Game 126, Mariners at Rangers
Jeff · August 25, 2005 at 11:01 am · Filed Under Mariners
Today’s question is not “How much will Clint Nageotte sweat?” but “Can Jeff Harris repeat his solid previous performance?” as the minor league vet gets the start. He is opposed by Chris Benoit’s younger brother, Joaquin.
Your lineup:
1 Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2 Willie Bloomquist, 2B
3 Raul Ibanez, LF
4 Richie Sexson, 1B
5 Adrian Beltre, 3B
6 Greg Dobbs, DH
7 Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
8 Jeremy Reed, CF
9 Miguel Ojeda, C
Greg Dobbs again. I almost wish we’d kept Spiezio.
Comments
168 Responses to “Game 126, Mariners at Rangers”
Regarding Bonds, great player and certainly worth thinking about having on your team. Personally, I’d rather have him be my problem during games and someone else’s problem before and after games. Besides, I can’t think of any reason why he’d leave San Francisco -and that includes money unless his godfather Willie Mays is cool with him taking the big bucks elsewhere.
By the way, covers of ground-breaking songs such as teen spirit are a pet peeve of mine but it to have done it with swing is so off the wall it was interesting, in a train-wreck sort of way.
Any reason to believe that Harris will be able to continue pitching well, or is he the 2005 version of Franklin (the minor leaguer who finally makes it to the bigs)? I want to hope, but I just have nagging doubts. It certainly would be nice to have another independant league pitcher come in and do well.
And while I would rather have Griffey than Bonds, it would be like saying I would rather have Black Butte Porter rather than Guinness (its more local). Bonds would be a sweet addition to the M’s.
I wouldn’t count on Harris producing at a really high level forever. His success in a few outings now is coming from a very low BABIP, and his pereipheral numbers are less than outstanding — his HR rate and walk rate are nothing to write home about, and his K rate is quite low.
However, these numbers were better in the minors, and are not a large sample even there; he’s only started 13 games all year at any level. And the Mariners’ defense doesn’t look to get any worse anytime soon. Stranger things have happened.
But also rememeber he’s extremely old (31) for a “prospect”, especially against AA batters, which he SHOULD be obliterating. I don’t think he’s going to be a regular starter in 2006 and beyond. Might be a useful spare part in the pen. On the other hand, on this staff, mediocre pitchers have a chance to be the class of the field, and even outright crappy ones can hold down jobs.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is BARRY Bonds you’re talking about? As DH? Good lord, of COURSE you want him. Even if he can’t run at all, even if his lower extremities make Edgar look like a gazelle, even if he’s at 50% or even 35% of full power, and yes, even if he’s guilty as hell, you want that. Think about it: massive power, and on base half the time. HALF! Good lord. Roll him out there in a wheelchair. This is the best hitter of all time, folks, not friggin’ Kevin Mitchell.
Thanks Steve. Harris is such a good baseball story that other things get brushed over. But I wonder how he would project out against the guy who he should replace, Franklin. It seems like Harris could be very competant in that 5th starter/long reliever role that Franklin should have (okay for 10-15 starts, bad news if it is 20+).
Why do people keep putting weak hitters like Lopez and Reed in the #2 hole? Why not just move up your better hitters?
What people are putting Lopez and Reed in the 2 hole? I see Bloomquist out there every day.
Reed obviously isn’t there because he wasn’t getting on base enough. Why Bloomquist is there I’m not sure.
Lopez didn’t play a single game in the 2 hole when he was up.
It isn’t unreasonable to project him as a future 2 hitter. He has posted a 325/360/528 line in Tacoma, which doesn’t sound like a “weak hitter” to me. If he comes close to those numbers ultimately as a major league hitter, he could hit anywhere in the lineup.
155. I don’t know, do I really want him? Let me think about that for a minute.
He can hit, but he likes drama and puts himself ahead of his team and considers almost the entire world to be beneath him. Plus he’s 41, has supposedly been injured all year, and coud face a long-term suspension down the road. Sounds like damaged goods to me.
Hmmm, no. But if you want him on the Mariners, be my guest. Just don’t be mad when he starts to show his age at the plate, starts complaining about the ballpark, a la Junior, and picks a fight with Ichiro. Because I can very easily see those three things happening if he came here.
