Mariners 2005

Above .500 and leaping over Texas in second place in the AL WEST

2006-06-30T02:19:00.000-07:00

The mariners have made me a very happy girl this past month winning with a record of 18-7 so far in the month of June. This is our first winning month in quite some time, i want to say years, but i don't know the exact date. I am all smiles tonight watching the mariners pull the win away from the arizona diamondbacks in the 9th inning on a homerun by Raul Ibanez and a triple by Kenji jojima and another basehit to drive in pinch runner willie bloomquist for the go ahead run made me glow in the warm summer air in seattle on Thursday evening. With the win, The Seattle Mariners are now 2 games above .500 and they leap frogged Texas into second place in the American League standings. Oakland leads the Mariners by 2.5 games in the West.

One of the first goals for the mariners this summer was to reach .500. That is just a stepping stone to get there and then start to rise. Next stone to leap to is climb in the standings and continue to play good solid ball. Do the small things that win games. Good defense, good pitching, smart hitting and running the bases smartly. The Mariners have had that in the month of June and it has been fun to be a Mariners fan this month. It has gone from the mariners were cellar dwellers early in the season and their chemestry started to work and sparkle and they started having a good time out on the field. Even though some of the big boppers weren't playing to what most of the media said they should, I knew in my heart that they were going to be fine, the beautiful thing about baseball is that one day you can go 0-4 and think that tomorrow will be the same for the poor guy because "he just sucks" "he's done and old" or what ever the people say, but it is a long season and there is a reason why one of the most important stats kept is AVERAGE not what you did on one at bat, but it combines all of you ab's and there ya go. Baseball season is a marathon, 162 games, guys have good weeks, bad weeks, slow starts, hot streaks, power strokes and some guys can just lay the bunt down to push the runner along and eventually get the guy over, average average average. Ebb and flow of the season. It's why I love baseball. And sticking with a team that you love over the years makes you appreciate the good time so much more when there have been the ebbs like the past few seasons. I am just glowing as a Mariners fan with the way they have played this year. They dominated interleague play with a record of 12-2 i believe so far. Anyways, second place in june, I really shouldn't get too excited but hey, these are the guys I follow daily and I know it's a big goal reached this past week. 2 games over .500 AND now in Second place in the AL West! Congrats to the boys of summer in seattle.

ChiSOX rock

2005-10-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

What, nothing about the Sox winning it all?

Nothing about Freddy pitching the winning game? You feeling OK there, Panzy?

***Anne's Reply to Valorie***

Okok! I have been lazy when it comes to this blog, but hey i've been a little busy with getting married and working and trying to stay awake!

The Chicago White Sox won the world series!

The Mariners signed Jarrod Washburn today to a 4 year deal, that should really help with the rotation! Also kept Jamie Moyer on board, and picked up the option on Guardado. Signed Carl Everett to a year contract to play in the outfield. Signed the Japaneese catcher that is supposed to be a wonder much like Ichiro.

That's all of the news that i can think of off the top of my head... Can hardly wait until spring training starts, it's only about 2 months away!!!!!!!!

Love the new Mrs. Anne Jones

Day 2

2005-10-06T02:04:00.000-07:00

New York 3, Anaheim 5 -- Series tied at 1-1 game three in NY on Friday Oct 7th espn

Boston 4, Chicago 5 -- White Sox lead 2-0 in best of 5. Game three in Boston on Friday the 7th espn2

Houston 10, Atlanta 5 -- Astros lead best of 5 series 1-0. game 2 thrursday on fox

San Diego @ St Loius Thursday ESPN2 -- St Louis leads 1-0

Playoffs, Day 1

2005-10-05T02:51:00.000-07:00

#St Louis 8, San Diego 5 -- St Louis lead best of 5 series 1-0

*Chicago 14, Boston 2 -- White Sox lead best of 5 series 1-0

*New York 4, Los Angeles 2 -- Yankees lead best of 5 series 1-0

#Atlanta vs Houston -- Wednesday October 5

Season 2005 coming to a end.

