Series Preview: Seattle Mariners @ Baltimore Orioles

by Matthew on May 10, 2011 12:30 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Previews

	MARINERS (16-19)	Δ Ms	ORIOLES (14-19)	EDGE
HITTING (wOBA)	-23.9 (26th)	-7.7	-28.1 (29th)	Seattle
FIELDING (UZR)	0	-	0
ROTATION (tRA)	8.3 (5th)	1.6	0.0 (13th)	Seattle
BULLPEN (tRA)	2.4 (12th)	-0.9	-7.5 (26th)	Seattle
OVERALL(RAA)	-13.2 (22nd)	-7.0	-35.6 (29th)	SEATTLE

What a boring last series. Any series where the hitters flail while the pitchers are okay-ish is susceptible to being boring unless something crazy happens in the micro data. Nothing crazy happened against the White Sox. In lieu of pomp language to disguise that fact, I will instead just list three random things I discovered in the last 30 minutes:

Chone Figgins hasn't swung and missed at a pitch since April 30th. That's neat.
The Mariner hitters have one home run in the last nine games. That sucks.
Miguel Olivo is last in the Majors in contact rate and Jack Cust is fifth worst. They have a combined nine total extra base hits and just two home runs (both Olivo's, one of which a fluke). That's bad.

Tue 10 May 16:05
MICHAEL PINEDA	JAKE ARRIETA

At 25, Jake Arrieta is the oldest Oriole starter the Mariners will face. Both Tillman and Britton are just 23. I am just bursting with enthusiasm for the Baltimore Orioles, can't you tell?

Wed 11 May 16:05
FELIX HERNANDEZ	CHRIS TILLMAN

Chris Tillman is in his third attempt at the Major Leagues this season and it's not going any better than the previous two go arounds, which were awful. The only reason his walk rate isn't worse is because he's so damn hittable. Tillman's first pitch strike rate is ten points below average. His average fastball speed in 2011 is down under 90mph and he doesn't get ground balls. At 6'6", you would expect something different, but so far in his Major League career, Chris Tillman is Doug Fister without the control.

Thu 12 May 16:05
JASON VARGAS*	ZACH BRITTON*

Zach Britton has piss all of a sample size in the Major Leagues, so turning to his Minor League numbers we can see that, no, his Major League numbers thus far are right spot on. In the high minors, Britton had an okay strikeout rate, which translates to meh in the Majors; he had an okay walk rate, which translates to meh in the Majors and he had a great ground ball rate in the Minors, which translates to good in the Majors. That's what happens when you throw sinkers all the time I suppose.

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Comments

Win(s)!

by wyte_lightning on May 10, 2011 12:34 PM PDT reply actions

I was not expecting the Orioles offense to be so bad.

by Mariner John on May 10, 2011 12:39 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah I thought with all the moves they did..

That there offense was going to be at least decent.

by Luisam on May 10, 2011 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

That sure does sound familiar.

by ThundaPC on May 10, 2011 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Nick Markakis especially.

Man, where has his career gone?

by ThomasG on May 10, 2011 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions

A BABIP .100 below career average will do that to you

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 10, 2011 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

His LD rate is in line with career norms, even higher than the last 2 years.

Seems to indicate he’s due for some regression. Though, he is hitting twice as many pop ups as usual.

I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.

by HititHere on May 10, 2011 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions

His contact rates are down as well.

I’m not discounting SSS for his early-season struggles but, when you take into account the last two seasons full season, he’s been well off the peak he established earlier on in his career.

by ThomasG on May 10, 2011 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

His '09 and '10 numbers aren't that far off from his stellar '08 campaign

But I guess you expect more from a 25 year old who puts up 6 WAR. Much of that WAR came from his defense, though. But his wOBA from ’09 and ’10 are in line with his career averages, making it seem like ’08 and ’07 maybe were him playing above his head a little bit.

I am going to come into your house at night and rec up the place.

by HititHere on May 10, 2011 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions