Back to our losing ways
After an impressive week through Detroit and Toronto, the Seattle Mariners hit a snag in the sunshine state. Getting swept in a four game series by the Tampa Bay Rays.
In total, the M’s lost five in a row, before turning it around and winning the final two games of the home stand against the Minnesota Twins.
This up and down roller coaster of a season so far is enough to make one sick. It’s still very early, and there is a lot of young talent that isn’t used to being on the field day in and day out, but something’s gotta give here soon.
Either let’s win ball games, or let’s be the bottom feeders that we are known to be.
With that, I give you my top ten.
10: A sweep in the opposite direction
As noted above, the M’s were swept by the Rays in four games. This comes a week after the M’s swept Detroit on the road at Comerica. This game is a tough one to digest sometimes.
9: The fish is back
After a stint on the DL, and a rehab assignment in AAA Tacoma, Mariners LF Mike Carp was finally called back up to the team. Carp’s power will make a huge impact on the club, if he can produce on a regular basis that is.
8: Shawn Kelley gets the call up too
After being optioned to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers after the opening weekend in Japan, reliever Shawn Kelley got the call up over the weekend to help with the ailing bullpen.
Hopefully he can help combat against the blown leads that we have been accustomed to giving up recently. For more info on this story, check out my article on the move here.
7: Introducing the worlds most expensive back up player
In a move that will make all of us fans happy, management finally gave the go ahead to bench the over paid, and underperforming Chone Figgins.
After lineup swaps, position moves, and just about everything else management could do to make Figgins more comfortable, they finally gave up on him. Maybe a DFA is in his future too.
6: Eric Wedge juggling lineup again
In a never ending quest to find the right combination of players for the starting nine, M’s skipper Eric Wedge has had his hands full the first five weeks of the season.
He’s finally finding some power at certain spots, but not on a very consistent level.
5: Getting ready for the Rockies
In an effort to continue their mastery over the national league, the M’s pitchers have been taking some BP in the cages before games. The M’s visit the Colorado Rockies on the 18th for a three game set.
4: Felix gets some support. Again.
For the second time in a week and a half, Felix Hernandezgot the run support he needed to cash in on his one hit gem. The M’s lit up the Twins for seven runs. Way more than enough for Felix on this outing, but still a nice sight to see.
3: Emergen C
It was learned this weekend that in case of emergency, middle infielder Munenori Kawasaki can, and will, be able to put on the battery to catch a few frames if needed.
2: Olivo goes down
In yet another injury news story, C Miguel Olivo was sent to the 15 day DL, opening up room for free agent signee John Jaso to finally get some time behind the plate. Jaso and Jesus Montero will platoon at the position during Olivo’s DL stay.
1: The great Smoak out
A player that was supposed to be the power of the future, Justin Smoak has now found himself on the short end of the lineup. Eric Wedge has dropped him into a role that is normally occupied by a middle infielder, not a power hitting 1B.
So there it is boys and girls, another week, and another lack luster performance by your Mariners.
One day soon, we will be able to relish in looking back on victories instead of losses. At least I hope we can.
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