Game 75, Mariners at Padres
JMB · June 23, 2006 at 6:50 pm · Filed Under Game Threads
Meche v. one of my favorites, Jake Peavy. 7:05pm.
And speaking of favorites, Mike Cameron is batting leadoff and playing center for San Diego tonight.
Ichiro-Beltre-Lopez-Ibanez-Sexson-Johjima-Reed-Betancourt-Meche.
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A big thanks to everyone who offered MLB.tv on a Mac advice in last night’s game thread… I tracked down flip4mac, installed, and have been able to load other games while waiting for the M’s to start. Woo.
One more question, though — how do I “right click” to tell it I want to show the video full screen? A ctrl click brings up a box, but there’s no resizing option on there. Thanks.
gee, and you missed the fine discussion of the similarities of Meche & Peavy between Krueger & Gastineau on KJR….
Uh, yeah. Similarities.
So here’s my question for the night. How many of you who post here regularly usually watch the games alone? Not that I don’t love (for some definitions of “love”) all of you (for some definitions of “all”), but I post and read here regularly at least partly because I don’t have many baseball-fan friends.
Yeah, we’ve discussed the failures of my friends in the recent past.
The “trade high on Meche” window may be viciously slammed shut in about an hour.
I usually watch at work (I work nights). Otherwise, I listen to the radio at home. Sometimes I go to a local sports bar when beer and pizza are called for.
Definitely watching alone here…
I should add that I live alone (unless you count the cat, who recoils in a dark corner when Ron Fairly is on the radio and jumps up the curtains in terror on a Dave Niehaus home run call.).
JMB, ah the fun part of being a Mac user. For some reason, I have no idea why, there is no way of playing it fullscreen this year–that I know of. Last year I could launch it in the external player (when it was in real video format or windows media) but this year there is no option, right/control-click shows nothing.
Oh, and congrats on tracking that down, makes life so much easier, heh.
I enjoy my Mariner games from my cozy desk chair or my couch when I use my laptop from work. Not too many Mariner fans down in Arizona and overall baseball fans just make fun of me for being a fan.
I usually watch “alone”…with the girlfriend derisively staring holes in the back of my head.
I haven’t really watched a game with anyone else since the 2002 season, save for a few games when visiting my father (who is a Blue Jays fan, so that’s what we watched). In 2001-2002 I had a couple of friends who I would sometimes meet up with at a bar to watch a game, but for various reasons I’m watching solo now. Unless you count sitting beside random strangers at the bar who happen to be watching as well. But then if I’m at a bar I’m not here posting, either. And since I don’t have cable, if I’m here I’m listening to the radio (unless it’s on KSTW, which sort of comes through the static on my TV) but usually I’m out at a bar somewhere for at least part of the game.
BTW, to the extent this is a failure (which it isn’t, since it’s a choice) I’d have to say it’s a failure of me not of my friends. I find watching with other people too distracting, and I end up missing the good parts of the game because I’m too busy arguing about something stupid.
Oops, only “me” was supposed to be italicized. Ah well.
Cableless starving college student that does radio/gamecast solo. For some King Felix games I’ll meet a friend at a bar. East Coast games are good in this aspect, as we can get 2.50 Mack anc Jack’s on happy hour, that’s pretty sweet.
And Gil strikes out the side… imagine that
On the plus side, the video quality kicks butt.
god…i remember imagining innings like that long ago…seems like he’s got a pretty good curve going tonight.
And Ryan Franklin just gave up a homerun in relief.
Proposed poll question:
Mariners season highlight so far?
My two candidates:
 Ichiro throwing out the San Diego runner at home, bowling over Johjima
 JJ Putz’s sphincter-sealer of a splitter to Barry Bonds to Game 1 of the Giants series. (Bonds will have to go on the 15-day DL to get surgically unpuckered.)
Other candidates?
Moyer’s 2-hitter.
Johjima’s HR in his debut?
Go Reed go.
yup. although I did appreciate watching him dispatch Barry in person, in front of the Moyerettes on father’s day….
usually, home, on the sofa or at the computer– the cat who live here however, ignores all play by play in favor of complaining about his sad lack of food.
As much as I hate to mention it, didn’t Everett have a GWHR?
For some reason I think he’s had two.
Yep, against the Angels in extra innings about three weeks ago. That’s the only one I recall offhand.
Meh.
Take about putting the Jake Brake on the opposition. Wow.
