Carlos Silva…awaaaay!!
May 6, 2009, 9:20 PM | Updated: Apr 4, 2011, 7:55 pm
In all started 30 pounds ago when Carlos Silva reported to camp after signing a brand new $48 million contract to pitch for the Mariners. He presented the club a 4 and 15 record with a 6.46 era and a dazzling 114 runs scored. He carried a 14 game losing streak but 30 pounds less into this season. A game that caught my attention was in the semifinals of the WBC this spring. Silva had pitched very well against the Netherlands and Italy but got lit up by the South Koreans for 5 before his side got to the plate. Manager Luis Sojo had opted for Silva giving Felix Hernandez another day of rest. Whoops. Mariner manager Don Wakamatsu has said this year that his pitches and mechanics are okay. You just wonder if the guy has lost his confidence. Facing the first Royal tonite David DeJesus, he worked an 0 and 2 count only to see DeJesus bloop one to the opposite field. Willie Bloomquist busted a basehit up the middle. Then Carlos worked a double play 3 6 3. Then he hit Jose Guillen. By the time the inning ended the Mariners had given up 3 runs. He surrendered 6 runs 8 hits and even balked in a run in the third.
I wonder if Silva is mentally shot right now. It happens. He doesn’t seem to pitch with confidence. Doesn’t challenge hitters. He has three years left on a contract paying him $48 million. What to do? The options are not very palatable. Don’t think for a second the Mariners will eat this contract. Most likely he’ll get yanked off his next start with a day off in Texas next week. Then what? Stay tuned and hope Jackie Z and Wak can keep bailing out the boat. Fittingly,as Silva pitched in the third, a fire alarm went off repeatedly at ball park.
We’ll discuss the Mariners with a full three hour show tomorrow following the game. In the meantime, tell me what your solution is?
