=== On a Roll Ba-Beh ====

Just like it's cool to look past a pitcher's ERA/xFIP and look at his K/BB, strike %, and toolbox, it's also cool to look past the W/L and notice when a team is starting to gather more bases.

Though Kotchman played in every April game but one, he has started only 3 of the M's last 7 games.  This has coincided with a revival of the Mariners' scoring:

1. 5 runs and a win vs. a red-hot Justin Verlander
2. 5 runs and a win vs Jeremy Bonderman
3. 8 runs and a win vs the Angels (Kazmir)
4. a loss
5. 7 runs against the Angels (Saunders)
6. 4 runs against the Twins (a red-hot Francisco Liriano)

The Mariners just went through a stretch in which they scored 9 runs in 7 games, and now they're getting 4-8 per ballgame.  This occurred when they stopped playing Casey Kotchman on a daily basis.

Part of what I love about the Mariners is that they do not get married to their positions.  They preached love and kissies on Kotchman all spring, but now that the second returns are in, they're not afraid to play Mike Sweeney and even Matt Tuiasosopo if that's what gives them a chance to win.

=== Franklin Gutierrez ===

Not sure if anybody has noticed that Franklin Gutierrez is on pace for 100 walks.  This has his OBP at a Safeco-sky-high .385, which has his OPS+ at 126.

Granted, his BABIP was preposterous in April, but there's no faking ball four.  At age 27, his BB rate is fully twice what it's ever been before.  Now I get it, why he's hitting third.

We're also very pleased to see that Guti is hitting a lot more fly balls in 2010 than he was in 2009.  Notice the consolidation and growth from age 24 to 25 to 26:

• Age 24 - 1.04 grounders, 17% line drives, 0.31 EYE
• Age 25 - 1.25 grounders, 19% line drives, 0.38 EYE
• Age 26 - 1.06 grounders, 19% line drives, 0.60 EYE (notice the fly balls and LD's converge this year)
  

He's picking over his pitches, and when he gets them he's going after them.  Verrrrrry encouraging.

............

The first inning Monday was an example.  Guti battled Liriano through four tough pitches, and on 2-2, got a slider in on his hands that he ripped to the base of the wall.  It was hit so hard, that it hit the ground directly between the left fielder and the wall.  Beautiful!

............

Taro has, from the very beginning, seen an upward arc in Gutierrez' pitch recognition, so must feel totally vindicated by the huge plateau jump in EYE ratio.  If Gutierrez really is going to walk 100 times a year, then he's a star in the major leagues, no argument.

Would welcome an update from Taro on Gutierrez' arc from this point forward.

.

Cheers,

Dr D