4/29 Game Report

Okay, I haven't posted for a while - mainly because I was afraid of jinxing the streak - and maybe because I didn't want the post to degenerate into another "Jeff Weaver sucks" rant - although he really does. In any event, I made a trip to Safeco Field today and thought it would be appropriate to share a few thoughts concerning the game.

Cha Baek had an excellent outing until suddenly losing his command. Brandon Morrow came in and was lights-out! The crowd really got into it.

Raul and Ichiro! shoot the breeze while Morrow warms up

The Ignitor salvaged a pretty dismal at bat to produce the go-ahead runs. It was obvious to everyone in the ballpark that once he got the second chance, he wasn't going to let it pass him by. Pretty cool.

The Ignitor

It was a beautiful Seattle afternoon - and doubly enjoyable because of a Mariner win.

Your intrepid reporter

Getting Worse

I've been willing to cut Bill Bavasi some slack for the last couple of years. I'm done. Rather than getting better, this team is getting worse. With the exception of King Felix, the team has nobody in the starting rotation that is getting the job done. The bullpen has actually been better than I expected, but the lack of quality starts is really hurting the club. I used to kid my friend Barclay about the Texas Rangers (he's a big Ranger fan) and their chances for winning a game. Basically, I would tell him that as long as the Ranger offense scored one more run than the starters gave up that the club would be okay. Fast forward a couple of years and you could use that same line about the Mariners. *sigh*

Update: I'm not the only one - check out John McGrath over at the TNT.

And Geoff Baker over at The Times.

Tuesday update - even Larry Stone's getting in on the act.

Could Have Been Worse

As Jeff over at Lookout Landing reports, King Felix is not as badly hurt as was feared immediately after he left the game the other evening. As the Twins went on to sweep, at least there's hope that the King will return soon. Then Dave from USS Mariner reported that Brandon Morrow will take Felix's place in the rotation. Somebody please make it stop.

Happy Felix Day!

Jerry Crasnick over at ESPN has lots of love for King Felix in his article today. After last night's performance, I'm looking forward to seeing a good pitcher take the hill for the Mariners.

Oh, by the way, Jeff Weaver sucks.

Update: Or not. I am feeling some high anxiety right now concerning King Felix's injury. Hopefully it's nothing - but with the way things have been going for this club for the last 3 years, I'm not counting on it. And then this tidbit from the Nationals/Phillies game yesterday:

Bottom of the 13th
Pitching Change: (P) Madson replaced by (P) Rosario
Hit: Snelling hits a single to CF. 0 out.
Hit: Restovich hits a double to LF. C Snelling to third. 0 out.
Run scored: 1 run, Felipe Lopez hits a sacrifice fly. Chris Snelling scores from 3rd.

King Crowns Sox

Today is not a day to worry about the lack of depth that is Seattle Mariner pitching. Today is a day to celebrate the arrival of The King. Yesterday in Boston, King Felix showed a national TV audience exactly what all the hype is about. Dice-K who? Felix is the man - long live The King!

Schedules Gone Wild

So the M's and Indians will hopefully follow the advice of the great Ernie Banks today (Let's play two!) in snowy Cleveland. The weather has certainly been a factor over the weekend in the East - see Geoff Baker's latest blog entry for the update - looks like it's no certainty that they will be able to play today. Why doesn't MLB schedule these early April games in the more temperate cities? Good question Geoff - and I suspect you are right - it's all about the Benjamins.

First Series Victory

So last night's results notwithstanding, I'll take a series win against Oakland anytime. It's way too early to draw any conclusions about the ballclub, but the things that we said during Spring Training are holding true - namely that the club will score more runs than the anemic bunch from 2006 - and that the pitching is going to be an adventure. A day to breathe today - and then a game in frigid Cleveland tomorrow. And it's to be in the 70's here in the Northwest tomorrow. What could be better than that?

King Vanquishes Division Foe

A decidedly good effort. Dave puts it in words much more eloquently than I, but the fact remains that King Felix turned in a performance yesterday that may signal the arrival of the dominant pitcher that we all have been waiting for. Props to Big Richie for smoking that ball to CF.

Also, be sure to check out Jeff's awesome game recap over at Looking Landing.

It's April - Play Ball!

This is it. Opening Day. The time for speculation is over. It's time to put up or shut up. After 3 losing seasons, it's time for the Mariners to start winning again. Go Mariners!

Update: Official 25 man roster for Opening Day.