Game 102, A’s at Mariners
Dave · July 28, 2007 at 12:42 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Ramirez vs Gaudin, 1:05 pm.
More new line-ups from McLaren, even against a righty:
Ichiro-Lopez-Guillen-Beltre-Ibanez-Sexson-Broussard-Johjima-Betancourt
This might be the best line-up the M’s have run out there this year. The lefties are balanced throughout the order, Ibanez is out of the three hole, and Broussard provides some left-handed power. Well done, Johnny Mac.
A plea to Raul:
Raul, please do the right thing and tell Mac you’re playing hurt and you need a rest. Tell him to call up your replacement Adam Jones. Tell him you’ll do whatever they ask of you like pinch hit or provide leadership, but that you’ll do it from the bench.
Look, this team is on the brink of greatness. We, your fans, need you to step up and do the right thing. We all respect the heck out of you for continuing to play hurt, but let’s face it, you’re batting like 4 for July.
While no one knows for sure whether Jones will hit up here, what we DO know is he’s a better fielder than you right now and can cover more ground. His defense alone is worth the move.
Please Raul, do the right thing. We need this in Seattle.
Remaining schedule:
WIN% SEA LAA
vs. BAL 0.471 3 3
vs. BOS 0.612 3 7
vs. CLE 0.583 5 4
vs. CWS 0.456 6 3
vs. DET 0.588 3 1
vs. MIN 0.5 6 3
vs. NYY 0.534 3 3
vs. OAK 0.476 7 10
vs. TB 0.373 4 3
vs. TEX 0.447 7 6
vs. TOR 0.5 3 7
(and 10 games vs. each other)
Ms have a slightly easier schedule.
Note: WIN% numbers are from yesterday
Re Igawa (See 111, 112, 113, 124) –
On one page of today’s newspaper, it was mentioned that Ichiro and Kenji were please to hear that the Mariners were interested in their countryman. Another page told that the Yankees had demoted Igawa to AAA Scranton.
Do we really want a pitcher that the Yankees deem is not good enough for their rotation?
I’ll go put on a bunny rabbit costume and solicit donations for the NRA if it would please Ichiro.
204 I thought we weren’t allowed to talk about trade speculation in here but I agree. I think Kenji and Ichiro were probably just being polite in spite of how bad Igawa has been for the Yankees.
114 Free or not you’re kidding right?
I was watching the NYY/Orioles game. The O’s were up 7-1 in the top of the 9th, and they brought in somebody named Cory Doyne, who had a 12.00+ ERA to pitch to Matsui-Posada-Cano, the 5-6-7 hitters for the Yanks. Surely they didn’t think he could close out the game…
He gave up 5 hits and 4 runs, one a HR, and didn’t get anybody out (no walks though; who needed to be patient with this guy?). His ERA is now 23.14. (the Yanks still lost the game, though, 7-5 Orioles)
Even Reitsma is better than this guy. I wonder if Bavasi could work out some deal with the Orioles…
When are we having a post on the trade deadline, Dave?
I’m surprised we called Lowe up. He’s really gonna mess up this team chemistry.
207 – Maybe Reistma and Ibanez and prospect for Eric Bedard and someone else and then M’s can put Jones permanetly in left. 😛 I know you can criticize it all you want, i know itd never happen.
Do we really want a pitcher that the Yankees deem is not good enough for their rotation?
Considering that we already have a couple who fit that description, the answer might surprise you.
Hey Dave, any idea whats up with Matt Mangini? He hasn’t been in the lineup for a couple of weeks. Is he hurt?
Ya Mangini hurt his lower back and is done for the year at Everett. It’s not gonna need surgery, just core strengthening.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070725/SPORTS/707250339&SearchID=73288328952645
First post, two comments:
I’m not so convinced this was the best line-up possible. Even if we accept that McLaren has to keep running Ibanez out there (“put him out there or the puppy gets it”), I’d rather see Broussard 5th, Raul 7th.
