July 5, 2011: Mariners 4, Athletics 2 (43-43)

Have you noticed that this season’s Mariners games kind of all seem the same? Don’t answer that. I don’t care what you think. I care what I think, and my opinion is better than yours, for I have data.

Behold, the data: The Mariners have scored between -2 and 17 runs in every game this season. The Mariners have allowed between -1 and 20 runs in every game this season. Every Mariners game has lasted between 12 and 600 minutes. Every game, the Mariners have had between 3 and 40 players take the field. Most crucially, the Mariners have either won or lost every single game. That's right. Every. Single. Game. Yes, the proof is in the pudding. The Mariners have played basically the same game, over and over again, night in and night out, 86 times in a row. And they’re barely even halfway done.

Today, in a game notable mostly for being the most recent one to have been played, the Mariners beat the Athletics 4-2. The most exciting thing that happened in the game was a throwing error.

Closer Brandon League blew a save, embarrassing himself and proving that his All-Star selection was a grievous error, since the blown outing so soon after the All-Star announcement is a clear signal that League is incapable of handling the spotlight. People started to pay attention to him, the pressure built up, and he completely self-destructed. It's a familiar story. I have a feeling that we won’t be hearing much from him in the future. A baseball closer is like a marriage: if even one thing goes wrong, you should immediately chuck it and find someone new.

Also, Felix Hernandez pitched well. Felix Hernandez is good at pitching, as everyone knows. Was today’s game a sign that he might pitch well in the future? I have to say yes, and the data bears it out. Every time Felix has pitched a good game, he has gone on to pitch good games in the future. There’s no reason for the trend to stop now.

Afternoon game against the A’s “tomorrow”. I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be a meek defeat in which the A’s only score a couple runs, but the Mariners never come close to even getting one. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m tellin’ ya, I just got a feeling about this one.