Game 96, Mariners at Rangers
Dave · July 23, 2007 at 5:15 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Ramirez vs Millwood, 5:35 pm.
The M’s kick off a four-games-in-three-day trip to Texas with Horacio Ramirez on the hill. Sounds like a game where we’ll need to score a lot of runs. Which, of course, has been something of a problem lately. After yesterdays new line-up got shut out, we get the same old Lousy Line-Up of Doom making a return.
Adam Jones went 3 for 6 with a homer today. I’m just saying.
Comments
443 Responses to “Game 96, Mariners at Rangers”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
USSM uses and recommends
In the words of the venerable Pat O’Day, “And now? GO MARINERS!!!”
Who do we got to blow around here to get Adam Jones in LF? Go M’s!
How many more times is FSN going to highlight Richie Sexson as the “featured hitter in the lineup” just because his batting average against the opposing pitcher is over .300?
Did the Mariners make the pitching move today?
Would make more sense if they did it tomorrow in case this game goes extra innings.
ESPN says that Felix “seemed to loose his cool .
Yeah. He seemed to lose it, too.
Crappy lineup? You’re soaking in it!
- paraphrase from MST3K
I’m beginning to feel that this Jones fellow should be promoted to the big leagues.
Holy crap. Was that an OPS figure on that graphic? Are Mariners broadcasts ready to exit the dark ages?!
6: Random question what episode was that line from?
Or not that line EXACTLY.
I demand a 5-for-5 day from Ichiro!
Uh, I have to confess, I kinda like the hydro commercial. “Except for Ichiro, who has skin.”
Vidro time!!
Good start.
I predict 3 hits (one XBH) from Vidro.
Not going to lie, I want a slaughter tonight. We all have some pent-up aggression from the last two outings, I think.
there goes Ichiro’s 2 game hitless streak
Where is the steal or bunt?
Some blonde chick (does Kerrie Kazarba still work for Komo? might have been her) spent a LONG time chatting with Adam Jones’ mom today at the Rainiers game (in between games, actually). I’d be looking for a very long interview to air sometime soon – the lady loves to chat.
Already better offense in two AB’s then they had the last two games. Keep it alive Ral!
Melhuse goes out to remind Millwood that he is facing the Mariner offense.
I’m liking Millwood’s balls/strikes ratio.
Okay. We can’t blow this, right? You better not even think about first pitch swinging, Guillen.
Melhuse to Millwood, “No worries dude Sexson is coming up soon.”
Wow, its like watching Batista pitch without the need to scream at my TV.
It seems like Millwood can’t find the strike zone in the 1st
Love the gratuitous cheer from the home crowd.
RUNS! OMFG! SHOT ROCK SPLITTER TO GOD!
WHOOHOO!
Yeah, it’s Millwood’s fault, but I’ll take it. Let’s hope they build on it.
Vidro is God. He gets RBI’s when he’s not even up to bat.
Yay, they touched the 5 sided plate!
ok, AB, keep it going.
We are going to need every run we can get..
this already smells like a typical ramirez road start, early runs by mariners before he ever takes the mound
Vidro scored from second?
Yesssss!
O time for some funk. Good ol’ fashioned funk.
Oh yeah. Sexson.
Go… Richie….?
Anybody think guillotine is a good nickname for Guillen? I like calling him that even if doesn’t make too much sense except it kind rhymes with his name. But go Guillotine!
what are the odds Richie actually wins the guy $ for a 1st inning grand slam?
Bless those Rangers.
Quick question, Rangers pen is better than their starters right?
Go Robert Cash!!!!!
What are the odds GIDP?
Big shock. Guy has no control, and Sexson fouls away ball 1. I’d be shocked if he gets out of this at bat with something.
#38– well, Jose might take your head off if he was perturbed enough ….
That’s the Richie we know and love.
Finally got some runs! Of course it helps when the pitcher can’t find the strike zone. I wonder sometimes why the Rangers’ always have such bad pitching, and I figure their bandbox part has to be a big part of the reason (it’s not just about their minor league system, since their free agent pitchers don’t do great either). I thought when they hired Orel Hershiser as their pitching coach they might finally turn it around, but even he couldn’t do anything with them. He’s a pretty good color guy on ESPN now.
Oh God, not Sexson. He just swung at a pitch at his feet…and another one…ARRGHHH.
Very true.
well, he stayed out of the DP ….
I think that would’ve been a good moment for Richie to be patient and um make Millwood throw strikes and um all that cliched wisdom. But for real.
Ummm Why Not Broussard against RHP?
Only Sexson could manage that during this inning.
Sexon….like always
however, Kenji ….
slumping bats > slumping pitchers
slumping pitchers > Richie Sexson
Tom Grieve’s an idiot. Be glad you don’t have to listen to him talk about how Beltre’s been a bust and Sexon’s been worth his contract.
Why Richie… WHY? It is getting old. Put Broussard in there!
Kenji>Vidro at GIDPing
and now the DP. Nuts. Oh, and I meant “bandbox PARK,” not “PART.”
the mariners being los marineros
Ugh.
Sigh. And Millwood gets a chance to calm down.
I’ll give Kenji somewhat of a pass, but come on. Take some pitches. Sexson – well, I don’t need to even say anything.
I suppose they have to factor in the double-header in the heat tomorrow into the line-ups …
Johjima not to be out done by Vidro ties him for GIDP at 15.
Well that might be a morale booster for the Rangers.
Sexson is Ben Grieve redux in his dad’s mind.
Mark Lowe was on the pre-game, throwing lots of love Brad Holman’s way
As crazy as this may sound, I might have went ahead and pinch hit Broussard for Sexson there. Yeah, you lose the guy if a lefty comes in later. But, seriously, would he do better against a lefty right now?
Joh has been pretty crappy over the last month or so, hasn’t he? He’s hitting .192 in July, in fact.
Who’s this Broussard guy everyone is talking about? Is he better than Sexson? Next you’ll tell me there’s some guy in AAA who could replace Raul in the lineup. Or even two guys in AAA.
