Game 97, Red Sox at Mariners
Kason Gabbard, major league debut, vs Felix Hernandez
Gabbard’s a 24-year-old lefty who was okay at Double-A Portland, got promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, and saw his ERA rise due a case of homerunitis. He’s your classic minor league lefty – throws in the 80’s, doesn’t miss bats, tries to survive by throwing strikes, which he hadn’t really done until this year. He’s their version of Bobby Livingston, just not quite as good.
M’s line-up:
Ichiro, RF
Bloomquist, 2B
Beltre, 3B
Sexson, 1B
Perez, DH
Everett, LF
Johjima, C
Betancourt, SS
Jones, CF
Giving Raul a day off against a lefty isn’t a bad idea – the problem is that the Mariners roster is constructed so poorly, thanks to Hargrove’s insistance on a 12 man pitching staff, that the team has no capable right-handed hitting outfielder on the roster, so Carl Everett starts in left field.
Everett’s terrible defensively and is hitting .164/.243/.269 against southpaws this year. The M’s, honestly, would be just as well off not using a DH and letting Eduardo Perez play left field. I’m not kidding. Felix could hit .164/.243/.269 against lefties.
And, the kicker, of course, is that Everett is still hitting 6th. Everyone knows Everett can’t hit lefties – Bavasi acquired Perez strictly so that Everett wouldn’t have to play against them. Meanwhile, the team has him hitting in front of Johjima and Betancourt. That’s insane.
And, of course, Willie hitting second.
Mike Hargrove is not an idiot. I’m sure he’s a reasonable man. But he’s terrible at assembling line-ups (as well as pretty much every other strategical task expected of a manager). For your enjoyment, this back-and-forth is copied from last night’s game thread:
James T said:
July 21st, 2006 at 10:25 pm e
I used to be impressed by how well he would deploy the Orioles’ bullpen to hold leads the few times they got ahead of the Sox in the years when Hargrove was the O’s manager.
JMHawkins said:
July 21st, 2006 at 10:48 pm e
#355: I think the problem is Grover’s still calling for the same guys from his old Orioles clubs. Jim Slaton’s down in the bullpen trying to match names as best he can.
No out, two on, Bullpen phone rings
Hargrove (over phone): “Get Calvin Maduro warmed up!â€
Slaton (muttering): “Maduro? We ain’t got no Maduro. Hey, Mateo, get warm!â€
A walk, a single, and a HR later, Mateo enters the game.
Two walks and a HR later, the bullpen phone rings again
Hargrove: “I need Jorge Julio!â€
Slaton: “Julio’s already in the game.â€
Hargrove: “What? Fine, get Yorkis Perez warm.â€
Slaton: “Perez? You pinch hit him last inning for Jones.â€
Hargrove: “I did? What about Sean Douglass?â€
Slaton (mutters): “We ain’t got no Douglass. You mean Sean Green?
Hargrove: Groom? No, I don’t want Buddy Groom, he’s a lefty. Who else we got left out there?â€
Slaton: “J.J. Putz, he’s rested.â€
Hargrove: “B.J. Ryan? No, I told you, I don’t want a Lefty. Let’s leave Jorge in the game.â€
Slaton: “Fine. Hey Fruto, get some more coffee. Gonna be a long night.â€
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Geez. Dual Game threads.
Is the game on television?
FOX
Okay, sure, give Raul a day off against lefties. But not until Carl isn’t with the team. This may be the worst lineup I’ve seen all year.
Its supposed to come on in Europe once the As and the Tigers are done…Scutaro just homered, Deanna must be delighted.
The other game thread informed us that Jeff had good tickets for the game but wasn’t able to go. And some moaning on the lineup.
Is Lopez’s absence the only reason Carl is in LF. Otherwise, Willie could get a spot start in LF. Grover should have given Raul the day off tomorrow. Willie and Lopez could play LF and 2b.
6: my thoughts exactly.
Must win today since Oakland’s probably going to win.
it’s so much fun listening to competent announcers.
6, Hargrove said on the pregame radio show that Raul was a little dinged up and it was a day game after a night game and a lefty pitching (though tomorrow’s starter is as well), so he askes him to sit out this one.
Note, I said that Hargrove said he ASKED Raul. I get the impression that he never TELLS them to sit.
Odd how he walks Alex Cora…and then makes Ortiz and Ramirez look silly.
Just Felix getting his stuff together and settled down. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t give up another walk the rest of the game.
Fox has to have the worst sound ever..
“Willie Bloomquist plays anywhere.”
Could he play for another team?
5 – actually, Swisher replaced Scutaro as my favorite A’s player this year, but I still like seeing Skootch do well too.
Hey, Felix seems to be handling Manny and Ortiz a lot better than Moyer was yesterday. And on that note, I’m going to go ignore the game so the Mariners won’t totally suck it up today.
C-Rex in the outfield scares me. A lot. It makes my colon quiver.
I don’t think anything would surprise me with Felix, he could walk the next three batters in a row or throw a no-hitter. Hopefully he’s on today.
Let me just say, my season’s already complete. I have been waiting months to see a Fruto-Coco matchup, and we had it last night. Everything else is just frothy topping.
They say Mirabelli doesn’t throw out many runners. No mention that he was catching a knuckleball pitcher much of the time.
Do you believe in miracles? yes!
Awesome job Beltre. I was getting my hopes up for a second there.
OMIGAWD A RAZOR WITH FIVE BLADES? WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT, A RAZOR WITH SIX BLADES????
What is the marginal utility of the fifth blade?
If five blades helps distribute the irritation, imagine what that single blade on the other side must be like!
closer, finer shave.
I just use an electric, it’s cheaper in the long run.