2005-09-20T03:03:00.000-07:00

It's only got a few more weeks before the retooling can begin, again. Will Bill Bavasi actually make some pitching moves this off-season? Will he get a few more guys like Sexson and Beltre? He got a few nice guys for the infield for 05, but from what i have seen of Mr. Bavasi he will make moves that he says are terrific and are "sensible" for the team in the long run, but what i think he needs to do is hire back the old GM Gillick on the side and ask the man what he should do. Damn, i don't think i have been as frustrated with my baseball team in years. It seems like anything good they would like to do away with. WHat will Bavasi do next? Trade Ichiro for a few pitching prospects? I wouldn't be suprised at anything that man decides to do with the Mariners. We are too old in spots where, sure they are helping with the younger guys break into the league, and way too young in MOST spots because we have half of the Tacoma Rainiers in Mariner uniforms this year. They said on the broadcast a few days ago that 12 Tacoma players that started in AAA this season are now with the club and have been for some time. That is amazing! It's such a lopsided mix or rookies to vets on this team. You have someone like Jamie Moyer who is 42 and another guy who is the YOUNGEST IN THE MAJORS at 19. Same rotation. And our closer is in his late 30's along side with a bunch of guys who put together have as much ML experience as he does in the pen. Our middle infield is a rotation of 4 rookies or very near rookies, meaning they were with the club last year in September for the expanded rosters, but other than that they are basically AAA players. I have to say that I am impressed with Morse and Lopez and Bentacort, they have had their rookie days where they make fundamental mistakes, but overall they are learning a lot and doing whatever it takes to be in the lineup everyday.
I really do like the make up Core of the team, guys like Ibanez, Sexson, Beltre, Ichiro, Reed, Morse, they are good guys to build a team around. Felix Hernandez has been fun to watch, and will be as long as they are carful with him since he is so young. Moyer probably won't be back since they tried to trade him 8 different times this season. And it seems like the rest of the rotation is just so spotty. You never know if you are going to get a outting that is a masterpeice and they go 8 strong innings, or if you are going to get a hit-fest and see the bull pen take over after 3 innings. The experts always say that you win with pitching and defense. Well, Bavasi, we have the defense, how about getting us some pitching? We even have a little power with Sexson and Beltre and Ibanez. Ichiro hits for average and is hovering around .300 this season. We could get a little speed in the line up and a little pitching and i think we could dig ourselves out of the AL West Cellar!!! Wouldn't that be nice to see teams below us instead of 16 games ABOVE us? Wouldn't it be fun to be in a race for something again instead of trying to avoid 90 losses? how about 90 wins? Wilson is retiring, Moyers salary will be gone, same with Guardado most likely. Will be be getting a permanent catcher? We had 6 to choose from this year! I don't know Bill, maybe you should get a wig or something because teams don't want to make good deals with you, you look sorta like a weasel and I know I don't want to be in the same elevator as you when i leave the park at night, hell you scare me when i'm in the press box at the same time as you. I don't claim to have all of the answers, but then again I'm not the one who took the job as GM and messed with a cities emotions and threw their baseball team down to the cellar. What happened when Gillick left? Did he leave a message on what not to do with the Mariners and just mislable it? You have a brain inside that bald head of yours, wrap a scarf around it and warm up to the idea that Seattle wants to support this team and come to the beautiful baseball field that is Safeco Field. Please!

2005-09-13T03:22:00.000-07:00

-This is a post that I made on another blog I have and posted it here since it shpuld be here more than there, or at least both places.-

