Tag Archives: Saunders

from the grief of the grid iron to the dream of the diamond . . .

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Being SO close to feeling, for a second time, the euphoria still simmering from the first championship only to have it abruptly snatched away in the final seconds was pretty brutal (to put it mildly). It’s going to take some time.

Luckily, there’s a cure . . .

the delicious distraction that is BASEBALL 🙂 – some catchin’ up to do . . .

The CY Award that wasn’t

Felix Facts | From the Corner of Edgar and Dave

Why Felix Hernandez (unexpectedly) lost the Cy Young Award | Ryan Divish, The Seattle Times

Mariners Ace Felix Hernandez not winning Cy Young Award is a Stunner | Larry Stone, The Seattle Times

 “Yeah, I did,” he said. “It was a great year. I think I pitched way better than 2010.”

Goodbye to some old friends, hello to the new

  • 1B Justin Smoak claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays
  • RF Michael Sauders traded to the Blue Jays for LHP J.A. Happ
  • Signed free agent LF Nelson Cruz
  • RHP Matt Brazis traded to the Cubs for RF Justin Ruggiano
  • RHP Brandon Maurer traded to the Padres for LF Seth Smith
  • Signed Guti and Endy to minor league deals with invites to Spring Training
  • Signed free agaFA 2B Rickie Weeks

A message from Michael Saunders to Mariners fams | Ryan Divish, Mariners Blog

Mariners sign Nelson Cruz to 4-year deal | ESPN.com

nelson

Gar continues to garner high profile support

Randy Johnson endorses Edgar for HoF | ESPN.com

tweets of the off-season

PLAY BALL!!!!

g162 | ‘t was SO sweet that September mattered . . .

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Swept the Halos to begin the season. . .
Swept the Halos to end the season . . .
Just came up a couple short but, what a ride!

sweet september

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariners 4 | Angels 1

ON the MOUND
The closest thing that Felix has ever had to a playoff game – and, he did NOT disappoint  . . .
FIVE.ONE innings ~ ONE hit ~ ZERO runs ~ ZERO earned runs ~ ZERO walks ~ SEVEN strikeouts

The one hit was a single by Pujols in the 1st and then Felix proceeded to retire FOURTEEN in-a-row. The only reason he didn’t go longer was because during his outing, the A’s beat the Rangers which was the last straw on the camel’s back that was the M’s shot at a chance for post season. Lloyd took him out shortly after that to a thunderous ovation of pure love and appreciation for his CY-worthy, season-long effort . . .

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/516346360715419648

 

} Brandon replaced Felix and promptly gave up a hit and a wild pitch but, escaped the 6th unscathed and breezed through the 7th
} Joe and Yourvis combined for a scoreless 8th
} Danny took the 9th and gave up a single and an RBI double before retiring the side

AT the PLATE
~ M’s took an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd on a LoMo single and a Condor RBI double
~ M’s added on in the 4th w/ a Kendrys walk, another LoMo single, another Condor RBI double and a Zu 2-run single gave the M’s a 4-0 lead

IN the FIELD
Nice DEE all around (although NO DP’s by either team)

tweets of the game . . .

https://twitter.com/JulieSeager15/status/516344255611432960

 

 

g160 | Kuma back to Kuma

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‘t was my last regular season game in person and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Meaningful baseball on the 160th game of the season is FUN 🙂

Frog-hanging-by-a-thread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariners 4 | Angels 3

ON the MOUND
He had to come out of the game for precautionary reasons in the 7th . . .
But, Kuma rebounded to give the M’s exactly what they needed. His only snafu – back-to-back solo shots (Calhoun and Trout – no shame there) . . .
SIX.ONE innings ~ FOUR hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ ZERO walks ~ FOUR strikeouts

} Brandon, Danny and Carson combined for only ONE hit and FOUR strikeouts (including a classic one of Trout by the rook Smith)

} Yes, it was a FRE . . .
as Nando gave up a run on a single and a double but, the 48th arrow flew into a sea of rally towels

AT the PLATE
Not super prolific but, powerful . . .
~ Only SEVEN total hits but THREE homers (Kendrys, Michael and Ack)
~ Michael also had a double
~ Austin had a stolen base and Chris T had TWO! (only seems happy when his uni is dirty 😉 )

IN the FIELD
No double-play and one turned against them but, SOLID DEE all-around tonight (including on the other side, especially Trout’s filthy theft of  Kendry’s sure double in the 8th)

tweets of the game . . .

