Game 90, Mariners at Blue Jays
RHP Meche v RHP Janssen. 4:05, KSTW-11.
Every year, I ride the Seattle-to-Portland. I do it in one day, which requires a particular kind of conditioning and also a lot of stubbornness. When I’m riding during the summer, I’ll knock off a good century once a week, usually much harder per mile than the ride I’ll be doing in (oh man, is it really only) twelve hours. But there’s a big difference in doing that and spending the day on the bike, in finding the strength to charge up some monster hill at mile 150, when you’ve been out in the sun riding all day.
During the ride, there are parts of it that are beautiful and enjoyable, rolling hills and winding roads, and there are long stretches on the shoulders of highways with nothing to look at, along strip malls with no shade or respite, and the only way to keep going is to think about getting out of there.
It reminds me of being a baseball fan. I start out every season guardedly hopeful, knowing the worst-case scenario, and then for 162 games, more if you’re lucky, you keep at it. There are almost always painful stretches, like May, and there are pleasant surprises, like June.
But moreover, one of the reasons I go on the big rides is because once in a while, it’s good to be with ten thousand other bikers. Most of the time, we’re scattered across the region, maybe in small packs if we’re lucky. But for one day, particularly on this, the biggest ride of the northwest, to know that for all the solo time in the saddle, there are many, many more people of the same stripe, and they’re generally cool people, pleasant to hang out with even on an all-day ride.
I feel the same way about Mariner fandom. And even if our readership mirrors our author group and a quarter goes riding tomorrow, far more people will stop by USSM than ride the Seattle to Portland. Now that is cool.
So what’s up, folks? Gil Meche is our new ace. Adam Jones is our new centerfielder, for better or worse. Pineiro is the new Meche. We’re in contention for the AL West title. Our DH is the worst hitter on the team. The two highest-paid players are two of the worst-performing, while a set of guys under a million each are on fire.
This has been a fun trip so far. To a fine second half. Lineup when it’s available.
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Thanks, Derek. Now, in addition to providing me with most of the baseball chatter I need on a daily basis, your site is responsible for making me feel that much happier about being alive.
Here’s to the second half.
I’m just jealous that you can ride that far. My 45 minute ride to work makes my ass bones sore for the rest of the week.
Have a good ride, Derek. I love the STP, even if my knee won’t let me ride it any more. it’s a lot of fun.
Jones in center, batting ninth.
Nice post, DMZ.
Just make sure to buy a bunch of stuff in our wonderful, sales tax-free state once you get down here.
Thanks for the warm fuzzy.
By the law of syllogism, can we infer that Joel Pineiro will be our new ace? (Shudder) Something inside me just died a little.
Our two biggest sluggers made an ESPN article as #2 and #3 of the biggest free-agent busts since 2004, behind one-time Mariner target, Carl Pavano. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/g393q
Once more into the breach!
I like how the guy mentions in that article that Big Richie hit 39 jacks and knocked in 121 last year, but didn’t deserve his money because his average was .268. That argument seems especially retarded to me because he was signed to hit home runs and knock guys in. He was not paid to hit for average.
Seattle at Toronto
Preview – Box Score – Recap
(43-46)
Seattle 43-46 (Road: 19-22) 7:07pm ET
Toronto 49-39 (Home: 29-17) KSTW, RSN
(49-39)
Seattle
AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg
I. Suzuki rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .343
A. Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J. Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R. Ibanez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
R. Sexson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
C. Everett dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
K. Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
Y. Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
A. Jones cf
Jones goes yard tonight with 2 strikeouts and throws a runner out from the warning track in center.
It’s been 15 years since my last 1-day STP – thanks for the flashback Derek. Good luck tomorrow.
Here’s to a second half and finish of the season that is like finishing the STP – a feeling of accomplishment and knowing you have pushed yourself to do something difficult and rewarding.
Nice writeup, DMZ. Like to see that.
The second half starts today. We’ll see how the M’s are doing in another two or three weeks. This is a crucial time for the M’s.
Oh, and since it’s going to show up on the thread at some point, let’s get it out of the way:
“The M’s should DFA Everett and bring up Doyle.”
Duh. Big Red Truck. Can we consider that particular line of discussion closed?
Oh, and since it’s going to show up on the thread at some point, let’s get it out of the way:
“The M’s should DFA Everett and bring up Doyle
Shouldn’t that be put in a macro?
There could be two permanent threads about the DFA Everett and here’s what we think about WFB. Oh, three – Fire Hargrove.
and Jones isn’t ready!
ducks
and Meche isn’t TOR
Is this Betancourt’s first game hitting something other than ninth?
Janssen should be interesting. He’s a low K-rate control guy who’s absolutely owned the Angels this year, but he’s mediocre against everyone else.
He’s also part of the Jays’ move toward pitchers with Teutonic names:
Schoeneweis
Janssen
Taubenheim
Speier
17: He hit 8th in the NL parks.
If your average baseball season is like the STP, then 2001 was like coasting downhill while it rains pudding and then suddenly steering into a wall of nails.
Didn’t Betencourt hit second last year for a stretch?
So Derek (or any other riders), what type of bike would you recommend for a someone who is a runner and looking add bike riding to her workout routine? It has to be something reasonably priced (aka fairly cheap, as I’m a broke college student) and something that would work well on hills. Any advice?
Also, by boyfriend’s little sister is dragging him along to the Seattle to Portland ride. I can’t wait to see what kind of shape he’s in afterwards, he was sore for a week after running Bloomsday with me.
I’m wondering why Johjima is hitting below Everett. I suppose that might set off the Motivator, but really, shouldn’t Joh be moved up past Everett?
Though I also suppose that Everett should be hitting in the 10-12 spot (as in the bench).
L-R-L-R
22: Mountain bike
I guess Sexson should be added to my comment. Who should the team use at first if they wanted to give Sexson a day off? Ibanez? Perez? Dobbs?
Though I also suppose that Everett should be hitting in the 10-12 spot (as in the bench).
No…”The M’s should DFA Everett and bring up Doyle “
Everybody should be moved up past Everett. Yet Grover insists on keeping the righties Sexson and Johjima separated by the deadly left-handed bat of Everett. And by deadly, I mean that it kills Mariner rallies.
25- thats kind of along the lines of what I was looking for, anything more specific?
“My 45 minute ride to work makes my ass bones sore for the rest of the week.”
You need a new seat. One of those padded retro things with visible springs works well (because a tradition mountin bike seat also makes my ass bones sore).
“traditional mountain”
Wow.
Valle just said that Jones was recalled from “Calgary.” Someone should tell him the M’s have moved their AAA franchise since he was playing.
29: Sure, but as a risk of being too much off-topic… For $400 you could get a decent starter bike new with OK front suspension and decent components. The brand doesn’t really matter if you buy from a bike shop, there are so many good brands and you really do get what you pay for. I’m not sure what other specifics you might need.
