ekansekans's blog: "df"

MINNEAPOLIS -- These young Seattle Mariners have taken more than their share of lumps over the last three seasons, getting beaten down by more experienced, better-equipped teams in the powerful American League. Kirk Cousins Jersey . As they prepare to enter the final month of manager Eric Wedges third year on the job, the Mariners are finally starting to give their fans some reason for optimism. Blake Beavan gave up two runs in seven innings and Trayvon Robinson drove in two runs to lift Seattle to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Beavan (9-8) scattered five hits, walked two and struck out one, shrugging off a shaky first inning. Kyle Seager also drove in two runs for the Mariners, who have won 11 of their last 15 games and posted back-to-back winning months for the first time since 2009. "Theyve gained a great deal of experience this year," Wedge said. "Weve had a lot of tough games, a lot of tight games, very similar to today. Their heartbeats a lot better. Theyre much more experienced and theyre doing a lot better job in step-up opportunities." Brian Duensing (3-10) gave up three earned runs and four hits in 5 1-3 innings. He left after loading the bases in the sixth, and left fielder Josh Willinghams blunder contributed to Seattles four-run inning. Willinghams two-run homer in the eighth off Stephen Pryor made things interesting, but Tom Wilhelmsen picked up his 21st save to help the Mariners take three of four in the series. The Twins had the tying run on third base after pinch runner Darin Mastroianni stole two bases, but a shaky Wilhelmsen got Ben Revere to ground out to preserve a well-deserved win for Beavan. Beavan wasnt overpowering, but he mixed his pitches and changed speeds just enough to keep the Twins off balance one night after they erupted for 10 runs. After giving up two runs in the first inning, Beavan retired 14 of his last 15 hitters. "We just took the momentum and ran with it," Beavan said. The Mariners loaded the bases to start the sixth and Duensing left after giving up a sacrifice fly to Seager that tied it. Willingham then dropped an easy fly ball by Jesus Montero to score another run and make it 3-2. Robinson added a two-run single. "Weve got each others back from the first inning to the last inning," Robinson said. "Its kind of like a snowball. Once somebody does it, everybody does it." The Mariners were 16 games under .500 on July 15, a lacklustre start that ultimately led the organization to decide to part ways with longtime icon Ichiro Suzuki in a trade with the Yankees. But they have quietly been playing some of the best baseball in the AL over the last month. They had a seven-game win streak to close July and an eight-gamer earlier this month to start climbing back up to respectability. And after a three-game sweep by the White Sox in Chicago, the Mariners bounced back with three wins in Minnesota before heading home for a September filled with games against AL West opponents, and plenty of chances to show everyone that theyre not the same team that has been kicked around for the last three years. "Everybodys just kind of feeding off each other," Beavan said. "Everybody wants to get better and is willing to put in the extra effort and the work. ... Youre starting to see that. Guys are buying into that way of playing. NOTES: Mariners OF Michael Saunders missed his sixth straight game with a groin strain, but manager Eric Wedge said he expected him back on Friday. ... Twins C Joe Mauer has thrown out only six of 49 runners trying to steal this season, by far the worst percentage of his career. Manager Ron Gardenhire blamed slow slide-step deliveries by the teams pitchers. But he also said the Twins are working with Mauer on staying on the balls of his feet. He has been catching the ball flat-footed, making it harder to deliver a powerful on-target throw. ... The Mariners will open a home series with the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. RHP Kevin Millwood (4-11, 4.28) will start the opener against Dan Haren (8-10, 4.82). The Twins are headed to Kansas City, where RHP Cole De Vries (3-5, 4.68) will face Royals LHP Will Smith (4-6, 5.55). Cedric Griffin Jersey . But White Sox manager Robin Ventura said he wasnt too concerned about Stewarts struggles in his first start of the season. "Hes been used a lot (in relief) and thats partly my fault," Ventura said. Josh Morgan Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- The