Texas fighting for playoffs
While the Mariners feel a little better after sweeping the Devil Rays, it should be noted the Rangers feel they are in a pennant race too. They at least took one game from the A's, and figure to be a tough matchup.
It is hard to imagine Joel having a good game tonight. Will the good Joel show up, or the normal Joel who threatens to finish with a 6+ ERA? I have a hard time believing Joel can be succesful against a Texas team playing in that ballpark. I don't want to be negative, but it is something Bill Bavasi really needs to keep an eye on. How can the M's get on a streak if Joel manages to both lose the game and blow up the bullpen every 5 days?
It would be fantastic if Joel steps up and the M's get a win. The key as always with Joel is to not get behind in the count and stay out of the middle of the plate. When you don't have great stuff, that's pretty much the only formula for success. There's a fine line between painting corners and walking batters. It's hard to see how Joel is going to ever be productive for a long stretch of time.
Meanwhile, we finally get to see a nice streak of games where Adrian Beltre is on fire. The only downside to this stretch has been while Beltre is hitting out of this world, Ichiro has been on a 6-week slump. If Ichiro can turn it around and go back to the player he was 2 months ago, and Beltre keeps hitting... now that would be fun!
Throw in Lopez starting to come around, and Sexson seeing the ball better, and we can afford a few more mistakes by our pitchers. The pitching staff has been pretty solid lately, and it would be nice to see the team throw up some big numbers and even things out.
The other issue right now is still center field. It's not the worst thing in the world to try and carry a young player, so we just have to hope Bavasi comes up with a new plan or they keep throwing Jones out there.
If Hargrove starts Willie in Center for 2 of the next 3 games, we should all be waiting for him at the airport upon their return...
While the Mariners feel a little better after sweeping the Devil Rays, it should be noted the Rangers feel they are in a pennant race too. They at least took one game from the A's, and figure to be a tough matchup.
It is hard to imagine Joel having a good game tonight. Will the good Joel show up, or the normal Joel who threatens to finish with a 6+ ERA? I have a hard time believing Joel can be succesful against a Texas team playing in that ballpark. I don't want to be negative, but it is something Bill Bavasi really needs to keep an eye on. How can the M's get on a streak if Joel manages to both lose the game and blow up the bullpen every 5 days?
It would be fantastic if Joel steps up and the M's get a win. The key as always with Joel is to not get behind in the count and stay out of the middle of the plate. When you don't have great stuff, that's pretty much the only formula for success. There's a fine line between painting corners and walking batters. It's hard to see how Joel is going to ever be productive for a long stretch of time.
Meanwhile, we finally get to see a nice streak of games where Adrian Beltre is on fire. The only downside to this stretch has been while Beltre is hitting out of this world, Ichiro has been on a 6-week slump. If Ichiro can turn it around and go back to the player he was 2 months ago, and Beltre keeps hitting... now that would be fun!
Throw in Lopez starting to come around, and Sexson seeing the ball better, and we can afford a few more mistakes by our pitchers. The pitching staff has been pretty solid lately, and it would be nice to see the team throw up some big numbers and even things out.
The other issue right now is still center field. It's not the worst thing in the world to try and carry a young player, so we just have to hope Bavasi comes up with a new plan or they keep throwing Jones out there.
If Hargrove starts Willie in Center for 2 of the next 3 games, we should all be waiting for him at the airport upon their return...
posted by Tom at
12:46 PM
