Game 28, Mariners at Indians
DMZ · April 30, 2008 at 3:05 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Can’t find a full lineup yet, but apparently Turbo’s hitting 5th and Wlad’s 7th, so why not guess at the rest, it never changes.
CF-L Ichiro!
2B-R Lopez
LF-L Ibanez
3B-R Beltre
DH-B Vidro
1B-R Sexson
RF-R Balentien
C-R Johjima
SS-R Betancourt
Comments
159 Responses to “Game 28, Mariners at Indians”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
USSM uses and recommends
Pitching against the hottest pitcher in the game.
1 run allowed in 31.2 innings.
Welcome to the bigs, boys.
ahhhhhh.
it was so frustrating, seeing both a Beltre Appreciation thread and all the moves going down, with no way to get to the site
That lineup is correct according to espn gameday.
Cleveland counters with
G Sizemore CF
J Carroll 2B
V Martinez 1B
R Garko DH
C Blake 3B
F Gutierrez RF
K Shoppach C
J Michaels LF
A Cabrera SS
How long before Wlad bats ahead of Sexson?
Won’t that be embarrassing…
That Cleveland lineup looks weak. They need the Hafner/Pronk of two years ago to compete.
Makes you realize that there are other teams in this league with problems.
Best of luck to the M’s rooks.
Turbo still in the 5(black)hole? Why bother calling up both of the kids then? I need to make a sandwich to calm my nerves.
Lee! Lee! Regress to the mean! Regress to the mean!
Gosh! Back to a daily righty-heavy lineup! I’m so relieved!
Who knew Third Base Coach was such a physically demanding position.
We designate Wilk after he goes 3 for 3! I thought for sure that was going to buy him another month. Kudos to the organization!
We designate Wilk after he goes 3 for 3! I thought for sure that was going to buy him another month.
No, you have to go 4-for-4 like Jason Ellison to earn the extra month.
Baby steps, my friend.. baby steps.
Pregame comments. Bavasi: “One’s at a premium position behind the plate; one’s a true right fielder.” (Wilkerson — ouch. So maybe Bavasi does notice defense, at least when it isn’t attached to a Face of the Franchise?)
McLaren: “We’ll use Vidro as an occasional DH, occasional 1st base, occasional 2nd base against tough righty matchups.” (Just shoot me now.)
Some other thoughts:
As a DH, Clement is on the bench when the team is in the field. He can learn a lot about calling a game — with these particular pitchers — sitting beside Burke and talking about what Joh is doing. And when he’s not doing that, he can sit between JJ and Stottlemyer and absorb the pitching perspective. That doesn’t help his defense, but it has some value. I’d actually hope Kenji catches (say) 5 games in 7 and DH’s another, so both Burke and Clement can catch a game every 1-2 week. Both McLaren and Bavasi stated that he’d see some games behind the plate. But I realize Clement may still be a catcher with this team in exactly the same theoretical lip-service way Morrow is a starter.
I don’t understand the timing of this. No, not the service time issue; the one-game-into-a-road-trip issue. WTF? Why didn’t these guys get on the plane with the team? What possible reason do they have for putting them on a 6am plane that just barely gets them into Cleveland in time to play? Management obviously doesn’t care about service time, so what exactly was the thinking here? Were they waiting one more day to see if Wilkerson started hitting (obviously not, since he did and they cut him anyway)? Seriously, does anyone in Mariners management plan even a day ahead? They’re like the guy who realizes he needs to go buy condoms when his girlfriend starts “showing.”
Also, this idea floating around of Clement at 1st is insane. As far as I can tell, he’s never played even an inning at that position in his professional career, and unless he put some time in there in high school it’s possible he hasn’t defended 1st base since little league. I don’t care how good an athlete he is, the M’s are an even crueler and more dysfunctional operation than even I am willing to believe if his first experience at 1st is in a game that counts in the standings.
I’m hoping the Vidro is playing today ONLY because Cliff Lee, the lefty, is pitching.
Maybe we’ll get lucky tonight…Perhaps Vidro will go 3 for 3 and then we can designate him as well…
A tip of the cap to the Front office for culling the herd. So long as Clement gets regular AB’s, as opposed to keeping Cairo company all game, I’m happy with them letting this group play. If Richie and to a lesser extent Vidro, keep it up, it might be time to again hunt the haystack.
GO M’s!