 

g157 | um, repeat yesterday’s post title :-(

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Mariners 2 | Blue Jays 10

ON the MOUND
Felix definitely not being Felix . . . 
including a fielding error, couple of walks in ONE inning (one of the bases loaded variety) and an inning so bad he was replaced before it was over . . .
FOUR.TWO innings ~ SIX hits ~ EIGHT runs ~ FOUR earned runs ~ THREE walks ~ FIVE strikeouts

} Dom got the final out of the 5th (but not before giving up inherited runners)
} Erasmo pitched TWO full but, gave up TWO runs
} Yourvis was the only one with a clean sheet (though he did allow a walk)

It was just an ugly, ugly game at the absolute wrong time of the season 😦

AT the PLATE
Not a lot to see here . . .
THREE of the M’s SIX runs came in the only inning that they scored (the 3rd) when Michael led off with a double, Brad singled and Robbie hit a 2-run single for the M’s only runs.

IN the FIELD
Felix had the rare error and there were NO double-plays turned

tweets of the game . . .

(and it just got worse 😦 )

 

g155 | Houston, YOU don’t have a problem but, the M’s sure do!

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Losing TWO of THREE is never what you WANT and definitely not what the Mariners NEED right now 😦

Mariners 3 | Astros 8

ON the MOUND
Kuma’s struggles continue (getting tired of the fact that EVERYONE’s struggles seem to continue!)
His strikeouts were there but, the walks are really killing him (he has given up EIGHT now in September – he gave up EIGHT total in May and June, ONE in July and FOUR in August). Today, he gave up THREE and TWO of them scored but, they still had a chance . . .
FOUR.ONE innings ~ SIX hits ~ FOUR earned runs ~ THREE walks ~ EIGHT strikeouts

} Chris S again stellar – TWO outs TWO strikeouts
} Maybe Chris should have gone a bit longer – as  Dom, Charlie and Yourvis ALL gave up runs (the killer was the THREE-run jack Yourvis allowed in the 7th)

AT the PLATE
Only SEVEN hits and Michael w/TWO (including a homer) – good to see him picking up where he left off though it’s seeming like it could be too little, too late.

IN the FIELD
ZERO double-plays and Robbie with an error (one away from double-digits for the season)

tweets of the game . . .

 

g143 | STELLAR pitching, CLUTCH hitting and SPEED kills!

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Still HALF a game ahead of the Tiggers for the second wild card . . .
And now, only ONE game behind the ‘phants for the first wild card!

speed kills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariners 4 | Astros 1

ON the MOUND
Felix REALLY had to work in this one . . .
those pesky ‘stros took him to ninety-nine pitches and had him in and out of trouble ALL night long but, he found a way to hang in there
SIX innings ~ FIVE hits ~ ZERO earned runs ~ ZERO runs ~ FOUR walks ~ EIGHT strikeouts

Bull pen not perfect but, stellar . . .
} Brandon allowed the “almost” homer (ruled a triple) and then the Astros lone run on a sac-fly
} Danny walked one and struck out one but, got the W for his inning of work
} Nando was about 5.5 on the quiver-meter tonight – allowing a lead-off walk and a hit but, in the end, earning his 44th save

AT the PLATE
~ In the 6th, LoMo walked with ONE out, The Condor walked (after a TEN pitch AB – welcome back, Michael!) with TWO outs and then Brad jumped on the the first pitch for an RBI single and the first run of the game
~ And then, in the magical 8th, Zu drew a ONE-out walk and JJ came in to “be fast” (as Shannon said). With Michael batting, JJ stole 2B and Michael walked. With Brad batting, JJ stole 3B and Brad tripled – scoring JJ and Michael. Then, Austin’s RBI single scored Brad and the M’s took the 4-1 lead they would not relinquish.
~ Nice to see they can find ways to win when two of their thumpers (Kyle and Kendrys) go o’fer
~ SPEED is fun!!!

