Game 81, Mariners at Royals
DMZ · July 4, 2005 at 4:19 pm · Filed Under Game Threads
A rare 5:10 start time. FSN, KOMO, etc.
RHP Franklin vs. LHP J.P. Howell.
Who the heck is J.P. Howell?
Anyway — this, in terms of level of competition, the second-worst matchup in the AL this year, behind the Devil Rays-Royals. If we’re lucky, in the next hour the Mariners will announce they’ve secured a king’s ransom in prospects in return for trading the last four pitches left in Eddie Guardado’s shoulder.
What to look for: Doyle! Freaking Doyle!! Woooooooooooo!
Comments
109 Responses to “Game 81, Mariners at Royals”
Yeah, I mixed 2004 and 2005 there, and was referring to Aurilia.
Give Bavasi some credit for understanding the idea of “sunk costs”- other GM’s don’t. The problem is the M’s are too likely to have sunk costs.
I think Gillick was better at signing free agent pieces (Maclemore, Javier, Rhodes, Sele, etc.) and less strong getting trade value when trading away Griffey or getting Ben Davis and Jeff Cirillo.
I like Bavasi has made some bad signings (Aurilia and Spiezio) but the Garcia trade was well done. At the time I was stunned we got Olivo and Reed (plus some throw in who is doing well).
Overall there has been an environment of losing building up. Guys come here (Aurilia, Spiezio, Olivo, Beltre) and forget how to hit. Some are released and look good elsewhere (Olerud, Aurilia). I think clearing out Boone is a step towards remedying that feeling.
The Rainiers are on a 20-6 run, those guys are used to winning and bring energy if nothing else.
I am glad Bavasi is making some moves. I will be super happy once Doyle is playing everyday. But why has he left the pitching staff (mostly the rotation) alone? I think Pineiro could use about two months of Tacoma time with Rafael Chaves.
Eddie Guardado is the perfect mid-season acquisition for a team making a run for the playoffs and convincing themselves that his arm is OK or, if it isn’t, who cares? If we don’t trade him before the deadline for a decent prospect we’re idiots.
As Ichiro starts to hit (remember those monthly fluctuations of his), I think it’s interesting to look at his Isolated Power numbers year by year.
2001: .107
2002: .104
2003: .124
2004: .082
2005: .128
Anyone else notice that Randy Freaking Winn is hitting 6-for-58 since June 19th??? Not coincidentally that was the last game of the Mets series and the team’s gone in the tank since then. Winn’s average was at .310 then and he’s now at .264 with a .358 slugging. Yeah he’s worth $4 million!!!! I’m sure teams will be lining up ’round the block to trade for this bozo!
And then we have to read absolute garbage from the manager that he “hopes” to get Chris Snelling in a game before the All-Star break “if we can find a spot for him”. Winn hasn’t hit in 3 weeks — let Snelling play!!!!
GAME 81 ? We’re at the halfway point, right ? How about mentioning some projections, some paces ?
Re: (# 102) TRADING GUARDADO. And who’s our closer for next year ?
We don’t need a “closer”. We just need good relief pitchers.
Re: (# 106) CLOSER NECESSITY – I agree with you, Evan, but try telling that to the thirty managers out there.
101 Guess he didn’t listen to you after all.