Mariners

[MarkGrace]

Yeah, maybe. Losing two series to the Stros in a month certainly doesn't help. But there was so much buzz leading into that A's series, and with Rodney's 10th it just all went away. The air left the park and the team and never really seemed to come back.

[Walter Sobchak]

Houston killed the momentum this team had.

[MarkGrace]

Well, been a good run, but these guys are cooked. The starting pitching just hasn't been able to sustain, and I think you had to figure that was going to happen (though I'm really puzzled by Kuma). And I still really feel like that Fernando Rodney 10th killed the momentum this team had.

[MarkGrace]

Maybe this will give them some life because they've looked so dead since the Rodney implosion. Just a game back of KC, and that's not including the suspended game KC still has to finish where they trail 4-2 in the 10th.

[I.J. Reilly]

They might have some fight left in them after all. I was begining to doubt it.

[MarkGrace]

Fernando Rodney

Felt like running out to the mound and choking that asshole tonight.

[MarkGrace]

In a story that can only be described as embarrassing for everyone involved, Jesus Montero, the disappointing one-time Seattle Mariners catcher, went after a scout from his own team with a bat during a minor-league game Thursday.

The reason? The scout had been heckling Montero during a rehab assignment with the Single-A Everett AquaSox, who were playing in Boise. The scout then sent an ice cream sandwich to the dugout for Montero. That's when Montero — who made headlines when he showed up at Mariners spring training 40 pounds overweight — snapped and had to be restrained.

Montero was coaching first base, and at the end of an inning, the unidentified cross-checker [a type of baseball scout] yelled at him to hustle off the field, according to Boise official scorer Liza Safford. Montero then headed to the AquaSox dugout on the third-base side.

According to a game official, the cross-checker then ordered an ice cream sandwich and had it sent to Montero in the dugout, escalating the confrontation further. The official said Montero — who arrived at Mariners Spring Training 40 pounds overweight this season — approached the stands with a bat while screaming profanities and threw the sandwich at the cross-checker. Montero had to be pulled back from the stands by Everett pitching coach Nasusel Cabrera, Safford said.

https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/jesus-montero-has-altercation-with-mariners-scout-over-ice-cream-sandwich-080802669.html

[wapiti]

After last night Kuma has as many wins as walks at 12. Unreal.

Greg Maddux almost did that twice. 1995 he had 19 wins and 23 BB, 1997 19 wins and 20 walks. That would be an impressive feat.

[MarkGrace]

After last night Kuma has as many wins as walks at 12. Unreal.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

felix's streak comes to an end.

Just never really had it going today. Seemed to be getting squeezed early in the game and it drove his pitch count through the roof.

I think baseball should do the playoffs and world series in August before football starts.

[MarkGrace]

felix's streak comes to an end.

Just never really had it going today. Seemed to be getting squeezed early in the game and it drove his pitch count through the roof.

[Walter Sobchak]

16 straight UQS for Felix now. He was awesome last night.

Was playing a doubleheader last night at Grass Lawn park (which has artificial turf fields, wtf?) during the game. The parks/rec crew (or someone) had the Ms game piping over the loud speaker. There were lightning thunderstorms off in the distance behind the outfield fences. Listening to the game under those conditions was awesome.

FYI, I didn't give up any runs in the 5 innings I pitched.

[MarkGrace]

16 straight UQS for Felix now. He was awesome last night.

Felix Hernandez did it again — he made another start for the Seattle Mariners in which he pitched at least seven innings and gave up two or fewer runs. That makes 16 starts in a row that King Felix has been royally dominant, a record that keeps growing.

The specifics for Monday night: Hernandez pitched seven innings, giving up just one run on three hits and striking out eight. The Mariners laid an 11-1 beat down on the Toronto Blue Jays in front of a Seattle crowd of more than 41,000 that had Safeco Field rocking for its ace.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/the-grand-slam--felix-hernandez-continues-historical-streak-of-dominance-074926571.html

Last night Hernandez pitched circles around the Blue Jays, allowing one run on three hits and striking out eight Jays batters. It was his 16th consecutive start with at least seven innings pitched and two or fewer runs allowed. That’s a record he is continuing to extend. Which, it’s worth noting, was previously held by Chief Bender of all of people. In that 16-start span he is 8-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 134 strikeouts.

Last week I mused about whether a pitcher could or should win the MVP in the National League. While I think that’s far less reasonable an option in the AL, I assume no small amount of people will be thinking along those lines with respect to Hernandez pretty soon. Especially if the Mariners make the playoffs.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/12/felix-hernandez-continues-to-be-positively-ridiculous/

Clayton Kershaw may be gathering most of the fanfare for the most dominant pitcher this season, but, Felix Hernandez has strung together a season of epic proportion himself. So much so, as we pass through August, he must be the early favourite to grab the American League, Cy-Young award. Here is a breakdown of exactly what King Felix has been doing this season.

First, in terms of his core statistics, Hernandez is on pace to destroy any of his previous, career bests. His 1.95 ERA is head and shoulders better than ever before. In fact, in 2010, when he won his first Cy-Young, he collated 2.27 ERA, which is 32 points higher than it is currently. His 9.68 K/9 ratio is the highest he has ever produced. Felix has already struck out 194 batters. Dominance.

With regard to the more, ‘complex’ statistics, the trend of complete and utter pre-eminence holds true. On the road and at home. Felix has a brilliant 2.07 FIP, and a 2.38 xFIP while allowing only a mere 3.8% of flyballs to leave the ballpark when playing on the road. These clearly show that pitching in the pitchers friendly Safeco Park, is not the reason Hernandez has been lights out. He has destroyed lineups in every ballpark. In fact, his road ERA is lower than his home ERA.

http://calltothepen.com/2014/08/12/felix-hernandez-going-win-second-cy-young-award/

[MarkGrace]

The Mariners took three of four from the White Sox while holding them to eight runs and lowering the team ERA to 2.99. The last teams with an ERA under 3.00 were the Dodgers (2.96) and Mets (2.91) in 1988. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield),

http://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings

Beautiful day at the park yesterday after church.

[MarkGrace]

Felix sets the MLB record tonight. He also gets the loss.