Game 146, Devil Rays at Mariners
7:05, FSN. James Shields v Felix.
Another Lopez-less lineup.
The Devil Rays lineup is pretty interesting, though:
3B Iwamura
DH Norton
1B Pena
CF Upton
RF Young
LF Gomes
C Navarro
SS Wilson
2B Velandia
Huh.
Game 145, Devil Rays at Mariners
I’m glad to see a new opponent, that’s for sure. Jason Hammel, one of a bunch of more or less interchangable, cheap, back-of-the-rotation guys the Devil Rays have been juggling (and who I traded to Jason in our hyper-complicated keeper-league-of-keeper-leagues), faces off against Jeff Weaver, who’s been getting cuffed around since that pretty good August 12th game against a weak White Sox team.
Jeff Weaver, last 5 starts: 2-2, 7.62 ERA, 26 IP, 37 H, 6 BB, 15 K, 9 HR. Opponents: .346/.371/.664
season: 6-12 in 23 starts, 6.05 ERA, 125 IP, 164 H, 30 BB, 69 K, 19 HR. Opponents: .319/.358/.523
Jason Hammel, in 10 starts: 1-4, 6.75 ERA, 45.1 IP, 53 H, 19 BB, 27 K, 9 HR. Opponents: .293/.366/.547
Weaver makes approximately $8m more than Hammel.
Not playing: Adam Jones. Apparently, there is no way to play yourself into the lineup under McLaren: there’s no playing time to be had if you don’t perform up to an undefined standard, and spectacular performances are only rewarded with continued playing time if you’re a veteran.
How is this supposed to motivate anyone?
Game 144, Athletics at Mariners
The “Postseason priority” ads are still up on the M’s page.
Haren v Batista.
Broussard plays first, Bloomquist plays second, Burke catches.
Game 143, Athletics at Mariners
I love baseball, I really do. There’s no way I’d have written a book about it otherwise, obviously, but I tune into watch HoRam get slapped around knowing he’s almost certain to get slapped around as regularly as I see Felix.
But I have to admit – we’ve seen a couple funks like this the last couple years, and it takes a lot out of being a fan for me to see the team go through this. I want to shake my head and ask “When does it stop? Can I step out for a while and have someone wave me back in when it’s over?”
And yet here I am, making dinner and waiting to see Jarrod Washburn. And there, on the lineup card, in left, is USSM-endorsed left fielder Adam Jones. Vidro plays first, Ibanez DHs. Not, uh… how I would have done it, but hey, if you’re going to upgrade the outfield defense, Washburn’s a good pitcher to go for it.
Oakland fields… Dallas Braden. I don’t even know much about Dallas.
Game 142, Athletics at Mariners
Blanton v Ramirez. 7:05.
Blanton 5.48 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, .6 HR/9, 3.38 FIP
Ramirez 3.64 K/9, 3.64 BB/9, 1.12 HR/9, 5.29 FIP
Broussard plays first with Sexson’s hammy apptly acting up, Vidro returns to DH duties.
Game 141, Mariners at Tigers
Felix offers the team a good chance at a win. He faces Bonderman. 10:05, FSN.
McLaren figures out how to put Broussard and Sexson in the lineup with Bloomquist!
CF-L Ichiro
3B-R Beltre
LF-L Ibanez
RF-R Guillen
1B-L Broussard
DH-R Sexson
C-R Johjima
2B-R Bloomquist
SS-R Betancourt
That takes some creativity. McLaren for Manager of the Year!
Game 140, Mariners at Tigers
Jeff Weaver v. Nate Robertson. 4:05.
Richie Sexson returns to the lineup.
Game 139, Mariners at Tigers
4:05. Batista v Verlander.
I wonder, now that the playoff race is pretty much done, if I’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the game without worrying every error is going to cost the team their chances. I wonder if they’ll finally spread some playing time around and…
Nope. Well then. Let’s watch some baseball.
Game 138, Mariners at Yankees
4:05 Seattle time, FSN. Washburn v Hughes.
M’s give us the standard+Broussard lineup.
Game 137, Mariners at Yankees
Friendly reminder that KSTW.com will be hosting a chat with Dave right after the game – surf on over and join the fun
Ramirez versus Wang. KSTW. 4:05 our time.
M’s run out the Broussard variant of the standard lineup.
The Yankees lineup’s pretty weird, too, now that I look at it.
CF-B Cabrera (.298/.347/.428)
SS-R Jeter (.322/.392/.429)
RF-L Abreu (.282/.364/.440)
3B-R Rodriguez (.308/.415/.634)
C-B Posada (.331/.412/.527)
LF-L Matsui (.298/.368/.503)
DH-R Duncan (small sample)
2B-L Cano (.298/.347/.483)
1B-B Betemit (small sample)