Game Recap — 5/11/2010

Nothing like seeing Baltimore on the schedule to cheer up a blue Mariners fan. They are really bad. And yesterday, we looked really good. It appears the team is rallying around the Griffey story and if that’s what it takes to come together, then I’m all for it.

The quick analysis is Cliff did his thing, the Tacoma bats continued their hot hitting, and the M’s took care of business in efficient fashion. Speaking of those Tacoma bats, Langerhans, Wilson, and Saunders combined to go 5-11 with a homer, 2 RBI, and 9 total bases. I especially love seeing Michael Saunders play well, because left field is a position of need for the M’s. If his early success continues, we may look back and point to his call up from Tacoma as the turning point in this season.

Cliff Lee is fun to watch. I love his first pitch strikes. I love how fast he works. I love that he doesn’t walk batters. I love his cool demeanor. I love you Cliff. Now, please engage in the following conversation, because I’ve had this dream a couple times already.

Jack Z: Hey Cliff, thanks for coming in, take a seat.
Cliff: Whats up?
Jack Z: Well, I noticed your contract is up at year’s end and, well, let’s see if we can’t figure something out to keep you a Mariner a little while longer.
Cliff: Hmm, I usually don’t do this type of thing mid-season, but I sure love being part of baseball’s best 1-2 punch. Awe heck, let’s bang something out.
Jack Z: Perfect. How about 3 years, 52 million.
Cliff: That is generous, but 55 million has a better ring to it. Deal?
Jack Z: Deal! Now, excuse me while I go get you some bats. I hear Mauer is available, let’s see what Minnesota thinks of Rob Johnson.

Then I wake up from my dream.

Some more quick notes and hero/goat after the jump!

  • I wonder how different this team would be if Josh Wilson were the everyday shortstop, and Jack backed him up. I guess we would see less spectacular defensive plays, but Josh has some pop, and would surely hit a few more homers than Jack. I guess what I’m saying is, Josh is a solid back up, and what he lacks defensively he makes up at the plate. Whichever J Wilson is at short, I feel good about that spot.
  • Seattle started the year with a bench that included Byrnes and Tui, instead of Langerhans and Josh Wilson. It is easy to look back and wonder what Wak was thinking, based on how well Langerhans and Wilson have performed, but I still understand his reasoning. It was worth seeing if Byrnes could regain his ’08 form, and it felt like Tui might be on the verge of breaking out. He still may, but it obviously didn’t happen in April. Byrnes didn’t exactly regain his old form either.
  • I always hear that first base is an under rated position, and you can’t just stick anyone there and think he will succeed. I understand that argument, but also we have seen Kotchman, Figgins, Langerhans, and Tui all play first base this year, and Lopez played some last year. Seems like a pretty easy learning curve over there.
  • I have a man crush on Michael Saunders. There, I said it. It’s out there.

    Hero: Cliff Lee. I’ll take 7.1 innings of 1 run ball every time. 3rd consecutive start with 0 walks. It’s getting to the point where I am legitimately surprised when teams score off Lee.
    Goat: Jose Lopez. Lopey was 0-5 in the clean-up spot.

    Game 2 today at 4:05 pm. Rowland-Smith vs. Bergesen. Come on Hyphen, time to get back on track!

    All hail the T-town boys!

    -Dan

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  • 3 Comments

    Filed under M's Game Recaps, Mariners

    3 responses to “Game Recap — 5/11/2010

    1. jessica

      did you really have that dream?

    2. Joe Loughery

      Saunders is a stud. I love the guy too… Langerhans and Josh Wilson are high on my list as well. They all play hard and within themselves.

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