The Mariners are 9-3 in their last 12 games and have won their last 4 series, as of last night's 11-1 over the Houston Astros. Hey, another good thing to write about, we beat the Astros and took the first series of the season! So again, there are a couple of guys in the lineup that need to get their batting average up, especially Kyle Seager. Seager usually gets off to a slow start but this is ridiculous! Seager has a .133 average with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs. Not a bad line all except the batting average part. Not worried about Seager really, if you look at some of his at bats he's hitting the ball well its just he can't catch a break, he hits the damn thing so hard it doesn't have a chance to fall for a base hit.
Seager's gonna start picking things up soon, so don't be too hard on the guy. I mean let's face it, who would you rather have a third base? Exactly! Moving on to Ketel Marte, love saying his name! The young short stop has been hot as of late, raising his batting average by 105 points! In the last 15 games Marte has been on fire, batting a nice .273, and in his last 7 games he's batted a scorching .370! You know I actually need to admit that I was a little worried about Marte a couple weeks ago, but a couple of adjustments and possibly some time in the cage with Edgar has helped the young star in the making show off his potential and shut a couple people up in the process. Also, I want to put in that Marte is that guy who can provide the fire for the team. Have you seen him? I mean hell, pumping his fist after throwing out Carlos Gomez (douche bag) and celebrating after sliding in safely last night at home, this kid brings that necessary spark and fire the Mariners need in a player.
Lets talk about the pitching now eh? In the last 5 games all 5 starters have gone 7+ innings and has really helped give our bullpen a rest! The bullpen though needs some praise as well, cause lets face it without our bullpen helping us out during the last 12 games I don't think we are in first place. The bullpen is ranked as the best in the game so far, really hoping that trend continues throughout the season. Though I have to get on Felix Hernandez's case a little bit. First off Felix, lose the dorky hair. Felix has shown us that at 30 years old he may be losing a step, his velocity is way down this year and he can barley break 90 on his fastball, and during the Yankee game he through a ton of breaking balls and off speed pitches.....that's not Felix's game. Now here's the thing Felix maybe 1-2 but he does only have a 1.80 ERA, but his strikeout ratio is down and his walks are at a career high for this point in the season.
King Felix is going to be King Felix though, he's gone through rough starts and he usually bounces back, but I think this time if continues to pitch the way he is I think we have to consider that maybe his arm might be used up. Either way I have the up most confidence in the King. As for the Prince, Taijuan Walker, WHOA! That kid is pitching like a Felix Hernandez in his prime! Taijuan Walker is coming off an 11 strikeout night against the Astros and is now 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 25 innings, and get this, a 0.96 WHIP! You can't get any better than that can you? Maybe you can, but currently Taijuan Walker is pitching like the pitcher that we expected him to be. Currently I'm thinking that's what has provided his hot start, Walker knew that he had a lot of pressure on him to pitch like this last year and after dropping that notion and deciding to just go out and pitch he has shown his incredible potential. Not trying to make it sound like Taijuan basically said "I'm just going to pitch every start", no what I'm saying is that Taijuan just, wait that is what I'm saying. OK never mind.
Both Wade Miley and Nathan Karns are coming off good quality starts, Karns having his best start of the season last night and Miley coming off his 7.1 innings of work in Anaheim. Both Miley and Karns got off to very rocky starts but now it seems like both are coming into their own. Miley was expected to give the Mariners 200+ innings and so far his starts has shown it, as he has gone 6+ innings in 2 of his 3 starts. Only thing Miley needs to work on is giving up runs. Miley has given up 4+ runs in 2 of his 3 starts and in those starts he's won one of those games. Karns on the other hand went 7 innings for the first time this season last night, he has only gone 5+ in his previous 2 starts, though he does have a 2-1 record so you can't complain there. Karns has yet to give up more than 5 hits in a game but his walks need to start going down, he's walk at least 3 batters in all three of his starts, but again not going to complain when he has a winning record along with a 3.63 ERA.
Now, gotta talk about Steve Cishek. Not a good start to his season as he gave up a game winning home run against the Oakland Athletics in the Mariners home opener, but since then he has not allowed a run and has saved 5 in a row and won a game. Not bad! Not bad at all, he's way better than that arrow shooting dip wad Fernando Rodney. Funny enough Rodney, who is playing for the San Diego Padres, has a 0.00 ERA and 3 saves for the Padres.......THAT SON OF A!!!!
Don't you hate it when that happens? They leave Seattle and suddenly they can play again. Well how about Robinson Cano? Currently tied for first in the American League with 7 home runs and first in RBI's with 21! Yes he only has a .238 batting average but just wait that'll change very soon. Cano is coming off a career night for the Mariners where he drove in 6 and hit his first grand slam as a Mariner and his 10th of his career! Cano also hit a milestone last night, after his two-run double he hit the 1,000 RBI mark in his career, he currently has 1,004. Another positive note is both Nelson Cruz and Leonys Martin. Both have provided some nice pop to the lineup, Martin was acquired for his speed, and he's shown that off in the outfield, but he has also hit 4 home runs as well. Only thing Martin needs to work on is the same with Seager, that batting average. The Boomstick on the other hand leads the team in batting average with a .286 average, he has also popped 4 home runs and drove in 13.
Things are so far clicking very well for the Mariners this season, with a win in their next 3 games they will secure their first winning month of April since 2009! How about that? If you all remember 2009, that was the year Ken Griffey, Jr., made his return to Seattle and the Mariners were in the midst of a playoff run through most of the season until a losing streak in September ended that bid. Everything so far is in place for the Mariners to make a run for the postseason, first in the West right now and they have a nice 1 game lead on the A's and Angels. Yes I know its only April but hey gotta report the good stuff right? Tonight Hisashi Iwakuma will try to continue the Mariners hot streak and help push their winning streak to a season high 4 games, and maybe earn his first win of the season. First pitch is at 7:10 so be glued to the TV or if you're going to the game make sure you cheer loud and proud for our boys in northwest green and navy!
Go Mariners!!!!!
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