Running Diary of M's at A's

Game 1: Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics

 

            Coming to you live from Changing Speeds Headquarters a.k.a. the Man Cave, we have our first running diary of the week, the Opening Night matchup between the Mariners and Athletics. The pitching matchup tonight is Felix Hernandez against Brett Anderson, which should be a good one. This may not be a running diary like many of you are used to, but will be my thoughts, observations, and comments on events of the night as it progressed. Seattle comes in winners of six straight opening games, and on the other side of the spectrum, Oakland is losers of eight straight. Will things hold true to form tonight or will something give and trends get bucked?

-We start our coverage with highlights from the spectacular season of the AL West Champion A’s and the unveiling of their Division Winner banner in right field. Glen Kuiper and Ray Fosse, or as I like to call him, Captain Obvious, are in the booth and excited for the start of the season. Surprisingly Fosse hasn’t pointed out the start of the season means its Game 1.

-Brett Anderson comes out firing, striking out the side on 13 pitches. King Felix tells Anderson anything you can do I can do better as he gets out of the inning after only 7 pitches.

-Noticed while Josh Reddick was up in the bottom of the 1^st that his beard has reached mythical proportions. Not really sure how he and Daniel Bryan could be having a beard war as Reddick is far and away winning.

-Eric Sogard makes a great diving play and flips to 2^nd to get the force out but that’s all they would get. Sogard made one hell of a play there.

- Brett Anderson escapes a 1^st and 2^nd 1 out jam with a double play.

- Here we have our first Captain Obvious statement of the night as Fosse alerts us that Spring Training numbers don’t carry over into the start of the season and everyone starts at .000. Thanks for showing up Ray.

-Thru 2 innings King Felix is dealing and only at 19 pitches.

-Brendan Ryan comes up to bat and this guy may be the greatest example of offensive inefficiency and defensive superiority. Arguably the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball, and arguably the worst offensive shortstop in all of baseball.

-We’re treated to a stat that tells us Brett Anderson is the 1^st A’s pitcher ever to strikeout the first 4 batters on Opening Day. Anderson is a good pitcher and has gotten himself into better shape, hopefully he can reap the rewards of that accomplishment.

-Sogard follows up the great diving play from earlier with a booted ball for an error but a double play follows that so no harm done.

-Want to take a moment and point out that the crowd at the O.co Coliseum is loud and raucous tonight. It’s great to see but hopefully they can sustain these crowds throughout the year and this isn’t just because of Opening Day.

-It may be a new season but the Bernie has returned to Oakland. The fans won’t let the dance die and I for one applaud that decision as Weekend at Bernie’s is a phenomenal movie. The sequel however, we will never talk about.

-Captain Obvious returns telling us that Suzuki on the Yankees is Ichiro and not Kurt, while talking about the lineup fielded by the Bronx Bombers yesterday.

-John Jaso collects the first hit for the A’s in the bottom of the 4^th with a double into the gap.

-Brendan Ryan makes a great play deep in the hole to get Yoenis Cespedes and save a run for the M’s.

-Mariners come up in the top of the 5^th and get an opportunity to strike as they have 2^nd and 3^rd with 1 out for Franklin Gutierrez. He singles to center scoring both runners, putting the M’s up 2-0.

-King Felix is at 46 pitches and is dominating the A’s right now.

Captain Obvious returns once again, I was hoping he went to bed for the night. Showing a graphic for the most innings pitched in the last 3 seasons, we see the top 5 pitchers are King Felix, Justin Verlander, James Shields, CC Sabathia, and Clayton Kershaw. Upon seeing this graphic Fosse alerts us that these 5 guys are good. I was unaware so thanks for sharing Ray.

-Brett Anderson is finished after 7 innings. He pitched well but got no run support. Totaled 108 pitches on the night.

-Brendan Ryan makes his 2^nd phenomenal play of the night sliding in the Sahara Desert of foul territory to make the catch and end the inning.

-Chris Resop comes in for Oakland and gets 3 quick outs. Despite not hitting well and getting dominated Oakland isn’t out of this game.

-King Felix gets 2 quick outs in the bottom of the 8^th but follows up with a double and walk. Here comes Eric Wedge who looks like he wants to challenge Ron Gardenhire in the look like an old Scott Steiner contest. Felix is done after 109 pitches.

-Charlie Furbush comes in and surrenders a walk to load the bases for pinch hitter Derek Norris. Scott Steiner makes another change bringing in Stephen Pryor. The crowd is reaching playoff level decibels hoping for a big hit here. It’s not to be as Norris grounds out to end the rally.

-Jerry Blevins comes in for Oakland and gets the M’s in order. The A’s are down to their last shot but with the way things have gone tonight this one is probably over.

-Tom Wilhelmsen comes in and gets the save. No threat by the A’s at all and that’s our ballgame. Both streaks continue and we were treated to a dominant performance by one of the best in the game. Can’t ask for anymore on Opening Day.

To continue the theme of Opening Week running diaries I will be tuning into the Cleveland Indians at the Toronto Blue Jays tonight and will have that write-up online around the same time tomorrow.