Game 99, Blue Jays at Mariners
DMZ · July 24, 2006 at 6:24 pm · Filed Under Game Threads
7:05. Joel Pineiro v Casey Janssen. Getting either pitcher’s name wrong in the thread gets you a 24-hour ban, because it’s Monday.
This lineup brought to you by those dumb split-ended sparkplugs:
RF-L Ichiro!
2B-R Willie “The Ignitor” Blooooooooomquist
3B-R Beltre
LF-L Ibanez
1B-R Sexson
DH-0 Everett
C-R Johjima
SS-R Betancourt
CF-R Jones
Fun fact of the day!
2006, the post-collapse switch-hitting Carl Everett versus righties: .241/.309/.388 (232 AB)
2003-5, right-handed platoon player Eddie Perez versus righties: .239/.303/.351 (188 AB)
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Lopez still gone?
He must be walking back from Venezuela.
DMZ, I appreciate the subtle humor in your listing of Carl Everett…..and you’re right: he can’t hit from EITHER side.
Go M’s
Damn, I thought Lopez was coming back today. And I hoped that Everett was leaving today. But I hope that every day.
I hate this. A pox on Willie batting second and Everett batting anything.
What does it take for this to change? Losing streak? ‘Cause I’ll root for losing however many in a row it takes for them to get their collective heads out of their asses. 5? 10? The rest of ‘em?
Lopez is on the bench and available to play, but given the long flight home from Venezuela, Hargrove decided to give him one more night off.
You know how we all cringe whenever Doyle or Ibanez has to run out a grounder or try to turn a single into a double? There are those kinds of players that, because of their history or their running style you just feel like the could pull a hammy or blow a meniscus at any moment? What is it with Carl?!?!?! He runs like he has fake knees and an artificial hip, and he NEVER gets hurt!!!!
All we need to turn this season around is a badly turned ankle by Everett. Clearly, Hargrove isn’t going to change his approach, no matter how hard Perez continues to hit the ball.
I think the important question, Dan, is whether you, as a USSM reader and commentor, are willing to abuse your position at the Tap House in order to support USSM, and particularly the author who spends a ridiculous amount of time and money there?
Ok, so Lopez was visiting his new son. Why was this kept a secret? And if he’s in the dugout why isn’t he starting?
Wow, has anyone else seen Cole Hamels’ pitching line from tonight? 5 1/3 IP, 12 Ks, 2 BB, 6 hits, 7 ER. He struck out the side in the first, third and fourth innings. Other outs recorded were two ground outs, one infield pop up, and a fly ball to right.
But after striking out the first four batters of the game, and then inducing a grounder to first, he gave up back-to-back solo homers in the second.
Then (after six more strikeouts in a row) in the fifth, it went walk, double, fly ball to right, single, single, homer, until Hamels was pulled.
Talk about feast or famine!!
rd – Lopez not starting, basically, due to the long flight back, per Hargrove on the pregame show.
RE: Lopez
Yep, he’s back after visiting Jose Jr. My opinion of Jose Sr. just plummeted. As a helpful note to all prospective fathers, please don’t put your ego ahead of your kid. You already give your son half of his DNA; you already give him your last name; you already give him half of your facial features; that’s enough. Let him have his own first name and identity. Does anyone else think that George Foreman is an egomaniac? What was it, 7 Juniors?
Anyway, good to see that Willie is playing in front of Jose. Not like we need the extra bat with Joel on the mound.
With the M’s having just won a series against the Red Sox, and Jays having just taken 3 of 4 from the Yankees, let’s compare, shall we?
* Leads majors
Hits
Seattle: 915
Toronto: 1003 *
Doubles
Seattle: 153
Toronto: 207
HR
Seattle: 100
Toronto: 138
Total Bases
Seattle: 1434
Toronto: 1660 *
Team Batting VORP
Seattle: 73.7
Toronto: 202.1 *
Team Pitching VORP
Seattle: 122.2
Toronto: 125.4
K’s
Seattle: 661
Toronto: 658
Starters Innings Pitched
Seattle: 606.2
Toronto: 551.2
Let’s look at those. Toronto’s the first team to 1000 hits this season. They’re second in the AL in homeruns, and third in doubles. They’re second in the majors in both EqA and EqR. And their hitters lead all of baseball with the only team batting VORP over 200. The Jays can hit.
Their pitching isn’t that special though. Overall, they look about equal to the Mariners’ pitching, but the Jays have managed to hand an extra 55 innings to their relievers so far this season. Only the Royals (among AL teams) have gotten fewer innings from their starters.
And (here’s the good news) their big bats (Wells and Glaus) are highly dependent on their home park. The rest of their outfield is still strong on the road, and Gregg Zaun is just killing road parks, but Wells and Glaus are rendered mostly average when they travel.
Right, flying on an airplane is so much more exhausting than playing nine innings in the ninety-whatever degree heat yesterday. Hargrove is just making up an excuse to start Bloomquist again.
Obviously, whining about playing time is the way to get more from Hargrove. Chris Snelling should really phone Hargrove and complain about not being called up.
Hillenbrand would have loved it here.
[1]
Ah, no Vernon Wells in the lineup tonight. Instead, he appears to be posting on the site (ie # 15).
What’s opinion of trading Beltre to San Diego? Or was that covered somewhere?
Call me crazy but I think Ibanez is a good fielder!
You’re crazy.
Why do you guys hate on him so much?
[2]
15 is David Wells.
Ibanez is not a good defensive player. He’s just not. He’s got all the speed of a sedated three-legged arthritic rhino.
What do you think the final score is? 22-9 Toronto?
17 – I can’t tell speak for anyone else, but I will be bitterly dissappointed.
20 – Nobody hates on Ibanez. He’s just not a good left fielder.
Naw, we have Bloomie and Crazy Carl in the lineup. 22-3.
“Tampa Bay shut out the Angels 4-0. [pause] I beg you pardon, Los Angeles won that game 8-4.”
That’s okay, Dave, I ‘ll drive.
Joel hit 92? Wow!
20 Arm and range are two different things. Manny Rameriz gets a fair amount of outfield assists each year, and from time to time leads the league. Is he a good fielder? People run on him a lot, he throws some out with a fair arm. Fewer people run on Ichiro.
Joel hit 92?
You don’t think those doubles are getting whacked off 86 mph trash do you?
I try to avoid watching Joel pitch, and so far this year I have been pretty successful but I thought the highest I saw was 89 before this.
I hope the yankees are watching.
You don’t think that radar gun is working do you?
RE: 13
Doyle: “Skip, mate. This is Snellin’. I’ve got a woozy of a stick and I play the field like there’s a drunken dingo in my jock. You game for a gamer, Skip?”
Hargrove: “What? Who is this?”
Doyle: “Aww, mate, don’t rib me. I really want to hit the show, I feel like a wallaby stuffed in a can of Copenhagen down here.”