#69– when did he hurt his hand? was he starting the slump then?
Huh, yeah. I guess that was on July 3. But I don’t recall any news tidbits about it still affecting him. Maybe it’s just that no one’s asked.
Seriously people…
Don’t tell me there was even ONE of you that didn’t see a Sexson K on a ball out of the zone and a typical Kenji DP coming there.
Now lets have a lottery for guessing how many baserunners HoRam will give up in hin 3+ innings of work today
If forced to guess which pitcher might rebound from an iffy first inning, it wouldn’t be HoRam.
I’m just saying.
Oh my god a HoRam strikeout?????
#9- Sorry, I can’t recall the particular episode off the top of my head. It was an old black and white horror movie with some underwater monster. I’m pretty sure that it is an older episode from season 4 or 5. I believe the full quote was spoken by Crow: “Crappy movie? You’re soaking in it!”
Vidro’s OPS+ is up to 99. I don’t believe he can do much better than that, but please at least platoon Sexson and Ibanez. McLaren, if you’re afraid to do what needs to be done, at least get halfway there.
But June 20 was the last time he had more than one hit in a game. Maybe the injury coincided with a slump. At any rate, it’s depressing, as he was so great in the early part of the season.
San Diego needs a bat and has pitching. The Mariners want pitching and have (a bat?) Sexson. I’ve been calling for this trade a while now. Some National League team will take a chance.
Sorry, I’m still on about Johjima.
No problem #76, I can remember the lines but sometimes never connect them with the episodes
. Awesome show regardless.
San Diego needs a bat and has a box of donuts. Mariners have a bat and Vidro wants some donuts…
What does Richie need to do short of attacking a fan for us to pull him from the line up? and HoRam survives the first unscathed…
Take the donuts as long as they are glazed, like the look in Richies eyes when at bat.
Lauren, remember what a tough job catching is. It really wears them down, especially when they’re banged up. Kenji’s a fine player, but he’s going to have times like this.
I would probably root for Cleveland to win if it meant those awful vitaminwater commercials would stop…
San Diego will offer una caja de bates for sexon
What happened to Millwood? I remember him putting up decent numbers last year… or the year before, I don’t recall.
When will Lopez learn to hit the other way with even the slightest bit of authority?
Is it me, or do others think double play when Kenji is up with runners on base. And I was at the ballpark for his grandslam againist Detroit.
That ball was scorched.
Re: 79
Right now, I don’t think you could trade Sexson for a white cane and a pair of dark glasses to be named later if Helen Keller was the opposing General Manager.
What hapened to Millwood was Texas. A pitcher can sneak in maybe one good year before his career falls apart.
For crying out loud, no one is going to trade anything of value for Sexson. No one. Stop it.
Amen #94!!!! Thank you!
And he will continue to star on first base
Who said we didn’t want a box of donuts for him? I would take a dozen Krispy Kreme for Sexson.
If Tom Grieve thinks Beltre has been a bust and Sexson has been worth his contract, he should try calling a few GMs and asking which one they’d be willing to trade for.
start….sorry
Do you think if Burke played more than 4 times a month, Kenji might perform a little better?…being banged up and all.
It just seems like one of those conventional wisdom things. Burke plays on Sundays (day game following a night game).
Why not (on a typical M’s home schedule)
Kenji – Fri night,
Burke – Saturday night
Kenji – Sunday,
Kenji – Tuesday
Burke – on a Random Week night here and there
Another MST3K paraphrase:
“I have my doubts that Sexson is starring for anyone.”
Who said we didn’t want a box of donuts for him? I would take a dozen Krispy Kreme for Sexson.
You’d be lucky to get a dozen of day old grocery store donuts with random bites out of them. And you’d still have to pick up half of the Sexson tab.
I think there were many riffs on “you’re soaking in it!” on MST3K … there was at least one “pancake batter? you’re soaking in it!”
Vidro moves above the Ichiro! line.
How could Lopez not get to 3rd? Millwood has a very slow move to first we should be taking huge leads and with 2 outs running on contact.
Can He Do It?!
Did they just say Mark Lowe was being activated tomorrow? That would be nice.
Ral, Ral, he’s our man if he can’t do it that’s ok no one expects him to anyways!! Doesn’t rhyme but who cares.
I like it #108
5 LOB and counting. I predict 11 at the end of the night.
it’s too bad Raul is so nice; he’d make a great Egghead
Raul Ibanez, making second basemen happy across the league.
FSN.
Doing Their Part To Get AJ Called Up.
Baker thinks Rowland-Smith is going to Tacoma, Fierabend (yikes is that even close) will come back for tomorrow, then he’ll go back and Mark Lowe will be here in the next few games
haha, what a pitching lineup.
Feierabend! Yikes. Why’s he needed again?
Multiple K’s for HoRam??
Is anyone surprised that Millwood is only making $7.5M this season?
The great thing about giving someone Sexson is that we don’t really NEED anything of value back.
But I guess the same people who don’t want to bring up Jones would be responsible for hanging on to Sexson.
5 games in four days means Feierabend goes tomorrow
116: its just speculation. i’m guessing they’re jockeying people around to make room for Lowe
#101- Nice! I can’t remember which episode that one is from. Space Mutiny perhaps?
P.S. All apologies if the MST3K references are detracting from the game thread.
I think #100 is right about Kenji, he’s playing too much. Ho Ram is actually pitching decently; I wonder how long that will last.
I would argue the M’s leaving men on base is far more detracting.
Nice play Ho.
HoRam with the defense! Yikes.
one thing we know, HoRam pays attention during PFP.
I still say the reason Sexson and Ibanez are still playing (and AJ is still in the minors) is that management doesn’t want to publicly admit that their contracts were mistakes.
For everyone who thinks giving Sexson away is even doable…. I’ve got a car with a blown engine, trashed tranny and smashed front end. I still owe $8000 on it but it only books for $100. I’ll give it to you if you’ll pay it off. Any takers?
