Tonight was the night of all nights. Taijuan Walker's major league debut and he was brilliant to start off his career. Walker went 1-2-3 in the first two innings and retired the first 8 batters before giving up a double to Jonathan Viller, on a ground ball to Brad Miller Justin Smoak failed to catch the relay and on the error Viller scored and the Astros took the 1-0 lead. The Astros didn't have the lead for long though, after Kendrys Morales and Smoak walked Dustin Ackley tied things up with a single to right and then Abraham Almonte (who was also making his MLB debut) was able to beat out the attempted double play and the M's took the 2-1 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning the Mariners gave Tai some more runs. After Brad Miller lead things off by singling and then stealing a base, Kyle Seager drove him in with a single to put the M's up 3-1, Ackley added two more runs to the scoreboard with a 2-run single to center and so Ackley not only helped out his average but helped out the team by putting them up 5-1. Walker's final inning of work went by quick, he only needed 11 pitches to go 1-2-3 again , Walker finished the night with 2 strikeouts and only threw 70 pitches. Carter Capps was brought into the bottom of the sixth inning and went 1-2-3 in both that inning and in the bottom of the seventh inning as well.
In the top of the eighth Dustin Ackley's hot night continued as he hit a one out triple, following that Abraham Almonte got his first major league hit and his second RBI of the game with a single and the Mariners pushed their lead to 6-1. Charlie Furbush took the mound in the top of the eighth and went 1-2-3, both the Mariners starting pitching and bullpen was on their A-game tonight. In the top of the ninth inning Ackley added one more hit and RBI to his amazing night and put the M's up one more run 7-1, in addition Ackley pushed his average in August to .403.
Oliver Perez finished things off for the Mariners and secured Taijuan Walker's first major league win in his debut. Perez though almost had his head taken off by a line drive single by L.J. Hoes. Perez was ok except for having to change his shorts after the game. So, the Mariners won their second game in a row and their 61st game of the year. Tomorrow the M's will try and win the series as they will send Joe Saunders out to the mound.
NOTES: Today the Mariners traded away Mike Morse to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Xavier Avery and also optioned Erasmo Ramirez to Tacoma as a paper move.
Showing posts with label Carter Capps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carter Capps. Show all posts
Friday, August 30, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
The Mariners bullpen....what the has happened to it?
Today's Mariners game showed the fans something that they probably have already figured out.......our bullpen stinks. When the season started the Mariners bullpen was lights out. In April the M's bullpen were lights out. They posted a 3.90 ERA with Stephen Pryor leading the way posting a 0.00 ERA in 7 games in 7.1 innings but went down mid way through the month with a torn right latissimus dorsi muscle. Both Tom Wilhelmsen and Oliver Perez posted almost identical records. Perez appeared in 11 games going 11.1 innings with a 0.79 ERA and Wilhelmsen appeared in the same number of games going 12 innings with a 0.75 ERA with 8 saves. Those three guys pitching like was the big reason that the team posted a 12-17 record.
The next month saw the bullpen post an ERA about the same as the first month, posting a 3.80 ERA. Wilhelmsen had another successful month, appearing in 11 games saving 4 of them in 12 innings posting a 0.75 again. June saw the M's bullpen collapse as the bullpen posted a horrible 5.53 ERA. June also saw Wilhelmsen fall apart as he blew 3 saves while posting a 0-2 record with a 10.57 ERA, the only successful relievers in the month of June for the Mariners came from Perez and Yoervis Medina. Perez posted a 1-1 record with 1 save, appeared in 11 games, and had a 1.74 ERA; Medina posted a 2-1 record with 1 save, appeared in 12 games, and had a 1.93 ERA. Now finally this month, July has seen the bullpen post another bad ERA at 5.05.
Now, let me get to the point of all this. Since June the bullpen has cost the team at least 20 wins and in yesterday's 12-5 win it the bullpen almost fell completely apart and I thought they would blow the game for the team. The Mariners currently sit at 46-52 thanks to a season best 6 game winning streak, now if the M's would like to continue their hotstreak and hopefully have a shot at finishing above .500 or make the playoffs they must first fix their bullpen. Right now Wilhelmsen is getting back to his lights out ways, Perez is one of the best relievers in the game, Medina is always a help, and Furbush is back to throwing hard like he used to.
