Thirteen To One Is No Fun

See what we’ve been reduced to? Bad rhymes in the headline.

If I had more time (and writing talent), I’d summarize last nights 13-1 Tacoma loss to Colorado Springs in poetry. I’d mimic the epic Wallace Stevens poem “Thirteen Ways Of Looking At A Blackbird” with stanzas like this:

I

Among nine frozen innings,

The only moving thing

Was the numbers on the visitor’s scoreboard.

 

How about:

V

I do not know which to detest more,

The twelve-run loss

Or the 3:21 game time,

The temperature dropping to forty

Or just after.

 

This stanza requires only a slight adjustment:

IX

When the grand slam flew out of sight

It marked the edge

Of one of many circles

 

It was just an ugly day for the Rainiers. Any game that opens with the visiting team’s first four hitters going single, single, single, grand slam is not going to end well for the hometown nine.

The Rainiers end the homestand with a nearly sold out game tonight at 7:05. It’s S.H.I.E.L.D. Night so your attendance supports a good cause. There will be tickets available at the door but expect a big crowd. Tacoma starts LHP Luke French (0-2, 5.40) against Colorado Springs RHP John Maine (0-1, 9.69).

The broadcast is in the usual spots: South Sound Sports 850 AM in and around Tacoma, and streaming worldwide right here.

Links:

• The News Tribune’s Rainiers game story talks a bit about the return of Matt Mangini, who went 1-for-4 with a double. Mangini was the Rainiers team MVP last year and it’s great to have him back in the lineup. Also, we should see David Aardsma for an inning of rehab work at Cheney tonight.
• Things are interesting with the Mariners right now: Felix Hernandez tossed a gem last night, and Michael Pineda toes the slab tonight. Pineda goes against Tyson Ross – two power arms head-to-head.
• The Seattle Times game story comes with a great photo of Felix mid-delivery.
• Congrats to Carlos Peguero, who got his first major league hit last night – an infield single off Brandon McCarthy.
• John McGrath touched on the plight of the Dodgers and the Safeco Field experience in today’s column.
• Bud Selig is threatening to expand the playoffs – Boooooooooo!!! – and Larry Stone notes that the proposed new format would have given the Mariners four additional playoff appearances.
• No Rainiers appear in this week’s Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet, but there are several PCL players.
• For you non-subscribers Kevin Goldstein’s daily Baseball Prospectus Minor League Update is free today.
• In the PCL, word is getting out that Salt Lake first baseman Efren Navarro can really pick it. Yesterday he really hit it, too, going 4-for-5 in the Bees 12-9 win at Las Vegas. At the bottom of this story: Toronto optioned Brett Cecil to Vegas and called up former Rainiers and Mariners infielder Chris Woodward.
• Salt Lake RG Steve Klauke is about to call his 2,500th game. I’ll meet you at that milestone in a few years, Steve.
• Wow: Reno blew a 9-2 lead at home to Sacramento last night. Also: got word that Sacramento slugger Chris Carter is out indefinitely with a thumb injury.
• Fresno relief ace Steve Edlefsen had his first career hit: a home run that turned out to be the game winner at Tucson.
• Ringer alert: Nashville will have Zack Greinke starting on rehab on Sunday against Omaha. Nashville beat New Orleans last night on a pinch-hit home run.
• The affiliation change is working our for Round Rock: they’ve now won six games in a row, their longest streak in three years. In this story: a rare Enos Cabel sighting.
• In Des Moines, Lou Montanez hit a grand slam and the I-Cubs beat Albuquerque, 9-4. Friend of the blog Bryan LaHair got ejected in the second inning. Perhaps he just wanted to escape the freezing temperatures – Iowa is dealing with the same weather issues we are here in Tacoma, as noted by I-Cubs GM Sam Bernabe at the end of this story.
• Omaha edged Memphis last night, 1-0. Former Mariners reliever Kanekoa Texeira was optioned to Omaha.
• Mount Vernon native Kyle Kendrick had his World Series ring stolen, but police are making progress on the case.
• If you were a MLB fan in the early 1990s you will enjoy this immensely. The Roberto Alomar commentary is fantastic.

After tonight’s game the Rainiers will get a few restless hours of sleep before a super-early Saturday morning flight to Salt Lake City. Let’s close out this homestand with a win!