Tag Archives: Smoak

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!!!!

g151 | UP down, UP down, UP down . . .

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One night they are riding high, winning and the right teams losing.
The next night stellar starter but frozen bats and the wrong teams winning.

Mariners 0 | Angels 5

ON the MOUND
James was spectacular through SIX, allowing only TWO singles and NO walks . . .

and then came the 7th when he allowed TWO one-out singles that added up to the Angels first run. He then intentionally walked Aybar and struck out Inanetta and in came Danny who promptly gave up a homer to Crone and TWO runs were charged to James – who ended with a line I think we’d still take most nights . . .
SIX.TWO innings ~ FOUR hits ~ THREE earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ EIGHT strikeouts

Bullpen was a tale of TWO relievers . . .
} Just wasn’t Danny’s night. Aside from giving up the THREE-run homer on the third pitch he threw, he allowed a walk on SIX pitches and then an RBI double on ONE pitch. Didn’t get out of the inning 😦
} Dom came in to get that seemingly elusive final out of the 7th (a K of Trout) and also retired the side in order in the 8th (which, unfortunately, was the last inning required for the Halos)

AT the PLATE
Not often walks exceed hits . . . 
~ M’s first base-runner wasn’t until the 4th (Robbie walked)
~ M’s first (and ONLY) hit wasn’t until the 5th (Justin singled)
~ M’s first runner past 1B wasn’t until the 7th when JJ stole 2B (pinch running for Kendrys who’s walked)

IN the FIELD
Everything bad happened in the 7th, including TWO rare fielding errors . . .
* Chris D’s got the Halos going
* Robbie’s missed catch advanced a runner to 3B (he was stranded but, the damage was done)

tweets of the game . . . 

 

g98 | oh. so. close.

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Mariners 5 | Angels 6

this close

I wasn’t able to see this one (as I was attending my fabulous father-in-law’s 90th birthday party!). Although I did hear the bottom of the 9th in the car on the way home 😦

‘t was a heart-breaker today but, to lose the first game in SIXTEEN innings, to win the second game in TWELVE innings and to have the third game come down to the 9th – I’d say the M’s are no longer looked upon as a ‘weak sister’ in the ALW (where they are 27-23)

As I’ve pointed out many times, the M’s play to the level of their competition like nobody’s business . . .
^ 28-18 vs .500 or better teams
^ 24-28 vs under .500 teams

 

ON the MOUND
Chris posted yet another QS, impressive considering the competition . . .
He threw a LOT of pitches and gave up a LOT of hits (including THREE doubles and TWO homers) but walked ZERO and was able to manage severe damage control. FIVE of his SEVEN strikeouts came in the first TWO innings
SIX innings ~ TEN hits ~ THREE earned runs ~ ZERO walks ~ SEVEN strikeouts

} Yourvis pitched the 7th and recorded TWO strikeouts but also gave up a run to get the Halos one run closer at the time (5-4)
} In the 8th, Joe gave up a single and a fly out and Nando came in to get the final TWO outs. Unfortunately, he shot his arrow ONE inning too soon, as he would return for the 9th and . . . walk Trout, give up the game-tying double to Pujols, give up a single to Hamilton, IBB Kendrick and, AMAZINGLY, get Freese to GDIP (including an out at home of course) to extend the inning and the game. But then, after IBB’ing Navaro (Friday night’s 16th inning hero) Green would get a base hit – the game winner. And Nando would get the loss AND the blown save (his third).

AT the PLATE
Started out oh, so promising . . .
Kyle hit a TWO out solo homer in the first and then FOUR consecutive singles (Stefen, Justin, Corey, Dustin) scored TWO more giving the M’s the 3-0 lead in the 1st

Kudos to Halos pitcher Skaggs who really settled down, keeping the M’s off the board in innings 2-6. But, in the 7th, the M’s broke through again . . .
Zu collected a ONE out RBI double (scoring JJ, who pinch ran for Corey) and then Endy hit a TWO out single to score Zu

~ Willie was the only starter without at least ONE hit
~ Kyle and Zu both had TWO hits
~ RBI and runs were sprinkled nicely throughout the lineup

IN the FIELD
Since I didn’t see or hear (except the 9th) all I can say re: the DEE is . . .
what a double-play (the second of the game) in the bottom of the 9th!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_20_seamlb_anamlb_1&mode=video&content_id=34674175&tcid=vpp_copy_34674175

tweets of the game . . . 

 

g97 | bonus baseball . . . SO much more fun when the #GoodGuysWin

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Mariners 3 | Angels 2 (12)

12

ON the MOUND
Felix did more than his part as usual . . .
Surprising that walked TWO batters in ONE inning TWICE (not sure what the issue was but, have to wonder if it had anything to do with not having Mike behind the plate – nothing against Jesus . . . it’s just that Felix is so used to Mike)
SEVEN innings ~ TWO hits ~ ONE run ~ ZERO earned runs ~ FOUR walks ~ NINE strikeouts

} Yourvis, Joe, Brandon and Nando kept ’em right where they were through the next THREE innings (including a Nando strikeout of Trout for the third out in the 9th)

Then, for the second straight night, the bullpen was called upon to dig deep . . .
} Dom gave up a solo shot in the 11th (luckily, at that point the M’s had a 2-run lead)
} Charlie earned his FIRST major league SAVE by pitching a scoreless 12th to preserve sweet victory

AT the PLATE
Hits and runs proved to be ever-so-precious for both sides (just like last night) but, the M’s were able to do JUST enough, despite Richards going FIFTEEN up, FIFTEEN down . . .
Dustin had TWO hits (including one of the M’s THREE doubles – Kyle and LoMo with the others) and scored the M’s first run (on a single by Jesus in the 6th)

The top of the 12th was a thing of beauty and a bit frustrating at the same time…
Kyle and LoMo had back-to-back doubles that gave the M’s the lead (2-1) and then Endy laid down a PERFECT bunt that stays fair and allows him to be safe at first AND to move LoMo to 2B. After Dustin strikes out, Justin pinch hits for Jesus and, with the bases loaded, singles up the 3B line (nearly a bunt single) to score LoMo and extend the M’ lead to 3-1 – James and Stefen would both make outs (hence the slightly frustrating part – though much abaited by the win 😉 )

IN the FIELD
The 7th started out pretty ugly . . .
with runners at at 1B and 2B, the batter hit one up the middle that Brad had to dive for and he couldn’t get it to Robbie so, he ended up air-mailing it from his knees to LoMo at 1B which allowed the tying run to score. With runners at the corners, a chopper was fielded and they were able to tag Hamilton out betwixt #b and home.
* In the 8th, LoMo and Brad couldn’t quite turn TWO when there was a chopper to 1B and LoMo threw to Brad at the 2B bag to get the lead runner but, Yourvis was a bit late to the 1B bag
* Jesus with a great throw to Robbie to nail Hamilton (trying to steal 2B) for the third out in the 11th
* Kyle had a line-snare of a sure double for the second out in the 12th and also made a snag for the third out

tweets of the game . . .

 

g96 | not so sweet sixteen . . .

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Mariners 2 | Angels 3 (16)

sixteen

 

ON the MOUND
Though he didn’t get the victory, Kuma did his thing vs. the Halos tonight . . .
SEVEN innings ~ SIX hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ ZERO walks ~ THREE strikeouts

The bullpen, however, had to go a bit more than the customary TWO innings – they combined for . . .
NINE innings ~ SIX hits ~ ONE earned run ~ ONE walk ~ TEN strikeouts

} In the 8th, it was one batter each: LEFT (Joe) RIGHT (Yourvis) LEFT (Charlie)
} Danny had TWO strikeouts in a scoreless 9th and then, in the 10th, an ABSOLUTE thing of beauty w/ONE out and a runner at 1B, Danny STRUCK out Trout and Zu THREW out Calhoun trying to steal 2B to end the inning
} Brandon (flame) threw a scoreless 11th (touching 100mph at one point) w/TWO strikeouts
} Tom, was the star of the pen, taking 52 pitches (37 for strikes) to throw FOUR complete innings, giving up ZERO runs, ONE hit, NO walks and striking out FOUR in innings 12-15
} Dom, however, gave up the bullpen’s only walk and only run, that came via TWO doubles, and it proved to be the decider in the 16th

AT the PLATE
opportunities abounded in the first NINE and the next SEVEN . . .
~ through the first NINE, the M’s left NINE men on base (including bases-loaded in the 6th and TWO on in the 7th after tying the game) with doubles by Justin and Dustin, walks by Robbie and LoMo and RBI singles by Brad and Endy
~ through the next SEVEN, they had at least ONE man aboard in EVERY inning, but the Halos bullpen was up to the task every bit as much as the M’s. The 10th looked to start out really well, as Robbie lined a double – but wait – Halos challenged and the safe call at 2B was overturned (and, rightly so and his foot came off the bag for a second as he was coming up from his slide and the baseman kept the tag on his back). So, instead of a lead-off double, it was an out. And, the 11th was really deflating as Justin singled, Dustin moved him over with a sac bunt (his second of the game – after going the entire first half without ONE) then Brad lined out to the pitcher who doubled Willie (pinch running for Justin) off 2B

