RealGM

Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 6.52 ERA) vs. Jarrod Washburn (2-0, 1.29 ERA)
Jeff Neimann (0-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Chris Jakubauskas (1-1, 3.86 ERA)
James Sheilds (2-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. Felix Hernandez (2-0, 4.26 ERA)

Series starts Tuesday. Both teams have lost two in a row. Can Wash keep up his great start?

well, the mariners enter this game as the team with the LOWEST ERA!!!!

All bow to your overlords the Seattle Mariners.

Seriously, I'm amazed by what this team has accomplished so far. This should realistically be a sweep, but let's see what they can do.

Well, we definitely have the pitching edge, so losing this series would be a big letdown. Although, our offense is pretty damn crappy, so you never know.

Bay_Areas_Finest wrote:Well, we definitely have the pitching edge, so losing this series would be a big letdown. Although, our offense is pretty damn crappy, so you never know.

We just can't seem to put a batting lineup together that can string hits together. It's going to be our problem, but nothing we didn't much expect.

Jesus, it's already 1-0 Rays after the third batter/

Yuni triples with a man on. (pinches himself)

Washburn. My man. My bro. My homey.

Two triples in one inning = a Mariner lead! First of Rob Johnson's career, first by a Mariner catcher since '06.

4-2 M's in the 6th.

Who knew Mike Sweeney would be hitting almost a 100 points higher than Lopez this far in?

TTown wrote:Two triples in one inning = a Mariner lead! First of Rob Johnson's career, first by a Mariner catcher since '06.

4-2 M's in the 6th.

Who knew Mike Sweeney would be hitting almost a 100 points higher than Lopez this far in?

Can Sweeney play 2nd base?

Washburn's on fire.

Washburn: 3 starts, 3-0, 21 innings pitched, 17 K's, 4 walks, 1.71 ERA. Dude, what's going on?

Wash pitched like this (well, maybe not this good) last year for a 6 week stretch when we were trying to shop him. Maybe he's showing off for the Yanks?

Mariners win. Have they won the first game of every series so far? Darn impressive.

TTown wrote:Wash pitched like this (well, maybe not this good) last year for a 6 week stretch when we were trying to shop him. Maybe he's showing off for the Yanks?

Mariners win. Have they won the first game of every series so far? Darn impressive.

He had that really good season before we signed him. The thing is though, he had REAL command tonight as the game went along.

TTown wrote:Wash pitched like this (well, maybe not this good) last year for a 6 week stretch when we were trying to shop him. Maybe he's showing off for the Yanks?

Mariners win. Have they won the first game of every series so far? Darn impressive.

With Wang the way he is, I wouldn't doubt it.

The Yanks might be desperate enough to pull the trigger on a move, which gives us the benefit of shedding salary while Washburn gets to give up five home runs every night. Maybe we could sell them on his history against Tampa Bay [which is a really hollow record that kept getting brought up during the telecast].

I gotta say...I am not liking how our rotation would look if we move Washburn right now. We lead the division and look like we could be in the mix all the season. Dumping Washburn's salary might be a slap in the face to the team and the fanbase as it has the appearance of giving up on the season. And while I've not been a big fan of Washburn's, I'd have agree that it would look bad at the moment to move him unless we got a decent prospect in return [which won't happen].

With Rowland-Smith still wondering what's wrong with his arm, who moves into the rotation with Washburn gone? The possible answers terrify me.

No way should this team move Washburn. I might have wanted it to happen before the season, but we are playing too well right now. He's our #3 starter, and without Wash, we'd be lost after 1-2.

As for the game; Awesome. But damn, wtf is up with Kapler playing so shallow? He was doing it just about the entire game, ha.

Oh, and I LOVE Mike Sweeney. He's a solid hitter that'll make contact at the plate, and he hustles his but off. Plus he's just a great veteran clubhouse presence. Great guy and a great pickup.

yeah, i don't see the point in trading washburn that to add another praise he has been amazing so far, but let's not get too excited so when something happens we don't go all drama on him.

and so far almost every win and lose have been close games, that should mean something.

If the M's trade Washburn during the season, will they bank the money they save and spend it on someone else next year? I doubt it. If not, I don't see why that's any better than just letting his contract expire. It's not like they're getting much value back in a trade for him.

I didn't mean to imply that we would/should trade Wash, I was more or less joking around and relating his hot start to last year, when he was supposedly being shopped. Once the deadline passed, he reverted back to his usual self.

If we're still contending at the deadline, I agree that it would be a huge slap in the face to the fans to ship him off. If we fold, however, I have no problem with it, especially if New York is willing to part with a few nice pieces.