IIRC, Kevin Towers casually mentioned this morning that they got Peavy in the 15th round of the draft after watching him in high school in Mobile (conveniently where their AA team is located) He also declined Sandmeyer’s joking offer to trade Wille for Peavy– “I’ve always liked Willie, but, no….”
For some reason, ESPN’s game cast has Cameron’s HR as an opposite field, but inside the park… what really happened?
Amazing, 69 pitches for Meche through 3 innings.
31, you’re kidding. does he pitch between innings too?
23 pitches/inning = difficult to have a quality start.
JMB,
I don’t have mlb.tv, but this tricked has worked for me for other videos. Quit Safari. Open your System Prefs and click Flip4Mac at the bottom. On the “Plug-in” tab, at the bottom, is an option that says “Launch Quicktime Player”. Click it, quit Sys Prefs, and relaunch Safari. When you go to your video it should open in Quicktime Player, rather than your browser, and you can scale the player from there.
Rauuulicious.
So, JMB, how well would you hold up on “Hell’s Kitchen,” with Gordon Ramsey in your face?
I’ll give that a try, Tony.
I dunno, Jim. So much of that show (I watched the first season, but haven’t seen the new season) is… staged, it’s tough to tell.
Beltastic!
Beltre to the ball: “You’re with me, leather.”
So Lauren in #4, like Jim Thom I tend to listen to the radio while I’m at work for the night games backed up by a little ESPN Gamecast ’cause I have quick online access, or a bit on radio when I get up at home for day games (I work nights). I don’t own a godbox, nor have I (deliberately) set my Mactop to show the video feed, so if it’s a good game and I’m in the mood I’ll go by a watering hole and watch 5-6 innings. There’s a set at my gym, too, and now that the bassetball season is mercifully over [playing in June?? ridicalous], I can see a few innings there in passing.
Lauren-
I watch most of the games by myself, unless you count the number of times my brother, currently in work-imposed exile in Corvallis, calls me during the game we discuss it/rant about it, depending on what’s going on, and whether or not Rizz is in a particularly homerish frame of mind on this particular evening.
A lot of my friends watch the games, but they’re usually at home with their families. Even when I had a baseball fan girlfriend last year, we only watched a few on TV together.
My gamecast says “someone else is curently using this acount”. Have they finaly figured out how to keep 10 of us from using the same password? Bummer.
And as to my favorite highlight reel moment so far this year, it had to be during the post game show when Rizz, who still had his headphones on, reached up to adjust them (on camera), and his rug shifted back in tandem with the headphones at least a solid inch-and-a-half.
Nothing on the field so far has topped that for me.
YMMV.
So basically my hypothesis is being supported. Few of us are sitting around in groups of friends frantically typing. Which makes sense.
We may now proceed with our normal game commentary without everyone detailing how, where, why, and when they watch each game.
42- So Rick really does have a toupee?
Oh, yeah, Coach. No question.
76 pitches for Meche incidentally.
Aiiggggghhhhh.
If Betancourt stuck that front leg in there, he would have been safe. He beat the throw but pulled up short.
JMB I have a Mac and would love to help you with your MLB TV problem but I never have tried it. Sorry.
Wow. Peavy almost sneaked that one through. Nice recovery by Lopez.
Just before the game they were talking about how Peavy doesn’t strike people out as much and now he already has 8 strikeouts.
There once was a little Gil
Who had a little curve
Right over the middle of the plate.
And when he was good,
he was very very good
But when he was bad, he was horrid
Gil Meche games take for-eve-r.
Well, we’re back to pitch-inefficient Meche (did it ever end), but as for much of the year, his K-rate is helping him keep the score in hand. If Gil keeps this up, he’ll sign a comfortably fat deal in the offseason, leading someone to a whopping case of buyer’s remorse by this time next year.
52, sandlot, classic.
Well, Meche has hit the 100 pitch mark.
I would like to detail where, when and why I watch every game and what I’m eating, wearing, singing and what language I’m swearing in while watching. Alas, the polls are closed on that question. It’ll take at least 3 whiskeys to get it out of me now.
52 – He’s a human rain delay, part deux
4- I pretty much watch alone cause A) I’m new to my area B) Don’t have friends that are as into baseball as I am.
I dunno… There seems to be a lot of Meche bashing on this board, but he’s been pretty damn solid for over a month now, and his numbers would make him the M’s best. But again, that’s only if you looked at the numbers and didnt watch the games).
