Mariners Coming Home

The Seattle Mariners are coming home after Felix Hernandez spectacular pitching performance today against the Tampa Bay winning 3-0. Actually Tampa Bay had a wonderful pitching performance as well from Chris Archer.

The game was 0-0 going into the top of the ninth inning. Felix had given up only four hits and had less than one hundred pitches. Tampa Bay brought in their closer Brad Boxberger in the ninth because Archer had thrown a lot of pitches. He had more pitches thrown than Felix.

Boxberger started out well in the ninth inning by striking out two batters but then he walked Seth Smith and Robinson Cano.  Now came up to bat is no other than Nelson Cruz. He had no hits in his last seven at bats so I had a good feeling he would be able to drive in at least one run. The way Felix was pitching I figure one run would be enough. So what did Nelson Cruz do he hit a home run to make it 3-0. It basically ended the game; Felix finished off the bottom of the ninth getting all three batters. He looked as good in the ninth as any of the other innings.

The game on Tuesday night the Mariners won 7-6 in ten innings with Kyle Seager hitting a home run. It was his second home run of the game because in the eighth inning he hit a grand slam to make the score 6-3. Fernando Rodney came in the ninth inning for the save which he turned out in blowing. The Rays scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it 6-6.  The Mariners were lucky because Rodney just missed out in giving up a grand slam home run which would be a walk off. The Mariners could have lost two out of three to the Rays but weath-ered the storm. When things are going bad they would have lost both games so I see it all as a good sign.

The Mariners had a successful road trip going 6-3. They still have some questions in starting and relief pitching. Besides Seager and Cruz the Mariners continue to need help in the hitting. Against the Rays Robinson Cano did snap out of his slump in a way. I know most fans are concerned about his lack of power. He has only one home run so far in the season. Right now he is an average player. Of course, the Mariners are paying him to be a superstar. I am sure no one expects him to have eighteen home runs like Cruz but expect him to be getting on base and driving runs in.

Kyle Seager on the other hand started out hitting poorly but this road trip has brought him back into his normal ways. If Cano can join Cruz and Seager in produc-ing runs it will be a big lift to the team. Also, it would be nice to have another player hitting consistently as well. Now that Brad Miller  is getting used to playing more than one position he will be valuable hitting lower in the lineup. Austin Jackson needs to improve his on base percentage leading off so the big three we call them can drive him home.  I like it when the Mariners can score early in a game like they did in the first two games in Tampa Bay.

I think if the Mariners shuffle the batter order I would like either Brad Miller or Seth Smith leading off against right handed pitching and Rickie Weeks leading off against left handers. Austin Jackson would hit seventh against right handers and second against left handers.

At the top I mentioned pitching. The starting pitching has been good most of the time except when TaiJuan Walker is out on the mound. He pitches well sometimes but most of the time not. The Mariners need to go out and get another starting pitcher. I am sure we will see a change if it continues; however, if the four starters continue pitching well they stay with Walker as he is a work in process.

In relief side the Mariners sent down Danny Farquhar to Triple A after giving up seven runs in four innings. They did the move when reactivating Austin Jackson on Tuesday. The Mariners are short one pitcher in the bullpen; however, they will make a move sometime during this weekend. They knew pitching J.A. Happ and Felix Hernandez they could go with one less pitcher temporarily.

I know those who are Seahawk fans wonder why I write about the Mariners. The truth is I am a big baseball fan and football is secondary to me. During the football season I will follow the Seahawks and root for them to make it to another Super Bowl; however, the off season for football I prefer to spend time watching the Mariners. I know that some super fans believe in football all the time. I am not one of those fans. If something comes up that I would call newsworthy I will write about it with my take.  So right now Go Mariners!