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Wednesday, May 30th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 10:46:52 pm
They saw this as their opportunity to let the Angels know they were a team to be dealt with, but what happened to the Seattle Mariners in three games in Anaheim? They got dealt with. Felix Hernandez couldn’t get the outs he needed most, allowing a pair of three-run home runs. Seattle’s lineup managed 10 hits – but Ben Broussard, Yuniesky Betancourt, Jose Lopez, Ichiro, Jose Vidro, Raul Ibanez and Jose Guillen all came up with runners in scoring position. And failed. Hey, it happens, but in the finale of this series, it happened in a two-run loss that left the Mariners 5 ½ games behind the Angels. So there’s work still to be done, and the Mariners come home 25-24 to face Texas and Baltimore – two imminently beatable teams. The good news? Seattle came to the plate Wednesday time and again with the chance to break this game open, and had the tying run at the plate with no one out in the ninth inning. They lost a tough game. There will be more tough games. Perhaps this last loss will help them deal with those to come.
Categories: General
• 5 comments
Tuesday, May 29th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 03:20:50 pm
Five hours before game time Tuesday, Jeff Weaver took the mound in Anaheim and threw a simulated game – three innings against Willie Bloomquist, Jason Ellison and batting practice pitcher John Moses. The $8.5 million right-hander, on the disabled list with shoulder tendonitis, threw all his pitches and the verdict afterward came down to one word. ‘Better.’ Better location, slightly better velocity. Better breaking pitches, better sinker. Better than what? Better than Weaver has been in months. “I caught him his last spring training game in Las Vegas, and he was throwing pretty well then,” catcher Jamie Burke said. “He was like that today. Much better.” Bloomquist sounded like a real estate salesman after facing Weaver. “Location, location, location,” he said. “Earlier this season, when he was up, his pitches were flat. Today, he was down, and those pitches were really moving. When he’s down, he’s tough.” Moses stood in because he was a left-handed hitter, and never swung because he was using a borrowed bat – and Bloomquist threatened him if he broke it there’d be consequences. Manager Mike Hargrove watched from behind the batting cage and went along with everyone else. “More life on his pitches, but I’d like to have seen a little more velocity,” Hargrove said. “That may come with more pitching.” What’s the plan now? Weaver may throw another bullpen, another simulated game and then go make a couple of rehabilitation assignment starts in the minor leagues. Or, he might be sent on that rehab assignment in the next few days. Harrove, GM Bill Bavasi and team trainers will huddle to determine that. What they think, at this point, is that a pitcher who went 0-6 in six starts, is better. Hard to imagine he could have been worse.
Categories: General
• 11 comments
Monday, May 28th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 03:51:35 pm
When their three-game series with the Angels ends, the Seattle Mariners will have 113 games left to the season – although if they lose three in a row here, many will think that season is over. Even the Seattle players are up for these. Going head to head with the first-place team when you’re the second-place team, it’s hard not to lay more importance on the outcome. Say what you want about spotty hitting, the Mariners lead the American League with a .279 batting average. Their pitching still has issues, but whose doesn’t? Would you take this staff over, say, that of the Yankees if you had to take one or the other? Given the fact they’re missing two starting pitchers, and that rookie left-hander Ryan Feierabend will start the middle game of the series, Seattle is in about the best position it’s been in to face the Angels. Had Mike Hargrove had the inclination to change his rotation, he couldn’t have fared much better than having Felix Hernandez, Miguel Batista and Feierabend, other than to get Jarrod Washburn in the series. Missing starters Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez? The Mariners would have no reason to feel more confident if they were likely to start here. Now, if we can convince all Mariners pitchers to walk Vladimir Guerrero in any at-bat of a close game, Seattle might pick up ground.
Categories: General
• 2 comments
Saturday, May 26th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 07:52:58 pm
So, you want to know Ichiro Suzuki. In Saturday’s victory over Kansas City, he pushed his hitting streak to 19 games and made a marvelous running catch before banging his knee into the center field fence. Asked afterward how his knee was, Ichiro grinned. “My knee is still my knee,” he said. “My knee is not my butt.” You can’t argue with the logic, but did he really answer the question?