Ode to Danny Wilson

Dan Wilson, my paperboy catcher for the Seattle Mariners from 1994-2005 announced that he will retire when the 2005 season ends. Anyone who follows the Mariners knew that it could be a possiblity when he tore a ligament in his knee on May 4th of this year after getting a basehit to left field and had to leave the game. I was working for ANC that game and saw Danny's last at bat and saw him walk off the field. I felt that something was wrong as I watched him walk off with the trainer Rick Griffin. I kind of just stood there with a very worried feeling and didn't want to sit back down. It was like the day before Boonie was traded to Minnesota, i knew that it was his last game in a Mariner uniform. Although today during Wilsons press confrence he said that he would like to play at least one more inning this season before hanging it up. The announcers were talking about who he might catch for, such as long time teammate Jeff Nelson or Jamie Moyer. He gets to make his own ending after the injury, i think that is nice. He is such a good man, not only as a ML baseball player but in the world. He and his wife are so involved in the community and help so many children. He also said that he would like to remain involved with the Mariners in some fashion as well, either it be with the charity work that the team is involved with or down the road maybe a coach of some sort. I really hope that happens. It would be so great to see Dan Wilson a pitching coach and right beside him Edgar Martinez as a batting coach! How about Jay Buhner being a bench coach or an outfield coach? Or maybe Danny could be manager and Jamie Moyer could be the pitching coach when he decides to retire? I like that idea too. There just seem to be some people in this world that it would just be too hard not to remain in contact. (on a side note, when i met Jason I had the same feeling about him, there are just some good people that have to remain a part of your life in some respect). Look at the Mariners since Danny went out with the injury, we have had so many catchers in and out of the position, i think i heard a while back that we have used 6 different guys trying to fill his spot. AND no one will ever have his demeanor, no one can replace what Dan Wilson has, he is just a good man. So, Danny Wilson, I will miss watching your talents on the baseball diamond, but hope that we still see your talents taught to young people all over in this world. Thanks for making the #6 mean something special.

2005-07-29T06:24:00.000-07:00

Saving sensation
Eddie Guardado has converted 22 consecutive save opportunities, which is third in the Majors. The longest consecutive streak in the Majors is Mariano Rivera (25). The previous Seattle club record was 17, held by Bill Swift, Norm Charlton, and Kazuhiro Sasaki.

AL West	W	L	Pct.	GB
LA Angels	59	43	.578	---
Oakland	55	46	.545	3.5
Texas	51	50	.505	7.5
Seattle	44	57	.436	14.5

Mariners are back home for a few games

2005-07-29T02:23:00.000-07:00

The Mariners are playing baseball like they have been all year, a little spurt of passion and winning, then a down slide with a couple of injuries or setbacks for a few players. Tonight against the Indians we lost 6-5. Last night against the Tigers we beat them 8-1. Sexson blasted two homeruns in last nights game and is hitting .375 in July. Beltre picked his batting up this past month as well. On the pre-game show this afternoon the announcers were explaining that since both Sexson and Beltre are now seeing the teams for the second and third times around, they know more of what to expect and how they will be pitched to. It's so nice to see them producing they way they expect themselves to. Jamie Moyer pitched 8 strong innings yesterday and it could have been his last start as a Mariner as the non-waiver trading deadline approaches. Gil Meche, Randy Winn, Joel Piniero, Raul Ibanez, Ron Villone, Eddie Guardado have all been in rumor talks this past week. I hate this time of year, every game I watch, when a player is taken out for a pinch hitter or replaced defensively, I don't know if it's just game stadegy or if they are no longer with the ballclub. It's very stressful!
The damn Yankees are in rumors of wanting to take my Gil Meche along with Randy Winn! They are looking for a replacement for Burnie Williams and are desperate for starting pitching. If there are any deals I'll try to put up a post with details, but honestly I hope there isn't too much movement around this time of year, it just makes me nervous. I'm glad that I have to be working and we are busy at the restuarant this weekend!!
That's all for now, I'll get back to my full posts soon i hope.

Lots of happy thoughts,
Anne

2005-07-26T15:53:00.000-07:00

Anthony got a baseball from Will the Secrity man, and we all had a good time watching the Mariners beat the Tigers 5-3. Anthony of course was rooting for the Tigers... I won 1.88 since the Mariners pulled this one out. I even called that Beltre would hit his homerun and tie the game, Little Man didn't like that at all.
Posted by Anne

2005-07-23T00:56:00.000-07:00

I found this on the web and would like to have it incorporated on the page somehow.... does anyone have any idea how to make it a permanent thing instead of a post?

2005-07-23T00:53:00.000-07:00

Debra and My Mom sitting at Woodland Park enjoying the shade. These are my baseball buddies!

