NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners’ blogger Jeff Budke talks about the Seattle Mariners trends and aberrations of the young season. With Felix Hernandez on the mound, you can expect a low scoring output by the opposing team. But you can normally expect one from the M’s too. That wasn’t the case Monday night. The M’s exploded for 7 runs, including HR’s by Kyle Seager, Kendrys Morales, and Jesus Montero. Maybe the tides are turning for the SS Mariner.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the fifteenth game of the season versus the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have a pretty impressive offensive lineup Jeff states, but he also says that the worst may not be here yet. He’s talking about the next two pitchers the M’s will face; Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Ex Mariner deck hand Doug Fister took it to the M’s Tuesday night, leaving the fans wondering why exactly Jack Z made that trade.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the fourteenth game of the season versus the Texas Rangers. Jeff points out the bad. There are too many players on this team slugging their batting average or close to it. It is a terrible thing. He points out the good. Felix Hernandez pitched irregularly poor, but then Hisashi Iwakuma pitched a gem on Friday, and Joe Saunders is making me look foolish, and now Brandon Maurer bounced back.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the eleventh game of the season versus the Texas Rangers. Jeff points out Franklin Gutierrez continued his good start with another lead-off HR, his fourth of the year and third leading off. Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero each had two hits, unfortunately they were not when the team needed them most with the bases loaded and less than 2-outs, but at least they got hits Thursday. It’s a start right?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the tenth game of the season versus the Houston Astros. Jeff points out pitching is a major problem with this M’s team right now. He says a pitcher should be evaluated over time, perhaps every month within a season, but it is hard to avoid that when Brandon Maurer & then Blake Beavan put the bullpen and the offense in bad positions playing with different mindsets. Is Aaron Harang the answer?
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the fourth game of the season versus the Oakland Athletics. Jeff points out the offensive production is hiding behind the power of Mike Morse, but it stinks like years past all the same. Power is often assimilated with the third spot in the lineup, which is absolutely something DH/OF Raul Ibanez possesses, but this is not a good place for him writes Jeff.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the second game of the season versus the Oakland Athletics. Jeff points out that leadoff hits and two-out rallies were key in the 7-1 victory. Hisashi Iwakuma also had a great showing, along with Michael Saunders and Kyle Seager. If there’s anything to not like, it’s Yoenis Cespedes. But in this case, hate equals respect.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jeff Budke reports on the first game of the season versus the Oakland Athletics. The Headline: Felix Hernandez shines as the Mariners win their 7th straight opening day game. Jeff points out the bullpen, Charlie Furbush, Pryor, and Tom Wilhelmsen surrendered two walks in only 1.1 IP. That trend cannot continue, because hits will come too. Next game check out Michael Morse and his really strange batting stretch-thing.
NWSB Writer Bryant Knox recaps what went right for the Portland Trail Blazers in their Saturday night matchup against the Houston Rockets. The final score was 95-85 in Portland’s favor, and there were a handful of keys to the victory that the team must use against the Dallas Mavericks Monday night. Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and the rest of the starting lineup made up for the team’s inadequacies off the bench, Damian Lillard showed poise in his third career game.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the third game of the series versus the Oakland Athletics. The Headline: an eight inning collapse by the bullpen gives the A’s life, as they complete their sweep of the Mariners. Seattle hangs tough all day with strong starting pitching, but the bullpen blows it in the final frames of the game. Michael Saunders batting sixth. Miguel Olivo at DH and Jesus Montero at catcher. Bizarre lineup.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the third game of the series versus the Los Angeles Angels. The Headline: John Jaso leads the way as the Mariners dominate on all sides of the field, avoid sweep. Strong nights from Jaso and Iwakuma help seal another Mariners win. Unfortunately, a running catch by Gutierrez knocks him out of the game.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the third game of the series versus the Texas Rangers. The Headline: the Mariners drop this one by a hair, and though the failed to complete the sweep they still win the series. The Mariners do everything to put themselves in a position to win, but can’t follow through. The biggest complaint, it all feels too normal at this point.