29 – your other option might be a touring bike (if you’ll be strictly on the road), but your “cheap” options there will basically be limited to buying a used one.
A basic mountain bike with slicks (smooth tires for the road instead of the knobbies MBs usually come with) should work well, and be much easier on the budget.
Basically the more you spend, the better quality the components are (e.g. brakes, shifters, etc), and the lighter the frame material. Steel frame bikes are cheap, but heavy. Crom-moly (alloy) are lighter and moderatly more expensive, aluminium/carbon fiber are lighest but most expensive. Better components mean less breakdowns, but how good you need will depend on how many miles you’ll be putting on. Lighter weight means you’ll go faster and farther using the same energy, which is generally only important if you are competative or doing serious distances.
Okay, to the bike question.
It depends on what you’re going to be doing with it. If you’re going to be toodling around the city, you can probably skip a straight mountain bike and go for one of the crosses.
But more specifically — go into a bike shop (I’m a fan of Gregg’s, but any good one will do) and say “I need a starter bike” and ask if you can try out a couple different styles.
Philip there’s right – you should be able to get a nice starter bike for under $500 without any problem.
Damn it Ichiro, just dive back to first.
Trek has some nice city/cross bikes that look like they’d be really nice for starter bikes at $350-400.
Woo Hoo. Nice start to the second half, Ichiro and Beltre.
The difference about the STP versus the Mariners season I most appreciate: no Valle commentary on my rides.
“de-REK zum-STEG there, CLIMB-ing up that HILL, PED-ling..”
Ken “Hawk” Harrelson will be calling the STP this year.
I love Lopez taking out the DP even though it means they’ll likely go out of their way to take him out later. That’s nice.
Lopez close to interference there, barely able to reach his hand over to the base. Nice running to break that up, though.
Excellent write-up, Derek.
Kill this rally, Everett. Kill it dead.
I hate rooting for Everett!
possible good solutions to this AB: Walk, Sac Fly, HBP!
C-Rex!!!nice piece of hitting
Wow, I didn’t believe it when I saw it, but according to OPS, Carl Everett IS the worst hitter in the lineup. Well, Adam Jones’ .000 nonwithstanding. That is just a sad, sad fact.
If you have the amazing powers of reverse jinxing like me, it works out well, because you get to say stuff like that and have it help the team without actually cheering Carl.
I can’t believe that Valle’s comment on Johjima’s return from his quick trip to Japan was that seeing his newborn would cause him to return with “a little more adrenaline in the body.”
Really. Because… what?
walk and then a homer would be a nice start to the career
Welcome to the show, Adam Jones.
I have access to both the Blue Jays and Mariners telecast of this game. Can you believe that baseball on Canadian TV is actually more insightful? And only because Dave Valle is just that bad.
95 really? Fast gun tonight
That curve ball was filthy.
I can’t recall the last time I saw Vernon Wells take strike one.
He’s easily the least patient hitter in that team.
And yet he is the best offensive player on the team, too.
Anybody see what happened with Jones’ first AB? I’m stuck at work..
Anybody see what happened with Jones’ first AB? I’m stuck at work..
Popout to 2B.
Pop fly to second.
Bummer.. Would have been cool if he could have gotten a hit his first time up.
But I’ll take the 3-0 lead!
Did Niehaus just say that Glaus was an ex-Angel and an ex-”Phoenix Sun”?
Did Meche just go 1-2-3 in the first? He IS an ace.
He has his curve so far tonight.
Hi, I’m at home on the computer with the TV on but I’m too lazy to go to another web page or turn my head, could you fine folks just recap everything that’s happened so far and then, as the game continues, describe each event for me?
There goes the perfect game.
I wish I were home with the computer and the TV on!
DMZ – Johjima gets additional adrenaline when he crosses the dateline. Its like its already tomorrow for him (I think he should have precog abilities as well).
#50– um, adreneline as he realizes he has three college educations to pay for now?
so, does it count that Jones just looks more like a centerfielder when he lopes across the grass?
Sexson with the infield hit.
70: Yes it absolutely does.
ah, Dave must have thought Phoenix Suns as Glaus is just too tall to to bend down to get those slow rollers …
For us Gameday viewers, did Sexson just get an infield single? How did that happen?
74 the whole infield of Toronto died.
I hate C-Rex and it definitely counts that Jones looks more like a cf.
Pentland has changed Sexson’s swing to the point he has become a speedy singles hitter.
Why in the name of all that’s good and right was Everett swinging 3-0?
Everett with the green light on 3-0? I thought that was for good hitters, not scrubs.
I thought I imagined him swinging on 3-0. I’d love to know if he got the ok for that or not. What a tool.
Everett with the green light on 3-0? I thought that was for good hitters, not scrubs.
Since when has Everett qualified as a scrub?
how long do you think it takes to fly from Japan to Toronto?
We have C-Rex to thank for no runs scored in that inning.
how long do you think it takes to fly from Japan to Toronto?
It takes ~8 hours in the air from Japan to Seattle (in my experiences). Not sure how long from Seattle to Toronto but I’d imagine that is a common layover.
Man, Toronto is one ugly city.
Well, how about?
S – Sucks
C – Constantly
R – Really
U – Utterly
B – Bad
Lopez with an error in two straight games.
Well, how about?
S – Sucks
C – Constantly
R – Really
U – Utterly
B – Bad
Far too positive.
There are 55 million people watching, in person or on the broadcast?
Really?
Because that seems high.
85 – It also has a dreadful climate and horrendous air quality.
But it’s very clean.
The game is being broadcast across Canada (that might not actually be true – the east coast often misses out on Jays’ games), but there are only 32 million Canadians, and they’re not all watching the game.
So, whu don’t runners just trust their coach in those cases? The skipper could never blame them for that, could he?
The game is being broadcast across Canada (that might not actually be true – the east coast often misses out on Jays’ games), but there are only 32 million Canadians, and they’re not all watching the game.
And with only ~300M Americans, the 55M number is almost certainly wrong.
so, now is the time for Gil to demonstrate his new strength of mind and baseball psyching-up….
What a curve.
I think Valle thought he was watching American Idol or Survivor.
Hi, I’m at home on the computer with the TV on but I’m too lazy to go to another web page or turn my head, could you fine folks just recap everything that’s happened so far and then, as the game continues, describe each event for me?
I sent the new faculty handbook to the copy people. Right now I’m working some reports concerning graduation rates. And later, I’m planning on completing this 5-year plan and proposal to add some additional staff to handle our online communications and reporting. I’m planning on being at work for another hour.
Ooh, and just now, I found my blue Pilot V7 pen. Nice piece of finding by me.
He turned a couple corners that inning!
Meche strikes out the side? What?
