Game 128, Mariners at White Sox
Roenis Elias vs. Carlos Rodon, 5:10pm
Welcome back, Roenis. The Cuban lefty evidently wasn’t terribly happy about being in Tacoma and stunk up the PCL for a while before his recent recall. He’s obviously been much better in the big leagues, although exactly why is an interesting question for someone to research. Unlike many (most?) M’s prospects to come up, Elias has done this over a somewhat reliable sample – this isn’t a guy who had a hot month.
The M’s saw Carlos Rodon 5 days ago and got to see Rodon’s strengths and weaknesses up close. Rodon walked too many (4 in 7 IP), but missed tons of bats. He confused the heck out of Kyle Seager, while Franklin Gutierrez hit him hard. Unless and until Rodon gets his platoon splits figured out, he won’t take the leap to one of the game’s elite starters that some observers believe is coming.
1: Marte, SS
2: Jackson, CF
3: Cruz, RF
4: Cano, 2B
5: Gutierrez, LF
6: Trumbo, 1B
7: Montero, DH
8: Miller, 3B
9: Zunino, C
SP: Elias
At this point in their respective careers, I think I’d rather see Montero play 1B with Trumbo DHing. Never thought I’d see the day where I commented that I think Montero putting a glove on would give the M’s a better chance, but here we are.
Fangraphs had an article on white-hot Tacoma OF Jabari Blash today, which kind of tells you the kind of tear the 26 year old from St. Croix is on.
Tacoma beat Memphis in a slugfest, 13-7. The game was notable in that two former Gonzaga pitchers, Tyler Olson of Spokane, WA and Arturo Reyes of Warden, WA (it’s in Grant County) started opposite each other. Both hurlers were drafted in 2013, the year that Gonzaga’s ace, Marco Gonzalez, went in the first round. Anyway, neither Zag brought their A game, as Olson was knocked out in the 3rd after giving up 7 runs, while Reyes held on until the 4th, when he’d given up 9 runs. Ji-Man Choi’s grand slam in the 1st set the tone, as the Rainiers pounded out 16 hits in the game. Forrest Snow starts for the R’s tonight.
Jackson scored 2 runs off Taylor Guerrieri, but unfortunately, they settled for 2 runs and eventually lost 4-2 in extras. Jimmy Gilheeney was excellent in a losing effort. Edwin Diaz gets the ball in today’s game in Montgomery.
Bakersfield edged Visalia 8-6, winning their second straight against a very good Rawhide club. Tyler O’Neill, per usual, was the hitting star, knocking 3 hits including 2 doubles. Scott DeCecco starts for the Blaze today, opposing Markus Solbach, the German pitcher who pitched effectively against Clinton when he was in the Midwest League earlier this year (who HASN’T pitched effectively against Clinton, though?).
Clinton surrendered 3 runs in the first and never really recovered, losing to Quad Cities 6-3. Clinton’s 45-games-under record is now attracting more attention, lest you think it’s just me banging on about how bad they’ve been. Mike Curto found this tweet noting that Clinton’s now 40.5 games back in the MWL. I would just note that Clinton, at 45 games under, and Quad Cities at 36 games OVER, make for quite a lopsided pairing – a combined 81 games apart vis a vis .500. Zack Littell starts today, attempting to chip away at that chasm.
Everett lost a heartbreaker to Salem Keizer 3-2 in the 10th. The Volcanoes held a 1-0 lead heading into the 9th inning, and scored an insurance run in the top of the frame. But with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, pinch hitter Corey Simpson singled in two runs to tie and send the game to extras…whereupon the Volcanoes retook the lead in the 10th and made it hold up. Anthony Misiewicz and Andrew Moore were outstanding on the mound for the AquaSox. Enyel de los Santos starts tonight.
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25 Responses to “Game 128, Mariners at White Sox”
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At least the Rodney experience is over and done with.
It’s HAPPY FERNANDO DAY. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass!
Didn’t realize we were playing the Pyramid Brewery Men’s Softball Team today. Is this an over-30 team?
At least the WSox aren’t wearing the shorts… (which would be the only way to make those uniforms uglier…)
They should have worn shorts, baseball is a warm weather, summer sport, so wear shorts. Baseball pants are an afterthought anyway.
So, Miller is on track to set a career high in Errors. He’s at 14 now, and had 18 in 2014. Tell me why again he’s on the field? And don’t tell me he’s “hitting” well…Marte surely should be an upgrade?
Gee, maybe that’s why Marte is the starting SS now….
Believe it or not, advanced statistics say that Miller’s having an OK year.
But since it’s the Mariners and we eat our own, instead of going “well, Miller’s not perfect but he’s not the problem”, it’s time to dump on him, I guess. Bill James told stories back in the day of how the KC A’s used to dump on ballplayers for what they couldn’t do. Same as it ever was.
Also… Marte is probably not going to have a lifetime BABIP of .394. Considering that Ichiro only beat that for a single season once, in 2004. Sure, play the kid, but let’s not throw Miller on the garbage heap. Hey, I hear we might need OFers…
I know he’s out there now…but why do we continue to put error prone player out on the field? SS or not? I don’t see Miller on the roster next year.
Miller and Zunino hitting back-to-back is sure paying some nice dividends.
Kinda surprising they managed to last six entire pitches
Guiti is going to break the blogosphere if keeps hitting like this.
Zunino is looking less valuable every day. Regardless of his “handling” of pitchers, and ability to frame a ball…He can’t hit, and his calling of a game is beginning to be questionable.
I’m thinking the blogosphere can handle the 12/13 comments so far – and maybe even up to 25 more with any luck … Unless you are referring to some other component of said blogosphere which may be reaching its capacity.
Well I was thinking in more of an overall baseball blog sense. I don’t know what happened here.
I’m looking forward to the Steven Baron hitting experience next month. He really can’t be all that much worse than Zunino and maybe even better. He has no power but actual contact on occasion would be really neat to see.
Really really neat.
I don’t know what happens here or anywhere for that matter. Not knowing is hair the battle
Or “half” the battle for my English speaking friends.
Maybe if this blog was in Spanish, it would be a happier place…
Maybe if the Mariners were 69-59 instead of 59-69 it would be a happier place…
Breaking – Jack Z fired.
Z toast.
He’s OUT!
Other than failed scouting, inability to develop prospects and an unhealthy affinity for large, slow, unathletic players who hit 30 dingers three years ago I think Z did a great job.
I haven’t a clue who would be the best new GM, but I would hire Ron Washington to head minor league player development.
Jack was here to fix the farm and he did not.
If you listen closely, you can hear this being sung throughout the M’s blogosphere…