Hargrove: “What? Ribs and Copenhagen? Are you trying to tell me I left my chew at the Outback Steakhouse last night?”
If I didn’t know me, I’d think I was a stereotyping racist toward our Australian compadres. But I’ve got, like, two or three really good Australian friends, so I can’t possibly be racist. So there.
Dare I point out that Derek misspelled “Piñeiro”?
If I thought opposing teams were fooled by the stadium radar readings, I would totally screw around with it.
Yankees scouting Zito? Wow, looks like his fastball’s lost a couple miles, better hold off on that…
What race are Australians?
What I would like is the Win-Loss record of the team when the Ignitor starts. That’s the stat I want.
Maybe beyond all the statistical analysis, there really is something to IGNIITTTIOOONNN!!!
Would you believe that Casey Janssen is the son of original “Fugitive” actor David Janssen?
And actually, Hooligan, I’d think you were a stereotyping something toward people named Hargrove — if you weren’t so obviously spot-on, that is. Good on you, mate.
Why don’t you go work it out, then? It’s not hard to do.
Uh oh. DMZ is in trouble.
By the way, Snelling has been stinking up the joint all week in Triple-A.
We’ll put a Shishkaberry on the barbie, mate.
I am?
That FSN Tracer is kind of interesting and, clearly, something they’ll abuse until the sight of it makes me sick.
Dammit that tracer thing is back. At least Hendu’s lost on the back 9 somewhere.
Wow, Fairly indirectly totally trashed the Perez deal. I’ll be curious if he gets a memo on that.
Yes, read comment 34.
I want to break whoever invented the Tracer.
Was it last year when they had the “runner cam” that followed the batter from home plate to first?
I remember seeing it for about two games and then it vanished.
The thing is, like all broadcast tools, it can be useful. The problem is that it seems like they’re issued a couple of tools from the R&D depot, and commanded to use it 200 times for a performance bonus.
What exactly did he say, DMZ?
“What I would like is the Win-Loss record of the team when the Ignitor starts. That’s the stat I want.
Maybe beyond all the statistical analysis, there really is something to IGNIITTTIOOONNN!!! ”
My completely unscientific glance at game logs says the team is 14-22 when Willie sucks up roster oxygen.
So… no.
I don’t remember exactly, but he’s been ranting for a while now about how the team shouldn’t be trading awaay young talent because the future’s bright and there’s no point to giving up prospects to finish third.
“Wow, Fairly indirectly totally trashed the Perez deal. I’ll be curious if he gets a memo on that. ”
I loved that. I took it as a shot across the bow of a Soriano trade.
Either way, I liked it.
Jim — you have any good ideas for a new poll question?
It’s nice listening to Fairly again.
I’ve said this before: there was a time I haaaaaaaaaated Fairly, but Fairly is so much better than Valle/Henderson that having him do the TV side is refreshing.
Fairly is great as long as he keeps the ball down.
Valle is OK, but if I ever see Dave Henderson walking down the street and I happen to be neear rocks, I will not hesitate to throw rocks at him.
Fairly likes to keep his comments out over the plate.
If you see Valle, throw rocks at him too, and tell him you’re doing it for me. That way, we’re covered.
And Dave N. started it by saying “that’s something general managers have to be very, very careful of… making a lateral move, body for body”
[DUDE IT WAS NOT VALLE IT WAS FAIRLY]
“Yeah, no question about that… it does not make sense to me… to make a trade just to finish third, trade your young players. That does not make sense to me. I would never, ever do that.”
Fairly, I mean. Not Valle.
But Fairly is at least succinct, and seems to understand his limitations….Valle and Henderson? Wow. I am reminded of Pyscho Killer: “when I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.”
Wow…..a new tool……temperature readings at stadiums.
“Well, it was 300 degrees kelvin on Mars today, and the M’s are headed there on a long road trip next weekend. Looks like they’ll be in for a long, hot week.”
Fun note: on July 5th, Janssen had a great start after correcting a problem in his delivery, which was, and I’m not joking, that he was “collapsing his backside”
That’s fine.
Quite frankly, I want a real colour commentator.
It seems like whenever Pineiro pitches, he gets in a big jam every early inning but somehow manages to escape. In the later innings, his eluding skills don’t seem quite as sharp.
I just had a great revelation. We should make Carl Everett our color commentator.
Since [arbitrary date], [Mariners player] has hit [X] home runs, with [Y] RBI and a [Z] [AVG|OBP|SLG|OPS]. Clearly, he’s coming back.
69. Could you imagine the FCC fines for all the f bombs Carl would drop talkin about BS statistics and playing time?
Who should the M’s trade to get Alfonso Soriano?
a) Richie Sexson
b) Adrian Beltre
c) All our problem players
d) An anonymous minor-leaguer willing to hastily but legally rename himself “David Arias”
Fairly, Everett may not be the designated bunter, but he’s not the designated hitter either.
Uh, is C Rex the one armed man?
I was listening to fairly there and thought, y’know, I’d like to see Everett’s reaction at the bunt sign.
And then he attempted it.
I’d trade Carl Everett for Alfonso Soriano.
Actually, the maximum I’d give up for Alfonso Soriano is like Cesar Jimenez and Yorman Bazardo. And that’s at the most.
Wow C-Rex got a hit???
Fairly: “They don’t pay you to bunt.”
I really, really like Fairly all the sudden.
Fairly: “They don’t pay [Carl Everett] to bunt.”
Yes, they pay Lopez to do that.
And Tracer there, haha, none of ‘em were in the zone.
Kenji!
No, Ron, THAT’S good hitting.
Kenjo!
Atta boy C-Rex.
We get Rizzy/Mike Blowers on the radio side. Blowers is such a treat. He’s always been pretty good post game.
Blowers is doing color? What happened to Hendu and Valle? Hopefully somebody threw rocks at them.
Maybe didn’t make the trip to Toronto. I’m not complaining.
I’ll take Mike “Had a bat so short he couldn’t cover the outer half” Blowers anyday.
Early responses to the new poll question indicate that this will not be a particularly controversial poll or produce an interesting result. Shoot. I thought it was a good idea.
How about a “what are the keys to the game” poll question?
so change the poll
in fact, I’d go so far to say that if this poll is not producing desired results, it should be immediately designated for assignment and Snelling recalled to take its place.
Don’t leave the bad polls in. That’s what Hargrove does.
Jones?
Well, that was a stinky pitch, but Jones knew what to do with it.
I wonder if I should apply such a philosophy to commentors.
Jones rocks.
You absolutely should. Maybe if we can make this a commonly accepted practice, Everett will be released.
Strike one to Ichiro?? Are you kidding, ump?
Gonna be a quick game with that strike zone.
Ok, Lopez has rested enough. Pinch hit for Willie!
Catcher: “Throw a curve.”
Janssen: “No…”
Catcher: “How about a slider?”