5 K’s and only one hit given up? Who does Gil think he is?
Having moved to San Diego…I’ve been following the team mainly through this site/boxscore and havent seen many of meche’s starts….I’m watching today and his stuff looks pretty sick….has his curve been breaking like that all year? I’m liking what I’m seeing
Meche bails out his defense with 3 k’s! I don’t think Jim Thomsen had that headline ready to go at the beginning of the season.
WooHoo!! A walk for Adam Jones, congrats young man, your on base in the majors for the first time!
Sorry to be ignorant, but where in the lineup did Jones bat in “Calgary”, leadoff, 3rd?
.500 OBP!
Holy Lord what a grab.
Is it completely out of the realm of possibility that Meche will/is evolve/evolving into the pitcher that he was supposed to be, but of course, not until contract year where his services will benefit someone else after we were the ones to endure the pain?
Awww…Beltre robbed of a hit and an RBI.
“I’m watching today and his stuff looks pretty sick….has his curve been breaking like that all year?”
At times (for an inning or so). But this is his best and most consistent curve I’ve seen of his since 2003.
I’m sure glad that Betancourt made it off the island.
103 If I understand your question correctly and I heard it right… Jones was 9th in the line up. Now I may be ignorant here but I really liked Yu-Bet there. It was like having two leadoff hitters with the way he has been hitting.
109: I was trying to make a joke about Valle’s earlier comment about Jones coming from Calgary, but what I was trying to figure out was if Jones hit 3rd, leadoff, etc. in Tacoma.
DMZ,
204 miles in 12 hours? According to my fuzzy math, that’s 17 mph. Really?…and you’re averaging faster in your weekly century? It’s good to be young and fit.
*Resolved: Baseball geek will ride more, eat less and heed the siren song of the Specialized Roubaix Comp*
Mzen-
Anything is possible. Meche still has alot to prove this season, he still hasn’t put together a consistent full season.
He’s had good half seasonss in 03′ 04′. In 05′ he pretty much sucked.
IMO his success comes when his arm is healthy. I still don’t think he has the ability to go 200 innings without his arm going to hell.
I must be getting the Little League World Series feed by mistake.
Troy Glaus….WOW.
Wow.. just wow…
I have a friend who always visualizes Troy Glaus with one of those thought balloons over his head, one that says “duhhhhhhh”
FYI, for his last 10 games or so in Tacoma, Jones batted leadoff except when Choo was in the lineup and then he hit 2nd behind Choo.
I just discovered that Lopez hit his last homer on June 2.
Thanks
Eduardo? Nope.
Yay, Carl vs. a Lefty. Strikeout on 4 pitches.
Good lord Hargrove you idiot.
Everett’s a bad DH when hitting left handed. There is no accurate adjective to describe what kind of DH he is when he hits right handed.
Idiocy. Perez has to be hating life right now. What a ship of fools.
I blame C-Rex for both outs
UGGGGGH
Ouch
I blame Hargrove.
OOOOPs. Guess you forgot a pretty important little part of baserunning there Lopez.
So, Hargrove, Carl scared you when he yelled at you, didn’t he?
How does that feel? Immasculated by your dinasour-disbelieving DH?
Yeah, sure, you just WANTED him to hit there, nothing to do with the backlash. Right.
Honestly, sometimes it seems this is a manager who is willfully attempting to be fired. Inexcusable.
Hargrove is a coward…he is scared of Everret…if he had balls he would have pinch hit
As Casey Stengel said of the 62 Mets: “They find ways to lose ballgames I never even knew existed.”
And the human rain delay makes an appearance…is Mike losing weight in addition to his mind?
I am unable to enjoy even Gameday broadcasts with Hargrove as manager – that he IS STILL manager is beyond ridiculous; he doesn’t even follow his own never-anything-new-ever rulebook. What a goddam ass!
It’s good to know that both Pinella and Eric Wedge can both maximize Eduardo Perez in their line-ups, and yet Hargrove manages to screw it up every time. Unfrakkin’believable. He’s one of the dumbest men in baseball, hands down. This guy should be managing a McDonalds, not a baseball team. Jesus.
so just what do you suppose the reasoning is that the DH has to stay throughout the game? Saving that other hitter for a putative later inning?
or punative, in the case of Carl
So it wasn’t “aggressive baserunning?” I sort of assumed it was when I saw the description on Gamecenter: C Everett flied into double play, right to shortstop to third, J Lopez doubled off third.
Here’s hoping traffic’s light so I can catch the end of the game. Weekend!
yeah, saving Perez for the possibility of facing closer Ryan, a lefty. Or you could go for the kill now, a la Boone pinch hitting in the 5th in Oakland. Hargrove manages not to lose, which is great when you have a team that doesn’t lose.
Lopez tagged up, outfielder caught the ball, outfielder dropped the ball, Lopez didn’t tag again as the ump decides that the ball was dropped in the transfer, thus a caught ball.
Is Hill trying to make up for the 1st inning?
Lopez thought he didn’t catch it.
well, we all thought he didn’t catch it….
Nice cannon Raul.
That didnt look like a terrible left fielder to me…although i think he was safe after looking at the replay
Wow! Is Raul’s arm actually improving with his hitting or is everyone on an effort strike this game?
can you get fined in kangaroo court for being thrown out at home by Raul?
148- I think you’d get a pass because Raul is just having a G’day.
146-148: Arm strength and range are different skills. Raul has always had a good arm.
Any of us could lollypop a 1-hopper from shallow left against whoever that turtle was on third. But hey, he made the play – that’s all he needed to do.
Beltre! Right on. Have a monster second half, man.
I (heart) Good Beltre.
Has a slogan been invented yet for when Ichiro and Johjima score on the same play? :p
“Ich-jo-ma!”?
That was Long Zaun.
I think Greg Zaun gets more HR’s per inch of heigth in baseball. Well, maybe not, but
I hate bad Meche
Ooohhh, that’s right…
I almost forgot about these moments.
WHY MATEO? Jesus H, does Hargrove know anything about bullpen management?
Has there been a ball that hasn’t been hit hard this inning? Yeah, no…
Schoenweis shows how meaningless the Holds statistic is. With 16 he is near the very top in the league… with a 5.97 ERA.
Or it could prove how meaningless ERA really is for relievers.
Please, leave Carl in again. Idiot.
my goodness, c-rex? wow…are they shopping him?
C-Rex looks so bad from the right side.
Everett batting RH. Why not give Grover a bench of Larry, Moe and Curly Joe for all he would use them. Arrrgh
I think Everett and Grover are secret lovers.
I don’t know. Hargrove’s given him every benefit of the doubt…EVERY BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, but really – 2 weeks from now, there’s just no way Everett will be in town – unless he starts hitting SOMETHING.
Everyone’s complained about him and Hargrove’s faith in him, but it just won’t continue. Where’s Eddie?
He’s gone.
What does this teach the children? Complain to your manager and you get more playing time.
Fire Hargrove — for the children! Think of the children!
Come on George!!
Annnnd in the Bronx, Matt Thornton is about to cough up the game to the Yankees.