OK, how ’bout if I pay $4000 of the remaining $8000. You’ll take it then wouldn’t you?
Ok, how about if I completely pay it off and all you have to do is park it in your drive way?
Still no way?
Oh no! Here comes the duck!
Interesting that management would rather lose games which means fans which means money. Meaning they lower their bottom line twice with the same mistake.
If they’re bringing Lowe back, why doesn’t Brandon Morrow get sent down?
terry – Hilarious.
Perhaps Richie should just not swing at all.
McLaren looks like hes happy to just be at a baseball game
Oh my God. He hit the ball.
seeing Felix reminds me, Shannon said that Batista spent a good 45 min. talking with Felix this afternoon …
#122– I had to google. Apparently it was The crawling hand.
It seems like Richie always has a 0-2 count on him.
Great googelie moogelie. What is wrong with this guy. I’m sure Sexson is a cool guy and I’d like to have a beer with him sometime but he needs his arse kicked. If they need him at first for whatever reason, he should be batting 9th.
When will Lopez learn to hit the other way with even the slightest bit of authority?
Grover? Is that you?
131, you’re right, this doesn’t make much sense, but it’s actually fairly common in the business world, and even more so in the sports world. When executives let their pride get in the way of making sound decisions, the business usually suffers.
139: The scene in full metal jacket comes to mind. With the guys wielding soap wrapped in cloth.
#131: My guess is that this will be the Ms most profitable season since 2004.
More LOB.
3 + 2 + 1 is 6, last I checked, Dave.
142: well getting moved to 9th or getting benched is the baseball equivalent of the blanket party.
141: so right. its a shame they can’t just admit they blew it and move on to the next player. Even the guy who approved New Coke is still working.
143- You might be right but they could be making more.
#143–do you really think so? Attendance usually lags about a year behind improvement in the club (the big benefit of 2001 for the M’s at the gate was in 2002 and 2003). I’ve seen a lot of empty seats this year. I think NEXT year will probably be a good year for them for ticket sales.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are winning again.
Against the Royals. But still…
143 – They have already sold more suites and group suites this season than all of last season… if that is any indication.
Someone let management know people would buy A Jones jerseys by the hundreds or more if he was brought up.
#122 Yep that was from Space Mutiny. I like to thank Kenny Lofton for trying to sac bunt in the third inning in Texas. Shouldn’t bunting be banned at there stadium?
Yuni should have had that
Weak effort. Dive for that for fricks sake.
is this when the LOBs bite them in the behind?
It is difficult to watch the middle of the Mariners’ line-up right now, and see how they can get much production. Raul is hitting an ice-cold .174 for July; Richie Rich is something likc 4 for his last 30 with no homers since June 26; and, Johjima is just a sub-average Joe with a .219 BA with runners in scoring position with two outs. In fact, Johjima may be the most predictable hitter in the AL. Every one of his at-bats seems to go like this: a foul or called strike, a pitch pulled foulinto the third base crowd, and then a bouncer to the infield (often for a double play). With your 3,6, and7 hitters doing jack, it will be hard to mount much of a threat.
155–Yep.
HoRam getting ready to give away the lead…ANY SECOND now
This doesn’t look good.
Crap.
158
You knew I was serious…right?
Game over.
EGADS!
156 and many more: I really thought that the 14 game stretch with Bal, Tor, Tex and Oak we’d have at least 10 wins. Apparently our offense has decided to go to sleep. I was hoping to be tied or in the lead when LAA gets here. Either way, that’ll be exciting series….
OMG 158 … you had to say it… but I thought that guy was out at home
Heh, the pump fake safe call. Ah well. Surely the M’s can get some more runs off of this Ranger pitching.
Aaaand, Lopez missed the tag.
162: Get real. The game is not over. This is NOTHING like yesterday. We’re talking RANGER’S pitching.
Kenji got hosed with that call at home.
And I’ld take a team full of Kenjis before I’ld want one Vidro on my team.
Wait, is that Tim Donaghy behind the plate?
Ohhhh. Sorry, wrong sport.
What does Kenji say when he argues a call? Does he scream a bunch of Japanese at the ump?
Dave, this strikes me as a great game to do some quantitative analysis of HoRam’s pitching. Especially the lack of any sort of change of speed to most hitters. Maybe coupled with a histogram of where his pitches are located…just a thought.
Kenji actually tagged the runner with his elbow. That doesn’t count. The umpire actually got it right. I can see how he started to ring him up and then changed it.
When did Mariner fans become entitled to have every single marginal call go their way? The outrage over Felix’s pitch to Rios yesterday was ridiculous considering the pitch’s location, and now we’re saying Kenji got hosed when it appears that the best anyone could argue is that he tagged Teixeira about .001 seconds before T-Rex’s hand hit the plate?
You don’t win every coin toss, and you didn’t get screwed when a remarkably close call goes against you.
I think the ump missed the call too, but the unhappy reality is that the M’s just aren’t playing very well right now.
166
They should score some more…but they should’ve scored in the last two innings alone and didn’t.
Plus, its not like Texas is done scoring…not with HoRam still torturing us
argh!!! take a damn pitch, will ya?
I’m sure Kenji knows how to say “I tagged him”
Our offense is back to being described with one letter: Z
As in ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
now would be a good time for one of Ichi’s Texas home runs.
Let’s all just take a deep breath and be happy we aren’t Ranger fans.
173 – The only call that bothered me yesterday was the one that negated Beltre’s amazing throw from third to first. That one wasn’t close.
Didn’t have any real impact on the game, but it rendered meaningless what should have been an outstanding play.
And I thought overall the squad was awful in Toronto… but awful for both sides.
Gosh, Dave, since when does it reflect a sense of entitlement to argue a close call? And it’s not like M’s fans have a corner on that market. Ever been to a game in Yankee Stadium?
Dave said: “When did Mariner fans become entitled to have every single marginal call go their way?”
