From Stem to Stern: So Much Baseball In Such a Short Time

The Mariners and Indians played 4 games in the past 2 and half days. It’s the kind of stretch that is really tough on any pitching staff. This one was especially tough on the Indian’s pitching staff as the M’s pounded out 7, 11, 17 and 16 hits in the four games. It was was the type of offensive outburst that Seattle fans have been waiting to see for a few years now. The Mariners won 3 out of 4, and could have easily won the other game, as they took a lead into the bottom of the 9th in that game.

Captain: Kyle Seager (10 of 13 (.769) with 5 doubles and 1 HR, and he only played in 3 of the 4 games)
Walkin the Plank: Brendan Ryan (4 errors and at least 2 other players that he should have made but didn’t)
Impressive: Ichiro Suzuki (8 of 19 (.419) with a HR and 3 IBB.)
Depressing: Anthony Vasquez (AA and Tacoma stats made him look like the next young dominant starter. Stats aren’t always everything. He wasn’t very unimpressive and can’t even hit 90 mph with his fastball)

Series Notes:

• Brendan Ryan’s poor defensive play was one of the few bad things about this series. He had 4 errors and at least 2 other plays that he should have made but didn’t. The poor defensive play in the series opener likely cost the M’s a win in the second game, as the extra pitches required by Brandon League to get the save undoubtedly hurt his effectiveness in the next game.
• The Indian’s chose to intentionally walk Ichiro 3 times. Clearly they need different people creating scouting reports, as Ichiro has been having a terrible season (terrible for him at least) while the Franklin Gutierrez, who hits right behind Ichiro, has been swinging a very hot bat recently.
• Kyle Seager is finally starting to hit. He hit at every level in the minors, but was rushed past AAA too quickly to be expected to hit at this level right away. It looks like he’s made the adjustment and is starting to really come around. If Seager can continue to hit, it only does good things for the M’s both this season, and in the offseason.
• Wily Mo Pena has scary power. He was swing essentially one handed because his other hand hurt and hit a home run over the center field wall. He also had a pop up off the end of his bat that almost went out, as it flew 391 feet to right center field before being dropped on the warning track.
• Despite all the scoring, the M’s still left 39 men on base in this series. They also had 51 hits and 12 walks 5 HBP, so there were plenty of base runners for the Mariners in this series.
• When playing 4 games in 2 and a half days, the starting pitching has to be good otherwise it will get really ugly really fast. This is especially true early and in the series, and in the finale once the bullpen is taxed. The Mariners got exactly what they needed in this respect. Jason Vargas threw 7 innings in the opener with 0 ER, Blake Beavan threw 6 innings in the morning game of the double header. Felix Hernandez completed the series by throwing 6 innings today. That is exactly what the M’s needed to survive this stretch.
• Tomorrow’s off-day could not have come at a better time. The M’s used every bullpen pitcher on the roster in the last 2 days. During the series Chance Ruffin, Brandon League and Jamey Wright all appeared in multiple games. Plus, Dan Cortes hurt his ankle and had to be placed on the DL. With Michael Pineda and Charlie Furbush, who have both been inconsistent lately and occationlly don’t get very far into their starts, due to pitch this weekend, the M’s bullpen was in desperate need of a rest day.
• A trio of the M’s players hit so well in this series that their season averages took a huge jump. Check out the table below if you want to be amazed.