Game 110, Mariners at Orioles
Erasmo Ramirez vs. Scott Feldman, 4:05pm
The M’s hope Erasmo can regain his command and sharp change-up tonight following their 4th straight loss. With the Angels comeback win last night (I bet that felt somewhat cathartic for a team that suffered three consecutive walk-off HR losses), the M’s are now back in 4th, a half-game back of the Halos. Baltimore’s two straight wins have coincided with Tampa’s two straight losses, which means the top of the AL East is a fascinating three-way race between the Orioles, Red Sox and Rays.
Scott Feldman came to Baltimore in an early-July trade with the Cubs. Our fearless leader had praised the Cubs signing Feldman, and liked Baltimore picking him up for the stretch run. The reason? Feldman looked like a very good buy-low candidate after a poor ERA marred some solid peripherals. Feldman’s turned in a typical Feldman season (K% around 17%, BB% around 6-7%, HR/9 around 1), and some BABIP luck and an improved strand rate have his ERA below 4.
Back in 2012, Dave also noted that Feldman has shown reverse platoon splits over his career, pointing to his split/change as the big reason why (similar to Iwakuma’s reverse splits). He’s still got slightly reversed splits, but here’s the weird thing: that change/split pitch? He’s ditched it. As you’ve probably guessed, Feldman’s a tinkerer, always tweaking his approach (and that spirit seemed to rub off on Brandon McCarthy, whose career reinvention surpassed anything Feldman’s done). He’s been a four-pitch guy for quite a while: a sinker, cutter, curve and change have been his pitches for many years. In 2008, he threw the sinker most of all, with the cutter his second-most used offering. In 2009, he threw the cutter most, with the change-up languishing in 4th. He was mostly the same in 2010, though he threw proportionally more curves, and then he missed most of 2011 with injuries. When he returned in 2012, he threw more sinkers and more change-ups than ever. This year, he’s nearly dropped the change and he’s throwing more curves again. It’s not like one approach is terrible – as we’ve seen, he’s been very consistent in K%, HR%, etc. But with 90mph velocity, tinkering probably helps keep him in the league.
1: Miller, SS
2: Franklin, 2B
3: Seager, 3B
4: Morales, DH
5: Ibanez, LF
6: Morse, RF
7: Smoak, 1B
8: Saunders, CF
9: Quintero, C
SP: Erasmoooo
So, Dustin Ackley’s reign as starting CF appears to be well and truly over, as Saunders’ hot streak (and his superior D) give him the job, and Morse’s return forces Ackley to the bench.
Biggest prospect taking the hill in the M’s minors is Pulaski’s Edwin Diaz. Tacoma turns to Hector Noesi, who is not the biggest prospect in the M’s minors today. Double-header in Everett starting at 5 if you want to go see some baseball. The AquaSox are hosting Boise, the Cubs NWL affiliate, and the team with #2 overall pick Kris Byrant playing for them. They’ve also got OF Trevor Gretzky, whose dad was sort of famous, I’m told.
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49 Responses to “Game 110, Mariners at Orioles”
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I think it’s Saunders’ hot streak, period. They don’t care about outfielder defense as far as I can tell, but they do care a lot about hot streaks.
not sure it is just hot streaks …. Ibanez for example is hitting .146 with .428 ops including no homers and only 1 rbi since the allstar break but is out there every night.
Ral is out there because he’s a veteran and the first part of the season was obviously his true talent level. Just ask Robbie Thompson.
( I left the “u” out intentionally – if he gets extra ones when he’s hot, he need to be penalized when he sucks)
I feel bad for Ackley though. If they really want him to become an outfielder, they should have given him more than a couple weeks in AAA to get used to it.
Overall this front office hasn’t been particularly good managing some of these guys, in my opinion. Maurer comes to mind too.
Smoak-y!!
have to agree westy – some decisions have been made based upon need at major league level vs. whats good for the player. Maurer is a really good example – man they were excited about this guy as a starter from the spring, to a very average AAA season to now the bullpen. I look at Tillman as good comparison – it might take Maurer 2-3 more years of AAA before he figures out that level and now they have him as Blake Beavan the sequel.
Oh Ral…
Nice to see Morse hitting the last couple games.
love the O’s announcers noting how agressive the Mariners hitters are. Second only to Astros in strikeouts – very prone to pitches outside the strike zone which plays into Feldman’s game plan. Hopefully Wedge is listening to Rizz – he would be having a anti-sabremetrics melt down – even the O’s announcers are buying into this passive hitting crap!
It’s time Ral. It’s time.
Edit: its past time Ral. It’s past time.
Okay, even I am tired of the dropped “u” meme I was trying to start.
Raul really needs to sit. He was hitting amazingly well for the first half… But he’s horrid right now. Give Ackley some time in left.
Oops – sorry Mike, I didn’t realize it was going to catch on! 🙂
Not to worry my friend, it will not be missed either way. I will be able to regroup quickly.
It might have been funnier if I had said “regrop”
When we have to use it EVERY FREAKING AT BAT…
Hahahaha Mike
excuse me i was on mute – WTF are they putting on that dog?
Oh that hot dog looks gross.
Peanut butter, cream cheese, and grape jelly, G-Man.
I have a peanut allergy, so it’s gross and anaphylactic for me.
CONDOR!!!
CONDOR!
Edit – there’s an echo in here.
Condor!
As long as we need to play a CF who can’t hit very well, it might as well be one who can actually play CF and do *that* once in a while.
Condor remains a mystery. I hope whatever he is – reveals itself sometime soon. Big dude. Lots of holes in swing. Inconsistency may ultimately be the only consistent with him, but he is heading into his prime and ready to peak … Whatever the heck that may actually be.
As of now, Smoak’s OPS is up over .800. That’s neat.
Hey, somebody … please break out the “Depends” before telling Wilhelmsen the team has a lead.
Given the timing… it’s always possible Condor was playing hurt after that stint on the DL. We’ve sure seen enough of that with this management group – they seem to think it’s a positive trait for manly reasons, all rational evidence to the contrary.
It’s what I’d like to believe, anyway.
But yeah, Mike – he is at the age where the next few years should be his peak. It’d be nice if there was a little more “peak” coming.
Ugh.
(gh?)
Seriously, when was the last time that everyone in a Mariners lineup had an OPS on the right side of .700?
Please Raul, get a hit.
Yeah!
Then Boo.
*head desk*
Or rather, since I’m at a coffee shop, *head table*
Too many really slow guys smack dab in the middle of the lineup.
I hate that realization that the Mariners are going to be on all the highlight shows tonight, and not for a good reason. We’ve been having a lot of those moments recently.
Whew!
WOO HOO!!!!!
Condor!!!
CONDOR REDUX!
I hope Saunders doesn’t get thrown out at the plate
“A lot of folks headed for the exit” says Sims.
Haven’t they heard about the M’s closer woes?
(I hope they leave Farquhar in).
“I hope Saunders doesn’t get thrown out at the plate”
If any team could do it, this is it.
Sims, you idiot – but now Blowers corrects him. It is a save if he finishes it and we win.
Well, at least they put Endy in for Raul. Wish they’d sub for Morse as well.
Really Westy? I missed that substitution. About time.
But maybe it’s because there’s a day game tomorrow, so let’s not get our hopes up that it’s a trend.
I only noticed it cuz of Gameday.
Your new M’s closer, Danny Farquhar!
^ I could live with that!
Paolini (two weeks ago) and Blash up to Jackson. Who’d they drop?
Had a mild argument the other night with someone about Farquhar. I said he should be our closer due to his K/BB ratio and his K rate. Plus the intangible…He is a Badass!! I like him alot. He brings attitude and his ball moves. Hope he sticks!
bookbook,
I think Almonte went on the DL.
Can we put out an APB for Jesus Sucre? 15 day DL back in May? Where is he? He’s not playing and no one I have asked on here seems to know or will offer an explanation. And over a bruised wrist?
Proscia went back to High Desert also.
amazing what 2 home runs can do but Saunders numbers are remarkably similar to his 2012 production. Average and slugging percentage a little lower but on base percentage is actually higher. Would like to see him stay in this type of groove for a whole season (been pretty consistent from July 1st on) – still only 26 and think he can play as more than a 4th outfielder on a good team for next 7 years or so.
Good to see Smoak & Saunders hitting. Makes such a big difference.