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Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

Posted by Ryan Divish @ 06:36:09 pm

Game thoughts tonight,

Here's a link I forgot to post, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia isn't happy with his team's offense. Um Mike? How would you like managing this offense? I think you're just being a little overcritical.

Another random question, but how creepy was that Ichiro look-a-like guy? It makes me wonder if we are actually interviewing him after games.

GAME THOUGHTS START HERE:
9:40 -- The announced crowd of 15,818 was the smallest in SAfeco Field history, and 7 of the 10 smallest crowds in Safeco history have come this season. Any thoughts as to a reason why?

9:14 --- "PUT ME IN COACH, I'M READY TO PLAY TO-DAAY!!!!!" Oh my God, it's Miguel Cairo and he's sprinting onto the field with his glove in his hand.

8:28 -- Here's Miguel Batista's line, 2 1/3 innings, 6 runs, 3 hits, 6 walks, 2 strikeouts. HE threw 85 pitches, 45 were strikes. He really threw 45 strikes? That number seems a little high.

8:20 -- the most impressive thing I'll see all night was that home run by Josh Hamilton. That thing was crushed. I'll say this when Cha Seung Baek gives up hits, they aren't little bleeders and bloops.

8:17 -- wow, I must be a curse. This is just awful. At least you guys can change the channel, which I am sure you already have done. And yes Snydro, this is where I wish the Mariners had RA Dickey as well.

8:06 -- Miguel Batista has drained the life right out of this crowd of about 10,000 people.

7:41 -- My God, can somebody throw a strike. I can safely say there is no way this game will get over in less than 3 hours.

7:34 -- Wow 44 pitches in the first inning. He ain't making it to the fifth inning. Sorry DAve8557, those days are long gone. But I will say this. I thought the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium was pretty cool. There's a lot of energy in the crowd, and they seem to know their baseball.

7:26 -- Snydro, I wasn't checking out his calves. We were watching his legs when he walked in to see if he was favoring it or limping. But it's not surprising that he's got skinny legs, I mean the guy weighs like a buck fifty. And I do remember that episode of Entourage. Besides Sophia Bush, Emmanuelle Chriqui is also a reader of Mariners Insider.

Here's the lineups for tonight ...
Texas
Ian Kinsler 2B
Michael Young SS
Josh Hamilton CF
Milton Bradley DH
David Murphy RF
Brandon Boggs LF
Frank Catalanotto 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
Ramon Vasquez 3B
----------------
Sidney Ponson P

Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki CF
Jose Lopez 2B
Raul Ibanez LF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Richie Sexson 1B
Jeff Clement DH
Yuni Betancourt SS
Kenji Johjima C
Wlad Balentien RF

Categories: General 5 comments
Posted by Ryan Divish @ 03:44:29 pm

Well, I guess we'll find out if I am a jinx or the Texas Rangers are as bad as everybody assumed they would be this season. I'm up at Safeco watching Clement, Balentien, Johjima and Cairo take extra BP. It's Cairo's form of game action.

Here's Don's game story from last night. Thank you Don.

No word yet on Jarrod Washburn and the status of his calf. But if he were to miss a start, fellow lefty Ryan Feierabend is on basically the same work schedule as Washburn.

The Rainiers got a late win last night.

I'm sure you've probably heard about Bob Nightengale's story in today's USA TODAY about Ken Griffey Jr. eventually coming home to the Mariners. If you haven't, click here to read it. It's an interesting and somewhat expected story from all parties involved. I'm hoping to talk with Chuck Armstrong today about his comments in the story.

The question remains is this: What would you give up to get junior? I mean let's face it, he's 38-years-old, he doesn't hit or field like he once did. He certainly doesn't command a top flight prospect. Another thing to remember is this, the Reds have an option for one more year for Griffey, but they would have to pay $16 million for next season. I don't see them doing that, so he would then become a free agent and most likely sign with the Mariners anyway.

What would you do? Who would you be willing to give up?

UPDATE 5:11 -- Also in response to Bob Nightengale's story, the Cincy Enquirer had this story.

The also had this story as well.

We also tried to get Chuck Armstrong to talk about it, but he has owners meetings all day. However, he did tell the media director that the conversation was relatively innocent and he wasn't trying to plant any seeds for a possible move, because that is illegal.

Anyway, I re-read the Nightengale story and it's a good story, but really didn't we hear all this same stuff, last time he was here?

Here's some more links...

After 25 games here's what Buster Olney writes about all the team's issues, here's what he said about the Mariners issues and solutions...

SEATTLE MARINERS

Problem: They're not hitting.

Solution: They may ask Jose Vidro to go to Triple-A at some point, or perhaps cut him altogether, and they've tried to install Jeff Clement into their lineup as a designated hitter. As we sit here today, there is one very obvious solution that could serve as an upgrade for either the Detroit Tigers or the Mariners and their hitting problems: Barry Lamar Bonds, who is sitting at home by a silent phone. But the Mariners reportedly have no interest. If Wladimir Balentien can't establish himself in right field, you wonder if Seattle will pick up past threads of Griffey trade talks.

* Ervin Santana won again yesterday to move to 6-0 along with teammate Joe Saunders, making them the first pitchers in the same rotation to start 6-0 since John Burkett and some guy named Pedro Martinez.

UPDATE:
Jarrod Washburn said his calf would be okay, he says it's not as bad as when he pulled it last time. And he even didn't mind when I made fun of the fact that he barely had calves. I didn't say, "are those your legs, or are you riding a chicken," but he even acknowledged to have some skinny legs.

"There isn't a lot of muscle there, but just enough to pull," he said. "If I shaved them, they'd look pretty good."

Categories: General 8 comments


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.
E-mail Ryan.

Larry LaRue, who has covered the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball for The News Tribune since 1988, is taking some time off for personal reasons.

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