Also, I know, I know, Kenji hit a home run and all, but, looking just at the stats, the man looks tired. I don’t know if anyone in the stands gets a different impression, but his numbers say he’s getting run into the ground.
I heard on the broadcast or on BT that Burke was due to start but had a sore neck.
#204: So I guess you didn’t want Jose Contreras when he was available. I’m not saying we’d be able to resurrect Igawa’s career, but I’m just saying. . .
Dave–although this is off-point a bit from the game last night I want to make two points to stir up conversation a bit. First, although it is obvious that you have great intellect, and tenacity for digging up statistics supporting your point(s), I disagree greatly with two of your annoying regurgitations. First, Broussard’s “power”. Just because you have the ability to hit 25 homeruns in this inflated age doesn’t instantly make you a “power hitter.” Broussard sucks, and any team that relies on him will not make the playoffs. Seriously stop with this platoon crap. You sound like a rosterbater. Number 2; you argue that Adam Jones will be a significant upgrade. Yes, as a defensive replacement we can assume that to be true. However, offensively, you have no idea. Have you even seen 1 Triple A game w/ him playing? I will guarantee that in 10 years Dontrelle Willis will have been, in hindsight, a better player–and by two fold than Adam Jones. Adam Jones will be the next Mike Cameron. Power every 15 at-bats, defensive speed, and lots of strikeouts; (and this is considering I am a member of the “free Adam” Facebook site). I just want you to remember that you were the same person who just a few years ago was praising Chris crappy Snelling. ‘Nuff said. I just want people to stop with this Adam Jones crap. I think we need to start a “pick up Andrew Jones” site. Seriously.
217 –
Broussard’s 25 home runs may not be huge, but that appears to be more than Raul is going to hit the next two years combined, or that Vidro will hit in the next five years. The question isn’t whether Broussard is the next David Ortiz, but who on the current roster should be getting at bats.
Also, I’m not terribly moved by the jab at Snelling. I would still trade him, injured and all, straight up for Vidro. He’s a risk, but he’s got upside and he’s cheap. Vidro has no potential to get better, and he’s way too expensive for a mediocre bat.
215-
Thanks for the Burke info. Still, I think Kenji needs more time off than the occasional day game.
217.
Dontrelle Willis is a more valuable and productive player than Mike Cameron? Cumulatively speaking or today-forward? Seeing Jones play means one can predict his future as opposed to not seeing him play? Power every 15 abs, good. Defensive speed, great. Lots of strikeouts, irrelevant when the other two are present. Right now there is no power any abs, lack of defensive speed (understatement of the year), and a fair amount of strikeouts.
How will you guarantee your absurd and unfounded “predictions?”
“and this is considering I am a member of the “free Adam†Facebook site)”
Hillarious.
There has been a mountain of evidence presented on this subject. Even the mainstream press and virtually every quoted scout says it is continued folly for Jones to still be in the minors.
Andruw Jones…power every 15 abs, defensive speed, LOTSA strikeouts…
Park adjust and the Brave’s Jones and Cameron aren’t as far apart as you think.
If Jones does a great Cameron impression with Ichiro locked up, that is one of the best 1-2 hitters to leadoff for a team as well as a top 3 defensively LF-CF tandem.
215- Broussard is a good/very good platoon player, and I have never read anything different, here. As for Jones, time will tell. I agree that his numbers are not wholly projectible, as they never are, and I agree that he had better be all-world defensively to make up for what most likely will be spotty results, hitting. But you can’t comp him to players like Cameron without giving him a chance. And that’s not to say that a Cameron-like career track would be a horrible result to begin with.
Because no one will respond to such a ridiculous post I will.
Twin Cities Mariner-
“Just because you have the ability to hit 25 homeruns in this inflated age doesn’t instantly make you a ‘power hitter’.â€
That’s more than anyone else on the team will hit.
“Seriously stop with this platoon crap.”
Seriously are you serious? Some players can’t hit lefties. Some players can’t hit righties.
