Game 12, Angels at Mariners

DMZ · April 12, 2008 at 5:29 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

Garland v Silva.

Vidro at #5? I have to say, for a guy whose strength is entirely in his average and walks, this seems weird to me. Are they swayed by his early power surge? Or is something else going on?

Anyway, go! Beat the Angels!

Comments

184 Responses to “Game 12, Angels at Mariners”

  1. Spanky on April 12th, 2008 5:39 pm

    They needed someone to protect Beltre? Sexson and Wilkerson weren’t getting it done. So they move Vidro…okay no, that in and of itself negates my theory.

    They’ve devided the order into two halves. Those that are hitting bat 1 through 4. Those that aren’t are hitting 5-8 and Yuni there to hit bring any of those that happen to milk a walk in to score.

  2. Chiro1623 on April 12th, 2008 5:40 pm

    put morse as the dh

  3. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 5:46 pm

    Put Norton in the game. Actually play someone who is hot. Vidro is playing on “vet status” only.

  4. Spanky on April 12th, 2008 5:49 pm

    devided s/b divided…sorry!

  5. jimmylauderdale on April 12th, 2008 6:04 pm

    Does anyone else feel like Silva Day is the exact opposite of Felix Day? Kind of like a bizarro Felix Day… Best Wishes Silva Day???

  6. Dugan on April 12th, 2008 6:05 pm

    Ah – the mystery that is the Mariners lineup.

  7. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 6:06 pm

    Interesting. Vidro hits better from the right side, Norton from the left. Otherwise, there’s not that much to differentiate them. You could even platoon them – a platoon of switch-hitters, now that would be something. Anyone know what their natural handedness is?

  8. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:12 pm

    Nice D Richie… something like that.

  9. ocelot on April 12th, 2008 6:14 pm

    Yikes. Every time I see Guerrero swing, I wonder how that guy’s back is still functioning.

  10. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:19 pm

    A Raul Triple?? That is ridiculous.

  11. gwangung on April 12th, 2008 6:20 pm

    Wow. That was tatooed by Raul

  12. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 6:21 pm

    Are you guys still on the “Ibanez is incredibly slow” bandwagon?

    He may or may not get the best jump in the outfield, but in a flat out race, he is NOT slow. Edgar was slow.

  13. gwangung on April 12th, 2008 6:23 pm

    Snerk snerk snerk.

    Turbo chips it into right

  14. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 6:23 pm

    Ibanez is incredibly slow. That was a triple because of where it was hit and how it was fielded, not his footspeed.

    Thankfully, he had a professional hitter to knock him in!

  15. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 6:24 pm

    Bloomquist is sick, apparently. Let’s see if McLaren can manage to actually use Cairo.

  16. TradeYouForHeathcliffSlocumb on April 12th, 2008 6:33 pm

    Just a great block by Joh.

  17. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:33 pm

    ICHIROCKET to home!

  18. ocelot on April 12th, 2008 6:35 pm

    Ichiro is good.

  19. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 6:35 pm

    Kotcha Kotchman!!!

  20. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 6:36 pm

    12 – he might not be slow compared to an overweight tortoise…but watch him trying to run down balls down the left field line. A line-drive anywhere but right at him is an automatic double.

    Also, that was a nice throw by Ichiro, but Kenji made that play. He blocked the plate perfectly.

  21. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 6:37 pm

    Ibanez is NOT incredibly slow, are there stats to show this? Or are you just jumping on the “everyone else says it, so it must be true” line.

    Please rank the speed order of the following: Ibanez, Lopez, Vidro, Sexson, Beltre, Wilkerson, Johjima, Betancourt, Norton, Burke, Edgar.

  22. ocelot on April 12th, 2008 6:38 pm

    “It’s almost like he wants to get triples.” No, you’re kidding…really?

  23. gwangung on April 12th, 2008 6:38 pm

    Well, slow is for outfielders….not particularly relevant to compare Raul to Edgar…it’s to other outfielders that’s relevant.

  24. jimmylauderdale on April 12th, 2008 6:40 pm

    Calling Ibanez slow really offends you, doesn’t it?

  25. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:41 pm

    We are jumping on the common sense bandwagon, he is 225 pounds and 35 years old. Also he runs slow! His last SB was in 2006 when he was 2for6 on SB. Raul was never fast.

  26. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 6:41 pm

    Please rank the speed order of the following: Ibanez, Lopez, Vidro, Sexson, Beltre, Wilkerson, Johjima, Betancourt, Norton, Burke, Edgar.

    So the Mariners have a surfeit of slow players. Also, you forgot Olerud.

  27. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 6:41 pm

    the problem with what you’re saying is that you’re comparing incredibly slow guys to incredibly slow guys. He’s not slow compared to Edgar or Vidro, but if you’re talking about his ability to play left field, he is WAY too slow. Edgar or Vidro would never play left field because they are, get this, TOO SLOW. Seriously, just watch Ibanez play left field and then watch other left fielders (such as Gary Matthews Jr., the Angels left fielder). There is no way Matthews Jr. let’s that Kotchman hit turn into a double.