St. http://www.nflredskinsfansstore.com/nike-leonard-hankerson-Redskins-jersey/ . Former Toronto Maple Leaf Tie Domi told TSN Radio 1050 on Thursday that he and fellow team alumnus Mats Sundin will likely play in Winter Classic Alumni game for the Leafs. Alfred Morris Womens Jersey . Winless in 65 starts in three seasons on the 50-and-over tour, the 53-year-old Senior birdied seven of the first 13 holes and closed with five pars in breezy afternoon conditions. Alfred Morris Youth Jersey . -- Jarvis Landry helped LSU keep the SEC championship in reach with a 20-13 win over Arkansas on Friday.Falling out of playoff contention, the Miami Marlins did what they usually do, shed salary in exchange for young, inexpensive pitching. Numbers Game looks at the Marlins dealing away Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante, among others. The Dodgers Get: 3B Hanley Ramirez and LHP Randy Choate Ramirez, 28, was an elite player for five seasons before falling off dramatically last season. While he has been better this season, hes still far from star status, hitting .246 with 14 home runs, 47 RBI, 14 stolen bases and a .745 OPS (this from a player with a .300 career batting average and .873 career OPS). While Ramirez is showing patience, seeing a career-high 4.14 pitches per plate appearance, and still making contact at the plate, the quality of his contact is not as good as it has been previously. Hes swinging at, and making contact with, more pitches out of the strike zone and that has had an affect on his power numbers; this seasons .430 slugging percentage is the second-lowest mark of his careeer, surpassing only last seasons miserable .379. In Los Angeles, Ramirez can play either of the spot on the left side of the infield. Ramirez shifted to third base, from shortstop, this season to accomodate free agent Jose Reyes in Miami, and the Dodgers dont have real quality at either spot. Even if Hanley isnt much of a fielder, hes going to represent a significant upgrade on veteran Juan Uribe at third base or speedster Dee Gordon at shortstop. Since Gordon is likely to have more of a future with the Dodgers, once he returns from the DL, it seems more likely that Ramirez will eventually find a home at the hot corner. Ramirez has two years and $31.5-million remaining on his contract after this season (mlbcontracts.blogspot.com) and it was reportedly the Dodgers willingness to take on that salary that allowed Los Angeles to make the deal without sacrificing elite talent in return. Choate is a 36-year-old southpaw who is a specialist. This season, hes held lefthanded hitters to a .150 batting average and .383 OPS and over his career, he has limited lefties to a .203 average and .562 OPS so, in the right situation, he can be an effective addition to the bullpen. Earning a modest $1.5-million this season, Choate is in the final year of his current contract, minimizing the Dodgers commitment. The Tigers Get: RHP Anibal Sanchez and 2B Omar Infante. Sanchez, 28, is a quality starting pitcher, who hasnt received a great deal of support from the Marlins. Since the start of 2011, hes 13-16 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, striking out 312 in 317 1/3 innings. As with most pitchers, there should be some concern when moving from the National League to the American League. In 13 career Inter-League games, Sanchez has a 3-5 record with a 5.00 ERA and 1.49 WHIP (and, incidentally, hes never pitched against the Tigers). Nevertheless, hes a quality addition to the Tigers rotation, probably fitting in as their second-best starter behind Justin Verlander and ahead of Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello. Sanchez, who is making $8-million this season, will be a free agent at seasons end. Infante is a 30-year-old infielder who doesnt have a lot of power (this seasons .442 slugging percentage, his highest since 2004, notwithstanding) and even though hes been a solid contributor with the bat this season (8 HR, 33 RBI, 10 SB, .287 AVG, .754 OPS), Infante has struggled after a strong start. He hit .301 with six homers and 20 RBI in 173 at-bats through the first two months of the season, but has hit .241 with two homers and 13 RBI in 174 at-bats since. Moving to the American League presents a challenge, but not one with which Infante is unfamiliar -- he played 494 games for the Tigers from 2002 to 2007. In Detroit, Infantes adequate bat counts as an upgrade at second base, where the Tigers have been left to deal with