Game 69, Pirates at Mariners
Dave · June 21, 2007 at 6:23 pm · Filed Under Game Threads
Hernandez vs Van BenSchoten, 7:05 pm.
(Doyle Update: Mike Curto interviews the beloved Aussie outfielder on the Tacoma Rainiers pregame show at around 6:55 pm – listen here)
Same line-up as last night. Here’s to hoping for a Happy Felix Day for the first time in a while.
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What’s the story on Van Benschoten — where was he between 2004 and this year?
Wherever it was, he’s improved a lot, though he still walks too many guys and doesn’t strand enough of them. Which would be great so long as the M’s are willing to take some pitches.
Ah, never mind: right shoulder surgery on 1/27/05
I think the Pirates should just convert Van Benschoten into a hitter, ala Ankiel, and stop trying to force what clearly isn’t going to happen. Van Benschoten should have been drafted as a hitter, ala Olerud.
Looks like he has that offspeed stuff working today!
FB, FB, FB, FB, FB, FB, FB.
Death, taxes, and Felix establishing the fastball.
I saw the workup on Weaver mixing up his pitches a lot more over the last 3 games (especially last night), and moving away from strictly fastballs. I hope they get Felix to do the same thing.
It looked like he was mostly throwing 98 MPH 4-seamers in the first.
He got away with it, too.
Were those 4-seamers, or does he throw his 2-seamer 97?
All but the ball looked low to me…
Nobody can throw a 2-seamer at 97.
heh I guess not.
10 – not even Von Schertenberger?
Yea, all four seamers. He was just throwing gas.
Dave, do you think this is going to be Bad Felix Day?
Noted.
Still learning pitches…
The Pirates suck. So no.
Felix’s 4-seamer is usually 96-98, while his currently hypothetical 2-seamer is 93-94. All 2-seamers are a few miles slower than their straighter companions.
Also, Felix’s two seamer has some tailing action, sinking and moving in slightly on RH hitters. His four seam fastball is straight as an arrow.
I think it’s only straight as an arrow when it’s elevated, but yeah, when he throws the two-seamer, it’s hard to miss. It’s got a ton of action.
Cool, thanks.
But those 4-seamers looked a little better than the other pitches he’s thrown in the first in other games. I was confused because they were a lot lower than the other fastballs he’d been throwing in the first in other games.
I love being wrong and learning something new! It rocks!
Did I really see the Pirates pitcher throw 21 pitches through the first 3 Mariner batters?
Yea – the four seamer is fine when it’s at the knees and it’s not a 3-0 or 3-1 count. But Felix doesn’t have good enough command to consistently put it at the knees, or not fall into 3-0 and 3-1 counts by throwing nothing but fastballs.
If he could consistently put the ball at the knees, that’d be awesome. But he can’t.
8 fastballs, 4 outs. The Pirates are crappy hackers.
I was under the impression that a pitch that fast(97+) from any pitcher would be pretty straight.
2 innings, only one offspeed pitch apparently.
He’s locating his 97-98 MPH pitches (4-seamers, right) really well tonight. They all have looked pretty low to me. That’s a good thing, right?
I’m not ready to go “king”, but definitely a “duke”. Maybe even “duke of earl”.
15 pitches, 14 fastballs.
Tonight, it won’t matter – the Pirates blow.
One question, who is in charge of making the pitch selection when Felix pitches? (Does Kenji do all the leading? Does Felix pitch whatever he feels? Does the bench give specific instructions? Or a combination of these?)
He’s locating his 97-98 MPH pitches (4-seamers, right) really well tonight. They all have looked pretty low to me. That’s a good thing, right?
Doumit missed a belt high fastball on the outer half. Swung right through it. That wasn’t a good 1-2 pitch. Bad location, and really, a change-up would have been perfect there.
Command has been better, but this is mostly horrible hitting.
Velocity seems up a little (97-98) compared to the last few games. Or is that just the Safeco gun?
At least when he throws all fastballs the first time through, they see a completely different pitcher next time.
Maybe he saw Brad Penny’s FB-tastic all-star game performance and became inspired.
That’s the Safeco gun. Gameday has him consistently at 96, just like normal.
The Pirates don’t need no stinkin’ scouting reports.
did VBS really just throw 98?
