Yet again, the Mariners had a starting pitcher turn in another quality start with Jason Vargas turning in 6 and 2/3rd innings while giving up 3 runs, walking 3, and striking out 8. Sure, Vargas didn't turn in the greatest outing of the season, but he managed to lower his WHIP to 1.04 and still has a respectable ERA of 3.69.
However, James Shields mastered the M's lineup by only giving up 2 runs and fanning 10. The M's scattered 8 hits, with Jack Wilson scoring on a wild pitch and Gutierrez on a Griffey ground out. Wilson was the only Mariner to get an extra base hit, and Ichiro and Gutierrez were the only M's to have more than one hit.
Meanwhile, the high caliber defense of Chone Figgins and Jack Wilson suffered with Figgins booting a ball and Wilson committing 3 errors. Nothing else to say but depressing.
If baseball was decided on pitching alone, The M's would be atop the West Division as they are second in the AL in Team ERA (3.25), and third in the AL in Team WHIP (1.26), due to having given up only the 2nd fewest walks (78), and 3rd fewest hits (205).
However, the offense is terrible: 13th in batting average (.236), 13th in on base (.311), last in slugging percentage (.330), last in homers (9), and tied for last in runs scored (86). You take Ichiro and Gutierrez out of the equation and the offense damn near doesn't exist. Let's hope Z is gonna do something, or some of these guys get their bats off their shoulders.
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