Game 28: Mariners at Red Sox
Doug Fister vs. John Lackey, 4:10pm.
John Lackey isn’t as bad as his RA might indicate, but he’s owed $15.25 million this year – and for the next three after that. While his FIP’s inflated by some HR troubles, there are other, more concerning signs that he’s approaching cautionary tale status. His swinging strike rate’s declined every year since 2005 -from 10.6% down to a Fisterian 6.1% this year. He’s walking more, giving up more fly balls, and yielding more contact. Schadenfreude’s frowned upon, but… it’s the Red Sox. An anchor contract doesn’t mean as much to the plutocrats in Boston, and the world champion Giants found a way to win despite the most infamous contract in baseball. Still, Lackey’s descent to mediocrity and Carl Crawford’s awful start changes the complexion of the AL East.
The M’s go for their fifth straight win behind Doug Fister. Last year, Fister pounded the zone with fastballs, and essentially traded whiffs/contact for command. He wasn’t going to strike anyone out, but he wasn’t going to walk many either. His off-speed pitches seemed to be used to keep hitters off balance as opposed to real, K-generating weapons. This year, his approach looks quite a bit different. Against righties, he’s shelved his slider in favor of his curveball with solid results. His pitch-mix to lefties is pretty similar, but he’s commanding his curve much better – he’s simply throwing more strikes.
Line-up (hat tip: Shannon Drayer)
1: Ichiro!
2: Figgins
3: Bradley
4: Olivo
5: Smoak
6: Cust
7: Saunders
8: Ryan
9: Wilson
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149 Responses to “Game 28: Mariners at Red Sox”
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Brendan Ryan. Get the bunt down. You suck at hitting, but please do this
Thing I’d remarked on, though, was that the ball was hit hard but went straight to Wilson – he didn’t even have to move a step. With Fister in trouble it was a very lucky break.
Wilson!!!
Cust is playing well today. See that hustle?
I would take issue with describing scoring on a sacrifice fly as “small ball”. There was exactly one “small ball” act in this whole inning.
2 singles, a sac bunt and a sac fly is the definition of small ball…
I’ve always thought of “small ball” as being deliberate – the fact that Cust’s or Saunders’ outfield hits ended up being singles doesn’t fit that.
Looks like Cust is starting to heat up a little bit. He had 2BB and double last night. 2BB and a single tonight.
I’ll take that kind of production from him. Sooner or later I’d like to see him hit a home run or 2 cause he isn’t going to hit for average, but it’s enough for now.
Langerhans needs a bit more work shagging flies off the Monster. He underestimated the bounce off the warning track on both chances he’s had at that play.
Small ball is scoring runs without many hits. Anytime you are deliberatly sacrificing outs to advance the runner, then that is small ball.
A single a stolen base and two sacrifice flys would qualify.
If Cust can keep walking while getting some singles and doubles… that’d be great!
Ryan’s bunt definitely fits. But while a “sacrifice fly” is considered a stat, I’m not sure it’s a given that’s what they’re actually trying to do most of the time.
It’s all about intent – and I suspect we’re going to disagree on that.
Nice catch by Olivo!
I don’t think so. I think it was just a second bad call in the same game.
No. You can’t know what would have happened if the calls had been correct.
That was disgusting Ryan.
Looking at his stat lines for 2011 – why were Sox fans supposedly complaining about A-Gon? He’s not exactly sucking…
Sure they’re trying to get a hit, but I imagine more often than not they are trying to hit a fly ball because they know if they get it deep enough it will score a run whether it is caught or not. Same thing with a ground ball to the right side. They may be trying to get a hit, but they are trying to get the ball to the right side to increase their chances of scoring the run.
Still more bad umpiring.
Woo!! Holding onto a 2-0 lead and Fenway… no problem, right? 😀
Pitch f/x doesn’t know what to make of Laffey’s pitches, it says his slider varies between 78 and 91, and his fastball tops out at 90.
He wasn’t fooling the Boston hitters that much, but he got out of it.
Condor, I’m not a fan of those bunts…
What was Saunders trying to do in that at bat?