So, Dave … what’s the difference between how the Pirates react to Felix’s stuff, and how, say, the Red Sox or the Indians would?
The Red Sox wouldn’t be swinging first or second pitch, instead, letting Felix miss with his poor command, get himself into hitters counts, and then swinging for the fences on the inevitable 3-1 count.
The Pirates are just hacking at everything they see, not letting Felix fall behind in the count, and generally just displaying a Mariner-like horrible approach to hitting.
Gameday has VBS at 89-91.
That BP shot with the aluminum bat was pretty cool.
Launching a 500ft BP homerun with metal bat…nice to see Sexson working on his approach…
Aluminum bat? Like in college ball? Like in GO BEAVERS!?
Sorry, but Dave brought it up.
That whole thing reminded me of Bavasi ripping Spiezio for his BP performance during the USSM feed a few years ago. Good times.
Blah – that was a crappy slider. I want the good slider back.
Was that a change that Nady hit to the track?
Okay, Felix, we’re in the third. You can stop throwing fastballs now…
Pretty please?
I wanted a perfect game!
Give the hitter credit? Belt high, 95? That’s easy to hit.
Man they are just sitting on that fastball. Hitting it pretty hard too.
Man, the Pirates are hacks.
#43: What did Bavasi say? What was he referring to?
“Hel-LO! I’m on the phone here, be quiet!”
You never heard this story Jim? When Caple brought the bats from Louisville Slugger that were built to the exact specs of Ruth, Gehrig, and Cobb for a story he was doing? We give Caple the mic, and he talks about how he took those things to the cage, and let a few guys take some swings with the old bat. He makes a comment about Spieizo ripping one to left field, and Bavasi (totally unprovoked) just calls out “Really?” Then he made another snarky comment about Spiezio.
It was hilarious. He was pretty blunt about his feelings about Meche and Pineiro the next year, too. Bill’s a pretty funny guy.
“Betancourt taking a strike” – phrase I did not expect to hear tonight – along with “and another”.
Is it just me, or does YuBet seem to have made a significant improvement in his approach? I feel like I’ve seen him taking more pitches this year.
I
I love Ichiro.
He loves you too, robbbbbbbbb
83mph nothing pitch, belt high…damn
So, Blowers will pretty much say any fastball is a sinker, apparently. VBS is clearly throwing a four-seam fastball, has a 2-5 GB/FB rate, but because he’s pitching down in the zone, “his fastball has good sink to it.”
No, Mike, it doesn’t.
Is it wrong to want to see Van Benschoten on the mound and Saltalamacchia behind the plate?
A change! Awesome. I don’t care that it was a ball.
These hacks are going to start doing some damage if Felix doesn’t change things up a bit.
That be fun, but I’d rather see, say, Randy Johnson pitching.
I haven’t been watching too closely, is Felix trying the longer pause that Withers talked about?
Another 0-2 four seamer. Brilliant…
But he got a bouncer on a curve.
That’s more like it.
More of those pitches, Please!
That was not a good pitch – 90 with very little break, heart of the plate. Yech.
“Woo Hoo! I can throw my curvew now!”
Now THAT was a good pitch.
Token Canadian.
When I was a kid, we had no channels. TV was static all the time. And we liked it!
His slider is just flat again.
Dave — that’s probably why I was calling ‘em two-seamers. Blowers had me messed up. I didn’t think a sinker got up there at 97-98…
hmmm – which pitch? who’s got the fastest connection?
Trail, B.C. is one serious redneck-foothills town. It reminds me of the town in which “First Blood” was filmed (Chilliwack of Hope, B.C., I think).
Chilliwack OR Hope
How good a player is Jason Bay? I know he’s been a pretty great hitter, at least before being really streaky this year, and he started his career late…he seems to steal bases at a high percentage…what’s his defense like?
Dave — that’s probably why I was calling ‘em two-seamers. Blowers had me messed up. I didn’t think a sinker got up there at 97-98…
Don’t listen to the announcers. I love Niehaus, but he gets so many pitches wrong, it’s insane. Blowers just calls every fastball a sinker and everything else a “breaking ball”.