  28. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 6:41 pm

    I’ve just seen the last 3 batters against Silva, and all 3 got hits…small sample size for sure, but Carlos looks very hittable so far.

  29. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 6:43 pm

    What possible stat could people come up with to show that Ibanez is slow?

    To the best of my knowledge, MLB teams don’t make players run timed 40 yard dashes or anything.

  30. ocelot on April 12th, 2008 6:43 pm

    Riiight. Mike just said on the broadcast that it was “so cold that A’s players were using ski masks in Cleveland today.” Uhm, no. We had a high of 50 here. Not that bad.

  31. jimmylauderdale on April 12th, 2008 6:43 pm

    Carlos looks very hittable every game… he relies on that contact merely being groundouts to the infielders.

  32. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 6:43 pm

    They time speed to first out of the batter’s box, or at least that gets scouted on fast guys.

  33. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 6:44 pm

    Honesty, I’m just happy if Silva manages to make it through a whole game without eating any of the opposing batters.

  34. msb on April 12th, 2008 6:45 pm

    I think the extended discussion of why Silva and Safeco are meant for each other may be acting as the ever-popular jinxing agent.

  35. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:45 pm

    It seems to me Yuni has about half the range he use to. I expected him to get that no problem and turn a easy two.

  36. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 6:45 pm

    Overheard in the 300 level tonight:

    “Hey Garland. Your name is a Christmas decoration. I hate you!!!”

    And…

    “Aybar. I’ve never heard of you. No one has ever heard of you.”

    And…

    “Chone! You spell your name wrong!”

    (Each of the screamed at “louder-than-Beltre-lady” levels.)

    M’s fans: we’re nothing if not accurate.

  37. BringUpBalentien on April 12th, 2008 6:45 pm

    A little late, but it was nice to see Turbo go from 1st to 3rd!

  38. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 6:46 pm

    Is Manny Ramirez fast?, slow? average?

  39. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 6:47 pm

    NO DON’T MENTION MEAT AND POTATOES YOU’LL MAKE HIM HUNGRY

  40. cougar9000 on April 12th, 2008 6:48 pm

    I actually like Vidro at 5, he gives them the best chance to keep innings going, and I think in the long run it will take the pressure off Sexson. I mean you just can’t keep Richie at 5 right now. You can’t. Good move in my opinion.

  41. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 6:48 pm

    Good thing Silva doesn’t have yesterday’s defense behind him.

  42. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 6:48 pm

    Finally, Silva throwing easy-to-hit pitches works in our favor!

  43. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:50 pm

    Manny is slow also.

    If this might help the argument that Raul Ibanez is actually slow.
    http://ussmariner.com/2007/07/26/outfield-defense/

  44. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 6:51 pm

    I am a good April away from adding a Lopez jersey to the collection.

  45. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 6:52 pm

    Damn, I’m going to the M’s/Angels game down in Anaheim a week from tomorrow, but the “Mike Scioscia Bobblehead Night” is three days before that. Bummer!!!

  46. mksh21 on April 12th, 2008 6:53 pm

    there is a little stat called “range factor” that shows how slow Ibanez is.

  47. TradeYouForHeathcliffSlocumb on April 12th, 2008 6:53 pm

    Guess that settles the “Raul has no wheels” debate…

  48. TradeYouForHeathcliffSlocumb on April 12th, 2008 6:55 pm

    If you have the opportunity to walk the bases loaded to face Richie Sexson, do you:

    a) do it

    b) all of the above

  49. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 6:55 pm

    They’re walking a .150 hitter to get to Richie…

    Tell me THAT doesn’t hurt a man’s pride.

  50. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 6:55 pm

    Nice 2B there, Beltre. I wonder if Hunter were in center, would he have gotten to it?

    Walking Turbo for Big Sexy…is a double play very likely, or just automatic?

  51. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 6:57 pm

    It’s tough to judge with Manny because you can never be sure you’re getting his full effort but yeah, I’d put him as slow also.

  52. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 6:57 pm

    (I gave the “very likely” option, because Sexson could strike out, rather than ground out.)

  53. jimmylauderdale on April 12th, 2008 6:57 pm

    Even Turbo gets the IBB ahead of Sexson… that has got to be a slap in the face to Richie.

  54. msb on April 12th, 2008 6:59 pm

    NO DON’T MENTION MEAT AND POTATOES YOU’LL MAKE HIM HUNGRY

    which reminds me of Batgirl’s name for Silva’s former Twins teammate, Dennys Sampler Reyes.

    (”It took careful consideration; he had to sample every dish at Dennys numerous times to really settle on a favorite. Should he be Dennys Smothered Cheese Fries Reyes? Dennys Moons Over My Hammy Reyes? Dennys Original Grand Slam Reyes? But what about the delightful BBQ Chicken Dinner? Or the succulent and savory T-Bone Steak and Shrimp? It’s so hard. However would he decide? Really, he wanted to honor all the dishes, and there was only one way to do that”

  55. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:00 pm

    Lets go Wilk! Make everyone feel good inside.

