Game 75, Red Sox at Mariners
Matsuzaka vs Feierabend, 1:35 pm.
Coming off the worst start of his life, Feierabend looks to rebound by trying to get out Ortiz, Ramirez, and company. Ouch. I’m rooting for him, because the last thing I want to see is Horacio Ramirez taking the hill again anytime soon, but you take a kid who pitches up in the zone and put him against a line-up of guys who drive the ball, and the Red Sox could put up some crooked numbers in bunches today.
Turbo is still hitting third, which is great, because it allows him to set his sights on Jim Rice’s GIDP record again. With 13 double plays in 299 PA, he’s fallen off the pace quite a bit, so it’s nice of Hargrove to give him as many chances to bat with a runner on 1st and less than 2 out as possible.
Also, Broussard in left, Guillen in right, Jones in Tacoma.
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First in GIDP
Second in ABs
Ninth in total bases
Third in the lineup
Well, at least we’re beginning with the Royals leading, again.
What’s Ho been up to lately, anyway? Still languishing on the DL with a phantom injury?
3 – I honestly don’t think Horam’s injury is a phantom injury, especially given his track record and the way he exited the game in Tampa. I still don’t want him back though.
1 –
priceless – Making fans pull out their hair.
“…Jones in Tacoma.”
So funny and so sad at the same time.
Broussard in Left…hurts… but not as much as when Hargrove put Lopez at 3rd and Vidro at 2nd for 2 games in Houston.
This is going to be a long game I suspect…
It’s the one advantage to being sick; I’m home to watch it.
Was Guillen wearing high socks? For a second there I thought it was Ellison.
Maybe it was Ryan’s intention to give up a hit so he could show off his feared pick-off move to 1st.
lucky throw burke
Nice tag by Lopez there to make the out.
Have no fear, Burke is here!
Clearly out too.
10 – That will make a really long game…
My dad once told me a stat, I think it was 7 or 8 years ago that someone checked the stat after the pitcher threw to first base twice in a row that when he came to the plate it was a ball 85 percent of the time. Does anyone know if that’s true?
According to JOES TRACER… he just got a strikeout without throwing the ball in the strike zone.
I consider Feierabend getting out of the inning under 20 pitches a small victory.
PSST! Felix, see all those off speed pitches?? 0 runs in the first inning, try it some day soon!
16 – So do I.
JOES TRACER says none were strikes!!!!
One of these days Ichiro is going to solve Dice-K.
Gameday showed the three strikes in the zone or on the black. Not sure who to trust but I’m leaning away from the one sponsored by a second rate sporting goods store.
nope. JOES TRACER is perfect.
Dice-K looks GOOD early.
Vidro, prove your worth…don’t suck
Technically, Vidro sucking proves EXACTLY what he’s worth… just not what we’re paying
.
At least Jim Rice hit for power. How many GIDP machines have as little power as Vidro?
DIce K notices the big zone and uses every inch of it, thats good pitching.
Who declared today “old timer’s day”?
dave said yesterday that joe’s fsn thing and the mlb.com tracker are based on the same info from pitch f/x
Hopefully the M’s can be patient at the plate again today because DiceK’s been walking them by the bunches the past 3 or 4 games.
22- You’re right. If they had a Joe’s in Alaska I would go down to one and contritely buy some junk.
Did Rizzs just say kinky?
30 – Sarcasm? cause DiceK’s been striking out quite a bit while not giving up many runs at all the last couple of games.
Vidro has a negative WPA this year.
I thought that Grover having Vidro sac bunt a couple of times recently was the little voice in the back of Grover’s head starting to tell him that Vidro just isn’t a very good hitter.
Perhaps in another month or so, he’ll drop him in the order, and maybe by September he’ll replace him in the lineup.
Joes tracer is garbage… that mlb stuff can’t be right!
That’s three high fly balls hit relatively well this inning…
On the radio, Rizzs and Sims are bragging about somebody’s kid’s SAT: 1400. Assuming that’s the “new SAT”… uh, where’s Lauren?
Feierabend, wooo
I refuse to attend another game until Adam Jones is out of Tacoma and up in the bigs where he belongs.
I wish that they hadn’t said “Great stick” in that commercial. There were so many other nouns they could have used.
Heh. Hopefully that’s on the old-skool system. But I’m not getting into the SAT mess again… my lips are sealed.
I’m only watching on Gamecast, but I like Feierabend’s results so far!
Well hello Brian Knight what a big strike zone you have there.
