By Kirby Arnold
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – Once upon a time, there was a left-hander who the Seattle Mariners always counted on when they absolutely needed to win a baseball game.
Oh, how the Mariners could use Randy Johnson on a day like this.
The Mariners trail the Cleveland Indians 1-0 in their American League Division Series and a loss today would put them much more than a game away from elimination in the best-of-five series. It would put the Mariners to the verge of a reputation they could never live down after winning 116 games in the regular season.
Oh, how the Mariners could use a gutsy left-hander at a time like this.
Turns out they’ve still got one.
Jamie Moyer, who has hit the peak of his career with a 20-victory season at age 38, will get the ball today in Game 2 at Safeco Field.
Oh, how the Mariners could use a 21st victory from Moyer.
“We have a guy who has pitched very, very well in the second half of the year, a guy who’s had some success against this team,” manager Lou Piniella said. “You know he’ll go out there and compete and give you a chance to win.”
Today’s game is a matchup of 38-year-old left-handers – Moyer against Chuck Finley – whose careers would seem complete if they could add postseason success.
Just making a postseason start is a major step for both.
Moyer started Game 2 of the Division Series against Baltimore in 1997 but strained his left elbow and didn’t make it through five innings. Last year, as he was finishing a simulated game at Safeco Field in preparation for a start against the Yankees in the ALCS, Chris Widger hit a ball that broke Moyer’s kneecap.
“I think there’s a greater appreciation for the opportunity to pitch in the postseason now,” Moyer said.
Nobody may share that feeling more than Finley, who is pitching in the postseason for the first time in 15 years.
He’ll never forget the first time. He pitched for the Angels in the 11th inning of the infamous Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS after Dave Henderson’s homer off Donnie Moore helped lead the Red Sox into the World Series.
“Looking back on it, I remember thinking that every year you get a chance to do this,” Finley said. “This is one of those things you should cherish and enjoy because you never know when it might come again.”
Today, the Indians are hoping Finley can rekindle the success he’s had all his career against the Mariners. He is 19-8 with a 2.81 ERA in 36 career starts against Seattle, although this season he never had much of a chance in his only start against the M’s.
He threw two scoreless innings at Safeco Field on Aug. 25, then pulled a rib cage muscle while covering first base and had to leave the game. Since then, Finley has gone 3-1 to finish the regular season 8-7 with a 5.54 ERA.
“The last month and a half, two months I felt like I could be competitive and compete at this level,” Finley said. “I’ve been throwing the ball pretty well in the last six, seven starts.”
Piniella says the game could hinge on how well Finley pitches.
“He’s very capable of pitching a good ballgame, and at the same time we’re capable of hitting him,” Piniella said.
The Mariners are sure of one thing: There’s nobody they’d like on the mound in this situation more than Moyer.
The few times this season the Mariners have lost two or more games in a row, Moyer has been the guy to get them a victory.
He won his ninth game on June 29 at Anaheim to end a two-game losing streak, beat Tampa Bay on Aug. 29 after the Mariners had lost two, and beat the Rangers two weeks ago to end the team’s worst skid of the year, a four-game losing streak during their period of mental relaxation after they clinched the division championship.
Against the Indians, Moyer has had every answer this season.
They are hitting just .244 against him, and he beat them 2-1 on Aug. 3 in Cleveland and 4-1 on Aug. 24 in Seattle, allowing just five hits in 14 innings in those games.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be on a good club that’s played very good defense, that’s had timely hitting, and I’ve been able to fit into that and do my small part and pitch effectively,” Moyer said.
Whatever.
The Mariners are just glad to have a veteran on the mound at a time like this.
“Having Jamie or Aaron (Sele) in one of those situations is very comforting,” pitching coach Bryan Price said. “He’s not going to beat himself. He commands the plate so well. He’s not scared to take a chance on a particular pitch because he typically executes so well.”
No pitcher in baseball may use the strike zone with an assortment of pitches better than Moyer. He has multiple versions of his fastball and changeup, plus a curve and even a split-finger that he has experimented with.
“He’s not a predictable pitcher,” Price said. “He uses both sides of the plate, up and down and with movement. He comes to the corner, away from the corner, lower than low, higher than high.”
Mariners outfielder Jay Buhner describes Moyer’s repertoire a little more crudely.
“That crap he throws up there is amazing, isn’t it?” Buhner said.
Moyer is 11-2 since the All-Star break, and whatever has been his secret will remain just that.
“No sense talking about it and giving them a scouting report,” Piniella said.
“He’s throwing the ball as well as anybody in baseball for my money right now,” Price said. “I anticipate he’ll give us a chance to win. I think we’ll be in good shape.”
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