Morrow is electric in first start

I’m so glad the Mariners wasted nearly two seasons of Brandon Morrow’s career as a setup reliever. No, really, it’s been great watching the worst team in baseball trip all over itself.

Fans of this beleaguered franchise got a little something to be excited about last night. Morrow threw 7 2/3 innings of one-hit ball against the Yankees in his first major league start.

Most onlookers, aside from those who make baseball decisions with the Mariners, had been wondering aloud why Morrow’s career was being wasted in the bull pen. I’d say upper management is eating crow for breakfast this morning if I didn’t think they were completely oblivious.

Morrow tied the Yankees up in knots, employing a portfolio of pitches, including a fastball, changeup, slider, curve and splitter. His fastball consistently hit 97 mph while he mixed in a number of Bugs Bunny caliber changeups.

Here’s what Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter told the Seattle P-I: "He was throwing 97 mph and has an overpowering fastball," Jeter said. "I think as the game went on he was throwing a breaking ball and off-speed stuff. He wasn't falling behind guys and coming after us, but he really wasn't throwing too many balls over the middle of the plate."