Game 80, Mariners at Royals
Feierabend vs De La Rosa, 5:10 pm.
With Sexson out for the evening and the team facing a lefty, John McLaren got a little creative with tonight’s line-up.
1. Ichiro, CF
2. Vidro, 1B
3. Ibanez, DH
4. Guillen, RF
5. Johjima, C
6. Beltre, 3B
7. Betancourt, SS
8. Lopez, 2B
9. Bloomquist, LF
I may surprise some people here, but I actually like the fact that he’s sticking Turbo at first base. Sexson’s a lousy defensive player, so sticking Vidro at first isn’t much of a downgrade, while Bloomquist can run circles around Ibanez in left field. Which is important, considering that Feierabend is a pretty extreme flyball/contact pitcher, so outfield defense is vital. This line-up acknowledges that Ibanez is a problem in left field, and that’s a huge concession that we all should be rooting for the Mariners to make. The more people running the club realize that Ibanez wearing an outfielder’s glove is killing them, the more likely it is we see Adam Jones in Seattle in the not too distant future.
Beyond that, though, figuring out if Vidro can play a passable first base is a worthy endeavor, especially with 2008 in mind. The team has to figure out a way to clear the glut at DH to get Ibanez off the field and Jones in the line-up, and if Vidro’s even relatively competent at first base, it increases the odds that the M’s would be willing to go with a Broussard/Vidro platoon at first base next year.
How they get rid of Sexson and how willing Ibanez would be to move to DH are questions for another day, but this is a start, at least, towards moving to the most sensible line-up the Mariners can run out there, given all the bad players they’re paying too much to.
If today’s line-up is even one small step towards Adam Jones in left field and Ibanez at DH, then Richie Sexson’s bruised thumb might be the team MVP.
Game 77, Blue Jays at Mariners
Batista vs Halladay, 7:05 pm.
M’s look to make it 7 in a row.
Game 75, Red Sox at Mariners
Matsuzaka vs Feierabend, 1:35 pm.
Coming off the worst start of his life, Feierabend looks to rebound by trying to get out Ortiz, Ramirez, and company. Ouch. I’m rooting for him, because the last thing I want to see is Horacio Ramirez taking the hill again anytime soon, but you take a kid who pitches up in the zone and put him against a line-up of guys who drive the ball, and the Red Sox could put up some crooked numbers in bunches today.
Turbo is still hitting third, which is great, because it allows him to set his sights on Jim Rice’s GIDP record again. With 13 double plays in 299 PA, he’s fallen off the pace quite a bit, so it’s nice of Hargrove to give him as many chances to bat with a runner on 1st and less than 2 out as possible.
Also, Broussard in left, Guillen in right, Jones in Tacoma.
Game 73, Red Sox at Mariners
Weaver vs Tavarez, 7:05 pm.
Jeff Weaver threw a complete game shutout in his last start. It was one of the most shocking developments in recent baseball history. If he throws one tonight, I’ll retire from blogging and prepare for the end of the world.
Game 72, Reds at Mariners
Arroyo vs Batista, 1:05 pm.
At this point, I’ll be driving back from Atlanta. Still nothing pithy to say.
Game 71, Reds at Mariners
Lohse vs Washburn, 7:05 pm.
I’m in Atlanta and I wrote this intro Friday night, so I have nothing pithy to say.
Game 70, Reds at Mariners
Harang vs Feierabend, 7:05 pm.
For a lot of people, tonight is a big deal. Ken Griffey Jr returns to Seattle for the first time since he was traded to the Reds, and the M’s are rolling out the welcome mat. They’re having a welcome back pre-game ceremony, had him autograph 1,000 commemorative “Griffey returns” baseballs, and have been pushing this series as a must see event all year. It’s Junior coming back to where it all started and the city is basking in nostalgia.
And I know it’s weird, but I don’t care. I tried to, but I don’t. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of fond memories of Griffey as a Mariner. I am the target audience for this kind of thing. I was nine years old when Jr made his major league debut, and he was the star of the show as I learned how to fall in love with baseball. I had the Upper Deck rookie card and the candy bar. I loved the home run swing, the leaping catches, the backward hat, and everything that went along with The Kid. When he broke his wrist catching the Kevin Bass flyball in 1995, I remember a hopeful season being flushed down the drain. And I remember where I was when he took John Wetteland yard for a game winning home run three months later to ignite the amazing comeback. I jumped up and down when he raced around the bases to beat the Yankees just like everyone else, and I cried when the Indians ended the dream a week later.
Junior was a huge part of my childhood. But he was never the player that I admired. For me, that guy was Alvin Davis, then Dave Valle, Erik Hanson, Bill Swift, Dave Fleming, Brian Turang, Darren Bragg, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Mike Jackson, Mike Cameron, Chris Snelling, and now, Felix.
Those were the guys that I loved, that I adopted as my own. Why? I don’t know, honestly. I can explain some of them, but others, they’re inexplicable. And it’s okay, because they’re emotional attachments, which aren’t the most rational thing on earth to begin with.
But Junior never cracked that group. He was always the great player, the franchise, the most talented player I’d ever seen. But I rooted for him because he was a Mariner and admired him for his abilities, but the deep emotional attachment that others are remembering? I don’t have that with Junior. I never did.
I don’t begrudge anyone their nostalgia, and for a lot of people, I’m sure tonight is going to be a lifelong memory. That’s awesome. I hope you have a great time.
When they do a welcome back for Brian Turang, call me. I’ll be fired up for that.
Game 69, Pirates at Mariners
Hernandez vs Van BenSchoten, 7:05 pm.
(Doyle Update: Mike Curto interviews the beloved Aussie outfielder on the Tacoma Rainiers pregame show at around 6:55 pm – listen here)
Same line-up as last night. Here’s to hoping for a Happy Felix Day for the first time in a while.
Game 66, Mariners at Astros
Washburn vs Oswalt, 11:05 am.
Jarrod Washburn is a pitch-to-contact guy who relies on his defense and a spacious Safeco Field to succeed. The Mariners haven’t been able to convince MLB to let them take Safeco with them on the road, so when he pitches in other cities, he’s at a disadvantage.
Then, Mike Hargrove does this to him.
LF – Ibanez. One of the five worst defensive left fielders in baseball.
CF – Ichiro. He’s good, obviously.
RF – Broussard. He’s not an outfielder. Making him run for a ball is criminal.
3B – Lopez. 9 innings at 3rd base last night doubled his career total. Not a 3rd baseman.
SS – Betancourt. He’s fine, despite the throwing problems.
2B – Vidro. He has no business ever taking the field.
1B – Sexson. One of the five worst defensive first baseman in baseball.
Ibanez, Vidro, and Sexson are all bad enough defensively that they should be DH’ing. Broussard’s not much better as a first baseman, and he’s horrible as an outfielder. And we’ve got Jose Lopez playing out of position to boot.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to watch the Marlins play defense on a daily basis, this is going to be similar. Good luck Jarrod – between the short porch in left field and your defense, you’re going to need it.
Game 65, Mariners at Astros
Baek vs Williams, 4:05 pm.
I’m going to be honest – I need a day off from this team. With Lopez playing 3rd, Vidro at 2nd, and Baek pitching, today’s as good a day as any.