Game 149, Mariners at Rangers
Vidal Nuno vs. Cole Hamels, 5:05pm
Yesterday’s M’s win snapped the Rangers 5 game winning streak, but it didn’t do too much damage to the Rangers’ division and playoff odds. Thanks to the Astros’ on-going collapse, the Rangers maintained their 2.5 game lead. The Astros’ allowed an 8th-inning go-ahead HR to Danny Valencia of the A’s and lost 4-3 in a game they once had a 3 run lead. That’s five in a row for Houston, and they’ve now won just 2 of their last 11.
It’s probably not a huge surprise that Cole Hamels’ HR rate has crept up since being traded to Texas, but his BABIP’s been high over his first month and a half in the AL, too. That’s something of a rarity for Hamels, who has a lifetime BABIP of .286. With the Rangers, it’s at .313; the last time Hamels had a BABIP that high was 2009. Hamels hasn’t been bad – he’s been worth about 1 fWAR over 8 starts – but his RA/9 WAR isn’t great. The Rangers have made a lot of savvy moves in this playoff race, but it’s kind of funny how few of them have worked out (Will Venable is slugging .236 for Texas). It’s also funny how little it’s mattered.
1: Marte, SS
2: Seager, 3B
3: Cruz, DH
4: Cano, 2B
5: Gutierrez, LF
6: Trumbo, RF
7: Montero, 1B
8: O’Malley, CF
9: Hicks, C
SP: Nuno
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7 Responses to “Game 149, Mariners at Rangers”
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I have started to root for the M’s to end the season at .500 (or better.) Still unlikely, but they have not been this close since early June, if I have it right. It would be an unusual ending to an unusual year.
The “what kind of contract will Gutierrez get in 2016?” question continues to get more and more interesting. At the 150+ PA threshold, he’s the comfortably the second best hitter in baseball behind Bryce Harper.
The unknowns and limitations still likely leave Guti with a deal loaded with incentives. That’s my guess, anyway.
The bigger question is how to find room for Trumbo with Montero’s wizardry at first base.
Guti is certainly benefitting from being platooned most of the time – but I imagine there’ll be a lot of interest.
You know Westy, he’s actually faced a lot more RHP than I had realized. The platoons aren’t as drastic as I thought they were, either.
I expect him to stay in Seattle, but it will be interesting to see what kind of dough he commands and how that might effect the search for a center fielder. Maybe that leads to Miller getting the job, at least against RHP, by default?
I’d love to see Guti back in Seattle next year.
Me too. It’s a pity he can’t play center anymore.