Categories: General
Friday, May 25th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 01:22:34 pm
The Seattle Mariners are dropping right and left, and the team placed left-handed starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list Friday – where he joined right-hander Jeff Weaver. The move follows the loss this week of reliever Chris Reitsma, and the team has been without Raul Ibanez for seven of the last eight games. If you want to go back a bit, the team hasn’t had a pitch thrown from two of his better relievers, Arthur Rhodes and Mark Lowe. All teams go through injuries and, like the Mariners, do their best to patch the holes they cause. Without Lowe, Seattle found an able substitute this spring in rookie Brandon Morrow. When Rhodes went down, rookie left-hander Eric O’Flaherty was given the chance to pitch – and he, too, has been a pleasant surprise. Cha Seung Baek is starting in place of Weaver, Sean Green and now Jon Huber have been added to the bullpen this week and Jose Guillen dropped to the third spot in the lineup without Ibanez. Now what? Ramirez’s spot in the rotation will likely be filled next week with one of two Tacoma Rainiers – the hot Justin Lehr or Ryan Feierabend, who was impressive last September in the majors. All this on the eve of a three-game showdown with the Angels in Anaheim starting Monday. It could be worse. And the reason no one with the team ever says that is because they’re afraid it will get worse.
Categories: General
• 4 comments
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 12:18:16 pm
The question keeps popping up – if the Seattle Mariners fall out of the American League West race, will they trade Ichiro before the July 31 deadline. Of course, they could. Almost certainly, they won’t. Those who watch the game, from fans to scouts, and argue the talents of Ichiro and how he chooses to maximize – or minimize – them on the field. That’s an argument for another day. What he will want from the Mariners after this season will almost certainly be more than he’d be worth on the open market. The bet here is that Seattle will pay it. Not because he’s the best player on the team. Not because he’s irreplaceable. The Mariners will overpay to keep Ichiro because their principle owner, Hiroshi Yamouchi, will tell them to do so. It was Yamouchi’s influence, remember, that had the Mariners pursue and land Kenji Johjima when the team wasn’t looking for a catcher. It makes no sense that he would watch Ichiro walk away. The bigger issue is what it will take – beyond cash – to keep Ichiro. He is not a fan of manager Mike Hargrove, not pleased with the direction of the franchise. Which brings up an interesting scenario: If the Mariners contend this season, would the team then fire Hargrove as a pre-condition to keeping Ichiro? It could happen – and, for that matter, Ichiro could bring down GM Bill Bavasi, too. Too many ‘ifs’ to be certain of anything this early, but don’t look for Ichiro to leave Seattle for free agency.
Categories: General
• 9 comments
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 12:05:20 pm
Oh, look: Another stretch of make-or-break games upon which jobs are dangling – and this time, the Seattle Mariners simply aren’t playing well. They couldn’t score enough to keep Felix Hernandez from losing, 2-1. They flew into Cleveland, got bopped, and flew out again. Now they’re facing the Devil Rays and Royals before flying into Angels country, and if they don’t make hay in Tampa and Kansas City, they could stumble out of Anaheim a beaten team. Should that happen, should the Angels continue to pull away in the American League West, it’s likely Mike Hargrove would be fired – something he’s been facing for months now. Each time before, this team has rallied itself, even crept above .500 to stay close. They’ll have to do it again this week, despite a slumping offense and the fact that Miguel Batista remains mediocre and Horacio Ramirez hasn’t yet won a game on the road this season. Win and the season remains viable. Lose and 2007 could be gone by June 1.
Categories: General
• 6 comments
Saturday, May 19th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 05:15:07 pm
Mariners manager Mike Hargrove sat three Seattle regulars on his bench Saturday – one because of heatlh issues, one who needed a mental breather and a third who has developed an affinity for pitches high and out of the strike zone. Left fielder Raul Ibanez, who missed an earlier game with back spasms, came to Safeco Field with a stiff back. He was replaced in the lineup by Jason Ellison, making his first start as a Mariner. First baseman Richie Sexson, who had started 37 of the first 38 games for Seattle – and lately been its cleanup hitter – was given a day off after an 0-for-15 slump that was clearly weighing on him. “Richie will get one day and it might not be just one day,” Hargrove said. “It’s 98 per cent mental right now, and last night I saw a look in his eyes coming back to the dugout I hadn’t been seeing. “When he looks like he’s not going to hang himself, he’ll go back in.” Left-handed hitting Ben Broussard started at Sexson’s position and at cleanup. And there was shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, replaced for the night by reserve Willie Bloomquist. Why? Betancourt hit a couple of high fastballs for home runs early in the season, and has been chasing that pitch since. When coaches and Hargrove tried to get him to stop, he continued – and about a week ago, Betancourt was told if he continued to chase high pitches out of the strike zone, he’d find himself on the bench. He chased on Thursday for a third strike, was warned again, then repeated the swing on Friday night. Day off.