Based on my regular surfing on about 6-7 other message boards, blogs, and baseball forums, I’d say offhand that we ALL do it. You wouldn’t believe some of the paranoia from, say, Yankee fans….
It’s just like that home run call we got “screwed” on last week. Dave Sims says it’s a home run if it hits the yellow line, and everyone comes here screaming that we got screwed.
Let stuff digest and think before you post angry posts, people.
From MLB.com:
A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove.
Ah, now it’s time for a weak single that barely leaves the infield from Turbo.
I watched a game on TV live from Yankee Stadium, Gritty Willie was out by at least 3 feet. The M’s have gotten their share of calls this year, no need to get bent out of shape.
Ever been to a game in Yankee Stadium?
Yep – had a great time, too. I taught the five people sitting around me how to score a game. They were probably the nicest strangers of all the parks I’ve ever been to.
Way to go Vids
Turbo!!!!
Game NOT over.
duuuude!
Nicely done. Milwood at 84 pitches. Great AB by both Ichiro and Vidro. We’re getting into their bullpen soon.
Son of a… and Vidro adds another week to Adam Jones apartment lease in Tacoma!
*cough* *cough* Go Vidro! *cough* *cough*
Man, Vidro has been pretty damn sweet lately.
Look. I know we all love AJ. And that’s fine. But when someone does something well, can we please just be happy about it and not complain about management?
Ibanez doing his best to get Adam Jones promoted since Vidro is being selfish. And this AB isn’t over yet but I have NO faith.
Its pretty sad how much more I look forward to seeing Vidro up than say Raul, Kenji or of course, Sexson
And believe me…it’s not exactly like I’m thrilled to see Vidro
Sorry, 195, I understand your sentiment, but Ibanez just proved our collective point (that AJ needs to be brought up).
I’m not sure why a game thread has to be for Ya! Boo! Wohoo! Boooya! Uggghhhh! Vent, vent, vent…..
Millwood 91 pitches through 4 that’s good at least.
you know, Kevin Seitzer is unemployed these days. How hard would it be to get him to come hang out for a day or so in the batting cage with Raul?
195 – How about you enjoy the moment however you like? I will support your right to be as happy as you like if you stop trying to control how other people support their team? Deal?
Wow eerie that as Dave talks about complaining on calls Dave Simms brings up Felix’s non strike…
198. I understand, and I do agree. But Vidro has a hell of an AB, knocks in a run, and someone still complains that AJ isn’t up. I mean we’re Mariners fans, so when something good happens let’s act like it.
me, I can be happy and deeply frustrated, simultaneously.
Dave, any thoughts on 171?
Vidro could go 4-4 with 4 hrs and I would still want AJ called up
Beltre saves a double there.
Sexson… pay attention and watch Beltre… see, he doesn’t swing at pitches outside of the zone, and look, he was rewarded with a walk…
Beltre is an outstanding fielder. The M’s do have a number of good players, and an excellent bullpen. Their big problems are inconsistency in the starting rotation, and a middle of the order that swings at everything and doesn’t drive in many runs–at least not right now.
*batter before Beltre =)
I think Vidro is doing just fine. I don’t have the stats at hand but it seems to me he has been hitting well. When AJ comes up they’ll have to make a place for him on defense as I just can’t see him as a DH. Obviously, Ichiro isn’t going anywhere so Guillen or Ibanez will have to move. Those are the only two I can see who would make room for him.
Vidro isn’t doing just fine, for the 100th time this season.
He’s not hitting for any power at all. He will (and deservedly so) be be benched, Ibanez to DH, Jones to LF.
212 – Something tells me Raul would be a good choice…
Who the hell is allowing Sexson to swing at the first pitch every single time? When you are struggling as bad as he is…its a waste to even type about him.
The leadoff walk always comes around to score, unless it doesn’t. Sigh.
[deleted, excessive use of exclamation marks]
“Their big problems are inconsistency in the starting rotation, and a middle of the order that swings at everything”
You can’t hit if you don’t swing.
# 186
Fair enough, Dave, I’m sure you can find nice people in any park. I discreetly rooted for the M’s in Yankee Stadium every year from 1995 thru 1999 while I lived in NYC. I met some nice folks too. On other occasions, with zero provocation on my part, I routinely had things thrown at me and had my life threatened, once even by a drunken cadre of off-duty NYPD. It was enough that I was a fan of the team that inflicted the pain of the 1995 post season. I’ve also seen Yankee fans behave this way in Safeco Field.
Now, no reasonable person would argue that baseball fans are monolithic in their behavior, and fan bases have local cultures just like neighborhoods. But I don’t see the evidence, here or elsewhere, that M’s fans are, on balance, more whiny or feel more entitled to close calls than any other fan base. Especially in light of clear counterexamples like our “friends” in the Bronx.
That’s all I’m saying.
Raul and Richie really need to do something, anyone else notice that Kenji is at like .275 or something? man we need some work in this line up.
Vidro- OPS+ 99, OBP .361, TB 121
Ral- OPS+ 89, OBP .306, TB 129
Vidro isn’t good, but better then Ibanez especially when you consider Vidro doesn’t cost us runs in the field.
I have 0 confidence in this offense right now. All the talk has been about Ibanez, Johjima, and Sexson…..but Lopez has been equally as bad this month at the plate as well. I don’t have the faith I wish I did that we’ll win this game tonight.
Johjima spray chart is centered around the third base dugout.
It’s so frustrating knowing that a few of the answers to our problems are right there in front of the FO (Broussard for Richie, AJ for Raul, more Burke to rest Kenji)
219 – I too have risked my life at Yankee Stadium for the last few years as a resident of New Jersey. Most Yankee fans are cool, but it’s those frat-boy-bandwagon-loud-mouth types who ruin it for everybody. Nobody knows who it was who broke that Kirkland guy’s neck last week, but I have an image in my mind of exactly what he looked like…
A’s up 4-0 on the Angels in the 1st. That’s good news. And Cleveland’s about to lose.
