Paxton’s Victories Are Growing

                                                          The Big Maple

It is always nice to see your ace at a start of a series or at the end of one. Yes Paxton right now has to be considered the ace of the Mariners since Felix really isn’t anymore. It would be nice to have two aces though little later in the season when Felix has pitched a bit longer after being out for some time.

Paxton has a record of 5-0 in July after having a slow June coming back from injury himself. His record now for the season is 10-3 with an era of 2.84 after shutting down the Boston Red Sox 4-0. He went seven innings giving up four hits with no walks and ten strike outs. It would be nice if he could have had a few less strike outs so he may have been able to go another inning however no walks was a big key as well. This was a great way to get the series going against the Red Sox after the Mariners struggled against the Yankees.

Paxton is big time now for the Mariners since he has a nickname in the Big Maple and a cheering section started Monday Night called “The Maple Grove”. It wasn’t a big section however I am sure it will grow over time especially if the Mariners promote it. At least on TV they promoted it and showed the section several times.

Paxton now can be the left handed force the Mariners haven’t had since Randy Johnson left. The other lefty in the rotation Ariel Miranda can be more effective if he is in the same series as Paxton since they do pitch somewhat different though Miranda does have a pretty good fastball as well. The important thing for him is that he has to spot the fastball even more so than Paxton.  He won’t be in this series like Paxton since the Mariners will be facing the Red
Sox only three times. Felix will be pitching against the Red Sox Tuesday night followed by Andrew Moore Wednesday Afternoon. Miranda will start the series on Friday against the New York Mets since the Mariners have an off day on Thursday. It will be interesting if the Mariners will go with the fifth starter whether it is Gallardo or someone else on Saturday night or they will skip the spot and have Paxton pitch that night. Whatever the case Paxton will pitch the series against the Mets. It is nice to have Paxton and then Felix pitching after each other. It will be interesting if the Mariners will stay that way the rest of the season or break them up at some point. A lot will depend how Felix will be going the rest of the way.

Monday night Nick Vincent pitched the eighth inning followed by David Phelps in the ninth inning. I like that when the Mariners are not in a save situation and they don’t have to use Edwin Diaz. Depending on the amount of days they pitch in a row I like to see Phelps, Vincent and Diaz pitching the seventh, eighth and ninth innings when the game is close and the Mariners ahead. Also Steve Cishek can be put in there somewhere as well. Most likely in the sixth or seventh inning it would be good. Phelps can pitch more than one inning as well. That will help not over using either Vincent or Diaz.  Another pitcher that has emerged right now is Emilio Pagan who has done well as the long reliever. Yovani Gallardo did well in that role as well before being put back in as the fifth starter. I think that the Mariners need to look down to Tacoma unless they pick up another starter before the trading deadline. The five man rotation is weak at this point. Not sure can depend on anyone outside of Paxton on a regular basis. Sometimes Felix and Miranda along with Moore on occasion; now that Iwakuma is put on the 60 day dl we may not see him again this season. Not sure whether the Mariners will resign him for next year or go out and gets a free agent pitcher or make a trade during the off-season depending who they may get in less than a week. Go M’s.