Team Report
as of Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:52 AM.
(Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners continue to nip at the heels of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League West standings. The Mariners have won five of their last six games, including a sweep of the Chicago White Sox, to move within two games of the Angels.
At 71-53, however, the Mariners find themselves in first place in the AL wild card race with a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees.
Seattle has picked up its play in the month of August, going 13-6 over the past three weeks. The Mariners are in the middle of a victorious week, as they are coming off a series win over the Minnesota Twins. Seattle dominated the three-game set, outscoring the Twins 20-14. The Mariners set the tone during Monday night's series opener, upending Minnesota by a 9-4 score. Starter Horacio Ramirez was solid in the win, allowing four runs through 7 1/3 innings. The Mariners gave Ramirez plenty of support collecting 15 hits in the win, including home runs from Raul Ibanez, Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima.
The Mariners came right back on Tuesday night, collecting 18 hits in a 7-2 victory. Starter Jarrod Washburn took advantage of Seattle's offensive explosion, allowing just two runs on five hits through six innings. Once again the Mariners relied on the long-ball, as Sexson and Adrian Beltre each homered in the victory. Unfortunately, the Mariners could not complete the three-game sweep after dropping Wednesday's finale 8-4.
MARINERS LINEUP PUSHING TOWARDS HISTORY
Seattle has had no problems scoring runs this season, tallying 624 runs on the year. The Mariners have been able to generate runs the old fashioned way, relying on small ball and consistent hitting to win games .
The Mariners do not boast a hulking home run hitter, as Richie Sexson leads the team in that category with 21 on the year. However, Seattle has been able to put together a solid lineup, featuring eight players who have registered 50 or more RBI on the season. Jose Vidro (49) is the only starter yet to knock in 50 runs this year. Once Vidro captures number 50, the 2007 Mariners will set a franchise record and become the first team in team history to boast nine players with 50 or more RBI in a season. The other eight players are Ibanez (83), Jose Guillen (78), Beltre (75), Sexson (61), Jose Lopez (51), Yuniesky Betancourt (51), Ichiro Suzuki (50) and Johjima (50).
This Mariner ballclub will be the first team to accomplish the feat since Cincinnati, Toronto and Cleveland all did it in 2005. The closest Seattle has ever come before was in 1997 when eight players hit the 50-plus mark, jolting Seattle to a club-record 90 wins and an AL West crown.
Vidro is overwhelmed by the Mariners success at the plate and is confident in the entire Seattle lineup.
"It has been a lot of fun," Vidro said. "When you have that many guys driving in that many runs, it makes it special. If one guy doesn't drive in the runs, the guy behind him picks him up. That is one of the reasons this ballclub is doing so well on the offensive side."
JONES MAKING MOST OF BENCH TIME
There is no doubt that Mariners outfielder Adam Jones will be a major part of the team's success in the future. The 22-year old is a rising young talent, who tore through Triple-A this season, earning himself a spot on the Pacific Coast league All-Star team. However, since being called up to the majors on August 3rd, Jones has struggled in making the transition from the minors to the big leagues. The outfielder has gone just 6-for-23 at the plate in seven Major League games and has not faired well in pinch-hit situations.
Normally a late season call up like Jones is expected to showcase his talent for a team that has already been eliminated from playoff contention. However, that is not the case in Seattle, as the Mariners are in the heart of a pennant race with Anaheim. The team's success has forced manager John McLaren to stick with his lineup, thus lessening Jones' opportunities to play.
However, despite being out of the lineup for seven straight games, Jones is making the most of his time on the bench. The young outfielder is studying opposing pitchers, learning from veterans and adjusting to life in the pros. McLaren is impressed with Jones' approach and is becoming more confident in the outfielder everyday.
"He asks questions and I've seen him talking to the veteran players, and veteran players talking to him," McLaren said. "I think he is taking the right approach and using this as a positive experience. He's learning what it's all about up here; how you act, how you play.
As for Jones he is making sure he takes advantage of every opportunity that comes his way, whether is on the field or in the dugout.
"You can learn more by playing," Jones said, "but I'm learning a lot just by being around these guys. You can learn a lot of stuff that others don't see."
WHO'S HOT
Suzuki continues to produce at the plate, going 15-for-41 with nine runs scored in his last 10 games. The center fielder has 182 hits on the year and is well on the way to his seventh straight 200-hit season. On the year Suzuki is batting .349 with 50 RBI and 36 stolen bases.
WHO'S NOT
Although he has homered in two of his last three games, Sexson is still struggling at the plate. The outfielder has 12 strikeouts in his last 39 at- bats and has struck out 95 times this season. Sexson has struggled through most of the year and is currently batting a career low .211.
ON DECK
The Mariners will travel to Arlington for a four-game set against the Texas Rangers. Thursday night's opener will feature right-handers Jeff Weaver (5-10, 5.57) and Kameron Loe (6-9, 5.56). Friday night's contest will be a showdown between Felix Hernandez (9-6, 3.94) and Kevin Millwood (8-10, 5.39). Left-hander Horacio Ramirez (8-4, 7.15) and right-hander Mike Wood (3-1, 4.06) will take the mound on Saturday night before Jarrod Washburn (9-10, 4.11) and Vicente Padilla (3-9, 6.55) face off in Sunday night's series finale.