Marines Lose Two Players and More

Where do we start with losing two players in the first game in Detroit on Tuesday night or losing another game? Not a good sign either way that is for sure.

We will start with the game in itself. The Mariners lost the game 19-9. Not much more we can say about that however the worst part of it Felix Hernandez had to leave the game after two innings because of a dead arm. At least that is the story after the game. In the third inning the Mariners lost outfielder Mitch Haniger trying to dive back to first base. He had to leave the game because of his strained oblique muscle. He said after the game he had problems with it for a couple days and was working on it in a preventive way. He was hoping that working on the injury at that time would not get him into trouble however it didn’t happen. The sad part besides the injury Haniger was playing the best baseball of anyone on the team.

Felix and Haniger both flew back to Seattle to see the team doctor. Sometime Wednesday the team and we will know how bad it will be for both of them; we know that Haniger will go on the disabled list however with Felix it hard to know. He could miss one turn in the rotation or be out for some time as well.

Only positive of the pitching was the Mariners only used four relief pitchers in the game. The negative was three of the four got shelled. Chris Heston came in to pitch first to replace Felix since he is the long reliever. He replaced Chase De Jong who pitched well on Saturday going four innings and giving up only one hit along with no runs. He looks like the guy who could come up to replace Felix. Heston if he could have resembled De Jong in any manner the Mariners could have won the game however he gave up five runs on seven hits including two home runs in two innings. He was replaced by Evan Marshall who came up last week in place of Dan Altavilla who was sent down to Tacoma to work on his slider and spotting his fast ball. He didn’t do any better than Heston giving up seven runs on seven hits and three walks in two innings. Two of the hits were doubles.

Rookie lefty James Pazos came in for Marshall and pitched one inning. At that point the score was 16-7. He was the only good pitcher on Tuesday night going one inning giving up one hit and a walk with no runs scored. He was followed up by Evan Scribner who pitched the eighth inning. He gave up three runs on four hits including a home run and a double. Scribner who pitched well last September after coming off the disabled list and not pitching up to that point; he has done poorly most of April so far. I wonder if he has injury himself.

So will any of those three Heston, Marshall or Scribner last beyond today? We know that at least one pitcher will be recalled on Wednesday if not more along with a regular player.  We will have to see how the rest of the roster will react with the loss of Felix and Haniger. This will show how tough they are and how they will show on the final five games on the road. Hopefully no other injuries will occur. Go M’s.

In other local sport news the Seahawks will be in the college draft starting on Thursday. There is a report that the Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons may swap first round picks. The Seahawks have the 26^th pick while the Falcons have the 31^st pick. The Seahawks will get Falcons fourth round pick as well. I am not too surprised by this since the record has been since general manager John Schneider and Coach Pete Carroll have been on the scene they haven’t stayed pat too often in the first round. Also they like picking up extra draft picks as well.  What will the Seahawks do with their first round pick? Anyone’s guess? Go for an offensive lineman or a corner back?  Whatever happens in the first round the rest of the draft the Seahawks likely will go for players on the defense. I am sure they will throw in a receiver or tight end in somewhere as well. Go Hawks.