Gabbard’s a 24-year-old lefty who was okay at Double-A Portland, got promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, and saw his ERA rise due a case of homerunitis. He’s your classic minor league lefty – throws in the 80’s, doesn’t miss bats, tries to survive by throwing strikes, which he hadn’t really done until this year. He’s their version of Bobby Livingston, just not quite as good.
Dave, every time you or Derek go on about how bad the opposing pitcher is, the guy has the game of his life, especially when it’s a left-hander.
So, would you mind saying something more like “Gabbard is a left-hander making his first start, and he’s going to win it today because he’s just that kind of player — the sort that win their major league debut against the Mariners.”
Grazie.
Actually isn’t there one with 5 blades on one side and another one on the back for some reason? Plus it vibrates, too, I think. It also probably lights up and offers a cupholder…
22: behold.
That home run was so predictable.
3-2 CURVEBALL. And he’s out.
a vibrating thing on a manual shaver? That’d be sweet.
27 – Yeah, I believe the back blade is supposed to be for trimming sideburns/mustaches/etc.
It’s amazing that the “third blade” took so many years to develop, and once that happened, now we’re up to 5, and probably as many as you can squeeze in a cartridge.
You know, you float the ball in this heat, it doesn’t matter if you’re Beltre or Ruth, you’re going to park the ball in the garage across the road.
I hate MLB.tv, i would love to know why i cant watch this game.
Aw phooey. Let me try again cool xhtml: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930
These Fox announcers make Rizz seem objective.
Oh, and when Lowell hit that homer, that crowd noise… a reminder that a Bosox game here is like a home game in a nice, modern ballpark for them.
After all, this IS Seattle, and we ARE hospitable.
28 – huh? Link don’t work.
I’d love to find a place in Seattle that still does straight razor shaves. I need my head cropped soon, anyway. The front and rear bald spots are about to merge, and I promised myself that once that happened, I’d lop it all off.
I want a beer fridge.
33- It’s a Fox game so it’s national blackout time. That’s why I can’t watch the Braves on MLB.tv. I hate Fox with a purple passion.
22 – the whole 5 blades…what’s next 6 blades things makes me think of this from “There’s Something About Mary”…
Hitchhiker: You heard of this thing, the 8-Minute Abs?
Ted: Yeah, sure, 8-Minute Abs. Yeah, the excercise video.
Hitchhiker: Yeah, this is going to blow that right out of the water. Listen to this: 7… Minute… Abs.
Ted: Right. Yes. OK, all right. I see where you’re going.
Hitchhiker: Think about it. You walk into a video store, you see 8-Minute Abs sittin’ there, there’s 7-Minute Abs right beside it. Which one are you gonna pick, man?
Ted: I would go for the 7.
Hitchhiker: Bingo, man, bingo. 7-Minute Abs. And we guarantee just as good a workout as the 8-minute folk.
Ted: You guarantee it? That’s – how do you do that?
Hitchhiker: If you’re not happy with the first 7 minutes, we’re gonna send you the extra minute free. You see? That’s it. That’s our motto. That’s where we’re comin’ from. That’s from “A” to “B”.
Ted: That’s right. That’s – that’s good. That’s good. Unless, of course, somebody comes up with 6-Minute Abs. Then you’re in trouble, huh?
[Hitchhiker convulses]
Hitchhiker: No! No, no, not 6! I said 7. Nobody’s comin’ up with 6. Who works out in 6 minutes? You won’t even get your heart goin, not even a mouse on a wheel.
Ted: That – good point.
Hitchhiker: 7’s the key number here. Think about it. 7-Elevens. 7 doors. 7, man, that’s the number. 7 chipmunks twirlin’ on a branch, eatin’ lots of sunflowers on my uncle’s ranch. You know that old children’s tale from the sea. It’s like you’re dreamin’ about Gorgonzola cheese when it’s clearly Brie time, baby.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129387/quotes
Aaah yes, that Onion article. First time I read it (week it was published) I thought “I’d give it two years before it happens.” Less than two years later….
Oh, looked like it did wing him.
What was the beef that Ortiz had last night? Did he say he was HBP?
Everett’s been a “pretty good player” here in Seattle? When?
Who was it that said that it was “nice to listen to competent announcers” and was speaking about these Fox jokers?
“Putting up good numbers?”
A DH hitting in the low 200s is “putting up good numbers”?
HUH???
Having been to Yankees and Red Sox “home” games at the Safe, I find the Yankees fans to be better. They’re cocky sons of bitches who KNOW they’re Yankees fans, but they’re generally nice people. Red Sox fans are arrogant, annoying, drunk assholes. Once they won in ‘04, everything that made them endearing was lost.
Nice work Yuni. And a shoutout to the groundskeepers keeping the grass that high.
I’m sure there are still some old-style barbershops that can and do shave with a straight blade. Have a look in the south end, Columbia City, etc. Heck some of the hipster places might do it as well. And then there’s this if you want to do it yourself.
42: That was Corco. And it’s gotten much, much worse since I said that.
Walk Jones to face Ichiro = Not a good idea
I haven’t been here in a few days so even though this has already been answered, what happend to Lopez?
Right now this songs sucks
48 – personal trip home, back in town today, playing tomorrow.
Quoting Dave from last night’s thread (it bears repeating until the man is gone):
And DH, remember, is the position any major-leaguer can play.
It was stifling at the park last night. I can’t believe how it must feel today.
#52. Especially in the sun…
ICHIRO IS MY MAN!
And that is why you don’t walk to get to Ichiro. Stupid BoSox.
Mr. Clutch!
“Ichiro has more hits in the US in six seasons than he had in nine in Japan.”
130-game seasons will do that to you.
And Ichiro delivers.
Ichiro!!! Way to stay alive and get the job done.
Hey, what’s wrong? This is a rookie pitcher: we’re supposed to get shut out.
It’s too bad Lopez wasn’t from, say, NJ. Then we could at least hope his “personal business” was arranging to have Mr Everett, uh, “taken care of.”
