Final Score in Seattle: Angels 1, Mariners 8 ... the wrong game to be at on the west coast this Sunday afternoon saw the Mariners bid welcome to their new hitting coach with back to back homeruns in a four run 4th inning that was all the sputtering M's needed to end their 8 game losing streak and snuff the Angels' modest two game winning streak.
Despite early domination, Angels right Ervin Santana left some fat fastballs over the plate and the M's batters showed why they are at least triple A talent. The Mariners stole 4 bases, 3 by Ichiro Suzuki, while the Angels took none. A combined 15 base-runners were left on base
The loss leaves the Angels at 14-19 after 33 games, 4 and a half games behind a surging Texas Rangers club feasting on a mediocre stretch of opponents. The season is now 1/5th over and at the 20 percent mark it is an underwhelming club with below average everything: the starting pitching has been a nibbling mess, the offense is slow, the defense is sloppy and the bullpen has passed the meltdowns around. Looking ahead, the supposedly tough TB Rays meet up with the Halos at Angel Stadium tomorrow for three games and were just beat in baseball's 19th ever perfect game. Looking a little farther, the Angels face Dallas Braden Friday night and then play easy opponents thru the All Star break save for some games against the first place Texas Rangers and an interleague series with the no-competition Cardinals in St. Louis.
0 recs | 34 comments
Bad game all around.
At least were coming back home. Not that we’ve been all that successful at the Big A.
halofolife - May 9, 2010
I think
not all is Santana’s fault. He was probably feeling like a Mariner pitcher. He had to execute too perfectly or else the game might be over. Willis, Quinlan, and Wood making up 1/3 the lineup with a slumping Rivera hitting cleanup might make you throw up in your mouth.
phoenix15 - May 9, 2010
Me, I’d want to throw up in Soth’s cap.
rspencer - May 9, 2010
Soth's cap runneth over.
Downing Rules - May 10, 2010
I blame our pathetic offense as well
Jeez, and I thought the presence of Q as DH would ignite an offensive explosion
Raaddad - May 9, 2010
I also
worry about Stokes. It seems every appearance he gives up at least a run (this is the Ms and not the Yanks). I think GMJ might’ve been better as we wouldn’t have had to have Q DH. Someone call Washburn and sign a 1 year deal as a RP with him. Washburn would be better then Stokes.
phoenix15 - May 9, 2010
Stokes is only good for 2 to 3 innings max, opposing teams get his timing and then blast him
I’m surprised he hasn’t been sent down yet but apparently they don’t have anyone in the minors ready yet. Next saturday night could be a long and head shaking night for the Halos Heaven crew if they don’t turn things around.
steelgolf - May 9, 2010
I wish
Stokes were good for 2 to 3 innings. If he were he’d be a super-reliever. Usually he can’t even pitch scoreless ball for 1.
RallyMonkey5 - May 9, 2010
Scoreless ball? lets not get all crazy as if he is a panther, I only hope when he comes in
that he only gives up 1 or 2 runs over 3 innings, of course that logic assumes the Angels will actually hit and manufacture runs as they have in the past.
steelgolf - May 9, 2010
Stokes will never sniff 3 innings.
angelskid2210 - May 9, 2010
What does Met fan say?
Stoked was supposed to be better than this
Raaddad - May 10, 2010
I promised myself I would not let the Angels poor play ruin my wife and myselfs first
Mothers Day so after the 4 run inning by the Mariners I chose watching the Player Championship and every now and then switching to the Angels to see the carnage of the score. Freakin pathetic and I blame the front office, not Sosh. I’d like to see the stats of stolen bases this year for the Angels vs. last year and the year before. Matsui came through last night but I have a feeling the verdict at the end of the season will be as I predicted, and the angels need to stop putting him in the outfield already.
steelgolf - May 9, 2010
What is a player championship?
You didn’t actually turn off an Angels baseball game to watch golf, did you? Yikes. That would be lame. I’d sooner watch a 20-0 drubbing than watch golf on TV.
Downing Rules - May 10, 2010
Seven more walks today
After nine walks and a hit batsman yesterday. The general strike-zone avoidance by the pitching staff is well beyond the point of ridiculousness now. The Angels as a team currently lead the universe in walks allowed as well as total pitches thrown. At that rate there won’t be a functioning arm, shoulder, or elbow left by September.
