Game 37, Mariners at Blue Jays
Ryan Weber vs. Marcus Stroman, 10:07 am
The logic imposed by MLB roster rules is unforgiving. Given the scale of the M’s injury problems, a remarkable number of players who opened the year on minor league contracts or off of the 40-man roster have gotten a chance to play in the big leagues. But as the M’s search for starters has deepened (Hisashi Iwakuma is now out for 4-6 weeks, not 10 days), other non-roster players are getting squeezed. To make room for Ryan Weber on the 25- and 40-man, the M’s DFA’d RP Jean Machi. Machi had pitched pretty well, but can’t pitch again this weekend after a long stint yesterday. They can’t recall Dan Altavilla after just sending him down, and can’t cycle through back end starters anymore, because all of them are needed. Hence, Machi may leave a pitching-starved org after pitching reasonably well.
Ryan Weber pitched for Atlanta last year, but seems to have refined his command in Tacoma, as he’s been great for the Rainiers. The low arm-slot righty has been a ground ball machine in AAA, and has posted a low walk rate and hit rate, too. As with Christian Bergman, he seemed to be on the outside looking in, frozen behind starters on the 40-man like Dillon Overton and Chase de Jong, even while comprehensively outpitching them in AAA. Injuries have democratized opportunities, though, and now everyone gets a turn.
The M’s face Marcus Stroman, who’s somehow making his first start against them. The undersized RHP has a great sinker at about 94 MPH and some serious sink. It’s made Stroman a ground ball pitcher, which has in turn allowed him to keep his HRs-allowed pretty low for given he pitches in Toronto in 2016-17. He throws a slider, too, but doesn’t exhibit huge platoon splits.
1: Segura, SS
2: Gamel, RF
3: Cruz, DH
4: Seager, 3B
5: Valencia, 1B
6: Motter, 2B
7: Heredia, LF
8: Dyson, CF
9: Gosewisch, C
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37 Responses to “Game 37, Mariners at Blue Jays”
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…And, no off days until May 22nd. The M’s must survive before they can advance.
Despite just giving up a run, Weber’s looked pretty decent. Low pitch count as well.
Goddamn ‘diculous.
Does the team really need Valencia? We can get -0.3fWAR, can’t hit righties, can’t play the field without his off field problems surely?
^Take a look at what Valencia’s done over the last 3 weeks collectively.
What off the field problems? Punching Billy Butler in the face isn’t a problem.
Benny!
Yeah – punching Billy Butler (last season) isn’t an off field issue. Butler is known to be more than a bit of a dickhead. Lots of guys wanted to punch him.
Dyson is showing off all his weapons today. Good for him! Defense, baserunning, a couple hits and a steak. 10 more putouts by him on defense today should just about do it. They so badly need to win one of the last two games of this series.
Keep hitting the ball to that dude.
Oakland is actually having a Billy Butler Bobble Head Punching Bag night.
I’m in. I’ll fly or drive to Oakland for that!
Are you buyin’ Justin Smoak’s new found power, Mike? I know he’s trying to lift the ball more, but I see the same ol’ Smoak: an underpowered power hitter with occasional hot streaks.
Didn’t get much out of Overton, which sucks. Not as bad as losing Weber to injury, but still sucks.
Pretty impressive pitch recognition by Seager. Flailed at a pitch a foot outside.
I wasn’t a fan of Smoak but he’s hanging around and keeping himself in shape and making a career for himself. He has always had 20 HR “power” and he will probably land somewhere around that number again this year.
The real Nick Vincent finally stood up.
After last nights loss I really did feel a sweep was inevitable, but today’s losing effort (so far) is pissing me off, anyway.
I Just figured I would feel better letting you all (all 4 of you) know that.
I was wrong.
Both teams will be 17-21 after tomorrow’s game. Toronto with all of their early season issues – will be just as “in it” as the Mariners.
It’s five now, Mike.
Man, what’s with those bright pink uniforms?
What in the actual hell, trying to steal a base down by 3 runs. Come on “G”
Come the fuck on
Way to go after him, Blowers. Deadpan: I’m a little surprised to see him run – down by 3 runs.
So is everyone else who understands baseball.
Well, Blowers is an employee of the Mariners – he can’t exactly say “boy that was a stupid decision”.
I think he can when it is Sooooo obvious, but you are probably right in regard to the reason he didn’t. It’s not really within his personality to do it, either – but nobody would have argued.
Oh good grief.
Even if the pitcher looked at second initially, he had plenty of time. He just blew it.
At this point… just get all the stink out of your systems today, boys.
Did Seager step away from the base to retrieve the ball on purpose – and that’s why he didn’t make the tag in time? What did I just see him do, there. DVR rewind ….
Seager overran the base – didn’t need too.
Come on kyle. That was crappy footwork and positioning.
I may queue up “Yakety Sax” to use as background music for what’s left of this game.
Yeah, this music does make the game more palatable.
(but my wife is looking at me funny)
The Segura pickup has definitely panned out, at least.
But having 80% of your opening-day starting rotation on the DL for a team without a whole lot of depth – not to mention other valuable players getting hurt – has been a challenge.
Yeah this pitching luck is ridiculous at this point.
@Jerry Dipoto: now would be a pretty good time to get another starter on the market.
Game 38: Ariel Miranda vs. Aaron Sanchez
Segura, SS
Gamel, RF
Cruz, DH
Seager, 3B
Valencia, 1B
Motter, 2B
Heredia, LF
Shop Vac, CF
Ruiz, C
I would really like to see these guys get something going for once. There’s another inning where we get one guy on but after that nothing.
The team has more strikeouts than hits in this series. That’s an impressively bad performance unless you are hitting a lot of bombs – which, ha!
Speaking of bombs: Smoak absolutely crushed that pitch. Line drive home run. Yep, he can hit a middle middle fastball. Nice placement, Pazos.
Dyson got all 160 pounds behind that one. That was awesome!
Shop Vac!
Nice!
Swept.
Awesome….. great effort all around this series against the Blue Jays….. hard to be positive about this one.
Pitching basically did its job today – but you’re not going to win many ball games by scoring 2 runs.
Hey that sounds familiar…
You know those year end DvD retrospectives they have in some sports narrating the highlights?
“You’re not going to win many ball games by scoring 2 runs” would be the subheading to, like, the last decade of mariner retrospectives.