222: I agree. I’ll be rooting for them until the last out but our offense really needs a kick in the butt. I think our defense and pitching is solid but if we can’t put runs on the board…..
Here we go two on no outs.
good golly, how’d that GB get through? here we go again
Our offense has the stultifying unproductive and boring look that it had much of early last year when they were shut out 1 out of 9 games or so. Currently, there are too many innings where nothing happens. If you are the opposition, just do what Millwood did last inning: walk Guillen (or Beltre), then watch Sexson, Johjima, and Lopez come up empty.
this is depressing…
LAME
Didn’t I see this game yesterday?
Oh well, game over, we have no offence anymore.
Game over stick a fork in HoRam
jeeezebus… that was smoked
OUCH
This stinks.
I think the M’s are regressing to the mean.
Washed up guy hitting a HR, now thats frustrating!
my head hurts
235 – AND our offense
jeeezebus… that ball was smoked. let us see if the offense can pull together. something needs to fire them up….
Seriously, how much longer do we have to watch this offense…single, single, out, dp…end of inning?
I had a feeling when I saw Sosa’s name pop up on GameDay that HoRam might give up a HR to him, but I refrained from typing it b/c I felt a bit superstitious. Shame on me for even THINKING about it!
Please see my comment at 162.
Frustrated? Yes
This is, unfortunately, more like the sort of performance I expect from this lineup. Those heady days prior to the all-star break were anomalous and getting hammered by the Rangers, getting shut-out twice in a row by the Blue Jays . . . that’s more or less what you would expect, looking at the M’s this year.
Depressing, but no surprises here.
We all know that 6 game losing streaks are followed by 8 game win streaks so I think I will start watching the M’s on Friday.
Raul…
Mound Conference Theatre:
Chaves: How do you feel?
Ramirez: Pretty good. Arm’s good.
Chaves: So, you’re not hurt?
Ramirez: No, Raffy, arm feels fine.
Chaves: You just suck then?
Ramirez: Uhhh…
Well lets see here, about 65 games or so of this crap, i remeber a month or so ago 10 run 15 hits!!! What the hell happend to those 2 weeks? HoRam and Rietsma goodbye ?
This is bullshit. We start the game with a single…..2 walks, and 2 more singles. Richie and Kenji really fucked up. Teams have to capitalize on situations like that….I just had this bad feeling in my gut after watching that too. The Angels are losing and Cleveland lost too…..good lord.
I figured this quote was suitable for this game:
“They got a good starter, we think, in Horacio,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said, adding that Atlanta pitching coach Roger McDowell thinks Ramirez can win 15-20 games. “He’s sincere about that. Horacio has always had those capabilities. Unfortunately, last year, he had the hamstring and finger problems. But he’s fine, healthy and should pitch great.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2690231
I left to walk my dogs, and I see that HoRam reverted to form in my absence. oh well
Christ, is it too much to ask to pull him now?
Yay,
im changin the chanel, im sick of the same ol crap, here we go again 2004
Adam Jones in the minors is no longer a luxury. It is now becoming a hindrance to the team by allowing the suckitude of our middle of the lineup to continue to literally swing and miss.
Your average HoRam road start.
Well theres another homerun wow how this game has changed so fast!
Time to give this bum his walking papers!
this is ridiculous, pathetic!
Obviously were not hitting anything past the infield, so were in for a long night of long bottom half innings and quick DP top of the innings, we make washed up pitchers look like 25 year old aces.
I was going to say Ho-Ram was pitching decently with the exception of Sosa, but so much for that. In the mean time, fuck Sammy Sosa.
Am I the only one that thinks this Horacio outing is a good thing? Maybe someone will wake up and realize we need help. Even a pitching machine set at about 70MPH would be an upgrade to Horacio.
But…but…he hasn’t pitched 5 innings yet! It’s too late to qualify for the win, McLaren. Maybe the thinking is to let HoRam “take one for the team”.
Get HoRam out of Seattle, once and for all. This Jekyll-and-Hyde stuff is getting sickening.
That was easy. Three pitches, one out, inning over. See, HoRam, that’s how it’s done.
I said it before, I’ll say it again. This is Texas Ranger’s pitching we’re facing, not Roy Halladay. I am not of the “Abandon all faith” camp just yet.
When was he Jekyll?
#269–We will leave the camp lights on for you.
Horam…you suck…
Meanwhile, it’s Athletics 4 and Angels 0.
Lopez will try and pull a pitch 6″ outside
Lol, Texas pitching? look at what weve done lately, just watch this inning, 111 pitches and we’ll go down 1 2 3
time to head for home. I expect the score to be 6-8 by the time I get there
I’m sorry guys… this is all my fault! Things have been going so well at work this past week, and well, it has to balance out somewhere…
269
How many dingers did we get off of a clearly sub par Millwood?
This team is tanking it on offense since the All-Star break.
If you can’t hit here with NUMEROUS chances, just where do we expect to hit well?
I am really looking forward to being the only Mariners fan at Ameriquest Field tomorrow night, probably will be more enjoyable than the meetings I have to attend in the morning.
Someone better stop the bleeding….
dp? ill put 5 on it
Time for a couple quick 1-2-3 from our offense and barring some craziness from our pen this game will be over shortly
At least the Angels are down right now….ugghhh. to be honest i have more worries about our anemic offense than i do our pitching. does anyone feel the same way?
*282* I have felt the same way all season
Well, at least Colon is getting creamed again. Oakland leads 4-0 in the 2nd.
Rangers, 3rd best bull pen
282 – I have no worries becuase we have the tools to fix it. I’m worried that Bavasi doesn’t know how to use em…
#173: Apparently it was about the same time that they were all forced to watch Ms games and became convinced that everything Bavasi does is motovated be a desire to decrease the quality of their lives….
Wow, what a bunch of fatalists. You’d think the fans here had suffered through 30 years of futility and never sniffed a World Series.
