Game 134, Angels at Mariners
Day game for Felix Day!
Jose Lopez is at first base. Last year, when he was shifted over to first, it was on the one hand a relief from the agony of watching Sexson or the futility that was Miguel Cairo. On the other hand, it was terrifying to think that the front office might be seriously thinking of Lopez as the future at first base. That would have made him into a worthless asset, all so the team could try to fill a different hole instead, and at second base you don’t have Russ Branyans to easily plug in.
This year, I can handle Lopez at first base with equanimity. I know it’s not a glimpse of the future, just a temporary expedient. Next year I could see Lopez back at second, or replacing Beltre at third (less likely now given the other moves that have been made), or playing for another team altogether. Regardless of which it turns out to be, I have a lot more confidence that it will have happened because Zduriencik determined that was the best way to allocate his resources.
RF-L Ichiro
CF-R Gutierrez
1B-R Lopez
DH-R Sweeney
3B-R Beltre
UT-R Hall
SS-R J. Wilson (real helpful, I know)
C-R Johnson
LF-L Saunders
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141 Responses to “Game 134, Angels at Mariners”
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possiblity of Felix to complete this game?
Sims with the OOZR shoutout.
114 pitches, does he try for the CG?
killer_ewok18 – Perhaps that is true. But there’s also inefficiencies for specific offensive players, such as Branyan. Oh well, I guess the point of free speech is for smart folks like you and Jeff to set straight ignorant folks like me.
At 113 pitches? I think not. I’m guessing the Gamecast delay is him being taken out, though I wish he could get that last out in the 8th.
96 MPH fastball on the 114th pitch. Yikes.
Oh! Yay! He did.
If we were chasing the pennant, Felix would definitely have to go back out there for the 9th.
Guerrero, Morales and Izturis. Please don’t throw flat fastballs DA.
At least Vlad leads off the inning. Vlad=Mariner Killer.
Oh, Felix. So great. I just can’t root against him winning the Cy Young for fear of his increased salary.
Make them pay, Old Man.
Speaking of flat fastballs, thank you Fuentes.
And here comes Sweeney!!!!
I could do without that chicken sound being played over the PA when a guy is intentionally walked.
Déjà vu?
Sweeney is AWESOME!!!
Is a sac fly too much to ask for??? Sac flies in the first and 8th and were up 4-0.
Go Bill Hall!! Do it! FINISH HIM!!!
Ahhh…once a Mariner, always a Mariner….
The Mariners better have the best clubhouse atmosphere in baseball next year.
bill hall please just park one in the bleachers…
Not if it means bringing Sweeney back!
Tha’d be cooooool
What are the odds that DA can strike out Vlad 2 nights in a row?
Strike that, I think Vlad lined out to Jose last night.
Oh god no. To justify his existence this year, he needs to have taught some of the good ballplayers to emulate his enormous clubhouse skills. I want Guti and Lopez doing the tickling!
Man do I love run prevention!
Thank you minimal M’s offense for not spoiling another nice outing by Felix.
It was a nice way for me to passs some hours here at work!
Excitement in the bookend-innings, some frustration in-between
How many times does Felix have to wait until the 7th or 8th to get some runs? Help a brother out, guys!
If it wasnt for Grienke, we would be having Felix for CY discussion.
At least FSN is not including the Mariners in their ‘Who will win the AL pennant’ poll.
Soggy Bottom Boys playing in the clubhouse again.
It was nice to see Wak leave Felix in to throw 114 pitches.
I’m beginning to thinks that Dave Sims visits this site.
He referenced “Felix Day” at least three times.
Maybe he did so before and I just never noticed- I haven’t caught every broadcast this year- but still, it makes a guy think….
Oh yeah. Guerrero forgot he’s a gold-plated Mariner-killer two days in a row. Euphoria!
Excerpt from a conversation with my younger brother when Guerrero led off the ninth:
Younger Bro: “At least we know Guerrero can’t hit a grand slam from the leadoff spot this inning.”
Me: “Don’t tempt him. If there’s a way to do it, he will. Against us, he knows no physical laws.”
Is Hall the new Mark McLemore?
I quite like what Jack Z has been doing to rebuild the team but I think they are still three years away. The run diff is an awful -52, its only been that one run games have fallen their way 29-16. This is like 2007 a win total that is an illusion, and we know what happened in 2008.
Next year even with improvement they are still atbest a .500 team. So even though it hurts they have to allow Beltre to go and use their resources to build the farm system by paying high prices for international prospects and signing and selecting high priced draft picks.
If they can trade players for prospects but realistically Jack doesn’t have much to work with re: trading quality high value vets for prospects. His only players that would get top prospects are Ichiro (who as a GM you can’t move and keep fans), Lopez (as discussed) who will do even better away from Safeco and getting close to his prime hitting years 27-29, and Felix who has to be the franchise player that you use Silva’s and Batista money to sign long term in two years.
It should be an interesting off-season but I will be extremely upset if the front office pays for present day players in an attempt to win a title.
I’m not sure why that idea keeps resurfacing again and again and again.
When you have a $112 million payroll, 7th highest in all of MLB, there is no such thing as “three years away”. This isn’t Cleveland.
This team can compete next year with the right moves, while not mortgaging the future. We just have to spend our money better than we have in the past, and there’s a leadership team in place that can do that now.
Bad news Mariners fans. The St. Louis Cardinals just extended the contract of Ryan Franklin through the 2011 season, so there is no hope of reacquiring him in the offseason.
Bummer, isn’t it?
We still have a chance to bring Pineiro back, though.
What if a substantial chunk of that money was going to Silva and Johjima?