Oh, look a manager who uses his bench. Is Hargrove fired yet?
Thornton just came into a tie game inheriting one baserunner, gave up a single to Posada on the first pitch, then threw four hard ones nowhere near the strike zone to Bernie Williams.
Bases loaded, nobody out. I don’t miss Matt.
LB, I was just about to mention that, heh. Thornton is reverting to form…I think Ozzie almost flipped out, I half expected him to run out there and attack him.
speaking of Eddie, I was interested to see (after noticing he had a hold & a save) that the hold was for pitching the 9th with a 10-5 lead, and the save came after he came in with one out, gave up a double that allowed another run to score, a looooooong flyball out (which must have induced a few familiar feelings) and then a s.o. of Todd Helton.
The Jays are pinch-hitting…panic move!
How many times has a Molina pinch-hit for anyone?
It can’t be more than a handful.
Me neither 175. I like Joe Thornton better
didn’t the Molinas pinch hit for each other on occasion?
I sure like the way Soriano’s pitching has progressed over the season…
And the Ozzuroo loses the lead by oddly opting for (L) Cotts after (R) McCarthy blew away Phillips with ease. Of course, the Yanks jump all over the mediocre pretty boy…
I can’t get over that Hargrove didn’t use Perez. I can’t believe it. I mean, the guy is MURDER on lefties and, frankly, not losing much over Everett against righties.
It’s bad enough that we gave up a good prospect for Perez, to, in turn, not even use Perez is just insulting.
I hope Bavasi is pulling his memory of hair out.
Nice legs, Jones.
Well, that’s as good as a GIDP.
Running with a 2 run lead in the top of the 8th, with Ichiro at the plate and two outs. I just don’t know what to say.
I guess Bavasi thinks we hneed help against lefties, but Hargrove doesn’t.
In the not-afraid-to-manage department, I note that the Jays used their only backup catcher in the 7th. I approve.
Maybe its his faith in the #2 spot. An Ichiro single scores him…ummm, if he makes it.
Funny to look at Jones’ range vis a vis Ibanez’.
Back to back to back singles in the Bronx against Rivera.
That, my friends, was pure filth. Glaus looked chagrined.
Valle: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
193 Proverbs 27:17
That American Idol guy who sings in that commercial makes me feel young. He has more gray in his hair than I do in mine at 45.
188 – If that’s the case, then Bill needs to walk into Mike’s office tonight and fire him on the spot. The reason for termination can be “makes me look stupid”.
That Soriano guy is pretty good huh? Is it still roughly 9 runs for a win? I figure he’s good for saving maybe 200 runs… thats about 22 wins right?
#196: Bavasi knew what he was getting when he hired Hargrove. He overvalues major league managing experience.
Well, let’s all hope J.J. putz this one away for good
/horrible joke
199, Wow! Corny old man joke!
stealing there made perfect sense…ichiro gets a lot of singles and a single scores a run….plus if he gets out than ichiro leads off next inning…..bad game out of Hargrove but I like that move
JJ is just toying with them now….
That’s was an awesome strike 3 pitch. JJ is some good.
Ah, the standard issue crap from Valle about the closer’s mindset. Do all the other pitchers on the staff expect to fail when they toe the rubber?
Lord Bavasi!
Deliver us from the Hargrove that plagues us!
Good game by every player (who, except for a certain DH, deserved to be) in the line-up.
I love winning!!!!!!!!!!!! it’s so much better than losing….
i finally understand why c-rex is still around: his views on history, god and politics reflect more closely than anyone else playing the ideas of the front office and their imagined fan-friendly fans. i’m glad here people know a little better than that.
A week ago Dave posted something on Gil Meche and how vastly improved he has been over the last month both with his control and ability to miss bats. The homerun thing is just a fluctuation of flyball weirdness, but the control and strikeouts cannot be ignored.
Jeff over at Lookout Landing went a step furthur and took some screen caps of Gil Meche 2005 and Gil Meche 2006 and the differences between the throwing motion step by step. Meche is definately doing something different, but whether or not the change is making a difference is still up in the air.
Still, there was one thing Jeff pointed out that I am now looking for in Gil’s starts, and it alone might be the reason Gil is missing more bats (at least). Before this year, Gil’s pitching motion would have him bring the ball out of his mitt but hold the arm at a bent almost 90 degree angle. The problem with that is that he’s showing the ball to the opposing batter too early, possibly tipping his pitch. However, this year, and he was doing it this game as well, Gil’s arm is reaching back behind him now when he takes the ball out of his mitt. In doing so, he’s hiding the ball a little better behind his body through the motion as he’s delivering the pitch. This little added deception is helping him disguise what’s coming to the plate better then he was before.
It’s amazing. You look at what Gil was doing before and doing now. It’s the same mediocre stuff, but the opposing batters are not getting as good a read on it as before. He’s actually picked up a bit of velocity since the start of the season, as I saw him hit 94mph today. His added deception might explain the walks being cut down too, since opposing batters are swinging at more stuff out of the strike zone.
We COULD honestly be looking at a new Gil Meche. Not an Ace, but definately useful.
Typical Idiot Fan-
Maybe.
However, he’s never been able to consistently repeat his mechanics so why would that suddenly change? Clearly, he’s having mechanical troubles when he has those innings where he’s lucky to throw a fastball over the plate. Lately he’s been avoiding those innings, but we’ll see.
The problem with Meche is when he can’t throw a strike and he has to throw a 92 mph fastball right down the heart of the plate. He’s been avoiding that most of this season and he’s gotten improved results.
And his curveball today was great.
#208: But will he be worth the four years and $32 million he’ll probably be asking for in the offseason?
might be pitchers cost a lot…and i dont see anyone coming up
That’s the rationale by which we signed Jarrod Washburn. Must we repeat that every year?
However, he’s never been able to consistently repeat his mechanics so why would that suddenly change?
The modification I pointed out isn’t really part of his mechanics, although Jeff at LL pointed out a couple of actual mechanical differences, this little change is hardly something that is difficult to remember. Basically instead of keeping your elbow bent and steady and hurling the ball basically from only your shoulder, he’s keeping his arm more straight and behind him. It’s not a drastic change.
Clearly, he’s having mechanical troubles when he has those innings where he’s lucky to throw a fastball over the plate. Lately he’s been avoiding those innings, but we’ll see.
He wasn’t as sharp as we’ve seen him recently tonight. He did strike out a decent amount of batters and only walked one, but he threw his usual “too many” pitches per inning and left after only 6IP with 95+ pitches thrown. He is also still giving up too many fly balls.
In any event, if you’re looking for consistency, check out a number of Gil Meche highlight clips on the seattlemariners.com website. There’s quite a few from this year and you can watch for the change in his mechanics. If you’re feeling really froggy there’s a couple of clips in the 2004 and 2005 “top plays” section that can show you the previous mechanics he had. It really is an interesting difference.