  56. msb on April 12th, 2008 7:00 pm

    Brad, I don’t ask for a hit, I’d take a HBP, really I would!

  57. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 7:01 pm

    Feel that, Richie? That’s your pride biting you in the behind.

  58. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:03 pm

    You got a 3-1 count, Brad…so you take the “manly man” approach, and ground out rather than an RBI walk. Good for you.

  59. ocelot on April 12th, 2008 7:04 pm

    Well, the “meat and potatoes” of our order sure did a good job there with 2nd and 3rd with one out…

  60. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:04 pm

    58- Hard to walk on a strike.

  61. mksh21 on April 12th, 2008 7:05 pm

    seriously on any 3 ball count Wilkerson has does he really think swinging will produce a more positive result than do nothing?

  62. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:06 pm

    59 – I retract my previous statement…but not the bitterness about wasting a bases-loaded opportunity.

  63. mksh21 on April 12th, 2008 7:07 pm

    well at this point there is a 13% chance he will get a hit. I gotta think the odds of walking or the ump making a bad call resulting in a walk are at least a little higher.

  64. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:08 pm

    Silva, you practical joker! Breaking your ex-teammate’s hand, classic prank.

  65. Axtell on April 12th, 2008 7:08 pm

    I wonder how many times the hitter ahead of Sexson has been intentionally walked this year? I can count three in just the past few games.

  66. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 7:08 pm

    Do the Bartman?

  67. msb on April 12th, 2008 7:09 pm

    ah me. Silva needs to get his head back in the game.

  68. joser on April 12th, 2008 7:09 pm

    crapcrapcrap

    Kotchman is like the M’s Kryptonite. Every year there’s some guy who tees off against the M’s way out of proportion to his numbers against everyone else.

  69. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:09 pm

    Boy, that’s $64 million dollars spent well, Bavasi.

  70. msb on April 12th, 2008 7:10 pm

    ahem. all together now.

    AJ woulda had that.

  71. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:10 pm

    So the Mariners have a surfeit of slow players. Also, you forgot Olerud.

    Not to mention, those two legendary Mariner speed demons Bone and Blowers.

  72. joser on April 12th, 2008 7:11 pm

    Ok, on fangraphs the score is now tied but the M’s are still at 53% WE. Is that just because they get to bat last in the 9th? Is 3% the measure of the “home field advantage”?

  73. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:12 pm

    70- Because the M’s still have 3 more outs then the Angels.

  74. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:15 pm

    Thanks Angels announcers. Yes, I’d rather hear about the Dali Lama than Kenji Johjima’s at-bat. Losers.

  75. joser on April 12th, 2008 7:15 pm

    Makes sense.

    Ok, another question: did Aybar’s no-look double-play get on the webgems?

  76. msb on April 12th, 2008 7:16 pm

    I thought I remembered this, from 2005:

    “A serious hamstring injury blew a hole in his season, and once he returned to the lineup he was, he now admits, “playing on one leg.” Last winter, Ibanez decided to break down the way he ran and do whatever it took to improve his style and performance.

    “With the hamstring injury I had last year, I had to re-invent the way I run,” Ibanez said. “I was an awkward runner. Now, I’m a much more efficient runner. I worked with a trainer this offseason on running. I’m quicker now. I don’t know if I’m faster, but I’m quicker.”

    “Basically, it was a lot of stretching and strengthening, but it was also learning how to run correctly. I had an over-stride, I was firing off the wrong muscles – they said it was an act of God my hamstring hadn’t blown out years before. By spring training, I was running smoother and without pain.”

  77. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:16 pm

    71 – You mean Vidro, Sexson and Lopez? How do they give us a win advantage?

  78. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:17 pm

    I bet the Dalai Lama could hit better than Sexson, though! :)

  79. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:19 pm

    76 – Well, we all know that the Lama has a big golf swing…..I wonder if that would translate to baseball?

  80. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:20 pm

    Johjima….juuuuuust a bit high there, big fella.

  81. joser on April 12th, 2008 7:22 pm

    Should’ve had the Dali Lama throw out the first pitch.

    I bet he’s faster than Raul.

    Of course, he can levitate, so that’s kind of cheating.

  82. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 7:22 pm

    Well, either Raul is an experienced veteran who knows how to play the game but is unfortunately saddled with a lack of speed…OR…he’s actually quick but he doesn’t know how to field his position properly.

    Either way, when we see him chase balls that have dropped in front of him, we all wish he was our DH instead of our LF.

    (And it’s a rough April for Kenji so far, isn’t it?)

  83. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:27 pm

    Sorry for the pessimism, but blowing that bases loaded opportunity last inning looks even worse now. Can’t leave runs on the field against the Angels.