The biggest problems in the bullpen for the M's are Danny Farquhar, Bobby LaFromboise, Blake Beaven, and Carter Capps. The Mariners need to make some serious call ups if they would like to make a run at .500 or the playoffs, for example if they gave Logan Bawcom the call up that would give the M's a 3-4 inning reliever to work with. Brian Sweeney right now to me could use a call up, he's had a great year in Tacoma posting an 8-3 record with 3.92 ERA. Sweeney can be used in both the starting role and in the bullpen in case a starter needs to be pulled early.
The bottom line is, Eric Wedge needs to wake up and smell the java. In my opinion he's too stupid to realize that his bullpen is one of the worst in baseball and if he doesn't see it now then that could cost him games. The Mariners have great young pitchers in Tacoma right now that deserve a call up to give the team a boost in the bullpen and help the reach their goal at either finishing the season at or above .500 or making another Refuse To Lose run at either the American League West title or the Wild Card. Both titles don't matter to me, all those titles say is that the M's are in the the playoffs.
The next month saw the bullpen post an ERA about the same as the first month, posting a 3.80 ERA. Wilhelmsen had another successful month, appearing in 11 games saving 4 of them in 12 innings posting a 0.75 again. June saw the M's bullpen collapse as the bullpen posted a horrible 5.53 ERA. June also saw Wilhelmsen fall apart as he blew 3 saves while posting a 0-2 record with a 10.57 ERA, the only successful relievers in the month of June for the Mariners came from Perez and Yoervis Medina. Perez posted a 1-1 record with 1 save, appeared in 11 games, and had a 1.74 ERA; Medina posted a 2-1 record with 1 save, appeared in 12 games, and had a 1.93 ERA. Now finally this month, July has seen the bullpen post another bad ERA at 5.05.
Now, let me get to the point of all this. Since June the bullpen has cost the team at least 20 wins and in yesterday's 12-5 win it the bullpen almost fell completely apart and I thought they would blow the game for the team. The Mariners currently sit at 46-52 thanks to a season best 6 game winning streak, now if the M's would like to continue their hotstreak and hopefully have a shot at finishing above .500 or make the playoffs they must first fix their bullpen. Right now Wilhelmsen is getting back to his lights out ways, Perez is one of the best relievers in the game, Medina is always a help, and Furbush is back to throwing hard like he used to.
The biggest problems in the bullpen for the M's are Danny Farquhar, Bobby LaFromboise, Blake Beaven, and Carter Capps. The Mariners need to make some serious call ups if they would like to make a run at .500 or the playoffs, for example if they gave Logan Bawcom the call up that would give the M's a 3-4 inning reliever to work with. Brian Sweeney right now to me could use a call up, he's had a great year in Tacoma posting an 8-3 record with 3.92 ERA. Sweeney can be used in both the starting role and in the bullpen in case a starter needs to be pulled early.
The bottom line is, Eric Wedge needs to wake up and smell the java. In my opinion he's too stupid to realize that his bullpen is one of the worst in baseball and if he doesn't see it now then that could cost him games. The Mariners have great young pitchers in Tacoma right now that deserve a call up to give the team a boost in the bullpen and help the reach their goal at either finishing the season at or above .500 or making another Refuse To Lose run at either the American League West title or the Wild Card. Both titles don't matter to me, all those titles say is that the M's are in the the playoffs.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Crappiest win ever......of all time
Hisashi Iwakuma went to the mound tonight against the last place Houston Astros. The last time Iwakuma pitched against this Houston team he struck out 11 batters but took the loss, so you know he was looking for some revenge tonight. Iwakuma started off his night in style, striking out the side but allowing a two out hit to Jason Castro. The Mariners and the Astros would go 1-2-3 in the next innings, the Mariners would get their first hit thanks to a very unlikely source in Kelly Shoppach, but Endy Chavez couldn't extend the inning and struck out to end the Mariners second inning. In the top half of the third inning the Astros got things started off with Marvin Gonzalez singling with one outs, Brandon Barnes laid down a bunt and on the throw by Iwakuma Brendan Ryan failed to catch the exchange throw which allowed Gonzalez to move to third base. Iwakuma's scoreless streak of 23 2/3 ended after Jose Altuve drove in Gonzalez with a sacrifice fly and the Astros took the early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the third the Mariners started something good. After Ryan was called out on strikes Carlos Triunfel took one for the team and was able to get on base with one out. Jason Bay was able to extend his hitting streak to four games as he singled to left field, so with runners at first and second with one out the Mariners had a threat going, Kyle Seager struck out and Kendrys Morales ground out to end the threat for the Mariners and once again the M's failed to hit with runners in scoring position. The bottom of the fourth went different for the Mariners, this time the M's would succeed as Rauuuuuul Ibanez hit his team leading twelfth homerun of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mariners would start off the bottom of the fifth inning right, Carlos Triunfel was able to get his first base hit of the 2013 campaign in his 14th at bat of the year. Kyle Seager would be able to get on second base after Triunfel got in a rundown and Seager would slide in safely. Morales was able to leg out the infield single and on the throwing error by Matt Dominguez Seager scored to give the Mariners the 2-1 lead. The Mariners would get an extra run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jason Bay lead off the inning with a walk and after Seager lined out Morales was able to reach base on a missed catch by Jose Altuve and on the missed catch Bay was able to reach third. Mike Morse came up looking to help out the cause for the Mariners, he was able to drive one over J.D. Martinez's glove scoring Bay and advancing Morales to third, but that's all the Mariners would muster.
