Game 145, Astros at Mariners
Joe Saunders vs. Jordan Lyles, 7:10pm
Tonight’s game marks Joe Saunders 30th start for the Mariners. It’s also Jordan Lyles’ 4th *against* the Mariners this year. “Enough” is a slippery word, and one person’s excess is another’s aperitif, so I will only speak for myself: I’ve had enough Joe Saunders vs. Jordan Lyles. I’ve had enough Mariners-versus-Astros. Last night’s game had promise, and it lived up to it, if only to spoil it with one of the worst final 2 innings I’ve ever seen. This game doesn’t have that. I found it somewhat disheartening that last night’s game -the great pitching prospect showdown – took the ignominious crown as the least-attended game in Safeco’s history. It’s a gorgeous evening in the Northwest, and a part of me would like to go, just because catching a ballgame is fun. The other, less charitable, part of me really wants tonight’s game to set a new low, and get Taijuan Walker’s name off of something he couldn’t control and did his best to render ironic/stupid.
I don’t know; maybe Abe Almonte will do something cool? Maybe Chance Ruffin will continue his bizarre career turnaround.* Maybe Nick Franklin will get off the schneid and drive a breaking pitch, or something. Maybe Mike Zunino will get it going again. Maybe we’ll all look back at this as one of those bizarre nobody-saw-it-coming good games. There’s a chance, but I – like many who read and write here – am more interested in probabilities.
1: Miller, SS
2: Almonte, CF
3: Seager, 3B
4: Morales, DH
5: Ibanez, LF
6: Gutierrez, RF
7: Smoak, 1B
8: Zunino, C
9: Franklin, 2B
SP: Joe Saunders
* Seriously, a year or two ago, the Actual Jason Grilli turned from journeyman 25th-roster-spot guy to a nuclear-powered closer. This year, Neil Cotts went from minor-leaguer I’d be surprised to see in the PCL to shut-down lefty. Danny Farquhar throws 95 now and, yesterday aside, has been excellent. The reliever spot is just nuts, and if, I don’t know, Shigetoshi Hasegawa came out of retirement throwing 95 and mixing in a devastating 12-6 curve, it might not top the list of reliever career turnarounds. For the year. So I’m kind of surprised at my own reaction to Chance Ruffin’s very brief success in MLB (yes, yes, he had a walk-off loss too) – it’s been basically a 5-minute long spit take. This is simply not the same pitcher he was last year in Tacoma, and that’s basically the theme with relievers. The past is not prologue; for many, it’s completely irrelevant.
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Yes I am juneau.
So Ryan & Ichiro reunited!
Attendance tonight: 10,245
Haha, Mr. TV Producer was obviously reading jephdood’s comment. 🙂
Thank you sir!
Best part of the booth is hearing the few fans that are there yelling at the Astro players. Hilarious!!!
There’s so few people there that the random Crazy Screaming Guy can be clearly heard raining abuse down again.
LOL….juneau heard the same thing. Or are they yelling obscenities at their Mariners?
He was really scary in last night’s game. Even Sims started to sound nervous about it. Last night, I think it was toward the Astros. Tonight, maybe not…
Yeah, he was REALLY loud last night and was getting pretty personal. At least we have this guy. Not much else in the way of entertainment watching the team now.
Raul should go up into the stands and kick the dude’s butt.
LOL, Westy. That I’d pay to see.
Whoa, bases loaded? I really need to look at the game more often.
Well I’m outside under the stars on a beautiful night on the spread outside of Maytown somewhere near heaven. Got Neil Young blazing and I’m just a little high. TV OFF Radio off,the only light is my laptop on the pick-ups hood. Just rock and rolling and I’m laughing my ass off at the coments here- thanx
I LOOKED AWAY
…and nuthin…
Sounds like the best way to enjoy this particular game, Longgeorge1!
Man, Kendrys has sure cooled down during the second half…
Man, remember when the Mariners bullpen was one of the few quality parts of the team? When Jeff and Matthew would talk about the “pile of pitchers” over on Lookout Landing?
What happened?
Poor guy looks like he’s really in pain…
The humanity…
Considering there seems to be a former M’s bullpen coming out of every other team’s bullpen when I’m watching games, I’m going to say we traded them away for a pile of the goo behind my ears.
This is the improved version of Chance Ruffin. Awesome.
You might want to consult a doctor about that, Juneau.
Damn, I looked away again! Another run!!
Only if the Mariners’ will consult a specialist about their issues.
“In the fire of love our dreams went up in smoke” Thanx to Neil
Oh god, they’re on about the signs stealing again. This team has so much more to worry about than that.
They wish the majority of the pitchers had good enough stuff to need to steal the signs.
Val’s story about location stealing from last night was kind of interesting.
But yeah – our pitchers need to improve quite a bit before sign stealing could even be a significant issue.
This is never going to end, is it…
I’m sending the doctor bill to the M’s FO. I need therapy after watching them this month!
The Astros are kicking the Mariners’ collective butts.
All right then. This has been REALLY fun, but…
I would almost rather watch Miley Cyrus. Well….maybe not 🙂
No wonder Wilson and Blowers are talking about other things – it’s less painful than talking about this game.
They should show this game to detainees in Gitmo. They’d spill their guts rather than be subjected to this cruel and unusual punishment.
The Deranged Yelling Man screams something incomprehensible…
You could tell they wanted this game to be over about 4 innings ago. Not much to say unless you didn’t mind getting fired.
They need a mercy rule. No more punishment.
Yeah. For us. This should be against the Geneva Convention.
They should start prank calling guys from the booth.
Call Joe Morgan – pretend to be Pete Rose!
Having mercy on myself and not watching the team go quietly in the bottom of the 9th. Putting in the pilot of The X-files, which premiered 20 years ago today (still the 10th in Alaska). Changed TV drama,and thus much more worthy of my evening than this game.
WOO HOO!! It’s over!!!
If I never see Joe Saunders pitch again, it’ll be too soon.
145 games, 80 losses.
It’s hard to see how they’re going to avoid losing 90.