Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners, April 13th 2011

Live Event #2

Safeco Field

Back at Safeco for a day game, the series finale between the Blue Jays and the Mariners. As per usual we arrived at the park two around before first pitch. Getting to the game early is a great opportunity to watch the players warm up and provides the greatest prospects of procuring autographs and even talking to the players. I'm not a fan that heckles or otherwise bothers players on the field, but I do like to get close to the field and watch the players go through their pregame routines and if I am lucky, share a few words with them. When I saw that Michael Pineda, who had earned his first Major League win the night before, was making his way down the foul line to get a few throws in, I positioned myself in the first row down the right field line. He signed autographs and when he signed my ticket stub I told him how well I thought he had pitched the night before, he looked me straight in the eyes and thanked me; I could not be more impressed with the young man.

Mariners SP Michael Pineda

The Blue Jays entered the game on a four game slide and had RHP Kyle Drabek, the key piece of last winter's Roy Halladay trade, on the mound against soft tossing LHP Jason Vargas. The game was even through seven innings; Drabek lasted only 5 and 2/3rds, and had trouble consistently finding the strike zone, walking 4 Mariners hitters, but the inept Seattle offense could only take advantage for two runs off of Drabek including an opposite field leadoff bomb from Justin Smoak. Vargas pitched 6 and 2/3rd innings of one run ball and despite never throwing a pitch over 90 mph, striking out seven. Vargas located his pitches effectively and deserved better than the no-decision he received as the Blue Jays offense came to life in the eighth inning, smashing Mariners reliever Chris Ray for 5 earned runs in 2/3rd innings. Jose Bautista finally made an impact on the series blasting a three run home run deep into left field as the Toronto batted through their order and took a healthy 7-2 lead. The Blue Jays and the Mariners traded runs in the bottom of the eighth and the top of the ninth and the Jays head to Boston to face the surprisingly struggling Red Sox back to winning ways.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista

Until the Mariners can strengthen their offense they will struggle to compete. Switch hitting 1B Justin Smoak can be a middle of the order presence down the road and 2B Dustin Ackley, the second overall pick in 2008, isn't far away from making his Major League debut. Ichiro has been the best leadoff hitter in the league since his arrival in 2001, but he hasn't looked his old self yet this season, hitting a combined 1/9 at both games that I attended. The Blue Jays have shown an aptitude for scoring runs, especially via the long ball, and as their promising pitching staff gains experience the Blue Jays become an increasingly attractive option as an AL sleeper.