What is the point of the Joe’s graphic where it shows where the pitches were, if the box that is supposed to be the strike zone isn’t? That last pitch inside pitch by Feierabend to strike out Varitek was clearly outside the strike zone on Joe’s tracer.
I’ve decided I’ve slid into complete GEEK-dom. I’m sitting at the airport waiting for my flight accessing teh internet through my Blackberry watching the Mariner game on my Sony Location Free TV while “working” by replying to the occasional e-mail.
smb: So far, I’ve stood by my vow to not attend a single game this season.
Of course, I should probably at least write a letter to the M’s explaining that I’m in fact doing this.
joser – They were talking about Mike Lowell… and I think he is old enough that the scale was 1600 at the time.
Re the tracer, does anyone know if they adjust the box proportionate to the dimensions of the batter (say, Sexson vs. Ichiro)? Somehow I doubt it.
42 – JOES TRACER has many amazing features. Just some of them being to show us where the pitches are. It has been actively working to solve world hunger for six months now. It sends evil vibes to Yankees and all of their followers. And it sends parenting tips to those in need.
Why aren’t you attending games this season Lauren?
Dice-K is dealing… hes sharp today. Is better during the day or something?
With Sexson, it has always seemed to me that they usually call low strikes. Sort of like it isn’t where his knees are, it is where the knees of most of the previous hitters are.
I suppose the Ump gets into a rhythm and doesn’t much look at the hitter.
zva: Severe disapproval of offseason moves was my original reason, but it’s really sort of silly. I would be doing it based on accepting the USSM folks’ analysis, and none of THEM are boycotting the stadium.
Still, I figure that supporting bad moves with my money isn’t a good way to institute change.
trivia has to be a coach
Reason to love Dave #143: He says things like BELTED, really excitedly and I look up at the TV dejectedly… then I get excited because it was a routine out!
some guy said in a previous thread that the tracer was adjusted vertically for each batter
DAVE!!! apparently ichiro can get to everything
Oh geez Neihaus. “Ichiro is not going to get to that one,” as he’s slowing down because he has a bead.
niehaus:
Ichiro’s not going to get that one!
…
Oh yes he is, quite easily I might say.
Ortiz JUST missed a 3 run shot there. Just missed the pole.
They’ve been hitting the ball hard…
And now the M’s just missed a K… All sorts of stuff here.
not sure how accurate Yahoo boxscores are but this is scary.
- D. Ortiz flied out to deep center
- M. Ramirez flied out to deep center
- K. Youkilis flied out to deep right
- M. Lowell doubled to deep left
- J. Lugo flied out to deep left
- C. Crisp flied out to deep center
Thank God for Safeco!!
On ESPN Gamecast, only Lowell’s hit is listed as “deep.”
So anybody going to check out Billy Ocean at the Emerald Queen? Anybody?
Oh, so it was Lowell as a follow on from the previous discussion. I try not to pay too close association to Rizzs, just for sanity’s sake. (FYI Lauren, I did better than that too, with no prep and hung over
)
You know, the list of pitchers that Ichiro has faced at least as many times as Matsuzaka without getting a hit is a weird one: Daisuke Matsuzaka (6 ABs), Brian Bannister (7), Octavio Dotel (7), Travis Harper (7), Jay Powell (8). Guys he’s had 5 ABs against with no hits: Aaron Fultz, Dan Plesac, Tim Corcoran, Lou Pote, Brandon League.
I’m sure it means nothing beyond small sample theater. Just an odd bunch of names.
Well, yahoo boxscores don’t solve world hunger like JOES TRACER does… so it’s just one step below that .
Darn you Safeco!
Ok, rules question.
Beltre just checked his swing on an 1-2 pitch in the dirt. The ball was lying on the ground, and as Beltre was flipping the ball to the catcher, he appealed. If the 1st base umpire had said it was a swing, would he still be able to run to first even though he had touched the ball?
There should be rules on the use of adjectives while describing a baseball game. Like, “deep” can only be used if the ball reaches the warning track.
Gotta love Burke.
And Crisp in CF
Beltre deserves to be called out every time he appeals his own check swings, that or fined in kanagaroo court. Do the M’s even have Kanagaroo Court?
You know as much as like having a back-up catcher that can hit Burke might make some good trade bait at the deadline.
Woo-hoo!
Ok the Sox are tearing the cover off the ball but we take the lead on a bloop? Gotta love baseball.
Who didn’t think Burke was going to get a hit there? He is Willie in catchers gear but better.
20 – how about today?
And just like that, Dice-K drops off that list.
Yes! I didn’t know Burke could run… that must have been quite a single.