It’s the 8th inning, why isn’t Wright in? <_<
I was wondering why Laffey was still pitching.
I’m not much of a fan of Saunder’s bunts either, but according to Fangraphs he is now 1-5 on bunt hit attempts this season, but last year he had 5 bunt hits, 2009 he had 6, and a career 46% success rate. That isn’t too bad. Jack Cust is 1 for 1 for since 2009, Ichiro has a 53% success rate.
If you also consider it makes the infielders play up closer than they normally would, its not a bad idea to try it occasionally.
Baseball for Ichiro?
“BASEBALL… (uh, crap) for Ichiro!”
I spoke too soon saying Sims wasn’t awkward anymore.
It was kind of funny. Maybe if it was a career milestone hit, then it would be a baseball for Ichiro!
Money-bag by Ichiro. Big mozza ball hanging out there Ryan. Drive him in … please.
Selfish Ichiro. Ruining Figgins’ concentration at the plate by trying to steal on a 2 strike count…
Nice BP; nice save! Woo!
My favorite part of the game was listening to the NESN announcers freak out about the Sox lack of ability to score on Laffey. I love listening to angry, arrogant, frustrated announcers for teams I hate.
Now the Red Sox have to try to beat Felix to avoid a sweep.
Sweeeeet!
Even sweeter with our Ace going tomorrow.
5 game winning streak with Felix and Pineda up next?
I like that.
Happy Felix Eve!
Whoa! Did we just win 2 series in a row on the road?
Can’t complain about that.
Man, that’s frustrating.
5 in a row!
11-8 since they were 2-7.
Ichiro now heads into his favourite month of the year. Figgins maybe turning a corner. Another month closer to Ackley.
Lots to feel good about.
(while ignoring lots of bad)
I guess it’s more like whipped puppy syndrome…
Anyone tuned into the Tacoma / Reno game? Tui looks a little lost…
Kazmar has airmailed two balls to 1st… he may not be ready yet 😉
Well this is good: Last April the M’s scored 3.5 runs per game, this year 3.9. However last year the pitching was much better we only gave up 3.5, and this year 4.3.
I do think that is misleading, I think our pitching this year is better than last year’s, we had a couple of blowups that have skewed things, and we may have been a little lucky in 2010, at least early.
I agree Kazinski – I think the numbers are a bit skewed.
On another note… when Guti comes back (please come back soon!), I think Saunders is making a case that he should stay up. Or, to be more accurate, I think Bradley isn’t making a convincing case that he should continue to be our starting left fielder. Whatever you think of Saunders’ long-term potential, Milton Bradley sure hasn’t translated that hot spring training performance of his over to the regular season.
Heck, if it were me – I’d put Langerhans in left tomorrow and sit Bradley’s rear down.
“You don’t miss calls a Little League volunteer ump would get right when you’re a professional.” Hey I’m a little league ump 🙂 I would’ve made that call tho.
What happened to Dave’s recaps of the games? I’ve been away for a while so I’m sure I missed the reason (frustration with the M’s, maybe?). I sure liked his post-game analysis.
Dave said early on he wouldn’t be doing many weekend recaps. And given the prospects (or lack of them) for this team other than making progress in building towards the future, I would guess Dave doesn’t think doing daily recaps is particularly pressing.
Also, I’ve noticed his notes on the upcoming game tend to include somewhat of a recap on the previous game.
I miss the recaps too – but I can understand why Dave isn’t consistently doing them.
Aside from his usual Fangraphs obligations, Dave is also in the process of buying a new house and selling his old one.
When Gutierrez comes back maybe they should go with 11 pitchers. We’re basically going with a 4 man bullpen these days. Cortes hasn’t been in a game since he was called up, Ray and Wilhelmsen last pitched on 4/23 and 4/18 before that, and both of those were blowouts that were over before either got in the game.
Is this usually done as a result of a spirited debate, a show of hands by the fans in the stands or from a relatively quick self-inflicted introspection?
And … when you do – what happens next?
I am just curious.