Categories: General
• 3 comments
Friday, May 18th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 03:37:13 pm
 Richie Sexson is a power hitter with resume – 278 home runs, 944 RBI – who has at least temporarily misplaced the ability to produce runs from the cleanup position. Not surprisingly, it’s hurting the Seattle Mariners. A good part of managing is putting players in the right position, and it’s hard to argue that Sexson began the season as a viable candidate to bath fourth. Right now though, it would be hard to put a less productive hitter there. Sexson may rebound – he certainly did in 2006. In the meantime, the team needs to make a change, temporary or not. None of this makes Sexson a bad guy, nor does it lay the blame for losses at his feet. Cleanup men can make a difference, but they don’t pitch. Seattle may not have a classic cleanup man, but they have to put someone in that slot that hits. Platoon depending upon the numbers against a starting pitcher. Flip coins if necessary. But move Richie now, for his sake and the sanity of fans. Wednesday, May 16th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 12:25:37 pm
After three years in oblivion, it’s small wonder that the inhabitants of Mariners Nation are confused. If they root for what has become a tenacious, enjoyable team to watch are they endorsing general manager Bill Bavasi and manager Mike Hargrove? And if they continue to call for the jobs of those men, are they ignoring the fact the ’07 Mariners are a better team than they’ve seen here in years? For all the off-season wailing and ranting, offensive additions Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen are contributing to a lineup that continues to impress American League pitchers. And while Jeff Weaver remains a lump of coal on a staff looking for jewels, it has to be said that Horacio Ramirez and Miguel Batista have as many wins as the National League’s reigning Cy Young Award winner. The Seattle bullpen is performing spectacularly well – even Rule 5 draftee Sean White is contributing. While Brandon Morrow’s future may well be in the Mariners rotation, it would be foolish at this point to say keeping him in the bullpen as a setup man has been a mistake. Like it or not, this is a good team that could improve. And the men who put it together are Bavasi and Hargrove. Makes it tough to be a curmudgeon when they’re playing well.
Categories: General
• 10 comments
Monday, May 14th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 10:59:53 am
The Mariners got to the Ides of May at 17-16, and considering what they went through and what it took to get here, that’s no small accomplishment. Now, they’ve got the chance to do better. With Felix back in the rotation and Mr. Weaver sitting it out for now, with Horacio Ramirez confident in new, simplified mechanics and Jarrod Washburn pitching marvelously, Seattle has a chance to make up ground in the next few weeks. They face the Angels three times at home this week, three more in Anaheim in two weeks. That should go a long way in determining whether they can contend. And series against San Diego, Tampa and Kansas City shouldn’t hurt their win-loss record. Traditionally, as the weather warms, hitters like Adrian Beltre, Jose Guillen and even Richie Sexson do better. They’d better, because so much of the Mariners chances depend upon their offense. To survive their first 33 games, all those weather-related problems and four lost Felix starts and still be 17-16? Give the Mariners a B- for that stretch of games. Now, if they’re going to be the team they want to be, they’re going to have to turn it up.
Categories: General
• 5 comments
Friday, May 11th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 08:19:34 pm
As injuries go, this one was timely. After an 0-6 start, pitcher Jeff Weaver was placed on the disabled list Friday with shoulder tendinits – a usually painful inflammation. Weaver couldn’t recall when it might have started. The truth is, there’s no downside to letting the journeyman right-hander try to strengthen his shoulder and right arm. Against Detroit on Thursday, he couldn’t break 90 mph, and there wasn’t much movement on any of his pitches. Without one or the other, no one gets outs in the major leagues. If the Mariners try Weaver again, it will be with a short leash.
