Game 155, Mariners At Rays
Dave · September 26, 2010 at 10:06 am · Filed Under Mariners
French vs Shields, 10:40 am.
James Shields, my pre-season pick for the Cy Young, has given up 33 home runs this year, most in the American League. Thus, despite a pretty sweet 3.70 xFIP, his ERA is 4.99. He’s significantly better than that mark might tell you, and so you shouldn’t be surprised when he mows down the M’s today. He’s actually one of the best pitchers in the league.
Ichiro, RF
Figgins, 2B
Lopez, DH
Gutierrez, CF
Smoak, 1B
Mangini, 3B
Bard, C
Halman, LF
Josh Wilson, SS
Brown semi knows what he is doing. Still playing Lopez though :/
What’s the chance the Rays trade Shields and we are one of the pursuers? They have a rotation next season of like 7 strong and Shields is turning 30 soon. We need another starter and I’ve been in love with the idea. His high HR rate would be a perfect fit for Safeco.
And so ends the Mike Carp Left Fielder era.
I have fewer complaints with this line-up. I still think Langerhans should get a turn at DH – his HR rate is better than Lopez’ (as low as that bar is, admittedly), and his OPS is better too.
People have been wanting to see Halman, so here’s your chance…
There are still a few more games, and Brown is still the manager…
So a cynic might say Figgins bunted in the 1st to prevent Lopez from having an opportunity to hit into a double play…
Mangini, 3B YAY! I was hoping they’d give him a start at third.
Halman, LF Very good.
Lopez, DH Oh well, you can’t have everything.
Looking at batting average, the two teams’ lineups look identical today. Apparently, the Rays are so scared of the M’s, they let everyone rest playing us. Plus their guys have offensive value outside their batting averages.
Carp in leftfield? Brilliant!!!!!!
The child announcer is getting on my nerves.
Three of our last four batters have reached, but nothing to show because Lopez is batting third.
Chuck “Family Friendly” Armstrong will have one next season.
I don’t know whether another Mariner would do better right now, but I am so tired of watching Ichiro and/or Figgy get on base – only to watch Lopez end the inning.
Well, Maddon probably figures that if he needs to get some of his guys rested before the post-season anyway, then why waste them against a AAA team?
That has to hurt when you don’t have an ounce of fat. Uh oh, I’ve had a brainshare with Blowers. Definitely been a long season.
Man, even Rizzs is saying that the M’s desperately need some bats next year…
When he’s finally getting around to questioning the all-encompassing wisdom of the HowChuck Continuum, then you know it’s been a bad season.
I’d say go for it since Lopez is just going to ground out, but we don’t really want to see a play at the plate with poor Ichiro right now, do we.
Oh ye of little faith. Even Lopez can hit that.
Mangini has had some issues throwing to first today – is it just nerves, or is he a Tui-caliber defender?
Dave is still calling the TV side in the 5th? I bet the radio listeners are pissed.
WOW…an actual piece of clutch hitting by Jose “Reggie” Lopez?! Amazing!!
I hate the umps this year.
Then again, who does MLB want to win this game? The pathetic Mariners or the Rays, thus keeping this division close down to the wire.
WTF? Do the umps have an issue with Mangini? He got a bum call when he was doubled off last night, and now he had the tag down in time.
Well, at least French got one out before blowing the lead.
It’s so nice to see a talented, well-managed team play.
Things I won’t miss when the season’s over: The Anchorage ad for a sporting goods store with the script of a hot girl interviewing for a job like something out of the Penthouse letters. Too bad she’s not attractive and none of the participants can act their way of a sopping wet bag. Have to mute the porn music every time.
PAPERBOY!
Whhha-the-a?
The Paperboy???
OMG!!!
Josh Wilson?
Josh Wilson !!!
There’s why I never griped aobut Saunders hitting ninth.
If you are batting 9th in this lineup with RISP, you should get something to hit. 2 outs, men on second and third almost guarantees it.
Hmmm…I wonder why Ron Washington is so reluctant to pitch Cliff Lee against the M’s in the upcoming series? It’s not as if this lineup can actually do any damage against him.
Smoak seems to have benefited from his time down in AAA. His at-bats aren’t nearly as painful to watch.
They must want to win this game. Cortes in, not Sweeney or some of the other chaff in the bullpen.
Huh. I’d say 2 for 4 is fairly painless.
Cortes!
I was just remembering when we traded for him – his strikeout rate was absurd. Now he seems to be the guy we’d hoped for. Even when he doesn’t get a hit, he no longer looks lost and/or frustrated up there.
Okay, Brandon – how about an easy inning?
Is that the Dan Johnson who played for the A’s? If so, he used to be so much larger. Players just continue to shrink…so odd.
Yay! Mariners win!
Well, now – that was nice!
What are you implying? I’m sure it’s just a new training regimen… 😉
Heck, remember back in the 1990s when it seemed like the entire A’s team all looked like fireplugs? Not that they were the only culprits; I just remember how those guys in particular all seemed to have “that” look.
Nah, it was probably just a few too many trips to GNC for those, uh, “vitamin shakes.” 😉
It was good to see the dugout shots where Felix was enjoying himself, clowning around with Cortes. Maybe it helps him to see that the future might actually be bright…
I suspect he wants Lee to pitch the first playoff game. I’d loved to have seen Felix vs. Lee, but Washington probably cares very little about the remaining regular season games.
Thanks, Westy. I hadn’t thought of him actually setting his playoff rotation already a week and a half out, but that totally makes sense (kind of like when Lou ran Denny Stark out to start Game 161 of the 2001 season).