  84. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 7:32 pm

    No matter how you shuffle them, the way they’re hitting Sexson, Wilkerson, Vidro, and Johjima can suck the life out of any rally.

  85. Axtell on April 12th, 2008 7:33 pm

    I’m not watching the game, but on gamecast…how did the angels score run #3?

  86. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 7:36 pm

    Professional Turbo Hitter.

  87. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:36 pm

    Timely piece o’ hittin’ there, Turbo!

  88. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:36 pm

    Take that professionalism us seamheads!

  89. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 7:37 pm

    good thing Vidro’s a professional hitter. That gives him the ability to get a single in that situation.

  90. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:39 pm

    OMG, Richie — when it ACTUALLY counts for something! :o

  91. Slippery Elmer on April 12th, 2008 7:39 pm

    Sexy?!

  92. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:39 pm

    Funk Blast!

  93. Spike Owen on April 12th, 2008 7:39 pm

    Sexy time

  94. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 7:39 pm

    Feel that, Richie?

    That’s pride reminding you that THAT’S what you’re being paid to do.

  95. Slippery Elmer on April 12th, 2008 7:40 pm

    M’s are Roxetting Garland, who appears to be fading like a flower.

  96. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:41 pm

    Sexy strong. Sexy hit ball hard. Sexy like no strike out. Sexy happy.

  97. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:41 pm

    I am so happy this is Garland instead of Lackey or Escobar.

  98. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:42 pm

    He’s too sexy for his…bat!

  99. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 7:47 pm

    He’s too sexy to guard the line.

  100. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 7:50 pm

    He’s too sexy to let that ground ball through.

  101. Terminator X on April 12th, 2008 7:52 pm

    The fact that Ibanez has a poor range factor does not prove that he’s slow. It proves that he has a poor range factor. I’d have a terrible range factor if I played LF at Safeco, but I’m faster than most, if not all, LF in the majors. The thing is, I can’t read balls and I can’t get good jumps.

    Now I’m not saying Raul is or is not fast, I’m just saying that a poor range factor isn’t proof of it.

    36 – Love it. That’s some quality heckling right there.

  102. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:52 pm

    Silva’s deal with the devil continues…as he slithers his way out of another am.

  103. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:53 pm

    And, once or twice in his career, he may that little ball up “on the catwalk” — in Tampa, that is!

  104. jspektor on April 12th, 2008 7:54 pm

    Pretty Excited to see the Angels looking so badly … wow they have HUGE holes and are not the team of last year.

    It look’s like the M’s are the cream right now

  105. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:55 pm

    98- I think you can assume since Ibanez is a professional baseball player, and LF, that he can get good jumps and take proper routes on a ball. Hard to get in the majors if you can’t field a position properly.

  106. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 7:55 pm

    This is the second game in a row that Blowers has said “how can you not love the joy that Yuni plays with?” Seems kind of like Vidro’s skills spawning from his “professional hitter” status. Yuni is good because he has joy.

  107. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:56 pm

    YEAH GARY MATTHEWS JR!!! YEAH “NOT TORII HUNTER!” YEAH BEER!!!

  108. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 7:56 pm

    *Should have been hit that little ball up “on the catwalk,” that is…but in any event, I’ll admit it was a reach.

  109. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 7:57 pm

    103 — And an extra “yippie” to Betancourt and Ichiro, too.

  110. G-Germ on April 12th, 2008 7:58 pm

    Come on Mac! Not another Lopez Sacrifice!! Noooo…..

  111. Terminator X on April 12th, 2008 7:58 pm

    I’m wondering if Betancourt’s got some sort of nagging injury. He had a little hitch in his stride on that run home. Don’t have Tivo on this tv though so I can’t go back and watch it again to figure out exactly what was wrong, but it sure looked like he was favoring his right leg. Could possibly explain his seeming loss of range.

  112. cougar9000 on April 12th, 2008 7:58 pm

    Yuni is that he might have joy. Blowers 3:16

  113. djw on April 12th, 2008 7:59 pm

    Ibanez probably isn’t as tragically slow as Edgar, Olerud, or Vidro. on a 1-10 ML scale, I’d say they’re 1’s, whereas he’s a 3.

    His crappy defense is a combination of mediocre reads and finishes, and below average (well below for an OF) speed.

    That’s how it seems to this observer, I’ve got no magic stats to back it up.

  114. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 7:59 pm

    I guess we will just have to get use to one of our hottest hitters sac bunting all year.

  115. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 8:00 pm

    102: Judging from that assessment, I think Blow must’ve gone over to Qwest between innings to listen to the Dalai Lama.

  116. G-Germ on April 12th, 2008 8:00 pm

    I have seen the same strategy all year with the Mariners. Mac calls for a sac bunt and the opposing team then intentionally walks the next batter.

  117. ocelot on April 12th, 2008 8:01 pm

    DARNIT. We have a DH who has no power, and we bunt with our hottest hitter.