Oh my Ichiro
Hits sinking like a swallow
Please dear God resign.
Burke is such a great find. What a year he is having.
72 – the catcher appealed in this case, not Beltre.
79 Actually, just a little blooper.
77 Today’s as good as any. Better than most, in fact.
How common is it for a team to DH their everyday catcher on these day games following night games? It seems criminal for the M’s to leave Johjima out of the lineup.
#83 my bad, just saw #68’s comment and assumed Beltre was up to his old tricks.
In that scenario, if Beltre was smart, he’d hang on to the ball and run to first. He’d be out, of course, but if would be very funny.
10 hits and 0 runs so far for the Angels.
61. They were mostly l hit to the warning track.
How common is it for a team to DH their everyday catcher on these day games following night games? It seems criminal for the M’s to leave Johjima out of the lineup.
The Twins were doing it with Mauer for at least part of last year. I don’t think the Yanks do it with Posada, though of course he does pinch hit late in the game sometimes.
Yeah. I like Ichi in CF.
That was hit to the warning track too.
Not if it turns out Beltre is a magician on the off days and he makes the ball disappear! Home run from a strikeout!
87 – probably would be tossed too though.
The reason I asked was that the catcher juggled it because he tried to catch as he was appealing.
Ick: Angels have two on with no one out in the top of the 7th.
Bottom of the 7th*
90 I was thinking the same thing. Doesn’t Kenji have some decent stats against his countrymate?
Oh jeez, Rizzs and his F’n sandlot…
Any chance Feierabend can become a groundball pitcher over the next 3 or so innings?
Outfield is getting quite the workout today
Geez, Ichiro just fell down catching a fly ball. Got the job done though.
101 – Sun must be brutal today.
Pretty weird when it’s the infield standing around picking grass. It certainly doesn’t bode well for the M’s though.
Why not just move one of the infielders out there and play 4 outfielders like a slow pitch softball game at this point, has there been any GB outs?
5 fly balls to ichiro so far, 3 to Broussard and 1 to Lopez. I think.
104 – when my softball team was playing a powerful one, I suggested moving the shortstop and second baseman also to the outfield and have the pitcher cover second.
KC just got out of it.
Royals got out of it! End of the 7th.
Royals get out of the inning, still leading 1-0 heading to the 8th.
Wow KC pulled that one out! Angels still down 1
Ha beat you guys
102 – sun, brutal, Seattle. 3 words that rarely go together well (here in Arizona, however…)
112 – lol! Don’t I know it! I was born and raised in the Seattle area, and still remember the days of ‘liquid sunshine’
Umich. I have a friend and Umich, are you an alumni, student or teacher?
how bout that out distribution. you guys were right.
114-Grad student
Damn. Hate to jinx anything, but Happy Hour’s really doing well on paper.
that should have been i haev a friend at umich..
There has yet to be an infield out… that strikes me as very odd. Not complaining with a 1-zip lead though =) Except for Cocoa Crisp getting thrown out stealing, of course.
Dave Sims gets a little too excited too easy.
The sun is always brutal in Seattle, when you see it. Since that only happens about once every 90 days, and you can’t find your sunglasses, it takes some time to get used it. At which point it’s gone again, and you have to get your gloomvision back. This is why Seattle leads the country in sales of sunglasses, and why you can get sunburned several different times in the same summer. And why we have “sunshine slowdowns” on the bridges during rush hour. Which reminds me, it’s mid-afternoon in late June, I need to turn on the lights and take my vitamin D…
Why not just move one of the infielders out there and play 4 outfielders like a slow pitch softball game at this point, has there been any GB outs?
And AFAIK, neither Lopez nor Betancourt have an error on a pop-up so far this season.
Is there such a thing as a good flyball pitcher?
Wonder what the record is for fewest infield outs in a game?
yes.
Oh jesus. I kinda hate myself now.
Lauren, are you on a completely separate thread from the rest of us?
Why walk Pedroia?
To get big papi to ground out to second.
The Rubarb is aging and getting red?! WTF Niehaus?
Eh? I am blaming myself for potentially jinxing the situation.
Wow! Got Big Papi!
There’s your ground ball.
What a time for a ground ball out. Otto called it.
PHEW.
son of a gun, my mlb.tv just went out on me!
that was pretty cool.
Otto (128), nice call.
AHHHH I GET A FREE BEER!
Whew! Now let’s bring in Putz, and…oh man, it’s only the 5th.
Good time for that lone infield out.
nice! thanks for keeping me updated!
not bad otto, not as good as the Bloomquist HR call last night but still good.
