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April 17, 2006 »

Mariners' Moyer a welcome sight for Sox fans

After their team lost two of three to the Toronto Blue Jays and their array of Red Sox killers, Boston fans should be happy to bid adieu to Ted Lilly, Frank Catalanotto and the rest, and hello to veteran Seattle pitcher Jamie Moyer. The 43-year-old left-handed location artist is a solid professional now in his 21st season, and he's the Mariners' all-time winningest pitcher. But his numbers against the Red Sox, as you saw in this morning's Journal, are just horrendous. How about a career 6-9 record with a 6.58 E.R.A. in 18 starts. And then there are the Sox' individual stats against Moyer. David Ortiz: 31 at-bats, .387 average, 4 home runs. Manny Ramirez: 44 at-bats, 9 home runs (that's more than one every five at-bats), a .364 average. Newcomer J.T. Snow, 21 at-bats, 2 home runs, a .571 average. Even Trot Nixon, who has struggled his whole career against lefties, has hit .300 with a home run in 10 career at-bats against Moyer.

It's funny, too, because it's not as if Moyer just can't pitch at Fenway. He was pretty reliable as a member of the Red Sox in 1996, posting a 7-1 record with a respectable 4.50 E.R.A.

One guy I'm looking forward to seeing in this four-game series is catcher Kenji Johjima, the latest Japanese league standout to wear a Mariners jersey. The 29-year-old Johjima is off to a great start in the major leagues, batting .333 through 10 games with a pair of home runs and a .606 slugging percentage. Reports are that he's done a nice job working with the Seattle pitchers and has really solidified the team at what had been a problem position.

You've got to feel for Dewon Brazelton. When this guy came up with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays two years ago, he showed some promise. The problem is, he has to pitch on the road. And when not at his home park, he has been bad -- by historic proportions. You might have thought that going from the cellar-dwelling Devil Rays to the contending San Diego Padres might have helped Brazelton, but it has not yet. His loss to the Marlins yesterday dropped Brazelton to 0-16 lifetime on the road; no one has lost that many in a row to start his career since a Cincinnati Reds pitcher named Kent Peterson started 0-18 away from Crosley Field from 1947 to 1949. Brazelton's career E.R.A. away from home is now 8.59. At home, he is 8-9 for his career; not bad actually for a guy stuck on a last place team.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:42 AM | Permalink

Can't get enough of that Yankee pregame show?

If it was depressing to see that Gary Sheffield tied Carl Yastrzemski for 27th on the all-time home run list, well, here's another reason to shake your head over the pinstripes. The YES Network this year is debuting Yankees Batting Practice Today, an excuse to stretch out the pregame show for another 30 minutes. Of course, there are days -- like yesterday -- when the Yankees don't take batting practice. Yesterday, viewers were treated to the Kansas City Royals' batting practice instead.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:37 AM | Permalink