Game 115, Angels at Mariners
Jeff · August 13, 2005 at 12:55 pm · Filed Under Game Threads
While bemoaning the fate of Doyle, consider reading this article, which raises profound questions about the nature of karma in an unjust universe. Also consider blaming Evil Rick Rizzs.
The debate camp went great, thanks for asking, and supreme gratitude to all those who donated. Also, thanks to everyone at the blog for holding it down while I was gone. Today, the triumphant return of Ryan “Roider” Franklin comes against Bartolo Colon.
Fun fact about your Designated Hitter, Scott Spiezio: Ichiro has more than 40 multi-hit games this season. That means, more than 40 times, Ichiro has equalled Spiezio’s season hit total (two) in one game.
Comments
200 Responses to “Game 115, Angels at Mariners”
Gee, I wonder who the FOX announcers want to win the gold glove…
Cause they’re not voicing their opinion at all. I’d really like to hear them tell me. I wonder who they’d pick?
Maybe it will remain a mystery for ages…
Late in the day beer recommendation for Derek:
The convenience store at 65th and 8th NW in Ballard is selling 18 decks of Rainier longnecks for 8 bucks.
It’s not the best beer in the world, especially since they moved it to Milwaukee, but man, what a price!
Another infield pop for Mr. Clutch.
Just checked the free agent list next season. Pretty bleak. Then the sports page highlights ex Mariners doing great.
The highlight of the game was pre-game Jenny Finch with Scott Podsednik about stealing bases. Why did Ms let him go for nothing? As I recall he was pre Safeco corner fielder with little power is that why?
If we could find Derek a corner store with a “beer for the price of Scott Spiezio’s average” deal, we’d be in business.
Colm-Are you in Ireland or already returned. You missed a great performance by Felix.
DMZ must be buried in tequila.
Now this is a gold glove infield at all positions.
so, I guess all I missed today was Jeff Harris showing that he should have had the start, huh?
re: Podsednik, to quote Dave Andriesen in the PI:
“He’d have been hitting second for us,” said one Mariners executive. “He’d be the guy we’ve been looking for all this time to hit second and steal bases. But Lou didn’t like him. Lou made a big mistake.”
Piniella, while a master of in-game managing and motivation, is sometimes a less than astute evaluator of talent. His distaste for inexperienced players contributed to the departure of several players who went on to solid major league careers, including Boston catcher Jason Varitek, Minnesota pitcher Joe Mays and outfielder Raul Ibanez, who starred in Kansas City before being re-acquired by the Mariners last winter.
The manager does not have absolute power in personnel decisions, but executives say privately that when Piniella decided he didn’t like a player and didn’t want to manage him, there was little hope that player was going to be much of a contributor in the future.
“(Piniella) didn’t care for him,” Pat Gillick, the Mariners’ general manager at the time, said of Podsednik. “We thought he had a bit of a long approach, a long swing, and we thought at the major league level he was going to have trouble on balls (pitched inside) on him.
[and as we know, Lou also brought us some fine talent, Al Martin, Jeff Cirillo….]
124: “It took some searching, but Chris Carpenter is hitting worse than Spaz, at a .036 clip.”
Yes, but Carp has a walk and a run scored. And that’s just in today’s game.
Even ignoring the whole walking-away-with-the-NL-Cy-Young argument, he’s STILL more valuable.
executives say privately that when Piniella decided he didn’t like a player and didn’t want to manage him, there was little hope that player was going to be much of a contributor in the future.
And the skipper now is different, how?
My wife and I actually left this game in the 6th. It was hot, fans were angry, Franklin pitching, Spiezio designated not hitting.
horrible game.
I have never left a game that early.
Its almost as though Hargrove is trying to lose. What reason was there to start Ryan Franklin instead of Harris? Sure Harris doesn’t have enough pitches to be a starter in the majors but if he is going to make a good long guy out of the pen next year having him start a few games this season will only help.
I don’t care how small our bench is right now Sandfrog should never be in the starting line-up. This team is so embarrasing right now its actually more fun to read these game threads than to watch a game. Its sad how horrible this team has become.
#162
All in all it was a pretty sad set-up for a Saturday afternoon game. We had a really low chance of winning this one.
We also left the game early. Right after Harris relieved Franklin and promptly gave up a double to allow two of Franklin’s many base runners to score.
I took my mother and cousin to the game because my wife is out of town and my mom said “I don’t think I have been to a worse game in my life”.
She was probably referring to the bad pitching, bad defense, and lack of offense. But that’s just a guess.
actually it sounds like it would have been better to start watching the game about the time folks were leaving…. at least from a pitching standpoint….
LB said:“when Piniella decided he didn’t like a player and didn’t want to manage him, there was little hope that player was going to be much of a contributor in the future.”
And the skipper now is different, how?
Lou had other options on the bench than Podsednik. Do you honestly believe that Hargrove is playing Spiezio over Morse due to personal spite?
msb-Agree Piniella would not play any position players he had something against (mostly because they were rookies) but Gillick encumbered him with rule V players as well.
Perhaps it was win it all know mentallity that has brought Mariners to this (insert adjective) state.
