Comments on: Game 139, Mariners at Rangers http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/ Seattle Mariners and general baseball discussion with David Cameron and Derek Zumsteg Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:17:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: mln http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299244 mln Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:51:36 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299244 Happy belated No-Run Support Day! (Sorry, Felix) Happy belated No-Run Support Day! (Sorry, Felix)

]]> By: joser http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299243 joser Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:23:34 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299243 Hey, it could be worse. How many fans turned up to see two no-chance teams in mid-day Texas heat? How many showed up in Miami to see the Braves play the Marlins in sweltering Florida humidity? About <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2008/09/03/21346_recap.html" rel="nofollow">600</a>. Or it could be even worse. We could be wondering if the Mariners were going to get renamed the Bison. Or the Energy. Or the Wind. Or the Barons. Or the Marshalls. (The Marshalls? Wasn't that a 60's girl group?) Only to discover they're now called the <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/09/03/bc.bkn.okla.city.thunder.ap/index.html" rel="nofollow">Thunder</a>. Hey, it could be worse. How many fans turned up to see two no-chance teams in mid-day Texas heat? How many showed up in Miami to see the Braves play the Marlins in sweltering Florida humidity? About 600.

Or it could be even worse. We could be wondering if the Mariners were going to get renamed the Bison. Or the Energy. Or the Wind. Or the Barons. Or the Marshalls. (The Marshalls? Wasn’t that a 60’s girl group?) Only to discover they’re now called the Thunder.

]]> By: andrew_s_c http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299242 andrew_s_c Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:57:44 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299242 We won't know Balentien's true talent level until he's given the opportunity to start regularly. We won’t know Balentien’s true talent level until he’s given the opportunity to start regularly.

]]> By: Sports on a Schtick http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299239 Sports on a Schtick Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:21:13 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299239 Fucking crappy ass offense. Fucking crappy ass offense.

]]> By: Evan http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299238 Evan Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:54:51 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299238 <blockquote>September performances don’t matter. Good teams realize this. Stupid teams and the media do not.</blockquote> But it's worse than that. Even if the small sample size and "major-league competition" were informative, September stats still would matter less than, say, May's stats because September stats are produced playing against uneven opposition (due to all the callups). They're almost spring training stats.

September performances don’t matter. Good teams realize this. Stupid teams and the media do not.

But it’s worse than that. Even if the small sample size and “major-league competition” were informative, September stats still would matter less than, say, May’s stats because September stats are produced playing against uneven opposition (due to all the callups). They’re almost spring training stats.

]]> By: Adam S http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299235 Adam S Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:15:22 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299235 <i>It’s not Safeco that is hurting Balentien it’s the sporadic playing time.</i> Is that really it? Is it not his true talent level that's the problem -- that he's basically a replacement level player to 4th OF? It’s not Safeco that is hurting Balentien it’s the sporadic playing time.
Is that really it? Is it not his true talent level that’s the problem — that he’s basically a replacement level player to 4th OF?

]]> By: DarkKnight1680 http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299234 DarkKnight1680 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:09:03 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299234 In regards to Hubbard and Lahair, Lahair hit 288/367/423 in 246 PAs in AA before moving up (age 23 season) Hubbard hit 289/369/421 in 272 PAs in AA replacing Lahair (exact same stats, age 24 season). The following year, stuck in AA, hubbard hit 270/361/447 in a full season (553 PAs, age 25 season) but stuck out 135 times. This year, some adjsutment must have been made, because in 365 PAs (missed some time with a small injury) hes hitting 291/407/505 for a 912 OPS with just 63 Ks against 56 walks. I don't know what they saw in Lahair that made him move up so quick while Hubbard stays in AA, but it doesn't make much sense to me. In regards to Hubbard and Lahair,

Lahair hit 288/367/423 in 246 PAs in AA before moving up (age 23 season)

Hubbard hit 289/369/421 in 272 PAs in AA replacing Lahair (exact same stats, age 24 season).

The following year, stuck in AA, hubbard hit 270/361/447 in a full season (553 PAs, age 25 season) but stuck out 135 times.

This year, some adjsutment must have been made, because in 365 PAs (missed some time with a small injury) hes hitting 291/407/505 for a 912 OPS with just 63 Ks against 56 walks.

I don’t know what they saw in Lahair that made him move up so quick while Hubbard stays in AA, but it doesn’t make much sense to me.

]]> By: andrew_s_c http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299233 andrew_s_c Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:57:30 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299233 It's not Safeco that is hurting Balentien it's the sporadic playing time. It also doesn't help that he only plays against LHPs and hits better against RHPs. I guess Safeco doesn't really help him though. It’s not Safeco that is hurting Balentien it’s the sporadic playing time. It also doesn’t help that he only plays against LHPs and hits better against RHPs.

I guess Safeco doesn’t really help him though.

]]> By: Joe http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299232 Joe Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:40:49 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299232 Yes, Felix got the loss pitching a 1-run game into 8 innings in Texas. And as gwangung says, we're going to be treated to idiots all offseaon (more than a few of them on the national stage) pointing to his W-L record and calling him over-rated. Yes, Felix got the loss pitching a 1-run game into 8 innings in Texas. And as gwangung says, we’re going to be treated to idiots all offseaon (more than a few of them on the national stage) pointing to his W-L record and calling him over-rated.

]]> By: Joe http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/03/game-139-mariners-at-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-299231 Joe Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:38:39 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=5997#comment-299231 There are things that can be done -- coaching, adjustments, process, etc -- and AFAIK Clement is doing them (he's reputed to be one of the hardest-working guys on the team). But process takes time, and the amount of time is unpredictable. And if his (.325/.373/.416) August is anything to go by, it is starting to pay off (that puts him <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=c&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=80&type=1&season=2008&month=8" rel="nofollow">7th</a> in OPS amongst the 19 AL catchers who had at least 80 PA in August). Balentien, on the other hand, is just not suited to Safeco. There are things that can be done — coaching, adjustments, process, etc — and AFAIK Clement is doing them (he’s reputed to be one of the hardest-working guys on the team). But process takes time, and the amount of time is unpredictable. And if his (.325/.373/.416) August is anything to go by, it is starting to pay off (that puts him 7th in OPS amongst the 19 AL catchers who had at least 80 PA in August).

Balentien, on the other hand, is just not suited to Safeco.

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