Janssen: “Naaah…”
Catcher: “OK, how about a meatball right over the plate?”
Janssen: “OK!”
Sorry, DMZ. Can I have another try, or are you going to sit me for a pinch-hitter?
quick game? were almost an hour in, and still in the 2nd inning
Anybody hear anything on Soriano? Just looking ahead to the inevitable Joel meltdown.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice catch.
Man, the Jays have made some OF plays against us.
[Rizzs]
Supposedly Soriano’s close to being traded to the ChiSox.
toronto’s sub-par outfield sure gets their share of web gems when playing us
It better not be our Soriano.
I think I may have mentioned when they were in Toronto that I was tired of Reed Johnson in the outfield.
FWIW, it’s about a 16 hour flight from Caracas…
No…Alfonso…sorry I should’ve clarified.
How about a poll about Lopez and his jet lag meaning Willie gets the start in the 2 Hole… against a RIGHTY.
How bad would things have to be for Lopez to justify that? Broken leg? SARS?
I know the threshold is higher than jet lag.
For Rafael Soriano I would demand Sweeney, and
well, they really don’t have anybody I want for Soriano
WHOA. Breaking news from ESPN Radio Here
Meche traded for Heilman?
wow. That page was deleted the instant I posted it. Guess not.
Meche for Heilman is very strange. Where’s the win here again?
Nice rumor there.
The site in 114 also says the Ms are scouting Todd Walker.
Uh huh.
The next time Willie Bloomquist starts four games in a row, it will be because:
a) Yuniesky Betancourt is hospitalized with a strained cerebral oblique.
b) Adam Jones jailed after trying the “drift” maneuver from “The Fast and the Furious” down Yesler Way at 4 a.m.
c) Jose Lopez flies back home to Venezuela because his neat “pulled-off-my-thumb” trick is the only thing that soothes his crying baby.
d) He deserves to play.
Yes, but the exact text was “According to ESPN Radio, Gil Meche has been traded for Aaron Heilman. I am seeking confirmation”
… past a diving Bloomquist!
Normally, if a poll question floundered, I’d let it go for a while.
But if Mr. Corcoran — a man who took two women to senior prom — thinks I should pull it now and attempt a substitution, well, who am I to argue?
ESPN Radio’s been wildly wrong before.
Letting it go for a while is doing exactly what Hargrove does. If you leave a floundering poll up, then for all I am concerned, you condone and support Hargrove.
and it still is.
Sorry, Aaron Heilman is what from where?
Sorry, DMZ, but that is a replacement-level poll.
Wow. Heilman in return for just Meche? Great deal for you guys, if true. I think it would mean Bavasi isn’t a total fool.
Yes, but MLBTradeRumors now indicate that it “may have been a hoax. Sorry.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7065
This guy???
I’ll bet Lopez flew first class, should be ok to put him in for “past a diving igniter” now.
well, Aaron is in his manager’s dog house at the moment
Is it really Mr Corcoran’s Birthday?
There’s nothing to it right now.
The M’s have asked for Heilmann and 17-year-old stud Fernando Martinez. The Mets have said no.
Nothing will happen with Meche til next weekend, most likely.
heh.
DMZ, this new poll question is like a short reliever. It isn’t going to last more than an inning, so there’s no point in leaving it in more than an inning.
That MLB trade rumors site has one of the most painful color schemes I’ve ever seen.
Yes, today is Mr Corcoran’s birthday.
Another poll question could be, should Free Dan Rohn! get a “Poang” chair from Ikea, and if so, what cover?
Well, if that doesn’t suggest a poll question, I don’t know what does.
I would change my vote in this poll if the BK commercial was added.
Those “Poangs” comfortable?
so would I.
#138– no, because I think his feet would end up dangling in mid-air if he sat in that chair.
I thought it was pretty comfy when I sat in one, but then I think my boss’s Papasan chair is comfy too.
Seriously, I am sorry if I missed it, but doesn’t anyone find it strange that three major newspapers and the Ms television network aren’t saying anything about Raffy? Did he have a kid or something?
I’ve never been to or seen an Ikea.
I’m sitting on a Poang right now. It’s pretty comfortable…
How about a poll about the advantages of moving to Canada? I’m mulling an offer from the Victoria Times-Colonist newspaper ….
That poll is defective, DMZ. McCall uses a City Manager, not a mayor.
Joel “Pinata” Pineiro, ladies and gents.
Soriano? It has been reported several places that he has the dreaded ‘tightness in his shoulder’; there was some thought he’d be available today, but ….
So, when do you go with Woods? Still up? Tied? Behind?
Oh cut me some slack.
Doesn’t Canada frown on letting Americans work up there? I thought it was hard to get a job.
151, thanks. And crap.
But if you are good in your trade, they’d rather have you than an incompetent Canuck.
ooh, even better– “Mike Hargrove is named McCall City Manager”
148 would have to include the age of consent (14.)
I’m a dual citizen.
MSB, I think we want things Corco would enjoy, not punishments.
Dual citizenship: identity flip-flopping
But I could throw rocks at Mike Hargrove if he were City Manager.
Actually, he’d leave the roads unpaved and not fix the traffic.
I think this is the Joel we remember.
I’m a fan of Victoria (aside from that raw sewage dumping) so if it was working in Victoria, vs unemployed in Gig Harbor….
I’ve looked at the poll, and I’m not sure Corcoran could handle any of the options … except maybe the city manager one.
I’d get booted out of city manager for wanting to put a stoplight at Railroad and 55.
I can handle all the beer I can bong.
Two girls might be a bit much, but I can do it.
Hargrove being fired I can handle
Same with a win.
Comment removal though, probably not.
Yes, I’ve been a lifetime “Canadian When It’s Convenient,” I admit it. Haven’t lived there full-time since I was 7. But the United States annoys me mightily.
I dunno, Corco, about the women … based on the way you shot your wad too quickly on the Meche rumor.
I dunno, I think that Hargrove would cause less anguish and heartache as City Manager of McCall… bet in McCall he’d be out fishing a lot of the time.
I screwed up with the Meche rumor. It happens.
I don’t know. Something tells me Hargrove wouldn’t fix the traffic. And that would suck.
Sheriff Carl Everett has a nice ring to it.
Willie Bloomquist can be the deputy who isn’t allowed to carry a loaded gun.
Snelling is now hitting .247. Sheesh. He dropped 50 points in barely more than a week.
Oh God. Sheriff Everett? I wonder how he’d feel about underage alcohol consumption.
168: I know of two people from McCall, ID, and both of you bitch about traffic. It can’t be that bad.
Fairly is turning into Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Or Yoda.
“Strong in the hands is Sexson”
There’s a lot of underage alcohol consumption in the bible, if I remember, so I’m sure you’d be fine.
And by “you” I mean “minors drinking alcohol”.
I was actually in fair McCall last week. Traffic is still sucky as usual.