Dave: you ever in favor of him expanding the zone up with the 4-seamer? Seems like shoulder high heat would be a good pitch for him when he needs a K, but he never intentionally does it that I see. It’s belt high tops…
Don’t hit the ball girl!
“Blowers just calls every fastball a sinker…”
Felix needs to establish his sinker.
That wasn’t a good swing.
Dave: you ever in favor of him expanding the zone up with the 4-seamer? Seems like shoulder high heat would be a good pitch for him when he needs a K, but he never intentionally does it that I see. It’s belt high tops…
Sure. I’m in favor of varied pitch selection. If he wants to throw a 1-2 four-seamer way up and away against an aggressive hitter, no problem, especially if he’s already fed them a couple of off-speed pitches that at-bat.
I don’t want Felix to have a clearly established pattern, where a guy sitting at home watching on TV can predict with 90% certainty what pitch he’s going to throw. I’m not anti-fastball. I’m anti-predictability.
Yeah, predictability bad. I just don’t see that classic power pitch from him like I do from a lot of other high velocity righties. I’d like to see it a couple of times at least, just to change the eye level…
As much as the M’s look like they are hacking, Felix has only thrown 38 pitches through 4, compared to 61 for VB. Plate discipline is relative….
Hey, that was a nasty slider. Throw that again.
that was a pretty good 89mph “breaking ball”
Now that was nasty.
Thank you.
E-4
There’s no such thing as an error at Safeco.
94: how so?
There ya go, slider. 0-2 fastball at the eyes.
that’s probably the kind of 0-2 pitch Dave was complaining about
The official scorer calls everything a hit.
first blood was filmed in hope and a nearby provincial park, anyone who’s been to both towns will agree that hope wins that battle over trail
I meant the 1-2 pitch
that’s probably the kind of 0-2 pitch Dave was complaining about
I’m complaining about him throwing back to back fastballs on 0-2 and 1-2 counts, and predictably, giving up a hit. Just throw a change there.
Was it eyes, not belt? Mlb.tv cutting out on me…
Agree with change though
Where was the Deer Hunter filmed? I remember it taking place somewhere outside of Pittsburgh.
Yea, the 0-2 fastball almost went to the backstop. It wasn’t close.
2-0 slider. Nice selection, bad location. Glad he didn’t swing.
aha. well, maybe just sometimes, after he learns to not throw the fastball so much, it could become an effective pitch. I guess when you see FB every time you aren’t really fooled by a bad one…
3-1 belt high fastball. Oy.
53: At the next BP event with Bavasi during the following off-season, Bavasi defended the signings of Beltre and Sexson saying “their bicep size hasn’t shrunk one bit since we signed them. Spiezio’s, on the other hand, has.”
He really doesn’t like Spiezio.
oh darnit, that wouldn’t been a nice time to get a call
after he learns to not throw the fastball so much
I’m actually fine with his sum total of fastballs most games. It’s just the predictability that bothers me. He just needs to throw more breaking balls early in the game and mix in different pitches in different counts. He’s a pattern pitcher.
Yup. Oi is a good word for that. Would’ve been a 3-0 game after that pitch against a real MLB hitter.
ok -what’s coming here?
that pitch: yes please
No, Mike, that was a curve.
The King Lives!
pitch selection = blah
result = yes!
Looked inside. But the umpire sold that punch-out hard!
See, that’s a good spot for a fastball. He’d thrown a bunch of junk that inning, and McLouth had seen sliders and curves the whole at-bat.
I like the fastball there.
Earl!!
I’m starting to get the point. I automatically assumed the 1-2 fastball was bad, and of course that one was a little too belt high, but it was inside enough, and I’m seeing further the predictability aspect.
Love that pitch when it’s in like that. Brings to me a question. Dave, did Felix have better control of the fastball 2 years ago, or while coming up? I seem to remember him painting low and away, or inside corner (like that last one) a lot more, but maybe it was just raw stuff even then? Was the command previously much better?
Dave, I just registered. I follow the blog every Felix Day, and recently have followed daily due to being laid up from sinus surgery. I’m a Marlins fan, and a Law student, but if y’all don’t hate lawyers maybe you can answer some questions. Where is the best place to follow games online for free? Is Felix getting squeezed tonight? Are there any noticeable differences in his delivery from early this year to now? Finally, would the Mariners be dumb enough to trade for Dontrelle?
