So far this year Russell Martin has one extra base hit. A fly ball double.
At his current pace Martin would post one of the worst offensive seasons in the history of professional baseball; he is being substantially outhit by many pitchers and is not much more effective than you would get from a randomly chosen 30-year-old guy who plays recreational ball on weekends. Lest you think he’s just hitting into amazingly bad luck, trust me; he looks as bad as his .179 slugging percentage would suggest.
You have to wonder if he is physically broken in some way. Hitters do slump. Or they hit into bad luck. Jose Bautista is hitting .222, but he has 19 extra base hits and has walked more than he’s struck out; that’s just a guy hitting liners at people.
I heard the Rangers broadcasters say Russell Martin was having shoulder problems. I can imagine that would impact his hitting. What they said was that he told them when he got a couple of days off he’d try to get as healthy as he could get this season. Doesn’t sound good. I’m sorry if this is how his career is going to end.
The Brewers last night had the Cubs on the ropes a couple of times. First they were up 1-0 in the ninth, but the Cubs tied it.
Then in the bottom of the 12th Milwaukee loaded the bases with none out–and the next three hitters couldn’t get the job done, as Travis Wood retired them all.
Top of the 13th, Cubs with runners at first and second and two out and Miguel Montero at the plate. The Brewers walk Montero intentionally, putting the go-ahead run on third and allowing two runs to score with a hit, but there is method to the apparent madness: Wood, the pitcher, is up next, and the Cubs have no one but pitchers left on their bench. Good move? Nah–because the Brewer pitcher can’t find the strike zone and walks Wood on four pitches, forcing in the eventual winning run.
Mariners are still looking good. They took two out of three against Baltimore, another first-place team.
I’m impressed so far with rookie SS Ketel Marte. He’s been pretty consistent at the plate, and is currently #3 on the team with his BA, at .280, behind Robinson Cano (.299) and Nelson Cruz (.282). He’s also improved offensively from last season, in most areas:
As far as playing other 1st-place teams, I’m looking forward to seeing how they fare against the White Sox later on (hoping, of course, that my M’s are still in 1st by then), and, ugh, the M’s are facing the NL Central in interleague play this season, which means playing the Cubs a couple times …
One quarter of the way through the season, and the Braves and Twins are right on the Throneberry Line. That is to say, they’ve won exactly 25% of their games, a la the 1962 Mets.
When I saw the Jays were playing the Twins and noticed their horrific record, I said aloud to my wife, “The Jays are playing the worst team in the majors. Oh, wait. Maybe the Braves are worst.” I am happy both teams can at least find solace in the fact neither is alone in 30th.
I don’t think Atlanta being horrible is a surprise to many, but I did not expect the Twins to be this bad. They are, however, legitimately awful. Getting into extra innings against a struggling team before losing was a good night for them.
I wonder of Joe Mauer will stay there, and if any Minnesota Dopers have insight as to that I’d be intrigued to hear it. I guess it’d be nice to see him get a chance at a World Series, though I am not sure teams will be lined up to get a $23 million first baseman hitting .266 with two home runs. Conversely it would be nice in a different way to see him spend his whole career in Minnesota. I’ve always liked him, one of my favourite non-Blue Jays.
And 8 straight overall, in which the Giants gave up 2 runs or fewer in every game. But tonight it’s Peavey (1-4, 7.43) vs Arrietta (7-0, 1.29). I think the party’s over.
Nats beat the Mets 9-1 yesterday. Interestingly, it was a match up between Strasburg and Harvey. The Nats came in for a lot of criticism for shutting down Stras in 2012 to protect his arm after Tommy John surgery. Now, it looks like it might have been the smart move.
Yeah, something is seriously wrong with Harvey. One does wonder if it was due to the amount of innings he threw last year after coming back from Tommy John… of course, when you have a shot at the World Series title…
Maybe the Mets need to rest Harvey. Perhaps explore that 6 man rotation they talked about last year. Especially with Wheeler due back soon after a year off.
The Cubs have used David Ross a lot at catcher, even with Montero heathy. Ross is going to retire after this season. Perhaps the Cubs will use Schwarber at catcher for next season? Schwarber hasn’t learned to play outfield and that cost him this season. Montero can be a backup or traded.
Looks like the Dodgers have three guys left on the bench, all of them pitchers–and two of them starters, judging by the number of innings they’ve pitched on the season.
