Game 58, Mariners at Braves
Erasmo Ramirez vs. Gavin Floyd, 4:10pm
The M’s head south to face the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. Erasmo’s up to make this start, as we mentioned after Brandon Maurer’s demotion.
I’ve heard lots more M’s chatter recently in the national press, on local radio, and just in conversation than I’ve heard in years. Well, more POSITIVE chatter, anyway. People think the team’s decent, and could be better than decent if they can find another bat in free agency or trade. Everyone recognizes that starting pitching has been an unlikely strength. Felix is Felix, but many of us were terrified about the back of the rotation. Roenis Elias and Chris Young have been key components of the M’s success to date, and they’ve certainly helped cover for an offense that’s been a weird combination of lucky and terrible. Sure, Elias was good in spring training this year, but not as good as either Maurer or Carter Capps last year. Essentially no one saw as a steady contributor, well on his way to an above-league-average season.
But as nice a surprise the rotation’s been for Seattle, look what’s going on in Atlanta. Tonight’s starter, Gavin Floyd, is 31, and returning from TJ surgery. In his final few years on the South Side of Chicago, Floyd first underperformed his fielding-independent stats, then saw his fielding independent stats tank along with all the rest of his numbers. In particular, his platoon split problems were just too big to hide – it didn’t matter what he did to righties if lefties were approaching 2 HR/9 off of him. The Braves brought in the recuperating Floyd as well as such luminaries as Aaron Harang, and somehow, they’ve got the 5th best FIP of any rotation. Sort by ERA, of course, and they’re number 1. We talk so much about the Canos and the Choos of the market, guys who are clearly, obviously better than Chris Young and Aaron %$#ing Harang, but it’s hilarious to see this game frustrate attempts at small-sample prognostication. The M’s can use Endy Chavez at DH and get big hits from Willie Bloomquist to beat Scherzer and the Tigers. The Braves can pick up old, failed starters and watch them post brilliant peripherals along with sparkly runs allowed. This game makes no sense sometimes, and I think we’re all glad about that.
Tonight’s line-up is heavily left-handed, as it should be. Floyd’s overall numbers have improved across the board, but he’s still got platoon splits.
1: Jones, CF
2: Saunders, RF
3: Cano, 2B
4: Seager, 3B
5: Smoak, 1B
6: Ackley, LF
7: Buck, C
8: Miller, SS
9/SP: Erasmooooo
Tonight our 3rd annual draft preview posts – check it out after the game. The amateur draft kicks off this Thursday.
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75 Responses to “Game 58, Mariners at Braves”
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Zunino who?
That was a Country Strong Funk Blast by Buck.
Oh my goodness, John Buck, are you serious? What is he doing tonight!
Sims said right before the pitch that he’s looking for his first home run too haha
Buck Baby!
Smoak wants to be a Rainier.
Start high – finish high, Syd. That’s what I think you meant.
“Lower” in the middle.
And that’s why it’s hard to be good at hitting a baseball. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Fractions of an inch, matter.
ESPN does a swing track thing that shows it a lot better than I can describe it.
I wasn’t really on the Kendrys Morales train all season but with no DH and Smoak being Smoak I’m starting to want it to happen.
Californiamariner – Same here. The M’s are in the thick of things the start of June, so time to spend the cash. Hope it doesn’t backfire on the M’s in the long run.
I wish fans would begin to appreciate Leone more.
Watching pitchers hit all the time would be a drag, but for days like this – with bad starting pitcher outcomes – seeing the myriad of changes is interesting and fun. I like the NL game – especially in these little inter league bursts of candy coated fun.
Yeah, Kendrys is what he is. A good hitter. He doesn’t do anything on defense but the hitting is precisely what is needed. I don’t see it backfiring in the long run because there’s no way it would require any kind of big commitment in terms of years.
I’d totally gamble on Morales on a Drew-type pro-rated deal, but at this point, he’ll wait a couple days for the draft, then some desperate team will offer him multiple years, which is a bad gamble. So I don’t see us having a chance at Morales.
So how long does Erasmo have to stay with the M’s before he can be optioned or DFA? If someone comes off the DL list then I assume the M’s can option Erasmo back to Tacoma quickly…I hope.
If Smoak was a cat, his nine lives would be way over.
I should reword that…If Smoak was a cat, his nine lives with the Mariners would be way over.
With an off day after the Braves series, maybe they can just skip Erasmo’s spot in the rotation the next time through.
Time to fire up the Rodney rollercoaster. Never a serene drive in the country.
There is no minimum amount of time that Erasmo has to spend on the active roster. The time “limit” applies to when guys are sent down … They can only return in advance of the time limit expiration if there is an injury related situation. Not sure if the time limit is 10 or 15 days. Someone will know that answer.
I doubt the mariners will send Erasmo down anytime soon’ish – as they have very few options. The team has just got bring the “thump” when either he or Maurer throw. Erasmo has been a big disappointment the past two seasons.
If Smoak were a cat, we wouldn’t be having this problem.
Yes!!!
I don’t believe it. Won 7-5 after being down 4-0. Or was it 5-0?
Even an easy save by Rodney.
Iwakuma takes the mound tomorrow for a team that is 2 games over .500 in June. IN JUNE!
Unexpected win. Nice job bullpen and catcher! And Romero and Miller too. Bottom of the lineup significant in getting it done tonight.
So who will be pitching against the Yanks?
Yanks? Do you mean Rays? 4 game series starts on Friday against the Rays.
It was tough to watch at first… but dang, what a game. Could we just sign a dh and move Smoak to 8th in the order? He can play D.
I presume the regular rotation (Young/Elias/King/Kuma) will be pitching against the Rays, each starter with at least the normal number of days off in between starts.
But who will be pitching against the Yankees the first game? Erasmo?