Is that actually what happens when Turbo gets all of it, or did he actually “get under it” or something?
deer hunter forest scenes were shot in north cascades park
Woot! YuBet!
Brings to me a question. Dave, did Felix have better control of the fastball 2 years ago, or while coming up?
No. His walk numbers in Tacoma were horrible because PCL hitters knew they couldn’t touch his stuff and just stared at it, letting him get himself into trouble. He came up and ML hitters swung at everything they saw, getting themselves out. Then, the scouting report got around the league, and he still hasn’t adjusted.
Where is the best place to follow games online for free?
I like MLB.com’s gameday, because the pitch f/x data is awesome.
Are there any noticeable differences in his delivery from early this year to now?
Chaves thinks he’s not following through as well, and I can buy that, even though I can’t see it in live action. His slider doesn’t have the same bite it did earlier, and he’s throwing a lot of flat hanging change-ups.
Finally, would the Mariners be dumb enough to trade for Dontrelle?
Probably not. I think most of baseball realizes how mediocre he is now. I called him the new Steve Avery a few years ago, and I’ll stick with that. He’s out of baseball in a couple of years.
Cool, thanks Dave. I sure hope he learns to spot the fastball sooner than later.
His command will improve as he ages. Of course, his stuff will deteriorate, so it’s a bit of a sliding scale. If he learns how to pitch, he’ll still be golden. If he doesn’t, well, then he’ll be another Javier Vazquez.
Dave, by “flat hanging change-ups” do you mean that 88mph meat pitch and by “too many” do you mean more than zero?
gulp
from MLBTradeRumours: Gammons mentions some suitors for Mark Buehrle: the Mets, Cardinals, and Mariners.
Smart move? What would the Ms have to give up for him?
Ichiro says: “Hi. Excuse me while I foul off a whole bunch of pitches, mmmmkay?”
129: could you elaborate on Vasquez? I don’t know a lot about his history.
I love it when he does that.
Would the Sox take Wlad for Burhle? Would it be even close?
Sweet. Hopefully that’s all we need!
Dave, by “flat hanging change-ups” do you mean that 88mph meat pitch and by “too many” do you mean more than zero?
Yep. When he doesn’t get on top of his change, it’s a horrible pitch.
Smart move? What would the Ms have to give up for him?
A lot. Probably two of Balentien/Clement/Feierabend, plus probably a third guy with some upside. If the M’s were real contenders, I’d be in favor, but they’re a longshot. They shouldn’t make that move unless they get back within a few games of the division.
Thank God for Ichiro!
could you elaborate on Vasquez? I don’t know a lot about his history.
Vazquez is a guy with good stuff but no idea how to pitch. He is constantly underperforming his peripherals because he hasn’t learned how to strand runners. Stuff wise, he’s Jake Peavy’s equal, but he just doesn’t have the mental side of the game down, so he’s a highly paid #4 starter.
At-a-boy Jose!
JoLo!! Sweet.
Whether it’s all they need or not, the extra couple runs are appreciated.
God Ichiro is really good. I wouldn’t trade him for anything less than…(self sensorship)
Does anyone else laugh when they see Big Richie lumber in from 3rd base?
Is Buerhle even that good of a pitcher still?
And isn’t Burhle kind of risky to take on as a rent-a-player do to his wild swings in performance?
Did Vanden..’s arm get hurt now? His velocity is showing as 69..
Yes, I love to watch Sexson round the bases. He runs like a gazelle. A gazelle with a cheetah clamped onto his legs.
Buehrle’s good.
It’s faster for me to watch the game on USS Mariner than on Espn… I get the updates faster.
142 – Do you mean J-Lo?
No – J-Lo is really different. But also sweet.
I’ll take credit for this inning (for no defensible reason).
I turned on FSN to watch as McLouth came up with the bases loaded. One (apparently, to me, at least) pleasantly, gratefully horrible strike 3 call and Felix walks off the mound happy.
M’s come up, Richie walks, Vidro *doesn’t* GIDP, and the rally is under way.
Maybe I should turn the TV off now to ensure 4 more scoreless innings. But I won’t.
Funny, that’s about the time I left the piano and came to the computer.