And the score stands:
Ichiro 5
Broussard 3
Guillen 2
and bringing up the rear…
Lopez 1
Now I’m even more sure clutch isn’t a skill.
I’ll take it where I can get it Diz.
Hardly anyone here today. But from the roar of the crowd, it sounds as though the blog’s posters are at the game.
Wish I was.
Really, really do.
So I could throw rhubarb at ump. (Yeah, Mike G. WTF? Is that the cousin of ‘can of corn’?)
Listening online, so can’t really hear Niehaus correctly. Did he really say that about rhubarb?
I hate cans of corn.
Why not ‘can of baked beans’ or ‘can of anchovies in spring water’?
GO ROYALS!
He sure did and it was great. He can go Harry Carry on us for all I care, minus the racism.
The angels lose!
Heck yeah. Royals sweep
Hey – Washington State is a/the top producer of Rhubarb. Best roots in the nation.
Angels get swept!
Well gotta work, I’m done cluttering up this thread.
Hmmm lets see if I can call twice Beltre with a gound rule double!
Dang. AB’s AB is AB!*
(awesomely bloated)
“He’s well-armed”??
Puns are evil.
At least Beltre is running up his pitch count
when did we start selling red sox wine and music??
in line?
And the Royals sweep the Angels in Anaheim.
Woohoo – the Royals swept!!!
Is there such a thing as a good flyball pitcher?
Relatively speaking, yes, though anybody as extreme as RF has been so far this game wouldn’t be able to stay in baseball without getting lit up eventually. If you go over to fangraphs leaderboard and sort by FB% (or GB/FB% ascending) you’ll see some big names with relatively high FB rates (high being in the 40-50% range, not the 90% we’ve seen today).
“can of corn” is a good announcer phrase because of its alliteration. The same effect could be achieved by “bag of barf”, but for some reason this line never caught on.
Ok, Green. I feel good about this.
rally fries? with the saux batting?
Wow. Coming into these three days, M’s vs. Red Sox, Angels vs. Royals, it looked like it would be the final nail in the coffin of the M’s division hopes. But the Angels get swept by the Royals, and the M’s win (sweep?) their series with the Red Sox, and suddenly hope springs forth again.
Thanks Joser, but for some reason, without looking at the stats of course, I still feel like it’s an oxymoron. Kind of like saying is there such a thing as a good GIDP hitter.
Beltre forgot that Firebrand is out of the game and he needs to pay attention.
I’m happy to see the Angels go down, of course, but I want to see Cleveland and Detroit lose too. The wildcard right now is twice as close as the division, and it’s always nice to have a backup plan.
10 hits, a walk, and an error in their favor and the Angels still get blanked. They must be livid.
169, there are WAY too many innings left to start predicting an M’s sweep. Don’t count your chickens, etc.
172 – true, but sux having to root for the A’s though
174
Uh, I didn’t predict it. That’s what the parenthesis and question mark were there for. Just noting that a sweep is possible, not predicting it.
I can only hope that Feierabend has to be wondering how he got out of those 5 innings without giving up a run?
Ichiro – 5
Broussard – 3
Lopez – 3
Guillen – 2
Beltre – 1
Lopez pulls into second and Beltre gets on the board!
Those two Mariner hits on the box score look lonely. They need some friends.
178 – shouldn’t Feierabend be on the board for his K’s?
Feirabend is the reason why we’re keeping this silly tally, so I say no.
180 – Maybe… but I couldn’t figure out who to credit the throwout too… so I was just doing batted balls.
Can Burke get one for the caught stealing? Even though Lopez made the tag.
I would prefer not to see Morrow today if the score remains 1-0
If we score this inning rally fries will never go away
Burke should get 1/2 a pt and Lopez should get 1/2 pt
JOES TRACER said it was WAY outside!
damn that was way off the plate. sheesh
gameday showed that at least 3 inches off the plate.
Can you rally if we’re winning?
185 – is the converse true?
we can only hope, but I doubt it.
174 – Got it. Misunderstood.
Let’s hope you’re non-prediction is correct though
“Those two Mariner hits on the box score look lonely. They need some friends.”
We should send ‘the Inspector’ into the M’s dugout to have a look at the bats…
Yay defense. Sigh.
Sean Green thought the hits looked lonely so he did all he could.
uggh! That’s why you push the ball down in the grass as you pick it up.
Crapola.
I think Ichiro just won another gold glove.
It’s like I’m god, since Gameday tells me Crisp already scored the run.
Ahh Sean Green. Um, why is he in this game?