172: It took me 20 minutes to drive from downtown to the south stoplight, which is like .5 miles the other day. It’s bad.
Foul ball…oh wait anyone with eyes would see it was clearly a fair home run.
And keep in mind I lived in Chicago for 8 years. I know what bad traffic is.
Dave N: “And a foul ball–I think it’s foul–FLY AWAY!!
Kenji!!!
ok, actually, I haven’t seen a commercial that I do like so far.
166: Hilarious. There’s some Canadian wit.
Here’s a poll idea:
What’s the roughest part about being a Gameday viewer?
A. Gameday goes crazy in the event of an unusual play or an error
B. At times it reports “out(s) recorder” when runs score
C. Spectacular defensive plays read just the same as the most basic plays
D. You’re always the last person to comment on the happenings of the game
C.
Crikey, why is the replay trying to enable Dave N’s “wrapped it around the foul pole (if the foul pole is 50 feet in diameter)” remark?
179. Even though Dave N. makes his mistakes, I always enjoy him announcing games to hear things like that.
#8– well, IIRC, Lopez isn;t actually married, so they may have all been waiting to see if he wanted to announce that he was a new father… we did hear that it was ‘good news’ that caused him to go, though….
the frustrating part is when the M’s are down by two in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, men on 1st and third. You see In play, run-scoring play.
You don’t know if the game’s over or what.
178: I go to school in Salem, OR, the city with the worst roadway system ever. I know what bad traffic is like.
Also, Dave N. can’t see.
Salem’s traffic isn’t good, but it barely rivals McCalls.
wait, Pablo. Where in Salem do you school?
I love that the Silverado commercial touts its “surprising” fuel economy — which is 16 MPG city/22 highway.
Yeah, I’m surprised anyone would design or buy a car with such shitty fuel economy.
183. I follow the majority of the M’s games on Gameday so I would have to vote for A. Sometimes it takes 2-3 minutes just to get the play up. By then, everyone is commenting on it and the excitement of finding out what happend, goes away.
2/3 of our vehicles get that or worse.
My Wrangler gets about 16/22
and the Liberty like 15/20
Wow, Hargrove fired takes a surprising jump to take a lead over two pliable sophomore women! Shocking!
190: Willamette University.
holy … I go there. We must hang out.
[that's 3]
Well, you’re a horrible person and when you have to explain to your kids why the Pacific Northwest isn’t a wine growing region anymore, I hope they throw rocks at you.
Go Bearcats!! Class of 81 here.
Ha. I almost went to Willamette (accepted with similar financial numbers as UPS), but Salem just seemed like a dirty version of Boise, and Tacoma seemed like a slightly larger dirty version of Boise, but it was near Seattle, so it got the nod.
I was born in 81
In McCall, you need gas guzzling 4WD vehicles because it’s the only way to get through 3 feet of snow in the winter. I don’t like them anymore than you do.
201-Thanks for making me feel old–I’m going to my 25th reunion this fall.
And I won’t be in the Pacific Northwest, I’m going back to Northern Kentucky after graduating.
I am glad DMZ doesn’t enforce comma splice errors.
Northern Kentucky? Are you crazy!?
204… I thought the main splicing errors in Northern Kentucky involved DNA.
So surprisingly, the bottom poll option is the truth, and I have just recieved all the beer I can bong before sunup. I’ll catch you cats later.
Scow Bay, are you married to another WU Alum? It seems to me nearly everyone I know who went to Willamette married someone there. It’s crazy.
Man, Brian Tallet is one ugly hillbilly.
“You got a purty mouth.”
Woah.
Nope, but lots of my friends did.
The Snellometer: .246
Michael Garciaparra: 2-2 tonight, .333 overall.
Adam Jones should wear a neck brace, because playing center behind Joel’s going to give him whiplash before the season’s out.
Wow, was Johjima surprised where that ball went. That wasn’t the down and in he was looking for.
Hinske!!! Oh…sorry.
Homerun, shot to the warning track — maybe it’s time we review the pitching situation, eh Grover?
Jones is getting to those deep balls so beautifully under control — he already looks much better than Ibanez or, god forbid, Willie. I think the lad’s got the stuff.
Yes, guys, it’s always best to let “the hitters tell you” when a pitcher is done. By all means, wait for that signal. Jesus.
Now we know why they brought up Jones. They knew he’d get a lot more practice in center field playing behind Joel than he would have in AAA.
218: I agree. That’s a pretty retarded philosophy.
Actually, there are some pretty tateriffic pitchers in Tacoma.
Yeah, thats not as fun to say.
Why not put in Perez right here?
223 – I have zero idea. I just don’t understand Hargrove at all.
Because that would mean Hargrove would have to actually manage during the game. That and its pretty sad when you have to pinch hit for a starter in the 6th inning.
I mean, they’ll probably bring in the righty, but not pinch hitting in the first place is just admitting defeat.
And he proves me wrong and gets a hit.
DMZ, sorry for the slow response… I went to a local watering hole to watch the first half of the game. You’re a Tap House regular? You should let me know next time you’re in. I manage the bar there…. hope you like the beer selection, it’s my doing.
Next time you’re there, announce your presence, would love to buy you a beer and bend your ear.
Because he knew Everett would get a hit, of course. Duh.
Dinorally! Heh.
I hate that that just worked. I’d rather we lose the game than have that stupid crap work.
225 – Not unheard of for a platoon. The Indians did it with Broussard/Perez all the time.
I mean you could put in Dobbs later on vs. a different righty, and you really aren’t losing much.
Well executed one nostril snot-delivery by Carl just before the basehit and the RBI.
Didn’t I once hear somebody say you’re not supposed to make the 1st or 3rd out at 3rd base?
233 – That rule doesn’t apply if you are taller than 6′4.
I haven’t been in to the Tap House since my unemployment — as much as I love to drink there, I’ve had to curb my frankly ridiculous bar tabs these last couple of weeks.
That said — we should chat.
#233: Didn’t I once hear somebody say you’re not supposed to make the 1st or 3rd out at 3rd base?
Probably some stathead who never played the game.
#235 Its dangerous to know a bartender. Well its been dangerous for me in the past…
I’ll say it again. Drop in and I’ll buy you a couple.
PS: Carl Everett sucks.
Richie gave a pretty disgusted look toward 3rd base — whether that was at his own performance or maybe something done or not done by the coach you couldn’t tell.
You’re not supposed to make the 1st, 2nd or 3rd out at 1st, 2nd or 3rd bases.
First 3 batters: 0 for 9. Rest of the order: 7 for 13.
237: It’s even more dangerous to know a bar manager. Unless you’re a hot girl, then it’s dangerous to know the ‘tender. Did I say dangerous? What I meant was, free.
#238: I’ll say it again. Drop in and I’ll buy you a couple.
You’re about to meet a lot of DMZ’s.
I think they should give Everett the steal sign here.
Oh, good grief.