IN the FIELD
Despite NO DP’s (on either side) some nice DEE tonight . . .
* Nice nail of Presley at 2B by Zu (first time he was caught this year)
* How good is it to have Michael back?!? He saved a home run with his glove (originally called a homer but, clear and convincing evidence shows the ball in his glove but popped out back into the field of play: ruled a triple – arguing that point, Lloyd got run). Then, on the very next play, he  a  l  m  o  s  t  threw the runner out at the plate – perfect throw, just a tad late 😦

tweets of the game . . .

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/509197721497255937

 

g90 | no ground lost but, could have gained . . .

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Pretty Even Steven ‘cept for the final score . . .

  • EIGHT hits apiece
  • TWO DP’s turned by each
  • Good starters, stellar pens
  • M’s were oh fer FOUR, yet the Twins were oh fer NINE – and they won – go figure :/

Mariners 0 | Twins 2

frozen bats

ON the MOUND
Mr. Young turned in another stellar start – as most would take  this from their 3rd/4th starter . . .
SEVEN innings ~ SIX hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ SIX strikeouts

} Yourvis gave up an inherited runner in the 8th and Joe had to get out of a jam (couple of singles and a walk)

AT the PLATE
~ Only ONE extra base hit – LoMo’s double
~ Batters 1-6 account for all EIGHT hits
~ Batters 7, 8, 9 were 0-9 w/FOUR strikeouts
~ Maybe the most telling stat over the past few games is the lack of walks – ZERO tonight

IN the FIELD
* FOUR DP’s total and what seemed like lots of at ’em balls
* Wouldn’t ya know, Fuld would return Michael’s favor tonight

tweets of the game . . . 

 

g89 | “We went top-shelf today.”

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–Michael on the Mike and Michael homers

makers mark

 

 

‘t was the Bear, the Condor, the Lord and Zu before Nando’s arrow flew

 

 

 

 

 

Gamut of emotions with this one . . .
+ excitement before the game when Kyle was named to the All Star Game (replacement for Encarnacion)
+ elation immediately after the game about the win
+ shock in the clubhouse a bit later when news about John Buck’s DFA came down

Mariners 2 | Twins 0

ON the MOUND
Kuma The Bear, we ❤ you!
33 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run vs the Twins – yowsa!
SEVEN innings ~ FOUR hits ~ ZERO earned runs ~ ZERO walks ~ TEN strikeouts 

} Danny and Fernando each went ONE inning and each posted TWO strikeouts . . .
Nando picked up his TWENTY-SIXTH save for Kuma’s SEVENTH victory

AT the PLATE
Not a lot but, just enough . . .
~ Zu 13th home run in the 2nd snapped the M’s 10-straight scoreless innings streak and, more impressively, broke the record for home runs by a M’s catcher before the break  (previously a 3-way tie:  Zunino, Wilson and Olivo)
~ The Condor homered in the 7th – though we (and he!) weren’t so sure until he was back int he dugout. It looked like Fuld had robbed him at the wall (Michael was looking toward the outfield the entire trip around the bases). Fuld made a GREAT effort (and came up limping) but it just squeaked over.

IN the FIELD
* Robbie, being Robbie (his usual GG self) with that back, across-the-body throw – no body does. it. better.
* Michael with a nice running grab of a foul ball in RF
* Kyle with a nice play at the hot corner

quote of the game . . .

“This is going to be a “chemistry test”, no question.” –Shannon Drayer on the Buck DFA

tweets of the game . . . 

 

Back to happier news ~ HUGE congrats to ALL our ALL STARS!!!

 

g87 | ‘t was the GoodShip Mariners turn to sail in ChiTown . . .

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Mariners 3 | White Sox 2

smooth sailing

 

An extra innings win on the road ~ in Chicago ~ is practically unheard of in Mariners lore but, exactly what happened today. Not much offense but, certainly a LOT of great pitching (and defense!). Not often that a staff allows only FOUR hits over FOURTEEN innings!!!

 

ON the MOUND
Well, by the time the game was over, we sort of forgot who started it but – Felix, Felix, Felix . . .
we ❤ YOU!!!

