8/10: Open game thread

Well, here we are. The Mariners have won 6 of their last 9 and made it seem like a step back thanks to 3 separate bullpen meltdowns in that stretch. Seattle is 8.5 games out of the division and 8 games out of the 2nd wild card. So, there's probably nothing going on here that you need to trouble your sweet self about too much. The Mariners mostly agree too. That's why you see them playing around with Ketel Marte and Brad Miller all over the field.

Brad Miller taking a lot of early work in center today.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) August 10, 2015

The team already has a perfectly capable, if TOOTBLAN-addicted, center fielder in Austin Jackson. Of course Austin Jackson is a free agent after this year and well you get the point then don't you? If the team were gearing up full bore for a miracle they'd try to squeeze every last drop of efficiency they could get out of this roster. Right?

I mean, right? I think?

So there's probably nothing to see here. But then the offense has been mashing, relative to Mariners standards. In 12 games in August the Mariners have scored 4+ runs in 9 of 12 games, 5+ in 6 of 12. There is also the matter of the schedule, which Jake noted in his series preview. The Orioles are not all that good, and they are the best team the Mariners play the rest of this month, at least by record.

On top of all that Wei-Yin Chen is a decent pitcher who also happens to be left-handed. Tonight's lineup should, should absolutely murder left-handed pitching. I can't remember the last time I saw a Mariner lineup where 7 of the names in it looked so potentially scary. That's a way of saying I expect the team to score some runs again tonight.

Of course Vidal Nuno is no great shakes and after him the shakes get even worse. Are there good shakes? I like the Alabama Shakes so I guess the answer is yes.

Win, ya power-clashing doofuses.

Game info

• Orioles @ Mariners, 7:10 PST, Safeco Field
• TV: ROOT, Radio: 710 ESPN, Online: MLBTV