We need a win tonight...

[Igoe4Mariners]

The M's are really struggiling. The fans are upset ang angry. We need one W and I think we can turn things around.

We have the finale with the Rays tonight and then the struggiling Angels make a visit to the Safe. They are 0-6 on their current road trip and have a tough game vs. Boston tonight.

I would really like to see us get a win tonight and carry momentum into the Angels series. It would be big for us to at least take 2 of 3 from them or even sweep and maybe knock them way down early in the season. Hopefully it doens't turn out to be the other way around though...

Anyways, do you guys think we have a chance to win tonight against the mighty Rays? If not, when do you see us breaking our current losing streak?

[clarknova]

I agree that the W is desperately needed. Hyphen is really going to have to keep the ball down today. When he's on, he's been great, but when he tries to paint those corners and simultaneously can't keep his pitches down, he's suffered. The one thing I really like this year from him, is that it seem that his head is in the game much more. It used to seem to me that he was one of those guys that had great stuff but when the game started to get out of hand, it would unravel quickly, and he had trouble recovering from mistakes. Like a young Felix. I think that's going to be the key tonight. That, and then #2, for me is going to be the bullpen, and how effectively they're used.

We obviously need some runs, but we're not going to run the score up on the Rays. I say if we can either get to their young starter early, or stop pressing so much and start having some better AB's we'll be ok.

If we don't win tonight... When's Felix pitching again??

[Igoe4Mariners]

I agree with pretty much everything you said clarknova. I think it's important for this team to come out and put up some early runs in the first couple of innings to get their confidence going.

RRS has looked good at times this year, but just can't seem to put it all together for a nice quality start. He certainly has the potential, just look at what he did down the stretch last year...

As for Felix's next start, that is tomorrow night against the Angels and Jered Weaver.

[stumpel15]

the only positive is that the m's are in the AL West and as bad as they've been they will only be 3.5 games out after Tampa finishes this off. really need to at least win the weekend series with the Angels and hopefully the hitters can build some confidence from there.

[JosephC]

Well that is true stumpel, and the fact is the Angels have been playing just about as bad of baseball. They dont have the offense problems, but their pitching combined with offensive struggles has given them the same problem. They just can't win.

If we can somehow do well against the Angels we could easily be back in the race. No doubt we NEED a bat... ASAP.

[stumpel15]

yeah we definitely need a bat, and the team really needs to get their heads on straight there have been far too many mental errors on the bases and in the field that this team can not overcome with the lack of offense they currently have... BTW Rob Johnson's strikeout with the bases loaded in the Bottom of the 2nd was about the icing on the cake, talk about the ump having no sympathy for a struggling offense... brutal call.

[Igoe4Mariners]

So much for that win tonight. 0-6 homestand so far. Sickening...We HAVE to beat the Angels. An 0-9 homestand and I really believe we will officially be finished.

[JosephC]

I still say that Robbie "passball" Johnson should have not swung at that pitch. I know it was close but it was CLEARLY outside the strikezone and so he had the right not to swing at it. The only person you can fault on a play like that is really the umpire.

[stumpel15]

evidently Johnson's hips weren't the reason he hit .213 last year, i'm starting to think 2009 was a career year for him at the plate.....

[clarknova]

Oh, I know the call was crap, I just can't stand the guy and will use any excuse I can to rip on him. He's my scapegoat, my "Ayala" if you will.