Game 12, Rangers at Mariners
James Paxton vs. Andrew Cashner, 6:10pm (Note the early start time)
Paxton’s been the brightest star in the Mariner sky this season in part because he’s shown that last year’s big velocity spike wasn’t just a temporary thing. It’s a part of his skillset, and it has all sorts of downstream effects, from a lower HR/FB rate to larger swinging strike rates, etc. Velocity is not the only thing, but it is a pretty big thing. It was Andrew Cashner’s calling card for years, and has left him tagged as an “intriguing” or “promising” SP despite years of lackluster results and despite turning 30 not long ago.
OK, by the time the Rangers acquired him, I think “formerly promising” was more often used rather than good ol’ unmodified “promising” but that, too, had to do with his raw velocity. Cashner had bicep issues which sapped some of his strength in 2016, and clearly weakened his contract leverage in the offseason. The Rangers bought low on both Cashner and Tyson Ross, and while Ross’s issues were more severe, Cashner’s flared up again in the spring. In a March 31st outing, Cashner averaged 90+ on his sinker, down a full 4 MPH from 2016, and 5-6 MPH from his heyday in San Diego. He was pushed back to the DL, and is only rejoining the team after a 5 IP start in extended spring training. I’m surprised the Rangers didn’t send him out to a minor league affiliate, as I can’t imagine whatever he faced in extended is going to be a good analog for a major league line-up, even a struggling Mariners one. Frankly though, that’s the Rangers problem, not mine.
1: Dyson, LF
2: Haniger, RF
3: Cano, 2B
4: Cruz, DH
5: Seager, 3B
6: Motter, SS
7: Valencia, 1B
8: Martin, CF
9: Zunino, C
SP: Paxton
Quick game post today as I’m up in Seattle getting ready to attend this one.
Tacoma beat El Paso 2-1 on a walk-off dropped pop fly. All wins count the same. Dylan Unsworth was solid in a short start, and Mark Lowe picked up the win in relief. Ryan Weber starts for the R’a tonight as they open a series against Albuquerque.
Tyler Herb K’d 10 Corpus Christi batters in 6 IP, but the bullpen coughed up a lead and Arkansas lost 5-4. Brett Ash starts tonight.
Modesto beat up on Lancaster 9-2. Reggie McClain wasn’t sharp, but held the Jethawks to 2 runs in 6 IP. Nathan Bannister gets the start tonight against Thomas Schlitter of Lancaster.
Clinton erased an early 3-0 deficit in Burlington, tying the game in the 8th, but a Roberto Baldoquin walk-off HR gave the Bees a 4-3 win. You may remember Baldoquin as a rare international free agent outlay for Jerry Dipoto as GM of the Angels. He’s been a tremendous disappointment, and may be part of the reason why the M’s still aren’t huge players in the July 2 market (though to be fair, they weren’t in the last years of Zduriencik’s regime).
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44 Responses to “Game 12, Rangers at Mariners”
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Oh Valencia, it would be nice if you figured things out before it’s to late.
Whoever bats in front of Valencia should be banned from walking in front of him and Valencia should be banned from swinging. Mariners will never sit there designated 1st baseman whether Kotchman or Smoak or Lind or whoever. So let’s just avoid the double plays. Valencia looks incapable of elevating the ball ever.
Seems like the Mariners did a good job of getting the team defensevly better but that doesn’t do any good if no one can drive in a few runs! there’s no lead to defend.
Hoping beyond hope that they pull out this game tonight,Paxton looks so good right now.
Garth!!
He smoked that pitch.
I hope Valencia is only renting.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Motter take over at 1st when Segura comes back.
This game seems to be going well…
Beltre is on the DL? Lucky break for our guys, although I love watching him play.
Okay, don’t mess this up Vincent.
Beltre pulled a calf muscle in one leg – rehabbed – played in the WBC – came back to spring training and soon thereafter he pulled the calf muscle in the other leg.
I have had that injury (more than once) and I have had that exact sequence (once). It happens unceremoniously and is very common with runners – but it basically boils down to a muscle imbalance. It’s an “older man” injury but you can – and he will – come back 100% from it, but he might always need to wear calf sleeves.
Josh Donaldson pulled his calf the other day – after initially “tweaking” it a couple days earlier. I’ve done that too! Weekend geriatric warrior court sports do it to me, but I don’t know why it would happen to a young pup like Beltre.
low leverage situation Nick Vincent I can live with, otherwise I get really nervous with him on the mound.
YEAH! Good job Vincent!
Paxton is the MAN!!
There is a very successful PT procedure called ASTYM – which is a tool they use to scrape over muscle that has suffered hundreds and hundreds of micro tears over many, many years – and you can actually hear the “peanut brittle” (scar tissue) breaking down. Rest, ice, rehab, heat, stretch, build up the muscle … rinse repeat come back hit “ding dongs” get your 3,000th hit – walk into the HOF.
Simple program for Beltre.
wow Paxton… I don’t expect this all season but man if he can stay healthy and keep showing this control and poise, we could be watching an emergence of our new #1, not a knock to Felix, because I love Felix. If only Drew Smyly didn’t get hurt we could have a fantastic looking 1 – 4 starting pitching.
Mike sounds like he’s very experienced with sports injuries hehe.
Mariners Win ! Paxton dominated ! Motter is earning more playing time when Segura comes back. Comfortable feeling, while Paxton was dealing, hope Kuma tomorrow will add to Rangers sorrows.
James Freakin’ Paxton?
Twenty-One Lockdown Innings.
Yielded Hit Eight Times.
Please Scott tell Valencia he cannot swing with runners on base. To think we traded prospects and pay this guy $6million when you could have had Carter for $3m
Motter had second base stolen if not for Valencia fouling off a pitch with only one strike on him at the time. Hitting into a double-play on the next pitch is just vintage Valencia. Total double-shit at bat by the vintage one.
Kuma’s pitching like garbage, but really, Heredia’s outfield defense has been atrocious.
Good time for Iwakuma to revert to spring training version. Guess it’s time to try and enjoy easter. Have a great day guys!
Wooooo, Haniger.
Haniger, what a great acquisition he’s been.
I think Cruz has a future in the toothpick business.
Root Sports has had a TON of production problems all season long; a lot more then in seasons past. They must be cutting their budget.
Can we actually say “season long” at game 13?
Season long*
* for sufficiently short definitions of “long”
Was Iwakuma’s outing short or long? Tough to pick a perspective.
There ya go, Danny boy!
Bucknor usually does find a way to stand out during a game, doesn’t he? He could not have looked worse getting a call correct. And what the hell was Martin doing? He’s hitting .100 and he’s not running out a ground ball skimming down the 1B line. He’s a mess.
Yeah, that was ugly all the way around.
Heredia will have to go 0 for his next 29 before he matches Martin’s numbers. I like his chances of not letting that happen.
Mitch!!!
Perfect timing for a bullpen walk extravaganza!
Crap
Fun way to lose a game…. awesome.
Please prove me wrong…. I dare you!
They proved you wrong dude. Sam Dyson is all sorts of awful.
I’ll take it.
We will take it with joy and glee!!!
Out of the cellar!
Thank you sweet baby baseball Jesus!!!
They can prove me wrong anytime as long as it leads to a win!
Nice to be on the good end of one of those for once.
Not bad after getting just 3 innings from Iwakuma.