Iwakuma would pitch brilliantly for seven strong innings. Iwakuma's only tough inning would come in the top of the seventh inning, after giving up a lead off double to Carlos Pena and walking Chris Carter, Pena would move to third on the wild pitch by Iwakuma putting runners at the corners with only one out, but thanks to a lucky break Matt Dominguez grounded into an inning ending double play. Iwakuma would end his night with 8 strikeouts and lowered his ERA down to 1.79 and is now second in the American League only 8 points behind Clay Buchholz.
The bullpen would finish off Kuma's gem. Both Carter Capps and Charlie Furbush pitched in the eighth inning and did not surrender a run. In the ninth inning Tom "The Bartender" Wilhelmsen came in looking to get his fourth save in a row. Martinez lead off the inning for the Astros by getting an infield single thanks to Seager mishandling the ball in his glove but came back and struck out Carlos Pena and got Chris Carter to pop out. Now, with two outs Wilhelmsen looked like he would have and easy inning, but for some reason Tommy boy came down with what I call Ayalaitis and allowed a run to score. Tommy boy was able to recover and get Dominguez to pop out to Kendrys in foul territory to end the ball game and secure Tommy Boy his 16th save of the year.
NOTES: The Mariners not only improved to 28-37 but moved back into 3rd place tonight. Seager's 13 game hitting streak came to an end but Seager was able to safely get on base for the 15th game in a row.
In the bottom half of the third the Mariners started something good. After Ryan was called out on strikes Carlos Triunfel took one for the team and was able to get on base with one out. Jason Bay was able to extend his hitting streak to four games as he singled to left field, so with runners at first and second with one out the Mariners had a threat going, Kyle Seager struck out and Kendrys Morales ground out to end the threat for the Mariners and once again the M's failed to hit with runners in scoring position. The bottom of the fourth went different for the Mariners, this time the M's would succeed as Rauuuuuul Ibanez hit his team leading twelfth homerun of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mariners would start off the bottom of the fifth inning right, Carlos Triunfel was able to get his first base hit of the 2013 campaign in his 14th at bat of the year. Kyle Seager would be able to get on second base after Triunfel got in a rundown and Seager would slide in safely. Morales was able to leg out the infield single and on the throwing error by Matt Dominguez Seager scored to give the Mariners the 2-1 lead. The Mariners would get an extra run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jason Bay lead off the inning with a walk and after Seager lined out Morales was able to reach base on a missed catch by Jose Altuve and on the missed catch Bay was able to reach third. Mike Morse came up looking to help out the cause for the Mariners, he was able to drive one over J.D. Martinez's glove scoring Bay and advancing Morales to third, but that's all the Mariners would muster.
Iwakuma would pitch brilliantly for seven strong innings. Iwakuma's only tough inning would come in the top of the seventh inning, after giving up a lead off double to Carlos Pena and walking Chris Carter, Pena would move to third on the wild pitch by Iwakuma putting runners at the corners with only one out, but thanks to a lucky break Matt Dominguez grounded into an inning ending double play. Iwakuma would end his night with 8 strikeouts and lowered his ERA down to 1.79 and is now second in the American League only 8 points behind Clay Buchholz.
