NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Brandon Choate gives us his weekly M’s pitching breakdown in the arms under the spotlight segment. Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma are pacing the other startes while Tom Wilhelmsen has been perfect in closingh situations. Kameron Loe and Brandon Maurer on the other hand would like to start this season over already. Loe is a Cub, now we get Aaron Harang, we’ll see how he does.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the second week of the year had to be Felix Hernandez striking out David Murphy for the 1,500th strikeout of his career. We are now on to milestone watch number two for Felix, his 100th win. The strikeout plateau is nice, but this game boils down to wins, and Felix’s next will be number 100. But until then, let us bask in the glory of Felix for a moment, and hope this season bring a lot more wins and strikeouts for the man.
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 Jonathan Irwin reports on the 2012 American League West division. Wrapping up the end of the season, the unlikeliest of teams takes away the AL West crown. The division will be well represented in October, with the Rangers and As making it to the postseason.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the twenty-fifth week of the year had to be the diving stop by Kyle Seager to not only save a run, but throw out Michael Young as well. On a 0-1 pitch, Jason Vargas threw on off speed pitch to Young who drilled it into the ground for a one hopper to short. Seager dives for the ball, looks back Ian Kinsler at third, and throws a strike to first to retire Young, maintaining the 0-0 tie.
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.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup between the Texas Tangers vs. M’s in Seattle for Game 147. The pitching matchup features Rangers RH Martin Perez (1-1 3.48 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (6-4, 3.39 ERA). Iwakuma is looking to bounce back from poor outings in his last 2 games.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson reports on the Mariners series matchup between the M’s vs. Texas Rangers from Arlington in Game 145. The pitching matchup features Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (6-4, 3.39 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (14-9, 4.14). They went against each other six times in Japan and were teammates on the Japanese team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on the 2012 American League West division. Since June 12th, the A’s are 30-12. In that time they’ve lost just two series, while sweeping twice—including a series against the New York Yankees. It’s been a rough week for Texas Rangers pitchers. Undergoing surgery to repair his forearm, Colby Lewis (6-6, 3.43 ERA) will be out for the rest of the season. The M’s are on fire.
Steve Lee profiles one of the Northwests own, Ryan Dempster of the Texas Rangers, but before that the Chicago Cubs. Born and raised in Schelt British Columbia. He’s the second winningest pitcher in Canadian Major League Baseball history, and Dempster is a prime example of the Maple Leaf talent that has recently found its way into the elite ranks of professional baseball,
NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Jonathan Irwin asks the important question tonight have the M’s turned the franchise corner? Yes, if their last 5 wins mean anything it is hope. Never underestimate hope, especially in a season as disappointing as this one. Michael Saunders, Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager and Jesus Montero. These are big names.