Wow, just looked at Lee’s stats again. Don’t want to be negative, but, eh…
…if only we had some kind of professional hitter to offset his great start…
Joser: Another issue about the timing: bringing them up to face Cliff Lee in their first game? He’s the best pitcher in baseball right now. Talk about a confidence killer.
Wlad will go 0 for 5 and Clement will get one pinch hit AB, and strike out.
If we expect it, it can be okay.
Jose Lopez singles in the first.
Whew.
I didn’t want to say it, but I was quietly thinking “no hitter.”
Glad that’s out.
if only we had some kind of professional hitter to offset his great start
Funny thing, McLaren was quoted only a few days ago calling Norton a professional hitter.
I know it’s a small sample, but Beltre has MURDERED lefties this year.
I think it’s high time Lee regresses to the mean.
Since I only have gamecast, can someone tell me if Beltre’s “lined out to right” was hit hard?
I don’t understand the Norton DFA, Wilkerson yes. Lee will regress to the mean…I can feel it.
23 – Yeah, hope Lee takes a huge step back cause his 1 ER and only 12 hits given up in 31 ip over 4 starts this year is ridiculous.
That was a nasty swing.
24 – It was hit hard. Easily a double if it found a gap.
As some one who played against Clement in HS, I can tell you he is one hell of an athlete. That said, he should be the 4th option at 1B with this roster scheme.
More importantly, and I’m probably the only one who feels this, the M’s should DFA Burke. Having three catchers is dumb, unless one is DHing every single day.
The reasoning behind carrying 3 catchers is that if Johjima is catching, Clement is DHing, and Joh gets hurt, Burke can catch and you don’t lose the DH. My point is that having a third catcher who’s sole job is to not play is going to hurt the team more than the one game where a catcher gets hurt and you have to lose your DH. At the very worst, you either have the pitcher hit twice or you pinch hit for the pitcher when his spot comes up in the lineup (if a catcher gets hurt, and the DH goes into catch, he retains his spot in the lineup, and the catcher’s spot now becomes the pitcher’s spot).
And if all hell breaks loose, and if Clement and Johjima both get hurt, Cairo can go catch to finish out a game. Basically, the argument is that having access to a another switch hitter (Norton…) off the bench provides the M’s a better chance at the end of games rather than protecting against the remote chance that both catchers get hurt in the same game. Plus, having only two catchers gets Clement and Joh more at bats, and decreases Burke’s and Vidro’s at bats, which is a good thing.
Ollie- I agree, I have been waiting to face Lee since he was scheduled. NO way he doesn’t regress to the mean and fast.
Jose Vidro, professional hitter!
*dude*
*seriously*
I’m really struggling to see how Turbo saved his job while Wilk didn’t. There. I said it, now I’ll leave it alone until the next time Turbo strikes out.
Crap. Stupid Sizemore HR.
Hey Washburn…. Wlad can’t catch ‘em when you serve crap up like that and it gets jacked over the fence.
Thanks huhwhat!
I wish gamecast would add a simple adjective to the out descriptions. And it would be fun to see it say grounded out weekly to 2nd.
My stomach never has a moment’s peace when Wash is pitching.
Yay my fantasy team, boo Washburn.
Wow, Indians really mixed up their lineup. Last time I saw Carrol he was winning a NL Wild Card play in game at Coors Field. Good times.
Well that didn’t take long for Wash to kill my buzz from the callups. All is right in the Mariner fan universe again.
Constant reminders that we still aren’t good even with the prospect of Clement and Balentein coming up: Vidro still sucks and Washburn is still allowing opposing hitters to hit over .301 against him.
Also the last time I saw Carrol they were spelling it Carroll. My bad.
Start warming up Baek
I think we need a new picture next to the definition of “overmatched.” It will be Washburn facing pretty much any hitter on the Indians’ roster.
Is Gameday correct, showing Wash’s Fastball and his Changeup to be in the low/mid 80’s, with only about a 2-3MPH difference between the two. That seems odd.
I see a long night for the bullpen coming. This could be 4 or 5 to Zip after 1.
My gamecast still has 0-0. Im guessing that’s not the case?
43 – No everything Washburn throws is such crap it shouldn’t even warrant readings from gameday.
45 – Nope it’s 2-0 Cle with 2 outs and a man on first.
Two Ks for Washburn: what a good inning.
28 pitch inning. Baek better start getting warmed up so he’s ready to come in in the third inning when Washburn hits 80 pitches with no outs, two in and the sacks full o’ Indians.
Thanks huhwhat.
Wladdy fits right in.
