Game 32, Mariners at Blue Jays
Hisashi Iwakuma vs. RA Dickey, 10:07am
Early game today on yet another glorious NW day. This is a good pitching match-up, and the M’s are as watchable as they’ve been in some time at the moment, but it’s going to be tough to stay inside and watch a game this morning.
Ex-Tacoma Rainier, reigning Cy Young winner RA Dickey came to Toronto in a blockbuster deal with the Mets. He’s coming off a career year in which his K% went through the roof, which helped him strand more runners and take advantage of the knuckleballer’s BABIP /
exception. It all came together for a 4.6 WAR year, but as Dave mentioned he’d been pretty good in his first two years with the Mets as well. The Jays paid a fairly hefty price to land him, but they were landing a dependable starter they could pencil in 3 WAR or so.
Like everything the Jays did in the offseason, it just hasn’t worked out. Dickey’s K% is down, but not dramatically so. His GB% has dropped in each year since 2010, and that’s hurt his HR rate, but again, it’s not abysmal. It’s more a case of each peripheral being a bit worse, and the sum total (and the interaction of the parts) producing a fairly ugly line. He’s had some neck soreness recently which may or may not have contributed to his poor results, but it’s not serious enough to keep him out of today’s game.
On the other side of the coin, Hisashi Iwakuma’s obviously one of the hottest pitchers in the game. It’s an open question as to whether his low workload due to his blister problem is actually a blessing – because he’s been so efficient (and because his BABIP is so low) he’s pitching almost as many innings. Like last year, Iwakuma’s got reverse platoon splits because of his change-up-like splitter. But unlike Ricky Romero or Steve Delabar, that doesn’t come at the expense of poor results against same-handed batters. Iwakuma’s been excellent against everyone this year. Still, it’ll be interesting to see if more managers start putting a bunch of righties in their line-up against him.
Line-up:
1: Saunders, CF
2: Seager, 3B
3: Morales, DH
4: Morse, RF
5: Ibanez, DH
6: Shoppach, C
7: Ackley, 2B
8: Chavez, LF
9: Andino, SS
SP: Iwakuma
The Rainiers ran their winning streak to ten games last night with a 7-6 win over Reno. The middle of their line-up, Nick Franklin and Eric Thames, were actually shut down by Aces pitchers, but Nate Tenbrink and Rich Poythress picked up the slack. Blake Beavan makes his 2013 Rainiers debut today.
The Jackson Generals play two vs Jacksonville; Roenis Elias and Chance Ruffin will be the starters. South African control artist Dylan Unsworth takes the hill for Clinton today.
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73 Responses to “Game 32, Mariners at Blue Jays”
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That was 15 shutout innings. Nice job, M’s pitchers.
Unless it’s the Yankees, jordan. But I agree in general.
Yeah, Juneau, but – was there *anyone* who thought Vernon Wells wouldn’t suck just as hard as a Yankee? 😀
Okay, I was surprised…And then not. There’s something about putting on those pinstripes that changes a man.
Didn’t change Richie Sexson though. 😉
Nice Saunders, nice!!!
The Condor is having hisself a good day.
Morse’s OPS is down to .808.
Uh, Ollie, I need to get in the shower, k?
Wow! Mariners!
Hey, Wedge and Z – have you noticed which guys are leading the way during the team’s good streak? Hint: It ain’t the veterans, unless you want to give some credit to the reclamation project.
Hey, “Happy Kuma Day” just got a mention on the post-game show!
Oh Lordy, (just heard it on the post game show from Ackley’s homer) so Rizz apparently has completely appropriated Neihaus’ “Grand Salami” call.
Someone needs to tell him to stop. It’s not an homage at this point; it’s a cheap ripoff, and shouldn’t be tolerated.
The M’s have won 7 of 9? Right after Losing a second series to Houston, no less. This feels so completely improbable to me.
I’m glad Rizzs is doing the “grand salami” call, now if Goldsmith did it, it would be weird. He sounds like he would be more at home at a golf course instead of a ballpark.
I don’t understand all the Rizzs hate. He was very close with Dave, and I think little things like the “Grand Salami” call are nice ways to honor Dave’s memory. If anyone had a right to be angry about it, it would be the family Dave left behind. Since they haven’t said anything, why stir the pot?
**Rizzs does need to discard that ridiculous toupee and assume his mantle as a proud bald man**
Nice win against an old friend. The Houston debacles and the sweep in Arlington, keeps the M’s from receiving a C grade so far. But with three straight series wins, hope is clearly on the uptick. Appears Maurer will be skipping a start so Harang starts against the once-again winning Pirates. Mariners need to prove themselves on the road. A 2-0 sweep in Pitt will help. But first wondering which Joe Saunders will show up tomorrow?
But first wondering which Joe Saunders will show up tomorrow?
Well, the good one is showing up at Safeco tomorrow.
But since we’re playing in Toronto…
Are the M’s adjusting the rotation so Maurer pitches the second game against Pitt and then rest Felix a couple extra days to face Oakland? The King on the mound for a Friday night game against the A’s in Seattle…what could be better?
From what Wedge said in the post-game interview, it sounds like Iwakuma is going to get the extra days rest.
Given the results so far, it sounds like a good plan – apparently his finger is finally getting better.
Kuma will receive two extra days of rest with both 5/6 and 5/9 off days.
Against Oakland I would like the rotation to be King, Kuma, Saunders. However MLB shows King is pitching the second Pitt game. This would indicate Kuma, Saunders and who knows (Maurer or Harang) will be pitching the Oakland series.
M’s facing another old friend tomorrow, Morrow.
Speaking of old friends, in his first game with O’s after being called up from AAA, Chief Garcia’s no-hit bid against the Angels is over in bottom of seventh. Would have been a good story had he not quickly tired out.
Victory! Dingers! Sweep…?
Enjoy this while it lasts, folks.
Also: With 2013 Kuma on the mound, runs are a “bear market” for the opposition. Loving the 1/2 King/Kuma punch.
Westy,
I feel the same regarding Ackley’s recent success compared to Smoak’s. Since that adjustment, he’s hit real well, though hadn’t been hitting for much power. But what a time to deliver, eh?!
Mike,
My comment certainly wasn’t targeting you! I was actually trying to single out the people who twisted the discussion about Franklin coming up yesterday into a case for ditching Ackley (one way or another). I thought it was ridiculous that anyone would argue his lack of extra base hits as some kind of substantial reason. As if three solid weeks of multiple singles was worthless.
Last season, I also thought he should have been sent down. And I still think that might have done him some good. I don’t think forcing players to develop at the ML level is wise. This doesn’t necessarily apply to Ackley, though. He at least had some consistent success in 2011 and certainly appeared ready when he got the call.