Game 83, Mariners at Astros
Unlike assorted other scrubs (I am glaring at Josh Tomlin), Collin McHugh has also been good against other baseball teams, though not quite as good as he was against us on April 22nd. There have been fewer Ks and more walks at times, but he’s gone 6+ in five of his twelve outings so far. One exception is the last time we faced him in Houston, May 4th, when the Mariners touched him up for more runs than in any of his other starts and knocked him out before the fourth inning, his shortest start of the year. So either the Mariners will be dominated by him, or they’ll kick ass, or somewhere in between.
You aren’t here to read about Collin McHugh, you’re here to read about Taijuan Walker. As grudgingly as I would go to something that presents itself as “Fantasy” content, the Baseball America “What To Expect” Profile does a lot of good to talk about his repertoire, strengths/weaknesses, and his most recent outing. That last one was his first complete game shutout ever as a pro! Wow! (He’s only ever had one other complete game)
The story from his time rehabbing, of course, is larger than that. He was all right in High Desert and Jackson back in the first couple of weeks of April before his shoulder started balking again and he needed to go back. Unlike the more depressing scenarios that played out with Hultzen, he was able to pitch again for Tacoma. Out of the six starts he made there, he’s hit the five inning mark or more in his last four starts, walked one or fewer four times (and three or more twice), and has struck out seven or more twice, with all the other outings being in the threes or fours. This isn’t super meaningful since we’re talking three innings or fewer with at least two of those outings. What I’m trying to drive at by saying all this is just to indicate that his command can be good or bad. The Astros don’t have much position player value because their defensive WAR, according to Fangraphs, has been the worst in the league, but they’re roughly in the middle of the pack for offense. Many things could happen.
DH Endy Chavez
CF James Jones
2B Robinson Cano
3B Kyle Seager
1B Logan Morrison
C Mike Zunino
RF Michael Saunders
LF Dustin Ackley
SS Rad Miller
Other stuff? Mac says that neither Smoak nor Hart will be back this week. Kyle Seager was AL Player of the Week, Taijuan Walker was PCL Pitcher of the Week, Daniel Missaki was APL Pitcher of the Week. Paxton threw a 35-pitch bullpen that went all right. Joel Pineiro, in triple-A, tested positive for a banned stimulant and was released by the Angels.
Go ‘Ners!
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39 Responses to “Game 83, Mariners at Astros”
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Very excited to see Taijuan!
My goodness, Springer destroyed that ball.
Walker over throwing in the first.
Note to Mr. Walker: you can’t miss up in the zone to MLB hitters.
Zunino! That thing barely made it out. Skied it up there.
Sims wasn’t sure until it landed.
If Ackley continues to suck, he should be the one to go down when Hart returns. Easy decision.
I have given up on Ackley.
He doesn’t give us much to cheer about.
I wouldn’t care at this point if they gave Ackley an outright release.
Being a younger player, they won’t do that. But he definitely could be part of a trade package coming up.
Welcome to the show junior!
?
If Taijuan doesn’t get that hanging curveball down, he’s gonna have a sore neck before this is over.
Condor!!!
Saunders homer was great to see.
Rad!!!
Anyone know the MLB record for the most combined homers in a game? This game may be close to tying or breaking it!
HR Derby time.
The record is 12 combined HR’s in a game. This one has a long way to go, but hey! It’s still early….
12 is the record. We are a long way from that.
Gotcha. One site said 6, but that was for a game with no other runs (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_hr8.shtml) – but this is the kind of game which can be expected in Texas…
Both Jones and Chavez have been doing way more than was expected. When they gets themselves in scoring position, Cano and Seager need to bring them home.
If the M’s win tonight, they’ll start July with a better record than every AL East team.
Good lord, this is amazing.
Walker seems to have settled down and has looked solid the last few innings.
Blowers just reads the stats on the screen. He drives me crazy.
Cano!!
Hey Robbie!
Gotta love the M’s getting 8 runs for the rook!
Just for the record, I am glad we signed Cano instead of Josh Hamilton.
It’s a James Jones highlight reel tonight. I love it!
I wholeheartedly agree with you Leon
Is it just me or does James Jones remind anyone of Willie McGee?
Ackley for June:
AB 75 / H 13 / RBI 8 / BB 6 / SO 10
BA 173 / OBP 244 / SLG 227 /
Seven straight games without a hit.
It’s Tacoma time or some destination east.
He will be sent down when Hart returns. We will still have Endy, Jones, Condor, Gillespie and WFB if needed in the outfield
I thought it was just me, Eastside.
Willie McGee is exactly who came to mind the first time I saw Jones, even though he’s considerably bigger than Willie. I’m not even sure why, really. Sure, they’re both skinny and blazing fast, but there’s a resemblance that I can’t quite pin down.
They both had long necks, and a kind of rolling gait when they walked, then they’d explode and be at full speed in what seemed like 3 steps.
It’s not likely Jones’ career will rival Willie’s, but we can dream.
If he can remind people of Willie, he will be a star. He’s better looking than Willie too, but walks just like him. Glad I wasn’t the only one that sees the resemblance.
I’ll go with a different Willie, Willie Wilson. I’d be thrilled if his career followed either one. Sure like what he’s done so far!
Just call Jones ‘Willie’.