MLB The Show Simulation: The TNT’s Andrew Hammond begins season-long simulation of Mariners Baseball
Sports fans, especially baseball fans have not one clue as to when the Major League Baseball season will start or even if there will be one. I’m a loyal fan of the MLB The Show franchise and it is possibly the best sports simulation when it comes to the pro leagues in America.
So I had this bright idea, or crazy depending on your optimism regarding the Seattle Mariners.
What if I started to play each Mariners game for every day of the season, just to see if my skills are good enough to put them into the postseason.
One problem, the season had already started (calendar wise) so I was behind the eight ball in that aspect. So I set today, May 1 as the day I take over the franchise. I’m sure Scott Servais won’t mind. Today I open up with a three-game series vs. the Houston Astros at home before hitting the road.
Here’s a look at some of the standout moments so far for the Mariners this season as I simulate my way to May 1.
March 26 vs. Texas Rangers (1-0)
-Carlos Gonzalez and Daniel Vogelbach each go deep as Seattle defeats Texas 10-3 to start the season 1-0.
March 30 vs. Minnesota Twins (3-2)
-Two HRs and six RBIs by Kyle Seager are the difference in Seattle’s 7-3 win over Minnesota.
April 4 at Kansas City Royals (3-6)
-Kansas City’s Danny Duffy goes 7 ⅓ innings and the Royals offense pitches in with 12 runs in a 12-0 shut out of Seattle.
April 5 at Kansas City Royals (3-7)
-Entering the bottom of the 9th inning, Seattle seemed like a lock to break their four game losing streak. The Royals scored five in the final stanza to win 11-10. Losing streak at five games now, I may or may not be regretting this.
April 6 at Chicago White Sox (4-7)
-Losing streak is over! Marco Gonzales throws a complete game shutout to defeat Chicago 4-0. Carlos Gonzales contributes three RBIs to carry the M’s offense.
April 26 at Texas Rangers (9-21)
-The season’s first double digit game road trip is not a kind one. It started out with a 4-3 loss to Oakland in the bottom of the ninth and ended with a 4-3 loss to the Rangers that was decided in you guessed it...the bottom of the ninth. Overall, Seattle went 2-9 on the road and are eight games back of Los Angeles in the AL West.
May 1 vs. Houston Astros
As I begin this journey with the Seattle Mariners, to say that it is an uphill climb is a disrespect to uphill climbs. I begin this journey with Seattle having lost nine-straight and are 10.5 games out of the AL West lead. Also, I officially take over the worst team in baseball on a PlayStation 4. Cooperstown here I come.
Pitching Matchup
Zack Greinke (HOU)
(2-2, 2.52 ERA)
Vs.
Nick Margevicus (SEA)
(1-3, 3.98)
Game highlights
-Margevicus gets into a jam in the top of the second allowing the first two Houston batters on base but some nifty infield play by Seattle capped off by an inning-ending double play keeps the score tied 0-0.
-Seattle opens up the scoring first with a two-run blast down the left field line by Tom Murphy in the bottom of the second inning. (2-0 Seattle)
-A sacrifice bunt by Mallex Smith gives Seattle two runners in scoring position with one out in the top of the third inning. With an opportunity to break the game open early on, Mitch Haniger’s RBI groundout is all Seattle could push across entering the 4th inning. (3-0 Seattle)
-After turning another double play, Seattle loses their shutout bid with Houston’s Carlos Correa going deep for his 6th home run of the season in the top of the 4th. Two batters later, Astros outfielder Josh Reddick laces a hit into the gap to plate a second run home for Houston (3-2 Seattle)
-After a Jose Altuve error puts Dee Gordon and Mallex Smith on base with one out, Seattle gets another chance to stretch the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. They get nothing, Mitch Haniger grounds into a double play and Seattle’s threat goes nowhere.
-Even though Margevicus has just two strikeouts in the contest, he has reached the sixth inning and with a reliever in the bullpen ready to go he faced the dangerous Carlos Correa who already had a home run in the contest. To much of the relief to Mariners fans, and the person who is controlling them, Correa grounds out to end the inning and Seattle still leads 3-2.
-In the top of the ninth inning, Seattle brings in Carl Edwards Jr. to close things out and after giving up a walk to the first batter Carlos Correa steps up to the plate. He’s walked, so with two runners on and nobody out the Mariners find themselves in major trouble. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position, Houston’s sacrifice fly tied the game going into the bottom of the ninth. (3-3 Tie)
-One swing, one swing of the bat is all it took to end the ballgame. Kyle Seager on an 0-1 count. Ballgame. (4-3 Seattle)
Final Score: Mariners 4, Astros 3
W: Carl Edwards Jr. (2-0)
L: Framber Valdez (0-1)
Top Stars
Tom Murphy-1 for 3: HR, 2 RBI, R
Kyle Seager-1 for 4: HR, RBI, R
Carlos Gonzalez-2 for 4: 2B, R
Dee Gordon-4 for 4: 4 1B
Starters for May 2: Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU) vs. Yohan Ramirez (SEA)
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
