Game 71, Cubs at Mariners
Wells vs Lee, 7:10 pm.
At this point, it’s probably wise to treat every start by Lee as if it could be his last as a Mariner. We’re five weeks from the trade deadline and the team is still 13 games out of first place, even with the recent winning streak. Every start Lee makes for Seattle is one he can’t make for a contender, and the offers are likely to be better now than they may be in a month. Remember, the Indians traded CC Sabathia on July 7th two years ago for that very reason. Maybe Lee makes his scheduled start next Tuesday against the Yankees, but if this weekend goes badly and some team offers Jack a deal worth making, maybe not. Take advantage of watching him pitch while you can – he won’t be here much longer.
Ichiro, RF
Figgins, 2B
Bradley, DH
Lopez, 3B
Gutierrez, CF
Josh Wilson, SS
Kotchman, 1B
Johnson, C
Saunders, LF
Watching the Mets/Tigers game while waiting for the M’s to start, and according to the ESPN analysts, we should be crying in our beers that the M’s lost R.A. Dickey. They’ve been gushing about him for about two innings straight.
That’s so depressing. I’m really going to miss seeing the guy. It’s been a real treat.
Yeah I was watching that game and laughing. They were making it sound like the guy was now one of the premiere pitchers in baseball. They also made it seem as if his knuckleball was faster than a Strasburg fastball.
Why does Wak insist on putting Lopez in the cleanup spot? Lopez has NEVER posted a positive RAA. He has never posted a wOBA above .330. His BB% has actually regressed the past two years. He has a great contact%, but a pathetic O-swing% around 34%. He isn’t on the team for his defense, or his stubby legs. He has had plently opportunities to turn-it-around, similar to Betancourt. Jose has not changed anything about his approach, in fact his approach is worse than four years ago. Pitchers have taken notice he sucks, and are throwing Lopez the fewest fastballs he has ever (not) seen. I would be elated if Lopez is not an Mariner tomorrow morning.
Kotchman, Johnson and Bradley … oh my!
Come on Cliff Lee shutout.
Richie Sexson’s last season with the M’s > Casey Kotchman
Except for the defense.
Speaking of which . . . .
Nice Doubleplay to escape the inning.
Surprised that Jack W is on the pine. Any explanation from Wak? Not that I mind.
It’s okay, it’s fine, every pitcher will give up home runs. As long as you keep them to solo shots, that’s as much as you can hope for.
Or that’s what I’m told.
The pitchers who face the Mariners are given different information about the likelihood of giving up home runs.
Wilson…..WILSON!…. now we get to look forward to Kotchman leading off the next inning for the automatic out…
Not the Lou I remember. That base would have been on 1st Avenue if this were 2000.
KOTCHMAN REGRESSES TO THE MEAN!
(If only for one at bat?)
(I’ll take it!)
Ladies and gentlemen, Rob Johnson.
It takes so little to entertain me these days. Like seeing another team suffer the bad inning.
Ichiro with a nice base hit for some RBIs.
I wish Milton would hit a homer to shut up the cubbie fans.
Milton looks pretty out of synch right now.
Am I the only one that misses Dan Wilson?
As we watch Cliff Lee’s masterfulness, we must remember that this is the same guy who was sent down three years ago. Which is to say, players can overcome problems and become consummate professionals. It’s just really, really rare.
I’d take Rita Wilson at this point.
Well Lopez, your UZR just took a shot to the junk…
Do my eyes deceive me, or was that a Rob Johnson hit?
Apparently it’s International Blind Squirrel Day. Kotchman with an RBI. Johnson with a hit.
More seriously, these Cubs can’t field well, can they?
What’s the deal here with the ‘celebrities’ in the booth? Do they think we’re that bored? (Not that we aren’t, but still.)
Wow, Nicholas Turturro! Maybe Beau Bridges will show up next week.
Handing Cliff Lee the ball with a 5-run lead is like handing Phil Ivey pocket aces four hands in a row.
The dude will kill you with that much of an advantage.
Saunders = the truth
We really need to kick that Saunders kid back to AAA and bring back Junior.
Saunders!!!! SO glad he is finally flashing some power this year! With a win tonight the M’s will move to 11-10 in June.
That Canadian kid can swing the bat!
Once again, this guy should not be hitting 9th. He belongs somewhere between 5-7, depending on the opposing pitcher. Wak needs to open up his game.
Like this:
Figgins
The Annointed One
Guti
Bradley or Sweeney
Lopez
Saunders
Josh
Catcher
Kotchman
Ridiculously weak for MLB, but the best the current M’s can set up.
Wow another complete game for Lee? This guy is too much fun to watch.
How about we resign Lee. Build off a Lee Fernadez pitching staff and scramble for another bat.
I don’t want prospects for 2012, win NOW BABY! Or at least next year.
Who would you rather have for the next 3 years (@ $18 million/year), Ichiro or Cliff?
115 pitches, 90 strikes, 25 balls. Cliff Lee is awesome. I have no more words.
Cliff won’t sign.
But Cliff.
Cliff Lee: 76 SO against 4- FOUR!- walks for the season.
I am really, really going to miss this man when he’s gone.
But if this was his last start in a Mariners uniform….what a way to go.
We don’t know what teams are offering Jack Z, but this should be Lee’s last start as a Mariner. His value will never be higher — he’s clearly healthy, he’s thrown two great games in a row, but most importantly every start he makes as a Mariners is one start (1/4 – 1/3 win) he doesn’t make for his new team. As well, the law of averages suggests that some teams that are interested now will run off a bad streak and won’t be interested in three weeks.
I’ll miss him, but please please trade him ASAP and get someone who can help when the M’s might be contenders.