…. Oh wait ….
282
Exactly. I was going to rationalize that it was just HoRam on the road, ghastly as usual. But the stark facts point to the absolute gift we refused to receive in the first inning, when Millwood has next to nothing working for him.
To not be competetive in a game like this in THIS stadium is really depressing.
Tonight’s Sabermetric Anti-Hero of the Game…
JOSE VIDRO
Does it seem to anyone else that we are watching our pennant race chances go down the erain on this roadtrip? Well, at least, Turbo is showing that he is a “Professional Hitter.”
Damnit, I’m not happy that Vidro is doing this in a losing effort.
Vidro is fighting for his career it seems.
haha. Someone earlier predicted Vidro would have three hits, one of which would be an XBH.
Seriously, though. This is Texas. Bigger leads have vanished in a hurry.
Man, who put the “o” in Vidro? The comeback begins.
im gonna get destroyed for saying so, but if you watch jose vidro play right now, he really is hitting the ball hard
im just saying is all
Blast by Ral right now to get us back in the game…Im calling it right now
Ral Ibanez
Rally Killer Extraordinare!
296. No shame. He’s playing well.
Take a walk Raul…just let him walk ya
“Raul 1 for 14 against Mahay”. That’s not comforting.
I still believe the offense is better than the starting pitching. What frustrates most people is the fact that the offense (and defense actually) can be improved dramatically by just making some internal moves, platooning, messing around with the batting order.
Vidro must’ve been pinchin’ Horacio’s stash of Weaver’s miracle-comeback-stuff, that’s why Vidro after the break’s been good and Horacio’s comeback lasted sort of 1 game.
ZOMG! Raul got a hit! Its the endtimes!
#288
Oh, I think we caught a pretty good whiff in ‘00 and ‘01. Until we became stars in Steinbrenner’s personal snuff film collection.
You know its sad that holding Vidro w/ two outs in scoring position on a single was probably the right thing to do.
Unhitch the effin’ plow Jose…geez
Someone needs to throw a chair at Francisco.
I know Vidro would have been thrown out had he tried, but has anyone noticed that we almost never try to score the run? it seems we ALWAYS hold the runner at third, which is usually smart if you have someone to drive them in… which we dont.
Too bad Vidro’s numbers are negatively correlated to our winning %.
2 for 15, however, IS comforting. Vidro wheels … not comforting. But I’m curious … those leaving the camp lights on for me … are you still planning on going to sleep early?
I do not think Vidro’s career is close to being over. He should not be a starting, everyday DH, but switch hitting, good contact guys have value as pinch hitters. He is not right for the Ms, but particulary in the NL, he will be a useful addition to someone’s bench. Trouble is for the Ms, he is not paid like a useful addition to someone’s bench.
Does anybody have any LITHIUM I could borrow?
So how many crappin’ hits DOES it take to have a multiple run inning in Texas?
Wow, how slow is Turbo? He can’t score on a hit to the outfield when he is at second with two outs. It takes two hits to drive him in. Cripes.
Since the Break:
Ibanez: 4 for 35; 5 TB 2 BB; .305 OPS
Sexson: 4 for 37; 5 TB 7 BB; .385 OPS
Vidro : 13 for 30; 16 TB 2 BB; 1.001 OPS
Which of these guys “gots to go” for Adam Jones?
by the way, exactly as i predicted (check post 14) Vidro 3-3, 1 XBH.
Can we please show Vidro some love for essentially saving the M’s offense this second half? Vidro and Guillen have hit, Ichiro, Johjima, Lopez, Betancourt, Sexson, Ibanez and Ichiro have not hit. Beltre has barely hit.
Show Vidro the love he should be earning! Throw off the shackles of totally subjective analysis!
#308 – did see any of the games last year? The M’s tried to break the record for most times thrown out at the plate. I think they learned that they have a collection of stiffs on the base paths.
#315 Objective Analysis would tell you it’s small sample size.
Is there any Mariner you would rather have up right here than Guillen?
C’mon patent-pending angry Jose Guillen home run…
318- Ichiro. Guillen if it was a lefty on the mound still.
320: really? I love Ichiro but in this situation, Guillen gets the love from me.
Anybody curious about how a Francisco v. Guillen brawl at the mound would turn out?
So would the earth spin off its axis if Raul got a hit vs a lefty and Guillen got one vs a right hander in consecutive at bats?
Nope…didn’t think we’d find out.
Disappointing. Not surprising, but disappointing
#321: Guillen gets love if you’re a Ranger fan.
lol guillen huh?
315-I like that Ichiro is on your list of people who haven’t been hitting twice. So the Mariners are starting to look a little more like the team we thought they were at the beginning of the year. It’s only a small slump (so far), so I’m not ready to throw it or anything. I’m just saying, these last couple haven’t been pretty.
321- Take a look at Guillen’s LHP/RHP split. I am on the Guillen bandwagon but he struggles against righties.
316 – That was last year. This year we need every run we can get, so whats the harm of tryin for home a couple times instead of stranding them on third for someone to strike out? and by that I dont mean just send everyone, but there have been times we could have tried this year and didn’t, only to watch the throw go 5 five ft. wide of the plate which would have allowed the run.
Guillen K’s? No way!!
We aren’t out of this yet. On the bright side, the Rangers are throwing an awful lot of pitches before tomorrow.
How bad does this team hit with RISP? I know our big boppers have crummy numbers.
So the Tigers brought up Mike Hessman today. A career .167 hitter in the bigs who last saw time in Atlanta in ‘04 when he recorded one BB and 24 SOs. Tonight he has two hits and two RBIs. Remind me again why, for the love of Buddha, is AJ not playing for the M’s at this moment?
So last time, Ramirez couldn’t strike out anybody and pitched well. This game more than a K an inning and he sucks. Interesting.
