To each their own
DMZ · July 21, 2011 at 6:43 pm · Filed Under Mariners
“You can’t give in to the fight. You can’t keep pouting about it. You can’t quit. You’ve got to just keep going,” Wedge said. “I’m looking at this from an individual basis right now. Each man has to come out there and do everything that they need to do to help us win a ballgame tomorrow.” — Eric Wedge, quoted on MLB about his post-game clubhouse meeting
I hope this means Wedge will be turning in a reasonably sane lineup card next time.
Well played, DMZ…
Derek, we miss you man! I think Wedge needs to give the boys a round of Shlicks beer!
The ghost of baseball past speaks! A fair point — you can’t sit Ackley and pretend you are doing everything possible to win.
Love the drive-by 🙂
Needs more McLaren.
Derek, we miss you, man!
And I know that Wedge wanted to make a statement to his veterans. But wouldn’t helping them win make a better overall statement instead of hanging them out to dry? Ackley represents the team’s best chance at offensive production, and benching him in lieu of the second catcher was absolutely stupid. I dig that Wedge seems smart in how he manages people, and that’s a very important (and underrated) aspect of being a major sports team manager. But it would be nice if that didn’t get in the way of him making smart tactical decisions.
I think getting the team back on track as a whole is more important than managing to win this single game. What difference does it make if we win or lose this one? Jack diddly. One player who is hitting well can’t help if the rest of the lineup looks like they are playing whiffleball.
Figgins, Wilson have to play the next couple of weeks if the team has any hope of trading them.
Smoak and Guti have underperformed. Not to mention a certain RF’er.
So what else is left…are you upset that Dustin Ackley(who is awesome, yes) sat one game??
M’s have had seven managers in 9 years since Lou left, not to mention what, 8, 9 hitting coaches plus umpteen base/bullpen coaches..
what is a manager to do..I see the same comments disparaging the manager that I’ve seen the last 9 years with Melvin Hargrove Wak Mac etc etc
Any criticism of JZ signing Figgins?
And the lineup did score 5 runs today..
Its not like it was our lineup that cost us this game either. Its so bad anyway it really makes no difference who they put out there really.
Lineups rarely win or lose games, but when you’re putting three or four pitchers out there every game, it might be good to bat the non-pitchers together.
I was a ‘scratch yer head’ lineup for sure. Still, IF… there is any hope in moving Wilson and/or Figgins this is the price you pay… they gotta play. As to Ackley… I don’t have enough info.
Yes…wedge needs to put a better line-up out there…but first he needs better players.
Fan since ’86 and although it should not be a shock, I’m amazed by lack of anger/speaking out by leadership (players who are considered leaders, Jack, and folks above Jack). It’s not just frustrating anymore…it’s sad.
I know it’s been pointed out before, but much of the rest of Wedge’s tirade was calling on his players to be more “tough” — is that his solution to every problem? I would think players would start shutting off when all they get is the same one-note spiel about “toughness.”
That Wedge could use better players is true. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be putting out the best lineup he can, and certainly, there’s no reason to put out ridiculously poor ones.
On Wedge’s tirade — In the MLB article, it’s funny that Wedge didn’t want to hold too many meetings for fear that players would tune him out, but he doesn’t seem to have the self-awareness to realize his advice about approach and toughness are already nearly worn through.
Shall we put you down, then, as wanting to see more Bard at DH?
I don’t get it. Aside from Ackley, who does need a day off here and there, like it or not, what would a “good” lineup look like? Seems to me like he’s damned if does and damned if he don’t in regards to where he bats each player. I just don’t get the criticism. It’s like it’s all we’re left with, we’re sick of complaining about everything else so now we’ve gone to the bottom of the barrel.
hey Derek, nice to see you. BTW, is Kyle Farnsworth your long lost brother, by any chance?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6210
I’m not sure how much a lineup matters when the team is full of .200 hitters. Why don’t we put a team together where the majority of offensive players can actually hit a baseball.
Welcome back, DMZ. I hope this means you will be making regular appearances on the blog again.
I agree that he needs to put out more sane line ups….like not batting Ryan second, using Cust more, not using crappy AAA players every night, ect.. It won’t result in more wins, but it would result in less stupidity.
There is no “sane” (offensive) lineup with this roster. The batting order means nothing with no one on the roster can get on base..
The lineup Wedge put out yesterday was the “veteran” lineup. The only young player was Smoak and, of course, he’s not a rookie. It was an act of desperation to try to break the losing streak.
Great to see a DMZ post!
Going back a little, Wedge trotting Peguero (who had a terrible approach and sucked) so many times when the Mariners were still in it, seemed to be just plain bad managing (decision making).