#208: But will he be worth the four years and $32 million he’ll probably be asking for in the offseason?
I tend to agree with Dave’s assessment of Meche, so no. Somewhere in there he’s going to fall a bit back down to earth and basically be a solid 3rd man at most.
but what is a ‘solid 3rd man’ going for these days…
Jaret Wright is not a “solid 3rd man” and he commands $8 million a year.
Eric Milton. The broken, empty shell of Russ Ortiz and Carl Pavano. Matt “Mediocre” Morris. Derek “Dodger Stadium Saves My Ass” Lowe. Jarrod “League Average” Washburn.
Gil Meche, barring a complete second-half collapse, is going to cash in big.
Pitching’s a premium. Why lose any if the M’s are only going to look for more? Gil just might make himself worth $32 mil- and he’s got a better track record than jaret Wright or Carl Pavano.
What would Washburn’s record look like if the Mariners could actually score him some runs?
I believe the Sprint question in tonight’s ballgame was “What should the Mariners madke a trade for- pitching or CF?” Pitching, always pitching. I’ll beleive the Marienrs are serious when Mark Redman suits up for them.
Anyways, good game all around. Hey, DMZ, not sure when the PTs ends up in P-Town on Sunday, but what’s the likliehood of you & other USSM Portland folk organzing a Rose City roundtable this Sunday while you’re in town?
If any other Portland USSMers are interested, let me know: trueslicky@hotmail.com
Washburn’s mediocrity goes FAR beyond his won-loss record. Run support is the least of his problems.
Odalis Perez and Carl Everett must be text-message pals:
Perez, a former 15-game winner who’s spent much of this season in the bullpen due to ineffectiveness, accused the Dodgers of treating him like “trash” moments after giving up a game-winning, 14th-inning home run to the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols on Thursday night.
Thanks for all the info. I’ve been looking a little bit over the summer, but I’ll definitely look into those suggestions.
Odalis Perez also cancelled various charitable appearances he was scheduled to make because he said he wasn’t getting enough credit for his charitable contributions. In short, Odalis Perez is an asshole.
Do I detect a growing man-crush for Gil Meche here on USS Mariner?
Say it isn’t so?!
Do I detect a growing man-crush for Gil Meche here on USS Mariner?
Say it isn’t so?!
It isn’t so. Not from this man, anyway.
His GO-AO ratio was 5-7. Granted, it did start at least 0-4 at one point, so he improved “stat-wise” later on in the game. I say “stat-wise” because two more “aired out” of the playing field during his final inning.
Overall on the season I have his GO-AO at 118-124, which is an improvement for him, but hardly stellar.
His K/BB is 2.07, which, again, is an improvement (hard not to beat last year’s 1.15), but nothing to write home about. If he didn’t have a very mediocre 3.56 BB/9 it could be a lot better.
I don’t have BABIP stats in front of me, but I do have 8.28 H/9. I believe Dave’s already covered the legitimacy of continuing to throw strikes more consistently (more Ks, less BBs) while giving up less hits, without a significant change in “stuff”. Honestly, I don’t think Meche is a new pitcher, although he may be slightly improved over last year.
Then, there’s this whole pitch count issue. Remember in 2003 when he totally fell apart at the end of the year? He threw a career high 3062 pitches that year. No, you can’t exactly thank Melvin for “easing him back in” like that, but the facts do still remain.
As of tonight, he has 1996 pitches thrown this season, in 19 starts. What happens if he has, say, 13 more and ~1350 more pitches for a total of around 3350? Aside from simply being able to keep slightly-better-than-his-normal stuff and his lucky pendant shining, will he also be able to beat fatigue and the wear on his body?
Too many concerns for me.
So again to answer your question, it isn’t so, here anyway.
“Do I detect a growing man-crush for Gil Meche here on USS Mariner?”
No. People just like to see good pitching.
I’m sure he’ll return to form and everyone will be saying they should have traded him while his stock was “high.”
I ought to add, it’s very possible that Meche could continue at this rate for the remainder of the season. In that case, he would certainly be an asset to this season’s team.
Even in that case, though, it’s still only one season. He hasn’t shown us any reason to believe it’s more repeatable than simply having factors for the most part swinging his way.
That’s why there’s no crush.
Then again it may have something to do with my not getting man-crushes.
I have no point here, I just wanted to wish DMZ good luck and good roads in the STP.
I like Gil when he wins, or even loses without giving up masses of runs while receiving no support, but that doesn’t really bespeak much of a “crush.”
If it goes on long enough to get us to the playoffs, whoopee!!!! Then I really, really wish him well when he is dealt to some other team, hopefully in the National League, this winter to make room for a younger, more consistantly great arm.
At what point does Perez get to say, “Hey, you know, I’m not Roberto Petagine. I’m a good hitter with an established track record. Why am I doing nothing but sitting on the bench?”
Would he get killed by the media for complaining?
Best case scenerio is that he helps us to the playoffs this year and the M’s only throw a couple of expensive years on him instead of 4. The problem is pitching is horrible this year. So unless he completely falls apart over the rest of the year he’ll get his money.
I don’t know if anyone reads this low, but does anyone else feel like we should savor our position right now because it’s the closest we’ll be to the race for the rest of the year? Halliday today, Burnett tomorrow. Then you know who comes next. We could be in for a really ugly few weeks.
One other comment, why did Meche ask to pitch in Yankee stadium?
a) He’s confident, knows he’s pitched well there in the past, and wants to be a team leader
b) He’s a free agent pitcher who wants to catch the eye of a pitching-starved money machine in NY
c) He wants the publicity for free agency in general, and perhaps to catch the eye of a contender for the stretch run
d) He thought Hargrove was the only one more stupid than he was, and might need help counting to five to fill out the rotation
His ERA at Yankee Stadium is really, really good.
So, you’re going with A? I kind of lean toward B.
e) All of the above.
Meche ASKED to pitch in Yankee Stadium? Cite your source, please.
By the way, according to ESPN.com’s transactions wire, the M’s quietly released Jeff Harris from the organization.
#234 – apologies for not putting it in context. I read it in the Seattle PI this morning. The article does not appear on the web site for some reason. I’ll post a link if it shows up.
Here is the text from the article, written by Gary Washburn:
It was an action that describes a pitcher with confidence; one who feels prepared to take over as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Gil Meche walked into manager Mike Hargrove’s office last week and asked to pitch as Yankee Stadium. That meant Meche either needed to wait three days to pitch Monday in the Bronx or start Friday in Toronto and turn around to pitch the series finale in New York on Wednesday against Randy Johnson.
I can’t remember ever hearing about a pitcher who asked to pitch against a team, especially one that is not a division rival. It seems suspiciously self-serving to me.
“It seems suspiciously self-serving to me.”
Huh?
See post #230. I think he wants to use it to improve his impending free agent status more than he wants to do it for the team. I never recall him having a bulldog, “give me the ball” attitude in the past.