#59: All the more reason to sell high on Meche. Now.
I feel for the team that signs Meche for 8-9 million a year for 3-4 years. God, I hope that’s not us.
Although, I think he could be pretty decent on an NL club in a pitcher friendly park.
59- Hell the way my Braves have been playing and the fact they had two pitchers go down. (Smoltz and Stockman) I’d gladly take Meche as a stop gap, lord knows for the first time in years the Braves could use some damn pitching.
Look, I aint saying he’s Jake Peavy. I just don’t think he’s complete trash. And he’s a hurricane victim, kinda.
What happened to Lopez?
I hate the double switch. It doesn’t make sense.
Why should you be able to swap two players in your batting order? The pitcher subbed in for the pitcher, and (in this case) Bloomquist subbed in for Lopez.
Stupid National League.
Double switch, it just let’s us use Fruto for an inning longer pending 6 guys don’t come to the plate this inning. Fruto would have had to be pinch hit for 3rd up.
Oh. I was afraid he wasa off to suck his thumb again… Thanks
Guess Lopez’s thumb was hurting again.
Peavy has thrown 88 pitches and is due up 3rd. This is his last inning.
First-pitch change called by Johjima with a hard-throwing reliever just in. A great call, and the hitter can’t touch it. Next pitch: fastball, eats him up. Third pitch at 0-2, what to do? Come after him; fastball: batter can’t pull the trigger guessing, for the called K.
I have _no_ problem with Johjima’s pitch selection. Now, I haven’t been able to consistently follow pitch sequences this year, since I’m busy and not listening as much, so I won’t say that I have a definite feel for how Kenji is calling the game. But outside of when Felix is pitching, when I firmly believe that the team has clear mandates about what is to be called, when I’ve seen Johjima set up hitters in important situations like this AB he’s doing a fine, fine job. I don’t even know why there is any controversy, really.
No, I understand how the double switch works. I just think it’s a stupid rule. I don’t understand why you should be able to shuffle your batting order just because you swap out a pitcher and a position player.
what does grover always say about catchers that can hit? something to do with gravy, I think
As long as the lineup can be constructed with any position being filled by any player, I don’t have a problem with the double switch. The pitcher may be throwing the ball, but he is ultimately just a sub that comes from the bullpen instead of the bench.
unless Lopez’s thumb is hurting that double switch was #1090 on the “wtf Hargrove!” list.
Put him on so Peavy gets pinch-hit for!
Huh. Surprised they didn’t hit for Peavy.
And I think this came up a few games ago, it appears that FSN is still using the LOB in their on screen display. At least down here in AZ, still.
I’ll say that many of my problems with weird pitch-calling have come when Johjima’s clearly looking into the dugout for pitches. Now maybe there’s an observer problem, but I don’t think Johjima’s nearly the issue it’s been made out to be.
I don’t understand what you mean, Todd.
Fruto replaced Meche. He should take Meche’s spot in the order.
Bloomquist replaced Lopez. He should take Lopez’ spot in the order.
If you performed either one of those moves on its own, that’s what would happen. But magically, because you make two moves at once, you can swap the batting order?
If the argument is that Fruto replaced Lopez (and then moved to the mound) and Bloomquist replaced Meche (and then moved to 2B)… enh. That’s convoluted at best.
Ignititous.
This Mac talk makes me think of the old Gary Larsen cartoon about what dogs hear…. Blah blah blah, Ginger, blah blah blah …
LOL, msb. I know the one you mean.
But the order is for batting, not fielding. So a player can replace anyone and field anywhere, thus when Sexson is injured, Ibanez can be moved from LF to first and Morse can be put in LF. If it were mandated that a player’s replacement play the same position, each team would have to carry more specialized subs
#79
Frute does replace Lopez and Bloomquist replaces Meche. You sub players, not positions. You can do infinite in-game position moves so it does work. You’re not switching the batting order, you are just subbing players and moving them on the field.
JMB – Yeah, that second scenario is what I am thinking about. Now of course I haven’t seen this since I was 12 yrs old in little league, but couldn’t you just switch the pitcher with, say, the left-fielder if you wanted?
That, to me, is what happens during the double-switch and that works for me.
so, how do you walk Cammy?
With a great deal if skill and precision? Oh, wait, not that.
In-game subs, OK. Injury replacements, OK.
The double switch to me, the way it is used in the NL, is gimmicky.
Well, looks like Sherril is only going to be pitching this inning.