Buehrle > Garland?
I worry that Bavasi thinks we’re one “experienced” starter away from contention, and that he’ll hear of all the interest in Buehrle, panic, and serve up Adam Jones. Is my fear unfounded?…
Jones isn’t going anywhere.
I really hope they don’t get rid of Jones. I met him a couple weeks ago after a Rainiers game. Not only is he a good player, he is a nice guy. Sat there for an hour and sign autographs for the kids.
Sanchez is the only guy on the Pirates with any idea of how to hit.
that play was painful to watch. I thought he wouldn’t get to it.
157 – My biggest fear is Bavasi moving anybody period. I can just imagine the idiot moving Wlad for Steve Tracshel…let’s just hope for the best.
161 – Yeah I thought Guillen looked like he pulled every leg muscle possible.
I think LaRoche was one of the guys we wanted during the offseason. Would anyone have been upset about a Soriano/LaRoche deal (instead of Ramirez)? What’s his story this year?
It wasn’t so much that we wanted LaRoche, as we wanted to get rid of Sexson and his contract. We wanted Tim Hudson, who was coming in the same rumor.
Dave, you must be forgetting Jason Bay.
Who could forget Jason Bay?!?!?!
Yea, okay, Bay’s good too. But as a team, these guys have a horrible approach.
Man, he just can’t get the change-up down in the zone. And that slider had nothing on it. Yech.
I really, really like that pitch.
He looked really caught of guard there.
The Emerald Queen Casino looks terrific. No one ever loses there.
Nice pitch
of=off
Happy rest of the game, all. I return to my piano now.
171: Of course no one ever loses. That’s how they can afford to build the big, snazzy building.
That last fastball to Doumit looked like his good two-seamer. A little late tail and some sink – gameday had it at 95. That’s his good fastball, and he can throw that one whenever he wants.
Brand New pitcher and Beltre is hacking at the first pitch. Some guys just don’t get it.
Kuwata-san! Ganbatte, yo. Still wearing the same # as when he was with the (Yomiuri) Giants, I see.
So, Dave, what’s your overall impression of Van Benschoten?
gameday shows one of the 5 pitches a strike, and barely
and that, the sixth strike, a ball also
Ahhhh, the Beltre we know and love and dread. Flailing wildly at strike three.
Quite a fall, there – from Japan’s all-time best team to the Pirates o’ Pittsburgh.
Beltre swings at all 6 pitches in the AB (K), 4 of which GameDay has as balls, which would likely have held due to the small zone ump tonight.
So, Dave, what’s your overall impression of Van Benschoten?
He’s a 5th starter at best. Average fastball, no outpitch, decent command tonight but it’s been a problem in the past.
E for effort…. but no out.
there’s the Turbo we know and love
Hahah… that Castillo flip just about got Vidro. That would be a tough one to live down.
Wow…I thought there for a second that Vidro was going to get thrown out.
all I knew about VBS was that MVP Baseball 2005 had him as a “top 100 prospect”
Geez.. nice hook.
ugh
No, Dave, that was a change, not a two-seam.
Lovin the pitch count too. Not sure he can go the distance tonight though.
Loved that high and tight followed by outside corner sequence. Anyone know though why Putz’s straight 4 seamer seems so much more unhittable than Felix’s? Is Putz’s just not as straight as I think it is?
It’s fun watching this guy pitch.
Crafty!!!!
Anyone know though why Putz’s straight 4 seamer seems so much more unhittable than Felix’s? Is Putz’s just not as straight as I think it is?
JJ’s command is a lot better than Felix’s, and his splitter comes out of the same arm slot at the same arm speed, so you basically have to just guess at which pitch is coming.
Kuwata looks awesome
Regarding “establishing the fastball” — I’m steadily losing my respect for Rafael Chaves. The whole thing reeks of a coaching mandate, in which case Chaves should be sacked for being an idiot. And if it’s not, he should be sacked for not picking up on it and correcting it months ago. Either way it looks really bad.
Seriously, I always thought Chaves was a good coach. Was I wrong?
Sure made Ichiro look poor at the plate, didn’t he. And Lopez. At least Ibanez got wood on it.
Jeff Weaver laughing in the dugout. That’s a fun sight to see.