IN the FIELD
an  a l m o s t  awesome play at the plate in the 5th . . .
* Freese hit a double and got to 3B on a great relay from Endy to Robbie to Zu – it was to the plate in time but, Mike dropped the ball, was charged with the error and the Halos got their first run
* the very next batter, JJ made an awesome, diving catch in shallow center field, holding Freese at 3B
* Justin with a super back up play on a bunt by Kendrick, Danny was off the mound like a shot but, the ball went off his glove and Justin was right there to underhand to Robbie covering at 1B to get the speedy Kendrick

tweets of the game . . . 

 

g95 | TWO outta THREE ain’t bad . . .

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Mariners 1 | Athletics 4

2 out of 3

ON the MOUND
Mr. Young cruised through the first FOUR innings . . .
– He retired the side in order in the 1st, 2nd and 4th, allowed a double, but no runs, in the 3rd
– Then in the 5th, a double, a walk and TWO singles gave the A’s a 2-1 lead
– He gave up a homer to Moss (21st) in the 6th, his last inning, to extend the A’s lead to 3-1
six innings ~ five hits ~ three earned runs ~ one walk ~ two strikeouts

} The bully of Danny, Charlie, Brandon and Joe combined for ONE run (solo shot by Punto off Joe, who hadn’t given up a run since April 26th) on TWO hits, NO walks and TWO strikeouts

AT the PLATE
Scoring was early but, not often, tip o’ the cap to Sonny Gray . . . 
~ M’s first and only run came in the 1st inning when JJ singled, got to 3B on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt and scored on a ground out by Robbie. None of their SIX hits were for extra bases and All Star Seager was the only one with multiple hits.
~ Speaking of Kyle – he had a rough AB/on base stint in the 6th – he singled right after taking a foul ball off his foot then was hit by a batted ball as he was advancing from 1B to 2B on a hit by LoMo. The really sucky thing is that it was the third out 😦

IN the FIELD
* NO DP’s on either side
* Really nice one hop back-handed snare by Brad for the 1st out of the 9th
* Justin was busy in his second game back w/SEVEN POs at 1B, so was Dustin – he recored EIGHT POs in LF

tweets of the game . . .

 

four star

 

 

 

Good Luck and Best Wishes to our FOUR All Stars . . .

Felix, Robbie, Kyle and Nando – we know you’ll do us proud!!!

 

 

 

 

 

g58 | oh no, Erasmo ~ yessiree, BP and the bats!

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Mariners 7 | Braves 5

ON the MOUND
Erasmo dug himself into a hole early, giving up TWO doubles and TWO homers so, despite pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the 3rd, that would be his last inning
THREE innings ~ EIGHT hits ~ FIVE earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ FOUR strikeouts

BP was NAILS!
Tom + Dom + Danny + Nando = SIX scoreless innings, giving up only TWO hits, TWO walks and NINE strikeouts

AT the PLATE
Surprises abound in Hot-Lanta . . .
~ Stefen with a PINCH hit THREE-run homer (that tied the game at FIVE in the 4th
~ John with his FIRST homer as a Mariner (a TWO-run shot that put the M’s ahead for good in the 7th)
~ Brad and James with the other RBI’s
Plenty of hits (THIRTEEN) w/ a couple of stark contrasts . . .
~ Kyle and Justin = 0-10
~ Robbie and Michael = 5-10

IN the FIELD
* Brad-Robbie-Justin with a DP
* James with an error

tweets of the game . . .

 

g51 | bats able to bend, but not break, Weaver & the Halos . . . .

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I was only able to see the 9th inning of this one tonight . . .
where Frieri looked a bit like Nando ~ giving the Halos heartburn and the Mariners hope ~ as Michael walked with TWO outs, took 2B on indifference and scored on Robbie’s single. Then Justin walked, bringing the winning run to the plate in Kyle . . . who flew out 😦

bend but don't break

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariners 3 | Angels 6

ON the MOUND
I was able to peak at my phone at one point to see that Roenis giving up FOUR doubles in ONE inning . . .
So yes, they hit him hard but, all things considered, great to see him work through his struggles and pitch into the 7th inning ~ retiring EIGHT in-a-row at one point (that started in the 4th w/bases-loaded w/NO outs). He will be better for it, no doubt.
SIX.ONE innings ~ EIGHT hits ~ FIVE earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ FIVE strikeouts