Sigh.
Welcome to the bigs WLAD
At least its not his first big league AB.
Clement’s line against lefties this year (only 23 at-bats, so small sample size theater applies):
.391/.500/.478
Turbo’s (in 22 at-bats):
.318/.333/.545
Should Clement really be sitting against lefties over Turbo?
Kenji is really struggling …
Remember that dude who was called up, played in one game where he hit into a double play and a triple play, was DFA’d, and never played in the majors again? That was, like, a profound statement about the human condition. Or whatever.
Anyway, I hope that doesn’t happen to Wlad today.
now that you mention it, yep, I remember that guy…. that game was in Boston wasn’t it?
31
Please….let’s use his full name: Turbo, Professional hitter.
53 – I think WLAD has just shown there is a big difference between AAA and the Majors – although I agree Clement should be in there over Turbo … no question.
I think we should get these young guys in on the road trip to ease them into coming back home.
I would love to see these kids kick start this offense
Don’t forget “High Guardian of the Mendoza Line”.
Once Ichiro retires he is winning 9 straight seasons of Dancing with the Stars.
I wonder if that CY CY doll has an action bobble stomach too.
JSpektor, you really think the fact someone hit one groundball shows the difference between AAA and the majors? He doesn’t even get a whole game before you jump to conclusions based on sample size that is so small even results based analysis isn’t very practical, man that’s tough.
62 – it was more of a cliche ‘welcome to the bigs’ … although there is no way you can compare clement’s hitting against LHP in tripple A with Turbo stats from the bigs.
and obviously I’m not judging him based on one AB … get out of here …
55
His name was Ron Wright. Was once a primo power/average/dh prospect with the Pirates buck he blew up his back. Nice guy. Played against him in high school. I think he hit .600 or something as a sophomore. *Glory days . . *
some days the walk home seems much longer. I’ve heard the story behind most every one on the Indians roster, what happened this day in baseball history, the history of the Indians retired numbers including the one for the fans …
I’m sure it seemed even longer as there is no Mariner offense to narrate.
Washburn walks Garko – the guy is 0 for his last 23. Good work.
Did anyone see them list Wlad as 6-foot-2 165 pounds? That can’t be right can it?
Great job, now Garko came around and scored. Wash is just flat out painful to watch.
someone forgot to tell him that he is supposed to pick up his infielders if they make an error behind him…
Please bunt off Washburn instead of a double!
Ichiro is such an unbelievable player. What a play.
I’m not ashamed of my man crush on Ichiro.
WHOOP! Bad slide, feet first and he is in there. Great toss by Ichiro!
I’d pay to just watch Ichiro make throws from center. What an awesome throw.
Will they never learn…
Hmm…you think maybe the O’s would give us Sherrill and AJ back if we unloaded Washburn on them?
On the other hand, it pains me to watch Washburn throw the ball 60 feet, 6 inches.
Does anyone have MPH for Lee’s fastball? They aren’t showing it on FSN and I’d like to know.
He really looks un-hittable eh? Strike one on almost everyone.
89-91 mph according to GameDay.
We got as many hits off Lee as anyone else this year. Ponies!
For those of us without video, how was Wlad’s single? Ichiro-esque, or a legit infield single?
I guess they are showing it, I was just temporarily blind I think.
Tough to see the M’s getting 4 runs off of Lee…
Why can the Mariners not get a hit with runner’s in scoring position. It really pains me to see so many freaking opportunities just squandered.
Man. Death, Taxes, and Washburn being done at around 100 pitches.
One thing that Dave Niehaus has always been superb at is seeing when a Mariners pitcher is tired and needs to be replaced. He set up that Martinez double as though he knew it was going to happen. I wish McLaren and Stottlemyre were as perceptive.
Yep…another very impressive Wash-outing.
Sigh.
Dave Niehaus for pitching coach!
7 K’s… thats all the good from Wash. But with Cliff Lee pitching like he is back in little league I am not sure it matters.
The next two I would like to see DFA’d.. Washburn and Dick Sexson.
Isn’t RRS a long reliever? Or was he groomed to be one until McLaren found him a “role”?
well, I assumed this would be a loss going in, but wasn’t really expecting it to be a stomping.
M’s are down to a 1% WE. I suggest everyone take the rest of the night off. The Mariners already have.
Well, Baek is not exactly “where it’s at” tonight, either.
Ichiro should have caught that ball over his head. I’m really starting to believe that he has lost half a step.