The kid’s up to 40+ pitches and the inning’s not over yet. From what you guys were saying earlier, I’ll bet half of those pitches were to Ichiro!
Way to go WFB! That’s our scrappy, dirty shirt little rally killer!!!
Ichiro’s consumed 23% of Gabbard’s pitches.
Regarding five blades and the Onion, there’s old SNL skit from the late 70s or early 80s that mocks the possibility of three blades.
That’s why Jones isn’t in Tacoma and Suckquist isn’t in CF.
I thought we lost Cameron?
62
I read your WFB comment and mentally took the s from scrappy and the r from shirt. I was going to comment that you didn’t have to use the language that you actually didn’t use. I guess this mental slip shows what I really think of WFB playing as much as he does.
At the risk of using Small Sample Size…that was a really nice catch.
So is this the first “national” TV appearance for Felix? Kind of a coming out party for Jones too, I guess.
Jones getting a little more comfortable in Safeco, and playing CF too I suppose. Reed would’ve laid out for that, because he had to. Which would’ve looked more spectacular, but is an injury risk and isn’t as useful if there are men on. Hope that carries over to Jones’ next at-bat (isn’t it Fairly who insists there’s some correlation, except when there isn’t?)
Manny was trying to stare that ball over the wall.
Gosh…these announcers is mad.
I want to teach my daughter to make as much money as Manny does…and piss of some blockheads on Fox.
Fairly to junior sportscaster: “Young Matthew, good luck to you the rest of your future.”
When Carl grabs his equipment bag and spits I wonder how wound up they’re going to get.
“They’ll have to hurry to turn two….”
Yeah, if they want to order out for pizza while Sexson’s on his way to first and still have time to get him out.
Wow! How DARE Beltre get a base-hit with no one on! Talk about a waste of an at-bat!
/sarcasm off.
Fox broadcast so far, summarized:
Brenneman: Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox.
Lyons: Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox.
Brenneman: Hernandez throws a strike Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox.
Lyons: Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox. Red Sox Red Sox?
Brenneman: Red Sox. Hernandez delivers and strikes out Manny Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox.
Nice save, Ritchie.
In other words, I miss Scully and Garagiola.
78 – You forgot:
“Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox, there’s Red Sox a Red Sox certain Red Sox way Red Sox to Red Sox play Red Sox the Red Sox game.”
MLB.tv broadcast so far:
Screw You, Paying Customer. You don’t get to watch baseball now. Go back to painting.
After an evening of Valle and Hendue we get this? Jesus, it’s like hearing “Let’s take a break from fingernails on the blackboard and go to some nice no-novocaine molar drilling for a change of pace?”
Hell, if we didn’t have Seattle loyalties wouldn’t we be talking about the Red Sox too? I mean, they are, well, better.
83 – Dave I’m with ya.
Why are they saying Hernandez like that?
I just got home, and for some crazy reason this game is being shown locally here on FOX.
And this line-up… well, it’s been covered. Just pass the barf bag.
Lauren: not with El Rey on the mound.
I don’t talk much about the Braves, either. Front runners don’t do much for me.
And that includes their homer fans.
Which takes me back to that 19 inning game against them a few years ago. My brother and dad and I were there for the whole thing, and when Fassero came into the game to pitch the 19th innings, I remember the Red Sox fans in our section (who had been about as nice as a sit-down with the IRS, talking about beaning batters, etc.) let out this wonderful, collective groan.
Ah.
Still makes me smile.
I agree with whoever said that once they won it all in 04, any charm they possessed for me was gone.
Beltre has now passed Sexson for season OPS… nothing to write home about, only interesting because he has only 7 home runs to Sexson’s 19.
Everett’s July OPS just went under .500.
Someone want to clue these Fox announcers in that the game is tied, and the Red Sox aren’t winning, that it’s Saturday afternoon, not Friday night?
Sheesh.
Sexson uses that 10 foot glove pretty well. Now, if only he’d start hitting balls a country mile more often.
Did you Know:
The Space Needle is not actually near Safeco Field?
Couple of miles north of the field maybe. Not ‘far’ but not in the neighborhood either.
Why does Thom never call the M’s the Mariners? Oh yeah because Seattle sports teams don’t get any respect.
I’d say they’re a ways…Safe is SoDo and Space Needle is on the north edge…that’s like 25 blocks.
WFB! He’s sucktacular!!!! He’s a local!!!!
He’s a whiner who thinks he ought to start every day!!!!
He’s a rich-kid whose parents could afford to send him to ASU without the scholarship he gave up!!!!
He’s a gamer!!!!
He’s 1 for 3 today, 1 for 8 so far this homestand!!!!
He’s a local!!!!
Guh.
I guess it’s just the same old thing where a game at Yankee Stadium might show the statue of liberty, but I’d rather see boats come across the Sound at games at the Safe and the Space Needle for Key Arena.
Mt. Rainier views are always welcome of course.
Bogus strike three.
It was actually a good call.
Slow om comments tonight.
Well we could talk about that whole “What’s SafeCo” exchange.
Also, how come the Red Sox don’t have direct deposit anyway?
Now we’re back to “Manny will be Manny” and what’s it all about Alfie? Jaysus what a bunch of boring crapolla. Or is that ‘crappola’? We need spell check on this thing.
Manny is a GIANT chip on Steve Lyons shoulder.
Outstanding out so far by King Fat Face.
Not a good call, unless you call it based on Mirabelli’s glove. He picked it inches off the ground.
Not a ridiculous call, but not a good one.
That should be outing.
Bad call?
Wow. Bad call.
But scored a hit?
Doesn’t even that the Mariners were cheated by a worse call that extended the game.
Yep. Bad call, scored a hit. Weird.
Mention
I’d call that a hit. Tough play.