Yes, having his ERA go up is in his best interest.
No stream for todays’ game?
Well, DMZ is off on his Butt Busting Bikeride, and the other guys aren’t in this timezone. Between the unusual start time (for a Saturday away game) and it not being televised, it may have flown under their radar…
Plus with Halladay on top of his game, and the Jays being murder on lefties, this promises to be a depressing game anyway.
It’s on TSN in Canada. Halladay looks unhittable. Moyer’s throwing his usual junk but doing well. Without a doubt, Moyer is my favorite pitcher to watch. His baseball IQ is through the roof and he usually doesn’t take much time between pitches.
He’ll enter that game 9-4 3.87 ERA, 27 yrs old, playing for a losing team. All he needs to do is step on the mound to get some attention and discussion. If he doesn’t lay an egg, all the better for him.
I am happy to hear, though, that there are those less cynical than I.
Ibanez in the second deck against Halladay!
Raul knocks in Lopez with his 21st HR — Ms 2-0.
Very nice! MLB.TV is all crapped out today, says its blacked out.. not really sure whatsup with that. Good to see Raul continuing his hot hitting in the second half!
Sexson singles, Carl pops out. Quel surprise.
And Johjima gets a hit — 2 on and 2 out now.
Perez’ homepage at MLB.com says “current status – waived”
A typo surely…?
Maybe Meche is looking to help the team by showcasing himself for a trade before the end of July? He gets traded to a winning team and gets more opportunity to raise his stock for free agency; the M’s get more for the trade than they would otherwise. It’s a win-win.
No, I don’t think he’s thinking that way. But it is another way to look at it. Even if he’s being “selfish” it may also be to the benefit to the team.
And, speaking of today’s game — Raul continues to amaze. This going to be one of those outlier career years that people will use for misleading analogies for years to come…
Um… why isn’t Perez listed on the bench on MLB Gameday???
On MLB.com, Perez is not on the Ms active roster. What gives?
He is listed on the bench on CBS’s gameday…
Nothing on the wires about him bein cut / traded / waived
Does anyone get this game on TV? I can’t find it anywhere on DirecTV, and MLB TV blacks it out for some mythical national broadcast.
I’d really like to peek in the dugout right about now.
John, apparently it is on TV in Canada on TSN, but I am not gettin it on Extra Innings or the blackout MLBTV
I’m watching the game on Canadian TV. I haven’t seen Perez.
I’m wondering why I shouldn’t sue the crap out of MLB for false advertising on behalf of myself and a few zillion other customers. The site says,
“EVERY out-of-market game LIVE”
The customer support taped message says, “All Saturday games before 7 p.m. EST today are blacked out because of Fox Sport’s exclusive right to out-of-market games.”
Maybe the Reds are talking to Bavasi about trading their starting outfield for Perez, Blackley, Mateo, and Pineiro? (One can hope…)
Oh man, if Bavasi waived Perez in order to bring up yet ANOTHER pitcher.. heads need to roll.
258 – Same here, seattle. I was hoping you at least got it in the NW.
Why do I pay for EI and MLB just to be screwed with every other week?
At any rate, I’m hoping CBS has its act together more than MLB and it’s just a mistake not listing Perez.
Jones looked a little lost in CF on that last double.
Great, and as we are discussing this Moyer has begun his “lets give the lead back” game that he has gotten so good at..
Gotta get that bullpen help, ya know…we could throw in a Heathcliff Slocumb baseball card for free
So how many runs has Adam Jones’ inexperience in CF cost the team today? All of them? Add this to the “too soon” side of the equation…
263, I am actually down in Tempe, AZ and its blacked out even with my credit card having my AZ address instead of my WA one.
game over. no way do we put up 5 to win
Ah, and Moyer has completed his mission of giving back the lead.. Good to see he hasn’t forgotten how pitch AWAY from home.. oh, wait.
Fruto
Hernandez
Lowe
Mateo
Meche
Pineiro
Putz
Sherrill
Soriano
Washburn
Woods
Those are the 11 listed pitchers
Plus Moyer and the 9 starters, that’s 21
Bloomquist
Dobbs
Morse
Rivera
So, that’s 25 and no Perez.
Wow… Two runs in the top of the inning, what does Moyer do? Give up a double, HR, double, HR, double… lets hope the pattern stops here
267– you can’t really fault Jones for the HRs though
If Alaska’s blacked out (where I am today) then they’re not joking about the entire country being blacked out. This is the last year I piss away money on MLB, though.
So CBS has Perez and MLB has Morse. Weird that they’d have Jones up to date, but screw up Perez.
Isn’t Morse on the DL?
No, but if he caught those “off the wall” flyballs he gets the outs, and they’re out of the inning. As it is, the men are on base to be RBIs when the HR-hitters come up. We’ll never know, of course, if they would have hit solo shots anyway in their next at-bat, but it’s quite possible they wouldn’t (pitchers tend to be a little less effective with men on base).
Anyone that has it on TV, have you seen Morse in the dugout?
278 Morse is on the DL, that’s the mistake
Well, Moyer still ultimately gives up the HRs. While I will side with you that pitchers are often less effective with men on base, I am not going to say that Jones is faulted for 2 separate HR shots. But I only have GameDay and so I am following the game blind here.
Raul is on fire.
Wow.. raul! haha Take notes sexson / beltre
Sweet Raul
Holy crap, two triples in one inning? Off Halladay?
RAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL!! Is there another player who is so central to his team’s offense?
Raul already with the hardest half of a cycle in the bag…
Beltre! Lopez! Raul!
Right on. Love to see Beltre triple.
And how did Raul triple? Did Vernon Wells get shot?
282 – Raul just took the note from Beltre this time.
It wasn’t even close. Two stand-up triples.
Definitely encouraged to see Beltre triple, Raul with half a cycle and especially making Halladay throw 75 pitches through 4 2/3. Hopefully Moyer doesn’t give up any more HRs (especially to guys who only have 3 in their career before the game started… McDonald)
I’m sure the Morse/DL thing is the mistake… but we still haven’t explained the original question… why does Perez’s mlb homepage list him as waived?
Here comes C-Rex the rally killer…
285- Tejada for Baltimore? Pujols maybe? The Cubs sure have missed Derrek Lee.
Yes
Uggh, John, I think the real question besides that is why does it have Perez as waived and Everett as active.. lord he is a black hole
Swisher for the A’s.
How does C-Rex ground out to center?
Question, from the “pitchers are less effective with men on base” assertion.
We’ve heard about clutch hitting (usually meaning, hitting with RISP); some think it’s real, some think it isn’t. The assumption is that it’s the batter that has control over whether he is ‘clutch’ or not.
What if it is the runner?
Take a guy at the plate, your average batter. There’s a man on first. One scenario, it’s Edgar in his prime. Other scenario, it’s Ricky Henderson.
