Emerald City Swagger
Fansided

Jamie Moyer’s Notebook: Seattle Mariners vs. Cleveland Indians June 10, 2015

By Max Carter

facebooktwitterreddit

 Jamie Moyer‘s Notebook is the most in-depth Mariners game preview on the internet! The daily JMN will be posted here at Emerald City Swagger two hours prior to the first pitch. Make Jamie Moyer’s Notebook part of your game-day routine.

*Excuse us for missing out on JMN yesterday, I guess we just needed an extra day to simmer down about our Boys in Blue. If you are a regular reader and you were let down by JMN’s absence, we apologize. Sometimes when you are a Seattle Mariners writer, you have to take a break in order to avoid cursing all over the internet and losing your job… Thanks for understanding and Go Mariners!*

Seattle Mariners (26-32) vs. Cleveland Indians (27-30) 4:10 PM PST

Pitching Matchup: Taijuan Walker RHP (2-6, 5.80 ERA) vs. Trevor Bauer RHP (5-2, 2.94 ERA)

Lineups:

Seattle Mariners:

Jun 4, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners new first baseman

Mark Trumbo

(35) in the on deck circle in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Logan Morrison 1B

2. Austin Jackson CF

3. Robinson Cano 2B

4. Kyle Seager 3B

5. Seth Smith DH

6. Mark Trumbo RF

7. Dustin Ackley LF

8. Mike Zunino C

9. Brad Miller SS

Notes: The Seattle Mariners come into today’s game with a lot of work to do, sitting seven games behind the first place Houston Astros and six games below .500. Struggling to put it together all season, the Mariners offense has scored three runs or fewer in a franchise-record 13 straight games… Sooner or later, this offense is going to break out of this disgusting funk, and it is going to be beautiful. Why not today?

Cleveland Indians:

1. Jason Kipnis 2B

2. Carlos Santana 1B

3. Michael Brantley LF

4. Brandon Moss RF

5. David Murphy DH

6. Yan Gomes C

7. Zach Walters 3B

8. Michael Bourn CF

9. Mike Aviles SS

Notes: If you are thinking to yourself, “man, that is a pretty solid lineup” then you are correct. The Cleveland Indians have underachieved this season in a very similar way to the Mariners, with a lineup that would seem to be capable of success. Michael Bourn, an important ingredient in the recipe for Terry “Tito” Francona and his ball club, has been struggling but he picked up a base hit last night in a pinch hit at-bat. Bourn and Aviles will both look to get things going tonight against Taijuan Walker. Another note, the first five batters in the Indians’ lineup tonight are left-handed. We will see how Walker handles all of the southpaw hitters in Tito’s lineup.

3 Things to Watch For:

1. Deja Vu All Over Again?

There have already been a couple of times this season when I remember thinking “man, we really need a good start out of Taijuan Walker today”. And every time I have thought that, he has sucked, setting the Seattle Mariners back further into this pit of despair that 2015 has become. Walker has gone eight innings in both of his last two starts, so hopefully the young flamethrower has turned a corner. Even if he doesn’t have his best stuff tonight, I expect him to attack the zone with his fastball and get deep into another ball game. At least seven innings from Taijuan tonight, no more three earned runs allowed.

Jun 4, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Dustin Ackley (13) gets a pat on the head by manager

Lloyd McClendon

(left) after Ackley scored a run in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Dustin Butt-Crackley

In all honesty, Dustin Ackley probably shouldn’t be around Seattle anymore. But alas, he is, and he is in the starting lineup tonight with Nelson Cruz sidelined by back spasms. Ackley is 5 for 14 since May 30, and picked up a pair of walks last night after coming in to replace the injured Cruz. While Dustin has obviously been a huge disappointment in Seattle, he has always been a streaky player, and has been showing some good signs lately. I say that Ackley picks up a couple of important hits for the last third of the lineup, reaching base three times and driving in a run.

3. Trumbo Gets the Rally Monkey Off His Back

Since joining the Seattle Mariners in a trade a week ago, Mark Trumbo has been less than stellar, and has failed to leave the ball park thus far. We are talking about a guy that hits baseballs as far as he can for a living, so there is definitely nothing to be worried about. In fact, I have a feeling that the former Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim is due to crack one out tonight, en route to an offensive outbreak for the M’s. You can count on Trumbo going yard tonight.

More from Seattle Mariners

Last Game’s Predictions (Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners June 7, 2015):

1. Logan Morrison Goes Deep–OUT

Morrison didn’t go yard back in this contest, but he did extend his hitting streak, which now stands at 15 games after picking up two hits last night, including an RBI double. LoMo is scorching hot, going 21 for 58 during his hitting streak.

2. Seager Stays Hawt–OUT

One of the very few times that Kyle Seager let me down, he went 0 for 4 back on Sunday against the Rays. That being said, Kyle had an excellent month of May, bringing his stats back up to where they should be, with a .276 average, nine homers and 29 RBI as we move into the middle of June.

3. Closer by Committee–WALK

A closer was not needed on Sunday, as the Seattle Mariners fell at home to the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 3-1. That being said, Carson Smith was given the entire ninth inning last night, picking up his second save in as many opportunities despite Yan Gomes’ second solo homer of the night. Perhaps we could see Smith take over the closer role sooner than we all thought, but who knows. Just about the only predictable thing about this 2015 Seattle Mariners team seems to be that the opponent will score a run in the ninth inning, that’s all I know.

Season Tally:

Hits: 29   Outs: 45  Batting Average: .392

Next: Seattle Mariners: How Much Longer Should Fans Hold Out Hope?

Home/Seattle Mariners