Carl gets a hit: there’s a couple of games worth of Mariner good luck compressed into one at bat.
Johnny Pesky – he must be — old.
Tavarez coming in makes me feel very optimistic.
Tavarez sounds like the Red Sox’ version of Mateo.
Gonzalez!!!
And the good luck continues.
117. Except Mateo isn’t an extreme ground-ball pitcher.
Well, like Mateo, when Tavarez comes in the lead goes away.
bleah.
Time for Jones to make a splash.
…wow, that’s not what I had in mind.
Should have pinch-hit Ibanez.
Our boy Jones needs some seasoning. Which he’s getting, of course. Just ain’t pretty to watch.
Looked like on that highlight that the Yankees were trying a steal of home. Huh!
As long as the M’s have the lead I’m happy. Also Lyons should root for the M’s since he grew up around here.
Thom pronounces hispanic names strangely.
Great game by the King there.
I assume that’s it for him.
Kind of an unedifying sponsor there — “Flomax, the drug for old men who like to pee.” Yet it somehow fits the Fox persona.
When’s the last time Ichiros tried to bunt for a hit?
The Red Sox radio announcer just said “Bloomquist struggles against breaking balls but he’s a good fastball hitter. At least that’s the pitch he hits the best.”
Tavarez is an ugly guy. That may be what he has most in common with Mateo.
Nobody could be close to as ugly as Julio “Old Camel Face” Mateo.
That Fox Hilarity in the Dugout thing has worn out already.
No, Tavarez really is uglier. He looks alarmingly like Freddy Krueger.
136. Nope not uglier.
Benito Santiago is the ugliest player of the modern era. Well, nest to Ron Karkovice.
If theyt think Willie isn’t a threat because he only had 7 steals, they must think he’s on base a lot.
Dumb question, but isn’t this the West Coast feed on Fox? Here in the Central time zone we don’t get this game and it isn’t available on MLB Extra Innings on cable (point I’m making is, wouldn’t it be ironic if what is being described as homerism for the BoSox is not being viewed in Boston?)
Tavarez is mereting an honorary “Mike Hargrove Human Rain Delay” title.
If what ESPN’s pitch location says is correct, looks like Richie got a gift there from the home plate ump.
Karko is the ugliest man to ever play the game.
Uh…Tony Batista, guys.
Pinch-hit with Ibanez?
No, the hands-down winner of the all-time ugly award has to be Otis Nixon.
139 – any Sox game would be shown in Boston.
Makes sense…
Is there a lefty up in the Boston pen? Because I just don’t understand why Ibanez isn’t pinch hitting here???
Perez fucking kicks ass.
Grandma Otis?
There’s something different about watching Perez bat than when Carl Everett’s up. Give me a minute and it will come to mind.
151…uh…you feel like there’s a chance something good might come out of it?
Another great clutch hitter named “Ed” on the Mariners.
Hooray Eddie! (Wow, thought I’d never be able to say that again once Guardado stopped pitching well.)
Does it make me a bad Mariners fan that I want Everett to strike out/ground into a double play in this situation, just so it facilitates his NO LONGER BEING A MARINER?
151…uh Perez can actually hit?
Eddie Perez…is the backup catcher for the Braves man.
And Hargrove lucks into an Eddie Perez hit. At least it’s good for us, but it’s just another data point telling me that Hargrove is an incredibly horrible in-game manager.
For those watching the game, is Soriano up in the pen?
Well, Eddie is much easier to say than “Eduardo.” Just ask our knowledgable announcers.
Plus, I understand his family’s not nearly as nice as Eduardo’s.
Perez has gone by “Eddie” in the past. No need for strict name policing I think.
Mark Lowe’s coming in in the eighth?!
Even though I don’t have a problem with Lowe pitching I have to wonder why Soriano isn’t pitching.
158: Sherrill and Putz in the pen. No sign of Soriano.
According to MLB gamecast, that last catch was made by Adam Jones, but the little red dot where the catch took place is almost RIGHT ON TOP of Everett’s name. Heh.
Everett didn’t feel like getting out of his rocker, so Jones had to go get it.
I really like Lowe at this point, but unless this is a precursor to Soriano taking over for Pineiro, I think it’s a bit of a mistake. This is THE REASON you have Soriano, for gosh sakes.
Jones is a graceful runner. Dunno how far being graceful will get you but that gliding move to the ball sure catches the eye.
Hey, Dave where’s DMZ?
I think having to choose between Mark Lowe and Rafael Soriano is a problem you’d WANT to have.
Soriano may have arm issues again. He was unavailable a few weeks ago, you may recall. Then again Hargrove may be “saving” him for some reason only he understands.
Lowe was an excellent choice.
169 – presumably at the game.
I don’t care if Lowe or Soriano is out there. Imagine if Eddie would have actually been good at pitching this season.
Lowe/Soriano/Putz would be almost impossible to hit.
I think Lowe and Soriano both could do better than atleast two of the starters in our current rotation.
173. Maybe but he hasn’t done a post for a while.
Unless of course you are thinking about trading Soriano and want to see how Lowe works out in the 8th inning setup role. I have seen a lot of stuff in the past few days about teams interested in our Soriano. Of course it probably is all fluff and internet rumor.
I hope they don’t trade Soriano. Not that it couldn’t be a good thing, I just don’t trust the M’s to get value for him.
re: 176
As a Rafael Soriano owner in a dynasty league, I’d LOVE to see him go to the Nationals and get a chance to start. However, as an M’s fan, I’m extremely anti-Soriano Trade. And team loyalty comes first.
And from arguably the best hitter in baseball, Ichiro… to arguably the worst, Willie.
And from arguably the best hitter in baseball, Ichiro…
Travis Hafner and Albert Pujols are the best hitters in baseball. Ichiro is great and all, but those guys are fantastic. Let’s not go homer crazy here
Wow, Manny K’ed 3X today. But that one was a gift.
