April 11-17, 2011
- Good Week — Michael Pineda of the Mariners won his first Major League game Tuesday, beating Toronto, and snapped Seattle’s four-game losing streak with his second win of the week Sunday against Kansas City. After beating the Royals with one earned run over 6.0 innings, KC Manager Ned Yost said, “He’s got electric stuff. He has a chance to be very special.”
- Bad Week — Just as the Mariners are about to dispatch Franklin Gutierrez on a rehab assignment to High Desert, they learn that Gutierrez’s stomach woes (slow digestive tract) haven’t been solved, and that they may have to send him to the Mayo Clinic. Wouldn’t be surprised if Gutierrez doesn’t play baseball this season.
- Sunday, April 17 — The Mariners snap a four-game losing streak by defeating Kansas City behind Michael Pineda, and Miguel Olivo breaks out of an 0-for-27 slide that is all too symptomatic of Seattle’s troubles so far in 2011. Rather than being slightly better, this team might be a little worse than the 2010 club, which lost 101 times.
- Saturday, April 16 — The University of Washington’s Scott Roth soars to a school record in the pole vault with a jump of 18-9 1/2 at the Mt. Sac Relays in California. Roth breaks Brad Walker’s school mark of 18-4 1/2. Walker went onto become an Olympian and the American record holder, and Roth shows similar potential.
- Friday, April 15 — Ichiro establishes a Kauffman Stadium record with 10 consecutive multi-hit games (breaks a record George Brett set in 1979), but the Mariners fall behind 6-1 and, despite a late rally, can’t catch up and lose 6-5. Erik Bedard gets shelled early and lasts 4.2 innings, falling to 0-3. Two weeks ago, Bedard said it would take him a while to “get back” after missing the entire 2010 season. He sure knew what he was talking about.
- Thursday, April 14— Veteran Bruce Chen runs his career record against the Mariners to 4-0 by pitching a 5-1 victory. At the end of the game, DH Jack Cust is hitting .175, Chone Figgins .167 and Miguel Olivo, in a 0-for-20 slump, .162. But look on the bright side: second baseman Jack Wilson is batting .207.
- Wednesday, April 13 — For the second time in a week, the Mariners establish a franchise record for lowest single-game attendance at Safeco Field. Just 12,000 and change show up to watch Toronto hammer the Mariners 7-2. Low April crowds have been routine in recent (losing years), but 12,000 is reminiscent of Kingdome days and suggests that a fan-club disconnect has finally occurred.
- Tuesday, April 12— The Mariners rarely get standing ovations anymore — sometimes there aren’t enough people in the park to stand and ovate — but Michael Pineda draws a well-deserved one after pitching a masterpiece for his first Major League victory. Toronto players call Pineda “phenomenal” — and even more phenomenal is to have a phenomenal player rise from the Mariners’ farm system.
- Monday, April 11 — In 35 years of playing baseball, the Mariners had never overcome a seven-run deficit after the sixth inning — until Monday, when the unlikely Luis Rodriguez, a mid-game substitute for the injured Chone Figgins, slaps a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Rodriguez’ hit also ends Seattle’s absurd seven-game losing streak.
“That Was The Week That Was (TW3)” is published every Monday as part of Sportspress Northwests package of home-page features collectively titled, The Rotation.
The Rotations weekly schedule:
- Monday: That Was The Week That Was (TW3) A snarky, day-by-day review of the week just ended.
- Tuesday: Wayback Machine — Sports historian David Eskenazi’s deep dive into local sports history, replete with photo eye candy.
- Wednesday: Nobody Asks But Us — We ask, and answer, fun and quirky questions nobody else is asking.
- Thursday: Water Cooler Cool — Art Thiel takes on the weekend for the benefit of the more casual fan.
- Friday: Top 5 List — The alpha and omega of Northwest sports, at least as far as we’re concerned.