M's 7, Orioles 6
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WORMHOLE 1 --- > the MLB standings have the M's at .500, same as 122 games ago. The Royals are +2 despite a -17 run differential, the rodent Angels at +3 despite a -5 run differential. Forthy games left.
Whether the Mariners, with all their injuries, deserve to have a shot at the playoffs is one question. Whether they are in fact in position to take a shot at the playoffs, that's a separate question.
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WORMHOLE 2 --- > Servais plans Erasmo - Miranda - Guy Art Dough over the weekend, with a 4.1 IP agenda for all except Miranda. Same goes for Albers and Marco to follow. M's are hopeful that this group of horsies will carousel only twice more before Zeus rejoins, only three times more before Felix rejoins.
It's an aspect of the games that Dr. D enjoys tho'ly. The enemy lineup getting our SP triangulated and then SCCHOOOOOOOM here comes a flamethrowing reliever. Chew on that, feebs.
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WORMHOLE 3 --- > Marc-O Gonzales is slipping gingerly towards a 50% offspeed mix. If Billy Zoom's and Bat's view of the world be on track, his touch-and-feel will produce better and better outings over the last 40 games.
Hey, no sooner do you noodle that then you run into a Servais quote: “He’s going to be in our rotation,” Servais said. “We’ll go forward with him. He’ll continue to learn and get better.”
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WORMHOLE 4 --- > The Mariners themselves, the actual players that is, feel that they have "flushed" the losing streak and arrested their scrabbling slide down the gravel hill. SSI has harped on the fact that this is one of the sweetest aspects of sports enjoyment, watching a team fight a rearguard action and try to turn around a set of adverse circumstances. Last two games?, that's what we needed.
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WORMHOLE 5 --- > About 60% of Lookout Landing fans would go for Justin Verlander, provided he didn't cost a premium minor-league asset. Verlander is currently the #3 starter in the AL per Bill James' Starting Pitcher rankings.
Enjoy,
Dr D