Gimmicky, sure. It seems like an attempt to get around the rules, after all why have a league where the pitcher hits if you find a way to get around it after the first two at-bats?
Have you ever noticed how long the brim of Sherril’s cap is?
Yes, that’s exactly what I was getting at.
Of course, if the pitcher didn’t have to hit at all…
89
But there is a drawback, you have to sub out a starter which ultimately weakens the team either defensively or offensively depending on the players involved. Plus, you can end up overworking you bullpen if you abuse the double switch. Or, in the case of a long tie, you burn through your available arms too quickly.
C’mon put in Putz, put in Putz!
Another double-switch. groan.
#92- dingdingdingdingdingding … we have a winnah!
Freaking double switch — Lopez and Beltre now both gone. Geez.
In a close game like this don’t you want your best gloves on the field? Why would you double switch Beltre. Hargrove must have gone of his meds again..
From thebaseballpage.com :
The Double-Switch
According to research done by SABR member Dave Smith and others, Paul Richards used the double-switch on May 18, 1955. This is (to date) the earliest confirmed use of the strategy.
In the double-switch, a player is entered into the game at the same time as a relief pitcher and the two switch positions in the batting order. The move allows for the pitcher’s spot in the order to be reversed and ensures that a position player will bat earlier in the game the next time through the order. As with most strategies in baseball that are often thought to be relatively recent innovations, it’s possible the double-switch was utlized prior to Richards.
Hargrove just failed 2x-switching 101.
One great feature of IL play is that we get to see Grover botch basic game strategy is entirely new ways.
#80…
The classic Far Side
Hey! the Padres made a double-switch too!
honest question: was grover this bad in 97 at cleveland?
I like the NL style better, but he’s got a lot to learn. You NEVER switch out your best players in a close game. You switch out guys like Reed, Betancourt, or even Ibaenz if you want to gain defense. Because of these moves last inning we had Wee Willie hit for the pitcher, and next inning Morse will bat for Lopez, while Petagine and (God forbid) Everett rot on the bench.
Hmm.. What would you say the odds are that we get to see Petagine tonight?
as a player, i hated it when my coach screwed up. does this affect the team? beltre, lopez? i think certainly it does.
#79
Are you saying Bloomie needs to face one batter for it to be legit?
For most of Hargrove’s managerial career there was no interleague play. And most (if not all, I’m too lazy to look it up) of his playing career was in the AL after the DH.
Bad, bad call out there at second base. Terrible.
Is that the same ump that called Carl out at first last night?
I’ve never played a MLB game, I grasp the concept of the 2x switch, it’s no excuse.
Wow, that call was bogus.
Lou would’ve left the field only after 2nd base was in center field…
1st base coach last night would be at home tonight.
There’s nothing gimmicky about the double switch — it’s old fashioned baseball. The pitcher is a player just like any of the other 8 players in the NL. So you can put Morse in to pitch and Soriano in to play 3B if you want, then switch their defensive positions. You’re not switching them in the batting order, you’re switching them in the field.
How can you be THAT CLOSE to the bag as YOUR ONLY JOB and STILL completely botch that?
Unbelievable
Umm… I’m pretty sure he was out. There was a GREAT shot of it, right down the baseline, on the San Diego TV feed, and he was out.
Damn!
107 – It’s not like it takes a whole lot of intelligence to figure out.
Is there a reason the Padres don’t replace Piazza in these type of game situations?
#111– and he would have gotten just the same result.
Wow that wasn’t even close.
I called it before it was thrown.
Dammit Sexson LEVEL the guy!!!
That was kinda a slow-motion collision, wasn’t it?
Hooray for Aggressive Baserunning!
That. was. the. most. retarded. takeout. EVER.
Why send him? Someone needs to fire our third base coach. Also, the umpire out at second just cost the Mariners a run.
Oh Jesus Christ.
Was that another insane aggressive baserunning move or is that what you do when you’re tied in the ninth?
I’m thinking insanity.
AIIIEIEIIEEEEE
Now watch Hargrove pull Soriano after wasting Beltre.
Sexson…just…now…getting…to plate
At 6’8, you can’t do more than “nudge” the catcher??
Was that just Richie’s fault or was he being encouraged to run home?
119 – Same result?
No he would’ve gotten tossed from the game, and possibly light a fire under the team. Its important to know your manager will stick his neck out.
Old Fashioned? The first documented use is 1955.
Gaaaaaah! This game sucks.
