Game 122, Mariners at Twins
Weird 4:37 start time. RHP Felix Hernandez v RHP Kyle Loshe. Given past usage patterns, this means we’re probably going to start experiencing site slowness… real soon now. The joys of being a non-profit. Please be kind with the reload button, folks.
To catch up on transactions: Gil Meche went on the 15-day DL (knee), Spiezio’s on waivers because you have to put someone through waivers before granting them their release, and Greg Dobbs was called up from Tacoma.
Best quote I read today was Bavasi on putting Spiezio on waivers for purpose of granting him his unconditional release: “We have wrung the rag of opportunity dry.” Heh. Did the tattoo do the twist while you were wringing Spiezio out? Because that would be amusing.
Bavasi also had the second-best quote, when talking about the reputation for grit/etc Spiezio was partly signed for: “I don’t think his desire changed, but nobody slides head-first into the dugout. I don’t think he has lost his grit, or his desire to play.”
That’s a good joke.
Spiezio, displaying a remarkable ability for self-deception, claimed that he’d gotten off to a decent start and then failed, which is… wow. Not really, no. Sorry.
In a twist worthy of a double-take, today’s lineup is essentially the same as we’ve seen every day for a while, but with Greg Dobbs playing DH. Yes, they released Scott Spiezio so they could get Dobbs time at DH. Dobbs does, however, have that great-looking swing. Have you seen it? It looks great.
Also, Miguel Olivo hit his 9th HR of the year for the Padres today.
Comments
354 Responses to “Game 122, Mariners at Twins”
#329 & 349: I can’t speak for pitchers in the 1930-1970s era (until they finally moved to a five-man rotation), but there’s definitely a difference between pitching effort in the dead-ball vs live-ball eras. I think it was Walter Johnson, in fact, who, in his autobiography, wrote that pitchers needed to be in good physical shape, because they’d sometimes have to throw 90, and even on occasion 100, pitches in a ballgame.
Heh! Went to my first Felix-is-pitching party/gathering. And to think I might still be going to such parties when I’m 65, or even older!
I’m surprised that no one noticed this, but Ron Gardenhire, a coach that is generally esteemed around the league, didn’t have his best reliever, Joe Nathan, pitching a tie game in the bottom of the 9th & 10th.
As we know, Mike Hargrove gets roundly criticized for not pitching Eddie in the 9th & 10th of a tie game at home. I don’t think much of Grover’s decision(s) to hold Eddie in reserve for some super duper extra important inning such as the 12th. But it’s also clear that other managers make this mistake, too. Joe Torre? Not so much.
Oh, and the postscript is… that the Nathan-less decision probably bit Gardenhire in the butt tonite. I wonder if any savvy reporter in the Twins postgame interview bothered to ask him why Nathan wasn’t pitching in that situation.
Oh, and the postscript is… that the Nathan-less decision probably bit Gardenhire in the butt tonite.
I’d say what bit him in the butt was walking Raul to get to Richie, although one could argue the game was already lost by then.
Question for Stat-Heads:Historically, what percentage of time does intentionally walking the bases full end up costing a run scored (either by the walked batter, or via a subsequent walk with no room to put him)?