Get Out Those Brooms...
April 22, 2001
Let me just get right to the point here. We are on FIRE. We swept the Anaheim Angels today in a four game series.
Aaron Sele gave up a hit in the first, but did no damage. Seattle scored right away on a bases loaded fielder's choice. Ichiro singled, then Stan Javier, batting number three (Edgar had the day off) singled, John Olerud walked, Bret Boone hit into a fielder's choice at second and Ichiro made it home. Al Martin, as the DH, made the final out.
Second, nothing exciting went on. Third, Cameron singled, Olerud walked again, no runs. And then came the fourth.
Anaheim still can't score. Al Martin goes yard. My cat digs out of my lap at about 100 mph as I shout "ALRIGHT AL!" at the top of my lungs because Al has had a rough time of it at the plate so far this season and you've really, really got to tip your hat to Lou Piniella in this situation because by putting Al whose batting average was quite dismal, in as the DH, a spot normally occupied by EDGAR MARTINEZ, that is showing confidence in Al and evidently that's what Al needed because that was a seriously nice shot into rightfield and it is no wonder that players enjoy playing for this guy, as supportive as he is because even I was kind of going, "Al Martin is DH'ing today? Say what?" but Lou 9 times out of 10 will pull all the right punches and it's downright uncanny sometimes but anyway, we get a couple more hits but only the one run from the yard shot.
"I went to Edgar before the game and told him I was going to be Edgar for a day. He laughed. Then, after the home run, I went to him and said, 'See. I'm Edgar today.'" -Al Martin as the DH
Fifth inning. Anaheim still can't score. The Mariners tack on two more runs after Mike Cameron tripled, Javier doubled and Al Martin doubled. 4-0 M's.
"I don't feel like I have a hot hand. Look, my job is to get the matchups. That's basically what I get paid for. And we use the whole ballclub. Everybody pitches. Everybody plays.
Everybody feels a part of it." -Lou Piniella, on managing
Sixth inning. Anaheim still can't score. They show Lou and Al chatting in the dugout and Al is grinning. I could go off on another rant here about Lou's excellence as a manager, but since I already did that I'll just say that Carlos Guillen walked and ended up to third after a brilliant hit-and-run was executed as Mark McLemore singled. "Hit the Road Jack" comes on as Mike Holtz relieves Ramon Ortiz. Ichiro singled and Carlos scored. Ichiro stole second. I smirk, but the one run is all we get. 5-0 M's.
Seventh: Anaheim still can't score. Norm "The Sheriff" Charlton relieves Aaron Sele and sits them down in order. We don't do anything.
Eighth: Anaheim still can't score. All I can say is, "I think Norm-Norm Charlton sounds pretty cool", which will make perfect sense to those of you who have long been fans of the Mariner commercials. Oh, and we do nothing in the bottom half.
Ninth: Jose Paniagua finished them off. I watch all the fans at Safeco triumphantly waving their brooms around as we shut out the Angels 5-0 to complete a sweep.
"Like a college basketball team that presses 94 feet, for 40 minutes, the Mariners never let a team relax. They are nine innings of hell." –Steve Kelley, sportswriter
"I'm happy with 15-4." -Lou Piniella, when asked if he would've been happy with a 10-9 record.
