The Mariners won their fifth straight game and their ninth in ten game with a nice win over the Cubs. This came after a sweep of the Padres. The only bad news is that the Angels have won seven of ten and the A’s eight of ten so all of a sudden, the West is the division with all of the winners (okay, no comment on the Rangers).
Ichiro is his steady old self. He’s hit in eight straight and his batting average has hovered in the .330s since the later part of May. And his 48 runs are good for fifth in the American League. He’s drawing a few more walks then he usually does, which is also encouraging and he’s pretty close to matching his 49 RBIs from last year.
Jarod Washburn is finally pitching like the guy we’d hope back when the Mariners signed him. He’s only 5-5 but he leads the team in innings and ERA. He’s also done a nice job of keeping the ball down and he’s given up just five homeruns.
The concern is Felix Hernandez who still doesn’t come close to resembling his old early April self. He hasn’t thrown more then six innings since coming back and while he’s done okay in most of his starts, he’s hardly been the shut down pitcher we were hoping for.
J.J. Putz should be close to having his name mentioned as an elite closer. He’s doing even better then he did after an very impressive 2006 season and his WHIP is a microscopic 0.66 with a batting average against of .139. Against righties, he has a mind boggling .085 batting average against. Three of the four runs he’s given up have oddly come on solo homeruns.
The Mariners look to make it six in a row tonight with Miguel Batista throwing against Sean Marshall. The Cubs starter has been solid since getting called up but I still like our chances.