Game 150, Mariners at Blue Jays
The M’s take on the Blue Jays in the field formerly known as Skydome.
Just for fun, here’s the Blue Jays records by year since J.P. Ricciardi took over:
2002: 78-84
2003: 86-76
2004: 67-94
2005: 73-75
A look at Leo
ESPN did a nice piece on Leo Mazzone over the weekend. A lot of it has to deal with general pitching philosophy, and it’s worth reading. I find it somewhat amusing that, in nearly every other sport in the world, the rest of the league copies the champion and tries to recreate what they just did (the NFL especially, with teams going from the west coast offense to a 3-4 defense on the drop of a hat because it worked for San Francisco or New England or what have you), but in baseball, Leo Mazzone can institute a program that is so far and above what anyone else is even trying, and his methods are basically ignored.
Does that make any sense at all? There’s one guy saying something almost completely different than than everyone else, and he’s kicking the crap out of them every year, and no one ever decides to try his way?
Major League Baseball can be kinda screwy.
Game 149, Mariners at Rangers
It’s a marquee pitching matchup today, with Ryan Franklin (5.06 ERA) taking on R.A. Dickey (5.93). I think it’s safe to say the Fairly Doctrine (“thou shalt score four runs to win”) will not hold true today. It could be a good day for the guys with the lumber.
Of course, those numbers are pre-knuckleball R.A. Dickey. I’ve got to admit, I have a soft spot for the guy — borderline player, born without an ulnar collateral ligament, now a practitioner of the knuckleball — he just keeps on plugging. I root for him when he’s not playing the M’s.
Ichiro at DH today, with Choo out in center again. The lineup:
1 Ichiro Suzuki, DH
2 Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
3 Raul Ibanez, RF
4 Richie Sexson, 1B
5 Adrian Beltre, 3B
6 Greg Dobbs, LF
7 Jose Lopez, 2B
8 Shin-Soo Choo, CF
9 Miguel Ojeda, C
Game 148, Mariners at Rangers
The late summer rushes have all of us at USS Mariner Labs occupied with various and sundry tasks. Except Derek, who is on vacation. Apologies for my recent absence.
No one is more regretful than me that I wasn’t around to organize a “USSMariner-a-thon,” where you could bid on such items as a dream date with Dave, cooking lessons from Jason, Peter White brand invisible ink or a thesaurus autographed by me and Derek. I’ll be around more this coming week.
Today, it’s Joel “Hold ‘Em High” Pineiro versus Kenny “Hide Your Women and Photographers” Rogers. It’s all about dignity at this point.
Wisconsin loses deciding game
South Bend beat the Timber Rattlers 4-0 today to win the Midwest League title, three games to two. After falling behind 2-0, Wisconsin won the next two games at home before dropping today’s finale.
And if you missed it, Tacoma was swept out of the PCL championship series by Nashville earlier.
Game 147: Mariners at Rangers
RHP “King” Felix Hernandez vs. RHP Josh Rupe, 5:05pm, FSN & KOMO.
Let me be the third to say Happy Felix Day!
I saw “Rupe” on the probable starters and thought to myself, “Ryan Rupe is still around? Good for him.” In reality, the M’s will be facing Josh Rupe in his Major League debut. Rupe pitched decently at AA this season, then was promoted to AAA and got slapped around something fierce. Turns out Ryan is still around, though. The one-time Tampa Bay prospect appeared in 23 games for the Las Vegas 51s this season, posting a 6.42 ERA but fanning 74 in 75 2/3 IP.
RF Ichiro!
2B Santiago (not a typo)
LF Ibanez
1B Sexson
3B Beltre
“DH” Dobbs
SS Betancourt
CF Bubela (also not a typo)
C JoeJessica
The Rangers, incidentally, are on pace to break the M’s single-season MLB record for homers in a season (264 in 1997).
Random Musings
This is going to be a short post, because, well, I’m ridiculously busy, but I didn’t want to go another day with just a game thread for you guys. See, we do care.
