.

Ah, well.  The M's fall -0.5 out of the WC2 lead.  Six weeks ago, who'da thunk it.  Still, Dr. D reminds:  it's called a "pennant race" and in the absence of better things to do -- clean the garage, fold the laundry -- he is all for pennant races.

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WAS FELIX SOLID?

The M's website advertised him as such, saying:

... on a night when he was fighting to keep his spot in the rotation of the only team he's pitched for in a sterling 14-year Major League career, the veteran right-hander did what the Mariners asked.

He kept them in the game and gave them a chance to win with five innings of two-run ball, though that formula went south when Kendrys Morales and Aledmys Diaz launched two-run homers off the Mariners' bullpen...

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Sounds okay at first blush and Felix even gave the M's one solid inning among five (that being the 5th) but there were some lizards in the cellar:

1.  He was constantly in trouble, with a reliever warming in the 4th, a mound visit from Stottlemyre, various and sundry;

2.  He threw 32 of his first 62 pitches for balls, winding up with a poor 51-41 ratio;

3.  If Denard Span hadn't caught a ball 2' short of a home run, Felix gives up 5 in 4, not 2 in 5;

4.  Up until the 5th inning, we're talking a pitch count of 48 in 2 IP and 79 thrown in 4 IP;

5.  We could go on but you get the point.  No, it wasn't "Felix solid and bullpen blows it."  It was "same old Felix" against a Jays lineup lacking Donaldson, Tulo and everybody else they've had recently who puts the fear of condemnation in a pitcher.

Just saying.

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ADAM WARREN

Liked what he showed.

He's a guy who throws 45% sliders at 85 MPH, and 35% fastballs at 92 MPH.  That's cool because MLB hitters are swinging dead red 100% of the time.

There were a couple of little pests in HIS cellar also, though, because he had some trouble throwing strikes.  I suppose that goes along with the 3.5 type walk rates he has run.  That said he's a Yankee-caliber major league pitcher and he'll help.  There will be nights when he goes strike one, strike two ... hey, that's what he did to batters 1, 3, 5, wasn't it ...and when he does he's major help in the 6th and 7th.

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ZACK DUKE

Funny guy.  He threw 5 of 6 curve balls / sliders to a left hand Curtis Granderson, struck him out, and then left after one hitter.  The FIRST pitch was a bender.  And in the 7th, right there preceding Juan Nicasio.  Hey, whattaya know, Jedi mighta landed us a real life LOOGY.

...

Dr. D believes in the talent of the 2018 M's, especially relative to that of the A's.  Here's to two makeup wins coming from Marc-O and Zeus the next two days.

Thanks to those who have supported SSI/DOV.  If you’d like to join the ownership group here is the link.  And we always appreciate the potatoes in the hobo pot just the same.

Enjoy,

Jeff