Seems like a good time to leave and go coach my little league team. Go M’s!!!
This is not good…ugh.
Sherrill’s turn now….
Green is so thorougly unreliable and such a prime example of why ERA doesn’t mean squat, that its not even remotely funny
Brutal…sigh
Why did we “save” Sherrill until Green effed it all up (as if ANYONE didn’t think he would)
What’s up with the cameraman today… that’s the second time in a couple innings that he’s zoomed in on the wrong outfielder only to hastily move the camera later.
Pappi-killer
Atta boy George!
oh God no…
205 – Grover didn’t think that Fireman deserved the win… so he thought he’d give it to someone else.
As the second bad camera aim of the inning occurs, I am reminded that I am surprised it doesn’t happen more often. Thoose guys rarely miss.
They probably have some technology better than what I have in my zoom binoculars.
210
LOL…probably a more sensible explanation than Grover really had
Why has Hargrove demoted Sherill back to lefty-specialist? He’s not exactly a slouch against righties this year. And Morrow, ugh. Get healthy soon, Mark Lowe!
was that his curveball? pretty sweet…
211 – I realize you’re correct and I retract my complaint/question.
Did anyone else briefly think Ichiro was going to try to catch that behind his back?
awesome, though that catch was a little scary.
Brandon Morrow, Brandon Morrow, we love ya, Brandon Morrow, you’re only a 4 ERA….
Not to be rude, but Morrow’s photo make him resemble an alien.
There really should be a reverse beauty contest for mlb pictures. There’s some totally freaky ones.
Gotta say I would have left George in, but nice job by Morrow.
I think Ichiro needs to take some lessons from Andruw Jones on style points.
just logged in. have we had the mike blowers rally fries inning yet?
220
I’m more irritated about leaving Green in too long and not bringing gorgeous George in sooner, than taking him out to face Manny and his .1200+ OPS vs lefties.
222- yeah, but we got nuttin out of it
Ugh. Well it looks like we’re going to retain our GIDP title for at least another game.
Vidro + Richie = Certain GIDP on ground balls.
man, I’m tired of hearing all those “yooooo” chants from our crowd.
Hopefully the Sawks fans will be thinking “you kill us” after Morrow gets him out.
Tony: I think you’ve hit on Grover’s anthem:
The Sun’ll come out on Morrow.
But tomorrow’s column that on morrow, there’ll be sun.
Just thinking about that morrow,
clears away the minors for the majors,
’til there’s sun.
When I’m stuck with a play, that day, that’s sorry. I just stick up my chn and grin and say:
The sun’ll come out on Morrow. Bet tomorrow’s column that on morrow, there’ll be sun…
My Musical Theatre geekdom could be used to inform you gusy now that Annie won best music in 1977, was written by Charles Strouse and I just butchered the lyrics of Martin Charnin (who lives here in Seattle). But I doubt you care, so I won’t post it.
Last minute edit… When I’m stuck with a play today that’s scary, I’ll just stick up my chin…
lol, that’s great zvaz! so glad I found others to watch the game with. It’s lonely being an M’s fan out here in DC
Morrow walks too many guys.
Stay tuned for more of my brilliant insights.
227-we used to chant EdddGarrrr in any stadium M’s fans were in so don’t begrudge the Sox fans their chant especially when many of them can’t even get tickets to the games in Fenway-that’s why they are here
Youkalis walks A LOT…Morrow walks hitter A LOT….hmmm
I guess some things Grover just doesn’t see coming.
233 – ok, I’ll grant you that. I’ve chanted EddddGarrrr in many ballparks not in Seattle
Massachusetts folks moved here for tech jobs. We have scads more available than Boston does these days. Yes, there are vacationers, too.
I recall the year when the Sonics played in the Tacoma Dome. When they played the Jailblazers, Portland fans took over the place.
Maybe that camera guy is just trying to make things a little more dramatic this afternoon. Someone should digitally add a cape to Ichiro’s back and replay all those clips.
doesn’t this mean ortiz now bats in the 9th
I thought they were the Trial-blazers.
238
Maybe we can bring back Dennis Powell to get him
238: Hargrove won’t think that far ahead
What is Putz’ status for today?
No offense to any fellow M’s fans, but if we can’t get Lugo out, (.186 vs righties and .131 on the road) as FULL TIME player, then we don’t deserve this one.
Morrow is absolutely infuriating sometimes!
Grover has an exaggerated idea of the value of being able to get an out at a base other than first. That intentional walk helps the Red Sox (very slightly) statistically, and considering Morrow’s control it’s probably worse.
