Game 64, Mariners at Padres
Felix Day! Yayyyy! Against our hated natural rivals the Extremely Boring San Diego Padres. During the draft, I was bugging Dave (because he didn’t have enough to do and I was watching my super-fortified version of USSM do pretty well against the unwashed internet hordes (you)), and we both kept cracking up when Harold Reynolds would go off on the Padres, who he insisted needed to draft an athlete because they were boring.
Because
a) draft coverage is amazingly hilarious (why do they have charts if all the players are off the charts? Can’t they just get larger charts? of course the guy just drafted is a ballplayer, that’s why they don’t draft mascots, though that might help the boring Padres)
b) he was totally right. You think the M’s are boring? The Padres are super-boring. They’re the unwatchable Mariner teams of recent years boring except they don’t have Ichiro, who I guess is a clubhouse cancer after all now that the team’s swooning, though he wasn’t holding them back when they were doing well… I’m confused again. Anyway.
It’s interesting that the Padres hit a little better than the M’s, but the M’s play vastly better defense and have better pitching. Imagine the 2004-2005 Mariners with one more hitter and two fewer pitchers. Actually don’t, it’ll only hurt your brain. So Betancourt’s back in the lineup too, which is… behind Lopez? And Gutierrez is eighth?
I don’t understand. If anyone can explain why Gutierrez, who with no bat is still somehow hitting better than our middle infielders, doesn’t get moved up the order, can you please let the rest of us in on the secret?
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You know the old coaching/broadcaster cliche…you have to put a fast runner with an average bat at the bottom of the order so that he can be like a 2nd lead-off hitter at the bottom of the lineup.
Uummm…yeah right!
Wow, that was one of the most meandering, digressive, amusingly stream-of-conciousness posts ever at USSM. (And that’s saying something). I don’t know if we need to start having drug tests around here, but I’m pretty sure you left a parentheses open (which means the light is still on in the subordinator and the aside is going to spoil).
And then have the pitcher bunt him over? So that Ichiro can bat with a guy on 2nd and one out? And Branyan to clean up?
But, it’s 11.
Oh no! did I miss something!? I thought he was still ok, because (as Lash Larue tells us) he is happy again.
I guess it depends on which reliable, professional source of information you rely on, which is crazy, because I thought the whole point of having professional sources of information is that their access and insight produced verifiable truth but holy crap if they disagree with each other (kaboooooom)
Or maybe Ichiro is now a clubhouse cancer because he’s happy and interacting with people and we’ve had him wrong this whole time and it’s the distant Ichiro that puts teammates off and sabotages the team but that can’t be true because then (kabooooooom)
Can I just say I’m happy the M’s drafted the one North Carolina player smart enough to wear a real batting helmet because apparently a lot of the Tar Heels do things, uh, a little differently.
and it isn’t even the bullpen.
Considering this lineup, Felix could probably hit sixth or seventh. With his eyes closed.
Also from the CWS: the things some athletes will do to show off the Nike logo.
SHUT UP BILL KREUGER NO ONE IS GOING TO CALL FELIX “BIG CAT”
Felix must hate the approach of interleague play this year. Every PA is going to diminish his perfect 1.000 / 1.000 / 4.000 line from last year.
We could start calling Kreuger somethinglike “Big AssCat,” though.
What’s with the “Big Cat” stuff anyway? That name is already taken.
It’s funny i was thinking the same thing about Gutz, and the only thing i can figure is that they needed some type of bottom of the line up security and with his speed it could make for a great duo with Ichiro at the top of the line up… i don’t know it’s the best i could come up with.
SSS of course, but Felix’ career OPS is higher than all the starters except Beltre, Ichiro, Branyan, and Griffey.
Is anyone there? Creepy how empty it is. Wow, I’ve never seen Beltre run that fast! Has he been reading my ragging about how crappy/slow he runs?
I couldn’t even read that article about Ichiro=cancer, or for that matter journalist=real thing/blogger=makin’ shit up, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to find all the bits of my brain after my head blew up.
Did Felix get hosed on that first at bat? The tracker showed all the pitched in the strike zone.
Don’t look now, but the Texas bats have woken up again.
