Tuesday, May 22, 2001 (L: MIN 12 - SEA 11 32-12)

Yuck. Another ugly game tonight, as Paul Abbott gave up eight runs in only 2.2 innings. The M's made it exciting with 4 runs in the top of the 9th, the first 2 charged to Minnesota's setup man, "everyday Eddie" Guardado. Twins closer LaTroy Hawkins struggled, letting in both runners he inherited from Guardado, then giving up 2 more runs of his own before he struck out Mark McLemore to end the game. Final score: Minnesota 12, Seattle 11.

Minnesota is now only a game and a half back of the M's. (And, they're only one game back in the loss column. I've never understood why the loss column matters to anybody. Isn't it just an excuse to be lazy and not figure out how many "real" games a team is back of another? I've heard it's because "You can never get a loss back," but you can't "lose a win" either, right? Can anybody explain this?)

This game didn't look like the two best teams in the majors, as Minnesota almost blew two huge leads. Brad Radke, trying to become the first pitcher in the majors to eight wins, didn't make it through the 5th. Former Mariner Bob Wells picked up the win in relief.

Olympian Ryan Franklin pitched 3-1/3 innings of shutout relief to allow the M's offense to get back in the game. I like this kid.

With the bases loaded in the 7th, Piniella outsmarted Minnesota manager Tom Kelly, sending Al Martin out on deck to lure Kelly into calling for Guardado to replace Wells. When Kelly went to Wells, Piniella countered with David Bell. Piniella is like a chess player, always 2 steps ahead of the opposing manager. What Kelly didn't know is that Martin is likely out for at least another week with a concussion. David Bell then crushed a pitch from Guardado about 30 feet foul of being a home run before flying out.

You can't judge a manager for the results; only for the method. Remember, given the same situation five times, the very best hitters only succeed 1 time more often than the worst. It's up to the manager to maximize opportunity.

There was an interesting article in today's Times about Ichiro's monthly batting averages from his years in Japan. His worst two months were August (.343) and September (.323). Not exactly Mario Mendoza, but a bit worrisome, since the MLB season is 27 games longer than the season in Japan. Also, although I've read stories that said Ichiro was surprised by the ease of the Cactus League, he is quoted in the article as saying, "If I was in top condition on the first day [of the Japanese season], I would be tired by the end of season" because he never had to battle for a position. The article also had some smack talk from Jim Colborn, the first-year pitching coach for the Dodgers, who scouted and helped sign Ichiro for the M's, which reminds me that I need to buy tickets for the M's visit to Chavez Ravine in June. I live a lot closer to Dodger Stadium than the "Big Ed" in Anaheim. Plus, most of my friends down here are big Dodger fans; none of them care too much about the Angels. Colborn, who turns 55 today, thinks he knows some secrets on how to get Ichiro out, but he's not telling us what they are.

The All-Star game sold out today in 40 minutes. I forgot to try to buy tickets from work. Scalpers are already asking $1500 for a $275 ticket. I guess I won't make it.

The M's hope to earn a split of the 2-game series tomorrow afternoon.

Although I try to avoid discussion of politics here, an editorial in today's LA Times caught my eye, and I thought I'd pass it along. The Taliban government in Afghanistan has recently started cracking down on all things "against the will of God." This includes things like shaving, women's rights of any sort, and drug use. It's this last prohibition that has earned the respect of the Bush administration, who announced last week that they would give the Taliban $43 million to help them fight the drug war. The author, Robert Scheer points out that this gift runs counter to the U.N. sanctions against Afghanistan, which the U.S. requested to help persuade the Taliban to stop protecting terrorist Osama bin Laden, whose organization attacked U.S. embassies in 1998.

Now, I'm sure that the Bush administration understands much more than I do about the situation, and I'd love to see heroin eliminated from American cities, but I don't like seeing our U.S. government circumvent U.N. sanctions against terrorists because they feel the war on drugs is more important than the war on terrorism. In addition, we seem to be encouraging the repression of human rights with this money. In the next couple years, thousands of Afghan citizens' lives will likely be taken by the fundamentalist Taliban. What makes our drug users' lives more valuable than their citizens' lives?

I'm probably wrong. Three years from now, heroin prices will probably be so high that there will no longer be addicts on the streets. Hopefully, the Taliban government will see the financial value in American friendship and hand over Bin Laden next week. I just think this is a big risk, like signing Mo Vaughn to a 6-year contract (and having to try to replace him with 38-year old Wally Joyner, like the Angels are doing this year). Like Lou Piniella vs. Tom Kelly, we should maximize our opportunities to do good in the world, and not get single minded tunnel vision that blinds us to other options. Let's just hope if we did make a mistake, the Taliban will pull the ball 30 feet foul and fly out on the next pitch.

See, I was just trying to show the lessons that baseball teaches us with this political example. I'll try to avoid politics on this blog from now on. Go M's.

P.S. Changing the date manually to 2001 did screw up some things, so I'm going to switch the dates back and let blogger keep thinking it's 2004.

Monday, May 21, 2001

Off day today.

Tomorrow brings in the mighty Twins, 2.5 games back in the AL standings.

Even after the series loss to the Yankees over the weekend, the M's current pace has them finishing the season 121-41, which would be a new record.

Brett Tomko was sent down to Tacoma yesterday; the M's called up Ed Sprague from Tacoma. They needed an extra bat off the bench after Al Martin's concussion Saturday.

All-Star game tickets go on sale tomorrow.

A humorous note in the paper today:

Chicago first baseman Julio Zuleta, a big fan of "Major League" movie character Pedro Serrano [sic], used chicken bones, fruit, burning newspapers and other assorted items on the Cubs' bats Saturday, and the offense has been on fire ever since. "We had nothing to lose," Zuleta said. "The bats got hot, and everyone started hitting."

I loved Cerrano and his Jobu voodoo; "Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come." What ever happened to that actor anyways? I know he was also in "Mr. Baseball," with Tom Selleck, and the "Major League" sequels, but he's disappeared since then.

President Bush held his first T-ball game at the White House yesterday, as two teams of 4- to 8-year olds battled it out on the South Lawn. Think what you want about the president, but he holds the important distinction of being the first Little Leaguer to ever become president.

And, yes, that other guy playing MLB.com's Beat the Streak game continued his streak through the weekend, so I'm no longer tied for first. I did get my name in an MLB.com article though. That was pretty cool.

A slight change in the format of the blog; I finally figured out how to fix the glitch that kept dating my entries from 2004. I'm not sure how that will affect my Atom Feed, (which you can add to My Yahoo!) so I may switch it back.

Sunday, May 20, 2001 (W: SEA 6 - NYY 2 32-11)

The M's won 6-2 today, as Aaron Sele improved his record to 6-0, and the M's handed aging Roger Clemens his first loss of the season.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Clemens threw 12 straight balls, loading the bases, which Bret Boone quickly emptied with a double. Clemens eventually settled down and went 7 innings before being relieved by Friday's starter, Ted Lilly (who only threw 47 pitches in 1.1 innings two nights ago).

Odd play in the 4th, as Alfonso Soriano reached on an 8-6 double play fielder's choice. I'll let the Times article explain it:

With one out and Posada on second and Scott Brosius at first, Soriano hit a line drive to center fielder Mike Cameron. Cameron dropped the ball, but threw to shortstop Carlos Guillen, who tagged Posada out and touched second to force out Brosius.

This is a great example for all you little league coaches (and frustrated husbands) who need a way to explain how the infield fly rule actually reduces confusion among players.

Since it's Sunday, coverage was a little more extensive in this morning's paper.

There were a couple mentions in the Times about Gil Meche's rehab. The M's expect him to return as soon as August! Remember, no pitcher has ever returned from labrum surgery, so don't hold your breath.

There's another article about the M's single-A minor league team in San Bernardino, and how much worse they are this year compared to last year, juxtaposing players such as Willie Bloomquist, who hit .379 last year, and Justin Leone, who is only hitting .166 for the Stampede this year. A poor minor league season can end the career of a young kid; luckily for guys like Leone, the whole team is hitting poorly, so maybe he'll get another chance. The article does point to some rising stars in pitchers Rafael Soriano, a converted outfielder, and Julio Mateo, both of whom have 3.48 ERA's in a hitter's league.

There was a note today in Larry Stone's article that mentioned Baltimore trying to trade for a young third baseman. I wonder if Ripken will retire this year; if he does, his last game will be in New York on September 30th. I wonder if tickets are still available. I've never been to Yankee Stadium.

Although I try not to predict the future much on this blog, I predict that 3 years from now, there will be a very entertaining blog called "Mariner Musings," detailing the heroics of the M's 2004 season, as they go for their fourth straight World Series championship. Thanks for the kind words about this "happy place" Peter. You sent my hit counter into double digits, and I spent all day watching it rise.

Saturday, May 19, 2001 (L: NYY 2-SEA 1 31-11)

Sasaki's back!!!

I still hate the Yankees!!!

Jamie Moyer was great tonight, facing one over the minimum in 7 innings (a Jeter single was his only blemish). Rhodes was electric in the 8th.

M's up, 1-0 in the 9th, Kazuhiro came in for his first appearance in six days, gave up a one out bloop single to Soriano, followed by a flyout. Then Kazu decided, "I just wanted to get [Jeter] out, I wasn't concerned about the runner at all," so Soriano stole 2nd, stole 3rd, and scored on a Jeter single.

That was the tying run Sasaki ignored! And, once Soriano got to third, Kazu couldn't throw the forkball in the dirt, so he hung one to Jeter up in the zone.

Then, in the 10th, Bernie Williams hit a leadoff double off Sasaki, and later scored on a groundout that could have been turned into a double play to end the inning.

To be honest, I think Kazu blew the save intentionally, trying to get his countryman Ichiro another at bat to try to continue his hitting streak, after El Duque plunked him in the 8th. Ichiro grounded out in the bottom of the 10th, ending his streak at 23 games, one short of Joey Cora's team record.

And, if you've been reading this blog, you'll realize that means my Beat the Streak entry at MLB.com has now ended. I've been tied for first, so I'll check in the morning to see if the guy I've been tied with also failed to get a hit. Is there an MLB.com interview jinx (kind of like the Sports Illustrated cover jinx)?

Tonight's game also guarantees the M's will lose the series, only the 2nd time it has happened all year.

Still no word on where Kazu's been for most of the week.

There was a scary moment in the top of the first, when Al Martin took a Carlos Guillen knee to the head making a diving catch to end the inning. He only suffered a mild concussion, and as my high school football coach once told me, "The most important thing is he held onto the ball." Sounds like Martin will be ok. We'll know he isn't if he starts telling crazy football stories.

Sele vs. Clemens tomorrow afternoon in the series finale.

Friday, May 18, 2001 (L: NYY 14-SEA 10 31-10)

Well, at least Ichiro continued his hit streak. It's now 23, tying his personal best, from Japan, and one short of the Mariners' team record. It was also his 7th straight multi-hit game!

I hate the Yankees. Can I say that? I was beginning to think that this blog was the M's secret weapon, and they couldn't lose as long as I was posting. Boy was I wrong!

John Halama got spanked. Boy am I glad we gave up Randy Johnson for this guy!!! Of course, Randy will break down in a year or so, and Garcia, Halama, and Guillen will be well on their way to the Hall of Fame. But, I do miss the Randy of 1995 on nights like this. Can you believe it was almost 11 years ago Randy pitched that no-hitter against Detroit? Mike Heath struck out for the final out. The M's lineup that day was:

2B Harold Reynolds
LF Henry Cotto
1B Alvin Davis
DH Jeffrey Leonard
CF Ken Griffey, Jr.
3B Edgar Martinez
RF Jay Buhner
C Scott Bradley
SS Mike Brumley

For all the crap Randy gets for having an inconsistent beginning of his career, 1990 was really only his 2nd full major league season, and he was only 26!

Enough about the past. Tino Martinez was the star tonight, going 4-5 with a HR, 4 RBI, and 3 runs (remember when he was with the Mariners in 1995? That was a great season! Oh sorry...back to 2001). I feel guilty. I still root for Tino, even though he's with the Yankees. I just wish he played for the D-Rays or somebody, so I could root for him and know his team would still lose.

Halama gave up 7 runs in 3 innings. Then Tomko came in and gave up 6 more in 3 innings. At least we didn't give up anybody good to get Tomko! Ryan Franklin, Olympic Hero, pitched strongly for the final 3 innings, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits.

In the 2nd inning, Olerud was hit in the head by NY starter Ted Lilly's final pitch. Joe Torre then pulled Lilly for Ramiro Mendoza who threw 4.2 innings for the win.

David Bell sat out tonight with a sore knee. He's day-to-day after an MRI.

Although Luis Sojo (there I go again with the '95 M's references) didn't play tonight for the Yankees, he announced he will be holding the Luis Sojo All-Star Gala on July 9 at the DV8, the night before the All-Star Game. Playing at the event will be his 14-member salsa orchestra up from Venezuela for the event, for their first stateside performance. Sojo's first CD, recently released, is titled "Luis Sojo y Su Orquesta," if you want to pick it up. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to local charities.

Back to baseball: Minnesota lost too!

Thursday, May 17, 2001 (W: SEA 5-CWS 1 31-9)

M's win again: completing the three-game sweep with a 5-1 over Chicago. That's eight straight, if you're counting.

Ichiro was the sparkplug once again, extending his hitting streak to 22 games (and my MLB.com Beat the Streak entry to 23 games), with a single in the first. He then stole 2nd and 3rd and scored on an Edgar single. He now has 13 SB's this season, tied for first in the majors with Chuck Knoblauch of the Yankees. The M's as a team are 35-41 in stolen bases, for a .854 success rate, best in the majors.

The M's never looked back as Boone hit a 3-run HR (his 8th of the season) in the third and Freddy pitched 7.2 innings, giving up only 6 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run to up his record to 4-0. Jeff Nelson got the final 4 outs for his 3rd save of the season. (Still no clue here what's up with Kaz.)

Anybody else read Larry Stone's column today? Calling Gillick a "productive tinkerer," he says the M's are actively pursuing another bat for their lineup, such as:

Mark Quinn
Greg Vaughn
Phil Nevin
Jose Cruz
Ivan Rodriguez

I'd love to get one of those guys and lock them up for a few more years. However, the article also points out that if Buhner returns and hits like we know he can, we may not go after anybody else.

And, yes...Minnesota won again. Isn't it nice to sit here and fret over whether your team can hold onto the best record in the majors? That's the luxury we have in the weak AL West (Anaheim, 12 games back in 2nd place, is 2 games below .500 at 19-21). October baseball, here we come!

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 (W: SEA 7-CWS 2 30-9)

Mariners 7
White Sox 2

Paul Abbott struck out ten Chicago batters for his second career double-digit strikeout game (in his 57th career start). It was the Mariners' first 10-strikeout game of the season.

Ichiro's hitting streak is now 21 games. He's now only 3 games away from tying Joey Cora's 1997 franchise record.

Cameron made a great catch in the sixth to rob Carlos Lee of extra bases and ended up skidding across the cinder warning track face first. The Safeco crowd rewarded him with a standing ovation at the end of the inning.

Earlier in the day, Jose Paniagua was suspended for 3 games for not hitting Manny Ramirez back on May 9th. The M's appealed, and I think they've got a pretty good case. Paniagua wasn't even ejected from the game, as the umpires working the game didn't think the brush-back was intentional. Hopefully MLB will reduce the suspension to 1 or 2 games. Paniagua is really starting to look good out there; tonight he picked up the save for the 2nd straight game. I'm not sure what's wrong with Sasaki.

Jay Buhner took batting practice before the game. Hopefully we'll see him out there in left soon!

The M's are still showing some fire, as Mark McLemore was ejected in the 2nd inning after tossing his helmet and bat in protest of a called third strike.

The Twins won again to up their record to 27-11.

One last thing. I got an email today from someone at MLB.com who asked me about my Beat the Streak picks. For those of you who don't know, MLB.com has a fantasy game on their site where you pick a batter for each day during the season. The goal is to compile a batting streak of as long as possible. There's prizes, and the game's free. Check it out (or don't -- I'm in first place, and I don't want any more competition).

Anyways, he "interviewed" me via email for his column on MLB.com!!! He wanted to know my strategy. I told him: Pick Ichiro every day. So, if you notice any excessive rooting on this blog for Ichiro's hit streak, it's because I've got prizes riding on it! Oh yeah, he also wrote that they may try to get me on MLB radio for a few minutes. What will I say!? I'll let you know more if I hear it.