That reaching up into the sky in the windup thing seems particularly Japanese to me.
Seriously, I always thought Chaves was a good coach. Was I wrong?
Chaves has a great rapport with the pitchers, and he’s good at spotting mechanical adjustments. I’m disappointed with how they’ve handled the pitch selection thing, but Chaves isn’t an idiot.
Laugh it up, fuzzball.
was Morrow’s crazy 4 seam just as straight, and just lucky in small sample size?
Yuni’s got some zip on his throw
It would be impossible to spew more platitudes than they’re spouting about Dream Weaver.
Morrow’s four seam has some movement to it, and since even he had no idea where it was going, hitters couldn’t sit on a location. But he was also very lucky.
207: The only platitudes they’ve missed is that Weaver has a nice personality and makes his own clothes.
THAT’S the pitch I wanted at 0-2. (not sure Felix did though…)
An interesting anecdote – former Tigers starter Bill Gullickson (who pitched in Japan for a few years) is good friends with Kuwata and gave his son “Kuwata” for a middle name.
It’s interesting how easy it is to see Felix’s self-confidence grows on nights like this one. It’s not quite “early season game in Boston” laissez-faire, but it’s pretty high.
Felixxxxxx!
JJ time. These last two games are just what the bullpen needed to prevent their arms falling off.
213… no, Felikkkkkkkkks.
I saved so much on my Sedona, I’m going to buy out Richie Sexson’s contract.
Who’d have thought it would come off of a Crazy Weaver start too?
Boy I love Good-Felix. Almost makes watching all these horrible games worth it.
209. Did you get fised up with that girl too?
Or fixed up with her?
I’ll gladly take good results for Felix, considering he’s had his share of tough luck the past year and a half. But, honestly, this wasn’t Good Felix. The slider was still flat, the change was still up in the zone too often, and the pitch selection was the same as always.
This was bad hitting, just like last night.
A win is a win, but in terms of how I feel about Felix, tonight didn’t change a thing.
Well, that took MY joy out of the evening. Not that I’m in favor of burying my head in the sand, but still.
Hey Dave, which were there more of tonight, Pirates baserunners, or Felix offspeed stuff?
Really? I thought his location was quite a bit better tonight. Maybe it just seems better from the miserable hitting heh.
221… huh?
Let me ask a stupid question…is Felix not varying his location (as in vertical position), as well as his selection? And the lack of command leads him to leaving it in the center of the plate?
Joe: Dave’s analysis.
That’s MR. Beltre to you.
Not even those running 0-2 fastballs on the inside corner for called third strikes?
Nady almost missed that routine fly ball.
So, Putz in the ninth, or send Felix out to complete the game?
Come on, Lauren. This wasn’t Good Felix, but they’re still winning.
At least until Putz melts down.
The problem with a game like tonight is that it can spoil a pitcher. The last thing we need is Felix thinking he can get by with poor stuff with the Red Sox coming to town.
Wait, what am I saying? I’m a Sox fan. Keep it up!
From now on, Felix should always pitch on the Solstice.
Hey Dave, which were there more of tonight, Pirates baserunners, or Felix offspeed stuff?
I’ll take Pirates baserunners for $100, Alex.
Let me ask a stupid question…is Felix not varying his location (as in vertical position), as well as his selection? And the lack of command leads him to leaving it in the center of the plate?
Felix doesn’t have good enough command to vary his location intentionally.
Let’s do this JJ.
Putz woooooooooooo!
So if Doumit is Bloomquist’s cousin, can a trade to the Mariners be far away?
Felix apparently has more control than JJ so far…
This might turn into one of JJ’s Jose Mesa saves.
Ah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Just needed to get a little more warmed up =)
/game
Say what you want about Mesa, he made the game fun. It was almost worth the high blood pressure.
4-6-3 ending. Sweet!
M’s win!
Yes!
I had a good time tonight. Thanks.
“I have to throw my fastball, I’m a power pitcher,” Hernandez said. “If not the fastball, what? I have to establish that pitch. Sometimes they hit it. Today, they hit it three times, and that beat me.”
a href=”http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/6074718p-5327411c.html”>Link.