The combo of Dom and Tom wasn’t too sharp tonight . . .
} Dom gave up an inherited runner via a sac-fly, also walked a batter and struck out ONE
} Tom pitched TWO innings but, gave up THREE hits (including a homer) and struck out THREE

AT the PLATE
Despite getting more runs off Weaver than any other team has in SEVEN starts ~ just wasn’t enough . . .
~ James, Mike and Brad all went hitless (though Brad walked twice)
~ Every other batter had at least ONE hit (Robbie, Kyle and Nick each had TWO)
~ Justin only had ONE hit (TWO walks) but it went a LONG way (unfortunately, there was no one on)
All-in-all, FIVE doubles and ONE homer trump ONE double and ONE homer :/

IN the FIELD
* Even though a run scored, getting that DP with the bases-loaded likely kept the game from really getting out of reach
* Kyle with a nice diving snare and throw to Justin at 1B for the first out of the 9th

tweets of the game . . . 

 

g47 | Felix and the bats . . . nice combination!

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kings court

AP Photo | Elaine Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariners 6 | Astros 1

ON THE MOUND
Happy Felix Day!
Of course Altuve had THREE of the FIVE Astro hits (only ONE for extra bases, a double). Felix faced the minimum in THREE innings (the 6th, 7th, 8th – kinda of a sign that there’s a stud on the mound when he gets better as the game goes along 😉 )

61st time in his career that he’s pitched EIGHT innings while allowing ONE run or fewer – think on THAT!

EIGHT innings ~ FIVE hits ~ ONE earned run ~ ONE walk ~ NINE strikeouts

} Charlie and Danny combine for the clean sheet in the 9th

AT THE PLATE
~ Every batter except Stefen and Cole had at least ONE hit (and they both walked and Cole scored)
~ James extended his hit streak to THIRTEEN games
~ Robbie extended his on base streak to THIRTY games
~ Middle of the order was 6-11 w/THREE runs and THREE rbi
~ And whodathunk ~ Wille B had the other THREE rbi – a sac-fly in the 4th and a no-doubter homer in the 6th (his first homer in 626 AB’s)

IN THE FIELD
* Justin made a nice diving snare of a smash liner and then tossed to Felix at the bag for the first out of the 2nd
* Willie made a nice play at short to get a VERY quick Presley
* Felix (quick as a cat!) fielded a chopper that took a weird bounce in front of the mound and through a rocket to Justin – really appreciate the DEE of BOTH these players. Justin is under rated as a first baseman, Felix has ALWAYS fielded his position SO well.
* and, continuing with that “pitcher fielding well” theme – after taking a batted ball off his calf (and it couldn’t be fielded in time to get the speedy Altuve) he fielded a one-hopper, through to Willie at the 2B bag who completed the DP to Justin . . . 1 – 6 – 3 = N I C E !

tweets of the game . . .

 

g43 | The King, the Condor and Cano

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The M’s run differential in the FOUR-game losing streak was FIVE. Today, they won by FOUR.
Go figure – that’s baseball.

Mariners 6 | Twins 2

ON THE MOUND
Happy Felix Day!
EIGHT innings ~ SEVEN hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ FIVE strikeouts = FIFTH win!

} And, thankfully, despite a non-save situation, Nando only posted a 2.5 on the QuiverMeter today (allowed a single with TWO out) before handing Felix the victory.

AT THE PLATE
Early on, it looked as if we would see more of the same, and we did, through FOUR innings anyway . . .
Michael doubled in the 1st with ONE out and was stranded at 2B. They managed to push across a run via a walk and a couple of singles in the 4th and were hoping for more but, Dustin struck out w/runners at 1B and 3B and one out, then Mike walked and then Brad watched strike THREE with the bases loaded :/

Then came the momentum shift in the 5th . . .
~ first time the M’s recorded THREE hits in an inning since Felix’s last start
~ James (singled and scored), Michael (tripled and scored) and Robbie (doubled, scored in a later inning and recorded FOUR hits) = HOT, HOT, HOT!
~ FIVE, SIX and SEVEN in the order weren’t too shabby either (Justin, Kyle and Dustin each had a hit and either an RBI or scored)

There were several really LONG, LOUD outs (pushing the Twins OF’ers all the way to the wall)

IN THE FIELD
* Felix the Cat in the field (close play covering at the 1B bag – runner initially called out but it was over-turned on a challenge by RG and then a nice play on a would-by bunt base hit).
*TWO nice double plays

 

tweets of the game . . .