Categories: General
• 3 comments
Thursday, May 10th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 08:30:54 am
Getting to the major leagues is the pinnacle for a professional ballplayer, but it’s not the end of the development of any man’s game. Three major league players – second baseman Jose Lopez, catcher Kenji Johjima and pitcher Horacio Ramirez – continued working on one small aspect of their skill set. In the case of Lopez, it was his turning of the double play, and his tendency to reach for the throw one-handed when he was in the pivot. Going out with both hands, making a quicker exchange to throw, will improve how he turns two. Johjima is an offensive catcher, a solid hitter who has been moved around Seattle’s lineup since arriving from Japan. What’s his project? Pitch selection. He’s not the most patient hitter – the Mariners don’t have many of those – but the higher up in the order he bats, the less selective he’s been. And Ramirez? As shown in his last few starts, when he’s thrown shutout innings, then bit hit hard, then more shutout innings, he’s looking for consistency. A small change in his delivery, bringing his hands to the same spot each time, has made a difference in bullpen sessions. The major leagues are filled with unfinished projects, players who’ve gotten as far as they can go logistically but aren’t satisfied. Every day, on every team, players try to improve – and coaches are there to work with them.
Categories: General
• 4 comments
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 12:26:59 pm
It’s rare when two baseball teams – and their respective fans – share the same perspective during a series. The Seattle Mariners, for instance, lost a poorly pitched game to Detroit, 9-7. Tigers fans were delighted with the team’s eighth consecutive win, not minding so much that starter Jeremy Bonderman allowed five earned runs, or that it took every bit of nine runs to win. The Mariners? Conventional wisdom has them stumbling through this trip, and those who have wanted a general manager and manager fired since spring training are as fervent as ever. What’s the difference? The Tigers have the benefit of the doubt this season, after getting to the World Series, adding Gary Sheffield and starting well. The Mariners have finished in fourth place three seasons in a row, and the benefit of the doubt is long gone in Seattle. That’s human nature. The truth is, this is a better team than the Mariners have fielded since 2003 – and the truth is, that’s a small step. A year ago, after 28 games, Seattle was 12-16. It’s still too early to know what ’07 will produce. So far, it’s a flawed team with considerable tenacity, the ability to slough off rainouts and snowouts, off-field distractions and one starting pitcher who is 0-5. Give them a small benefit of a doubt. Enjoy what they offer. If they fail, you’ve got all summer to complain.
Categories: General
Monday, May 7th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 12:23:05 pm
As they prepare to face a wide-eyed rookie who needed help getting past security guards at Yankee Stadium today, the Seattle Mariners would take a split of the last four games on this trip – and fans probably would, too. They have their hands full here in New York, and in Detroit an even better team is waiting, and mauling the competition. Against the Tigers, Seattle will start Horacio Ramirez, Cha Seung Baek and Jeff Weaver – then fly home to begin a home stand with the New York Yankees coming in first. Back in March, it was said here that if the Mariners could get to May 15 a .500 team, they’d have accomplished something. That’s only about a week away, and at the moment they’re 13-13. Getting to the 15th, however, means play four games against the Yankees and three against the Tigers. Can the Mariners go 4-3 in that stretch? Tonight’s game is winnable – Matt DeSalvo’s major league debut offers an opportunity for Seattle. Beyond that, however, which games would you look at as locks? Without Felix Hernandez, the rotation is vastly weakened. Without a consistent offense – and against good pitching – the Mariners can’t afford to fall behind. Put another way, if the Mariners get to the 15th with a 16-17 record, it’ll be almost as nice a development as the return of Hernandez that night.
Categories: General
• 6 comments
Saturday, May 5th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 06:34:00 pm
A year in a quiet Mariners clubhouse, Julio Mateo talked to me about his dead brother, and said without his wife, Aurea, he wasn’t sure he’d have survived the pain and loss. On Saturday in New York, Mateo sat in a police station and gave his explanation of what happened during a fight with Aurea – one that left her in need of five stitches and authorities looking for Mateo. Domestic violence can have no supporters, and whatever Mateo’s reputation is among baseball fans and teammates, this likely will change it. The Mariners will await the legal process, and in the meantime optioned Mateo to Tacoma, bringing up a fresh arm for the bullpen. Baseball will go on. For the Mateos, this is another family tragedy. Aurea begged not to have charges filed, and Mateo spent most of Saturday on the telephone with her and other family members. Then he turned himself in. He’s going to have to work harder to rebuild it this time. And he’d better start with Aurea.
