Figgins-gate

Obnoxious John

7/25/10

If you’ve caught the two games since ‘Figgins-gate’ you might be inclined to think the M’s have finally all gotten on the same page. Yesterday (Saturday the 24^th) the offense actually produced more runs, five, than bone-headed base running moves, 0.

So far, so good. Actually the M’s were finally able to get a break in that Jon Lester, Puget Sound native and starter for the Sox, was throwing a potential perfecto into the sixth inning when a ball hit to center field just sort of jumped out of the fielders mitt and *presto* spell broken and man on base. The next hitter, Michael Sanders, put the first pitch he saw into the right field stands and, be still my heart!, they have a 2 to 1 lead!

That was really all they needed as the game finished 5 to 1 and didn’t show any effects of the Figgins/Wakamatsu tete-a-tete that seemed to be of more interest to sportswriters than ball players. If you were around for the best team in baseball in the early 70’s, the Oakland A’s, you remember they were always fighting. Of course they were always winning too, but one thing at a time here.

So the M’s take the field today, (Sunday the 25^th ) with a one game, come from behind win streak. Doug Fister, the starter, allowed a grand total of two runs while he was pitching but it seemed like old times again as Dice K the Sox pitcher, bobbed and weaved and dodged more bullets than a good guy in an old cowboy movie. The M’s could have scored in the first, a man on third and one out, but come away empty handed. They get one run in the third but leave the bases loaded.

There had to be at least one Mariner play on the bases that makes you say, ‘hmmmmmmm’ and we got another one today. In the sixth, Casey Kotchman hit the ball hard into the corner, tried for 2 bases and pays with an out. It really wasn’t a bone headed play but the fielder made a perfect throw and Casey was out.

The M’s get some nice middle relief from one of the new guys, Sneddon, who got every hitter he faced out. Brandon League gets the last out in the 8^th and something happens.

In the bottom of the 8^th, down 2-1, having stranded several runners, the M’s catch fire. Sort of. In a year where no one can seem to hit with much power, it was obvious Wak pulled the old ‘reverse psychology’ trick and told the first two hitters to try bunting instead. It worked! Michael Sanders again proves to be clutch, and contributes a single scoring two. Milton Bradley pushes another over giving the M’s a 4-2 lead and they still have bases loaded with NOBODY out.

But then Ichiro comes to the plate looking for all the world like something is bothering him. He immediately grounds into a double play. Figgens strikes out looking. Inning over.

The DA nails this one down and the M’s now have a modest little 2 game win streak since “Figgins-Gate.”  I like it!

Oh yeah? Figgins? Since the meeting with Wak in the dugout he seems to have been inspired. He was on base 4 times today and made some nice defensive plays.

Now get out there and take one for the team!