Did he just fall into 2nd like three feet short? What the hell C-Rex…
Gameday has locked up..what’s happening?
Greatest slide ever…
244 – You see deeply into the game.
The Mariners run out of yet another inning.
I was joking! I didn’t think Hargrove would actually be reading!
The guy who punches the plays into Gameday was too stunned by that to punch it in.
“Gameday has locked up..what’s happening? ”
Sadly, someone acted on your joke.
It was like a steal, only slower. And it stopped a few feet short of the actual base.
I’m changing my vote on Corco’s birthday present. After that, Corco can’t have the two women.
He had Everett try to steal?????????
Words absolutely fail me.
So, I’m guessing this didn’t make it on the regular broadcast, and only our crappy mlb.tv camera caught it, but between innings, Lopez and Beltre got in a huge argument. Lopez was clearly barking at Beltre, and Felix finally separated the two. Beltre looked pissed, then ran into Ron Hassey and gave him a shoulder block without even acknowledging he was there.
256 — what could that possibly be about? Adrian dissing the baby?
256 – Interesting. Now I’m curious.
Maybe Beltre was the one who told Everett to steal.
Dave, I caught some of that and it looked pretty clearly like they were joking around. Felix and Lopez were laughing and Beltre was dancing around.
You and I have very different definitions of laughing and dancing…
George Sherrill keels over from a heart attack as he’s allowed to face 4 batters…
We briefly saw Beltre giving Hassey the shoulder block. He did look pissed.
We could be talking about two different situations.
The one I saw was maybe in the 4th or 5th inning. To me it looked like Beltre was dancing around in front of Felix and Lopez, then started to headbutt Felix (May’ve been Lopez) like they were horsing around. Then Beltre walked away and Felix and Lopez were laughing and pushing eachother. It seemed pretty obvious to me they were joking around, and I seem to recall one of the announcers commenting about “something must be funny down there” or along those lines.
/shrug
Oh, yea, totally different. This one was between 6th/7th innings, Rizzs was doing a voiceover ad while coming out of commercial, and you could tell the cameraman knew he wasn’t “live”, because he was moving the camera pretty eratically, zoomed in on Hargrove after the whole ordeal happened.
Definitely didn’t look playful.
This is what I saw. After Pineiro waved off the infielders with real gusto, it was Everett flapping his arms in imitation and cracking up Felix and Lopez. It was pretty funny. I did not see Beltre involved.
Could this be the “dance” you are talking about?
SEXSON’s BLUNDER (See # 233, # 234, etc.) – (This happens with every team.) What appears to be a blunder is more akin to a sacrifice. A trailing runner will frequently hang himself out to dry, making the cutoff man’s decision easier, and instead of letting the throw go through, for the questionable out, the cutoff man will cut it off, and go for the sure out.
(It seems that the 3B coach had this in mind when he signalled Sexson to go to 3rd, but Sexson–and some people here–doesn’t know about it yet. Maybe tomorrow’s paper.)
14 billion beads?
My mistake then, I just happened to glance at the screen when it happened, so I didn’t catch everything.
I dunno if it is 14 billion, but it is a damn lotta beads.
I finally figured out who Adam Jones reminds me of … Eric Davis.
There was also the long discussion between Betancourt & Hargrove, with Eduardo as translator/facilitator.
btw, anyone have someone they recommend for elderly laptop repairs? I’m thinking this may need the fan looked at….
so, where is this Tap House of which you speak?
Garciaparra: 3-4, .337
Doyle: 0-4, .244
Eiiiiiiiich.
The Tap House Grill’s in Bellevue in the Galleria. It’s pretty sweet.
http://www.taphousegrill.com/
I highly recommend it.
Number one son comes through, number one in so many ways.
DMZ where were you the last few days?
Ashland, Oregon, seeing some plays and hanging out with Mrs. DMZ
Which plays?
271. But Dave says Garciaparra isn’t a prospect.
There’s a Mrs. DMZ?
I can’t say that I watch him on a regular basis, but Reed Johnson sure seems to be a pesky little hitter. Maybe he just has our number or something.
I saw:
The Importance of Being Earnest
King John
Merry Wives of Windsor
Cyrano de Bergerac
Fly ball outs make me nervous. But a win is a win.
277: Seattle Laptop on Aurora’s always done well by me, although sometimes they’ve done it pretty damned slowly.
That’s my hometown, DMZ. I was a tart girl during my adolescent years and fell in love with all the actors there at the festival until I found out they were all gay.
That’s when I turned to baseball, because we all know that baseball players are not gay. Not a one.
King John can be tough, and Merry Wives a little cloying, but sounds like a great line up. I saw Derek Jacoby do Cyrano in New York. That was a great play.
The M’s are scoring, on average, 6+ runs per game over the last 4 games, after moving Willie to the #2 spot. Is Grover on to something? If so, please explain what that something is.
They do more than Shakespeare in Ashland?
Well, look at that. I know it wasn’t a save situation, but Fruto pitched about as “good” of a ninth inning as Eddie G. typically would. And to think, Fruto was sitting there all along, at a fraction of the price…
King John was in the New Theater, and I love seeing plays there. I didn’t like Merry Wives much. Cyrano was hilarious. Earnest was only a little less enjoyable.
Finally the Mariners won a game without Ichiro getting on base.
Bellevue Galleria. Is that the sprawl on the east side of 106/8th? Or is that huge thing the Lincoln Square? I can’t get used to all these new-fangled places [quavery, crabby voice] why, what was wrong with the fine old Barb Restaurant, there, hmn? The biggest hamburger in Bellevue not good enough?
Derek Jacoby? Is that Brook Jacoby’s dad?
The fact that Soriano has a sore shoulder again, also worries me. But this team has actually played better than their record this month. We have played very competitively with the best teams in the east.
Ashland was your hometown? Wow. Swinging in once a year has provided a weird perspective.
It’s pretty hard to mess up “Earnest.” It may be one of the best-written non-Shakespeare plays of all time.
And don’t look now, but Texas and Oakland both lost….
Galleria is at 4th and Bellevue Way. Where the Hooters used to be.
That ought to nail it down for him.
I thought the Tap House was on the east side of town on NE 8th, across the street from where Larry’s Market was before bankruptcy.
Thanks for the plug DMZ. Did you mention 160 beers on tap? Sorry, is that a shameless plug?
I’m glad I didn’t miss anything the last 2 innings. Trying to fix my router… but, alas, it’s dead. I’m so glad I got a good 3 months out of it though. I got more out of this Linksys than the M’s are getting out of C-Rex. (rim shot!)
Good thing we kept the lead. Hargrove didn’t have a chance to misuse the bullpen.
Importance of Being Earnest…good stuff.
I was happy to leave. Looking back, it was pretty idyllic though. It’s changed a lot – gone to the Californians. It’s nice to go back, though. Mom still there. The house we paid $10,000 for in 1964 is worth a couple million now probably.
