Rangers 10, Mariners 1

Let’s just not, shall we?

Ugh.  The best thing about last night’s game is that it’s over.  Admittedly, it was over after just three innings when the Rangers had racked up a 10-0 score thanks to starter Miguel Batista allowing six walks- four in the first inning- and three hits in just over two innings of work.  Subtract that seven inning gem of a no-decision he tossed against Cleveland in his prior start, and Batista has lasted just 3.1 innings over his last two starts at Safeco, allowing five hits, eleven walks, and nine earned runs for a horrific 24.30 ERA.

I believe its safe to say that Batista is far from the reliable form he exhibited last season, and is demonstrating just why so many Mariners fans were leery of his presence on the rotation.  Perhaps its time to consider the obvious fact that Batista’s rotation spot should be in jeopardy, and perhaps consider Brandon Morrow to step in his stead, beginning with a few five-inning efforts and expanding from there.  It would be much better than having Batista immediately take the M’s out of the game in the top half of the first inning.

On the other hand, in the Mariners’ season-long quest to bolster opposing starters’ case for Cy Young, the M’s did Sidney Ponson a favor by folding like a wet rag against his offerings, putting up a miniscule offensive effort as Ponson limited the Mariners to one run over seven innings.  The lone highlight?  Ichiro slapping an out-of-the-zone pitch for an opposite-field double, scoring Wladimir Balentien.  Woo.  Little wonder the smallest crowd in Safeco Field’s history- 15,818 poor souls sending a clear message to the Mariners front office- witnessing this travesty.  (On the plus side, imagine this sparse crowd if the results were reversed.)  Perhaps the team was disenheartened playing in front of more empty seats than fans.  Perhaps this team just sucks.

Its understandable for the team to struggle against Zack Greinke and Ervin Santana.  Those two pitchers are having a lights’ out start to the season, and making an early case for the Cy Young Award.  But struggling against Triple-A call-up Darell Rasner and then Sideny Ponson, who last year had an ERA (6.93) that almost would make a decent OPS, in two out of three days?  Can we see who else is available at Tacoma, or, hell, Double-A West Tenn to insert into this line-up?  The results couldn’t possibly be any more putrid.

Oh yeah, and guess who had a three-run home run in last night’s game?  That’s right, ‘effin Josh Hamilton.  Boy how I hate him.

Erik Bedard takes the hill tonight to regain a modicum of respectability for the M’s as the series versus Texas continues.  Erik pitched well enough to beat the Yankees last Friday- allowing one earned run over seven innings in a 5-1 loss- but was done in by a combination of weak hitting, poor defense, and the unbeatable Chien-Meng Wang.  In Bedard’s favor, Erik has won four out of five decisions against Texas, holding the Rangers to 35 hits, a 50:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 2.42 ERA over nearly 45 innings.  In the season opener, Erik limited the Rangers to a lead-off home run by Michael Young and nothing more as the M’s triumphed over Texas by a 5-2 score.

Vincente Padilla is taking the hill for the Rangers tonight.  The Mariners have roughed up Padilla, as Vincente has dropped five of seven decisions against Seattle, allowing a 5.66 ERA, 61 hits, and a 29:23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in nearly 48 innings.  Adrian Beltre has enjoyed success off Padilla, with four of his six hits going yard, Raul Ibanez hitting .353 in 17 at-bats against Padilla, and Ichiro absolutely owning Padilla, with a .577 average and 1.376 OPS in 36 at-bats against Padilla.

Of course, it should also be pointed out that Padilla is showing flashes of the farm that made him an All Star in 2002, with a 3.50 ERA so far in the young season.  In his only start against the Mariners this season, he limited Seattle to one run over six innings in a 5-4 Texas victory, and limited Oakland to one earned run over 5.2 innings in a 4-3 win over the Athletics.

Bedard versus Padilla should provide the pitching duel that never materialized last night.  Expect both sides to provide a quality start, but the M’s weak bats dooming the M’s to lose another one-run ball game.  Final score: 4-3, Rangers.