Bonds likes drama? Huh?
Puts himself ahead of the team? Give me one instance — one — where Bonds has on the field done something selfish that is clearly to the detriment of his team.
“supposedly” injured? Do you think he faked knee surgery? Why would you do that?
Could face a long-term suspension down the road? Huh? Potentially, doesn’t that apply to everyone?
And when has Bonds ever picked a fight with anyone?
That you “very easily” see these things happening does not mean they are indeed actual risks.
Weather Harris is a reliever are a starter are nothing at all it is a great story.The real question i have is how does Kerfield find 4 guys to pitch in the majors out of the indy leagues?2nd question why did they let him go?
Think if we got Bonds in the 3 hole followed by Sexson, Beltre and Ibanez… Those are 3 hitters that could have big seasons… You put the hottest one behind Bonds they have to pitch to him… How many HRs you think he can hit?
DMZ, I’m sorry but I just don’t like the guy. He’s had many instances of not running out balls he should’ve run hard on, including when he was in his 20s and not hurt frequently. He’s gotten in the face of a manager like Jim Leyland, an incident that a lesser player would’ve been DFA’d for immediately. I also remember a game in ’95 when he said “F*ck the fans” when asked about being booed over dropping a fly ball. That’s not the way to mend fences after a strike. Plus, when a teammate like Jeff Kent doesn’t like you, that should tell you something.
I’ll admit to crossing the line when it comes to questioning his injury. I thought I had a valid reason for doing so in light of the steroid allegations and the timing of the announcement, but that’s still no excuse. However, his years of open contempt towards anyone he perceives as beneath him  fans, media, some teammates  make it easy to take cheap shots at him.
I’m not disputing his accomplishments, and if he healthy he could be a vital cog to the Mariner lineup. I’m just saying that like T.O., Bonds eventually will no longer be worth the headache.
He’s had many instances of not running out balls he should’ve run hard on, including when he was in his 20s and not hurt frequently.
Uhhh… many, many players do this. Sexson is horrible about this.
He’s gotten in the face of a manager like Jim Leyland, an incident that a lesser player would’ve been DFA’d for immediately.
Jim Leyland’s had personality problems of his own.
I also remember a game in ‘95 when he said “F*ck the fans†when asked about being booed over dropping a fly ball. That’s not the way to mend fences after a strike.
Uh huh. I can’t find a cite for that. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but I’m highly skeptical.
Plus, when a teammate like Jeff Kent doesn’t like you, that should tell you something.
Uh… if Jeff Kent doesn’t like someone, that’s almost a recommendation. It’s not like being on Jamie Moyer’s bad side.
Most of your points are valid, but I still don’t like him. Also, how is Jeff Kent not liking someone almost a recommendation? And I believe, and all I can go on obviously is belief, that Bonds would get on Moyer’s bad side if he were here.
Aside from that, I’ll agree to disagree on Bonds and look forward to tonight and El Duque vs. El Rey.
Also, how is Jeff Kent not liking someone almost a recommendation?
Jeff Kent is, by almost all accounts of ex-teammates, as colossal a jerk as you believe Barry Bonds to be.
Way I heard it, Bonds >IS
Bonds is unquestionably the biggest jerk around — to reporters. He hates reporters. Big deal. The reporters report that “Bonds is a jerk, you should hear what he said to me, I’ve never been so offended.” Meanwhile Bonds is laughing, and most of his peers are laughing, too.
Having TV reporters hate you does not indicate bad character.
Besides, who cares if he’s a jerk? One of the Mariners’ weaknesses is their fondness for upright citizens who can’t play baseball. Maybe Bonds’s need for psychodrama with the media is pathological. Who cares? If he’s jerking baseballs as hard as he’s jerking TV meatheads, he’s a huge asset.
Besides, you say “he likes drama”. Guess what: so do I. I’d like to see some heart-stopping dramatic three-run homers occasionally, wouldn’t you? In baseball games drama is generally speaking a good thing.
Note that I said games. Afterwards in the locker room, in front of the microphones, answering all those penetrating “how do you feel” questions, who gives a flying floop? People who watch that crap deserve to be killed.