If you’re wondering, Derek’s “Off The Wall” column in the P-I is on hiatus because he’s on vacation. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, when he goes on vacation, USSM postings grind to a halt. Derek is the straw that stirs the drink.
Interesting article in the P-I today about parking around Safeco. Check it out.
The KJR afternoon guys are auctioning off stuff for charity. Included is a dinner with Bill Bavasi, an afternoon with Howard Lincoln (I mean, how much fun would that be…) and some other Mariner related stuff. Auctions end tonight, so check them out if you’re so inclined.
Happy Felix Day!
Minor League playoffs resume tonight. Check em out if you’re in T-Town.
Week #25 in Review
I nearly forgot the season was still going on. Forgive me.
Happy Felix Day!
Vital Signs
Wins: 64. Losses: 82. Games out of first place: 17.
Over the last two weeks, the Mariners have gained one game in the standings. Oakland and Los Angeles are tied for first with 16 left to play – 4 for those against one another. The Rangers and third place are now 8.5 games away. The M’s are now nearly four and a half games worse than we would expect them to be, according to third-order wins, with still the Devil Rays and Royals with fewer W3 wins
Runs Scored: 642 (12th in the American League). Batting average: .257 (last). On-base percentage: .317 (last). Slugging percentage: .395 (tied with Minnesota for last). Home runs: 122 (tied with Toronto for 11th). Bases on balls: 413 (8th). EqA: .250 (11th). The American league average is .268/.329/.425.
Runs allowed: 669 (7th). Staff ERA: 4.41 (7th). DIPS ERA: 4.66 (12th). Strikeouts: 781 (last). Bases on balls: 456 (9th). Home runs allowed: 159 (11th). Starters ERA: 4.90 (10th). Relievers ERA: 3.37 (4th). Defensive efficiency: 70.3% (4th).
Clap your hands, oh ye Mariner fans, the M’s had a winning week and swept the playoff bound (maybe) Los Angeles Angels. It was their first sweep since the Royals a month ago. They went 4-3 against the Orioles, Angels and one game with the Rangers. They outscored the opposition 32-28 (hardly dominating, but we’re taking anything at this point), out-homered the opposition 5-2 and drew more bases on balls 25-15. The offense hit .287/.362/.409, which would suggest that they made contact, getting their hits, and they drew their walks, but there was very little power.
Heroes
Hot hot Raul Ibanez went 14-for-28 (.500/.563/.786) with a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs. He collected two 4-hit games this week and drove in 4 runs Wednesday in the Mariners 10-9 win over the Angels.
In a bizarro week, Felix Hernandez allows 6 earned runs in 7 innings while Ryan Franklin and Joel Pineiro combine 15.2 innings and allowed 2 earned runs between them. Felix, though, struck out more than both of them together. And keep in mind that Franklin and Pineiro faced an anemic Angels offense, while Felix had Baltimore, a bit more of a heftier offense.
Game 146, Mariners at Rangers
Jeff Harris vs Kameren Loe. Loe, by the way, is an extreme groundball pitcher.
The M’s run the same line-up out there that they did yesterday, except Torrealba replaces Ojeda behind the plate.
Game 145, Angels at Mariners
The M’s send Jamie Moyer to the hill to try to sweep the Angels. The Halos counter with Joe Saunders. Yes, THE Joe Saunders. Okay, so you probably don’t know who he is. Which, if recent history is to be repeated, means he’s in line for the game of his life. Odds of a shutout? At least 40 percent.
1. Ichiro
2. Reed
3. Ibanez
4. Sexson
5. Beltre
6. Lopez
7. Dobbs
8. Betancourt
9. Ojeda
Betancourt is hitting .228/.249/.318 in 144 at-bats. Miguel Ojeda is deemed a worse hitter and gets to bat 9th. Other, possibly more humiliating experiences would include:
Hearing Tim McCarver utter the words “I agree with you completely”.
Your girlfriend leaves you for Corco.
Having your credit card declined at Goodwill. (this happened to me, by the way)
Receiving an award for quality sportswriting from Steve Kelly.