  118. Mike Snow on April 12th, 2008 8:02 pm

    I guess we will just have to get use to one of our hottest hitters sac bunting all year.

    I’m guessing if he was swinging away all those extra at-bats, he might not look like one of our hottest hitters any more.

  119. hub on April 12th, 2008 8:02 pm

    What Blowers essentially said: “Decreasing your Run Expectancy by .2 runs is ‘Winning Baseball’.”

  120. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 8:03 pm

    Or he could be hotter, Lopez has had a lot of quality AB’s this year. No reason to think Mac can guess his poor AB’s and then makes him sac bunt.

  121. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 8:05 pm

    114- OR he said: “Decreasing your Win Expectancy is ‘Winning Baseball’.”

  122. hub on April 12th, 2008 8:07 pm

    121 – That too.

  123. UofMichgoMs on April 12th, 2008 8:08 pm

    Does anyone else just think of underwear when they see “Chone” Figgins.

  124. jlc on April 12th, 2008 8:09 pm

    I have seen the same strategy all year with the Mariners. Mac calls for a sac bunt and the opposing team then intentionally walks the next batter.

    See how well the sac bunt works. We even get an extra base runner out of it! ;)

  125. J.L. White on April 12th, 2008 8:10 pm

    With Matthews playing the way he is, McLaren can get away with all the retarded bunts that he wants. (I hope that was the last one, though.)

  126. Terminator X on April 12th, 2008 8:15 pm

    [dupe, I tried to pick the one that seemed to be the more complete post]

  127. Terminator X on April 12th, 2008 8:18 pm

    I think you can assume since Ibanez is a professional baseball player, and LF, that he can get good jumps and take proper routes on a ball. Hard to get in the majors if you can’t field a position properly.

    Completely illogical, and don’t assumptions like that go against the number-based statistical analysis that this site is all about?

    Obviously he’s in the top hundredths of the whole population in terms of fielding ability. But everything I’ve seen indicates that he gets bad jumps (relative to his peers… aka other pro outfielders, not minor league players and chumps like us). You can’t just say “he’s a pro player, he gets good jumps and runs good routes”. For one, it’s far more complex than “good” and “bad” (not meaning to be condescending, I’m sure you know this as well). Maybe he does get good jumps, but not as good as other players do and not as good as he could be getting.

    All I’m saying is that there are many factors that go into range factor. Speed, routes, jumps, etc. You can’t just assume that it’s speed because you want to, or that you think it’s the most likely case. I’m not discussing this on a Raul is/isn’t fast, I’m speaking logically. I’d make the same case for everyone. You’re being illogical and making assumptions that may or may not be true, and that flies in the face of what this site is about. That’s my point.

  128. Paul B on April 12th, 2008 8:19 pm

    Who would have predicted, in the early innings of this game, that Silva would still be pitching in the 8th?

  129. msb on April 12th, 2008 8:21 pm

    and fwiw, he doesn’t claim to have had speed, only that he learned how to get a quicker start off on the basepaths, for example, and to run with more economy.

  130. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 8:23 pm

    Andrew Jones may get the best jump and have the best reads and is widely regarded as being one of the top OFer’s in the game, but he is certainly NOT one of the fastest. Range Factor is not based on speed alone.

  131. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 8:26 pm

    seriously, just watch a game. Trust me, Raul in LF looks like he’s hauling road grading equipment.

  132. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 8:28 pm

    Range Factor is not based on speed alone.

    I think Bone may have been evidence of that back when he was playing.

  133. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 8:28 pm

    RAUUUUL!!

  134. rsrobinson on April 12th, 2008 8:29 pm

    Rauuuuuul. Man, he’s killing the ball.

  135. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 8:30 pm

    speaking of Raul. WOOO!

  136. Slippery Elmer on April 12th, 2008 8:30 pm

    Rauuuuuuuuul can raise his slugging average quicker than Rosie O’Donnell can eat a cheesecake.

  137. Jar on April 12th, 2008 8:30 pm

    Raul is killin it!

  138. gwangung on April 12th, 2008 8:31 pm

    Andrew Jones may get the best jump and have the best reads and is widely regarded as being one of the top OFer’s in the game, but he is certainly NOT one of the fastest. Range Factor is not based on speed alone.

    Yuppers.

    So, what’s YOUR evidence that Raul is of average speed? He’s certainly not that nimble on the base paths.

    (Though, given his batting lately, it’s not of major concern)

  139. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 8:31 pm

    seriously mr smartypants, I keep bringing up his pure running speed, not his fielding ability. He is not as slow as you want to make him.

    In a flat out race from home to home, I bet he would beat you without knowing anything about your athletic ability. You could be a track star and I’d be wrong, but I betting your not.

  140. rsrobinson on April 12th, 2008 8:32 pm

    Do we see Silva in the ninth with a five run lead?

  141. hub on April 12th, 2008 8:33 pm

    In a flat out race from home to home, I bet he would beat you without knowing anything about your athletic ability. You could be a track star and I’d be wrong, but I betting your not.