Yeah. It’s not Chaves. And with that mindset, we all might be waiting for the king to show up for quite a while…
Wheeeeee. Two in a row. Not as satisfying as say…. two against the yanks or angels, but they’re still dubyas.
dw: Putz doesn’t melt down. duh!
Putz Woooooooo! I don’t think teams are really scouting him this year though. All fastballs unless it’s do or die. But it always seems to work.
HAPPY HAPPY Felix Day
I wonder how many consecutive saves that makes it for Putty, including last year.
First back-to-back shutouts since June 2004? Man, I was at those Expos games.
Putz Woooooooo! I don’t think teams are really scouting him this year though. All fastballs unless it’s do or die. But it always seems to work.
Does anybody scout Mariano Rivera? He basically throws ths same pitch over and over too.
Well that’s true. But Rivera has one of the most unique pitches in baseball history.
Hmm, guess that’s only 22 consecutive saves including last year.
These are two nice games to take into the feelgood Junior hoopla. I’m really looking forward to seeing Junior play baseball tomorrow, in person.
KKKKKKKKKING FELIX!
Well there they go getting my hopes and dreams all up again. I’m starting to get the feeling that there is either a very long string of losses or an extremely awful trade on the horizon.
Ah, the Griffey strut. Good times. Hopefully we won’t see many in the next three games
Just what you wanted to hear Dave
On the post-game show they are all (including Felix) talking about how important it is to establish the fast ball early.
Well, wins aren’t too bad I suppose . . . if no one gets injured.
Now if we could only face the Pirates for the rest of the season!
ah, now those are my Pirates.
sigh.
Jeff Manto in the house, though
I didn’t see tonight’s game;with the description that the Pirates were not working the count;it reminds me of Manny Sanguillen,the long retired former Pirate catcher.If the pitch could theoreticaly be hit,he was highly likely to swing.
feh. it didn’t have to be anywhere near hittable for Manny to swing
I ended up (by accident) hearing part of the KJR postgame last night as Jeff Nelson was proudly proclaiming having brow-beaten the scorer into changing an error into a hit.
much to the amusement of my Phillie-bred friends, the Adirondacks were played by the Cascades in the film.
#266 It is a sad state of affairs that KJR is the only local sports talk station in a great area like Seattle metro.
267. What city needs more than one?
much to the amusement of my Phillie-bred friends, the Adirondacks were played by the Cascades in the film.
Which is why they looked like actual mountains, rather than what passes by that name out east.
#267: Yet, sad as it might sound, KJR’s post-game “show” is still light years ahead of the sludge that oozes out of KOMO following the games.
With the exception of Shannon Dreyer, of course.
I love JJ Putz…
But…
FIP – 2.98
xFIP – 2.88
LOB% – 101.1%(!)
Putz’s average LOB% is about 78% so are we looking at a ticking time bomb? I don’t suppose he’ll get wonked too badly when he regresses (if he regresses), but a 1.11 ERA he simply cannot maintain forever.
I’m just hoping he doesn’t do it when / if we get back into serious contention.
Just listened to Curto’s Doyle interview. He opted for treatment rather than surgery and is going to just try playing through it. (he had a cortizone injection) He said he expects to be back in the lineup in a few days. I especially found it interesting that he found out about the Nats trade from JJ Putz.
If you listen to the recording, the interview begins at about the 14 minute mark.
Yeah, you have to expect Putz to regress to his usual 78% eventually, but it could be next season. We’re talking about a very small sample here, and sometimes guys have one otherwordly season (just ask Gagne).
More likely, of course, is that he’ll get lit up in one game. And that’s all it’s going to take to bring him back to his average. He’s pitched 32 innnings and given up 4 ER. If he gave up a grand slam in his next one-inning outing, that would bring his ERA all the way up to 2.25, which is almost what it was for all of 2006 (2.30). And all it could take is one bad pitch — in a perfect storm inning, with a bad throw by Yuni to blow a dp and an outfield fly Raul can’t reach, he could have the bases loaded having done nothing wrong; and then he happens to serve up a meatball (or has the misfortune of facing someone like Vlad with nowhere to put him)…
So yeah, he could regress to his mean, but that could very well just end up as one blown save for him and one loss in the team’s record. Which hurts, but isn’t exactly a “time bomb.”