Off-day distractions
DMZ · June 19, 2006 at 7:53 am · Filed Under Mariners
The notebooks are chock-full of tidbits.
The Times has Yuni-Omar, praise for Rivera, and Everett reminds readers he’s still capable of playing in the field.
“I’m a professional, I can deal with it,” he said. “I had a feeling it would go like this when I got to play in the field once in a month in spring exhibition games. But whatever the perception is that I can no longer play defense, that is not my reality. I can still play in the field.”
The PI’s version has the Omar-Yuni bit, plus Moyer-Bonds and Putz’s closer music.
And if you thought traffic getting into M’s games was bad now… well, turns out we’re totally screwed.
Also, I’m quitting my job today, which means more M’s related content for you, at least until they shut my power off.
Jim, I dunno. The ERAs sound nice.
But if we’re exiling Piñeiro to the ‘pen… Cruceta seems a better choice than Woods, or as good as anyone not named Soriano.
Personally, I’d like to see Cruceta pitching, Doyle at DH, and give the team a month to see if we surprise anyone.
re: 83
It’s actually Manelik, they had a typo in the Times roster.
Ogui is pronounced oh-gee.
To all who loath the MLB blackout restrictions: You must check out this article (as well as the link to the previous story). I sent them to lowly PR person in the front office of the M’s who I’d been pressing about this as well but if anyone has an email address that is higher up the chain, it might be more useful.
[long link]
ec, the fact that we’re five games out at this point doesn’t equate to being in contention, nor would dealing Meche mean “We’re rebuilding YET AGAIN,” for the simple reason that no one could possibly be under the illusion that we’ve rebuilt (or reloaded) yet.
Besides, you have yet to address the strongest single argument for moving Meche: namely, that at some point this season, his performance going forward will likely be such that we might as well have traded him.
Also: Michael Garciaparra placed on the disabled list.
Well, maybe there is something in the family genes.
[see comment guidelines]
RE:33
Deanna, I would highly recommend any Aquasox game this week. They are playing the Tri City Dust Devils, who have the best pitcher in the northwest league from 2005 starting for them, Shane Lindsey. He was pretty darn good last year and hasn’t looked bad in practice so far this year. Also, I just happen to be partial to the Dust Devils, seeing as I’m working for them this season.
On Meche, trading isn’t a matter of giving up on the season, it’s actually trying to maximize the chances of winning this season.
In 2004, 2005, and the first 1/4 of 2006 Meche has shown that with an average park and average defense behing him, he’s a pitcher with an ERA of ~5.50. That’s basically replacement level or a shade better. At a cursory glance, especially to GMs that pray at the temple of Wins and ERA, his last six starts have been very good. There’s a clunker at Texas (hitters paradise) but even counting that he’s 4-0 with a 3.29 ERA. His June totals are awesome and overall he’s 7-4 with an ERA of 4.10.
It’s reasonable to look at those numbers and think there’s trade value there. Some GM will believe he’s turned the corner or harnesses his “stuff” or figure an ERA of 4 is pretty good. Of course, those could be reasons NOT to trade Meche until you look a bit more closely at his starts.
In this six start streak, he’s faced three terrible offenses — KC (worst offense in baseball), Los Angeles (3rd worst in AL), and San Diego (2nd worst in NL). San Francisco and Baltimore are middle of the pack in their leagues and Texas is pretty good AND lit him up. And four of the six have been at Safeco. Basically he’s taken advantage of very favorable circumstances to put up good numbers.
I think (and suspect the same is true for others who propose trading Meche) that he’s likely to pitch the rest of the season with his typical park neutral 5.50 ERA. If there’s a team out there who will give us value based on his 7-4 4.10 ERA, we should take it, especially if we get a major league talent for him.