Sunday July 17th, M's Win

2005-07-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	9	3
Seattle «	0	0	0	0	0	5	2	1	X	8	10	0
Preview \| Matchup \| Lineup \| Log \| Wrap \| Box W:G.Meche(10-6) L:S.Ponson(7-8) HR: BAL- R.Palmeiro (16) SEA- M.Olivo (4)

I didn't get a chance to see the entire game, I got home from work in the 8th inning. I missed all of the action. Although, Gil Meche is the first Mariner to notch a 10 game win season since 2001, which is amazing since it's only June. Way to go Meche! From what I read online about the game, Olivo jump started the win with a single and a stolen base and kept Meche in the game when he got frustrated. Sounds like Sunday afternoon at Safeco was a delight all around!

M's take game 3 from O's in bottom of 9th

2005-07-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

With Beltre abord in the 9th inning Mike Morse hit a line drive that drove in the 3rd run for the mariners and beat the O's finally in game 3 of this 4 game series. Jamie Moyer pitched 8 solid innings but getting a ND with the score tied when he left. Bruce Chen also went deep into the game but also got no decision. It was certinaly a pitchers duel and good game to see sitting on a bean bag watching the sunset glow on the east side of the horizon and cheering the boys in white on to just get that hit, and they did. That makes girls like Anne happy. The purity of baseball was clear to me when Jamie Moyer was facing Sammy Sosa tonight. Soso looked frustrated and stressed. Moyer looked calm and collected like he usually does. What I love about baseball so much is how simple and complex it is all at the same time. and at any second to another second u can make it be what you want it to be. I was just watching the profile of Sosa facing Moyer, he looked scared. He was trying to think of what was going to be thrown to him. I think he even had a hitters count 2-1, but he still didn't look like he wanted to be up there facing Jamie at that time. I believe he ended up fanning All I can say about that is that I'm glad I benched his sorry ass on my fantasy team this weekend. yesterday i lost a hit and run from him but it's worth it. I'm going to try my best to put a box score up that doesn't actually suck.... Mariners win over the O's 3-2

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	11	2
Seattle «	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	8	0
Preview \| Matchup \| Lineup \| Log \| Wrap \| Box W:J.Putz(2-3) L:C.Ray(0-1) HR: BAL- None SEA- R.Sexson (20)

2005-07-16T01:23:00.000-07:00

I got home from work in plenty of time to settle down and get ready to watch the boys of summer and catch a little history with 3000 hits from Raffy Palmerio. Piniero was on the hill tonight for the Mariners, but couldn't find his zone. He had thrown 98 pitches through 4 innings i think... I'll just have to put the box score up here cause to tell the truth i fell asleep before the pregame started and woke up during the post game show. I missed Raffy's double for the 3000 milestone celebration.

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore «	1	2	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	6	13	0
Seattle	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	9	0
Preview \| Matchup \| Lineup \| Log \| Wrap \| Box W:R.Lopez(9-5) L:J.Pineiro(3-5) S:B.Ryan (21) HR: BAL- M.Mora (16), S.Fasano (8) SEA- R.Sexson (19)

Game 1 vs Baltimore

2005-07-15T01:26:00.000-07:00

Mariners lost to the Orioles 5-3 Thursday night at Safeco Field. The Mariners did all of their scoring in the second inning scoring on two errors and a good old fashioned run batted in. Sloppy defense gave the M's some hope for about an inning or two before Aaron Sele couldn't quite keep Jay Gibbons in the park and gave up a homer. The Mariners were down by only one run going into the 9th inning, but JJ Putz couldn't keep the birds out of the nest as he game up one more run to make it 5 runs to 3 runs. Mariners couldn't get anything going again their closer BJ Ryan.

Raffy Palmiero managed one hit tonight to come within a single hit of 3000. In the 8th inning when he was at bat against Julio Mateo, our pitcher was booed when he ended up walking him. So it didn't happen for Palmiero today, but he has 3 more games to victimize the seattle pitchers.