Bavasi is a damn fool and thinks raul and richie will turn things around in a hurry
I am apparently single-handedly trying to maintain optimism in this game (note that yesterday I publicly bailed in the 5th inning as I knew that game was over, but I don’t think this one is) and so I here predict that TWO M’s will go yard in the next 3 innings and we will make this a much closer game, if not outright win. Go M’s!
328 – Do you remember earlier this year when Carlos sent runners to be gunned out by Delmon Young? I remember Carlos getting into trouble cause he was sending people too much earlier this year and the were getting gunned out.
#328 – True. But that assumes the M’s have a game plan and strategy for how to approach a game. Unfortunately, they always come off as having a haphazard approach to everything they do. Always hoping to get lucky instead of drawing a line in the sand and saying we are going to win/lose based on this strategy.
332- That is the definition of small sample size.
Keep HoRam and a Home pitcher and find a good road pitcher?
Just throwing this thought out there…the Angels sent friggin Santana to the minors because of his road/home splits. Ummm…why can’t we do that with Ramirez?
rowlands spells relief. Kinda.
I’m with fishiam. I don’t think this is over. That Texas defense has yet to rear its hideous head and they are due to fluff some.
By the way, did anyone else hear Blowers actually utter “outs are precious” earlier in the TV broadcast?
Sure, he completely negated the comment by saying it only applied in Texas and Colorado, but if we could just bottle the impulse…
GO, K, FO?
336 – Delmon Young recently was chosen by ESPN’s “experts” as having the best outfield arm in baseball. Can’t be too suprised by that. But I would take my chances on the likes of Lofton, Byrd, and Wilkerson.
Anyone but Ichiro was dead meet trying to score in that situation. Single to short left, fielder who has the ball before you’ve reached third?
Really, only Carl Lewis is scoring on that play; everyone else is an automatic out.
I’m so certain the M’s are gonna lose this game I am going to bed.
Kenji will ground out.
If Suckson can hit a double well … anything is possible!
Holy crap… gotta run that back on the DVR…. Sexson actually got a hit??!
If Sexson can get a double then anything is possible. Joh’s gonna go oppo now for a 2 run HR. Its bizzaro time.
345
Were making Wilkerson seem as if he were Ted Williams and Roberto Clemente combined
347: Good night, I think Jim in Edmonds is already asleep.
Simms: so shocked Richie doubled that he said “16th base hit of the season.” Wait, maybe he was right…
350
Turn it back so you can honestly hear Simms exlaim, “And Sexson with his sixteenth hit of the year!”
I’m sure he meant sixteenth DOUBLE of the year, but in the scheme of things, he probably wasn’t that far off either way, lol
That should read “exclaim”
And good to hear that 354! I was hoping I wasn’t hearing things (as it was I though I was “seeing things” with Richie getting on base via a hit!)
Well, we were thinking about getting Jose Contreras anyways. . .
348 – even worse
355
I think he meant “16th [extra] base hit of the season” but it’s still hilarious.
O well, better luck next week after deadline.
Lopez in July: .493 OPS.
352 – We have a habit of doing that
Boy…sometimes Lopez looks like he’s hitting (or “trying” to hit) blindfolded.
What was that crapola?
4 for 12 with RISP and I think only TWO have actually produced something called a “run”
Way to go Carlos!
hmm. I really dont know what to think anymore,
I think Richie deserves a game ball tonight. He now has as many hits as Willie Harris, Rob Mackowiak, Ronny Paulino and Brian Schneider.
Wonder what his OPS is since his brother was killed.
#353–No way, man. I am still watching this debacle. I’ll be here to the bitter end.
Rowland-Smith has been impressive tonight, we needed him to go a few innings and shut them down.
Whose brother was killed?
Lopez
Why would McLaren even be wasting Sherrill’s time and energy by warming up?
We may need gorgeous George TWICE tomorrow and our offense has made abundently clear we aren’t going to win THIS game.
Let R-Smith finish this one off please
9-2 Oakland. Maybe this will be the year Oakland ruins someone else’s playoff dreams.
Vidro. 4-4.
Oakland will ruin someone else’s playoff dreams; the Mariners.
Best DH ever!
Ral sucks, I hope he gets plunked.
Vidro Street will intersect with Edgar Martinez Drive
Best. Post. Ever.
Raul reminding us that he isn’t so hot vs righties either this year.
374 took the words right out of my mouth Jake.
You know I look at the Angels/A’s scoreboard and it only pisses me off knowing it’s another lost opportunity by Seattle.
Raul sucks, trade? yes screw the face of the mariners, we need to win.
I’ll say it for the three hundredth time, the fact that he’s got poor numbers for a DH doesn’t stop Vidro being one of the better hitters on the M’s. He has the fourth best EQA of any of our regulars. He is not the problem with the offence, regardless of how many Chris ’sitting on the DL in Oakland’s’ we traded for him. The only reason he attracts this much attention is because the trade symbolises everything we hate about the Mariners’ management philosophy.
After Raul’s groundout (Simms): an easy out… and ANOTHER runner stranded… Isn’t that the soundtrack to Raul’s season?
Oh my god. Sherill is in to pi tch garbage innings.
Yes, We could probably get something for him, i heard it on 950 this morning there is some interest in Raul.
Ibanez has 4 LOB, Sexson 5 LOB, Joh 6 LOB…who says our offense sucks?
385 –
from who? minor league temas?
Watching Raul hit that trickler to first reminded me of one of the great NFL Films in which a distraught Lou Saban shouts at one of his assistants: “They’re killing me Whitey! Just killing me!” Yup, they are killing me with their pulseless ineptitude.
Dunno ask Softy
What the hell are the Umps lookin at lately jeezus christ.
387 – Jason Churchill’s segment with Softy said that their are a number of teams looking at Raul as a Left handed bat, but Jason also wrote at Prospectinsider.com that his value has dropped so far that teams would rather go after Scott Hatteberg or something like that, don’t remember exactly.
Raul really wouldn’t be that bad of a player to acuire, he only costs $5.5 million a year and is signed through next year.
