It wasn't just a four day blizzard that kept the M's from playing the last week. The team was also held back by almost every one of its new offseason acquisitions. Now before I start individually picking on each fresh Mariner (oh, and I intend to), I should point out that few, if any, Mariners are off to a great start in '07, and also that it's difficult to judge a whole season by only one cycle through our starting rotation... but isn't that what blogs do best?2-2 in four games isn't awful, but it's not phenomenal either and only a blizzard kept us from finishing five innings of no-hit baseball last Friday in Cleveland.
I realize nobody but Ichiro's producing so far, but let's have a look at the stat lines of our new Mariners, shall we?
Jose Vidro - 1 hit in 15, 1 walk, no rbi's, no runs, nada...
Jose Guillen - 2 hits in 12, 2 runs, no rbi's, 1 walk, 6 k's
I realize that we've only got Ichiro, Ibanez and Sexon (yes even Sexon) above the Mendoza line so far this year, but a combined average of .100 for our new golden boys?
Pitching, though, right? That's where we invested our payroll! Okay, so how about our new boys in the 'pen?
Sean White - 2.70 in 3+ innings with a k, okay...
Brandon Morrow - 9.00 in 2 with 3 walks
Chris Reitsma - 4.5 in 2 with a k...
Okay what abour Rhodes? Oh, right, sent down on the DL. His replacement?
Jake Woods - 13.5 in 2 with 3 walks... um...
Okay, so forget the 'pen. They'll come around. How about those three new starters we put money in, huh?
Miguel Batista - 15.43 ERA in 4.2 innings with 5 k's, 2 walks and a bean, okay...
Horacio Ramirez - 9.00 ERA in 4 innings... wait... wipe that, snowed out...
Jeff Weaver - 31.50 ERA in 2 innings with 2 walks and a k
So, what's the good news, then, huh?
Well, Jamie Burke hasn't commited an error in 2 innings of work behind the plate and last minute acquisition Jason Ellison is batting 1.000! So that should bring our team average up to...
.167
So, here's hoping tonight's headline begins: "Ichiro and Dice-K Square Off" and ends with "King Felix Dominates, Ichiro Homers Twice"
Let's shake it up, Mariners! We've got some baseball to play!
Line of the Week:
It just has to go to Felix's last start...
8.0 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 12 k's
Bust of the Week:
So many choices, but I'd have to pick yesterday with World Series Champ Jeff Weaver...
2.0 innings, 7 hits, 7 runs, 2 walks, 1 k
He managed 38 strikes in 70 pitches and remember, hits count as strikes.
