Mariners Blanked to End Year

I couldn't wait to get out of their fast enough, it is really frustrating.  Yesterday was bad, but today we only managed TWO measly hits the entire game.  TWO.  We also had 3 walks, but 11 strikeouts.  It feels like the players couldn't wait for the season to end fast enough so they could go fishing.

Athletics (73-88)

Crisp CF

Taylor LF

Weeks 2B

Willingham DH

Sizemore 3B

Carter 1B

Miller RF

Powell C

Rosales SS

Gonzalez (15-12, 3.25)

Mariners (67-94)

Ichiro RF

Robinson CF

Ackley 2B

Smoak 1B

Carp LF

Kennedy DH

Liddi 3B

Seager SS

Giminez C

Vasquez (1-5, 8.89)

I'm not going to talk much about the game. The Athletics scored the lone runs of the game via a 2 run homer to right center by Miller.  Vasquez never impressed me, I would be surprised if he makes the club next year.  And that was the ballgame... even though we were only down 2 runs it just wasn't going to happen today.  Horrible way to end the season, being shut out the final two games.  20,173 hard core baseball fans were there for the final one this year.

Ichiro failed to get above 200 hits for the first time in his ML career, ending 184, a .272 BA, and a pathetic .310 OBP.  He is now 37 and his numbers will continue to decline.  He's only got one more year on the contract and then it is sayonara and we can finally get a real lead off hitter. 

It was a tough first year without Dave Niehaus.  But we're getting younger, we've got a new Manager in Eric Wedge that I believe is competent, and some exciting players to watch.  Ackley is going to be solid.  Pineda is young, if he develops a third pitch he'll be locked in the two spot for years.  Carp, did he finally have a breakthrough after years in the Minors?  Will Smoak match his potential?  So many questions, and after a sometimes frustrating year I am optimistic about 2012.  We're definitely turning this franchise around, you can see it.

Here's to next year!!

Mariners Appreciate Fans With Another Loss

Tonight was not as good of a pitching performance, for either team.  It was fan appreciation night for 22.159 in attendance, but the Mariners couldn't put together a good pitching performance, and despite the six runs they scored they only got one runner on base past the 5th inning.

Rangers (86-65)

Kinsler 2B

Andrus SS

Hamilton LF

Young 1B

Beltre 3B

Napoli C

Cruz DH

Murphy RF

Gentry CF

Lewis (12-10, 4.29)

Mariners (63-87)

Ichiro RF

Seager 3B

Ackley 2B

Carp 1B

Kennedy DH

Bard C

Ryan SS

Robinson LF

Saunders CF

Vasquez (1-3, 7.29)

Vasquez was never in it, struggling from the beginning.  He only went 3 plus innings, giving up two hits in the first and second innings (including a run in the 2nd).  Then, it pretty much fell apart in the 3rd inning.  To lead off the inning Vasquez gave up back to back home runs to Andrus and Hamilton, then another solo shot to Beltre that traveled 408 feet.  This was after the Mariners had scored 4 runs of their own in the 2nd inning.  They enjoyed their 4-1 lead for only a few minutes.  After starting the 4th inning with a walk, Vasquez was pulled for Gray.  But he himself struggled and the Rangers scored another 3 runs in the inning to go up 7-4.  Carp made it interesting in the 5th with a 2 run homer of his own, to pull the Mariners within 1 run at 7-6.  But there the score remained.  The Mariners were lucky to escape without giving up more runs.  Let's take a look at the Rangers' box score, everyone contributed.  They left 10 men on base, the damage could have been so much worse.

Kinsler:  BB, R
Andrus: 1B, HR, RBI, 2 R
Hamilton: 3H, 2B, HR, 3RBI, R
Young: 2 BB, 1B, SAC, RBI
Beltre: HR, RBI, R
Napoli: 2 2B
Cruz: 1B
Murphy: BB, 1B, R
Gentry: 1B, RBI

On a historic note, Ichiro passed Mantle with his RBI base hit in the 2nd inning.  He now has 2,416 base hits for his ML career.  Never thought I would talk about Mantle in the same sentence as Ichiro.  This will be the last time.

I would also like to add that this is the second year in a row that nobody from my seating section has won a prize.

The roof was closed in the bottom of the 8th.
They are now  17-21 when I attend.

Sun Double

My first day game of the year, I generally don't like going to them because they take up the whole day!  But, it was a mild enough time.  We were sheltered from the heat by the sound and shade.

Royals 61-86

Gordon LF

Cabrera CF

Butler DH

Hosmer 1B

Francoeur RF

Navarro 3B

Pena C

Getz 2B

Escobar SS

Teaford P

Mariners 61-84

Ichiro Rf

Ryan SS

Ackley 2B

Carp LF

Smoak 1B

Olivo C

Wells CF

Bard C

Liddi 3B

Vasquez P

Teaford made his first ML start and lasted 5 innings... he only had 73 pitches but they had him on a pitch count, no doubt, 'cause he was rolling along.  He ended his day by striking out three batters in the 5th, and sandwiching a BB in there.  He had 3 total hits, 1 walk, and 1 WP with 5 Ks, and picked up the 2-1 win.

It was more fine pitching and offensive ineptitude as the Mariners scored just 1 run on 6 hits.  The most exciting moment of the game was when Rookie Steve Delabar made his ML Debut in the 9th inning.  Just a few months ago he was a substitute pitcher and in Class A.  Only baseball can provide you feel good stories like that.  He threw a perfect inning, striking out the last two batters.

As I say a lot, there is always something interesting that happens at every game.  Today was the sun double that the Royals hit in the 3rd inning to left.  Gordon hit a ball that Carp couldn't find.  It was a pivotal moment of the game as Escobar scored the first run of the game and Vasquez had been cruising along.  When half of your run total comes from a ball lost in the sky, you have to call yourself fortunate, and for the Mariners unlucky.

Went to Hit It Here Cafe, food was pretty good
Mariners are now 16-19 when I attend.
Att: 20,951