Good win. Texas and Oakland both lose, meaning we’re only 3 games out.
My router is not functioning, too. Something about three wins in a row?
#294– see it with the wrong cast and it can be pretty painful. Best Algernon ever? Harry Groener.
I’ve never seen King John performed… does it work?
Jacobi.
3 games out? Do we BUY NOW?!?!??!?!
Seriously though. Listening to Jason Stark this morning (one of the few “experts” I actually respect) there isn’t much available out there. The only name that makes sense (if we DFA Everett) is Delucci. Bring him back to a division he knows…he hits LH, can play any OF position, and comes cheap. Gillick owes us one.
#301: Amazing, isn’t it? My dad bought our Bainbridge Island house in 1968 for $22,000 … we sold it last year for almost $700,000.
Post-game show aside: But what if I don’t *want* to fight teenaged girls to see Beckham?
I loved how they used to carry the chopped-off heads around on sticks in the histories.
Oddly enough, I don’t know where the Hooters or Larry’s Markets were in Bellevue… I tend to bypass downtown and head on out to Lake Hills. Sorry. “Crossroads.”
Ashland is like the Bay Area now, Jim. It’s amazing. That little rickety old house will definitely get a million. E
The *Pumphouse* is on NE 8th, in the same complex as I Love Sushi, Hunan Garden. I’m a fan of the Pumphouse too.
Hooters in Bellevue, a concept doomed to failure. I knew it wasn’t going to work when I went there for the first time. It was for a fantasy football draft. I was all excited to see how “hot” our server was going to be, and then she waddled up to our table 10 months pregnant with a t-shirt down to her knees that said “Hooters Baby On Board.”
It was all downhill from there. Now the whole thing next to us is a gym. A 3 story gym…. where you can never ever see more than 5 people working out at any one time. Great investment.
DMZ, is that where I interviewed you a few years ago?
BTW, our place never was a great place to watch a ball game, but we just put in 2 new Toshiba 50-inch plasmas.
Oh, and did I mention 160 beers on tap?
And yet the Tap House managed to find aesthetically pleasing servers.
I grew up in Ashland, and was just there for my 30th HS reunion. My mom bought our house, on the hillside above the college, for 12k in 1968. I estimate it at about 700k now. Mom sold it for 65,000 and was feeling pretty good about things!
I’m only allowing this clear violation of our self-promotion rules because I spend so much time at the Tap House myself.
And yeah, Jim — we were at the Pumphouse.
Tap House has Hoegaarden on tap. Blessed be!
Thanks for the waiver DMZ. I agree about asthetically pleasing. I just wish we didn’t dress them up in black from head to toe. Tends to hide their “assets.”
Why can’t they have places like that on the OTHER side of the Sound? The closest we can come is the Silver City Brewery in Silverdale, and that’s too small and too clogged at most reasonable hours.
320, ever been to Doc’s Marina Grill on Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge?
#316: Your mom sold a $700,000 house for $65,000 and feels GOOD about it???
Jim, she sold it circa 1980. She probably wishes now that she’d have hung on to it for a few more years.
Dan, I have. A bit hoity-toity for journalistic white trash like me … in a different incarnation, I bussed tables there in the summer of 1984.
But I whiled away many, many nights at the Harbour Public House, which is practically next door. Another place that’s long on atmosphere and short on space, given its popularity.
drjeff I probably know you… I graduated in 73
yikes
This is hilarious. Jeff probably puked on her shoes during an Ashland High sock hop.
throw a .gmail behind my username and email me if you wanna, 325. We can compare notes on Snuffy Smith and George the truancy guy.
On topic, hey… how ’bout those M’s!
Who are these M’s you speak of?
324: 84 huh? Was it the Saltwater back then? I was the GM when we turned it from the Madrona to Doc’s. Made a good go of it and turned it around, but 2 years working for a 50 year old drunken skirt-chaser was all I could take. Going from Doc’s to Tap House is like going from Inland Empire to the M’s. I’m like Mark Lowe!
Besides. He would get mad at me for talking to guests about sports! That just wasn’t going to work out.
So.. back to baseball. If we made a little side-deal to help the lineup. Am I crazy for liking Delluci? What’s USSM’s take on him?
326 – You must bear in mind the geographic proximity to the hills of Humboldt County to see that the AHS intoxicant of choice was not something that made you puke!
Oh man. George lived just up the street from me and I spent many afternoons in Snuff’s office.
I’ll send you an e-mail. How funny.
Yeah no kidding about the intoxicant of choice! And I went to Eugene after Ashland – out of the frying pan into the fire and it’s a wonder I have any brain cells left at all.
Wow, Dan … yep, it was the Saltwater in those days. John Twitchell, I believe, was the owner.
I see, Jeff. So you probably instead tried to have her sixty toes as a “midnight munchie.”
Who are these M’s you speak of?
“Not know ‘em? Why, thou never had’st to do with anybody that did not stink to all the town.”
This is your brain … this is your brain on Euuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnneeeeeeeeee
postgame caller who loves Fruto– “I’ve been hearing rumors about him, but the bullpen is pretty strong, would it be good to give up a young arm like him?”
heh. young arm.
Drayer sez Sori is not available tomorrow, and though it is still called ’soreness’, there is some ’scurrying around about him’ and that if is keeps up, it will be the retroactive DL. The other thing is that if he is out, how does that affect moving someone out of the bullpen in a potential trade?
OK, this game thread has got WAY too close to home for me!
I had dinner at Doc’s a couple nights ago (and a birthday dinner at Silver City in Silverdale a week or so before that). A buddy of mine just got a bartending job at Doc’s, and at the bar where we were when he told me, another friend (former waitress at Doc’s) scoffed, and said, ‘Well, as a guy, you’ll probably like it.’ And then went off on the ‘The owner’s a skirt-chaser’ line. She was a former employee, who quit.
Anyway, I’m with Jim. We need more decent beerhouses on the west side of the Sound.
So, in case anyone’s interested, drjeff and I have established that 1) I was friends with his sister who was in my class and 2) it was altered brain chemistry, a byproduct of growing up in Ashland, that led us both to USSM.
Funny small-world stuff.
Oh yeah, and how ’bout them M’s.
Matt, you and Marbledog and I should have a West Sound M’s night … Cloverleaf in Bremerton, maybe.
You could invite WFB.
Um, yeah, how ’bout them M’s?
A win, both the As and Rangers lose. Only downer is what msb reports, about Soriano being ‘unavailable.’ This is beginning to be troubling, these long periods of Rafael being unavailable with no explanation from the team. Word is always that they want to ‘hide it from the opponent,’ and it’s just ‘regular shoulder soreness.’ But are they trying to hide something, not from the week’s opponents, but from us fans? Is Soriano really, truly hurt?
[padum-pah!]
>Tap House has Hoegaarden on tap. Blessed be!