They’ll keep Baek in the game til his ERA explodes so much no one will claim him on waivers when they try to send him down.
That’s now twice in the last minute that Niehaus referred to Baek as Chien-Ming Wang…sigh.
Try listening to Niehaus only the last inning of a close game. At those times he is still one of the best.
96: Yeah, I agree. The man is going to the HOF, so I try not to diss too much.
96 & 97: My old boss used to say, listen to the tune, not just the words. Dave may mix up the words on occasion, but he never misses the tune.
WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES!!!
Consider dividends being paid immediately.
I wonder what the record is for longest baseball broadcasting tenure and not getting into the Hall of Fame.
Power. Nice! Take that regression Lee!
98: How true, Breadbaker, how true!
And I digress…
Meanwhile, nice job Wladdy!
101: Good question…
WLAD!!!!
Funk Wlad!
Yow!
101: On a related note, Scraps, I’m kinda wondering how many more heads the Twinkies’ Bert Blyleven will have to circle before he finally gets HOF consideration.
Go Wlad! In other news, am I the only one that is starting to…gasp…have slight concerns about Ichiro? I know he does the slow start thing fairly frequently, but still…
All the same, good to see Wlad doing his thing.
Scott19: The fact that Blyleven isn’t in the Hall is proof to me the Hall is a flawed system.
And is it just me, or did the mood in here lighten up considerably following Wlad’s blast?
Hey why isn’t Clement pinch-hitting for Vidro againsg the righty? It’s a lost cause anyway…great time to let the new guy hit.
I’m surprised about that…considering he’s in the game now behind the plate, anyway.
RRS: Looking for booking on return flight to Tacoma.
Actually if they wanted him to catch then they can’t let him pinch-hit for the DH or else they lose the DH and the pitcher would hit in the catcher’s spot which is coming up. This is a good move…get a look at Clement behind the plate and he’ll hit next inning.
RRS: Staying put.
RRS shows you how to get and a jam then out. Not exactly the way you want to pitch.
So looking past todays game, other than Clement’s up coming at bat, against the righty tomorrow, do we get to see the Clement and Wlad starting? Maybe the lineup of the future? I would love to see it…
I should have added “…if the next inning arrives before the apocalypse.” Hey, what are four dudes on horses doing riding through Pioneer Square?
HOUDINI for RRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone let the Cleveland fans know they don’t need to heckle Sexson, he already sucks.
112: Yeah, come to think of it, that actually does make sense.
Of course, considering some of the meager production we’ve gotten out of the DH spot this year, maybe letting the pitcher hit for himself isn’t such a bad thing these days.
After allowing Wlad’s homer, Lee’s ERA blossomed to a whopping .96.
Way to go, JC!
Holy crap Clement hit that on the screws.
Welcome to the Mariners, JC!
Thanks call ups. I actually smiled twice tonight.
Vidro meet bench. Bench meet Vidro.
118: Didn’t they get some nice years out of Bob Wickman for Sexson? It’s not like Sexson pulled a Carlos Boozer on them or something.
Speaking of Bob Wickman, I wonder if he’s available for Gas Can consideration this summer.
I don’t know if it’s really appropriate, but for the first time I am actually EXCITED about the Mariners. The excitement of the Bedard trade seemed to wear off quite fast with the injury and a couple of sub-par starts, but Balentien and Clement really give me some hope, and some hope for the franchise.
122: Do you have any idea where the phrase “Hit it on the screws” came from? Anyone else?
But seriously, it looked like a routine base hit and it carried enough to where it was almost caught. Love to see that.
I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy after a loss as I am right now. Wlad and Clement both stepping up and hitting was great to see. Hell, even Sexson got a pair of hits. Wash isn’t going to have too many more starts like that.
If the M’s can win tomorrow and take the series, I think this series could be a turning point.
That was so much fun, and so much more interesting to watch.
To think we could have had an outfield of Ichiro, Jones and Balentien.
I believe last year Bavasi said that there was “no chance” the 2008 M’s would have two rookies in the outfield. Though a lot of things haven’t worked out the way he presumably expected, or he wouldn’t be eating Wilkerson’s contract among other things, so if the Bedard trade hadn’t happened… who knows.
The one game I don’t record is the first game for Wlad and Clement this year. That’ll learn me!
Boy oh boy, nice to see the kids deliver on their call ups. Is it me or does Clement have that quiet bat and short compact swing to the ball ” dam I lost his name”. He played first for NY mets and Seatle. Tall slender first basemen, had a great swing, Olerud! It came to me. Loved him!