#118– Piazza is out of the game.
well, that was a frustrating inning.
113 – So you can put Morse in to pitch and Soriano in to play 3B if you want, then switch their defensive positions. You’re not switching them in the batting order, you’re switching them in the field.
Morse would have to pitch to one batter if you brought him in to pitch.
Nice baserunning Richie.
Re: 118
Uh, nevermind.
Sexson honestly looked like he was jogging…not saying he WAS, just saying it sorta looked like it on the replay.
Haha. That was pretty funny in slomo… looks like Giles is aiming quite carefully, knowing he has plenty of time. Errrrrgh.
And by nice we mean awful.
Too bad Bloomy wasn’t pinch RUNNING instead of pinchhitting…sigh
Memo to Richie: You’re a Sherman tank, for God’s sake. If you’re going to take a guy out, TAKE HIM OUT. No more love taps at home plate, please.
You can practically hear him saying “pardon me” in the replays.
Am I the only one who thought that Ibanez was out by plenty. Maybe I didn’t see it right.
Valle is pointing out that there was no one suiutable to put in to pinch run for Richie due to the double switches.
141
HAHAHAHA!!!
Alright, I refuse to get stereotypically girly most of the time, but like the leetle rolls of fat at the back of Soriano’s neck, that plate “collision” was cute. It would be awesome if baseball players said “pardon me” every so often. or “oh dear me!”
We could double-switch Guardado into the game and replace Betancourt with Petagine.
Ibanez “out by PLENTY?” Yeah, I think the scout who gave us tips on hitting Peavy thought so too
so here we go with our double-double switched defense.
if we drop this game by a mishandled ball by morse or bloomquist, I’ll be upset. we need soriano to get them out at the plate.
Man I hate being the away team in the late innings of a tie game.
Well, so far so good, Nate.
#130– Lou didn’t throw anything until he had already been tossed from a game, and really– just how inspired would you be watching your manager pretending to throw a Piniella-esque fit? Because Hargrove (or Melvin or just about any other manager in baseball) isn’t Lou Piniella and just imitating him would’nt do them a bit of good. Heck, I don’t really recall any times that Lou pitching a fit ever actuallyt inspired the M’s to greater heights….
I think that part of the reason Sexson just love tapped the catcher is that he slowed down to lower his shoulder. Anyone who has ever played football knows there is a way to do that without slowing down, but apparently Richie never played.
SF takes a 3-2 lead over oakland in the bot 8.
go giants?
151, Hmm… I used to get fired up after my manager would get tossed. Maybe that’s just me, but I think we can all agree that grover does us more good in the clubhouse than on the bench.
PS Don’t ever speak ill of Lou again…the man’s a saint
Richie was probably the back up holder for the kicker or the guy that poured the Gatorade
All right, time for free baseball!
Gotta love our ‘pen.
#156, you got the Fox Sports Package too?
Ibanez “out by PLENTY?†Yeah, I think the scout who gave us tips on hitting Peavy thought so too
Maybe not plenty, but I think he was out.
#152– “…graduated from Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, WA, in 1993, earning All-State honors in football, basketball and baseball”
160
Looks like it wasn’t as a linebacker (I say this in jest knowing he is a great athlete, ALSO knowing he should’ve done WAY better on that play at the plate)
When did Adrian Gonzalez become a gold glover?
Hopefully this doesn’t end up like that Dodgers/A’s game last week. You guys know, the one that went 17 innings? Although extra inning games are kinda fun.
160 and 161: It is now clear to me–Richie was a quarterback.
Willie is hitting .184 vs RHPs and hitter are batting .195 against Linebrink.
I wouldn’t oppose a bunt here.
SCRAPPY!!!
163: I actually enjoy long extra inning games, because I love the fact that baseball has no clock, and I appreciate that teams will play on and on to avoid a tie.
Me neither…so naturally he gets a hit
Only Mike Morse hittin’ off of Hoffman would’ve been a bigger upset
I had to go look it up, just because….
“An all-state performer in football (wide receiver, punter), basketball (slashing small forward) and baseball at Prairie High School, Sexson had scholarship offers from several Pacific 10 schools in all three sports. After attending a summer basketball camp with Chris Webber and Jason Kidd, he decided basketball wasn’t for him.
“I played against those guys and I was like, ‘Man, these guys are pretty good,’ ” he said. “I wasn’t completely overmatched but I didn’t see a future in it like those guys had. I went with baseball.”