Sad that here we are without as an ordinary fan can glean not much to be encouraged about. Felix yes but only one pitcher.
It does appear Bavasi and Fontaine are building the foundation for long term success but also believe Fans deserve a better product.
My frustration is aimed at Gillick and his guys. Would be remiss not to include Lincoln in being culpable.
Bottom line fans deserve more from the puppeters whomever they are.
Yeah, when we left Ichiro hit a homerun we never saw.
If you are going to carry 13 pitchers, why do you leave Franklin out there that long?
I grew up watching padres games in the 70’s. Most teams carried 10 pitchers, so with no DH that left 7 guys on the bench. 3 is just crazy.
I am convinced that Grover is either brain dead or trying to prove a painful point to Bavasi by playing Spiezio over Morse (or anyone for that matter).
Do you honestly believe that Hargrove is playing Spiezio over Morse due to personal spite?
Sadly, “yes” would be the least painful answer to that question.
It makes you wonder, how many ways can the Mariners front office waste Ichiro’s talent over the course of his current contract?
I’ll bet he’s so frustrated now over the way the past 2 years have gone that he’s going to be out of Seattle like a bullet train when his contract is up.
Ruano Franklero es mucho mal y no mal en una bien manero!
I think I heard something to that effect on the M’s spanish broadcast.
In my view, there were only 2 options for Franklin to survive in baseball on this whole steroid thing. One, he could come clean and disclose everything about being busted… which drug he was positive for, how it “really” could have gotten into his system, etc. Or, two, he could pitch to such an outstanding level that the steroid thing would be uniformly ignored by fans, the FO, and MLB.
He chose Two, which never had much hope. Franky didn’t look closely enough in the mirror. Despite the Franklero moniker, he doesn’t resemble Juan Rincon at all.
It’s too bad. I always liked Ryan Franklin.
What if he’s telling the truth?
Uh, Podsednik stinks. Lou was right. He’d be a disaster if he was batting second for us. Podsednik is Willie Bloomquist minus the ability to play infield. Even with the SB, his OPS is .685 and his VORP is a whopping 7.0, which is 29th among LFers. He makes Randy Winn look like Manny Ramirez.
I’m a little concerned that people in the FO think like that.
#162
I turned the tv off in the third inning. all of what you said was happening, plus we were being “entertained” by a couple of Anaheim Angel broadcasters with the IQ of chlorophyl.
I wish Spiezio would shave his goatee. He is looking more and more like a Hillbilly goat in the line-up. Maybe it might be a good luck omen for him to change his appearance. Also, he should go down to Tacoma and work on his game. Tacoma need some help after sending all their best players to Seattle. Tacoma has been losing games and need more winner like Spiezio – a $3.1M dud.
What will happen first, the Mariners getting there 50th win, or the Mariners getting there 70th lose. I think desperate times call for desperate measures.We release everyone but Ichiro and Sexson, take the money we save and put it toward research in finding a way to clone Ichiro..imagine 8 Ichiro’s and Richie Sexson batting in the number 4 spot.
Coming back to reality, does King Felix have a shot at winning 5 games this year? I mean he could pitch gems for the rest of the year and still get no run support. THIS IS CHAOS…SCOTT SPIEZIO IS PLAYING DH!!!! Willie Bloomquist is playing 2nd base, last in just about every important offensive category, what else am i missing?
– They rank 26 out of 30 in Batting
– 5 wins in their last 15 games(.333)
Am I wrong for being angry? Well at least his Excellency, King Felix pitches monday…if you will excuse me, I need a drink!
Unfortunately I stayed at the park for the entire game. Ugly,anemic and horrible are a few adjectives that come to mind. I hate this team. It’s one thing to be bad, it’s another to be the combination of boring and bad. Last year at least we had Edgar and Ichiro’s hit record to balance out the losses and breaking in the youth. This year we’ve got a front office without a clue, a horrible rotation, anemic offense and no hope.
Yet, somehow 42,000+ people showed up today to watch the ugliness and the radio and tv ratings haven’t nose dived this season. Why should management change their approach?
Anyone hear Franklin’s post game remarks? He basically said only two balls were hit hard, he pitched fine, felt good, and it was just one of those days. (I am paraphrasing just a bit).
I guess Franklin has had quite a few of those days in the last couple of years. However, I am guessing he won’t have many more of them in a Seattle uniform after this year.
#41 It’s nice not to have to deal with Fairly,
Actually, I prefer Fairly when he actually calls the game to Rizzs doing anything at all. Fairly, when busy calling the game does not have time for his stream of consiousnes and perpetual repetition pertpetual repetition repetition …, and as such he calls a pretty good game.He fills the gap time with what’s going on on the field, as opposed to Rick swooning over some body or that goddamed double down the line….
I’ll grant you, Fairly is better at calling than color, and few mortals are not better at calling than Rizzs. But excepting isolated innings here and there, that’s not how they use the ol’ Redhead. Put it this way: it takes the Fox broadcast crew for me to appreciate him.