Categories: General
• 4 comments
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 01:51:46 pm
Julio Mateo surrendered to New York police Saturday in the investigation of an assault charge – apparently involving his wife shortly after midnight. The Seattle Mariners said they were “aware” of the incident and considered it ‘very serious,’ and had advised their right-handed reliever to deal with authorities. The incident occurred at the team hotel in New York and, according to police, Aurea Mateo visited a local hospital, where she was treated and released. Neither police nor the Mariners would offer more details, but Mateo was not at the ballpark when the game began Saturday. More as it develops.
Categories: General
Friday, May 4th, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 08:49:00 pm
It was all but lost in the hitting and scoring of Seattle’s 15-11 victory over New York Friday, but Ichiro Suzuki was nearly beheaded by the Yankees Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa. Immediately after Jose Lopez homered to tie the game at 6-6 against Igawa, Ichiro came to the plate and just did get out of the way of an up-and-in fastball. Was it on purpose? “I don’t think it was on purpose, but if it was, it was impressive,” Ichiro said. “I watched ‘The Matrix,’ and that’s how I managed to get out of the way.” In just over a month of baseball, Ichiro has now been throw at – intentionally or otherwise – by Japanese pitchers in Boston and New York. “This one was closer,” Ichiro said, shrugging. “I’m skinny, I’m hard to hit.” Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 02:07:15 pm
Fasten your seatbelts, Mariners fans – Jeff Weaver will make at least one more start, and it will be this weekend against the New York Yankees. Dazed and confused by an 0-4 start and an 18.26 earned run average, Weaver hasn’t a clue what’s wrong with his pitching which, even by his standards, has been blistered. The Mariners may one day have to eat Weaver’s $8.25 million contract, but it won’t be too soon. No team wants to take that bite this early. If Weaver starts in New York and pitches well, he’ll get another start. If he getws shelled, it’s off to the bullpen for renovation. There’s not a lot of reason to believe Weaver can be salvaged, at least not in the American League. Last year, with the Angels, he went 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA. The last time he’d pitched in the AL was 2003 for the Yankees. He went 7-9 with a 5.99 ERA. Weaver was a high-risk move that didn’t need to be made but was, and it’s unlikely the Mariners will get anything remotely close to value from him in 2007.
Categories: General
• 14 comments
Tuesday, May 1st, 2007
Posted by Larry LaRue @ 02:39:46 am
For those of us who love baseball stories and are usually disappointed by baseball books, there’s a lovely surprise hitting bookstores this week – almost enough fun to make you forget about Jeff Weaver for a few days. ‘Tales from the Seattle Mariners Dugout,’ is an anecdotal history of a franchise that has won far more hearts than pennants, while producing both great players and great characters. It’s the first book of baseball stories from Everett Herald beat writer Kirby Arnold. Let’s hope it’s not his last. If you’ve been a fan since expansion or a recent addition to the club, there are stories here to make you smile – no matter what page you open to. You can skip around the book from one era to another, from one group of players to the one that preceded or followed. No matter who your favorite player or manager is, he’s likely in here, and Arnold has reached out to hundreds of them to let them tell their stories. Some will touch you, some make you laugh and at least one of Jay Buhner’s will gross you out. From Dave Niehause recalling the first day of the Mariners first spring training – when the manager and coaches had to rake the infield and tamp down gopher holes on the warning track – to the arrival of Felix Hernandez, this book keeps the stories moving. What more you could ask for than a collection of stories about ‘The Kid’ and ‘Big Unit,’ Jose Cruz and Alvin Davis, Edgar Martinez and Lou Piniella, all told by a man who clearly knows and loves the game. If you’re a Mariners fan – or know one – ‘Tales from the Seattle Mariners Dugout’ belongs on your nightstand or your gift list. After reading it, you’re going to be an Arnold fan, so here’s a link to his blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/blog/blog.cfm?blogid=13
Categories: General
• 2 comments
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Mariners Insider
Ryan Divish has been with The News Tribune since 2006, covering the Tacoma Rainiers and high school sports. Divish played baseball at Dickinson State University and also earned a journalism degree from the University of Montana. You will find news, observations, anecdotes, analysis and photographs on this blog. The purpose is to keep readers informed, but also give them a feel for the team and its players, and a place to go to read about baseball. Category
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