Ol’ Dave’s confusing me: They intentionally walked Drew even though he’s 0-30, because he’s sure to come out of that at some point? The good old Dusty Baker managing method, “He’s due.” I adored that. He’s send up a stone-cold hitter who’d been benched because he was more assured to get a hit than someone who’s 4-4.
Woo that was some pretty sweet bonus coverage on ESPN. Take that Lugo!
WOOT!!!! ‘the sun will come out to Morrow!”
Straight heat – guys like Lugo can’t touch it.
Hold that thought, Morrow.
As they just reminded us, day off tomorrow, so JJ will certainly show up.
thanks for the heads up, 247. Off with crappy Audio, on with ESPN!
… to pitch the ninth, I mean.
Yes, ditto – I like hearing what the other team’s broadcasters say for a change.
ugh, have to listen to the BoSox announcers though!
You had to know Guillen was going to get a hit the AB after he hit that long foul.
254. Hopefully they’ve exhausted all their stupid comments about players on other team earlier in the game.
I was wrong: “Two outs after that single by Ellison.”
Betancourt has this pop out thing down.
He was out.
I am surprised not to see Jo PH for Burke.
Ok maybe he wasn’t.
safe!
Great call.
too bad it didn’t matter.
Wow, those pitch counts for Green and Morrow. Get some ice packs for their arms!
Nice job of bouncing back by Feierabend.
They’re taking the tarp off and I’ll lose the ESPN coverage! Dammit, keep raining!
And dammit, Burke, I was really expecting a hit so Ichiro could come up and knock that run in.
238. That is a very good point. Not a good move.
Why wouldn’t Hargrove pinch hit Johjima in that situation? That was a lot to ask of Burke. I know he had the earlier hit, but still.
No Hargrove, don’t use JJ until it’s a save situation!
Putz in in a tie game!!
where was that first pitch?
Hargrove has managed this game like a mildly retarded 6 year old
269. Ichiro will come up in the 9th and do one of those ‘he oculd hit a home run every time if he wanted to’ walk-offs.
Hargrove has finally figured out that there are no save situations in tie games at home.
Damnit. There’s a tie game in the 9th inning but ESPN thinks it’s a better idea to show a scoreless game in the 3rd inning.
what’s the out score now zvazda?
269
I assume you’re kidding, but if you’re not, or if other people don’t get it….if it’s tied at the end of the 8th, the home team can no longer get a save.
275: Well, it is the Yankees, after all!
Sit down, little papi.
277: I am indeed
Today would be a good time for our first walk-off win of the year; at this point last year, we had three.
JJ, you’re the man!
I heart J.J.
278 – And Clemens.
“Oh my goodness gracious! Of all the dramatic things I’ve ever seen!”
Hideki Okajima replaces Daisuke Matsuzawa to pitch to Ichiro Suzuki.
I would hand the ball back to Dice-K here… any new pitcher has a greater chance of disaster than a good-pitching starter does, even if they’re tiring.
Anyone know what Matsuzaka’s pitch count was at? He still looked pretty dang good at the end there and I know he has the ability to throw 120-125 pitches not that I’m complaining though
285: I’d take a fresh armed relief ace over a tiring starter.
286.
Pitches-strikes – D Matsuzaka 113-77
Intimidation single. You see this all the time with Ichiro.
276 – dunno. My pizza finished cooking.
need a willie bag here, dont give up an out
how much did that lower our chances of winning?
Of all the times to have Turbo hitting third…
ESPN is showing the M’s game again right now.
back to bonus coverage on ESPN
If Vidro hits a walk-off here I’ll eat my socks.
Classic Neihaus-ism “He’d a been out by 89 feet!”
jeez, how does Ich not score on that?
Hey, Garcia actually didn’t send somebody to be out by 30 feet.
how about a suicide here
Even in that situation, which seems like as good a place for a sac bunt as you could ask for, it reduces your chance of winning the game. As much as I hate the sac bunt, I wouldn’t have guessed that.
How about another one those irrelevant rbi’s Sexson?
thanks for the head’s up again. Last I checked, it was the Yankees again!
Yup, time to PH Willie B for big Richie
298: Drew has an awesome arm and got to the ball really quickly. He would have been out.
Please God, do not let Sexson hit a ground ball. Yours truly, Nick in Portland, OR.
Please don’t hit a ground ball. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeez.
That was stupid, Richie.
I was just about ready to type that they should PR for Vidro to keep out of the DP, and he pops up.