Ichiro is an all around better player than Hafner or Pujols.
I hear we’ve got a blockbuster trade of Soriano for Rich Aurilia, Scott Spiezio, Quentin McCracken, Greg Colbrunn, Jose Offerman, Joe Borchard, Doug Creek, Matt White, Giovanni Carrara, Kenny Kelly, and Rey Sanchez.
181. It was a strike.
I’ve got it – they’ve been showcasing Carl in the OF to raise his trade value. Raise it from zero, that is.
Ball game.
re: 183
You forgot Sele.
J.J. Putz it away!
186: And Ruben Sierra.
Great. Grover comes up with his dumbest lineup in weeks, C-Rex plays the field, Willie Ballgame starts and hits second…. and we win. Why o why must I be forced into these mixed emotion situations? The gods of baseball are cruel and unjust.
189: Notice that, as usual, despite the lineup.
Lowe earns his first Major League hold. Good job.
Nice game. it was good to see Felix pitch well, but I was especially impressed with Adam Jones. The deer in the headlights look is gone. Both in the field and at the plate he had a very solid game.
183: Wilson Valdez and Ramon Santiago reporting for duty.
Eddie Perez…is the backup catcher for the Braves man.
Um..No he’s not. That would be Todd Pratt. Eddie is in Doulble A playing back up, though he may have hung them up by now and maybe coaching. But last I heard he was catching in Double A/
190 – precisely my point. I hate having the joy of victory tainted by the knowledge that the victory puts Grover one more step away from getting gassed and all of the team’s problems one more step away from being solved. This season could be entirely different if the team hadn’t been so terribly mismanaged, but mediocrity seems to be sufficient to keep the front office happy, for some strange reason.
189 – I’ve almost lost the mixed part of mixed emotions. I root against success for stupidity until change is made. The odds of us doing anything worthwhile while decisions like this line-up and keeping Carl are being made is almost nil anyway.
I’ve worked on fighting my urge for instant gratification, so I really don’t enjoy short-term success if I feel it hurts the chances for long term success.
So I find other things to root for and enjoy this season.
I love watching Putz and Soriano and rooting for them to succeed, regardless of the game outcome. Now the same goes for Lowe. And Sherrill.
I love watching Feliz steadily improve and lay a foundation for his coming ace-hood.
Ichiro, of course, is always a pleasure and I root hard for him at the plate everytime.
Against all arguments, I am a big Beltre fan and I anxiously await each of his at bats, hoping for success.
Moyer is always worth rooting for. Ditto Ibanez and Johjima.
Our young double play combination is a joy.
I root hard for Perez to make an impact.
There are a lot of things for me to root for and enjoy. I don’t think twice anymore about rooting for Everett to fail, or Hargrove’s mismangement to blow up.
I’ve given up on this season IF some big changes aren’t made. Make them and I am as optimistic as Dave’s 15-20% chance. Without them, without dumping Everett at the very leas, and firing Hargrove, I put our chances closer to 1%.
And 1% isn’t worth rooting for any wins if they come at a cost for the future.
Hargrove pitching Mark Lowe in the 8th inning with a lead was somewhat of a surprise. I wonder what it means?
Is Hargrove gaining trust in Lowe and just wants to use him as a regular high-leverage set up with Soriano, or maybe they want to trade Soriano and see if Lowe can fully step into his role?
You guys are looking way too far into the fact that Lowe pitched instead of Soriano. How about because like the lineup Hargrove pretty much picks his pitchers at random?
Jeremy Reed? Who’s Jeremy Reed?
198, that’s all well and good, but if Hargrove has been consistent in anything it’s in wanting to maintain certain roles for everyone on the team. Hell, he lifted Lowe after 4 pitches or something so Soriano could pitch 8th just this week.
If Soriano had pitched yesterday, I’d say it was just rest, but not yesterday, day off for the whole team Thursday…something’s up. Hopefully it is a move to the rotation, though I doubt it.
194: Well, he was.
Derek’s out of town – he’ll be back on Monday.
Did anyone see Raffy in the bullpen during the game?
Yeah, Eddie Perez was the pinch-hitter who was the last out in Randy Johnson’s Pefect Game (I did a double-take and looked it up when the M’s picked up Perez). But he’s inactive now.
You know, I’d love to believe that with the ascendance of Lowe they’re getting Soriano stretched out in preparation of a move to the rotation (perhaps swapping with Pineiro). But I just don’t believe it. The sports “journalists” in this town don’t do much to earn their job titles, but at least one of them would have noticed that and mentioned it.
Which leaves me with the awful fear he’s got a health issue.
I would like to see both Soriano and Lowe get the opportunity to make the rotation in ST, but I’m rather conflicted with regard to trying to move somebody from the bullpen to the rotation in mid-season.
205- He’s just not on a Major League Roster. He’s still in the ATL organization, down in Mississippi catching and coaching.
Lyons & Brenneman, hmn? maybe I’m glad I missed it, after all!
dang it was hot today– hopefully, tomorrow when they undoubtably will be baffled by Jon Lester (because thats the way all our Safeco games have gone this season) it will be cooler in the ballpark…
Eduardo has said he prefers Eduardo; that Eddie is the catcher (who is still with Atlanta, btw — he signed a minor league deal as he was coming off shoulder surgery, and has been rehabbing)
I think they like their bullpen as is; Bavasi was talking last night about how moving Eddie they got himinto a better situation, and also allowed them to bring up one of their own pitchers– he seems to feel that one should be able to make a bullpen out of ones own pitchers — and that Lowe was considered ‘unflappable’ by various coaches & scouts; oh, and when Bill asked if he could convert to starting, Bob Fontaine was very emphatic that he shouldn’t…
Oh, and all the other AL West teams won (the Angels in 10 innings, Texas with their winning runs in the top of the 9th). Can’t catch a break.