Yes we all have a new reason to watch the Ms for a while, unfortunately we have yet to see the team fire on all 8 pistons. The offense has a long way to go. The defense in right is at league average, but there is at least two more spots that need a upgrade, LF and 1b. Two of our starters are MIA and will not to find themselves any time soon. Our bullpen sure looks sad. And my entire summer will be spent mourning the loss of Sherrill. At this rate it will be a long season. Many more moves will be needed before my enthusiasm reaches any where near a climax…
Sure would be nice to have some pitching depth in Tacoma and a strong Pen. Die Bavasi…
It’s a golf term dating back to wooden clubs and the screws that were located in the sweet spot of the club face.
It means to hit something dead center–on the sweet spot.
I’m pretty sure this team is a V-6 at best.
And how could you forget Olerud? That’s right! I’m questioning your fanhood!
He played for someone else before the Mets…
Plus, another interesting tidbit about Olerud. Take a look at his minor league career.
137,
Are you referring to his minor league stats over at baseball-reference.com?
Now, now, it happens to the best of us. Even poor Rickey Henderson forgot he was once Olerud’s teammate!
Wait, not to bag on Geoff Baker, but just said this in his write up of the game.
Wait–are we to think that due to Baker’s Immutable Law (score four runs or less and you’re going to lose) that if the Mariners had only scored 5 runs today they would have won?
I’m confused.
140- you can’t be serious. He was obviously generalizing. I hope you’re not really confused.
Y’know, they say that for some guys, minor league stats can’t tell you how he’ll do in the Majors. In Olerud’s case, that’s literally correct.
#19
Talk about being off the mark, haha
#143
Hey at least he got the pinch hitting part right. Although I question how he thought Wlad would get 5 AB’s today…
Balentein’s HR / adrenaline based performance last night makes me wonder why Clement hasn’t already gotten the start. These kids could be the jolt of lightening that these boys need to get the job done on offense.
Clement needs to be in for Turbo ASAP …
and Wash needs to be sent packing (although its difficult when your GM signs him for 9.5 million a year.) Opposing teams are hitting .305 against him – that’s unbelievable bad.
Anyways, good to see Balentein and Clement hit.
Jake N-
You called Clement’s swing short and compact by comparing it to Olerud’s swing. Just a season ago Dave was calling Clement’s swing to long to be in the majors to be overly productive. I am in between I assume. Clement does not have a quick swing by any means, nor a overly long one. I see Clement’s swing as a thing of beauty as I did see Helton’s as a kid. The average might not be there but that swing is beautiful to watch. Mariner fans make sure to watch his AB’s!
Re: #s 137, 139, and 142 -
another interesting tidbit about Olerud. Take a look at his minor league career.
OLERUD did have a minor league career.
Until his last year, he was one of those MLB players who’d never played in the minors, but in 2005, the RED SOX sent him to Pawtucket – AAA.
BTW, according to both HENDERSON and OLERUD, that humorous story isn’t true.
I’m sure the story is true. I can see The Rickey doing something like that.
I can just picture that in my mind:
RH: “I remember there was a guy I played with in Toronto who wore a helmet out in the field.”
JO: “Yeah, Rickey…that was me!”
Hahaha 149: I remember them talking about that conversation that actually went on. So funny.
Clement and Balentien might be the spark we’re looking for. A start tomorrow for Clement at DH? Maybe? Please?
Mac said in his post-game interview that he’d be starting Clement BEHIND THE PLATE tomorrow.
The question becomes–can Pentland fix Joh’s problems at the plate before Clement’s hitting makes him impossible to remove from the line-up?
Or, maybe, can Pentland fix Joh’s problems at the plate before Pentland gets the ax?
I’m loving the kids already. It’s about time the lineup got a breath of fresh air. Even though we got our asses kicked, this game actually made me feel good. It’s much more palatable to watch a group of young, exciting guys with a bright future lose than it is to watch a group of washed up has-beens lose.
Go Wlad. Go Clement.
so– even though both Henderson & Olerud say it is just a story, and even though the Met employee who made up the story & started the urban legend confirms that it was all him, y’all are still going to believe that it happened
and maybe not just tomorrow: “‘I’m going to catch Clement (today),’ McLaren said. ‘We need to get Joh going, so I thought we’ll give him a couple days off.’”
Oops, I guess that contract extension idea didn’t lead to Johjima relaxing and hitting.