I had a (bottled) Hoegaarden with dinner tonight, it’s a great summertime beer. Taphouse has a large selection. In the same complex Rockbottom has a few that are decent including their witbier.
And Jason Ellison … how great can he feel about baseball after losing the “Bonds’ legs” job?
Any reports about the dugout scuffle Dave witnessed?
Jim, I’m up to a night out with beer and baseball anywhere on the west side (how do I type that with an Eric-Cartmanesque pronunciation?). Never been to the Cloverleaf, but, then, I’m waaaaay up north in the county (Kingston), so I don’t go out on the town in Bremerton often.
PS – I enjoy your M’s reporting in the Sun every weekend.
Finally a caller who wanted to trade Carl Everett. Sadly, he followed that up with the suggestion they go get Palmiero.
On the subject of Everett (after they all pretty much concurred that you need more out of that spot) Drayer mentioned in response to the caller complaint about Carl complaining about playing time, that Everett has been essentially platooning since Morse came up, and that he hasn’t complained about it — apparently the blow-up in Hargrove’s ofice was about another [unnamed] topic.
Nothing about AB & Lopez.
Kinsgton Ale House, mayhaps?
Mmmmm, Kingston Ale House…..
Not a big enough selection of actual ale, but a fine watering hole nonetheless.
I’m trying to recall the name of the fine drinking establishment smack dab in downtown Bremerton that my Grandfather once took me to … of course, it was long enough ago that he treated me to a Shirley Temple, so it’s prob. long gone
Well, you gave yourself away, because there are no “fine drinking establishments” in “downtown Bremerton.” Though the city just announced plans to convert the old downtown firehouse into a brewpub ala Engine House No. 9 in Tacoma, which roolz.
Matt … they have a big screen at the Ale House?
And actually, I have to give a shout out to the Filling Station Tavern. I walked in there a few months back fully expecting a dive bar, and found a surprisingly nice, friendly ‘joint’ to hang out in. Food’s not as good as the Ale House, but is respectable pub fare, nice plasma TVs for game-watching, and lots more beer on tap, as well as the full selection of top-shelf cocktail ingredients.
Now, if only I can get them to quit the stupid karaoke nights…
Hmmm … yes, promising. Other than the Brad Paisley and Bon Jovi wannabeez.
Jim, nope, no big screen at the Ale House, just some 20+ inch screens in the corner of the bar. To watch a game, really, you want the Filling Station Tavern.
and my Grandfather was teetotal, so his choice of establishments would be suspect anyway…
They closed a bar in Bremerton? Ah, say it ain’t so, Ollie.
Yeah, the Navy actually bars its personnel from the nastier bars … they go under pretty quickly thereafter.
Kingston’s too far to drive. Cloverleaf sounds good to me. Do they have wireless there so we can all bring our laptops?
Yep, you’ve been there, Jim! That’s the north end of the county for ya! The nice thing is that, on any given night, a group of three or four people can ‘take over’ the bar. Not that many people there, you get the game on TV, and start rooting, and all is good. New ownership, too, trying to convert it into a relatively ‘family-friendly’ place. I think Silver City is their goal.
Let’s do two nights … one in Bremerton, one in Kingston. Come on, Marble … it’s not like driving to, say, Olalla.
E-mail me at jthomsen@kitsapsun.com
oh, and I like Delucci.
For those watching on TV when Hinske caught that ball against the stands did anyone see a big fat walrus-like man leaning against the railing?
I’m there!
Waaay back from 269
Thanks! Jones indeed DOES look like Eric Davis. I just knew he resembled someone, and couldn’t place it either. About 206 years ago, Davis amazingly amassed 27hr’s and 80 steals in the same season. The next season, all he followed that up with was 37hr’s and and 50 steals!
Can you imagine if Jones could even do half of that? Who knows…maybe someday soon he will. Reed sure won’t.
Fwiw, Corcoran reminds me so much of a much of a younger Kramer from Seinfeld
And the radio this morning told me that Michael Richards turned 57 today. I’m thinking he’s got a few years on Corco.
I can’t believe I missed the discussion about Jim moving to Canada.
Derek – if you have a firm job offer, moving to Canada is pretty easy. Or if you’re a qualified tradesman (please send welders). The labour shortage is getting such that people who really shouldn’t have jobs are now working. Anyone with the skill to be a competent waiter, for example, has a job as an office manager or an EA somewhere.
Jim – that paper has the popular nickname the Victoria Times-Communist. But at least the bias is consistent.
All addresses in Canada are also exempt from the MLB blackouts (except for Jays games) so you could see all the M’s games online.
And your taxes would go up.
I probably wouldn’t own property, being, you know, a Communist. Um, a journalist. Whatever.
Me loves Vancouver Island. I’m vacationing for a week in mid-October in Ucluelet.
I’m thinking I need a cool accent at this juncture of my life, anyway.
Yep, he’s back after visiting Jose Jr. You already give your son half of his DNA; you already give him your last name; you already give him half of your facial features; that’s enough.
That’s enough for me! DRAFT HIM NOW!
We can call him Junior! =D
366
Oops. That should read “…reminds me of a much younger version of Kramer…”
Plunked ’self down before a screen in a newish sportsbar, not one prime enough to recommend but the AC worked. A few thoughts on the game from the 4th inning:
Joel Pinada looks soooo unimpressive. Fastball at consistent 88 but remember the Safeco gun reads high; no particular movement, and he doesn’t keep it down in the zone. Curveball is good, supposedly, every 3-4 games, but on nights like to night is barely a major league pitch, no sharp break or location; oh, and he hangs it pretty good *eeek*. Change-up is definitely his only above average pitch; you can’t read it at all in his delivery, the best part, he get’s a nice break on it for a swing-and-a-miss, and can catch the zone with some regularity for the called strike. For a guy who’s so pitch _inefficient_, it’s amazing that he walks so few guys. His whole game now seems to be to try to tease the batters to expand their strike zone, and he expends a lot of pitches laboring to get up in the count. Joel does seem to mix pitch and location well so there’s no pronounced pattern. In essence, he aspires to be Moyer from the right side. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pinade hang around the game for another 5-6 years, bouncing from team to team wherever an org needs a 5th starter who knows how to pitch and can handle it when a batter smokes a couple of his mistakes. —But here in Seattle, we need to just move on. Please.
Sherrill is more than a LOOGY, and we see it again tonight. He Ks Glaus swinging with a well-located fastball. His velocity seems to have dropped considerably from when the Ms picked him up from the indys, but he’s got enough stuff and location to be effective for an inning at a time. Hargrove won’t generally use him that way, but then Grover overmanges his pen so no surprise.
Fruto: Man does this guy have an ugly, herky-jerky, Fosberry flop of a pitching motion. It’s easy to see why he’s walking a guy an inning with a motion like that, and I wonder how he’s going to stay healthy. I’m not too caught up in it as long as he can get some results, but *yeesh*
Adam Jones just LOOKS like a CFer: good height, long limbs, quick acceleration when the hitter swings, long efficient strides covering ground in a hurry, goes back to the wall well, great body lean. He may be raw now, but he’ll cook once he’s marinated well.