The pitcher is going to be a lot more distracted with Ricky on base, and is more likely to give up a hit.
Has anyone thought of this?
The backend of the M’s bullpen is stronger than the Jays’s. If the Mariners can chase Hallady soon enough, and somehow get to Soriano without passing through Mateo, they have a shot.
Well, some pitchers seem to be more affected by runners than others. I’ve sometimes wondered if “clutch hitting” is actually “choke pitching.” I mean, it doesn’t really make sense that certain hitters can actually do better when the stakes are higher, but some players certainly can fold under the pressure — and that includes pitchers.
Crap. Remember “Moyer, Safeco-only pitcher”….?
anybody watching this umpire? he’s freakin hilarious. Dude uses any excuse to pull the ball out of play just so he can show off his arm.
YOU’RE AN UMPIRE!!
298: The problem is, it isn’t just the pitcher who’s distracted by Rickey on first. So is the hiter, who also may have to take hittable pitches or swing at less attractive ones to protect the baserunner.
It was a long time ago, but I remember that a study showed that hitting went down substantially in at bats with a steal attempt, whether or not the steal was successful.
Ah good ol Jamie.. Get him off the hook, he wiggles RIGHT back onto it
okay, time for Lowe
I really don’t understand the MLB.tv blackout logic. I live in Los Angeles. Currently on Fox 11 I have I Love Lucy. I want to watch the Mariners play in Toronto. And yet I can’t! This makes no sense to me!
If Jones is going to be a mediocre outfielder, a poor hitter, AND not be fast enough to avoid double plays at the bottom of the order, I’d rather not see him in the lineup. Like it or not, Willie might be the lesser of all evils
Fox doesn’t have baseball on in Seattle either. I don’t know if they’re broadcasting a game later, or they’d rather blackout baseball so they can show exercise infomercials (yes, that’s what they’re airing — I’d rather have I Love Lucy).
It’s only been two games–give ‘im some more time.
On another note, we’re triples-crazy this year. Seems like there’s been a couple every game. (And Ibanez has five!?)
308 In Indiana we have StarGate SG1 on, I believe…not even the Cubs/Mets game, which might make sense.
There goes hargrove again! Why is Moyer still in the game? We’ve got a bullpen for a reason. Put Lowe in!
I don’t think that Hargrove puts a lot of forethought into when he should replace his pitchers. He always seems to react – to things like THAT.
Jesus, hargrove, he’s at 110 pitches… seen enough yet??
Why in the world did Grover leave Jamie in? He’s struggling, he was already over 100 pitches…come ON.
And now he feels that we cannot win this game so he brings in Julio Mateo!!!!
OH yeah. Bring in Mateo, there ya go.
And yet in terms of park effects, Safeco is still ranking below average for triples this year, at 19th in the majors. But that’s way up from past years (29th in 2004, 27th in 2005). Speaking of park factors, Safeco is consistently among the worst in the majors for supressing batting average. You have to wonder whether Ichiro would’ve already nabbed a .400 season if he was plaiying at Coors (which usually lands near the top).
You should all remember that Mateo IS a proven veteran. How dare you criticize Hargrove. He’s forgotten more about managing then you’ll ever hope to learn.
317 I think that the general opinion is that, whatever effects Safeco has on BA overall, it has a very low effect on Ichiro, and this is one of the reasons he is valuable to the M’s
Hargrove’s certainly forgotten a lot about managing, I’ll give you that.
Oh hoo, I smell a contract extension in Grover’s future.
freakin’ game should be tied. Thanks Grover.
RICHIE!
If Grover had only removed Moyer earlier, we could be tied…….argh.
Yes?
Meanwhile, Carl’s given him a tussle. And more than a tussle…HR Big Carl.
HOLY CRAP!! C-REX!! BACK TO BACK BABY!
thatta way, C-Rex!
Once again Grover’s determination to stick with the veterans pays off.
CREX is the best hitter ever!
C-REX! I take everything back I said about you…temporarily.
And now the Bring in Ryan?
And now the real tough part… cracking a run against BJ Ryan
All Crazy Carl/Sexson does is stike out and hit home runs.
Bringing in your closer in a tie game in the eigth? Perhaps Grover isn’t the worst manager in the game?
He learned that move from Grover.
Yeah, you wouldn’t want to waste your best reliever in such a low leverage situation.
Now whatever you do – DON’T TRY TO SCORE ON A SINGLE!
I know its been said before.. but.. How many games in the past two seasons would this team have come back again and again against a guy like Roy Halladay. I’m not sayin they’ve completely turned a corner, but its great to see the determination of this team finally showin some heart as well
So why do we have Perez again? Maybe A-Cab was some kind of locker room cancer?
I’ve got your aggressive baserunning right here, pallie.
Gritty and gutty on the basepaths, just like yesterday.
Ichiro gets to lead of the next inning this way. I like that better… good baserunning!
341.. exactly, allllll good strategy.. yyeaaaa :-\
Nah, still stupid strategy… But if you have to have stupid having the 1-2-3 guys at the top on the inning sounds good to me.
It’s actually not clear that we have Perez, apparently.
Uh-oh, bullpen sighting of the Incredible Chulk
344. The non-usage of him today in the eighth does not help my fright-factor that he is not with the team
Its sad because we all knew he wouldn’t play Perez anyway. This team is going to crash so bad in Sept, if not before. And when they do get to rest Hargrove seems to like resting a bunch of people at once… Great management.
For the love of God Mateo is in against Wells, and Glaus.
Yup, third inning he has pitched in… its not like our bp didn’t have all last week off or anything.
I’m not watching the game, anybody have an opinion on how Jones is looking?
The local broadcast of yesterday’s game didn’t include any post-game coverage. Did anyone dare ask Grover why Perez didn’t go in against the lefties in that game, or was the fact that they won sufficient justification for anything he did?
In Chicago, Fox was showing White Sox post game coverage and then recently switched over to the news. And yet…The Cubs are on WGN, explain that?! Blah…team-owned broadcasts are allowed?
Will be interesting to see how Lowe handles this situation.
Nope. They win quite a few games despite things that Hargrove does.
jones is green but talented. dave et al are probably right on his call. but he does cover ground defensively.
And the reasoning for putting your most inexperienced pitcher into a bottom-of-the-9th tie game is what, exactly?
Lowed backed his ass *down* it sounds like.
I guess they put Lowe in so he could strike out that last batter.
Nice work Lowe! Up and in and then gets him down low.
Because Lowe is a good young pitcher. He’s got the stuff to be in these situations.
#355 For fun?
Whew! What’s our record in extras?
that’s right! nice job Mr. Lowe.
Well, wow. I guess Lowe really can handle these situations. How is it the M’s apparently have three guys who could be regular closers (I’m including Soriano) and yet has to rely on Mateo for long relief and can’t find a rotation?
Because Hargrove is an idiot.
