A couple of six game winning streaks

DMZ · May 16, 2008 at 8:00 am · Filed Under Mariners 

“All the Mariners need to get back in this is a couple of six game winning streaks.”
– fans

The M’s are 16-26, and the division leaders in the AL West are 24-19 and 23-19 respectively. That’s only eight games, right? How hard could it be?

M’s run off a six-game win streak starting tomorrow, sweeping both San Diego and Detroit. 22-26. Then they lose one to NY and start another six-game win streak (through the first game of the Detroit series at home). They’re at 28-27. Lose a game to Detroit on the 31st to set up the next win streak (28-28), win the first one of the next six (June 1st, still against Detroit) before they face the Angels.

The Angels, in the meantime, have fifteen games in that time. Figure they go 8-7. They’ll be at 32-26. Going into that series, having reeled off two consecutive six-game winning streaks and starting on a third, the M’s are 5 games back. And forgive me if I’ve blown this, I wrote it up while swapping back and forth between schedules.

Sweep three games against the Angels for games 2-4 of this streak.

M’s 31-28, Angels 32-29. Complete the six game win streak with two games in Boston, finish it with a loss, and June 9th they’re headed out to Toronto, 33-29, as the Angels recover from that drubbing with three games against Oakland, a great matchup in the suddenly fascinating three-way divisional race. They’ll come out at 34-29.

Three six game winning streaks starting tomorrow and the Mariners catch up to the Angels. 18-3. And then all they have to do is run with the Angels and Oakland for the rest of the year to get into the playoffs.

Comments

51 Responses to “A couple of six game winning streaks”

  1. dcmarinerfan on May 16th, 2008 8:06 am

    “All the Mariners need to get back in this is a couple of six game winning streaks.”
    – fans

    What is this winning you speak of?

  2. Tek Jansen on May 16th, 2008 8:08 am

    Well, if that’s all it takes, where can I purchase my playoff tickets?

  3. bakomariner on May 16th, 2008 8:09 am

    I’d be happy if they could have a two game winning streak at this point…

  4. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 8:10 am

    1 – That was me – I will take full responsibility for this bold claim

  5. Jimmie the Geek on May 16th, 2008 8:11 am

    AWESOME!

    I have an idea to help spur the team on on this quest. they should put up a cardboard cut-out of their female owner in the locker room, and for each win they can take off a piece of taped-on paper clothing.

    Oh, wait… never mind, let’s just trade for Griffey!!!!!!!!111111ONE11

    Jimmie

  6. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 8:12 am

    and ohhhh man, I have a feeling I will be eating my words like they are clams by the end of this thread. :)

  7. Mike Snow on May 16th, 2008 8:17 am

    The last time the Mariners started a winning streak that lasted as long as six games, Griffey was in town. Obviously this is a sign that we need to bring him back.

  8. Utah911 on May 16th, 2008 8:20 am

    YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE!!

  9. Steve T on May 16th, 2008 8:27 am

    So, who’s going to be scoring these runs we’re going to be winning these games by?

  10. NBarnes on May 16th, 2008 8:28 am

    I don’t believe in fairies.

    *refuses to clap*

  11. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 8:28 am

    [ot]

  12. msb on May 16th, 2008 8:35 am

    so, what, thats like a .1538 winning percentage?

  13. Gomez on May 16th, 2008 8:37 am

    Which fans are these? Are these people calling into KJR and spewing, or are these otherwise smart fans who are misguided in their thinking?

  14. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 8:40 am

    14 – Actually this fan is this guy right here. That original post wasn’t a joke … I really do believe if we put together about 4 or 5 6 game winning streaks we will be back in this thing STAT.

    “It could happen” – Angels in the Outfield.

  15. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 8:41 am

    But don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it will happen.

  16. argh on May 16th, 2008 8:45 am

    Could we just go for one 18 game winning streak? Those losses in the middle will just make me nervous.

  17. everett on May 16th, 2008 8:47 am

    Wouldn’t it be easier if we just won every game the rest of the year? It seems to me that’d solve quite a bit.

  18. SexsonMendoza on May 16th, 2008 8:51 am

    That’s a nice fantasy there. Unfortunately, opposing teams aren’t likely to cooperate and let a bad team beat them. If only in the real world the M’s weren’t such an easy team for opposing pitching to shut down, didn’t have such awful middle relief and commit so many errors.

    Since they were 20 games over .500, 73-53, back on August 23 of last year, they have gone 31-47 since. That’s a 78 game stretch by an exposed team, or just 3 games shy of a half a season. No reason to believe they won’t continue at about this pace of wins-losses for the remainder of the season.

  19. DKJ on May 16th, 2008 8:55 am

    If only this were polo, and they could play on pony-back. Than I am SURE they will win, and win them ALL, argh.

    Then the Angels, As and Rangers will be the ones who need towels – to wipe the baby tears from their bawling eyes.

    It’s a beautiful day.

