.500

by ~ June 21st, 2009 at 1:01 am

That was an entertaining ballgame– lot’s going on.  Chris Woodward’s Bugs Bunny single, Rob Johnson blowing through a stop sign to score right on Woodward’s heels, Wladimir Balentien’s game ending catch in the crowd, and everything in between.  That was a fun one.

Geoff Baker has a couple notes on Adrian Beltre and Ken Griffey’s health:

You might have thought Adrian Beltre looked a little weak with some of those ugly swings taken earlier in tonight’s game. Well, that’s because he jammed his surgically-repaired left shoulder last night while diving back into second base while his team was hitting. Beltre’s shoulder was so stiff that he could barely lift it pre-game, yet he took batting practice, then begged into the lineup in an effort to help a shorthanded offense.

Why was it shorthanded? Well, I’m told Ken Griffey Jr. had 60 cc’s (cubic centimeters) of blood drained from one of his sore knees after Friday’s game. That’s a lot. It’s why he wasn’t in the lineup for a team already missing Jose Lopez. It’s why Russell Branyan stayed in the game after as fastball rang off his forearm with the score tied 2-2.

This team is winning through adversity.  Let’s home they can keep it up!


  • SABR Matt

    Now…can we break that psychological barrier and get back OVER .500? King Felix on the hill, but a line-up that will probably consist of Ichiro, a banged up Branyan and a whole bunch of minor leaguers…I’m picturing something like:

    RF) Ichiro
    1B) Branyan
    DH) Sweeney
    CF) Gutierrez
    LF) Balentien
    3B) Woodward
    SS) Betancourt
    2B) Cedeno
    C) Burke

    Oh the humanity!

  • http://www.marinercentral.com Lonnie

    That really was an enjoyable game to watch! Vargas just keeps amazing me with each outting. I would not have given him much of a chance going into this season, but he is proving to be up to the challenge.

    I am starting to get really intrigued with the possibility of having Woodward replace Cedeno as the utility infielder for the team. Cedeno has the defense, but his stick is nearly non-existant. Woodward, while not the equal of Cedeno on defense is still pretty good and he comes with a bit more productive bat.

    Amazing what Vargas had to say about working with Johnson behind the plate. Those two synched up famously last night and Vargas likes to work with a catcher who knows what he is doing. Vargas said that he prefers to let the catcher lead the way and just follow. I don’t think Vargas shook off Johnson even once last night!

    Lonnie

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Today’s game has been blacked out for me for some reason. Hopefully I can catch one of the later replays.

  • SABR Matt

    You’ll crack up at the ending, Jon. :)