I like to read anything related to the Mariners. The only games I have missed in 20 years were when I was working or just had no access to the game. Some of the comments on this blog really bother me, people who suggest that Hargrove, Bavasi, Bloomquist and others are either idiots or incompetant. I’ve been watching and listening to MLB for over 50 years and I think we have some pretty good baseball people in Seattle, players and management.
Hargrove has been to the “big show”…Bavasi has had some success and Willie is such a treat…he just busts his butt everyday for the team. These bloggers who second guess every move and play just don’t understand the beauties and complexities of the game.
Grover is blending experience with kids like he did in Cleveland to go to the World Series. We may not get there this year or even next but for goodness sakes we have an exciting core of young players and some fine veterans and a steady guy at the helm. Give me and them a break!
Some of the comments on this blog really bother me, people who suggest that Hargrove, Bavasi, Bloomquist and others are either idiots or incompetant.
Did you happen to read the intro to this thread, where I wrote “Mike Hargrove is not an idiot. I’m sure he’s a reasonable man.”?
Hargrove has been to the “big showâ€
Luis Sojo has three world series titles. Do you think we should try to talk him out of retirement and play him a couple times a week?
Bavasi has had some success
Sure, if by success you don’t mean “making the playoffs”. Because he’s never done that, despite being in his 10th season as a major league GM.
Willie is such a treat…he just busts his butt everyday for the team.
For $326,000, I’d run like the wind on every play. You’d never see hustle like I could provide. But you know why I’m not a Seattle Mariner? Because I don’t have enough talent to hit major league pitching. And neither does Willie.
These bloggers who second guess every move and play just don’t understand the beauties and complexities of the game.
Really – so what beauty and complexity do I not understand? And please don’t try the “you have to play the game to know” card, because I did, okay?
Grover is blending experience with kids like he did in Cleveland to go to the World Series.
Right – the Indians went to the World Series because of managing, not because they had Alomar, Baerga, Thome, Vizquel, Belle, Lofton, Ramirez, and Mesa.
We may not get there this year or even next but for goodness sakes we have an exciting core of young players and some fine veterans and a steady guy at the helm.
I’m sorry that we have higher standards than “having an exciting core” while playing below .500 baseball.
Give me and them a break!
No. Some of us actually care about winning a World Series.
I wonder which KJR host posted #210. Softy?
Good grief, Twinkie, you think you have some kind of monopoly on loving the Mariners? Why do you think all of us are here?
“Some of the comments on this blog really bother me, people who suggest that Hargrove, Bavasi, Bloomquist and others are either idiots or incompetant.”
Ok, you need to ask yourself a question. Are you the type of fan who would defend his manager no matter what? Because if you are, fine, that’s your deal.
But if not, then you need to take another good look at what Hargrove’s been up to. He hasn’t been good, he hasn’t even been ok. He’s been lousy. As much as I like the guy personally, he has been godawful managing this last place baseball team.
He has directly cost us games this year. That’s crazy. A completely uninvolved manager would be an improvement. His agressive baserunning stupidity has cost us runs and games, though he seems to have finally backed off on that. His continued use of Everett is inexcusable. Inexcusable. His batting Willie in the two hole is inexcusable. His bullpen use has been baffling.
I mean you can just look at the last week of games and pick out ten outrageously bad moves. How many mangagers can you say that about?
I mean, what record of success do you have to be happy with? Don’t tell me we need time to foster youth, we have a 90 million dollar payroll to bring in vets alongside them so we don’t have to go through years of mediocrity. And the youth is NOT the problem right now. Heck, they’re keeping us afloat.
“I’ve been watching and listening to MLB for over 50 years and I think we have some pretty good baseball people in Seattle, players and management.”
Being blindly loyal is totally fine, twinkie, I mean it. But you really shouldn’t call out people who are not satisfied with that and would actually like the team to be better.
“Willie is such a treat…he just busts his butt everyday for the team.”
See, I hate this. Willie doesn’t bust his butt one ounce more than half a dozen other players. Players who also may actually be decent at playing the game while they hustle.
Beltre runs every infield hit down hard. He plays defense like there’s a gun to his head. Putz is a machine, constantly working out and getting better. The only guy I can think of off hand who DOESN’T bust his butt is Everett.
So ask yourself why you think Willie is such a treat. He’s certainly not a good baseball player, no one can argue that. He doesn’t hustle any more than half the team.
So why Willie? Local? What is it about this guy who whines on the radio and passive-aggressively bitches about management and subtly belittles other players on the air, all the time stinking up the diamond, why is he a “treat?”
“Grover is blending experience with kids like he did in Cleveland to go to the World Series. We may not get there this year or even next but for goodness sakes we have an exciting core of young players and some fine veterans and a steady guy at the helm. Give me and them a break!”
1. This is not Cleveland. We don’t have the same players.
2. Do you really think this is some long term plan that needs Carl Everett batting Mendoza for a year to work? You really think that not using your best reliever two extra-inning games in a row is essential for long term success?
There is a lot of positive on this blog every day. A lot of real excitement and enthusiasm for the youth and the future. And for particular parts of the present.
I have a post just a few above yours listing some.
But asking people not to criticize bad baseball is just silly. If you’d rather just read fluff pieces, go to your local paper.
But really, ask yourself what it would take for you to believe that Hargrove is incompetant. Because if you don’t believe that by now, I suspect you are just a loyal, blindly devoted fan.
Which is a 100% fine thing to be. Others are different kinds of fans, more analytical and critical… and that’s ok, too.
I guess the only reply I could make would be is if you are so smart why “ain’t you the GM” or something like that.