  20. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 8:56 am

    18 – C’mon now … let’s look at the bright side:

    3 game set with the second worst team in baseball
    Fresh off a GWRBI from Cairo, Wash gets the save (although this has done more harm than good)
    Weather forecast: 85 today, 90 tomorrow, 72 on Sunday

    What more can you ask for than two crappy teams playing each other, summer-time girls in the beer garden and a beautiful day at the ball park (or three days for that matter) – I know I’m going today and sat.

  21. bakomariner on May 16th, 2008 9:08 am

    20-

    Try living in Bakersfield, CA where this weekend it’s supposed to be 103 today and triple digits all weekend…fresh off the Blaze taking two of three from the High Desert boys…at least I won’t be at the park in that crazy heat…

  22. mkd on May 16th, 2008 9:26 am

    That screen shot of the Ms home page asserting we were about to win our third game in a row against Texas has given me an idea.

    Why not just take the fantasy that we are a contending team to its logical conclusion and simply embrace the fantasy. If 8 years of GWB and a year of HRC have taught me anything, it’s that manipulating perception can often force reality to conform to the manipulated perception. So let’s create a completely separate reality wholly independent from the facts.

    The Ms should just start claiming on their website that we won games we actually lost. Big headlines about “Ms on a roll” and “Ms take 3 of 4.” They could post fake standings and stats and feel good stories: “Hot hitting Cairo heads to first All-Star Game.” We here at USS Mariner could do our part and endlessly discuss the Ms turnaround and the collapse of the Angels and how it’s 95 all over again and then bitch endlessly about the media not picking up the story.

    At first the media wouldn’t catch on, but eventually, after we wear them down with accusations of anti-Northwest bias, they would start bending over backwards to prove their “objectivity.” By August we could have espn.com running headlines that read “Ms in First?” and by September no one would know who was actually winning the division. Bud Selig would be forced to adjudicate, and in the end decide that a one game playoff between the Ms and Angels is in order.

    So, when you think about it, all we really have to do is win that one game. And if we wind up losing that game- we just show up in Tampa ready for a division series our website claims we’re in (”Ms win! Ms Win! Ms Win!). It’ll take big brass balls, but together we can bluff our way into the playoffs.

  23. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 9:28 am

    The Ms should just start claiming on their website that we won games we actually lost. Big headlines about “Ms on a roll” and “Ms take 3 of 4.”

    That is an unbelievable and hilarious. I am in full support of just pretending we won games that we lost. HAHAHAHA

  24. bakomariner on May 16th, 2008 9:39 am

    [yes it was]

  25. bakomariner on May 16th, 2008 9:42 am

    24- My spelling and grammar was terrible there…sorry…

  26. bergamot on May 16th, 2008 10:07 am

    How many six game losing streaks will it take to finish the season below the team’s record worst .350 winning percentage?

  27. beckya57 on May 16th, 2008 10:18 am

    If I wasn’t sure this was written with tongue planted firmly in cheek, I’d figure you’d lost your mind. 6 game winning streaks are HARD, and there’s absolutely no reason to think this team is capable of one, let alone two. The most important requirement for winning streaks is a strong starting pitching staff, and the good news for the M’s in that dept begins and ends with Felix. Bedard is underperforming (I still think he’s still hurt), Silva’s been only ok, Batista has been wildly inconsistent, and Washburn’s been himself. ‘Nuff said.

  28. Spanky on May 16th, 2008 10:25 am

    Okay…I want to suspend reality and take a ride on the Mariner fairyland train for a moment. If I were to, who would catch fire to help carry the M’s? The pitching hasn’t been all that awful. The offense and defense has been the main culprits. Who is going to magically turn around their current trends to magically change this team?

    Beyond that, it has to be more than one. When the M’s made their magical comeback in ‘95…it took contributions from everyone…from starting pitching to role players and those off the bench.

    The thing is, even if each of these players were to resume playing at their peak levels…I don’t see them playing more than .600 baseball the remainder of the year.

  29. jro on May 16th, 2008 10:33 am

    Absolutely. I mean, with the M’s losing the last 8 series, how hard can it be?

  30. MtGrizzly on May 16th, 2008 10:37 am

    So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance?

  31. terry on May 16th, 2008 10:45 am

    Thats why they play the games.

  32. Jeff Nye on May 16th, 2008 11:04 am

    Thats why they play the games.

    What is the “that” you’re referring to?

    Because you know, I’ve been wondering why they play the games, but I just can’t figure it out.

  33. Ollie in Raleigh on May 16th, 2008 11:15 am

    Oh that rapier wit…

    Here’s to the start of the first 6 pack of wins! Or at least the start of my six pack.

    Go M’s!

  34. Carson on May 16th, 2008 11:18 am

    But don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it will happen.

    I’m not sure I understand the point of making a claim if you yourself don’t think it is feasable.

  35. donger on May 16th, 2008 11:29 am

    Now that the plan is in place, all they need to do is execute. Who executes best? Gritty veterans of course.

  36. Steve T on May 16th, 2008 11:56 am

    Screw the Mariners, if I could just get some winning lottery numbers everything would be fine.

  37. papajoe1974 on May 16th, 2008 12:04 pm

    Even Griffey in his prime couldn’t get this team to the playoffs. How is he going to help us now (other than to fill seats)?