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore «	0	0	0	2	1	1	0	0	1	5	8	2
Seattle	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	1
Preview \| Matchup \| Lineup \| Log \| Wrap \| Box W:D.Cabrera(8-7) L:A.Sele(6-9) S:B.Ryan (20) HR: BAL- S.Fasano (7), J.Gibbons (14) SEA- None

Let's try again tomorrow. Anne

2005-07-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

Boone

Minnesota, that's where Bret Boone will finish this season. He said it was his first choice to go to the Twins. The Mariners made the deal at the last minute and sent Boone along with cash to the Twins for a player to be named later. From the little bit of research I did, I have found out that the Mariners will probably get a minor league player after the seasons end. And get this, the Mariners pay Boone the remainder of his salary, and then the Twins pay him a pro-rated M.L. min amount, which is about $175,000. Win win for the Twins apparently. I wish him the best and hope he goes deep into the playoffs this post season.

As far as the rest of the Mariners (the ones that are still on the team) it's the last day of vacation for our boys. Getting back to work tomorrow against the Orioles. Palmerio is only a few hits away from his 5000th career, and he absolutly slaughters the Mariners pitching everytime he faces us. A good chance that many Seattle fans will see history this weekend!

Ichiro got a RBI single in the All Star game yesterday. As I wasn't really watching all that closely, I can't really tell ya much more than the American League won 7-5 and will have home field advantage in the World Series.

That's all for today, hope to have some good news from this weekend series from Safeco.
Anne

2005-07-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

As the All Star Break Approches

The half way point of the season is upon us once again. As I type, the Mariners are playing the last game before the 3 day break. Seattle is represented by only one lone player this year, Ichiro Suzuki. Of course he is deserving and I can't blame the fans for notvoting any Mariners in on the merits of the team itself. Ichiro was added as a reserve by the American League All-Star staff lead by Terry Francona of the World Champion Boston Red Sox. This is the third year that the all star game will determine home field advantage for the world series. I really like that M.L. Baseball imposed this rule, it makes the players feel like they have something more to play for than just playing for bragging rights, which who cares what league wins anyway without something good coming from it but a bunch of trash talk. Oh well, one girl, one opinion.
The Mariners are playing the Angels this weekend and have been playing great! We have beat them 3 of 4 so far and lead them in this game 7-3. We are 13.5 games back in the division, and unless the mariners front office does something major soon, i think that we will be trying to build for next season. Boone has already been designated for assignment, and so far no team has made a creditable offer for him. Sounds like we may end up releasing him outright and eating the remainder of his salary, which i believe is over 4.5 million. He would become a free agent if that happens, after a two day waiver period. Any team then could make a contract offer to him after that happens.

The M's are so fun to watch lately. It looks like they are really gelling as teammates and having fun! There are a bunch of new kids on the team, which i think is good for the mentality of the guys. Like they can all relate to one anothers struggles. But there is also the nice blend of veterans in the mix to help the young men out if they want to take the advice. Jeramy Reed is so much fun to watch out in centerfield. He plays hard and sacrafices his body to make these unbelievable catches. Ichiro is just so fast and makes the game look simple. Morse at short is fitting in nicely, his bat has been hot ever since he got his first major league hit weeks ago. Pat Borders has pulled the veteran pitchers back together since Wilson went down for surgery. Beltre has been smokin the past 3 or 4 weeks with the hitting and his defense is amazing. It's so nice to have a good defensive club on the field. Richie Sexson has a homerun today and has also been heating up at the plate. Jose Lopez and Willie Bloomquist have been doing just fine filling the vacant spot at second base. And who could leave out Raul Ibanez? Having him on my fantasy team, I look at how he is batting runners in and being a very solid replacement for the nearly irreplacable Edgar Martinez in the Designated Hitter role. Randy Winn in left field has also been steady at the dish and his defense could be a little to be desired some days, but overall he has speed out there to catch the balls that can roll in that tricky left corner at Safeco sometimes. I don't know a whole lot about a lot of things, but I do know that I like watching these guys play baseball. I like what I see in the future if they keep a good core of guys together. We are short a few solid starters and experience, but hopfully those things can be fixed and filled in the days to come. You just have to keep faith and go out and play hard everyday. What can I say? I'm a Mariner Geek!