Ignition!
Ichie has swung through a lot of balls today…for him at least
Dammit. Ichiro shows signs of starting a crappy streak.
Oh, Ichiro.
oh good god
IT’S C-REX TIME!!!!!!!!!
168- I enjoy them too I just don’t want to exhaust our bullpen, it would be different if we were as far back in the division as say the Royals.
In tie games he’s been money late in the game. When we’re behind…uh, never mind
ok soriano’s gone, who’s pitching the bot 10??
well, Red is telling all about the time Carl has come through, so that pretty much garantees nothing much will happen….
mateo
Well, that didn’t work.
If Hargrove is smart, he’ll put in Putz here.
Apparently the first 6 or 7 splitters this inning (inlcuding where Ichie k’d) didn’t clue Everett in for that last pitch in the dirt
Darn. I was hoping Hargrove would call a 2-out double steal before Everett struck out.
my, that was a poorly spelled & typed entry.
did I mention that Kevin Towers also talked this moring about how important he feels it is to spend money on a good bullpen, and to bulid from the back end of your pitching staff forward?
Good thing the m’s lost yesterday and the good relievers are fresh…
#182
Simple, yet VERY accurate…for many things tonight
184: C-Rex was also not clued into the idea that the Mariners would take the lead with a base hit, so he put a long, home run swing into each pitch.
Nice pinch-hitting Everett. God how I wish we still had Dave Hansen.
Nice pinch-hitting Everett. God how I wish we still had Dave Hansen!
also, he can put the pitcher (mateo?) in carl’s slot right? no need to double switch and sit another starter??
I *think* i’m figuring this out.
192: Yes
Just when I think this guy can’t get more unbelievable. What a jackass:
I don’t think I’ll be going, I don’t think that’ll happen,” Guillen told ESPNdeportes.com in an interview at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday. The interview was conducted in Spanish.
“I think the commissioner ordered that in order to calm things down, but, obviously, to attend one of those, I’ll have to take English lessons first,” he added.
Guillen called Mariotti an offensive word, often used to refer to people’s sexual preference.
Mariotti is a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and collaborates on ESPN’s “Around The Horn.”
“I’ll do what I have to do, at least when I have time, but I don’t think I’ll take those sensitivity lessons,” Guillen said.
“I want to make it clear that I left school a long time ago and that I learned English in the streets. I have three boys at school and I am too old to return to a classroom,” he said.
192, exactly…or he could move WFB out and play CREX in the grass….
At 6″ 8″, he was a slashing small forward? Even if he was a couple inches shorter, at a small-town public high school, I’d have guessed he was the first or second tallest on the team.
Sorry guys, my computer messed up.
Sorry guys, my computer messed up
Man that was annoying. Sorry again.
194: Was he talking about the sensitivity training? Because I think I could be a good sensitivity trainer. To wit: “Hey Ozzie, you are a public figure, don’t use the word “fag” in public.” I’ll give him that training for free, if he would like.
192
Yeah, and next inning Domingo Ramos is in for Presley and Swift will be on the mound for Lee Guetterman
Mateo is DONE. Good night drive home safely (Please prove me wrong!)
Now were in a bit of a fix.
Reason #23235 why it was a bad idea to let go of Mike Cameron.
He’s just setting up the DP
2 strikeouts?
please?
I am priming my profanity pump.
205
On back to back games where we can’t do crap on offense, I’m assuming about everyone is “primed” for that
Don’t let the rookie make you look foolish, mateo
We are so screwed.
So how are they gonna keep the DP in order if they’re goning to ignore Cameron?
Does the infield EVER actually stop the ball when they’re in that far? We can’t turn two on this guy?
209: They aren’t because the infield is in.
And Oakland scored two in the 9th to get ahead of Colorado.
Oakland scores two to take the lead.
If this guy is fast, then it make sense to play the infield up like they are.
209 easy, we walk this guy. bingo, DP in order (grrr)
Sorry, ahead of San Francisco …
Walk him? Set up the force?
K here and then walk Giles.
Benitez for the Giants has given up three effin’ runs all year and give us TWO tonight to Oakland.
Figures.
You Have to pitch to him
215
Now that makes sense… assuming Mateo can throw strikes.
I’m really glad we double switched our entre team out in order for Fruto to face one more batter. It’s not like our IF defense would be criticalat this junction.
Bowen is slow at third, do we really need to be in this far?
Well, the double switch can be a good thing, in the right hands.
With great power comes great responsibility
Please God! Nothing to hit!!!
Why isn’t JJ Putz pitching???
Watch Grove still intentionally walk Giles
Wow, Mateo does what the coaching staff should have had him do intentionally.
See, like I said they;re setting up the DP
because a closer’s psyche is delicate, and you dont want to set him up for failure
Hey Mateo, make him hit the effing ball!
Why in the HELL is Morse at third?
I’m going to go back and read the comments, but I want to be on record that if this was some idiotic double switch by Hargrove I am going to scream.
ballgame
We suck
btw, I didn’t mean it would be good to walk him, I just predicted mateo would throw in 4 balls.
now we’re really in trouble.
(DP??)
never mind.
Nice work Grover!
Well now we’re screwed. Giles won’t chase junk, and Mateo isn’t exactly the type of pitcher who rrev it up and challenge a great hitter…
Nevermind. Rats!
He’s missing the strike zone *like a fox*!
Well with Putz on the bench and Oakland rallying, ya all had to see this coming…sigh
Putz should have been in the ball game. Hargrove sucks at his job.
GET MATEO OUT OF THERE! NOW!
Grrrrrrr.
AND LOPEZ????
And… nevermind. Game over.
But I’m going to read back and Beltre and lopez had BETTER be hurt.
I hope Hargrove made sure Putz had a good view from the bullpen of that.
231: I think you’re going to scream.
Stupid Mateo!
John — go ahead and scream.
Putz should have started the inning, but once Julio “I can’t throw strikes to save my life” Mateo loaded things up, it does little good to throw Putz out there to lose.
This is one time we can point to the result and say: Mike Hargrove lost this game.
Fwiw, the only thing uglier than the M’s impotent offense the last two games are the throw back uni’s the Giants and A’s are wearing
248
The one time THIS WEEK
What percentage of the blame does Hargrove take for that loss?
Thirty?
Forty?
Fifty?
All?
None?
Some?
#247: Putz could very well have struck out two and gotten a ground-ball out. Or even struck out the side.
247
The “little good” could’ve been a strike out, right?
Crocus-pocus. I almost hoped that Grover would bring in Guapo Guardado; he at least generally gets lefties out, and Giles eats up righthand pitching. Oh well: this game ended when they sent Sexson from second on a no-hope gangle for the out at the plate.
We’re back to seeing the Ms of the first two months; you know, the hopeful group who can’t quite figure out what this ‘win’ thing is that other teams get every other day or so. *yorrp*
What goes on in Hargrove’s head: “The double switch is so fun that I am going to use it liberally even when it hurts the team. Most people think I am a moron and they are correct. So perhaps I will use the double switch because it is fun and it confuses AL fans and I will seem smart.”
I hate how it feels like we win games in spite of Hargrove and lose because of him…that we have to work as hard to overcome him as we do to overcome our opponent.
Putz has to be unavailable. Not even Hargrove is that clueless.
There are at least 25 other managers in MLB who would have held Putz for a save opportunity on the road. Suppose he pitches a 1-2-3 10th; then what happens? Best case, the team scores in the 11th and he needs to get 3 more outs. But he’s a “closer,” so you can’t ask him to get 6 outs. A 4-out save is thinking outside the box, for chrissakes. Grover is just going with Conventional Wisdom here.
Don’t worry, all you’ll hear on FSNW is how we merely ran into “great pitching” again. Isn’t that ALWAYS the excuse?
Too bad Peavy has been getting lit up by everyone else for the last month!!!
253, well yeah, if he strikes them out. But 2 on with one out is a sinking ship. I’d rather have Putz available with a one run lead tomorrow.
258: Conventional wisdom suggests that the save is an overrated statistic in extra inning games.
No, I think most managers would have their closer in there with the game on the line regardless of the SVOPP.
258
I’ve seen plenty of managers bring in the closer when it could be down to one last batter. Maybe not to start the inning, but when you NEED a strikeout with them loaded…
Reading this game thread is depressing in an Inferno sort of way… or maybe more a Death of a Salesman sort of way.
How can this team zig so many times when it should zag… and vice versa?
#264: More like “Long Night’s Journey Into Night” ….
Reed on third due to that gift passed ball and NO OUTS
THREE straight k’s
Anyone else forsee an ending like this after that happened earlier?
How big of a false God is Meche at this point?