When Sims pronounces “Papelbon” it sounds like he’s saying “Taco Bell”
Aaaaaaaaaaargh.
Sexson really blew it there.
306: We need to aim higher!
Jason Davis in…
Nice game guys, thanks for coming. Drive home safely
299 – yeah you were right. saw the replay and he would have been meat. getting tired of losing my internet connection!
man, that arm Beltre had is just scary
Amazing infield defense that inning!
J-Pez, you da man!
312
I knew I should’ve believed in miracles, lol
312, that’s what I was thinking, but miracles do happen: QED.
Wow – two games in a row where Lopez has made nice defensive plays in late innings.
314- “has”
Man why is everyone so down on Davis? The only *really* bad game he had was against Cincy and they were just on that night.
321 – Because he has horrible control and lacks any sort of plus pitch. You don’t get guys out when you are constantly behind 2-0 and 3-1.
wow, A’s on top of Cleveland 9 – 1 in the bottom of the 2nd
Why is Ellison on the roster again?
Did this turn into an NL game? Wasn’t that a pitcher making our first out?
321
Ask Cleveland…they didn’t even want him on their roster anymore
*prays for Timlin in the 11th*
who is left in the M’s bullpen?
328 – O’Flaherty
327. Oh, better. JO-el!
and Smith
Can Weaver or Batista throw an inning or two instead of their side session or whatever?
I thought Pineiro was hurt?
maybe Ichiro can get an inning or two
If Olerud is there again he can pitch, he was awesome at WSU
It’s Jo-El!
god i hope they shell him…
Boom Boom is available on the bench.
it’s Joel. take a damn pitch.
There’s a report that Buehrle is being signed to a multi-year deal by the White Sox.
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
that sucks…but JOSE doesn’t!!!!!!!!!
Go home M’s fans! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
thank you Manny!
Lopez!!!
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
NO WAY JOSE!!!!
I like reading this here:
In play, run(s)
If he sacrifices with one out, I’ll kill him.
booya!
I *heart* Joel.
YEAH!!!
Go home in tears, Red Sox fans. SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
Royals sweep the Angels. Mariners sweep the Red Sox. Oakland is killing the Indians. Life is good.
I’m enjoying the irony that the game was won off Joel Piniero…
If there hadn’t been an out, Lopez would never have been allowed to swing.
Dang. We sweep and the Royals sweep. That’s simply loony, and I love it.
and Richie escapes being the goat.
oh, seeing the Cards on ESPN, I heard Troy Percival just got called up …
All I can say is:
lol Piniero
[ei]
Came home and thought “Mariners game was at 1:00. I wonder how it went.”
“Holy crap!” turn on the teevee!!!
Jo-el! We’re gonna win!
Hooray for the Mariners!
Wow – just learned that was the first time the Sox have been swept in a 3-game series this year. Way to go M’s!!
First I offered to buy everyone a beer if Weaver pitched a CGSHO vs. Pirates. On Monday’s post I said I’d give everyone a Crying Joey Cora doll if the M’s and Royals swept their respective series. Maybe my next “offer” should involve the AL Wild Card. Crikey.
LOL 363. Keep making crazy offers, it seems to be helping!
kenshabby, bring the dolls on july 14
where’s my doll?
Instead of a bobblehead, the Crying Joey Cora doll weeps whenever the M’s lose a game. There’d be a radio receiver inside the doll that gets the final score and cries accordingly.
And nice job, Jason Davis, the one “Cleveland didn’t want on its roster anymore”.
what happened to the M’s sucking and the season being over?
does anyone else think that angie bears a striking resemblance to jimmy glick now? maybe that’s why she’s breaking out punchlines …
btw: long-time reader, first-time commenter
Before this series, I was willing to call those three games a loss and save us the grief of having to play them. I’m sure the Royals felt the same way. But that’s baseball, and the way Sexson’s been coming on, hopefully the resurrection of (good) Jeff Weaver, a return to form (or at least something resembling his first two games) for King Felix, and Ichiro’s continued dominance, I feel like the second half of the season won’t bring with it the ’sinking-ship’ feeling it did last year. We’re going to the post-season this year, mark my words!
…and it’s a damn shame we have to wait til Friday to add another one to the W column.
369-
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves…the M’s are still 5 out of the divison, despite sweeping Boston.
I’m willing to bump my predicted M’s win total from 85 to 86, but no more.
368
Davis did well tonight. But look at any year in his career. He’s not that good.
Glad Manny was just being Manny on that hit. Not that Broussard or Ibanez would have had it either, but a decent LF catches that thing.
