Game 72, Mariners at Padres
Felix Hernandez vs. Andrew Cashner, 7:10 pm
After the last Felix outing and how it ended, a lot of us would prefer an easier outing so that we can just get Felix a win because oh god, we’re sorry, we’re so sorry. This is not such an outing. The sentimental aspect of the Tony Gwynn tribute is a factor, certainly, but then the M’s also get to face Andrew Cashner. Cashner is worth less than half what Felix is worth in WAR, but he’s had a fine year, adding roughly a K per inning over last year and halving his home run rate. His fastball has been as good as it’s ever been, but he’s been throwing the change-up less often and has twice the isolated slugging against lefties as he’s had against righties. Take a guess at what the lineup looks like? Do not proceed until you finish guessing.
RF Endy Chavez
CF James Jones
2B Robinson Cano
3B Kyle Seager
1B Logan Morrison
C Mike Zunino
LF Dustin Ackley
SS Brad Miller
RHP Felix Hernandez
Maybe Felix taught himself to bat left-handed since the last time we saw him hit. Who knows? He probably didn’t.
Moving on to minor league news, there’s this:
No. 6 overall pick Alex Jackson agrees to terms w/@Mariners. Trying to pin down exact $ (north of $4 mil). Pick value = $3,575,900 @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 18, 2014
Since he signed well before the deadline, I would expect him to be in Everett later this year, though reports are that he’s heading to Peoria, which starts up Friday. There’s also other stuff, like Smoak starting his rehab tonight for Tacoma, and Hart and Saunders joining later in the week. I’m opposed to any scenario that might take away at-bats from Ji-man Choi though. They’d better not.
Comments
30 Responses to “Game 72, Mariners at Padres”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hey, where’s Montero? He hit a home run yesterday.
Lloyd’s pencil was not impressed with Montero’s home run.
A Rene Rivera sighting!
Too close to overturn on challenge.
Blowers changed his mind three times during the replay review, so who knows.
Well, now we know. Good call G-man
What happened to Chase Headley? BABIP related, somewhat?
He should have signed that contract offer when he had the chance. Or, was the offer just a rumor?
Nice bit of hitting by Ackley and Miller.
Why are they not letting Felix swing away with RISP?
Jones gets clocked by Rivera on a dribbler, running to first. Called out because he was inside the baseline.
I wonder if guys are coached to try to run inside, because they figure most fielders will try to throw around them rather than hit them. They’re only called out if they get hit.
I think most players are told to run inside to get in the way of the throw. It seems like a pretty universal strategy coaches follow. It probably works better in high school or even college.
Yes … Yes they are. But jones wasn’t blatant about it. He Just got “busted” for it.
Yesterday, Jones took a path to 2B – on the grass – when he was picked off at 1B that resulted in the 1B having to take an extra step inside to get the throw around him. It was a heads up play and it bought him just enough time to get to 2B safely. Runner establishes his own line – so if that throw had hit him – it would have been a non-call. Interesting little baseball inconsistency. The rule is much more clear for running down to 1B. Some have suggested adding a base to the side – like softball has. However, softball.
I totally expected Felix to drive in a run there.
You also get better traction running on the grass – with spikes – So you will often see a RHB taking that “line” when trying to dig out an infield hit.
Most of the interference calls are going to be a result of a throw from a catcher and everyone knows the rule. Doesn’t stop anybody from trying to bend it as much as possible, though.
If I were a catcher I’d just aim for the middle of the runner’s back if he’s inside the line.
That would definitely be one way to do it, but all 1B’s are taught to give their catcher either an inside or an outside line/angle to help minimize any potential issues.
The runner just needs to stay in that 45′ lane (between the foul line and that extra chalk line they put down every game) along the 1B side … But they often don’t. If catchers start aiming for backs – they will miss. It’s like aiming for a bunker when playing golf … It’s the most Sure fire way I have found to miss it every time.
That hurt. Needed a run.
Runner on third, no outs…. Mariners baseball.
So including tonight, here’s the last 3 starts for Felix:
22.1 innings pitched, 31 strikeouts, 2 runs allowed. Allowed 11 hits and 3 walks. And an 0-1 record
Shouldn’t take Charlie too long to blow this game wide open.
If Felix really wanted to win, all he had to do was throw a shutout. They gave him one run. And he even had two chances to drive in runs himself.
Really?? If I was Felix, I’d go LoMo on something. Just incredible how he keeps his composure playing for this “offensive juggernaut”. And I do mean they are OFFENSIVE.
Why do the Mariners hate Felix?
These tough-luck Felix losses are terrible to watch. Ugh.
The Mariners have a team .298obp, next worse AL team is Houston at .314. The M’s are 2.5 are standard deviation’s below the mean. For a team stat that is stunning.
From Jeff Passan:
“After tonight, only Ryan, Unit, Bunning, Seaver and Koufax have more 7+ IP, ? 1 ER, 10+ K, no-win games than Felix Hernandez, who has seven.”
How come Everett always comes to the Tri-Cities to start the year?? We miss seeing the new draft picks…
Fangraphs doesn’t know what Ji-Man Choi hits… L I assume?
Is he supposed to be any good? Could sure use a 1B/DH option finally.
Choi hits L. Jeff, Matthew, and I like him primarily because he walks a lot. Last year he ended the season with a 68/63 K/BB despite being promoted aggressively across three levels, and this year his K/BB is 7/12. Scouts don’t especially like him because he doesn’t have the power coveted at the position, which leads people to undersell how well he has always hit. He’s more of a John Olerud type, but without the elite defense.
When Saunders, Hart and Smoak return, who is optioned back to Tacoma or DFA?
Assume it would be among Chavez, Gillespie, Montero, Romero.
Will Smoak be back as a Mariner?
+He’s more of a John Olerud type, but without the elite defense.+
So he’s unlikely to be an almost-HOFer?