Tuesday in Seattle Pregame

Tonight’s starters.
~~Freddy Garcia~~ Felix Hernandez is so far having his best season, highlighted by the fact he has more Ks than innings pitched. His velocity, however, continues to decline. From a rookie season high of 95.8 mph, his fastball is now averaging 93.5 mph.
Matt Palmer has been solid (5.4Ks per 9, 4.23 FIP). My concern is that his velocity is below average (around 87 mph) and he primarily throws fastballs and cutters (about 74% of the time). Here’s hoping that a weak Mariners lineup and a big ballpark works to Matt’s advantage. (stat source: www.fangraphs.com)

Forget the Wood talk.. Abreu (.348 SLG) and Rivera (.389 SLG) are not close to their usual power levels. Unless they are hurt, I expect both these guys to improve in the SLG department. It isn’t like they forgot how to hit; their BB, K and line drive rates are all within reason and in fact, both Abreu and Rivera are showing improved plate discipline and contact year-over-year.

Percentage of time swings at pitches outside the strike zone (2008 vs. 2009)
Abreu: 16.6% vs. 14.4%
Rivera: 30.3% vs. 21.2%

Percentage of swings in which contact is made (2008 vs. 2009)
Abreu: 84.9% vs. 85.6%
Rivera: 84.5% vs. 90.0%

The power should be coming.

Fan Since 1981 - May 19, 2009 reply

One more thing

A .439 lifetime slugging percentage in the minors with the body-type of Weird Al Yankovic, but a .515 career SLG mark at the MLB level.

11 HRs at age 27
14 HRs at age 28
37 HRs at age 37

Gee, what a spike in power.

Weird Edgar Yankovic, indeed!

Fan Since 1981 - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu-Figgins-Hunter

V-Hawk Angelorum - May 19, 2009 reply

figgy-hunter-napoli....

norcaliangelsfan - May 19, 2009 reply

figgins-hunter-napoli-all of the above

3eyes - May 19, 2009 reply

hunter napoli abreu

ponusbaum43 - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins-Hunter-Morales

turs12 - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgy-Aybar-Hunter

chairmanofthebar - May 19, 2009 reply

abe fig hunt

Again, I think it’s possible that toriithehunter doesn’t even play. someone is just penciling in his name for laughs…I don’t think you could keep that from happening right?

All Hail Erstad - May 19, 2009 reply

admins can check on stuff like that

your conspiracy theory is not correct. logical and insidious, yes; aligned with the dark side of human nature, yes; but i checked log in times.

Rev Halofan - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgy-Torii-Aybar

Big Game Hunter - May 19, 2009 reply

Kendrick-Abreu-Hunter

Chone's Chonies - May 19, 2009 reply

figgy- hunter -abreu

surfpunk - May 19, 2009 reply

figgins-hunter-morales

TheAngelsAngels - May 19, 2009 reply

Hunter – kendrick – morales

wildwill - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins-Abreu-Hunter

UpStream15 - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgy Bobby Torii

Brew Angel - May 19, 2009 reply

bobby, figgy, torii and for the 38th time: all of the above!

wallispdub1 - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu- Aybar- Figggy

stuck in Romania - May 19, 2009 reply

uh... and for the bonus point.... for the 38th time: all the stinkin' above

stuck in Romania - May 19, 2009 reply

bobby-figgy-torii

kingfish - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgy-Aybar-Abreu

all of the above for the bonus!

stolenbases - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgy-Aybar-Morales

oh, all of the above for the 38th time.

TheGrinch - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins - Hunter - Napoli

rspencer - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins Abreu Hunter

angelskid2210 - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu/Aybay/Figgy

I smell a hitfest

Moondoggy - May 19, 2009 reply

abreu, torii, howie

adirondackangelfan - May 19, 2009 reply

hunter, morales, napoli

swiss mcgee - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu-Hunter-Morales

HaloDutch - May 19, 2009 reply

picks

Abreu, Hunter, Napoli

sunshine thermometer - May 19, 2009 reply

I can't remember a single thing I put

Figgi4life - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgy-Aybar-Hunter

Sorry guy’s, I don’t have much time to make my picks so I usually have my little girl do it. I was not aware that you needed to post a comment. I am now. Won’t happen again!

ToriiTheHunter - May 19, 2009 reply

I see.

just give me a heads up with this kind of thing. I’m generally very easy to work with!
You just got to give me heads up if you’re going to be heading into difficulties.

Otherwise I’ll just think you’re some internet troll or something!
Well. I’m glad you’re aware of this now :)

scottnak - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins - Hunter - Morales

After a difficult month, I can finally say GO ANGELS!

RallyWookie - May 19, 2009 reply

is everything ok man?

when times get tough i try to find a little solace in halos baseball.

wallispdub1 - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins * Hunter * Abreu

Funke5ive - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins-Hunter-Napoli

ALucky22 - May 19, 2009 reply

Bobby A. Torii and Mike Napoli

DaBigKahuna - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu, Hunter, Morales

sothball - May 19, 2009 reply

Short Live the King - Tuesday

Abreu, Morales, Figgins

Beachbum Willy - May 19, 2009 reply

do we all get 1 point for getting the last question right?

anaheim angels - May 19, 2009 reply

abreu-figgy-tori

Jack Kerouac - May 19, 2009 reply

Hunter-Morales-Napoli

HalosFanatic - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins Hunter Napoli

I am gonna be in Europe for the next two weeks, anybody know how I can watch the game without gettting mlbtv?? I think the rev said no more linkies so I was wondering if someone had figured out another way of letting everyone know?

trojanangelfan - May 19, 2009 reply

Scottnak

Just realized I submitted my form twice, my bad. This stuff is hard on an iPhone :)

trojanangelfan - May 19, 2009 reply

figgins,abreu,morales

wings - May 19, 2009 reply

abreu, figgins, hunter

Wittness - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu/Naps/GMJ

ReggieBullits - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu-Napoli-Morales

mastermind565 - May 19, 2009 reply

Morales-Napoli-Rivera

44FAN - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu Figgins Kendrick

TheTypingFiend - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu-figgy-tori

SFV88 - May 19, 2009 reply

Figgins-abreu-Izturis

lackey41 - May 19, 2009 reply

Abreu - Figgins - Hunter

Trying to submit form, but form keeps kicking back telling me to enter my name, which is there.

Stirrups - May 19, 2009 reply

Sorry scottnak, but your need to yell at ToriiTheHunter has your form jacked up. It is pulling your complaint into your form for every submission as the final cell. Except, of course, on my submission when it is blocking it altogether.

Halos Heaven