TENTH consecutive start of SEVEN or more innings, allowing less than THREE runs
Felix allowed a lead-off single in the 1st and didn’t allow another hit until the 8th. He retired ELEVEN straight, allowed a walk, then retired TEN straight. The second and third hits he allowed came in the fateful 8th when he gave up a lead-off triple and then an RBI double (which snapped an EIGHTEEN straight scoreless inning streak). After that, a muffed up play (see IN the FIELD) led to the WS second (and, ultimately, last run).
EIGHT innings ~ THREE hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ EIGHT strikeouts

} Yourvis wasn’t sharp in the 9th (and wasn’t helped by/Brad’s error) throwing a WP that allowed a runner to advance to 2B with ONE out but, was able to escape further damage with an IBB and a couple of groundouts to send them into extras

oh, Bully how we ❤ you too!
} Charlie got the out on the only batter he faced (in the 10th) and then Danny, Tom and Nando combined for FIVE scoreless innings, allowing only ONE hit and NO ZERO walks while striking out SIX. Tom got his FIRST win and Nando his TWENTY-FIFTH save 🙂

AT the PLATE
M’s bats up against another tough lefty . . .
~ FOUR starters went Oh-fer (JJ, Willie, Kyle and Mike – though they ALL contributed, hugely, on DEE)
~ didn’t have their first hit until Robbie singled in the 4th
~ didn’t have their first base-runner past 1B until the 5th (LoMo and Michael at the corners but, Brad K’d)
~ LoMo and Michael were on again with ONE out but, Brad grounded out and JJ struck out
~ they broke through, just in the nick of time ~ in the 9th, Robbie walked and scored the M’s first run of the game via a sac-fly from Zu. Michael had an RBI single -that tied the game- bringing home Ack (who had pinch-run for Corey) and we went to extries
~ Brad didn’t get his first hit until the 14th but, ‘t was a BIG one as his RBI double proved to be the GWH, scoring Michael – who had singled w/ONE out and then stole 2B

IN the FIELD
Some kinda DEE by both sides for the most part in this one . . .
* Felix was thanking his OFer’s early on, as BOTH Willie and JJ made great, leaping grabs up against the wall

* Miscue in the 8th – a ground ball w/a runner at 2B but instead of running him back to 2B they got him in a run-down to 3B but, after review, Kyle missed the tag. So, instead of ONE out and a runner at 1B, there was NO outs and runners at 2B and 3B
* In the 9th – Brad made a throwing error that bounced and hit LoMo in the face – lead-off runner was safe (later, he got his redemption 😉 )

tweets of the game . . . 

 

g86 | “Saled” in the Windy City . . .

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Mariners 1 | White Sox 7 

sail

ON the MOUND
Roenis couldn’t quite hang with Sale , oh that ONE inning . . .
They traded scoreless frames, each allowing a couple of singles, through three innings and, even after Roenis gave up a lead-off homer in the 4th, it seemed like he might be up to the task (as he’s shown he can recompose after some miscues). But, the wheels came off in the 5th when the WS scored FOUR on couple of singles, a HBP, a double and a homer and that would be it for Roenis . . .
FIVE innings ~ SEVEN hits ~ FIVE earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ SIX strikeouts 

} Joe and Dom each threw a hitless inning but, Charlie gave up a TWO-run homer in garbage time. Charlie is the only M’s reliever with an ERA over THREE  (with the exception of Brandon but, that doesn’t really count since most of that was from starting – Brandon’ has a 0.00 ERA so far in his young ‘pen stint). So, Blower’s quote prior to the game about this bullpen being “the best the Seattle Mariners have EVER had” rings true.

AT the PLATE
Only FOUR lefties all season had recorded a hit off Chris Sale (all singles) but, despite the fact that the M’s matched that total (Kyle, LoMo, Michael and Robbie – a double) – no dice, gotta tip the Kudos cap to Mr. Sale today.
~ Kyle had the M’s first hit against Sale (he was only the third lefty to collect a hit off him all season). Unfortunately, Kyle was gunned down at 2B trying to stretch a single into a double.
~ The M’s best scoring opportunity came in the 6th w/runners on 2B and 3B – Robbie struck out 😦

IN the FIELD
* A couple of nice running grabs in deep RF corner by Michael  to end the 2nd and the 3rd with runners on
* a leaping snare by Kyle
* Eaton robs Robbie of double

tweets of the game . . .