“However, offensively, you have no idea. Have you even seen 1 Triple A game w/ him playing?”
Have you even seen Raul Ibanez lately? The guys is done. Willie Bloomquist might be an upgrade offensively. And even, ignorant “twin cities” will concede the defensive advantage.
“I will guarantee that in 10 years Dontrelle Willis will have been”
Wow. Twin cities is guaranteeing something, that means he’s right.
“same person who just a few years ago was praising Chris crappy Snelling”
Good argument. Bringing up something that has nothing to do with what you just wrote. Chris Snelling is a good hitter who can’t stay healthy. Dave and even Derek would’ve conceded that even before he was traded for Vidro.
“‘Nuff said”
I hope you never post here again.
“I just want people to stop with this Adam Jones crap.”
Yeah, it’s been a little annoying. But you are the exact reason why it needs to keep coming up. Some people just don’t get it, Bill somebody and apparently “twin cities.”
#217: Adam Jones guaranteed to be the next Mike Cameron? I’ll take two…
#219
Kenji’s July OPS = .530
Yeah, I think he’s tired. And Burke gets a sore neck the one day he’s supposed to start? I don’t even know what to make of that.
#222
Nice job. Although, to be fair, it was like shooting fish in a barrel.
if the packages being tossed about by the various newspapers & columnists are any where near accurate, the Ms would be wise to just stay away.
Quick prediction. DMZ will return today.
Dave hit a walk off homer running USSM.
The time and effort are appreciated.
I watched Willis pitch last night against the Giants and he looked pretty good, but of course it was the Giants he was pitching against. He has a really strange and unconventional delivery.
Regarding the Igawa rumor, Jon Heyman added his this bit about Sexson allegedly not being Ichiro’s favorite teammate. I never heard this before and don’t know where Heyman got this from….
“The Mariners have been shopping Richie Sexson, who’s not only overpaid but also allegedly not Ichiro Suzuki’s favorite teammate. But Igawa would have to pitch better than he has for Seattle to consider any sort of deal involving both Sexson and Igawa.”
First, please chill out. I obviously stirred things up in a way I did not intend. I thought this was a site where posters fostered discussion, albeit sometimes unpopular or controversial. At the same time some of my words were admittingly ill-advised.
I agree, if Adam Jones turns out to be Mike Cameron this would obviously be good thing. Who wouldn’t want him if that turns out to be an accurate assessment of his talent? However, I just believe that if one feels this comparison is fair and accurate (Jones to Cameron) then I also feel like Jones is expendable under certain conditions. For starters—in trade for a young above average starting pitcher. Maybe so maybe not, just my opinion.
*220
Dontrelle Willis is a more valuable and productive player than Mike Cameron? Cumulatively speaking or today-forward. I will say that when we look back at the first 10 years of their careers it is my personal belief that Dontrelle Willis will have been viewed as a more valuable player. Can I back this up w/ stats and future projections? Absolutely not. First off, Adam hasn’t had more than 50 bats at the MLB level. Second one plays every day while the other plays every five games. I obviously can’t guarantee anything and that was a poor statement/assertion on my part. I just feel strongly that in hindsight Dontrelle will have been an overall better player. But who actually knows? I do know that Dontrelle has had 4 solid seasons at the MLB level. I was only referencing the Adam Jones Facebook site because I wanted to show that I do not have some sort of vendetta against him. That’s it. Silly reference.
Of course it’s a “folly†to keep him out of the lineup. Agreed. But its also a folly to label him un-expendable. That is just my opinion.
*221. I am just saying that Ben Broussard is not the long-term solution. He can really only platoon for Richie (doing so for Raul proves a defensive joke). I just think that we shouldn’t have to platoon for Richie. But we do. I guess I’m just frustrated that we need Broussard as a platoon hitter in the first place. As a DH I just don’t think we should be throwing out someone who is batting .275 w/ 5 HRs over 150 AB’s.
More Broussard, less Vidro, MUCH less Sexson, much more Adam Jones, recipe for success.