Game 110, Rangers at Mariners
Hisashi Iwakuma vs. Cole Hamels, 7:10pm
Sorry for the break there – I wandered around Oregon with my family, camping near Newberry Caldera, checking out the coast, and checking out plenty of breweries/wineries. It was a wonderful break from what’s become another difficult M’s season, though it was ill-timed in that I missed Ketel Marte’s first MLB at-bats, as well as Jesus Montero looking like a big-leaguer again. As in most seasons, the M’s are a fascinating blend of hide-your-eyes and realized potential. Nelson Cruz can’t be an MVP candidate in a league that employees Mike Trout, but he’s having an amazing season. Brad Miller’s plate discipline is helping overcome a stubbornly low BABIP, Seth Smith has been fantastic and even Franklin Gutierrez is contributing. And yet the M’s are out of it, 9 games below .500 and with their playoff odds in the very low single-digits.
This isn’t new – you know how the M’s got here. Jeff Sullivan did a great job summarizing their plight for a national audience here, but what’s interesting is how much churn there’s been in terms of where the blame lies. Hisashi Iwakuma was bad and then hurt-and-bad, but he’s returned to form and become a contributor. Robinson Cano was an anchor on the offense until he suddenly became its engine again. Fernando Rodney was terrible, and then…ok, yeah, he’s still terrible. The M’s offense has been better of late, but it’s amazing how little these mini-streaks by some component of the team matters in the win column. The starting pitching began the year in a slump thanks to Iwakuma, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton, then turned it around. The non-Cruz offense was terrible, and then had a torrid month, but the M’s record has actually dropped over that time.
Worse, the Rangers rebuild seems to have taken much less time than we would’ve assumed. After sinking a ton of money into Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus, Prince Fielder and Yu Darvish, they’ve been able to re-tool thanks to a farm system that continues to be excellent at developing talent. Cole Hamels fetched three of Texas’ top 10 prospects, though the Rangers were able to protect 3B Joey Gallo and OF Nomar Mazara, meaning they’ve got offensive depth in the high-minors. The development of Chi Chi Gonzalez has been fairly remarkable, and CF Delino DeShields has been solid after Leonys Martin’s development stalled and then went into a nosedive. To be sure, this is still a team that’s overperforming to a degree: their pythagorean record is 50-57, and their pitching staff was among the worst in baseball prior to acquiring tonight’s starter, Cole Hamels.
They’ve relied on sequencing, and they have the best record in one-run games in the AL West. You could argue that they should’ve sold on Gallardo rather than buying on Hamels, but that’s obviously not what they decided to do. Instead, they’re positioned fairly well for 2016 – they should have a healthy Martin Perez and, at some point, Yu Darvish, meaning they won’t need Colby freaking Lewis to anchor the rotation. SS is still a problem, and it’s not clear how much money they’d have to spend after taking on Hamels contract, but the M’s came into this season looking like a team that was far superior in every way to Texas, and that’s not going to be the case next year. Of course, Oakland was supposed to be the well-positioned, slightly-above-.500 team coming into this year, and Texas’ push could backfire if they don’t figure out why none of their players can stay healthy. But while the M’s window hasn’t completely closed, it’s really hard to see out of it these days.
I take it we all know enough about Cole Hamels not to go into too much detail. You know, guy with really good change-up – 4th most innings-pitched since end of 2007. Coming up, Hamels was a four-seam/change up guy who also threw a curve. After struggling against lefties a bit in 2008 and 2009, he developed a cutter which has become a big part of his arsenal (especially to lefties) and a sinker, which may help ameliorate his HR issues. He started throwing the curve a lot in 2013, and he’s kept his HR/9 under 1 in each year since. The confounding variable here is velocity. Like a number of hurlers, Hamels is now throwing significantly harder than he was as a youngster. In 2008, Hamels four-seam was 90-91. Now, at age 31, he’s throwing 93-94.
1: Marte, SS
2: Seager, 3B
3: Cruz, RF
4: Cano, 2B
5: Montero, DH
6: Jackson, CF
7: Trumbo, LF
8: Morrison, 1B
9: Zunino, C
SP: Iwakuma
Soooo, Ketel Marte, underrated prospect? This may be the first time in recent memory that the national writers seem to be higher on a prospect than the team’s fans. Marte’s calling card has been his hit tool, as he’s posted sterling K% numbers despite being very young for his league at every stop in the minors. As the Chris Mitchell article linked above attests, contact is a very good sign for a prospect, and his ability to make contact from both sides of the plate adds to the high-ceiling that many people see. Personally though, I’m still quite wary. His lack of power means that his hit tool has to be great, and more importantly, it has to be great consistently. Kiley McDaniel mentioned Luis Castillo as an upside comp, but reaching that would require Marte to walk much, much more often than he’s shown a predilection for in the minors. Castillo had a .368 career OBP, and that’s probably the 99th percentile forecast for Marte. To me, the best case is something like Dee Gordon, another player overlooked because of a low ISO coupled with a non-SS, non-C position. When a player like that is hitting really well, they’re great. But unless either Marte’s gap-power or patience develops, he can’t really contribute if he isn’t hitting over .290 or so.
The PCL has seen a raft of young players who hit AAA at 20-22 and posted solid averages. Most of them were great hitters, from Kris Bryant to Wil Myers to Anthony Rizzo to Joc Pederson. Several of the middle infielders have shown more pop as well, like Wilmer Flores, Dilson Herrera and Kolten Wong. The remainder are a mix of tweener-types who hang on in the big leagues but come off the bench (Joaquin Arias, Chris Owings, Luis Sardinas). It’s too soon to tell with Hanser Alberto or Christhian Adames, and it’s still a bit early with Chris Taylor, too. But those three could play SS, and even there, as could Alcides Escobar, the top MIF comp in Mitchell’s study. If Escobar, Dee Gordon and Scooter Gennett are top comps, it highlights the fact that batting-average-reliant players can be remarkably volatile. Gennett was a .300 hitter who proved the stat-heads wrong, and then was quietly demoted weeks later. Escobar put together a very good 2012 when he hit .297 with little power, but his 2013 was disastrous, putting up a wRC+ of 50 despite playing every day. Gordon’s been great this year, but had a 58 wRC+ in 330 plate appearances in 2012. All of this isn’t a huge problem if Marte’s hit tool is categorically better than these guys, and I’m just not sure that it is. If he plays good defense, there are worse guys to have on your bench, but I still think he may have more value on another team. Prove me wrong, Ketel!
After spending some quality time out of cell-phone range, I’m actually looking forward to watching a ball game tonight. Go M’s.
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44 Responses to “Game 110, Rangers at Mariners”
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Hey hey Marc! Very glad you’re back! I hope you’re all recharged, because everyone here missed you!
Welcome back Marc! Let’s go M’s and take it to 17 Boomstick!
Glad you had some fun with the family, Marc!
BTW according to Drayer, Guti isn’t playing because it’s “one of his bad days”. Man, it’s great to see him when he’s in the lineup but he really is a part-time contributor at best nowadays. I’ll take it; but still I think about what might have been…
Great post Marc!
As far as Marte, it would be great to see some solid contact and gap power to combine with his Ichiro style infield hits.
Glad to have you back. Some of the people around here made some very uncalled for comments about you. I hope they are embarrassed and at least have the decency to apologize.
Through the years some of my ideas may have been embarrassing bad, but I hope folks always realize that I will always repect others “right to be wrong” (ha ha)
Grow up.
I love it when Kuma’s splitter makes a major league hitter look as foolish as Mike Zunino.
Thanks a lot Westy, BG et al… Means a lot.
Edgar can’t fix Trumbo’s defense, I guess.
As for the brickbats in the last game thread, I’ve got to own a part of that for not saying anything about my upcoming trip. I’m not too worried overall as I’m just back from vacation and I am strengthened with the knowledge that I own my *own* basement.
Still honored that y’all check in. Seriously. This team is lucky in every way except that all-important ‘on-field-talent way.’
Cole Hamels is certainly as good as advertised. I’m enjoying watching these two pitchers go head to head. I’d enjoy it more if it weren’t another lost Mariners’ season… but still.
Not *quite* Raul-esque there, Trumbo, but you’re certainly getting there.
Marc: set Westy up with the ability to enter bare-bone game threads in a pinch.
Then, expect an Ode to Michael Saunders within each one of them.
Everybody wins that way.
People say baseball is becoming more athletic these days but is it? Trumbo, Montero, they’re just stiffs.
Hahaha Mike. Although I might write an ode to a sprinkler head, instead.
Seriously though, Marc, if you ever would like to have a “just in case” fallback person I’d be happy to do it. I do know my way around WordPress.
Ode #1: even on one leg Michael Saunders is a better outfielder than Mark Trumbo
Ode #2: We don’t miss you, Ricky Weeks
Ode #3: Lloyd sucks
I will write Ode #3 for you, Westy.
And I’m sure there will be a lot of literary support volunteers for Chapters 2-11.
Mr Z Devotee can put it all to music
Where is that Rainbow Warrior Scottsman, anyway.
Mike is enjoying himself this evening.
Oh wow, Boonie.
Steve can translate it all into Spanish and sell it with those edible hemp shoes he sells (used to sell?) at his shop in Brazil.
I spent a month in downtown Seattle this week.
Nuf sed.
This team absolutely sucks on the base paths.
wow… *facepalm*
I stayed at a hotel that did not have Root Sports
In Seattle
Seattle!
Hey Howard Lincoln … Psst, pssssst … There are hotels in Seattle that don’t carry cable packages that have Root Sports.
Please look into that.
Speaking of Trumbo… that Castillo guy Jack got rid of for him is doing pretty well right now…must be nice to have a player like that on your team..
That’s really surprising.
I don’t think Jack wants to have a catcher around that’s better than Zunino.
And of course as I say that, Trumbo hits a home run, as does Castillo. But still.
I’m glad that Trumbo is finally hitting, since that’s literally his only skill.
Welcome back Marc! Some of us non comenters are still regular readers.
Cruz!
Robbie!
Back to Back! oh snap!
Suddenly Hamels is looking very human.
All right, Ajax, now don’t go getting thrown out on the bases.
Canoooooooo
Ok, so now we just need to count on the bullpen to…uh….protect..hmm. Score some runs, guys.
A bit late on this, but – that was a nice play by Seager a couple minutes ago.
Holy cow, I thought Beltre had that one. Phew!
Maybe one day we will have a competent center fielder that can make decent contact.
Woo hoo!