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Jamie Moyer’s Notebook: Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros June 13, 2015

By Max Carter

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Seattle Mariners (27-34) vs. Houston Astros (35-27) 1:10 PM PST

Pitching Matchup: Mike Montgomery LHP (0-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Collin McHugh RHP (6-2, 4.34 ERA)

Montgomery: It’s still early, but it appears Jack Zduriencik may have made his first good trade! OK, I’m being sarcastic, but barely. Montgomery has given up just three earned runs and 12 base-runners in his first 13.0 innings as a Mariner. And one of those runs only scored because of a terrible call on a check swing, although seeing Lloyd and Mike Z blow their gaskets almost made it worth it. In all seriousness, Montgomery has been really good, let’s hope he can keep it up.

McHugh: He hasn’t been the guy we’ve gotten used to seeing, and has an ERA of 5.02 over his last eight starts. More good news: the Mariners have tagged McHugh for 21 runs in 31 innings over the last six times they’ve faced him.

Lineups: 

Apr 27, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Seth Smith (7) bats against the Texas Rangers during the game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Mariners defeated the Rangers 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners:  

1. Seth Smith LF

2. Austin Jackson CF

3. Robinson Cano 2B

4. Nelson Cruz RF

5. Kyle Seager 3B

6. Mark Trumbo DH

7. Logan Morrison 1B

8. Brad Miller SS

9. Mike Zunino C

Notes: There really isn’t much to say. The Seattle Mariners lost 10-0 yesterday to the Houston Astros, who had lost seven games in a row entering the contest. Felix had an extremely rare outing, giving up eight earned runs in 0.1 innings of work. After scoring nine runs against the Indians three days ago, the Mariners have not scored a run in 20 straight innings, collecting only six hits in the last two games. This is a difficult game, but the Seattle Mariners are somehow making it look even harder than it is.

Houston Astros:  

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1. George Springer RF

2. Carlos Correa SS

3. Evan Gattis DH

4. Chris Carter 1B

5. Colby Rasmus LF

6. Jake Marisnick CF

7. Luis Valbuena 3B

8. Marwin Gonzalez 2B

9. Jason Castro C

Notes: The Mariners are lucking out this series by not having to face Dallas Keuchel, and they luck out again as Jose Altuve gets the day off with a sore hamstring. Lloyd McClendon‘s club can use all the help they can get right now. Opposing teams have scored 17 runs since the M’s last scored one, and even without Altuve, the Astros still have a really good offense.

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3 Things to Watch For:

1. Number 22 Is Coming Around

Although you wouldn’t tell by his numbers, Robinson Cano has been showing some good signs in the last few games, dating back to the two line drive doubles that he hit in the first game of the Cleveland series. The results have still yet to come for the All-Star second baseman, but he looks more comfortable at the plate, and has hit the ball hard several times recently with nothing to show for his efforts. It is only a matter of time until the career .307 hitters explodes out of this funk, but boy are Seattle Mariners fans getting tired of waiting… Picking up a solid base hit in yesterday’s crushing loss, I look for Cano to build on that performance and pick up two hits this afternoon.

2. We Need to Manufacture Runs

After starting the season as one of the best home run hitting clubs in the game, the Seattle Mariners seem to have remembered that they are the Seattle Mariners, hitting only two longballs in their last 12 contests. This would be fine, if it weren’t for the team’s general inability to get on base, get runners in scoring position, and drive them in once they are there. The M’s are going to need to start playing a different kind of baseball if they want to be successful, and it is about time that we started putting the game in motion and making some things happen. I am looking at guys with speed like Austin Jackson and Brad Miller to get themselves in scoring position any way that they can. Let’s see a stolen base for both of those guys, and three total for the Mariners today.

3. Seth Smith Is a Really Good Player 

May 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Seth Smith (7) hits a solo-homer against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Although he has still been subject to the tiresome platoons in left and right field, Seth Smith has been one of the only reliable offensive weapons for the Seattle Mariners this season. The 32-year-old is slashing .261/.333/.485 in 53 games, and has provided solid at-bats each time out, getting deep into counts and making pitchers work. Despite coming in at seventh on the ball club in at-bats, Smith ranks first in doubles and triples, fourth in walks and runs scored, and second in OBP and OPS. Although he has received more playing time as the season has developed, Smith has still not played as much as I would like, getting the bench more often than not when the Mariners are facing a lefty. I would like to see number seven treated as the every day player that he is, but that being said, he has been fantastic in the role he has been given. I expect Seth Smith to continue his solid 2015 campaign tonight, picking up at least one extra-base hit and a pair of runs batted in.

Last Game’s Predictions:

1. Is Rickie Weeks Useless?–OUT

Yes.

2. Jose Altuve Is a Mariner Killer–HIT

Although Altuve left the game after the first inning with a minor leg injury, he still managed to pick up a lead-off base hit and score a run in two at-bats. Yes, he had two at-bats in one inning; that is what happens where you score eight runs in one frame. Altuve only picked up one hit, but I have a feeling that it would have been more had he remained in the ball game. Nonetheless, he started the onslaught that came down upon King Felix yesterday.

3. Mark Trumbo Hits Home Runs, I Swear–OUT

Since joining the Seattle Mariners, Mark Trumbo, the one that was supposed to save the ball club, is 4 for 32 with ZERO walks. That comes as no surprise, since his career OBP is .296. What does come as a surprise is the fact that he has not hit a home run yet as a Mariner, and in fact, has really only hit one ball that came close at all. As much as I hate to admit it, this is looking more and more like another failed “Big Man” acquisition by Jack Zduriencik. Hopefully though, Trumbo turns it around and produces like we know that he can.

Season Tally:

Hits: 31   Outs: 51   Batting Average: .378

Next: Felix Hernandez, Carlos Correa, And The Weird AL West

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