Rangers (12-12) @ Mariners (15-10)

[Bulltalk]

Alright. Here we go. I want both of these games. They're both home games. We're playing both lucky and good. Felix going on Monday, and Bedard going on Tuesday. If we win them both, we take off on a 10 game road trip with a 17-10 record, some first place cushion.

Let's do it, Mariners.

[TheUrbanZealot]

Alright. Here we go. I want both of these games. They're both home games. We're playing both lucky and good. Felix going on Monday, and Bedard going on Tuesday. If we win them both, we take off on a 10 game road trip with a 17-10 record, some first place cushion.

Let's do it, Mariners.

of all the teams out there, rangers scare me most because of their deadly offense... i think im a little more confident w/ bedard in this series than felix. felix cant rely on his fastball or he's going to get tagged...

[Sweezo]

of all the teams out there, rangers scare me most because of their deadly offense... i think im a little more confident w/ bedard in this series than felix. felix cant rely on his fastball or he's going to get tagged...

Completely agree. The Rangers offense is fairly terrifying, and if Felix tries to blow heat by them all day he's going to have some trouble.

On the bright side, once again the Rangers pitching staff isn't anything special.

[BlackMamba]

i also agree, the rangers' offense is scary but the M's pitching is one of the best and considering felix and bedard will be on the mount i am confident because yes the rangers pitching doesn't scare me.

[Bulltalk]

I want a nice and easy victory tonight. Get comfortably ahead early, and hold them easily at-bey the rest of the way. I don't need all the dramatics this time around.

[Sweezo]

Speaking of pitching staff issues, that Kansas City series has taken on new found importance:

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu made it clear this morning that struggling pitcher Carlos Silva needs to get his act -- or, more precisely, his head -- together or he could lose his place in the starting rotation.

Wakamatsu said Silva, who turned back the clock to 2008 when he gave up six runs in the third inning Friday, will make his next start but the Mariners won't tolerate another poor outing. Silva is scheduled to start Wednesday at Kansas City.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090503/BLOG05/905039991#Silva.will.get.another.chance.to.get.it.right.....or.else

The end is nigh, Buffalo. The end is nigh...

[BlackMamba]

wow, i respect how wakamatsu is going public with this and this means that maybe making the whole world know about silva's situation is the only way silva will try to make an effort in having a better game. pressure on him and no-one else.

[studcrackers]

good game?

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

Eh, oh well. Felix just didn't have his good stuff last night. Left too many breaking balls over the plate.

However, before the season I predicted Franklin Gutierrez to be our "breakout" player this season. So far he isn't disappointing.

[Zyme]

too bad ichiro didn't deliver. But that is all you can ask for. Having your best hitter up there when you need him the most. Hopefully we can get tonight's game and salvage this series.

[Sweezo]

My God...Denny Stark just absolutely imploded. Went from 2 outs to no one on to giving up 6 ER. Wow.

[Ex-hippie]

It's definitely a letdown to lose this series. Just a reminder that we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves while evaluating this team. Today's game was a Stark reminder of the condition of our bullpen...

[studcrackers]

good game?

[Sweezo]

It's definitely a letdown to lose this series. Just a reminder that we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves while evaluating this team. Today's game was a Stark reminder of the condition of our bullpen...

I like the team more or less but they need to add something offensively. I'm not sure what or where, but...

[BlackMamba]

woah! what a last inning

in the end the rangers' offense was too much for the mariners pitching staff.

[Ex-hippie]

So at 15-12 we're precisely 1/6 of the way through a 162-game schedule. Where do we stand?

The good: the two aces, outfield defense, the Branyan-Sweeney duo, Wlad Balentien, maybe Jarrod Washburn.

The bad: most of the bullpen, Jose Lopez, Adrian Beltre, Yuni Betancourt, the fifth spot in the rotation.

The ugly: Junior's comeback, Carlos Silva.

[BlackMamba]

So at 15-12 we're precisely 1/6 of the way through a 162-game schedule. Where do we stand?

The good: the two aces, outfield defense, the Branyan-Sweeney duo, Wlad Balentien, maybe Jarrod Washburn.

The bad: most of the bullpen, Jose Lopez, Adrian Beltre, Yuni Betancourt, the fifth spot in the rotation.

The ugly: Junior's comeback, Carlos Silva.

i agree, i would like to see balentien play more.

it's bad to see griffey jr. like this, i hope he gets his mojo back.

and lopez, i don't think he's been that bad.

[TheUrbanZealot]

The Rangers scared me and we see why. Their offense is just explosive. Seattle has to be able to string together a long winning streak to create some space. The Angels are due to have Lackey, Escobar, and Santana back- add that to Joe Saunders and you basically are looking at 4 all-star quality starters in a row. I'm not sure Seattle will be able to compete with that staff with a mediocre offense and inconsistent bullpen pitching...

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

The Rangers are one of the worst matchups for our bullpen. That team destroys fastballs, and its the main thing the pen guys toss. Aardsma was lucky that Kinsler didn't hit a grand slam when he threw his fastball right down the middle of the plate.

Tough to lose a series when you have your two aces going, but oh well. Our offense sucks. When the **** is Beltre going to be moved down in the order? His plate discipline is absolutely pathetic.

[studcrackers]

on a scale of 1-10 how much are you guys hating elvis andrus right about now?