Game 112, Jays at Mariners
Mike Leake vs. Sam Gaviglio, 1:10pm
I suppose it’s been a while since we’ve had such a crystallizing series. The parallels to 2007’s LollaBlueza against the Angels essentially write themselves. This one’s been marred by the presence of thousands of drunk/annoying Jays fans (Hosebullah?) but then, their arrival wasn’t much of a shock. It’s just that the M’s weren’t really in a position to prevent it, and let’s face it, I don’t think anyone forecast the M’s to be ~20 games over .500 when this series started.
They’re not 20 games over anymore, and the A’s, improbably, are. The A’s have stabilized their decimated rotation by adding guys like Edwin Jackson, first seen dueling peak-era Randy Johnson 15 years ago, and Frankie Montas, the hard-throwing prospect who’s now in his 4th org in the last 5 seasons. I will freely admit that the way we evaluate player development and the overall value of a front office is too often skewed by the last month or two of results. I don’t think the A’s magically “fixed” anything with Jackson, any more than the Padres did when Jackson pitched an absolute gem in the one game I’ve ever seen in Pittsburgh. Still, the contrast between the A’s getting a modicum of production from their waiver-wire crew and the M’s still chirping at Felix is…palpable. We don’t know that the M’s PD has “failed” because we/I don’t know what they’ve tried, what Felix’s reaction has been, and what alternatives they’ve explored. But again, players around the game and, pretty crucially, within the division have turned their careers around because they’ve worked hard and had the right help.
I wrote about Sam Gaviglio, ex-Mariner, in late July, as another example of a pitcher who’d seemingly gained another gear. He pitched poorly that day, and in general, his July went about as bad as possible. After outpitching a miserable FIP in Seattle/KC last year (the ol’ Ryan Franklin deal of giving up tons of solo HRs), he’s now got an ERA worse than a so-so FIP. Neither’s really all that encouraging, but at least they’re *different*. Gaviglio seemed like a classic AAAA guy, without the pure stuff that could miss big league bats. Given that and the overall environment, he seemed like he’d always give up HRs and couldn’t balance that with any positive attribute. He’s still pretty marginal, but incremental improvements in his slider and especially change have at least enabled him to miss a few bats. He’s no longer on David Price’s tail in K% or anything, and may still be a AAAA pitcher, but for a team like this, he’s a decent enough flyer.
Dee Gordon’s missing his 2nd straight day with an injured ankle.
Ben Gamel went 4-5 in yesterday’s game, bringing his line since his demotion to 7 for 13 with 3 doubles and a HR. I completely understand the flexibility that Heredia provides the defense, but the M’s can’t score any runs right now and their active roster management doesn’t seem to suggest that they see this as a problem. Ben Gamel is not a great offensive player, and can’t stop the M’s offensive woes by himself. But when you’re in an offensive funk like this, I’d assume that the M’s would go all-out in trying to put their best offensive line-up out there. They…don’t seem to agree. Even if it’s marginal, you kind of have to go for it, right? There’s a reason Chris Herrmann is up instead of Freitas, and the equivalent reasoning would argue for Gamel. Mini-rant over.
1: Span, LF
2: Segura, SS
3: Haniger, RF
4: Cruz, DH
5: Seager, 3B
6: Healy, 1B
7: Herrmann, C
8: Heredia, CF
9: Romine, 2B
SP: Leake
These refuse-to-win Mariners….just won. Well that was a pleasant surprise.
Watched with admiration and not a small amount of wistful jealousy that NY Boston game last night. It had everything… including baseball.
Im not going to whine too much because a three run lead seems like 30 at the moment.. but… Bases loaded no outs and Dee double play, Segura fly out? Inning over smh.
LeBlanc has averaged less than 85 pitches a start, but that is classic overmanaging by Servais.
3 runs on 10 hits over the first 6 innings (with about 100 LOB) and now only 2 hits over the last 4 innings…..obviously, these guys can’t think their way into a hit. Stop thinking so much and just “see the ball, hit the ball.” I’ve played ball for 60 years, my legs failed but never my bat…..so frustrating to watch.
Every time someone is thrown out on the bases, the next batter rips a hit…..*sigh*