In today’s small sample size theater, Detroit got a little taste of
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, August 5, 2009
In today’s small sample size theater, Detroit got a little taste of buyer’s remorse, as the Jarrod Washburn that Mariners’ fans are accustomed to seeing–the one who gives up flyballs that go a long, long way–is the Jarrod Washburn who made his first appearance in a Tigers uniform. (In case you forgot, the Mariners traded Washburn to the Tigers last week.) Washburn gave up a couple home runs and six runs in five innings in a game against Baltimore. Which may not necessarily be a glimpse of things to come–he hasn’t historically been that bad. But now that he’s in Detroit, he’ll no longer have the Mariners’ speedy outfield and Safeco’s deep fences behind him to turn would-be home runs into flyball outs.Another trade-related note on last night’s Detroit/Baltimore game: Adam Jones hit cleanup. He went 0-5, but he’s hitting cleanup because he’s putting up solid power numbers at the tender age of 24. And he’s paid $435,000. And he’s only a part of our massive giveaway to get Erik Bedard. But perhaps I should stop crying over spilled talent. Finally, in case you’re wondering about how the Mariners actually did last night, they beat Kansas City, 7-6. Former M Yuniesky Betancourt went 2-4 with a double and a triple. Perhaps he’ll kill the M’s after getting moved to Kansas City the way Raul Ibanez did a few years back. The M’s pulled the win out, though, thanks to Ichiro’s bat and glove–as covered here by the Times’ excellent M’s beat writer Geoff Baker. One thing, though, Mr. Baker: .364 would not be a career high for Ichiro–he hit .372 in 2004. Sometimes his excellence defies even memory.