  38. Xteve X on May 16th, 2008 12:10 pm

    “I really do believe if we put together about 4 or 5 6 game winning streaks we will be back in this thing STAT.”

    I’ll be surprised if this team can put together more than one three-game winning streak all year. The offense is far too inconsistent and lacking in overall power.

    Funny thing, even the 1980 and 1983 teams which each lost 100+ games managed a longest win streak of 4 and 6 games. I really wonder if this year’s team will be capable of stringing 4 wins together.

    If they can’t accomplish it against our hated rivals the Padres … not sure they could do it against anyone.

  39. joser on May 16th, 2008 12:54 pm

    Several six-game winning streaks? Man, someone is absolutely mainlining ponies.

  40. msb on May 16th, 2008 1:00 pm

    oooh, apparently Furness falls on the just-a-winning-
    streak-or-two-away side, and is ready to talk about it at 1:00 …. nah.

  41. jspektor on May 16th, 2008 1:29 pm

    38

    I think we all agree that

    4 or 5 6 game winning streaks

    is impossible or improbable at best …

    im just saying … just sip up some brewski’s at the pyramid ale house, go to the game and boo their team … or ours, which is what I will be doing.

    I love baseball though.

  42. Sentinel on May 16th, 2008 1:34 pm

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha… heh… woooo… that was funny, Derek. Are you gonna be here all week?

  43. north on May 16th, 2008 2:15 pm

    Some Brit named Tolkein did some great fantasy writing too.

  44. geo on May 16th, 2008 2:17 pm

    I’m no math wiz but wouldn’t winning the next three series by 2-1 while the Angels lose the next three by 1-2 put the M’s 4.5 games out on May 25? Is that so bad? Or is this thread one big inside joke that I am completely missing? Seriously, this is not sarcasm. 111 games would seem like a lot of time to make up 4.5 games.

  45. CaptainPoopy on May 16th, 2008 3:05 pm

    Geo-

    While we’re not statistically out of it, it would almost take a miracle to get us back in it. Take a look at Coolstandings.com and you’d understand that our odds are quite astronomical. Now, you said;

    I’m no math wiz but wouldn’t winning the next three series by 2-1 while the Angels lose the next three by 1-2 put the M’s 4.5 games out on May 25?

    The problem with that is, you’d also need the Rangers AND the A’s to both go on a losing streak at the same time as the Angels. I just don’t see that happening. If the Angels lose 2-3 in a row and we win 2-3 in a row, who’s to say that the Rangers or the A’s didn’t do the same. That means that we’re (relatively) still in the same position.

    In order to pull this off, we’d need a 1995 miracle. Won’t happen.

  46. joser on May 16th, 2008 3:53 pm

    Let’s review the 2001 season, shall we? Overall, that team won at a .716 clip. Its worst months were June and July, when it went .667; in April, when it went .800, it only had one run of 6+ wins (Apr 19- Apr 28, 9 wins). Overall, it had five streaks of 6+ wins (May 9 – May 17, 8 wins; May 23- June 8, 15 wins(!); Sept 5 – Sept 19, 7 wins; and Sept 30 – Oct 6, 6 wins). Of course it had lots of runs of 4 and 5 wins, but the point being — you have to be good to have streaks like that. Oh, yeah: you can’t lose in streaks like that, either.

  47. mkd on May 16th, 2008 4:01 pm

    If you switch the coolstandings.com settings to “dumb” mode our odds of going to the playoffs jump from 2.4% to 7.7%. Awesome! I’ll bet if you set it to “retarded” it would jump to 14%. And if you set it to “Bavasi” (ie “persistent vegetative state” mode) it would jump to 34.2%. Not even “clump of dirt” mode gives us a better than 50% chance of getting in. We suck.

    That’s why I say we need to concentrate all our efforts on willfully rewriting reality. It’s the only way we’re ever gonna get to the playoffs. In fact- I’m gonna go update our Wikipedia entry right now. League Best ERA here we come!

  48. mkd on May 16th, 2008 4:06 pm

    Cool- somebody beat me to it. The last headline in the Ms Wikipedia timeline reads:

    2007-Present: Return to Contention

    That’s the spirit! Screw the reality based community. We don’t read history- we make (up) history!

  49. zugzwang on May 16th, 2008 4:56 pm

    mkd — brilliant ideas. Let’s gin up some experts and have hit the media to repeat the mantra that the so-called “standings” do not reflect the essential qualities of baseball teams. Let’s find some metric that we excel at, like, say, balls put in play on pitches outside the strike zone.

  50. joser on May 16th, 2008 5:25 pm

    Well, yeah. What are wins and losses anyway? The standings are just numbers. They’re just stats. And we all know that stats only matter to guys sitting in their parent’s basements; they don’t reflect what really matters on a real baseball team, among guys who have actually put on a jock and spit out some chaw. They can’t capture the intangibles in the ballclub, the heart in the players, the grit in their play. They’re just meaningless numbers! In the land of Joe Morgan, we can all be winners if we just want it enough!

  51. tomas on May 17th, 2008 12:46 am

    This is one of those win 1, lose 5-6, win 1,, lose 5-6 teams.

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