I remember when it was Beltre-or-Glaus? I was a Glaus man. Three-true-outcome guy with enhanced totals in all regards, and a fine 3Bman himself. Looks OK now, but they both have several years to go on their deals.
After Betancourt grounded out on the first (or second?) pitch in the 7th, the camera gave a shot of Hargrove talking to him in the dugout, or rather using Eduardo Perez to do so. Fairly commented on this, and mentioned that Betancrout had seen 9 pitches all night, speculating as I was that the discussion was to get YB to see more pitches. But that’s not the point: We slag Grover for poor in-game management, and there’s a lot not to like there, but the strength of his we rarely see, and I think it’s real, is man-management. Grover was going to have to use an interpreter for the conversation, but he didn’t use a coach; instead, he called on Perez who’s only been with the team a few weeks and scarcely knows YB. Why? ‘Cause Perez is a ‘professional hitter,’ who works the count, walks a bunch (from the side he can hit), and mashes his pitch when he gets it. And it can’t be underestimated the importance here of Eduardo being the son of Tony Perez, however much the Ms announcer over hype this. Tony Perez has massive, massive credibility with virtually all Latin hitters. He was THE GUY, the first great one after Orlando Cepeda to make big money and get famous, and much better thought of as a leader and community exemplar. We can bet that the Ms coaching staff has been trying to get YuBet to take more pitches for, well, A YEAR. Now, having to reiterate it, Grover gets into the loop the _player_ on the team who could have the most impact on Betancourt, and just possibly mentor him a bit when the coaches aren’t around. This is a big part of what managers have to do to bring team’s together and enhance development of guys who aren’t finished players. I do think that Hargrove knows how to manage _players_, even if he’s too rote and unimaginative to manufacture any advantages from the bench.
Cyrano de Bergerac: Always one of my favorite plays, the big, fruit tart, Romantic confection of it. I’m always rooting for him to dodge that block of deadwood and get the girl in the end, no matter that I know how it always ends. *snifff*
. . . If they’ve got Trippel Carmeliet on tap, I’d almost consider taking a bus to the Eastside, since my preferred pub can’t seem to line up a keg lately.
I’m a Glaus fan too. He’s a .250 hitter, but he can slay. Difficult to say how Safeco may have effected him.
He’s good Sexson playing third with solid defense, but an injury risk, no doubt.
It’s gonna be tough to bring in any righty sluggers while at the Safe.
Jim Thom in#209: My God, Tallet _does_ look like the actor who said that. Didn’t end up with an arrow through his back in this instance, though.
I remember when it was Beltre-or-Glaus? I was a Glaus man. Three-true-outcome guy with enhanced totals in all regards, and a fine 3Bman himself. Looks OK now, but they both have several years to go on their deals.
In person, Glaus’ knees looked terrible, based on his speed going back for some foul pops that didn’t reach the seats. I’m guessing Toronto’s turf isn’t helping matters.
I mention this because it is the only thing I feel that I could add to this game thread. I’d rate this as one of the nicest game threads to read in a while. Most of the beaten-to-death topics were avoided, or at least only touched upon quickly. Good work.
One read on Glaus at the time was that really he should be ticket for 1B, but that he insisted on signing with a team that would play him at 3B. And furthermore, that his moving to 1B lowered his value relatively. I still think he’ll end up at 1B, though, so his declining knees don’t scare me off. As long as he hits, a place will be found for him. Safeco would hurt him like other RHs though. I’m in favor of doing a tummy-tuck on the LCF alley wall at the Safe in the offseason.
After Betancourt grounded out on the first (or second?) pitch in the 7th, the camera gave a shot of Hargrove talking to him in the dugout, or rather using Eduardo Perez to do so. Fairly commented on this, and mentioned that Betancrout had seen 9 pitches all night, speculating as I was that the discussion was to get YB to see more pitches. But that’s not the point: We slag Grover for poor in-game management, and there’s a lot not to like there, but the strength of his we rarely see, and I think it’s real, is man-management. Grover was going to have to use an interpreter for the conversation, but he didn’t use a coach; instead, he called on Perez who’s only been with the team a few weeks and scarcely knows YB. Why? ‘Cause Perez is a ‘professional hitter,’ who works the count, walks a bunch (from the side he can hit), and mashes his pitch when he gets it. And it can’t be underestimated the importance here of Eduardo being the son of Tony Perez, however much the Ms announcer over hype this. Tony Perez has massive, massive credibility with virtually all Latin hitters. He was THE GUY, the first great one after Orlando Cepeda to make big money and get famous, and much better thought of as a leader and community exemplar. We can bet that the Ms coaching staff has been trying to get YuBet to take more pitches for, well, A YEAR. Now, having to reiterate it, Grover gets into the loop the _player_ on the team who could have the most impact on Betancourt, and just possibly mentor him a bit when the coaches aren’t around. This is a big part of what managers have to do to bring team’s together and enhance development of guys who aren’t finished players. I do think that Hargrove knows how to manage _players_, even if he’s too rote and unimaginative to manufacture any advantages from the bench.
Good catch; it’s something that a lot of fans aren’t sensitive to in the first place, and it’s something that’s hard to catch or see, but it’s REALLY important. Just because it can’t be quantified doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or isn’t important. And while this may or may not stick with Betancourt, the fact that he used Perez in this way indicates that he’s using all of his tools intelligently to get his point across.
That said, everyone here is right about his lineup construction and in-game tactics–they still SUCK.
#375-376– there was also some worry about how healed his shoulder was, IIRC– and then he signed with Arizona for the huge contract just as the Winter meetings began…
Rejoining the group this am.
Jacoby/Jacobi. I worry about spelling about as much as Guilliermus Shaxpeer did.
However, I know the sensibilities of our esteemed hosts, and will try to do better in the future.
Post Scripto: As a card-carrying Thespian, you have to be affirmatively bad to screw up Earnest. We consider it “actor proof.”
ESPN has apparently fired Harold Reynolds. This can only mean one thing: More intelligent discourse between John Kruk and Steve Phillips. BBTN, which was a great way to catch up on scores if you’re not near a computer, has become unwatchable.
In ESPN’s effort to never give any decent coverage to the Mariners, they’ve fired off everyone with any connection to the team. Poor Harold. At least we still get Steve Phillips and his impeccable, snow-white goatee!
#11, I know this is late and basically irrelevant, but I didn’t have internet access last night, and I just wanted to clear this up. For the record, it is very normal to name a kid after yourself in Latin America. In fact, it appears to me that it would almost be abnormal not to. I don’t know if anyone will read this, and I know you were probably mostly joking, but I figure it’s worth mentioning that it is the cultural norm, for whatever that’s worth.