Wow, did you see that?
I’m not sure you could ask more of a starting pitcher than to go up against that Red Sox offense and come away having only given up two runs. What an example for the rest of the rotation to live up to in this season. “We can challenge these guys and do well,” Washburn’s performance says.
All in all, another demonstration that Washburn is the foundation of this rotation and we’re lucky to have him. I hope that this performance helps prove that if he’s going to be traded, he should demand a high price indeed. This is exactly the kind of gutty start you’d want in a playoff contending rotation.
Game 99, Red Sox at Mariners
7:10. Thank goodness Jarrod Washburn has returned to the rotation!
I’m so glad. Fun facts about Jarrod:
– he finished 4th in AL Cy Young voting only six years ago
– he’s a workhorse, who has started over 30 games every year since 2001 except 2004 and 2005
– his career ERA is under 4.13, far below league average
– he has a career winning percentage over .500 despite playing for the 06-08 Mariner teams
– despite having pitched over 1600 innings, he’s walked only 500 batters and given up just over 200 home runs
– at the same time, he’s struck out nearly a thousand batters — that’s almost the magic 2:1 ratio analysts and scouts look for!
– he averages a balk only once every four years
– because of the below-market contract he signed with the Mariners, he’s under team control for another season! He’s a cost-certain bargain this year and next!
– his baseball-reference page can be sponsored for only $20?
– he’s 97-0 with a 2.12 ERA in games where he’s awarded a win
– he holds opposing lefties to a .245/.302/.399 line
– he’s a seasoned playoff veteran
And he’s left-handed! It’s all true. I hope no astute team trades for him, because he’s the heart and soul of this Mariner staff.
Rainiers Game Thread
Tacoma has a day game against Tucson today, starting at 11:30. The not-good Joe Woerman against real prospect Matt Torra. As always, you can listen live to the great Mike Curto at tacomarainiers.com.
A few interesting Tacoma related notes:
The M’s signed Oscar Villareal to a minor league contract, and he’s in the bullpen. Not a bad free pickup.
Wladimir Balentien has homered in four straight games. I think he wants to come back to Seattle.
Ryan Feierabend rejoins the team and starts Thursday, with RR-S making his first start on Friday.
Rhodes’ Usage
Here’s a fun fact about how the M’s have used Arthur Rhodes this year:
Among pitchers who have been used in at least 30 games in a season since 1950, only two pitchers have faced fewer hitters than Rhodes, who has faced 74 men this year – 2001 Jesse Orosco faced 69 and 2002 Rich Rodriguez faced 72.
Rhodes is facing 2.39 batters per game. It doesn’t get much more LOOGY than this – even when he’s getting people out, the M’s aren’t even trying to get full innings out of him.
Brad Wilkerson
Since being picked up by Toronto, May 9th on: .222/.313/.326, somehow even worse than he was doing when the M’s tossed him.
Here’s what’s crazy: that’s better than Johjima (.233/.269/.342) and Vidro (.230/.269/.323) over the same period. And it’s close to Betancourt (.262/.274/.371).
The Silva Burger
From this fine comment:
Rick Griffin: “Hey Carlos, you don’t look so good. Is it your elbow?â€
Silva: “I saw a fan eating a hamburger. *gets animated* I didn’t know we HAD those here. â€
Griffin: “You know you just gave up a 3 run homer to Kelly Shoppach right?â€
Silva: “… I mean, you could probably put the garlic fries right inside the bun with the meat!â€
The Silva Burger
Ingredients:
– one hamburger patty, large or extremely large, must not be “lean” or “extra lean” ground beef
– your choice of condiments and hamburger toppings
– hamburger bun
– one order of garlic fries
Prep:
1. Grill the burger to preferred state. If you’re impatient for the deliciousness of the Silva Burger, very rare takes the least amount of time, and you’ll be fine. Tapeworms = no-effort weight loss anyway.
2. Put grilled patty on bun bottom
3. Dump garlic fries onto patty
4. Stack with condiments and lettuce, etc
5. Finish with bun top
Additional success scenarios:
1a. Use layer of bacon to protect bun bottom from patty.
3a. Use layer of bacon between patty, fries
4a. Additional layer of bacon
Serves one given sufficient starting patty size. Should be consumed before starts, followed by getting shelled and pulled for either ineffectiveness, stomach pains, or emitting clouds of noxious gasses.
Game 98, Indians at Mariners
Lee v Silva, 1:10 pm.
M’s activate Putz from DL, option Rowland-Smith to Tacoma. There’s two possibilities here – either the club is sending him down in order to stretch him out and bring him back in August as a starting pitcher (woohoo!) or the M’s are the worst organization ever. I’m going with A, but this year has made B much more believable.
Game 97, Indians at Mariners
Sowers v Batista. 12:55.
WFB in center, Vidro at DH, LaHair at first, Clement catching.
Beltre Busts Out The Walking Stick
Adrian Beltre, bases on balls by year as a Mariner
2005: 38 walks
2006: 47 walks
2007: 38 walks
2008: 40 walks
Beltre’s already drawn more walks this year than he did all of last year. Beltre’s pretty clearly having his best year as a Mariner, and it’s time people besides us and Lookout Landing noticed.
Hey World – Adrian Beltre’s pretty good.
Game 96, Indians at Mariners
Laffey v Felix. 7:10.
Hey, wait, if Vidro was protecting Ibanez, what happens now? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
RF-L Ichiro
CF-R Bloomquist
LF-L Ibanez
3B-R Beltre
2B-R Lopez
1B-B Vidro Cairo
DH-R Johjima
C-R Burke
SS-R Betancourt