The Mariners have a keystone combo that reminds me of Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox and both are hitting better as well. Beltre makes plays that are incredible and his bat is coming around…Sexson has a dismal BA but the RBI number is good. Rauuuuuuul is Rauuuuuuul and Ichiro is Ichiro. Remember when they said he could not succeed in this league?. Remember when they said the same of Kenji? We are really lucky to have such a team. Why they tolerate CE at DH is beyond me and CF is a question mark but face it. Only two teams out of 30 go to the WS and they all want it as much as we do. Yeah, I want it now but it takes time…ask the Red Sox…which, BTW we beat today…
Right – the Indians went to the World Series because of managing, not because they had Alomar, Baerga, Thome, Vizquel, Belle, Lofton, Ramirez, and Mesa.
I look at that list and wonder how in the hell the Indians couldn’t muster anything more than two pennants and zero titles in five years — and that list doesn’t include Hershiser, Nagy, Dennis Martinez, Eddie Murray, Matt Williams, David Justice….
And man, look at the guys they had in the AAA shuttle — Brian Giles, Jeromy Burnitz, Richie Sexson, Sean Casey, Bartolo Colon, Russ Branyan. Even the bad players had a decent amount of talent.
And yet, zero titles.
I guess the only reply I could make would be is if you are so smart why “ain’t you the GM†or something like that.
Well, for one, my father wasn’t GM of the Dodgers when I was growing up.
And look, if you’ve read the blog for any length of time, you’ll know we’ve defended Bavasi a lot more than most Mariner fans. He’s come and hung out with us each of the past two years. If he doesn’t have a problem with us, maybe you shouldn’t either.
We are really lucky to have such a team.
The Mariners are one of the five most profitable teams in major league baseball, playing in a beautiful tax-payer funded ballpark, and have managed to turn these massive competitve advantages into runner up finishes to the Oakland Athletics, who have run payrolls of 30% to 50% of the Mariners and play in a dump in the worst part of Oakland. So no, I don’t feel particularly lucky.
Only two teams out of 30 go to the WS and they all want it as much as we do.
They might “want it” as much as we do, but considering our significant advantages over almost every other market in baseball, we should be winning a lot more games than we are. There’s absolutely no reason why the A’s should have managed to run circles around the Mariners for the past 20 years. They were simply a better run organization.
We want the M’s to succeed as much as you do. That we don’t close our eyes and become cheerleaders for the organization does not make us less of a fan.
twinkie, I’m confused. I read your list of things that make you happy:
And every single one of those things are just about where everybody here stands. You think this site, as an entity isn’t excited about Lopez and Betancourt??? Or Beltre’s defense? Or Raul? Or Johjima? Or, for god’s sake, Ichiro??
Each and every one of those things, and Sexson last year, has been gushed about on this blog.
In fact, which some exceptions, every one of things was gushed about before they even got here! I mean, this site helps people know who to keep an eye on to get excited about!
Every game thread has people getting excited about those things.
And this site has been extremely supportive of Bavasi. hargrove, not so much, but he was given a fair shake, that’s for sure.
I’m really having a hard time understanding what it is you are unhappy with.
I mean, you really can’t be upset that praise is given where praise is due and criticism given where criticism is due, can you?
You want to defend Hargrove? Ok, let’s do it. Many very specific criticisms of him have been given… defend them. You’ll be given a fair shot if you really have grounds to defend something. Happens here all the time. In this very thread someone criticized a Hargrove move and someone else defended it, i.e. using Lowe where he did.
But if you really just want everyone to put on a happy face and be excited about an UNNECCESARY last place, well, if this site was that, I wouldn’t be here.
Definitely Softy.
#214: Only two teams out of 30 go to the WS and they all want it as much as we do. Yeah, I want it now but it takes time…ask the Red Sox…which, BTW we beat today…
Why do you think the Red Sox won the World Series – because they waited their turn? It takes a lot more than time to win the World Series. For a start, it takes a front office that knows how to evaluate talent, to construct a roster and to spend money wisely. The M’s are still working on that.
Red Sox…which, BTW we beat today…
Hey, I have a news flash for you! That pitcher your team beat today, Kason Gabbard (whoever the hell he is)? He will not be in the Boston playoff rotation. If a miracle happens and the M’s face Boston in the playoffs this year, they will have to beat pitchers like Schilling and Beckett, and Felix Hernandez won’t be able to start every game for the M’s.
And just to clear the record, the Red Sox went to the World Series plenty of times during their draught – in 1946, 1967, 1975 and 1986. I saw a lot of Seahawks fans giving their team a lot of love this winter because they went to the Super Bowl and lost! I suspect a lot of M’s fans would do the same. Believe me, that wouldn’t play nearly so well in Boston.
“I saw a lot of Seahawks fans giving their team a lot of love this winter because they went to the Super Bowl and lost! Believe me, that wouldn’t play nearly so well in Boston.”
I would care more if they hadn’t been the best team on the field…by far.
Does Willie have a brother? Must be him.
****These bloggers who second guess every move and play just don’t understand the beauties and complexities of the game.******
I’ve encountered that tired argument on so many baseball blogs.
That’s just code for ****stats suck and you guys are geeks for using your brains and formulating rational arguments based upon data as premises….i prefer to not think and happily will repeat cliche and myth…it’s so much less work. You guys are just so closeminded with your stats therefore if you base any opinion on sabermetrics I won’t even consider it****
Usually in these cases storing volumes of useless trivia in the grey matter is accepted as *baseball knowledge* or a *great understanding of the game*.
There’s no point in arguing because its apples and oranges concerning perspective.
Large numbers of fans in Cincy still call Griffey a gold-glover and advocate trading Dunn straightup for a setup guy because Dunn *barely hits .250 and strikeouts alot*. I dunno….maybe i’d trade R. Soriano for Dunn…if the Reds picked up some of his salary…
If baseball was such a passion in a person’s life, I’m unsure how they couldn’t be drawn to sabermetrics. Why wouldn’t you be motivated to learn as MUCH as humanly possible about something so dear? Sabermetrics probably won’t revolutionize many FO’s but it certainly is an EXTREMELY powerful tool for the fan.