the struggles of Ramon Santiago, Ryan Raburn and Danny Worth this season. Detroit second basemen have a cumulative .561 OPS this season, worst in the majors. The Marlins Get: RHP Jacob Turner, LHP Brian Flynn, C Rob Brantly, RHP Nathan Eovaldi and RHP Sccott McGough. Robert Griffin III Limited Jersey. Turner is a 21-year-old righthander that was drafted ninth overall in 2009. Hes taken his lumps (8.28 ERA, 1.80 WHIP) in six big-league starts over the last couple seasons, but hes very young and his impressive work in the minor leagues (15-14, 3.21 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 269 K, 330 2/3 IP in 58 GP) does indicate that he should eventually be a bona fide major league starter. There might be some concern about his low strikeout rate this year at AAA (5.7 K/9 in 10 starts) but, within a year, he could be in the Marlins rotation. Flynn, 22, is a 6-foot-8 lefty who spent most of this season at Class-A Lakeland, recently getting promoted for a start at Double-A. In 32 minor league starts, Flynn is 15-7 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, but hes been more hittable (and somewhat unlikely according to his batting average on balls in play) as he climbed the ladder this season, posting a 1.45 WHIP and allowing 10.2 hits per nine innings. Hes not a sure thing, but a lefty who can dial his fastball into the mid-90s is a worthwhile upside play for the Marlins. With further development, he might be a future starter but, failing that, he may still have value in the bullpen. 23-year-old catcher Rob Brantly was a third-round pick of the Tigers in 2010 and hes worked his way up to Triple-A this season. Brantly has a solid approach at the plate, hitting .275 with a .715 OPS and striking out 120 times in 928 career minor league at-bats, so perhaps hes a viable option to eventually replace John Buck, whose contract runs through next season, behind the plate. In the deal with the Tigers, the Marlins also swap Nathan Eovaldi, 22, has made 16 starts (in 20 games) over the last couple of years with the Dodgers, posting a 2-8 record, but a respectable 3.96 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Eovaldi does have a fastball that is averaging over 94 MPH (per www.fangraphs.com) in the major leagues, but his slider has been his most effective pitch this season. With further development, he has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter for the Marlins. 22-year-old Scott McGough has a power repertoire that gives him a shot to work out of the bullpen. In 60 minor-league appearances, hes 4-10 with 15 saves with a 3.48 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, striking out 80 in 72 1/3 innings. His command has been shaky this year at Advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga (24 walks in 46 1/3 IP), but hes still a few years away from getting his shot in the majors. While Sanchezs spot in the rotation can be filled by Eovaldi, the Marlins will need new faces in the infield. Rookie Donovan Solano should get the first crack at third base, while Emilio Bonifacio, who had been playing more centre field, will handle second base. Looking in total at the return the Marlins are getting, they have a couple of good starting pitching prospects, perhaps a couple of relievers (depending on Flynns future) and a catcher. Considering that the Marlins surrendered a player perceived to be as valuable as Hanley Ramirez in one of these trades, that makes the return underwhelming but, as always, this is about money for the Marlins. If they wanted elite prospects for Hanley, they could have eaten some of the remaining salary, but they didnt, so the package they get in return isnt so impressive. Given the Marlins history, its never easy to see them start shedding salaries on a grand scale. They are in a new stadium (where I saw a game a less than a month ago -- nice venue and the crowd was into it) and have some excitement around the franchise, but if they go into complete firesale mode -- there have been rumours of ace righthander Josh Johnson being dealt too -- then the momentum could fall flat in a hurry. For the Tigers and Dodgers, they both got pieces that will help them in their playoff bids and while it cost them a future starting pitcher, the overall cost for the assets they received was relatively modest because part of the deal was taking money off the Marlins payroll. It pays to know with whom you are dealing. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '