Madritsch: 126 pitches
JMB · September 9, 2004 at 10:21 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Well, Derek, you beat me to that one. 7-0 lead, meaningless game in a lost season… hell, why not let him pitch the 9th as well? Madritsch’s starts, by pitches, have run: 105, 117, 119, 109, 118, 101 and now 126, for a 114 average. That’s not a horrible workload, but it’s not exactly taking things easy, either. Tonight was a perfect example of a situation where you can get your starter out an inning early with little or no effect on the game.
Oh, and that’s two games in a row in which Ichiro has bunted with a runner on second and two outs. He’s going to love playing for Don Baylor next season (don’t worry, that’s a joke).
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18 Responses to “Madritsch: 126 pitches”
But you see, it’s brilliant. Who would expect the only really good hitter on the team to throw away his at-bat with a runner in scoring position and only one out left?
Everyone knows the element of surprise is very important baseball. That’s why tomorrow night we’re going to send out Bloomquist to pitch (they’ll never expect that), and when they start to catch on we’ll have the Moose bat for Edgar.
Supposedly the KOMO postgame folks (i.e. Shannon Dreyer) are now saying that Ichiro did a mea culpa for tonight’s bunt. Still waiting for Brett Boone’s mea culpa for making the last out of the game as the tying run at third base on Saturday….
Pretty odd approach to try and bunt on a knuckleballer anyway. Jose Lopez before his first double showed bunt and pulled back because of the erratic movement.
Unintentional comedy: after Olivo’s ole’s on three wild pitches last night, the tip for the kids on the big screen tonight was Wilson showing the kids how to block pitches in the dirt. No word if Miguel was watching the tip.
Intentional comedy: Manny Ramirez play on Dan Wilson’s 3-base error. Glenallen Hill should be signed to be his late inning defensive replacment.
Did anyone else notice how he looks at the third baseman right before the pitch? I noticed that in 2 of his at bats tonight. I think he is noticing the 3rd baseman playing deep and tries to lay down a bunt.
Damn, Jason. I just wrote the same across town at Grand Salami site. I didn’t steal it, honest. I guess if we both noticed it, it must be true.
If I’m not mistaken, Madritsch was known as a workhorse in the Independant Leagues, regularly going over 120 pitches with ease. Granted, his pitches were looking a little labored nearing the end of that 8th inning there, but if anybody can carry the workload the he does, Madritsch is it. And I can’t spot this myself, because I don’t know a lot about scouting this type of thing, but I’ve heard comments that Madritsch has near-perfect mechanics as well — which probably also benefits his ability to go into high pitch counts. He’ll be alright.
And he dominated the Red Sox tonight, who were 20-2 since August 16th coming into this game. Nothing short of spectacular. It’ll be great to see Mads keep this up through next season as a permanent fixture in the rotation.
Re: Baylor: you *hope* it’s a joke . . .
Let’s buy a ticket for Lincoln to board the Sabermetric Express.
Anyone know if anyone with the Mariners has read Moneyball? There must be come published comments from Lincoln or Melvin about Moneyball – either on the web or a newspaper article.
It may have been a joke, but it wasn’t very funny.
I guess I don’t see the point as “it probably won’t hurt” Madritsch. Why take the chance? He is the BEST of the “prospects” for next season. We are out of it. The game is a blow out. It’s September so you have extra bullpen help if you need it for the Franklin meltdown tomorrow. Why take the chance throwing Madritsch 126? Just seems foolish.
Gillick was on record saying he hadn’t read Moneyball. And since Bavasi doesn’t think minor league stats mean anything, I doubt he’s much of a fan, either.
Honestly I think the bunt thing is Ichiro’s subtle way of telling everyone how much he doesn’t pay any attention to the manager. Yeah, I’ll bunt whenever I feel like it…oh, did he say I shouldn’t do that…hmm…next game, bunt in exactly the same situation…oh, my bad! Melvin has lost the respect of the team when players aren’t worried about doing what he told them not to do the very next day.
What does BoMel care? He’s not going to be riding his DL next year…
If I’m the third baseman with RISP, I’ll play deep to insure Ichiro bunts and a run doesn’t score. Either Ichiro is a pussy (doesn’t think he can get a solid hit) or he is playing for his personal 258 and not for a team W. I love watching the guy play, but his bunting with RISP is starting to really annoy me. There is an over 70% chance the next batter is going to get out, and the run won’t score.
Perhaps leaving Madritsch in is supposed to boost his confidence that he can be a top of the line starter against a very good offense like Boston’s. Post #5 makes me less worried.
Re: Ichiro’s bunt.
I think it was a poor decision, but I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point. In Japan, it’s apparently not uncommon for players to bunt (regardless of the situation) when the defensive alignment features infielders playing deep while the outfielders play up in an effort to plug holes and cut off alleys that are available to slap hitters with a standard defensive alignment. Or so I’ve heard. Ichiro may have just been playing what in his experience is “good baseballâ€.
And given that his game is based on taking the path of least resistance to get on base in order to give the hitters behind him a chance to drive him in, it seems more or less consistent (if, in this case, more than a little-advised). Then again, perhaps he was simply in a bad mood, and when he got to the plate, thought, “o.k., two out, man on second… if I lay down a bunt here, Bob will be furious, and I won’t have to deflect the nightly invitation to join him at Thirteen Coins after the game. I hate those little steak medallions, and I’d rather talk to a marble statue – at least it would hold out the promise, however remote, of leading to stimulating conversationâ€. The point is we don’t really know what was going, and I’m inclinded to reserve judgement until we do. If I had to guess, I’d say we won’t see it again this year.
Sorry bro, but suggesting Ichiro is a pussy is ridiculous. I don’t think he’s playing for himself either, he’s just playing baseball the way he was taught. Is it the best way to play, probably not, but if we had a manager who’s opinion was worthwhile Ichiro might have learned that already.
Pussy? Playing for himself? Bunting with RISP and two outs….I don’t know….the facts are starting to add up against him. Post #15 gives me reservations about asserting such blasphemous things about almighty bronze god Ichiro. I even feel wrong saying it, because I worship the very ground Ichiro has walked on. He is guts. He is a catalyst. He is an MVP, a class act. But bunting with RISP…….my inner baseball coach is wincing. Please say post #15 is right, and I am wrong. Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Re: Bobby Madritsch.
Odd to say he was a workhorse in the independent leagues when he ended up there after two years on the shelf following shoulder surgery. He threw 80 innings in 1998, missed all of 1999,and 32 in 2000, before throwing over 180 in 2001. Fortunately, he only threw 125 in 2002, before going back up to 159 last year. All in all, his past history and workload since do not make him any sure bet to avoid injury or a “workhorse.” Since this year is lost, I would imagine the M’s would take every measure to protect one of the few apparent assets they have coming out of this season.