Game 67, Astros at Mariners
Jeremy Bonderman vs. Jordan Lyles, 7:10pm
I suppose we should be thankful. The M’s have become an *interesting* team to follow, not because of anything on the field (I’ll refer you to the pitching probables again), but because they’re sick of being bad and injured and boring, so they’re trying essentially everything they can to climb out of this hole. Their college CF-turned-2B is going to play LF tonight. Franklin Gutierrez is going to DH for Tacoma tonight, as his second rehab stint begins. Justin Smoak’s going to play tomorrow in the minors. The M’s are shuffling their 40-man almost daily, and they’re going to have to do more of it in the coming weeks. Their injured players are a bit less injured, and people are playing out of position. Jeremy Bonderman is pitching to Mike Zunino in Seattle, and Dustin Ackley is playing LF in Tacoma. Try to think of what you’d have said if you heard that sentence a year ago. Or a month ago.
The M’s appear to have signed several of their draft picks, and 1st rounder DJ Peterson’s in Seattle tonight taking BP. I’m sure we’ll hear from him on the broadcast.
Line-up:
1: Chavez, RF
2: Bay, LF
3: Seager, 3B
4: Ibanez, DH
5: Franklin, 2B
6: Zunino, C
7: Saunders, CF
8: Ryan, SS
9: Liddi, 1B
SP: Bonderman
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141 Responses to “Game 67, Astros at Mariners”
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5-run comeback, again?
Yeah right
When the wheels come off…ALL the wheels come off.
The Angels have a worse record against the lowly Astros…with all their talent. It could be worse.
Oh this is just fugly.
Well, at least Zunino is getting a workout behind the plate.
Mike, welcome to the Mariners!
On the bright side – to my non-expert eye, Zunino looks like he knows what he’s doing behind the plate.
It’s great to see.
I blame that guy that was waving the broom at the start of the 9th.
Is Capps the new ” Bartender”?
On another bright side – Saunders appears to be looking better lately, even if the results haven’t totally shown it yet.
Anyone consider that the dammage to Zunino’s psyche that this “taste of the bigs” might give him might have nothing to do with his own performance… Welcome to the M’s…
Can we please stop putting in Medina in situations that call for a Major League pitcher?
Was Capps not available tonight?
1.) Not bunting with Seager in the 8th was really stupid.
2.) Pulling Bonderman after 89 pitches was even dumber.
God, how did Tom become League? UGH!
I’m just sad. It’s my most disappointing loss of the year. The closer has to show that he’s gonna “be better than you tonight.”
Hey Tom. WTF happened to “on this day, I’m going to be better than you”???
Jesus.
Didn’t watch this game but Bonderman threw just 89 pitches before getting yanked?
Wow.
msfanmike — if you’re still here — you do know that many, many prospects play shortstop at levels earlier than the majors? That part of the minors is shaking out prospects and figuring out where they can play in the much, much more demanding major leagues? That’s why it’s rare to do so in the majors. It’s not that the Mariners have no idea. They would like to have Franklin at short as much as you evidently do. If they don’t move Franklin to short, they probably know more than you do, and are not being stubborn with no reason.
We’re gonna get destroyed in Oakland. But Happy whatever day!!!!!
I didn’t see the middle of the game but my feeling is that Wedge is 25 – 35% responsible for the loss by pulling Bonderman, the rest was up to The Bartender. Of course unless you expect the rest of the team to contribute for the previous eight innings, or the outfield to make a catch in the ninth. It could be worse but this is bad enough.
Scraps asked about guys who switched to SS in the majors…Willie Bloomquist, of course!
Doh!
Back up the truck…again. That bad odor is back.
The closer has to show that he’s gonna “be better than you tonight.”
Yup, the proven closer failed.
But if you only score one run, you can’t expect to win many games. Even against a AAA team.
I don’t know about that, Paul – a number of teams have faced the Mariners and won 1-0.
Whatever the thinking behind putting Ackley in left field, at that position the bar has been raised for his hitting. Acceptable at second is not the same as acceptable in left. Well, for most teams, at least.
Boy I’m sure glad we had Zunino up with the big-league club. He sure helped us win!
(On a serious note I’m totally happy for him to get his first major-league hit; but his successes do not excuse the poor decision-making!)
The Mariners will have to play .560 ball for the rest of the season just to get to 81 wins.
Like I said, it takes a certain talent to lose this much with Felix and Kuma as 1,2 plus now other solid pitching performances as well.
“In fact, I’m trying to think of anyone that switched to shortstop in the majors. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened, especially with my post-stroke memory, but it sure doesn’t happen often.”
—
Honus Wagner says hello.
Note that the paid attendance for the past 2 games combined was ~ 25,000. The actual attendance was of course significantly lower.
drlo-
Could you elaborate on this idea of your’s called “acceptable hitting”?
Is that a realistic goal for the Mariners? I mean, look at how our young guys perform under pressure… Putting the weight of a lofty goal like “merely acceptable” is sort of unfair really.
(sigh, I even get sad trying to be funny anymore with this team)
Sawsatch-
Am I the only one who thinks that’s pretty impressive attendance for these Mariners and those Astros?
I’m surprised they went over 10,000 on a school night for an Astros/Bonderman game.
They probably didn’t. The official count is for tickets sold, not actual numbers in the stands.
2 step process to fix this.
Fire/cut everyone over the age of 28 in the entire organization. Fire Eric Wedge into the sun.
I’m late to the party but Cal Ripken switched from 3B to SS in the majors.
Fire/cut everyone over the age of 28 in the entire organization.
That is not remotely close to realistic. Young rosters where almost everyone is getting “on the job training” are nearly universally a disaster. You end up with teams like the Marlins or Astros.
How about the M’s just get better at roster management, identifying free agents, and player development?
Why start now?
DON’T FIRE Eric Wedge into the sun…
We need that, if he screws up the sun we’re all doomed!
(Although I suppose it would be interesting to see how QUICKLY he could screw up the sun…)
MrZ, he could screw it up faster than Guti needs to see a doctor while playing….
BackseatGM, Cal Ripken played both SS and 3B when he came up.
1981: 12 games at SS, 6 games at 3B.
1982: 94 games at SS, 71 games at #B.
1983: 162 games at SS.
::::::
Ivan, Honus Wagner, yes! Of course, you have to reach back to a player who career ended 96 years ago. “It sure doesn’t happen often,” I noted, and I think that sums it up!