Jeff Harris sent to triple a?Jamael strong recalled i just heard this info from my source .He says he isnt joking of course i asked him if there was anyone in that office with a clue?Fire Bavasai now this is another crappy move just DL your bad contract spazio and admit you screwed up the guy cant play tead you send a guy with a 2. something ERA to the minors.What kind of message is this sending the fans?It tells me we have no directionat all and we have bozos running this club!!Ive seen enough to think this ship is sinking quickly aND IT MIGHT NOT RECOVER UNTIL THE WHOLE FRONT OFFICE GOES AWAY.iTS NOT JUST HARRIS ITS THE RASH OF BAD DECISIONS THAT HAVENT STOPPED IN THE YEAR AND A HALF BILLYBOY HAS BEEN HERE.
I turned it off after the Magolia Moment, because I figured that was going to be the highlight. It was a nice pickoff. Left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling about Ryan Franklin’s talent all day. Until I looked at the box score.
P.S. Interesting and relevant article, Jeff, thanks.
P.P.S. I hope DMZ got some beer.
Magnolia. With an “n”.
183: If you’re right, at least he’s only down for like 2 weeks. Certainly he’ll get a Sept. callup.
Ryan Franklin on FSN right now: “I threw the ball well”.
Yeeeeeah, right.
187: Does he ever NOT say that?
186 Thagt isnt the point the gjuy has a 2 something ERA and pitched great.Why not send gasscan putz out are the walk machine thorton are get rid of the fabulus shiggy?Sanfrog stays harris goes?The point is another bad call by billyboy.Does he know anything about guys who do good stay guys who suck should get sent out.
Franklin ALWAYS says he felt he pitched well (even when he obviously sucked)…
“I didn’t miss any spots,” Franklin said.
Well in that case, then he doesn’t know where to throw the damn ball cause he got shallaked today. Just friken admit you made some mistakes dude!
A source I have from within the Mariners organization just informed me that Jeff Harris was sent down to Triple A Tacoma, with Jamal Strong coming up to take his place. And this source insists that he isn’t joking. I replied by asking if anyone in the front office had any idea what they were doing.
Bill Bavasi needs to be relieved of his duties immediately for making such an ill advised personnel move. He ought to designate Scott Spiezio for assignment, and admit that the Mariners made a mistake in signing the veteran to such a large contract. Spiezio hasn’t hit at this level all season, yet the organization keeps Spiezio while sending down a pitcher in Harris who has pitched well and put up solid numbers. What kind of message does such action send to loyal Mariner fans?
This sort of decision making tells me that the organization has no direction whatsoever and that the front office cannot be trusted to make sound decisions that help this team. The team is on the verge of becoming a perennial AL doormat and will not improve until the present front office staff has been replaced. I’m not referring just to the Jeff Harris demotion but the overall personnel decisions made throughout Bill Bavasi’s tenure as GM.
How can Strong be recalled if he was sent down less than 10 days ago?
Well said tronic ty.You forgot about gas can putz and the walk machine thorton and the shiganater who all havent been real good!
Yay, I love the tronic. Welcome back. May your stay be lengthy, O Wise One!
Again, for the millionth time….
If our only options for DH were Dave Hansen and Scott Spiezio, WHY DID WE USE THE DH AT ALL?
Doyle injured. =/
Jeff Harris outpitched Franklin for another “Sorry George Sherril, We Got Our Other Guy Back Now” moment. IE, busted to AAA for his troubles. I’m okay with Jamal Strong being here, as long as he farking plays. Ibanez back to DH, Strong in Left. So we now have the great redundancy of outfielders we had before Randy Winn left.
Call Bucky up now. He went 1 for 3 with a 2B and an RBI for AAA. Got ran for later for precautionary measures. But I’d rather have a rehabbing Bucky Jacobsen at the Major League level then Scott Spiezio. Period.
Oh, and Foppert threw an inning today for the Rainiers finally. Gave up a hit, but that’s it. No runs, no walks, no strikeouts. Just one inning, one hit.
Does anyone here wonder how come olivo can go to sandiego and hit 300 and the pitchers are very complimentry of him in the papers?Maybe he was not treated right here are wasnt paid attention to by the coaches?This guy is a great athlete for a catcher and we gave up on him because we did not get the most out of this player.I dont know what ojeda is are a nat mateo but i think the padres got there man and our man we thought we got from the sox.Good luck miguel i still wish you luck and i think you will be a good ml player from here out.
174. DMZ: What if Franklin is telling the truth.
He very well could be telling the truth. My post in 173 doesn’t accuse him of lying. I just think he would have been better served, and might yet be better served, by telling the entire truth. Put all details on the table, have MLB and/or the Players Union confirm the details. Basically do things differently than the previous 8 steroid suspensions.
As people have reported above, Franklin lives in denial about the quality of his outings, where he always says he felt he pitched great, even when he hasn’t. I think this whole drug suspension could be a similar case where he is in denial.
of course, as an undersized, marginal talent, the only way he made it through college, the Olympics and 10 years in the minors was to tell himself that he ‘pitched great’….
Wasn’t he something like 20-0 in college and 3-0 in the Olympics? Regardless of how much run support he might have had, those kind of results can help boost a pitcher’s confidence.