Game 97, Mariners at Rays
Blake Beavan vs. Matt Moore, 10:40am
Today’s alliterative pitching match-up presents what may be the biggest gap in terms of pure stuff in all of major league baseball. “Stuff” isn’t as easy to pin down as velocity, so this is somewhat subjective, but Matt Moore came into the year ranked right with (and in some cases ahead of) prospects like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. After waltzing through the minors, he came up and looked amazing in a few starts down the stretch, and the Rays then signed him to what looked like a team-friendly contract extension. This year, Moore was supposed to take his place along side the Weavers, Verlanders and King Felixes of the AL.
It hasn’t happened, and thus despite the mismatch in terms of velocity/movement, the M’s have a decent shot. Moore’s biggest problem this season has been control/command. He’s walked 55 in just under 105 innings, and he’s given up some HRs, as befits a guy with a sub-40% ground ball rate. This isn’t to say that he’s a disappointment – he’s still a left-hander throwing 95+, with ridiculous movement on his fastball, a good change-up and a big breaking curve ball. Still, the M’s can get some baserunners if they’re patient.
Today’s line-up’s a little strange, perhaps reflecting the 14-inning game and the fact that this is getaway day. Casper Wells leads off, and Montero moves up to the #3 spot. Miguel Olivo bats clean-up, Dustin Ackley gets a day off, and Chone Figgins is in the line-up again.
1: Wells
2: Ichiro
3: Montero (H)
4: Olivo (C)
5: Seager (2B)
6: Smoak
7: Saunders
8: Figgins (3B)
9: Ryan
SP: Beavan
The Rainiers play two today in Colorado Springs; send positive thoughts to Mike Curto who’s got to run quite a gauntlet before calling the Yankees series.
If ever there was a team to serve as a “tonic” to help Matt Moore right his ship ^^^
I hope that does not turn out to be the case and this lineup finds a way to gel.
I did notice that Carp had 3 more K’s in 3 AB’s last night, so the race for 1B superiority appears to be fully intact. Liddi, Catricala still struggling mightily and Poythress still unable to hit for power. Come on somebody – emerge!!! Enough already.
1)Olivo is 1 for 3 with a double (career) vMoore. His slash line vLHP is… .227 .256 .413 .670. How does this guy bat in the top half of the order? And he’s worse vRHP. This is nuts!
2)Smoak continues to tank. No decent short term or long term option at 1b in the minors is apparent. It’s past time to look at real alternatives and give Smoak a chance to get organized in AAA. Jesus Montero will never be the fulltime catcher for the Mariners, at least not with Wedge as manager. When does Montero get some reps at 1b? His bat shows some promise but when used as the primary DH he is wasted. I don’t know if Montero could even handle 1b but he’s certainly not trusted at catcher. To continue to run Smoak out just for his warning track outs seems pointless at this stage. Let’s try some experimentation, especially with our #1 pick a catcher.
re: Ichiro’s bunt
It was ridiculously bad. I knew that he would end up on third or be thrown out. He would consider it his duty to restore his failure.
Two SB’s and a nice play on defense made up for his God awful bunt IMO. And it was a nasty bad bunt. Just putrid. He has attempted three bunts in the past few games and can’t get the ball down a line. Playing for one run in the first inning was a dubious strategy and I have to believe it was not Wedge’s idea.
Baker reports that with Olivo hitting clean up (and lack of an obvious alternative), Wedge looked very depressed today.
Move the fences in!
I came in pretty late – I must admit I didn’t expect Beavan to have only given up one run so far.
Haha Westy. I came in late and that was my first thought.
It seems like Olivo is being pretty expressive about it when Beavan makes a bad pitch – I don’t remember seeing a catcher express his displeasure like that before. Have I just not paid enough attention?
I’ve seen him do it occasionally with young pitchers.
I had to hold my breath during that inning. I thought Wedge was tempting fate trying to 7 with Beavens. But with Yankees tomorrow saving the bullpin as much as possible probably not a bad idea.
Maybe for the ninth we’ll see Olivo pitch! 😉
17 retired in a row. 15 K’s two nights ago. Yep, the “plan” seems to be coming together.
Terry, looks like you’d better start holding your breath again!
Well, that was surprising – Ryan making an error on a fairly routine play…
Breathe, Terry! Breathe!
I am, now.
Since when did Felix take the name Blake Beavan? I knew he was Bernandez, but Beavan? Good job, Blake!
Man, why not pinch-hit Jaso for Olivo here? Leaving 0-3 Olivo in against the righty Farnsworth is just dumb.
Hey, look – bad process, bad result!
Come on Seager – get a hit. I want to see Smoak bat one more time … In a non-extra inning situation.
I would have. You would have. Wedge didn’t. Not surprising he doesn’t care much for pitch hitters.
Time to do the Mexican Hat Dance around that old golden sombrero!
Oh well, let’s go Willy!
At least we didn’t see Peggy…
I love that curve!
I will be sad if Z deals Wilhelmsen.
Man they are not calling that low strike!
YEAH!!
The Rays fans are saying that Matsui belongs on the Mariners, since he plays like one.
Its closing time! Have a great flight back to Seattle guys!
I am rather surprised Tampa’s held onto Matsui. Maybe they figure they’re out of it so there’s no point in looking for an upgrade?
BTW it’s interesting to note they have a couple of their own “Olivo”s behind the plate.
Foolishly staying out last night, I slept through the better part of the game. Oh well. Nice surprise to see four sub-.200 hitters in the line-up, Saunders hitting lower in the order than two of them, and they somehow pull off a win. I swear, it’s as if Wedge is trying to lose games. The other nice surprise of course, was Beavan. Who would have thought he’d go 8 innings of one-run ball?!
There was a “better part” to this game?