Bottom of the 1st: I. Kinsler homered to deep left
Bottom of the 2nd: I. Kinsler homered to deep left
And he’s their leadoff guy.
Something surreal about seeing ‘Tony Gwynn’ pop up on the screen in a Padres uniform.
Angie has been beating the drum for Felix the Cat again.
imagine 2014 when “Griffey” returns to the line-up.
I think it would be hard enough to be a major league player with a father who is a legend, let alone playing in the same city where dad is adored.
A Boone sighting!
Boone, serious analyst of franchise fortunes.
And he mentioned a son in Little League, so there’s more Boones to come there.
So I was reading this rather good piece about Pujols over at Deadspin, and I got to musing about that post-2011 world. “Mets, yeah, I could see it,” thinks I, “Or the Red Sox, definitely. Man, it must really suck to be in either of the East divisions, knowing that the biggest bats are going to show up there eventually. Boy, am I glad the M’s are in the AL West. It’s not like there’s a big market team that could…. oh, shit.”
Yeah, I know it’s years away. Yeah, I know Pujols might not still be Pujols by then. Yeah, I know that even though the only contract running through 2012 the Angels have now is Hunter, they’ll be on the hook for more by then. I know. But welcome to my personal little nightmare of the day: It’s 2012, the world hasn’t ended, the A’s are still stuck in the coliseum in Oakland, but the revamped M’s are facing a Pujols-enhanced Halos team….
But hey, maybe by then the M’s and the Angels will be the Yankees/Bosox-like powerhouse rivalry of the AL West, with terrifyingly good rotations, stacked lineups, smart management, deep pockets, brutal head-to-head games, and down-to-the-wire pennant races every year. Wouldn’t that be fun?
At least he doesn’t have that stupid frosted hair anymore.
He needs to shut up.
So just when we have our chemistry issues all tidied up, Boone has to show up again?
Frankie’s homeruns are always so weird. They don’t look like they’re going to go out, and then, gone.
Okay, can we hire Boonie for the on-air job, and get rid of one of these annoying voices like Blowers?
I know there are some folks who are annoyed at Boonie, but I just don’t get it. Yeah, he’s arrogant, but it’s all done with a wink and a smile. It’s like he’s letting you in on the joke, while still being the typical jock who thinks the world of himself.
It’s a better act than the false humility that so many of ‘em put on.
Gutierrez: Speak softly. Carry big stick. Kill flying things.
I hate you, David Eckstein. With your stupid batting stance and your being all short.
And Boone was actually the last guy who could make Ichiro smile.
I never thought I’d be saying this, but lately I’m missing Gil Meche a lot.
God, I’ve not been paying attention. Is Eckstein on the Padres? I hate him so much, it’d be good to have him off an AL team so I don’t have to look at the world’s oldest Little Leaguer.
He must have had magic fingers.
God, this is going to be a boring series. Good thing we have the lead and are technically winning.
I don’t like seeing Felix half-ass his way halfway down the line. Gotta run that out. Or hit a home run.
Reportedly Griffey makes Ichiro laugh about every day by sneaking up on him with an “attack of the tickle monster”. Drayer says he often does it when Ichiro is in some crazy contorted stretch and she feels Griffey is going to end up hurting Ichiro.
I love watching Felix half ass it down the line. That way he won’t get hurt trying to put his foot on a base.
And Boone was actually the last guy who could make Ichiro smile.
Maybe, but if you actually subscribe to the clubhouse chemistry stuff, then it’s his jealousy of Ichiro that set us on the path to last year’s implosion.
BELTRED
Yay Beltre!!! This game has an outside chance of clocking in under two hours.
Alright, just back from the gym and have to read back through the comments but… I feel like I noticed a lot of offspeed stuff while sweating. Yay!
Death to Flying Things!
Was that a groin pull wince from Frankie??? I swear it looked as though he caught that ball behind his back before the slow-mo replay showed otherwise.
Hey! NO discussion of all those curve balls and whatnot from Felix?!
Umm…
“Matinee idol looks”!!! Hee.
Easy now Lauren. It was a catch of beauty though.