264
Probably many Stephen King novels that would fit! Our hitting is back in the “Dead Zone”
And Mateo was a real “Firestarter”
Richie needs to read “The Stand” since he needed to take one at the plate
Overall the game was probably best suited for being called “Creepshow”
#261: Yeah, well, true but irrelevant. Who gets the last 3 outs if the M’s take a 1-run lead on the road? Your available pitches in that case are: Guardado, Mateo, Woods, and the starters. Or do you want Putz to throw 30-some pitches tonight? And what happens if the M’s don’t score in their half of the 11th, and you’ve burned Putz.
For the loss, blame the players or blame the umpire for the blown call. I don’t care if you think Hargrove has the IQ of a plug of chewing tobacco; he didn’t load the bases in the 10th and he didn’t give up the game winning hit. The overwhelming majority of managers in MLB would hold their closer for the last three outs when they’re on the road.
267, true, at least we get another week of high trade value…pull the fricken trigger already.
PETCO Semetary
Peavy may have been getting lit up by everybody else, but he owns the M’s. Let me quote myself from the end of last night’s game thread:
More than the ump, Richie’s slow running and light collision, Mateo’s meltdown…more than ALL of those things was simply another day where the bats were terrible.
Gotta score some friggin’ runs or we lose. Very simple.
#261: Oh yeah, it’s not “conventional wisdom” that saves are overrated. That would be post-modern sabermetric wisdom. If it’s only conventional wisdom among the Internet geeks like us, it’s not conventional wisdom.
Or “Long Day’s Journey Concert Into Night” ….
Shin-Soo Choo, OBP pope: 3-3, 3 walks in six plate appearances tonight.
#275– “Steve Perry IS Jamie Tyrone”
Adam Jones ties it in the bottom of the 11th!!!!!
Quiroz wins it with a bases-loaded single! Come-from-behind goodness at Cheney!
Regarding Mike Hargrove and the double switch, he’s like that little kid who finds a shiny new toy and he can’t stop playing with it.
DOUBLE SWITCH (See # 280) – One of the problems wuith the double switch is that it is addictive. Managers can’t resist the temptation to use it, whether they should use it or not. Had GROVER not used it, when he also pulled LOPEZ, as he was changing pitchers, he would have had BLOOMQUIST to pinch-run for SEXSON in that crucial situation.
[Is the small advantage--a favorable batting-order adjustment--really worth the cost: replacing a regular with a substitute?]
(BTW, in the ’40s and ’50s, when there was no DH, I don’t remember the double switch being used so often–probably for the reason just stated.)
Over hee in England and I woke up at 4am after a particularly hard days work, poor me, and thought,”Hell the boys are playing.” I got MLB radio going and lay back in my bed not knowing what to expect. Hell I didn’t expect us to throw away the 9th when we were obviously on top of them. Sexson can’t bat this year and he definately can’t run. Maybe I’m bitter. Maybe he can run but have any of you guys seen the World Cup and Ronaldo play for the Brazilians. Now I’m not saying Sexson is as goos at his game as Ronaldo used to be but the similarities are there. Not fit, no balance, not in the mood, lack of motivation but mostly he isn’t physically right.
Anyhow what i was going to mention before that little rant was that, and I didn’t know this, the radio presenter for SD mentioned that Ichiro has a poor record with batters in scoring positions. Something in the low .230′s or so. He couldn’t believe a guy who can hit so well has such a poor record in this area. Nor can I. Ichiro then struck swinging. Wow.
Anymore light on this!!
Hi from England. Is it justme over here?
282 – Average with RISP is a pretty random stat… despite what a big deal radio and tv guys like to make of it.
Here’s an example:
In 2001, for the year, Ichiro was batting something like .450 (!) with RiSP. For the whole year. I just looked it up, it’s actually .445
His career is .353 with RiSP.
So his .230′s number there this year means nothing.
Ichiro looked like a little leaguer up last night.
It’s strange how a couple things get thrown off in his swing and he suddenly just starts playing terrible.
Does anybody else DVR/record all the games while they’re on vacation, then watch them when they get back? Is it really frustrating to anybody else when the game lasts until 10:05, and the DVR stops at 10? Anybody read along with the game thread while watching, trying not to get ahead of yourself too much? Finally, doesn’t it just bug you when the game thread never actually mention how the Pad’s run actually scored? Now, I gotta go look through game logs and stuff.
Uh…God I hope nobody ever reads my lame post on this thread again…then again, why would they? Unless they don’t get back from vacation until tomorrow!