    How does this have anything to do with how Ibanez rates against other MLB players? This is no different than saying Bloomquist is a slugger because he could rake a baseball better than me.

  142. jlc on April 12th, 2008 8:35 pm

    Yay, Rauuuuuul for the hitting. Ugh for the incredible chaw.

  143. pgreyy on April 12th, 2008 8:36 pm

    They had Rowland-Sm and SG up in the 8th.

    Then Silva gets through the 8th pretty quickly, so they sit both of them and they start warming up Mark Lowe.

    Then Raul’s blast takes away a save opportunity, so they sit Lowe and get Green up again.

    Mac DOES love his “roles” doesn’t he?

  144. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 8:36 pm

    seriously mr smartypants, I keep bringing up his pure running speed, not his fielding ability. He is not as slow as you want to make him.

    In a flat out race from home to home, I bet he would beat you without knowing anything about your athletic ability. You could be a track star and I’d be wrong, but I betting your not.

    MLB athletes are near the top of the populace in overall athletic ability, but I could probably beat Ibanez in a footrace.

    I have no idea why you’re so invested in trying to make us believe that Ibanez is some sort of track star. All you have to do is watch him run. He’s useful because of his bat, but watching him run is pretty painful.

  145. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 8:37 pm

    127- I don’t see hardly any of his jumps due to watching all the games on TV where once we see Raul in action he has already made his jump. Also a jump is only a fraction of a second, in the next few seconds Raul is running after the ball.

    I agree that range factor leaves a lot to other parts of Raul’s game. But let me try this one out. We would all agree Raul, Manny, Dunn are all slow correct? They are all in the bottom 5 of +/- ratings last year. Eric Byrnes and Ryan Church are considered fast, top 5 rated. Since we do not have 40m times on players we must use other things we do know to rate speed such as SB/CS, Range Factors. I agree this is just my opinion and since I don’t have a running stat available I am going to use what I have available to state my opinion. I don’t see how I am being illogical if I have looked at the information available to me and made a reasonable assumption. Illogical is saying “oh Raul missed that one pop fly he musk be slow”.

    Just because we don’t have a running stat doesn’t mean I can’t make an educated guess on a topic.

  146. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 8:37 pm

    I think you’re right that a track star would, indeed, beat Raul in a flat out race. I’m not sure how I would compare to him in a footrace, but luckily, that’s not the issue. I’m saying that he’s not fast enough to get to balls in left field. If you want to watch some baseball games and make a valid argument without resorting to insults and naysaying, I’m sure everyone would hear you out.

  147. gwangung on April 12th, 2008 8:37 pm

    I keep bringing up his pure running speed, not his fielding ability.

    Which is stupid. The comparison is NOT with the general population. It’s with other major league players (and better yet, other outfielders).

    Again, I ask. What’s YOUR evidence? And don’t bring up bad criteria–that you keep on doing that makes me doubt that you know what you’re talking about.

  148. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 8:39 pm

    Ah, Richie…you just had to figure out a way to derf an above-average night, didn’t ‘cha?!

  149. gwangung on April 12th, 2008 8:40 pm

    127- I don’t see hardly any of his jumps due to watching all the games on TV where once we see Raul in action he has already made his jump. Also a jump is only a fraction of a second, in the next few seconds Raul is running after the ball.

    Well, at best, such poor range factors would indicate that Raul has, at best, average speed…do we really think that someone with above average speed and poor routes and jumps would be given an outfield job, even with the Ms?

  150. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 8:41 pm

    Then why is it that a few have to bring up the topic of Raul’s speed in every game thread? It gets tiresome to have the same comments over and over. OK, I concede, Raul is slow, so do we continually need to bring it up?

    I’d just like to see a few more positive things around here. That’s two pretty great games played against the Angels.

  151. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 8:43 pm

    149- No, my argument earlier was that if your in the major leagues you know how take a proper route to a baseball and get a decent jump in most cases. I was told assuming major league baseball players know fundamental skills you learn in high school is not what this site is about.

  152. Jeff Nye on April 12th, 2008 8:43 pm

    You want positivity?

    BAM!

    Seriously, the whole “why are you all so negative” thing comes up about ten million times more often than Raul being slow.

    Sorry.

  153. mr.smartypants on April 12th, 2008 8:45 pm

    Sigh, if you’re implying that people on this website aren’t excited to see the M’s beating the Angels, you’re a little late. But I think everyone is pretty happy to see them win today and yesterday, and especially to see everyone on the team get a hit.

  154. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 8:46 pm

    See Jeff, I don’t get this? Ponies? Is that some kind of slam? Please explain it to me because I clearly don’t get it!

  155. BringUpBalentien on April 12th, 2008 8:47 pm

    M’s Win! Finally….took Green awhile…but if I am correct, m’s are now in second, the tie being broken by the head to head record. M’s win!

  156. scott19 on April 12th, 2008 8:50 pm

    I’ll take a series win against the Halos any day.