He’s been able to throw his curveball for first pitch strikes and knockout punches. Thrown some really nice sliders, and he is locating his fastball. Really a great performance.
Blowers just brought up the RZR for Gutierrez during the broadcast.
Sorry Lauren, as you can see we were wrapped up in a critical discussion on the all-important topic of chemistry.
Griffey’s still in the game???
Probably in case he bats in the ninth. If we don’t see Chavez out there in the bottom of the ninth, it’s a black mark against Wakamatsu.
I hope he gets up, gets on, gets pinch run for, so it’s not so much of “hard decision” for the manager. But either way, Griffey’s day in the outfield is over.
Will Felix obey his manager? So far…0-2…and no!
Ackley had two more hits than SD and the M’s combined so far today/tonight.
Get a walk, Felix! Run those bases!
HAHAHAH! Felix!!!
OK, that was awesome. I love watching our pitchers hit regardless, but that was awesome.
Now, that’s humiliating. Your pitcher walks and you strike out.
No way that was strike three.
Is Felix throwing phantom pitches at 1B?
How much you want to bet that if Felix struggles in the bottom of the ninth, Blowers/Dave S. will say it’s because he “had to run the bases”?
What was a fast game has slowed to a slug’s pace…although is oddly humorous now.
There are few things that make me happier than watching that little jerk make an error.
Hehehehe what a wacky inning so far.
wow i was about to get up and walk away from the game but holy crap griffey with Basesloaded!
So that’s why Griffey stayed in.
Its a Wakka Inning!
If I am reading a Mariners clubhouse story, I’ll buy Larry Stone on the subject over Tracy Ringolsby
You’re welcome.
Okay, now the rest of you M’s get out and let’s finish this in style.
Indeed, Breadbaker, nicely done.
Yes yes, excellent.
Yeh Felix! Curves, sliders, chage ups, and a fastball. Yes!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Felix was superb; he always saves his best for the hated Padres.
Huzzah! Two-hit shutout!
Angie Mentink needs to stop trying to make jokes.
Also, if I see one headline about “Griffey has 2 RBIs in Mariners’ victory”, someone’s getting strangled.
Wow, great performance by Felix tonight. I’m curious (and too lazy to look it up), when’s the last time the M’s had a pitcher throw a CG SO?
Felix is good.
That was a thing of beauty, what Felix did tonight.
Bill Kroger is such a ass! Angie without the clevage is hard to take as well.
Looks like Washburn, June 2007
“Felix Day” shout-out to USSM from Pittman
The Associated Press it ain’t what it used to be:
So the wins over the Giants? Just in my imagination?
I’m going to guess the reporter was confused after counting up the Padres’ interleague losing streak, because San Diego was in the sole NL-only series during that initial round back in May.
Just got back to my hotel…awesome, awesome game by Felix…nobody, I mean NOBODY in my section knew who the hell he was…I heard, “Who the hell is this guy,” more times than I can count…they know now…
Griffey was getting nothing but love from the crowd…that was cool…
I got a great photo of the first homer…was explaining the rules of baseball to Irish tourists went Beltre went deep…
Great, great game…I’m hoping for more of the same tomorrow night…
I just got home as well… that was a pretty sweet game. Felix was dealing. It was my 10 month old son’s first game, so I was kind of glad it was relatively short.
After the game though some guy in an Orioles polo behind us said he had to thank us for sending Adam Jones over… jerk.
Almost got Mike Sweeney’s autograph afterwards… just cause he was the only one out signing. But then his wife and kids showed up and he stopped. Oh well.
Actually, it was in August of ‘07 when Weaver (in one of his three decent starts) blanked the White Sox on five hits.
Darn…I was so tempted to say it was Felix’s brilliant one-hitter against the Red Sox from earlier that year, too — maybe ’cause tonight’s game was just about on par with that one.
Great job tonight, Felix!
I disagree wholeheartedly about the insinuation of the M’s/Padres “natural” rivalry being boring. Sure, the games haven’t meant much in terms of relevance to playoff pushes, etc., but the series has been very competetive — and last night was a great indication of that.
Am I the only one who enjoys this matchup?