the park to refresh his mind or something. In the 1-2-3 Mariner 7th, Ron told us how Carlos Almanzar is a licensed barber (family trade) in the Dominican Republic and that Carlos occasionally cuts the hair of his teammates, saving them money. At least I was able to take something out of the inning. Dave returned to the booth in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Fairly made a remark comparing the Mariners' struggles to those of the Yankees. I hardly believed that. Offensively, nothing happened in the 7th for either team.
top 8 -- Davis 1st-pitch 1B CF; Winn 0-2 swing K; Ichiro 1st-pitch 6-4-3 DP
bot 8 -- Mench 1-1 1B LCF (no cycle); Nix (WP, runner to 2nd) 1-2 U3; Barajas 1st-pitch F3; Gonzalez 2B RCF gap (TEX 14-6); E Young 0-2...1-2 swing K
>> Ben Davis managed to get his second hit of the game. Randy Winn made quick work of himself, then Ichiro got his 6-4-3 on. Niehaus noted that this was the second time Ichiro has grounded into a double play this year, today being the 19th game of the year. Ichiro grounded into ONE double play ALL of last year. Kevin Mench just missed the cycle but tore the Mariners a new one, going 4-for-4 in this game. He would score on a Gonzalez double to the wall in the gap that I thought Ichiro took a bad route on, looking like he ran to where the ball was rather than where the ball was going to be. In sum, I just think he could have gotten to the ball quicker. If he didn't want to, though, I can't blame him after Jarvis' doings in the 6th. The Mariner offense can put up runs, yes, but they're not going to put up a seven-run inning anytime soon with the way it's going.
top 9 -- MAHAY IN; Spiezio 2-1 IF 1B SS low throw not picked; Boone 1-1 FC 4-6 (no DP); Edgar 0-1 1B dinker CF MC CRACKEN PR; PH CABRERA 0-2...1-2...swing K; Aurilia 1-1 4 -- TEX sweeps SEA in Texas for first time since 1998
>> Ron Mahay came in to handle an 8-run lead. Some turbulence, but the job was done. Spiezio got aboard on what could have been an error. Boone beat out a double play, then Edgar singled. To prove that Melvin indeed didn't give a crap about this one, he put in Jolbert Cabrera to pinch-hit for Ibanez, who was 0-for-4 and stranded three on the day. Crap goes out, crap comes in. Cabrera struck out to make his average a nice .067. Rich Aurilia then flew out to second to mercifully end the game.
Gameball: Edgar Martinez. 3-for-5 with an RBI and his 499th career double. This wasn't too hard to choose.
Goat: Kevin Jarvis. Like I said, I wanted Julio Mateo to be that first guy out of the pen once the Mariners were down three. Jarvis comes in, gets Dellucci out, then surrenders a single and three home runs in succession. Can they cut this guy loose already? Is there really more value in having Kevin Jarvis sucking up a roster spot as opposed to, say, just about anyone else? Sure, Ryan Franklin sucked (royally) in this game, and quite frankly, Freddy's been the most consistent guy (scary, isn't it) in this rotation so far this year. The bottom line is, the game was still within reach going into the bottom of the 6th. This was almost a carbon copy of Friday's game. Mariners get within reach, Jarvis comes in (bottom of 7th down 7-5 on Friday), and it all goes to hell. THIS GUY SUCKS!!!!! Without looking back on recaps, I think Jarvis has blown situations like these at least four times this year. Just speculation, but for sure, he's blown two in three days (two outings in a row).
After 19 games of divisional play, the Mariners are 6-13. After cashing in on divisional opponents in April for the first three years of the unbalanced schedule, the Mariners crapped the bed this year but somehow find themselves only five games back of the division lead (Angels/Rangers).
To put it simply, the pitching doesn't show up when the offense is there, and the offense doesn't show up when the pitching is there.
The infield defense isn't looking quite as bad as it did the first couple games of the season, but the outfield defense hasn't given me any indication that it will get better. Today, everyone who said that Ryan Franklin would be worse off because Mike Cameron was no longer roaming centerfield for the Mariners were definitely given some ammunition today. Overall, the same people have been given ammunition quite a few times as a result of Winn's play in centerfield.
I think it was Bill Krueger a couple years ago that said the perfect bullpen is one where the pitchers know who's going to warm up right when the bullpen phone rings (i.e., without picking up the phone). I can't say the roles have been defined in the bullpen at all. There only seem to be two roles that are defined right now. If the Mariner offense just got done coming back to pull a game within reach, Jarvis is coming in. If the Mariners have a lead in the 9th, it's Guardado (boy, that hasn't happened often, has it?). Who knows other than this? If Melvin pulls the starting pitcher or makes a move in the middle innings, the only thing I know as to what pitcher is coming in is "not Guradado." Granted, the return of Soriano should alleviate the situation a bit, but does Bob Melvin know what the hell he's doing with this bullpen?
It's 19 games into the new season...does anyone like The New Bob Melvin?
As an aside, the Baseball Tonight panel of Ravech, Kruk, and Reynolds all agreed that the Mariners are indeed "in trouble." Agreed. Ravech also said at one point "I don't know how you could argue that the Mariners are a top team in the West right now." Also agreed.
What happens next? Well, the Mariners just got done facing the team with the highest batting average (coming into today) in the AL. Coming up? Four in Baltimore (4th in AL batting average), three in Detroit (3rd), and three at home against Minnesota (2nd, NOW FEATURING TORII HUNTER!!).
Meche. Riley. Tomorrow.