Pointless

Seriously, what’s the point of being a Mariners fan? Devotedly following each game? Why?

“Hey! Maybe they won’t lose nearly as bad as they did yesterday! Nope, they’re losing even worse…”

Maybe the M’s will get things turned around in their next series. Against the Yankees at the Bronx. Yeah, totally. That will do it.

M’s pitching: cure for the ailing offense

No, there is no mojo returning to the M’s line-up.  By dropping yesterday’s game against the Tigers by a 12-8 score, the M’s were denied their first shot at a three-game winning streak in a month.  Still, by scoring seven runs in the last three innings against the Tigers’ questionable bullpen, the M’s did display their customary late-inning mojo, resulting in the team topping eight runs for only the fifth time this season.

Unfortunately, just like last week’s twelve-run explosion against the Rangers, yesterday’s run splurge was wasted due to a poor start by Carlos Silva, who allowed nine hits and seven runs through four innings.  After posting a 3-0 record and a 2.79 ERA through his first six starts, Silva has demonstrated the form that resulted in M’s fans gnashing their teeth upon news of his off season signing, compiling a 9.30 ERA on 33 hits over 20 innings in his past four starts, dropping three decisions.  $48 million well spent, indeed….

Silva’s poor outing was a godsend to the dormant Tigers’ offense, which had been held to 31 runs over their past ten games, getting shut out twice during that span.  After his four worthless innings, Silva was replaced after by Cha Seung Baek, who was tasked to keep the game close.  Baek was an abject failure at his task, as the TIgers’ bats ripped into him for six hits and four runs- on three home runs- over two innings, as the game was put well out of reach of the M’s late inning last gasp.

The brutal pitching performances ruined an effort that saw four multi-hit efforts from the Mariners line-up.  Ten of the thirteen hits compiled by the team, however, went for singles, as opposed to the eight extra base hits compiled by the Tiger’s present-day Murderer’s Row line-up.

If only the M’s can coordinate their hitting and pitching efforts….

Maybe that could happen tonight, with a pitching match-up pitting Jarrod Washburn against “The Gambler” Kenny Rogers.  This will be the first appearance by either pitcher against the opposing team at Comerica Park in a couple of years, with both pitcher losing the decision.  Rogers, however, has had a rough go at it so far this year, with a 6.65 ERA, 64 hits, and 24 walks allowed in 47 innings, and is coming off a start allowing seven runs and eleven hits in four innings against the Royals.  Rogers may have a 10-12 record against Seattle as opposed to Washburn’s 4-7 career record against Detroit.  But I’m feeling quietly optimistic that the Tigers used up their run quota last night.  I’m calling for the final score to be in the M’s favor by a 5-4 margin.