  157. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 8:50 pm

    Nothing better then a chance to sweep the Angels.

  158. 23daysfordavis on April 12th, 2008 8:53 pm

    153, when did I ever imply that? Please explain the pony thing to me and what it is supposed to imply?

  159. joser on April 12th, 2008 8:56 pm

    Sigh, if you’re implying that people on this website aren’t excited to see the M’s beating the Angels, you’re a little late.

    And slow.

  160. joser on April 12th, 2008 9:02 pm

    They had Rowland-Sm and SG up in the 8th.

    Then Silva gets through the 8th pretty quickly, so they sit both of them and they start warming up Mark Lowe.

    Then Raul’s blast takes away a save opportunity, so they sit Lowe and get Green up again.

    Mac DOES love his “roles” doesn’t he?

    Yes, he’s obsessed with it, and it’s the thing that’s pissing me off more than anything else about this team. If he has a management “philosophy” this is it. You don’t expect much imagination from a manager, but you don’t expect them to handcuff themselves this much. After the Baltimore debacle:

    “We’ve got versatility (everywhere),” McLaren said. “But right now it’s not doing us any good. We’ve got to wait for guys to find their roles. Right now, we’re doing the best we can. And it’s not working out.”

    You’re the manager. That means you manage. You don’t just sit back and wait for things to “work out.” Apparently McLaren only knows how to do one thing: slot guys into roles (which means any 3-year-old with a holes-and-pegs game is qualified to be a McLaren-level MLB manager). And you can only slot guys who have “found” a role into that role, not into any other, and you can’t slot them anywhere until they find that role. And they can’t find a role unless they play, but they can’t play unless they have a role. Have I got that right?

    This explains so much about the bench and bullpen.

  161. Terminator X on April 12th, 2008 9:20 pm

    149 – And MY argument earlier was that there are varying degrees of “proper routes” and “decent jumps”. Some players get better routes and better jumps than others. I’m no whiz on defensive knowledge on players, but everything I’ve read says that Raul gets poor jumps on balls, though I know nothing of his route running ability. All I’m saying is that there is more that goes into range factor than pure speed, which is pretty undeniable. Therefor, range factor alone does not prove whether or not a player is fast, because there are other factors that go into it as well.

    Yes, those are fundamental skills that people learn in high school, but some players are still better at them then others. It’s entirely possible that Raul is on the lower end of the spectrum of those as well. The logic of “he’s in the MLB, therefor he knows how to field” is comparable to “Vidro is one of only a dozen or so MLB players paid exclusively to hit, therefor he must be a good hitter”. No, not exactly the same, but it’s still poor form to make assumptions like that.

  162. HamNasty on April 12th, 2008 9:34 pm

    161- I agree there are a ton of factors and those factors vary. But I am stating my opinion on certain stats that will generally point me in the direction that Raul is slow. We all know W-L and ERA are awful stats, tons of factors and things can happen. But if you look at the leaders in ERA and W you get close to a list of top FIP, minus the unlucky pitchers. Since we do not have speed stats the best I can do is look at fielding, SBs, and use my eyes to guess. Is it perfect? Not even close. Is it good? Thats arguable, I would say its not that good but it is the best we can do to make informed opinions.

    I understand your argument completely about how it is just an assumption. But I am using multiple sources of information and making the best guess I can. I would say that is much better then just guessing from no information.

  163. Typical Idiot Fan on April 12th, 2008 9:41 pm

    I’d just like to see a few more positive things around here. That’s two pretty great games played against the Angels.

    Why’s it a problem to maintain our focus on our weaknesses? If we sit back and accept them because of some flash in the pan results, then they’ll eventually catch up with us (and already have in some circumstnaces).

    Strive to improve, always.

  164. Jake N. on April 12th, 2008 9:58 pm

    Do not look now but Sexon is hitting .244… If Ichiro gets into a grove with the Middle raking the ball the way they are, we will have an offense!
    Anyone know what Bedard’s Numbers are like verses the Angels. Would be comforting to go to bed tonight knowing he was like 6 and 0 with a 0.66 era, I know wishfull thinking.

  165. MrIncognito on April 12th, 2008 10:21 pm

    Maybe instead of agreeing that Raul is slow, we can all agree that he is bad at all skills related to speed, such as fielding, base-running, and stealing bases.

  166. shortbus on April 12th, 2008 10:28 pm

    Raul is fueled by your derision. The more you hate, the farther he hits the ball.

    As to DMZ’s comment about Vidro hitting fifth. I like him there more than in the 2 hole. Hitting fifth he’s more likely to come up with a guy on second or third and two outs, so his high singles, high DP schtick works. Having him come up after Ichiro hits a leadoff single makes Vidro’s no-power, high ground ball tendency bad news.

  167. Rick L on April 12th, 2008 10:33 pm

    Raul’s OPS is 1.196 after tonight’s game. That is pretty damn good, small sample size notwithstanding. He is a competent fielder if he can get to the ball. Since he is not that fast (although I would put money on him to win a race against Vidro, and Sexson) I think he would be one of the best DH’s in the league.