Raul has A LOT of interest from teams. Teams in the AL playoff race!
They’re interested in the M’s being stupid enough to keep playing him everyday and hitting third at that!
Gagne is going to give up a 5 spot here
This website has had a storied history of promoting future stars from Tacoma, such as King Felix, Snelling, now AJ, so can I request that the powers-that-be at this site also use their considerable influence to allow us to take a look at Clement as our current catcher is a one-trick pull-hitting pony.
Tying run in the hole!
391: I’d love to know what you’re smoking and where you got it from because … I want some of that action. I mean … you’re being facetious, right?
Beltre needs to ask the homeplate umpire to make Gagne tuck in his jersey…nevermind
crudola. i just got back home. where’s my comeback. oh snap. guillen rips a double. tying run ON DECK
Way to wait till the 9th boys.
OK, now we plunge into the abyss of Sexson, Joe, and Lopey.
home run richie
of course richie needs to get on base. i’m holding my breath in 3….2…1
so, what can suckson do in the clutch?
He’s hitting above the Sexdosa line.
One of these three hitters should accidentally get and RBI right?
!!! Holy fuck
Hmm, it’s only been 4 weeks since our main home run hitter has gone yard … he is a bit overdue dontcha think?
I CALLED IT !!!
HOLY JEEZEBUS!!!!!!!!
396 – Go to 950KJR’s website, click on Softy’s page, and listen to the podcast of Jason Churchill’s 12:20 segment on mondays’ with Softy. Then go over to Prospectinsider.com and browse the thread that has Willis’ picture on it and read toward the bottom posts. I assure you I’m not shitting you.
and…RIIIIIICCCCCCHHHHHIIIIIIIEEEE.
ummmm……
C’mon guys, let’s get one more, please!
what the fudge?
….>….HOLY JEEZEBUS!!!!!!!!
401- Good call??
And I’m telling you I felt it 3 innings ago …. we still need the second HR to make the prediction come totally true.
are you serious. my oh my
We better get 2 more over and let Putz end this shit. I don’t feel like extra innings before a double header or losing by 1.
This has probably been asked before, but can a pitcher get a blown save if he comes in when it’s not a save situation and blows the lead?
Willie stealin 2nd?
sorry for the double post. my browser gurpled right there. Now Kenji rips one!!!!!
oh my lord. i need another beer. this is freaking me out.
I think the “Abondon all faith” camp just got abandoned.
Now, like I said in my last post. This is Texas.
Can we all stop being a bunch of fair weather whiners now?
That hurts. And spoils my prediction record.
Richie hit a meaningless hr which will only further perpetuate the myth thats he a middle of the order power hitter
Good to see Richie make solid contact twice in a row. But man, WTF was Lopez thinking?
What in the world was Lopez thinking?
Rough way to end it. At least some life was seen from the middle of the lineup. Finally. We’ll see who holds up tomorrow. Seems like Texas’ pitches actually got the worse of the two teams today, so we’ll see. As weird as it is to say this: Go A’s!
And uh…why wasn’t Willie going on that pitch that was nearly a dp?
So Lopez can’t bunt, can’t get a hit and apparently can’t run the bases compentently.
Let Willie play two tomorrow. That was a pathetically low baseball IQ Lopez showed there.
Again, you have to wonder why they haven’t let or demanded Lopez go home for a week and be with his family. Strange he’s played through it all. Doesn’t seem the same guy at all.
Someone please explain why the bunt was taken off after one attempt? Get Willie to second where he can score on a single, not have the near double play that lead eventually to the actual double play with Lopez’ boneheaded baserunning. Unbelievable.
430, what happened to his family?
By the way, the Blue Jays torched Johan Santana today. Makes the beating of Felix sting a little less. They are hitting good pitchers right now, I guess.
(It was still a meatball, though..)
His brother was killed in a motorcycle accident around June 13th.
This is parody, right?
425: I’m not sure you can call a 3-run HR in a game you lose by one run “meaningless”.
Also: damn, Richie is strong. I mean, I know that doesn’t make him a good hitter, but I can’t believe how hard he hits baseballs with that short swing.
Too bad he couldn’t muster a simple Sac Fly in the first, before helping kill that rally
But hopefully, its the start of something big tomorrow! We’re gonna need it.
So, here is my question before I head to bed.
How many more times will we get bailed out by the Angels and Indians losing, before this baseball team realizes status quo is not going to cut it?
I just cannot envision the Angels continuing to lose. Especially games where they score 6 runs, and a non hitting team like the A’s somehow pull 12 runs out of thin air.
2007 Mariners….Pissing their season away one game at a time.
I’m so frustrated with the Adam Jones situation. The utter high I had on the All-Star break has been broken, shredded and set on fire.
It is the same problem with this team, over and over again.
Last year they gave Carl Everett 308 at bats with a .658 OPS before they pulled their head out of their ass.
Oh, and WFB 251 at bats with a .619 OPS.
In 2005, WFB gets 249 at bats with a .622 OPS. And Dobbs gets another 142. Oh and a few dozen for Scott Spiezio.
In 2004 Spiezio gets 367 at bats with a .634 OPS.
It’s like every year they wait until it’s too late for winning to matter to give themselves a chance to win.
And when Bavasi says things like he did yesterday, I just can’t wait for him to hit the unemployment line. And I like him. But I am really, really tired of this team not giving themselves the best chance they can to win every night.
Between our manager’s stubbornly stupid line-ups and our GM’s stubbornly stupid refusal to improve the team… it’s a very frustrating franchise to root for.
——
Also, I thought this was interesting: “The Secret to Baseball’s Best Hitters Revealed.”
http://www.livescience.com/health/070723_seeing_motion.html
MB says that “he was trying to make something happen.”
[A dropped line drive ? A wild throw ?]
Something happened all right.
BTW, I agree that he doesn’t have his head in the game, and he probably should go home for a few days.
NOTE: # 442 refers to Jose Lopez (se # 427.)