The Mariners are back in the swing of things today with a game against Jered Weaver and the Angels, hoping to pull their record two games over .500. It could be a really exciting game at Safeco tonight--Robinson Cano's first home dinger? Brad Miller showing signs of life? Elias continuing to surprise?
Except...all the crazy things already happened this weekend. Chris Young took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Lloyd McClendon pissed off the entire city of Houston after calling Dallas Keuchel "average." Hyun-jin Ryu almost had a perfect game for the Dodgers. Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter for them. The Mets fired Jose Valverde and their hitting coach moments after a game. More pitchers exploded. James Paxton may have a minor little setback in his return to Seattle. If I know anything about statistics and regression, that means it's going to be a slow news week. So expect a two-hit, four-hour game against the Halos tonight, because why would it be any different?*
Robinson Cano is DH'ing tonight, so Nick Franklin gets the start at second base. Brad Miller still sits at ninth, and other than all that, it's business as usual. It sure would be good to get a few wins before facing Justin Verlander, Drew Smyly, and Max Scherzer this weekend.
In other news, it looks like the Mariners may be signing Xavier Nady, who was DFA'd by the Padres back on May 5th.
Hearing #Mariners are close to signing OF/1B Xavier Nady to a minor-league deal. Would likely be sent to Tacoma for a look.
— Bob Dutton (@TNT_Mariners) May 27, 2014
It's not a bad move, as the Mariners desperately need another right handed bat. But it's also a classic Mariners move, as Nady hasn't been worth positive WAR since 2008, and was just released from the team that has the worst average, OBP, wOBA, and wRC+ in all of baseball. He was released from that team. I'm sure the idea is to stash him in Tacoma and wonder if something magic could happen, but I do that with leftover pizza in my fridge, and when I take it out it's just the same pizza I had the night before, except it's a little soggier.
You know, who knows. The Mariners are doing something, and while it may not be the sexiest free agent signing in the world, it's at attempt to fix a glaring problem. But enough of that, it's Elias day! Fun time! Happy feelings! Go Mariners!
*On second thought, that might not have anything to do with regression. Expectation, on the other hand...