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THOR JR.

They said that the HR he hit in the third had an exit velocity of 105 MPH.  A line drive that carried almost 400 feet.   Kyle Seager hit 30 home runs last year and only +4 of them had exit velocities in excess of 105 MPH.

Motter was supposed to be a decent weapon against LHP's -- hence the Denizens' suggestion of giving Danny Valencia a day or two off.  But Motter's laser beam was hit off a right hand change slider.  Later his double was off a jam pitch, hands high, in off the plate for a ball.  He's got 5 hits:  four doubles and a home run.

Question:  have you EVER seen a backup shortstop swing this hard?  Give me a name.

His every swing, every throw, every base exudes total confidence.  I don't get it.  Jerry Dipoto called this shot, said (more politely) that Shawn O'Malley was in big trouble because of this kid, before Motter ever got here.  His EYE ratio in his first go-round in 2016, 0.55.  His BABIP kept him down, was all.  How could a kid look this good with Motter's minor league record being what it was?  Maybe there's some chance he's a late bloomer like Zobrist was?

Even if he turned out to be a lefty-mashing, 250-AB per year 7-gloves player, that would still be very unusual.

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LEONYS MARTIN

I think that's like 3-for-36 with 13 strikeouts, or something.  He has looked almost as bad as a pitcher and he has performed worse than one.  Yet Heredia sits on 3 AB's and neither has Motter played the OF.

Possible reasons?  :: racks brain ::  He told Servais that he sees Fiers well?  The M's have him as a +30 runs defender?  I got nothin'.

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5 MORE RUNS

Which makes 4 consecutive games the Mariners have scored 5-9 runs.  Ordinarily that's a 3-1 record, easily.  We got better hitters than last year's #2 offense.  We also got plenty in the rotation.  Gotta sort out the bullpen, gotta get some luck, and gotta do it before the club gives up.  -6 below .500 leaves a lot of work ta do.

Enjoy Cheers,

jemanji