It’s just as shame though that by understanding VORP, I can’t truly enjoy the beauty of WFB….
Oh and by the way….the Ms beat the Redsox yesterday…..clearly Bavasi is a genious… Hernandez has an ERA of about 4.80, clearly he is a bust and should be moved to bring in a guy like A. Soriano-you know someone who could really help the club down the stretch this year…
Oh and by the way….the Ms beat the Redsox yesterday…..clearly Bavasi is a genious… Hernandez has an ERA of about 4.80, clearly he is a bust and should be moved to bring in a guy like A. Soriano-you know someone who could really help the club down the stretch this year…
Don’t. Give. Ideas.
speaking of ideas, Ken Davidoff in Newsday sez the Yanks are getting themselves situated to battle the Ms for Matsuzaka
I’m going to leave the “faith-based” vs “stat-based” appreciation arguments to the rest of you. With regard to a pivotal play in this game, I thought this was pretty interesting:
I liked the Perez acquisition when it happened; I liked it more when I saw what a good interview he was. I’m really liking it now. The only thing left is for him and someone else (perhaps a Certain Someone Else) to completely replace Everett in the lineup, and my happiness will be complete. Well, for one-ninth of the lineup, anyway.
Today (Sunday) will be an interesting test of Hargrove: another lefty on the mound, and Lopez is (supposedly) back on the field. Does Perez start even though that means benching Everett?
Hernandez a bust ? (See # 224) – He’s won six of his last eight decisions.
BTW, because of Thursday’s off-day, the Ms had an opportunity to skip Hernandez’s turn this time–in an attempt to achieve their goal of limiting his innings–but didn’t. Have they taken the wraps off him? Anyone?
#226- Eduardo plays the game the right way, just like Dad.
twinkie —
It seems like you and some of the folks here are arguing past each other a little bit. I agree with a lot of what you say — the M’s young double play combination is a joy to watch, for instance. This team does have some great talent and I do consider myself lucky to be able to watch some of these guys develop and showcase their talent.
And you are absolutely right that there is a beauty and complexity to baseball that sets it apart (in my mind anyway) from other sports. Like you, I enjoyed watching baseball in Seattle even in the bad old days when the team was terrible and they played in a gray concrete warehouse with all the charm of a parking garage.
But it is for precisely those reasons that I yearn for more. I want to see Ichiro be able to show off his unique and amazing skills to a national audience in the Fall Classic. I want to see Rauuuuul come to bat in a key situation in a playoff game. I want to see Yuniesky flash the leather with the game on the line. I want to see J.J. drop the hammer on, say, Barry Bonds to close out a World Series game. I want to see Sexson jack one off, say, Isringhausen to win game 7. I want to see Jeremy make a diving catch in center field to save a World Series win. Those moments — like Randy Johnson coming in from the bullpen in game 5 in 1995, or Edgar lining one down the left field line and Junior coming around to score — are the moments that stay with us for a lifetime.
I want to see it happen, and this team has talented players who deserve for it to happen. But as long as they keep giving games away with poor decisions, and playing players who clearly don’t deserve the positions they are being given (yes Carl, I’m talking about you), it is not likely to ever happen. And that makes me sad.
Saying that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the beauty of the game, or that I don’t appreciate the wonderful talent we are being given an opportunity to watch. It just means I am not content with the bad things we are seeing. We can appreciate the beauty of the game without blinding ourselves to the shortcomings of the team and the manager.
#227 I read something yesterday that said a study showed that 50% of the time someone reads something on the internet they miss interpret what the author said. In this case you missed the huge amount of sarcasm.
WFB still in the 2 hole today but at least there is no Carl. I wonder if he is yelling at Hargrove right now?
What happened to Lopez?
I would guess he hasn’t made it back yet.
Great Eddie joins the club of “bad Mariners who joined another team and became good” He’s allowed 1 run in 7 games has under a 2.00 ERA and has 5 saves.
New game thread please guys.
I actually understand starting the backup infielder today. But what in the name of Cornelius Mack justifies batting such a stiff second?
Bestill my eyes, Crazy Carl isn’t in the lineup.
Odds of a WFB GIDP here?
Whew!
Willie in agains a leftie isn’t nearly as offensive as the last couple days. Kind of like a stomach ache instead of a pancreatic tumor.
That said, I hope Lopez is back soon.
Beltre!!!!!
Hahah, awesome.
For us Gameday viewers, what’s up with that double?
Nothing against Lester or the Red Sox–really, some of my best friends are Red Sox fans–but I would love, love, love for this to turn into an insane, humiliating blowout.
“Raul Ibanez doubles (20) on a pop up to shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Adrian Beltre to 3rd.”
Woah, what happened??
Ibanez hit a bloop right between Manny, Lowell, and Gonzalez right near the LF line. Beltre couldn’t run until he was sure it dropped.
That right there was exhibit A in the case against Safeco Field. It’s why we have to overpay to get right-handed power, and why those players usually don’t prosper here. That ball was tagged, and in just about every other ballpark in the league would be a HR.
Still….. nice job Beltre.
243 – Beltre hit a monster that was a couple feet from being a three run home run. It bounced off the wall and Ichiro and Willie scored easy on the double.
245 – Bloop pop-up inches from the line in shallow left. The 3rd baseman, SS and LF all converged on it, but no one got to it. Not particularly close, really, though Manny went into a slide. A few feet away from making the catch.
247 – So many of his hits go to that exact same area. He should be on his hands and knees begging them to adjust the park.
New game thread up – please migrate over there. Thank you.
John in L.A. Did you look at Beltre’s shot on Tivo? It looked on regular replay like it cleared the fence but hit something and bounced back onto the field.