WHOOP WHOOP M’s!
#373 According to SG’s Pythagorean winning percentage table at his Replacement Level Yankee Weblog, that’s exactly what the Mariners Pyth. win total should be at the end of the season, based on today’s W-L record and RS-RA.
(disclaimer: as SG says, it’s just a toy…but it sure is fun, so long as the M’s are over .500)
OK
After this game broke down and bought tickets to the 28′th vs A’s. Might matter. REALLY good tickets still available all.
372, have you looked at the wildcard standings?
The Angels start a long road trip this weekend ending with a trip to the Bronx. The M’s play one more series at home vs a beatable Toronto team and then start a mini road trip starting in KC and I believe ending in Detroit. Detroit gives them a shot at gaining some ground in the wildcard race. If they stay hot they can catch up to Angels here real soon IMO.
As we all bathe in the warm glow of the resurgent Mariners’ sweep of the Sox, this season is beginning to have a special feel to it–notwithstanding the recent demoralizing trips to Chicago and Houston. I just hope that the M’s front office, sensing that they may be recapturing the hearts and minds of Seattle sports fans, will aggressively go after some front line starting pitching to give this team a real chance to get into the post-season (and to prosper in October). If we could just acquire one, maybe two, starters to bolster our rotation, maybe this season will take us to the heights that we hoped we could get to in 1995, 2000, and 2001. As George Allen used to say, “The future is now.” Let’s put it into overdrive to try to win a championship this year.
“If they stay hot”
Three guesses at the key word in that clause…
What’s their record in one-run games again?
This really does still feel like a .500 team, only a .500 team that’s been really lucky.
What’s their record in one-run games again?
13-9, I think it is….
A little better than average, but not astoundingly so….
396-
They stopped starting Bloomquist?
oops, 369
” Let’s put it into overdrive to try to win a championship this year.”
i love your optimism, but i don’t see us making any good trade deadline moves (trader bavasi? yikes.), we still have corner infielders with maddening plate discipline, and our ace hasn’t pitched like one in a long while.
and yet, i’m cautiously hopeful about the playoffs.
i can’t believe i’m writing that, but there’s hope. Go M’s.
Jim — don’t forget 1997!
374. Doesn’t matter. He did what was necessary today, and he deserves the credit. Go Mariners, including Jason Davis.
385: I’m with you on the cautious optimism. Despite the obvious flaws (i.e. too much free-swinging, starters not going deep enough, etc.), this season is starting to have an interesting feel to it — and thinking historically, there are plenty of examples of somewhat-flawed teams that seemed to somehow have destiny on their side (’87 Twins & ‘06 Cards are two that come to mind).
A trade for/re-sign of Dontrelle Willis might be a big shot in the arm, though.
Willis is not the pitcher you think he is.
387: No one says he doesn’t deserve credit for last night. It just doesn’t change — very much — who he is and what we can expect from him.
It seems like every time people are realistic about expectations here, someone scoffs at them, and then, when (as often happens) a bad player has a good game, the scoffer crows triumphantly over those silly realistic people — as though the people being realistic want the team to do badly, as though the scoffer really told them by saying we should all still cheer, you know. Yet somehow the scoffer never comes back to eat a little of their own crow the next time the bad player comes back to earth.
Enough with the Dickensian satire. Just who is “the scoffer” to whom you refer? Anyone in particular, or merely a man of straw?
Dickensian? satire?
If you look again, you’ll see that I’m responding to a specific comment, the last of a few comments by the same person. Not to be coy about it: It is BKM to whom I was replying, though he (or she) is hardly alone in the behavior I described.
387
Thanks.
That’s all I was saying. I’m GLAD, heck THRILLED BEYOND BELIEF that Davis didn’t eff it up. But like I wrote in plain english, Jason Davis’ history has shown he’s not been very good.
If Joel had pitched two scoreless innings, would we have said he’s a good pitcher, in spite of the last few years?
#388–You are right, flawed teams, including the 1988 Dodgers and those that you list, have won it all, if they catch fire at the right time. Why can’t that happen here, right now? If we can just improve our starting pitching, we do have the offense and the bullpen to be a serious player in the championship chase.
395: Jim – ya know, I almost mentioned the ‘88 Dodgers, ’cause they came to mind as well. I remember Hershiser having a fantastic year and being unstoppable in the post-season, but that team had some definite quirks — and it looked as if Oakland (on paper, at least) should have been able to crush them in about four or five games. I can still picture Gibby’s HR — and somehow you just had a feeling that it was all over for the A’s right then and there!