Rainy Days - A Seattle Mariners Franchise

[milkman41]

In a surprise move, it was announced today that the Seattle Mariners have fired GM Bill Bavasi, and replaced him with former Orioles pitcher and co-GM Mike Flanagan. Flanagan, a former Cy Young Award Winner, served as the Baltimore Orioles co-GM along with Jim Beattie for several years, was brought in to improve a team that last year out-performed its Pythagorean (expected) record.

Flanagan (left) with co-Gm Jim Beattie

In his introductory speech, Flanagan pledged to revamp the team
while focusing on pitching and defense first, offense second. While he avoided specifically stating that the team would enter rebuilding mode, it was implicit that this was the case. He stated that there was a solid core of young players, notably Felix Hernandez and Jeff Clement, on the major league roster, but that the minor leagues were thin, and he promised to bring in young, exciting prospects that would create a powerhouse out of the Mariners for years to come.

Flanagan also announced that he wanted to maintain open lines of communication with both the press and fans, and would be open to any questions.

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Just a few notes about the franchise, I'm playing MLB2k8, using the July rosters (with a few tweaks to player ratings and added all of the trades not included in the roster update, like the Harden, Sabathia trades), SFGiantsPBA's sliders (once again with a few tweaks). I will be approximately playing one, simming two, not entirely sure, it will most likely be whichever I games I feel like playing around that round outline. I will post box scores (NOTE: does anybody have a nice template I could use for box scores? haha, just something basic, that would be stupendously awesome) and a short recap for each game, and will have statistics and standings on the first page. I also want to do a weekly or so recap, with highlights of the week, trade rumors, maybe even some Q&A. Anywhim, onto the season, yay!

[milkman41]

Reserved For Standings

[milkman41]

Reserved For Statistics

[milkman41]

General Manager Mike Flanagan has announced the opening day roster:

OUTFIELD
Ichiro Suzuki, CF/RF
Raul Ibanez, LF
Wladimir Balentin, RF/CF
Jeremy Reed, CF

INFIELD
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Jose Lopez, 2B
Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
Miguel Cairo, IF
Mike Morse, UTL
Kenji Johjima, C
Jeff Clement, C/1B
Jamie Burke, C
Jose Vidro, DH/1B

PITCHERS
Felix Hernandez, SP
Erik Bedard, SP
Jarrod Washburn, SP
Carlos Silva, SP
R.A. Dickey, SP
Miguel Batista, LRP
Mark Lowe, LRP
Eric O'Flaherty, MR
Sean White, MR
Arthur Rhodes, MR
Brandon Morrow, SU
J.J. Putz, CL

Manager John McLaren has announced his pitching rotation and his lineups:

Rotation
1. Bedard
2. Hernandez
3. Washburn
4. Silva
5. Dickey

Lineup vs. RHP
1. Ichiro, RF
2. Lopez, 2B
3. Ibanez, LF
4. Beltre, 3B
5. Johjima, C
6. Clement, 1B
7. Vidro, DH
8. Betancourt, SS
9. Reed, CF

Lineup vs. LHP
1. Ichiro, CF
2. Lopez, 2B
3. Ibanez, LF
4. Beltre, 3B
5. Johjima, C
6. Balentin, RF
7. Vidro, DH
8. Cairo, 1B
9. Betancourt, SS

GM Goals:
1. Make a profit of 23,510,000
2. Limit Spending to 117,670,000
3. Win at least 70 games
4. Release Jose Vidro

[milkman41]

Game 1: Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners
Bedard, Beltre lead the way in 5-2 victory over AL West rivals Texas

Adrian Beltre hit two solo homers, and Jeff Clement had three hits, one of them a homerun, to rally the Mariners from early 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to support Erik Bedard in his first Opening Day start as a Seattle Mariner. Bedard (1-0) went 8 strong innings, allowing only 5 hits and 2 runs while striking out 8, and J.J. Putz survived a one-out double from Ian Kinsler in the 9th to earn his first save of the season. The Mariners got all but 2 of their 10 hits off of Texas starter Kevin Millwood (0 - 1), who went 7.1 innings, allowing 4 earned runs and striking out only 2.


PLAYER OF THE GAME

Adrian Beltre hit two solo homers and made several fine plays at third.

Hitting:
Seattle:
RF Suzuki: (1-3), 3B, SAC
2B Lopez: (1-4), K
LF Ibanez: (0-4), K
3B Beltre: (2-4), 2HR, 2R, 2RBI
C Johjima: (1-4), R
1B Clement: (3-4), HR, R, RBI
DH Vidro: (0-3), SAC
SS Betancourt: (1-3), 2B, RBI
CF Reed: (1-4), HR, RBI, R

Texas
LF Hamilton: (0-4), K
DH Catalanotto: (0-4), K
SS Young: (1-4), HR, RBI, R, K
2B Kinsler (2-4), 2B, R
RF Bradley (1-4), 2B, RBI
CF Murphy (0-4), K
3B Metcalf (2-3), 2B
C Saltalamacchia:: (0-3), 3K
1BDavis: (0-3), K

Pitching/Fielding
Seattle:
Bedard: 8IP, 5H, 2R, 0BB, 8K, W (1-0)
Putz: 1IP, H, S (1)

Errors: None

Texas
Millwood: 7.1 IP, 8H, 4R, 2K, L (0-1)
Guardado: 0.2 IP, 2H, 1R

Errors: Davis (1), Millwood (1)

[milkman41]

Game 2: Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners
Lopez hits homer on first pitch of the 9th to give Ms thrilling victory

Jose Lopez had only one hit this game, but he made sure it was a clutch one, as he took Eddie Guardado's first pitch in the bottom of the ninth down the left field line for the victory, giving Eric O'Flaherty the victory for his perfect 1.1 innings of work. Starter Felix Hernandez had a no-hitter through three and a shutout through 5, but in the 6th, the Rangers scored 3 times to close the gap at 4-3, the big blow being Brandon Boggs's first career homerun, a two-run shot to right. In the top of the 7th, Milton Bradley delivered a clutch solo homer, which tied the game and set the tone for Lopez's walkoff hit.


PLAYER OF THE GAME

Jose Vidro went a perfect 3-3 with 2 doubles, a single, and a walk

Hitting:
Seattle:
RF Suzuki: (3-5), 2B, R, RBI
2B Lopez: (1-5), GW HR
LF Ibanez: (2-4), 2 2B, K
3B Beltre: (2-3), 2B, 3B, 2RBI, BB
C Johjima: (0-3), BB
1B Clement: (2-4), 2 2B, R, K
DH Vidro: (3-3), 2 2B, R, RBI, BB, SAC
SS Betancourt: (0-4), K
CF Reed: (0-4)
PR-1B Cairo: (0-0)

Texas
2B Kinsler (1-4), RBI, K
DH Catalanotto: (1-4)
SS Young: (0-4), K
LF Boggs (2-4), HR, R, 2RBI, 2K
C Saltalamacchia:: (1-4)
CF Murphy (0-4), K
3B Metcalf (0-4), K
RF Bradley (1-4), HR, R, RBI, K
1B Davis: (2-3), 3B, R

Pitching/Fielding
Seattle:
Hernandez: 7.0 IP, 7H, 4R, 0BB, 5K, ND
Batista: 0.2 IP, K
O'Flaherty: 1.1 IP, K, W (1-0)

Errors: Lopez (1), Clement (1)

Texas
Padilla: 4.2 IP, 9H, 4R, 1BB, 3K, ND
Guardado: 3.1 IP, 4H, 1R, 2BB, 0K, L (0-1)

Errors: Young (1)

[milkman41]

Game 3: Texas Rangers (0-2) at Seattle Mariners (2-0)
Washburn shuts down Rangers, backed by Johjima’s first homer of the season

Jarrod Washburn put in a quality effort today, shutting the Rangers out for his 8.1 innings of work before ceding to closer J.J. Putz in the ninth, who proceeded to retire the two batters he faced to earn his second save of the season. Though the Rangers had runners on nearly every inning, as Washburn scattered 7 hits and 2 walks throughout his outing, the Rangers failed to capitalize, and Washburn remained in control the entire game. The entire offense for this game was provided by catcher Kenji Johjima, who clubbed a 2-run homer in the 4 th to give the Ms a lead they would not relinquish.


PLAYER OF THE GAME

[b]Jarrod Washburn through 8.1 shutout innings to earn his first victory on the seasonB]

Hitting
Seattle:
RF Suzuki: (1-4)
2B Lopez: (1-4), K
LF Balentien: (0-4)
3B Beltre: (1-3), 2B, R, 2K
C Johjima: (1-2), HR, R, 2RBI, BB
1B Clement: (1-3)
DH Vidro: (0-2), BB
SS Betancourt: (0-3)
CF Reed: (2-3), CS (1)

Texas
LF Hamilton: (0-4)
DH Catalanotto: (3-4)
SS Young: (0-4), K
2B Kinsler: (3-4),
RF Bradley: (1-4
CF Murphy: (0-2), 2BB, K
3B Metcalf: (0-3), K
C Saltalamacchia: (0-3), K
1B Davis: (0-3), 2K

Pitching/Fielding
Seattle
Washburn: 8.1 IP, 7H, 0R, 2BB, 5K, W (1-0)
Putz: 0.2 IP, K, S (2)

Errors: None

Texas
Hurley: 5.1 IP, 6H, 2R, 2BB, 2K, L (0-1)
Guardado: 2.2 IP, H, K

Errors: Bradley (1)

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In other news, manager John McLaren has decided to skip 5th starter R.A. Dickey’s spot in the rotation due to the off-day tomorrow, in order to keep Bedard and Hernandaz on their regular 4 days of rest. He will be available out of the bullpen for the M’s upcoming series against the Baltimore Orioles. Carlos Silva will pitch the first game of the series.