..."I knew I wasn't going to be there long, but I knew it would be a great opportunity for me," said Bibens-Dirkx, a lifelong Mariners fan who grew up in Salem, Ore., and played for the University of Portland.
Less than three weeks after being drafted, Bibens-Dirkx found himself one level below the big leagues, pitching the final two innings against Portland. After allowing two hits, he struck out the side, then struck out two more in a scoreless ninth.
That has been the highlight of an outstanding first year of pro ball for Bibens-Dirkx. He was promoted from Everett to Class A Wisconsin less than a week after his one-day outing with Tacoma.
"I am really enjoying it here," he said of Wisconsin. "We would like to be winning a few more games, but the people here in Appleton are great and we have a good fan base. And, I am performing well, which also makes it nice."Today's M's Notes: Jones sent back to Tacoma
Adam Jones lacks experience. He does not lack talent or maturity. The Mariners optioned him to Class AAA Tacoma on Tuesday, and the 21-year-old center fielder expressed disappointment instead of anger.
Jones noted the strides he made defensively during his 25-game stint with the Mariners and the quality of pitching he faced — hence his .208 batting average in 72 at-bats.
"And I'm sure they'll look at it, me going to down, to see how I will react," Jones said. "Hopefully I'll go tear it up there and come back here."
...
To take Jones' place on the roster, the Mariners recalled outfielder T.J. Bohn, who can play multiple positions in the outfield, including center. Bohn said the Mariners told him he will be used primarily as a defensive replacement.
Bohn missed about seven weeks this season after he injured his right thumb trying to stretch a single into a double. Insult to injury: he was
also out. He said the thumb felt healed recently, leading to a .341 average and 11 runs batted in for Tacoma in August."It's weird," Bohn said, of replacing his friend on the roster, "but we're good friends, and he definitely needs to play. He's only 21 years old. He needs to get some [at-bats], and Tacoma is a good place for him to play. He'll be back up here soon."
I may not have read enough Steve Kelly columns over the years, but his last couple of columns have left me going "What?"
Today's column is after the Mariners ninth inning win over the Yankees.
Late dramatics can't do anything to salvage season
Two years in a row — 2000 and 2001 — the M's and Yankees met in the American League Championship Series.
But Tuesday, these were two very different ships passing in the night game.
In a 75-hour stretch at Fenway Park, the Yankees had made a New York-sized statement by sweeping the Boston Red Sox in five games, beating the Red Sox every which way.
Meanwhile, the Mariners' season was terminally losing its way. The M's lost all 11 games on their road trip.
They lost every which way. Blowing saves. Striking out with men on base. Losing early. Losing late. Losing. Losing. Losing. Until it didn't matter anymore.
Fine. BING! Reality. The Mariners have no chance anymore this season.
It's the season of opportunity. Not for the team, but for a gaggle of young players like Tuesday night's starting pitcher Cha Seung Baek and right fielder Chris Snelling and catcher Rene Rivera.
This is the show-me season for players like T.J. Bohn, who made his major league debut pinch-hitting with two outs in the eighth inning of a tied game and struck out on a Villone fastball. And reliever Eric O'Flaherty, who gave up a go-ahead two-run home run to Alex Rodriguez that landed halfway into the upper deck in left.
This is like spring training for the Mariners, only real.
Against the maddeningly patient Yankees hitters, Baek, who arrived from Tacoma in the early afternoon, threw 103 pitches in five innings, but only allowed three runs and three hits in a serviceable season's debut.
He won 12 games for the Rainiers and has earned the right to get another half-dozen starts this season.
After all it's March in August in Seattle.
Again.
Harsh. Truth.
Then, there was this nugget from Sunday's It's time for Mariners to grab a broom
In truth, the only starters who will be returning next season will be Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn. Let's see if Woods is part of the future. And let's begin to stretch out Mark Lowe, see if he can throw his 95 to 100 mph smoke for five, six, seven innings.
The Mariners tried that with Lowe. In 2005. When Lowe was a Rattler. His success came after they moved him to the bullpen. I don't think the rotation is in Lowe's future. Think Joel Zumaya with the Tigers. Zumaya was a starter for the West Michigan Whitecaps in and threw his smoke for five, six, seven innings. But, he was better suited to a relief role and he is flourishing for the Tigers this season.
The rest of that column reads like an "If I were President" theme paper. Some good points, but it seems like reality just gets shot out the window.
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