The bullpen would finish off Kuma's gem. Both Carter Capps and Charlie Furbush pitched in the eighth inning and did not surrender a run. In the ninth inning Tom "The Bartender" Wilhelmsen came in looking to get his fourth save in a row. Martinez lead off the inning for the Astros by getting an infield single thanks to Seager mishandling the ball in his glove but came back and struck out Carlos Pena and got Chris Carter to pop out. Now, with two outs Wilhelmsen looked like he would have and easy inning, but for some reason Tommy boy came down with what I call Ayalaitis and allowed a run to score. Tommy boy was able to recover and get Dominguez to pop out to Kendrys in foul territory to end the ball game and secure Tommy Boy his 16th save of the year.
NOTES: The Mariners not only improved to 28-37 but moved back into 3rd place tonight. Seager's 13 game hitting streak came to an end but Seager was able to safely get on base for the 15th game in a row.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
The longest day
Hisashi Iwakuma took to the mound yesterday looking to pitch a great game in order for the Mariners to get the sweep of the White Sox. Iwakuma had a very easy first inning as he went 1-2-3 after giving up a lead off single to Alejandro De Aze. The Mariners in their half of the first were able to get Jason Bay and Kyle Seager on with singles with only one out but Kendrys Morales grounded into an inning ending double play to end the threat. Both the White Sox and the Mariners wouldn't show any sign of a threat until the bottom of the fourth, Seager lead things off with his eighteenth double of the year and after Morales grounded out to move Seager over to third Nick Franklin flew out to Alex Rios and on the throw home from Rios cut Seager down to end the inning for the Mariners.
The Mariners would then threaten to score again in the bottom of the sixth inning. Michael Saunders lead off the inning with a walk, Brendan Ryan then was able to get on first after a soft ground ball to pitcher Dylan Axelrod and following that Endy Chavez drew a walk to load the bases up, Jason Bay then grounded into the third inning ending double play to end the threat again for the Mariners. In the top of the ninth inning Iwakuma's day was done so manager Eric Wedge gave the ball off to Yoervis Medina. Medina allowed the lead off single to Gordon Beckham he was able to get Hector Gimenez to pop out on a bunt attempt, De Aze to fly out and finally Alexi Ramirez to fly out to end the top of the ninth for the White Sox. Nick Franklin lead off the bottom of the ninth by blooping a ball down the right field line and legging out the double to put himself on second to win the game on any type of base hit. The White Sox pitching was able to avoid the walk off win by striking Michael Saunders, Kelly Shoppach and getting Brendan Ryan to ground out.
So, we move one to extra innings. Alex Rios got things started off for the White Sox by getting to second base on an error by Chavez. Medina then intentionally walked Adam Dunn to bring up Paul Konerko. Medina was able to get Konerko to ground into a double play, after that Wedge made a pitching change and brought in Charlie Furbush to face Casper Wells. Furbush got the job done by getting Wells to ground out to Morales to end the threat by Chicago. The Mariners were able to get runners at the corners in the bottom of the tenth but Raul Ibanez failed to get the winning run home to leave the runners out there without scoring and so the game moved into the eleventh inning. Carter Capps took to the mound in the eleventh. Capps got into a jam after giving up a one out single to Gordon Beckham and intentionally walking De Aze. Capps was able to get Ramirez to ground out and end yet another threat by the White Sox.
The Mariners went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eleventh inning so the game went deeper into extras. Alex Rios started out the top of the twelfth inning by singling, Wedge decided to make a pitching change and bring in Oliver Perez, Perez was able to get Adam Dunn to fly out and for some odd reason Wedge made his second pitching change in the inning and brought in Danny Farquhar to face Paul Konerko. Farquhar got Konerko to fly out and on the play Rios missed touching second base and Farquhar threw it back to second base and Rios was called out to end the top of the twelfth inning. Both teams wouldn't make any noise for the next few innings until the fourteenth inning.
In the top of the fourteenth inning the White Sox got their first two hitters on base by via of a walk and a single. Rios was able to drive in the first run of the game on line drive to center and after Farquhar intentionally walked Dunn Wedge came out to bring in Hector Noesi. Noesi was able to get his first batter to ground into a force out as Seager threw to home to get the runner. Casper Wells then would single home Rios to give Chicago the 2-0 lead. Chicago would not be done there, Jeff Keppinger singled home the third run and Hector Gimenez doubled home two extra runs and after the inning was over the White Sox had a commanding 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourteenth inning Addison Reed was brought in to finish the game.
After getting Franklin to pop out Michael Saunders was able to get his first hit of the game by singling, Kelly Shoppach, Brendan Ryan, and Endy Chavez would all get singles to get the first run home for the Mariners. Jason Bay would strikeout to bring up Kyle Seager as the last hope for the Mariners. Seager tried to tie the game up on the secon pitch he saw from Reed by fouling it off, after letting one go by putting the count to 1-2 Kyle Seager swung at a low pitch and drove it out into the center field seats and Seager not only tied the game but he also became the first player in baseball history to tie a game with a grand slam in extra innings.
The Mariners would threaten to win the game in the bottom of the fifteenth inning but couldn't get the run home. The White Sox would then get to an exhausted Noesi to score two runs in the top of the sixteenth inning and the Mariners would not score in the bottom half of the inning and the White Sox would win the longest game in Mariners history. The game ended after 5 hours and 42 minutes of back and forth baseball.
Now, looking back at this game Eric Wedge made some poor managerial skills by taking out Charlie Furbush and Oliver Perez after they only faced one hitter. Furbush and Perez both could've gone 3-4 innings and would've saved some of the bullpen for the Mariners.
NOTES: Seager extended his hitting streak to 9 game and Morales extend his hitting streak to 7 games.
The Mariners would then threaten to score again in the bottom of the sixth inning. Michael Saunders lead off the inning with a walk, Brendan Ryan then was able to get on first after a soft ground ball to pitcher Dylan Axelrod and following that Endy Chavez drew a walk to load the bases up, Jason Bay then grounded into the third inning ending double play to end the threat again for the Mariners. In the top of the ninth inning Iwakuma's day was done so manager Eric Wedge gave the ball off to Yoervis Medina. Medina allowed the lead off single to Gordon Beckham he was able to get Hector Gimenez to pop out on a bunt attempt, De Aze to fly out and finally Alexi Ramirez to fly out to end the top of the ninth for the White Sox. Nick Franklin lead off the bottom of the ninth by blooping a ball down the right field line and legging out the double to put himself on second to win the game on any type of base hit. The White Sox pitching was able to avoid the walk off win by striking Michael Saunders, Kelly Shoppach and getting Brendan Ryan to ground out.
So, we move one to extra innings. Alex Rios got things started off for the White Sox by getting to second base on an error by Chavez. Medina then intentionally walked Adam Dunn to bring up Paul Konerko. Medina was able to get Konerko to ground into a double play, after that Wedge made a pitching change and brought in Charlie Furbush to face Casper Wells. Furbush got the job done by getting Wells to ground out to Morales to end the threat by Chicago. The Mariners were able to get runners at the corners in the bottom of the tenth but Raul Ibanez failed to get the winning run home to leave the runners out there without scoring and so the game moved into the eleventh inning. Carter Capps took to the mound in the eleventh. Capps got into a jam after giving up a one out single to Gordon Beckham and intentionally walking De Aze. Capps was able to get Ramirez to ground out and end yet another threat by the White Sox.
The Mariners went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eleventh inning so the game went deeper into extras. Alex Rios started out the top of the twelfth inning by singling, Wedge decided to make a pitching change and bring in Oliver Perez, Perez was able to get Adam Dunn to fly out and for some odd reason Wedge made his second pitching change in the inning and brought in Danny Farquhar to face Paul Konerko. Farquhar got Konerko to fly out and on the play Rios missed touching second base and Farquhar threw it back to second base and Rios was called out to end the top of the twelfth inning. Both teams wouldn't make any noise for the next few innings until the fourteenth inning.
In the top of the fourteenth inning the White Sox got their first two hitters on base by via of a walk and a single. Rios was able to drive in the first run of the game on line drive to center and after Farquhar intentionally walked Dunn Wedge came out to bring in Hector Noesi. Noesi was able to get his first batter to ground into a force out as Seager threw to home to get the runner. Casper Wells then would single home Rios to give Chicago the 2-0 lead. Chicago would not be done there, Jeff Keppinger singled home the third run and Hector Gimenez doubled home two extra runs and after the inning was over the White Sox had a commanding 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourteenth inning Addison Reed was brought in to finish the game.
After getting Franklin to pop out Michael Saunders was able to get his first hit of the game by singling, Kelly Shoppach, Brendan Ryan, and Endy Chavez would all get singles to get the first run home for the Mariners. Jason Bay would strikeout to bring up Kyle Seager as the last hope for the Mariners. Seager tried to tie the game up on the secon pitch he saw from Reed by fouling it off, after letting one go by putting the count to 1-2 Kyle Seager swung at a low pitch and drove it out into the center field seats and Seager not only tied the game but he also became the first player in baseball history to tie a game with a grand slam in extra innings.
The Mariners would threaten to win the game in the bottom of the fifteenth inning but couldn't get the run home. The White Sox would then get to an exhausted Noesi to score two runs in the top of the sixteenth inning and the Mariners would not score in the bottom half of the inning and the White Sox would win the longest game in Mariners history. The game ended after 5 hours and 42 minutes of back and forth baseball.
Now, looking back at this game Eric Wedge made some poor managerial skills by taking out Charlie Furbush and Oliver Perez after they only faced one hitter. Furbush and Perez both could've gone 3-4 innings and would've saved some of the bullpen for the Mariners.
NOTES: Seager extended his hitting streak to 9 game and Morales extend his hitting streak to 7 games.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
What are the Mariners deal really?
So far this season for the Mariners have had only one problem. Wait a minute, they have way more then one problem. The Mariners could be at or around .500 if it wasn't for that 7 game losing streak. Now, another problem for the Mariners has been Michael Saunders. Saunders started the season off great. In the second game where the Mariners played the Yankees Saunders went 2-4, since then he has gone 7-59 (.118) lowering his batting average by 68 points, he has also struck out 28 times. Right now Saunders to me needs some work in Tacoma to work on his swing, why not send him down and call up Eric Thames?
Now, last night I heard that Franklin Gutierrez will need more time to recuperate from his hamstring injury. ROOT Sports analyst reported that Guti couldn't go more then 3 days without needing a break. Now, Guti's contract is up at the end of this year so why not release him now? Guti hasn't played a full season since 2010, he's nothing but an injury risk and not worth the money anymore.
Now, who could we get to replace Guti? Well, we have Jason Bay who the Mariners might likely resign after this year, Endy Chavez can also be a great replacement for Guti in center, Julio Morbon is another target for a good replacement he's shown us that he can hit the ball and play the outfield at the same time, the last candidate is the guy who we got in exchange for Shawn Kelley, Abraham Almonte. Almonte has been tearing things up in Triple A so far going 22-46 (.478). All of these players are terrific candidates to replace Gutierrez in centerfield along with Michael Saunders (if he can get his bat going again). Now, another problem that has popped up is Tom Wilhelmsen's ability to be consistent and locate his pitches. He was able to locate his pitches last night but before that he has blown 3 saves out of 4 attempts. Before
Tommy boy blew his first our of 3 in Cleveland he was 11 out of 11 in save opportunities with a 0.50 ERA, since then he has gone 1 out of 4 in save opportunities and his ERA has rose to 2.13. Now if Tommy boy loses his position as the closer I would think that either Carter Capps or Oliver Perez would be the two likely candidates for taking the closer position. Carter Capps has been able to come in for the Mariners and get them out of tight situations along with having one of the nastiest breaking ball and slider I've ever seen. Perez has also been just as reliable, in his last 10 games he has pitched 7.2 innings while striking out 16 batters. Capps in his last 10 games has pitch 9 innings allowing only 1 run and striking out 11 batters. Both these relievers are perfect candidates for replacing Tom if necessary.
Now by the end of this season there has to be one more change made to this team, either Eric Wedge or Jack Zduriencik has to go. Zduriencik has made some impressive signings and has drafted excellent talent but the thing is, is that Zduriencik has said "this team is currently rebuilding" now when he came to the team in 2008 he said the same thing. Mariners fans are tired of him saying that and we should have been rebuilding the team this long, the fans want to see this team in the playoffs and were not going to get there when Zduriencik keeps rebuilding. Now, Eric Wedge is one of the biggest pushover managers in baseball in my opinion. Wedge consistently makes excuses for poor performances and in games where he needs to make a pitching change he just stands there with his thumb in his ass watching the team fail. In the saves that Wilhelmsen has blown a normal manager would have gotten someone warmed up in the bullpen and ready to go after watching him walk two straight batters. Wedge never shows his emotions on the field just in the clubhouse........yeah that does not make a good manager.
Lou Pinella and Ozzie Guillen are great examples of when a manager shows his emotions on and off the field and in the clubhouse they get great results. Pinella's tough managerial skills saw the Mariners have their first winning season in his first season as manager and in his third year saw the team winning their first AL West title. Pinella's skills as a red hot manager saw the Mariners go to the playoffs 3 more times including the 116 win season and after that saw the Mariners win 93 games in two of his last 3 years of managing the team. Guillen saw his White Sox win the World Series in his second year of managing the team, in Ozzie's 8 years of managing the White Sox, his team win 83, 99, 90, 72, 88, 79, 88, and 79 games making the playoffs 5 times and winning one World Series.
Changes must be made on the Mariners roster and in their front office if this team would like to see the playoffs.
Now, last night I heard that Franklin Gutierrez will need more time to recuperate from his hamstring injury. ROOT Sports analyst reported that Guti couldn't go more then 3 days without needing a break. Now, Guti's contract is up at the end of this year so why not release him now? Guti hasn't played a full season since 2010, he's nothing but an injury risk and not worth the money anymore.
Now, who could we get to replace Guti? Well, we have Jason Bay who the Mariners might likely resign after this year, Endy Chavez can also be a great replacement for Guti in center, Julio Morbon is another target for a good replacement he's shown us that he can hit the ball and play the outfield at the same time, the last candidate is the guy who we got in exchange for Shawn Kelley, Abraham Almonte. Almonte has been tearing things up in Triple A so far going 22-46 (.478). All of these players are terrific candidates to replace Gutierrez in centerfield along with Michael Saunders (if he can get his bat going again). Now, another problem that has popped up is Tom Wilhelmsen's ability to be consistent and locate his pitches. He was able to locate his pitches last night but before that he has blown 3 saves out of 4 attempts. Before
Tommy boy blew his first our of 3 in Cleveland he was 11 out of 11 in save opportunities with a 0.50 ERA, since then he has gone 1 out of 4 in save opportunities and his ERA has rose to 2.13. Now if Tommy boy loses his position as the closer I would think that either Carter Capps or Oliver Perez would be the two likely candidates for taking the closer position. Carter Capps has been able to come in for the Mariners and get them out of tight situations along with having one of the nastiest breaking ball and slider I've ever seen. Perez has also been just as reliable, in his last 10 games he has pitched 7.2 innings while striking out 16 batters. Capps in his last 10 games has pitch 9 innings allowing only 1 run and striking out 11 batters. Both these relievers are perfect candidates for replacing Tom if necessary.
Now by the end of this season there has to be one more change made to this team, either Eric Wedge or Jack Zduriencik has to go. Zduriencik has made some impressive signings and has drafted excellent talent but the thing is, is that Zduriencik has said "this team is currently rebuilding" now when he came to the team in 2008 he said the same thing. Mariners fans are tired of him saying that and we should have been rebuilding the team this long, the fans want to see this team in the playoffs and were not going to get there when Zduriencik keeps rebuilding. Now, Eric Wedge is one of the biggest pushover managers in baseball in my opinion. Wedge consistently makes excuses for poor performances and in games where he needs to make a pitching change he just stands there with his thumb in his ass watching the team fail. In the saves that Wilhelmsen has blown a normal manager would have gotten someone warmed up in the bullpen and ready to go after watching him walk two straight batters. Wedge never shows his emotions on the field just in the clubhouse........yeah that does not make a good manager.
Lou Pinella and Ozzie Guillen are great examples of when a manager shows his emotions on and off the field and in the clubhouse they get great results. Pinella's tough managerial skills saw the Mariners have their first winning season in his first season as manager and in his third year saw the team winning their first AL West title. Pinella's skills as a red hot manager saw the Mariners go to the playoffs 3 more times including the 116 win season and after that saw the Mariners win 93 games in two of his last 3 years of managing the team. Guillen saw his White Sox win the World Series in his second year of managing the team, in Ozzie's 8 years of managing the White Sox, his team win 83, 99, 90, 72, 88, 79, 88, and 79 games making the playoffs 5 times and winning one World Series.
Changes must be made on the Mariners roster and in their front office if this team would like to see the playoffs.
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About Me
Im a huge Seattle sports nut. Thats basically about me. But im an upcoming blogger who writes only about the Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, and when they come back the Sonics. Now if you would like me to write about something tweet me and i will write it. Now i should mark that im also Irish and have a beard that is feared above Brian Wilson's beard. His beard can kiss my beard's ass!