Not that it would matter. The Angels are nipping at the Pirates’ heels for the worst WHIP in MLB, and only the awful Diamondbacks have allowed more hits (1 more) and more home runs (9 more). No amount of offense is going to make up for that over a full season.
So what’s wrong? I really don’t have a clue. They’re just not throwing strikes. Funny thing is, they didn’t throw strikes last year either (lowest Zone% in baseball) and yet they had one of the lowest walk rates in the majors. This year they’re throwing strikes with about the same frequency and getting swings with about the same frequency, but the walk rate has gone to hell. Maybe it’s a weird statistical fluctuation. They have been playing some of the walking-est teams in baseball (Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins). But the problem is that now the Angels have a reputation for walking guys, so opposing hitters are going to challenge them to find the zone. If they don’t adjust, they won’t get better.
Right now if the over/under for total walks issued by Angel pitchers during the upcoming series with the Rays was 24.5, I’d take the over. Hell, I’d probably take the over if that was the over/under for total stolen bases allowed, but that’s a different issue.
Suboptimal - May 9, 2010
Who would've thought
It seemed like a sure fire win slating Wood, Q, and Willits as the bottom 3.
Rally Manatee - May 9, 2010
Apparently Soscia and Reagins are still optimistic about Quinlan and Willits after their break through
rookie seasons.
HALO N BRIMSTONE - May 9, 2010
All I can say is...
I’m glad that’s over.
moosemastr - May 9, 2010
Was at the game...
not sure why Soth left Stokes in. In the Bottom of the 8th the score was 5-1. Not great odds of a comeback but reasonable….it was obvious from the first batter Stokes had no control. Soth didnt even bother to call up anyone in the bullpen to warm up…next thing you know its 8-1…
…way to throw in the towel early.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - May 9, 2010
Look
This team has a lot of improving to do. not just pitching wise, but offense wise and defense wise. we all know this team is better then this. lets hope they can pick this up. and the only worry i have is sounders, n kasmir these guys are pitching like little leagers this needs to stop.
Drizzy23 - May 9, 2010
I don't know, I wouldn't worry too much about the Seattle Sounders.
~MMP~ - May 9, 2010
i aint
talking about seattles sounders I’m talking about the angels sounders. he needs to improve or send him down to AAA and give reckling a chance
Drizzy23 - May 9, 2010
"Saunders," my friend
and Reckling; do try to get the names of our Halo’s heroes correct—thanks!
Raaddad - May 9, 2010
Oh, you mean Wreckling?
;)
Downing Rules - May 10, 2010
I doubt Reckling would be much better.
He has a 4.64 ERA in AAA right now, and has walked as many batters as he’s struck out.
~MMP~ - May 9, 2010
sorry
mister per-fec-to and your calling saunders a hero please in that case you should call Q a hero.
Drizzy23 - May 9, 2010
maybe
he’s talking about Reckling?
phoenix15 - May 9, 2010
That's rich
.
Wife-of-Raaddad would just die laughing if she read that
Raaddad - May 10, 2010
PLEASE CORRECT!!!
I guessed 4 on the Pre-Game Picks, and am the only one that didnt get any winnings for picking the right answer?!?
acuda27 - May 9, 2010
you must feel
spectacularly special.
Figgi4life - May 9, 2010
LOL......I would not have bitched about the points if the Angels would have won!
But since they didnt, I gotta feel good about guessing right :) ….. but that didnt work out either cuz apparently I still lost lol
acuda27 - May 9, 2010
Easy BOTG
Soth, why does he insist on playing Willits and Quinlan? This tandem in our line-up is of no consequence.
HALO N BRIMSTONE - May 9, 2010
Oh there were consequences all right.
Fred Fredrix - May 9, 2010
I dislike both, but gotta give lil reggie props for throwing out the runner at home!
acuda27 - May 9, 2010
Voodoo. All the runs in the 4th were on him.
Walk, Walk, HR, HR. Ain’t nothin’ the D can do about that.
Only other potential possibility is Nipples.
red floyd - May 10, 2010
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