  168. shortbus on April 12th, 2008 10:43 pm

    Small sample size + early season stats = On Pace For! Raul is On Pace For 67.5 Home Runs!!

    Seriously, though, the most amazing stat from tonight’s game is that Silva gave up 11 hits and a walk and only three runs. That’s pure luck. Combined with Kotchman’s 1 HR, 1 2B performance should make us very wary when left handers face Silva at Safeco. As predicted by this blog’s authors when he was signed…Silva will have trouble with left handers at home.

  169. joser on April 12th, 2008 10:57 pm

    Anyone know what Bedard’s Numbers are like verses the Angels. Would be comforting to go to bed tonight knowing he was like 6 and 0 with a 0.66 era

    What, because the number of the beast is important to you? (How does almost ten times your wish sound?) ERA is a team stat anyway and he’s on another team (and the Angels have changed a couple of key guys too). I mean, his career ERA in Safeco is 5.22 (all of 5 games). But hey, it’s not like these are hard to look up:
    vs ANA: (1-3) in 5 starts, 27.2 IP, 6.18 ERA, 20 K, 14 BB, 2 HR, .376 BAbip

    Among Angels notables, Torii Hunter has a career 1.307 OPS against him (19ABs), Garret Anderson .875 (16ABs), and Vladimir Guerrero 1.302 (15ABs).

    So no, if you’re looking for something to encourage your wishful thinking, the numbers are not for you.

    On the other hand, he’s in a different, more pitcher-friendly park, with a different team fielding and batting, and the Angels don’t seem to be quite what they were last year (at least, not yet). Unfortunately, it looks like they get K-Rod back for Sunday so let’s hope the M’s continue to score early and stay ahead.

  170. housedjbo on April 12th, 2008 11:05 pm

    Good thing Norton was there, we might have been in deep trouble were it not for Norton.

  171. ProdigalReality on April 12th, 2008 11:12 pm

    Raul once ran a 40. Coaches decided to use a sun dial. He ran out of time.

  172. msb on April 12th, 2008 11:23 pm

    What, because the number of the beast is important to you?

    pshaw. everyone knows that they got the number wrong (which has got to be kind of embarrassing if, say, you had it tattooed on your forehead in an attempt to look really evil)

    If Ichiro gets into a grove with the Middle

    is that some sort of Lord of the Rings/Entish kinda thing?

  173. jspektor on April 13th, 2008 1:16 am

    go m’s … angels look horrible

    lets go bedard

  174. Jake N. on April 13th, 2008 6:37 am

    [coherent thought and communication is not as hard as you make it out to be]

  175. msb on April 13th, 2008 8:13 am

    Would love to see Seattle rape there bull pen and send them out wounded.

    you want them to turn the bullpen into a forage crop for sheep and hogs?

  176. jlc on April 13th, 2008 9:09 am

    [coherent thought and communication is not as hard as you make it out to be]

    If only that were true where I work.

  177. djw on April 13th, 2008 9:25 am

    He is a competent fielder if he can get to the ball.

    Isn’t this a clever way of saying something that sounds nice but doesn’t actually contradict the claim that he’s one of the worst defensive outfielders in the league?

  178. mw3 on April 13th, 2008 9:26 am

    172-Classic.

  179. mw3 on April 13th, 2008 9:27 am

    175-Also classic.

  180. BurkeForPres on April 13th, 2008 9:57 am

    99, I know this is a day late, but I haven’t laughed so hard all weekend. Thank you for that.

  181. msb on April 13th, 2008 11:05 am

    hey– the Old Man is pitching on TBS. it is still wired to see non-Braves games over there.

  182. msb on April 13th, 2008 11:08 am

    um. wierd. nobody looks particularly wired.

    although kindly Uncle Dan Haren giving moral support to the little lad from the Biys & Girls club is kind of … wiredly wierd.

  183. joser on April 13th, 2008 12:05 pm

    Well, if those matchup numbers I posted worried you, there’s good news:

    No Bedard today (same hip inflamation)

    Cha Seung Baek gets the start.

    Also: Cairo at 3rd (Beltre has a sore leg), Morse in right field, Burke catching.

    My prediction of 180IP for Bedard this year is starting to look high….

  184. joser on April 13th, 2008 12:16 pm

    Hey, look:
    Bedard vs ANA: (1-3) in 5 starts, 27.2 IP, 6.18 ERA, 20 K, 14 BB, 2 HR, .376 BAbip
    Baek vs ANA: (0-2) in 2 starts (4 games), 16 IP, 4.41 ERA, 9 K, 6 BB, 1 HR, .283 BAbip

    It’s an upgrade! ;)

    vs Baek — Vlad 1.000 OPS (10 PA), Garret Anderson 1.850 (5 PA), Casey Kotchman .858 (7 PA)

    Yay for small sample sizes :)

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