Ups & Downs
What a very strange week of baseball for the Seattle Mariners.
When a team can open up a 10-game road trip with a series sweep against a team with the caliber of talent like the Detroit Tigers, you expect to see somewhat of a carryover or trickle down effect into the following series (with regards to numbers).
That was hardly the case as the Mariners finished the week staggering somewhat after getting punched in the stomach by the Toronto Blue Jays.
We all knew there were going to be major inconsistencies across the board when it came to pitching. When three-fifth’s of your rotation consists of Blake Beavan, Hector Noesi, and a 37 year-old Kevin Millwood, and you have a young and very inexperienced bullpen, you should expect to see crooked numbers at the tail end of the week.
All of that said, even I wasn’t expecting to see the production I saw from the pitching staff this week.
Run support was not an issue as the Mariners opened up the road trip trying to shake off the three game sweep by the Chicago White Sox.
The offense exploded with 21 runs on 37 hits, 10 BB’s, and were 12-43 with runners in scoring position.
George Sherrill is done for the year. - (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
True to form, the Mariners rotation played to stat line of 9 R, 15 H, 9 K’s/5 BB’s, 4.50 ERA, 1.111 WHIP in 18 IP, but it was the bullpen that won the series for the Mariners.
Steve Delabar, Lucas Luetge, Tom Wilhelmsen, and Brandon League turned in the performance of the season by shutting down the Detroit lineup (0 R, 8 H, 8 K’s/4 BB’s, 5 hlds, 2 svs, in 9 IP).
Then the Mariners rolled into Toronto and things changed almost immediately.
The Mariners stellar starting pitching (6 R, 18 H, 12 K’s/5 BB’s, 2.89 ERA, 1.231 WHIP in 18.2 IP) was done in by a fundamental lack of run support (.229/.279/.440/.719, 11 R, 25 H, 21 K’s/8 BB’s, 48 TB, 3-33 RISP).
The lack of run support definitely hurt, but having the worst bullpen performance of the year was the dagger that made it impossible to salvage any hopes of a continued winning streak.
In 6.2 IP, the bullpen gave up 11 R, 11 H, 7 K’s/4 BB’s, 14.84 ERA, 2.248 WHIP, and 3 HR’s including a grand slam given up by Hisashi Iwakuma.
News, Notes, and Injuries
- Jason Vargas was the starter on the hook for two starts this week, and he met that with modest results. 1-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.166 WHIP, 6 R, 10 H, 9 K’s/4 BB’s in 12 IP
- The starter of the week award goes to Kevin Millwood for his impressive start in the second game of the three-game series in Toronto. Millwood gave up 1 ER, 7 H, 4 K’s/2 BB’s in 7 IP.
- For the week the rotation was 2-2-2, 15 R, 33 H, 21 K’s/10 BB’s, 3.68 ERA, and a 1.277 WHIP.
- The bullpen’s effort wasn’t as stellar. In 15.2 IP, the bullpen surrendered 11 R, 19 H, 15 K’s/8 BB’s, 6.31 ERA, 1.723 WHIP, 3 HR’s, 5 hlds, and 2 svs.
- The Mariners offense for the week: .275/.326/.467/.780, 32 R, 62 H, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 18 BB’s/41 K’s, 105 TB, 15-76 (19%) RISP.
- The Mariners have recalled LF/DH Mike Carp from AAA Tacoma to fill the roster spot of C Miguel Olivo who pulled a groin muscle in the opening game in Tampa Bay.
- George Sherrill is done for the year. Tommy John ligament transplant surgery on his left elbow
The injury of Miguel Olivo has created some intriguing match-ups at the catching position.
Manager Eric Wedge has said Jesus Montero will catch vs LHP and John Jaso will get time vs RHP. Wedge did concede that Montero will get the bulk of the time behind the plate.
That is all for this week. See you again next week. Same bat time, same bat channel.
CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE SEATTLE MARINERS CLUBHOUSE AT NWSB!