Game Countdown – 9/8/09: So, We Meet Again – Mariners @ Angels

So, we meet again, Mr. Hernandez!

Didn’t we just face you?  Can’t you please go away?

After making his Angel debut last week against the Mariners and Felix Hernandez in Seattle, Scott Kazmir gets to show off for the home crowd for the first time, but must once again do so against his new Mariner nemesis, King Felix.

Last week, these two got mixed up in a good old fashioned pitchers’ duel, but Felix outlasted Kazmir and silenced the Angel bats for eight innings to earn the win.  Hopefully the move to the Angels’ home turf will give Kaz and the rest of the Angels the edge they need to come out on top in Round 2 of this match-up.

Seattle Mariners (72-66) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (81-55)

Starters: SEA – Felix Hernandez (14-5, 2.65 ERA)  LAA – Scott Kazmir (8-8, 5.68 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West, Radio-KLAA 830 AM, KFWB, KWKW 1330 AM

THREE Questions:

• Can the Angels finally score some runs for Kazmir?  I know it is tradition to haze the new guy, but not scoring for him two games in a row would be taking it a bit too far.
• Has anyone seen Juan Rivera’s swing?  If so, please return it to Angel Stadium.
• Do the Angels realize that their lead will be back down to 3.5 games if they lose tonight and Texas sweeps the doubleheader against Cleveland?

TWO Predictions:

• Kazmir gets his first win as an Angel, but only by the skin of his teeth.
• Mike Napoli finally awakes from his month long slumber and drives in the go-ahead run tonight.

ONE Wish:

• I wish to see the Angels start sending a message to the rest of the AL West and to themselves, really.  A big win tonight against the pesky Mariners and their ace pitcher would certainly signal that the Angels aren’t just a team that beats up on the crappy teams in the AL while struggling against the good teams.  They need that confidence boost to finish off the Rangers.

ZERO Tolerance for… more sloppy fielding like the clinic the Angels put on in Kansas City yesterday.  That was just embarrassing and it cost them the game.

Leave your own questions, answers, predictions or wishes as a comment or just hang out with us during the game or even chat with us on twitter (@MonkeyWithAHalo).