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If the Mariners win tonight they will have equaled their wins from the last homestand. That homestand had 11 games though so that would definitely qualify as improvement.
The offense has been bad. You may have already heard that. If not click on that link and become the special kind of informed and depressed that results from studying the Mariners in depth.
Tonight's opposing starter is Ryan Vogelsong, owner of the 4th worst fWAR of any qualified pitcher in baseball. His FIP of 4.96 is tied for 8th worst, with Jared Weaver.
Ha. Angels.
The point is rather than the proverbial unstoppable force meeting an immovable object this is more like an ice cream sandwich wrapper left on the street meeting a gentle summer's breeze. Ryan Vogelsong has been bad. The Mariners offense has been bad. Who will be less bad?
Mike Montgomery is throwing for the Mariners tonight. Montgomery has posted a very low ERA (1.86) while generally not pitching very all that well. He certainly can't keep running a sub 2 ERA with a K/9 well below 6. No, Montgomery has benefited from the old friend Strand Rate (86.4%) and a low BABIP. What he does well is locate his changeup, which also happens to be his best pitch. Montgomery fits the mold of a sort of Jason Vargas-lite, rich man's Ryan Feierabend. His fastball is fast enough and his change up is good enough that he could end up carving out a career as a back rotation inning's eater with somewhat improved command.
That write up describes about 90% of pitchers. You're welcome.
Seattle is rolling with the optimal offensive alignment today which why yes thank you for asking that does include a player with a 55 wRC+. But we cannot criticize the powers that be for player failure. Well we can. We can do anything! I'm going to have a beer! Go Mariners!
Game Info
- Giants @ Mariners, 7:10 PST, Safeco Field
- TV: ROOT, Radio: 710 ESPN, Online: MLBTV
UPDATE
Revised #Mariners’ lineup. Robinson Cano scratched for stiff lower back; Kyle Seager scratched due to food poisoning. pic.twitter.com/YI7XkTvY4R
— Bob Dutton (@TNT_Mariners) June 19, 2015
I will be over here laughing that Nelson Cruz is apparently now the team's emergency DH.