Series Preview: Seattle Mariners @ San Diego Padres

by Matthew on Jun 11, 2010 4:04 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Previews

Seattle: 23-37
San Diego: 35-25

	MARINERS	Δ Ms	PADRES	EDGE
HITTING (wOBA)	-57.9 (28th)	-9.4	-14.6 (24th)	San Diego
FIELDING (UZR)	7.4 (11th)	0.0	26.2 (2nd))	San Deigo
ROTATION (tRA)	-3.7 (18th)	-4.5	1.5 (18th)	San Diego
BULLPEN (tRA)	-7.5 (22nd)	2.4	23.9 (3rd)	San Diego
OVERALL(RAA)	-61.7	-11.5	37.0	SAN DIEGO

That was a thorough whopping. Frankly, the Felix game was my Waterloo when it came to caring about 2010. I held on when we gave Ian Snell an early lead because winning that game would have negated the Felix loss, but alas no.

Honestly, I've been trying to come up with something more substantial to write here for the past three hours and I've got nothing. This team needs a break. Well, it needs to win, but I'm not confident the team can win right now. I fear they are stuck in one of those vicious self-cycles where the losing begets clubhouse problems which in turn increases the odds for more losing. It needs something to stop that. Wins always work, but sometimes a break can as help as well. It would at least help the mental side of things. Unfortunately, the breaks are less likely to manifestly appear out of nowhere than some wins.

I am reminded of the final TV episode of Firefly. A guest character speaks the very final line of dialogue in the series as he is left behind to float aimlessly in space. Eventual death assured, he states with resignation "Well, here I am." Well, here we are Mariner fans.

Fri Jun 11, 19:05: Jason Vargas* vs. Kevin Correia

Sat Jun 12, 17:35: Cliff Lee* vs. Wade LeBlanc*

Sun Jun 13, 13:05: Felix Hernandez vs. Clayton Richard*

None of the Padres' three starters is all that intimidating but really nobody they have in the rotation is intimidating in the way Cliff Lee is and Felix Hernandez usually is. The Padres have an entire bullpen though that's scary for opposing teams.

At this point, I would start marking down scheduled Cliff Lee starts on the calendar because you will never know when he's going to be sent packing. Given the effective rumor killing nature of our front office, do not expect there to be a long drawn out media circus. I fully anticipate the news just breaking across Twitter some afternoon. In fact, I haven't checked Twitter for the last couple hours. Let me make sure Cliff Lee is still a Mariner. Yep, looks clear.

There's also other people involved in this series, but I can't summon any care right now. This week sucks.

Jason Vargas

Cliff Lee

Felix Hernandez

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	48%	87	50	35	30
Sinker	21%	86	30	50	30
Change	21%	80	80	75	35
Slider	7%	82	20	40	45
Overall	--	--	50	45	25

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	58%	90	70	80	45
Change	14%	83	55	75	55
Sinker	14%	90	50	80	40
Curve	8%	76	55	50	80
Slider	6%	85	30	80	45
Overall	--	--	55	80	45

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	68%	94	75	60	75
Slider	12%	88	75	65	75
Curve	12%	83	60	45	70
Change	9%	87	70	70	80
Overall	--	--	75	65	80

Kevin Correia

Wade LeBlanc

Clayton Richard

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	44%	90	60	45	50
Slider	35%	85	35	70	55
Curve	7%	76	35	35	60
Change	7%	84	45	20	75
Sinker	7%	90	55	45	60
Overall	--	--	55	50	55

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	53%	86	40	30	30
Change	28%	75	65	50	45
Slider	10%	81	40	70	25
Curve	6%	73	20	30	25
Overall	--	--	50	35	30

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	46%	91	40	55	65
Sinker	25%	89	60	55	60
Change	14%	83	55	45	75
Slider	11%	83	40	25	40
Overall	--	--	45	40	70

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

Enjoy Cliff while we can.

Damn shame we couldn’t put together a team that made it tempting for him to stay.

"Because 100 luftballoons would be far too many"

by Thingray on Jun 11, 2010 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe he actually likes losing?

I mean, he’s always smiling.. maybe losing brings him joy!

A man can dream I suppose

by d0nkey on Jun 11, 2010 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Firefly is great

Let’s talk about Firefly some more because frankly, it gives me much more joy than talking about the Mariners.

Unfortunately, for me watching Cliff Lee right now is like petting an aging, cancer-riddled pet. You derive joy from it, but also endure a horrible sadness in the pit of your stomach because you know the clock is ticking.

by HititHere on Jun 11, 2010 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

I thought you were going to say Cliff Lee is like Firefly

Makes sense

by Karma Police on Jun 11, 2010 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

"What do you MEAN we only get 1 season??!"

“Awwwwwww!”

by HititHere on Jun 11, 2010 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Half a Season

Which may be more accurate in any case..

You can't be a catcher if you can't catch. Rob Johnson will henceforth be listed as a traffic cone on the roster.

by Drew_D on Jun 11, 2010 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Lee, the man they call Lee

He was traded from the good
And sent to the bad
Stood up to big bats
Which his team didn’t have
Our love for him now
It’s easy to see
The hero of SoDo
The man they call Lee

Our Lee saw the Mariners’ backs breakin’
He saw the diehards’ lament
And he saw division rivals takin’
Every pennant with no chance to contend
So he said “you can’t do that to this city”
He said “you can’t crush them under your heel”
So Lee strapped on his hat
And in 5 seconds flat
He’d face three up, three down – no big deal

He was traded from the good
And sent to the bad
Stood up to big bats
Which his team didn’t have
Our love for him now
It’s easy to see
The hero of SoDo
The man they call Lee

Now here is what separates Cy Youngs
From common folk like Hyphen and Snell
The man they call Lee
When his run support did flee
Never wavered, just kept throwin’ well
He struck out the Rangers
He struck out the Rays
The man they called Lee
He stole away our pain
Then we sent him away to brighter days

Traded from the bad
Sent back to the good
Where he’ll finally win games
Like we wish we could
Our love for him now
Still easy to see
The hero of SoDo
The man they call Lee

Rooting for lovable losers since 1984.

by seattlecougar on Jun 11, 2010 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 7 recs

I think I have something in my eye.

by skjes on Jun 11, 2010 5:36 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Our three best starters against a lineup not quite as pathetic as ours? I think we can win all three. Our offense has to be due now. Especially with Vargas batting.

by joey90 on Jun 11, 2010 4:35 PM PDT reply actions

Petco is a very nice park.

by Kenneth Arthur on Jun 11, 2010 4:38 PM PDT reply actions

Figgins back in the #2 hole

http://twitpic.com/1vxqon

Is that the light at the end of the tunnel, or the headlights of an oncoming train?

by Benne on Jun 11, 2010 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

Gross.

Seriously, though. Glad to see him back up there. He’s been performing better lately, and I’d love to see what he and Ichiro can do when they’re both performing at their best.

Because we’re rebels. Accurate, intelligent, introspective rebels. And damn proud of it my friend. - CapSea
A Work in Progress

by JLProck on Jun 11, 2010 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions