Game 18, Tigers At Mariners

Dave · April 19, 2011 at 2:47 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

Fister vs Coke, 7:10 pm.

We’ve said from day one that this season wouldn’t be about wins and losses, but about how the players that are actually important to the future develop. Chris Ray blowing a game in the 8th inning is, in the grand scheme of things, not all that relevant to this organization’s future. He won’t be here much longer anyway.

However, one guy who will be here for a while is Justin Smoak. After hitting another home run (to left field, at Safeco, in April) last night, he’s now up to .291/.403/.491 on the season. Most importantly, he’s cut the strikeouts down significantly from where they were last year, and has demonstrated the kind of approach at the plate that made him a top prospect to begin with. While we can nitpick about the fact that he only has two home runs, seven of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases, and he’s hit a bunch of balls on the screws.

It’s still early, but Smoak is looking like the player the M’s hoped they were getting last summer – a switch-hitter with power and patience who can hold his own in the middle of the batting order. The M’s might have lost last night, but with every good at-bat from Justin Smoak, they’re winning the long term war.

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Comments

222 Responses to “Game 18, Tigers At Mariners”

  1. Edgar4Hall on April 19th, 2011 10:21 pm

    WOW. I forgot how much fun offense can be. Saunders!!!

  2. jordan on April 19th, 2011 10:22 pm

    Ahhh, Ichiro!

  3. juneau_fan on April 19th, 2011 10:22 pm

    Saundy has his revenge!

    And Ichi is now crapping on your head, Westie, sorry.

  4. sniper61 on April 19th, 2011 10:22 pm

    HOW is Ichiro doing this well tonight?

  5. Westside guy on April 19th, 2011 10:22 pm

    Oh man Ichiro, I publicly abase myself in front of you…

  6. MrZDevotee on April 19th, 2011 10:23 pm

    Wow-
    So let me get this straight– all we needed to do to improve our offense was send away our best hitter (Smoak)?

    I think, by definition (of giving up 12 runs to Seattle), we now know who has the worst pitching staff in all of baseball, and perhaps a bullpen worse than our’s?

  7. jordan on April 19th, 2011 10:24 pm

    This is all the M’s run for the rest of the year ladies and gentleman. Enjoy it.

  8. MrZDevotee on April 19th, 2011 10:25 pm

    Westside-
    Or in Japanese (baseball) tradition– you must now commit “Harry Caray” to make amends

  9. jordan on April 19th, 2011 10:27 pm

    Why is Cust going up? Put Peguero in!

  10. Westside guy on April 19th, 2011 10:29 pm

    These Tiger pitchers are reminding me of some of our worst pitching performances, where one guy after another gets up there and just can’t find the strike zone.

  11. MrZDevotee on April 19th, 2011 10:30 pm

    Double digit runs, double digit hits… Nobody wake me up– this is one heck of a Mariner dream I’m having…

  12. Carson on April 19th, 2011 10:32 pm

    Are you kidding? Put him in the field? Come on. Why not let the kid get an at-bat?

    See, we can always find something to complain about!

  13. juneau_fan on April 19th, 2011 10:32 pm

    Rizz just said what I’m thinking. And the ball will go straight to Peguero.

    Not right him, but close enough.

    He doesn’t look like he’s breathing, poor kid.

  14. Dave Spiwak on April 19th, 2011 10:34 pm

    Austin Jackson. Is there any other major leaguer named after two state capitals?

  15. Westside guy on April 19th, 2011 10:35 pm

    Are you kidding? Put him in the field? Come on. Why not let the kid get an at-bat?

    +1

  16. juneau_fan on April 19th, 2011 10:35 pm

    Poor Peguero didn’t even have time to dig a divet in the outfield!

  17. jordan on April 19th, 2011 10:38 pm

    I have a quick question. Everything I read about Peguero is that he is pretty good. Why isn’t he considered one of our top prospects? What is his big flaw, because at age 24, he still has some time to work them out.

  18. juneau_fan on April 19th, 2011 10:53 pm

    Jordan, there’s a post up, in case you haven’t seen it.

  19. kenshabby on April 20th, 2011 12:13 am

    So Tiger pitching still hasn’t given up a home run in what, 80+ innings?

    Looking for an obscure ESPN-procured stat on the most BBs given up in a single game by a pitching staff without allowing a single longball…

  20. ejb770 on April 20th, 2011 2:08 am

    M’s had 2 homers on Monday (Milton and Smoak)

  21. samregens on April 20th, 2011 7:44 am

    No doubt about it– this game cements the whole problem to our season. It’s a simple solution really. Quick fix to an obvious dilemma.

    RETIRE THE TEAL JERSEYS!!!!!!!! (Maybe they can wear them on “turn back the clock day”)

    You can say that again. The navy is so much better and solid than the quirky teal.

  22. nvn8vbryce on April 20th, 2011 12:38 pm

    Austin Jackson. Is there any other major leaguer named after two state capitals?

    +1 for creativity!

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