Re: 271
Those are the 11 listed pitchers
Plus Moyer and the 9 starters, that’s 21
Bloomquist
Dobbs
Morse
Rivera
So, that’s 25 and no Perez.
The math was lacking a little in this equation. Moyer was counted twice in your math or Moyer and the 9 starters. Moyer is the ninth starter and I think everyone needs to chill about Perez not being on the roster because he most certainly is on the roster. Bavasi deserves to be questioned, but no GM would do such a thing.
8-12 in Extra Inning games this year
I’m beginning to think Grover manages like Bobby Fischer played chess — he just sees dozens of innings deep, not only this game but into the games coming up over the next few weeks. He moves his players like chess pieces on a great green board. The man is managing beyond the ordinary bounds of time and space.
Or something like that.
Here comes Boom Boom
Its time for a gritty performance now! Bloomie time!
Bunt?
Why was Kenji Bunting? Hopefully that wasn’t from the dugout.
#367 I always thought he managed like two little kids playing tic-tac-toe. Just randomly inserting X’s and O’s.
What the hell is the problem with Hargrove!? BUNTING!? Bloomie on second and one out? What is the point of getting him to third with TWO OUTS? SOO Frustrating
Anyway, using Lowe over Putz in that situation is fine becuase you still have a save opp when you’re not the home team. Since Soriano was used probably too much last night, he’s not really available now. So have Lowe go out there and see how long he can last. If you get the lead, Putz takes over.
Hargrove didn’t botch it this time. Lowe’s got the talent to pitch too.
#371 Where else would that be coming from? I can’t imagine Kenji calling that himself.
grover gave knji the wtf look
He got ‘the look’ for popping up, not for the bunt attempt.
I like Mark Lowe.
could well be
I wonder if we could get Dunn from the Reds for Lowe?
Not sure I’d do that. Dunn would sit on the bench while Everett DH’d.
If Lowe had been brought in when in the 7th, when he should have been, we’d have already won. We just need one big hit. C’mon fellas!
Lowe is looking great out there – a lot of movement on those sliders and some real pop on the fastball…wow.
nice
Wait.. what?!
DOBBS PHing for Jones?! Who’s gonna play CF!?
Did you forget who played 1B last inning?
This game goes on long enough, Ibanez may still have a shot at the cycle.
I don’t care if it is a Canadian broadcast. They still shouldn’t call it “centre field”. Hey, this is the American League, frostbacks.
M’s Record when Ichiro get’s a hit: 40-30
M’s Record when Ichiro is hitless: 4-16
I’ve waited as long as I can. . .I’m high on Lowe.
if we don’t see perez this ininning, there must be a feued between grover and bavasi
One thing about how badly Sexson has been hitting — when Bloomquist pinch runs for him and then ends up batting, you don’t really mind. Much.
Way to get hit Bloomie! Ignite this offense!
I dont know about rather having bloomie up instead of sexson, but with a chance to steal and get in scoring position..
It’s official. Hargrove has brain damage.
392. So, hypothetically, if Ibanez continues to hit lefties this badly, and Snelling once he’s up shows no platoon split, what would it for the M’s to platoon Ibanez with Perez instead of Snelling? They just couldn’t do it, could they? The PR would be too bad, for them, for Ibanez. I don’t think anything would make them.
Wow, a balk called in an M’s game and it’s not against an M’s pitcher?
Hargrove still thinks Everett can hit lefties.
Talk about a waste of losing a prospect for a platoon player thats never platooned.
I don’t think I typed 392, there, if I did, sorry, it was an accident and I wasn’t referring to your comment.
How many times will Bavasi let Hargrove waste his acquisition before he does something about it?
I didn’t say I’d rather have Bloomie batting, I said I didn’t mind when he did. Much. And I’d rather have him get hit by pitches than Sexson.
Is it possible that Perez isnt in fact on the roster right now? Grover has had ample opp. to use him in this game..
This Tallet character is a real gem.
WTF. Hargrove has a serious problem.
But Everett still can’t hit lefties.
396 You could imagine some kind of 3-man platoon rotation among Perez, Ibanez, and Snelling splitting time between LF and DH. You could. I don’t think Hargrove could.
wow…WFB on second and Everett batting with the game o the line…could Ms fans be any closer to heaven?
Gameday viewers just got a little chuckle…
Hargrove must have a man-crush on Everett. I’d say he was promised 10% of Carl’s contract for next year, and safe haven from fans, in return for the option vesting.
I’d almost be ready to root for us to lose this game so that we learn a lesson, except: 1) I can’t, and 2) I have no faith whatsoever that any lesson would be learned from this.
Great, I hope Soriano isn’t too tired, and this doesn’t hurt his arm… No way is he available for a game tomorrow.
Okay, repost:
Gameday viewers just got a little chuckle…
http://www.joshklumb.com/images/wfb.gif
Hargrove must have a man-crush on Everett. I’d say he was promised 10% of Carl’s contract for next year, and safe haven from fans, in return for the option vesting.
On the radio they just said Perez is available.
401: You may be right. He doesn’t show up in the “Reserves” on Gameday.
411 – Well that is both great and discouraging all at the same time. How do you not use a lefty masher like him against these lefty relievers but rather use Everett and Bloomquist with the game on the line!? Frustration sets in..
410 — heh, took me some time to find it. Perhaps that’s why Rizzs likes him so much: Willie has quite the package.
Eww long ABs plus a tired pitcher = not a recipe for success…
Perez? Who is Perez?
Eduardo Perez..
#401 No they would have done some sort of press on him being with his family or something like that if he wasn’t there. Probably played a joke on Everett yesterday so Hargrove is mad that he was picking on his favorite player.
soriano is not good for long today
Funny, TOR just pinch hit for their DH.
418.. Its hard to figure out stuff like that when the game isnt being broadcast, so its definitely good to know they havent said anything regarding it. The fact that his player page on MLB.com says he is waived and him not being put in here is a bit concerning..
Guess it was smart not to use Soriano earlier…
410  heh, took me some time to find it. Perhaps that’s why Rizzs likes him so much: Willie has quite the package.
All right, I cropped it so it should be more apparent now!
I guess if it’s that easy to be hit… there’s gotta be something…
Funny, TOR just pinch hit for their DH.
Grover could learn well from them…
Soriano’s gassed… Has Grover forgotten yesterday?
#423 Finally got it… heh.
soriano does not look like himself, tired or in pain
I am sure Soriano is a bit out of gas after last night… Somewhat thrown to the wolves in this game, Putz might not be far from this game
Couldn’t use Putz because he is the closer…
Soriano is still too good for TOR.
Grover got lucky there. I guess he’s trying to kill our best non-closer.
429, I am well aware he is the closer, but there comes a point when you have to go scrap conventional logic in a 13, 14, 15 inning game. When Grover runs out of pitchers, which may not be far away, Putz is a great option.
soriano RIP
#431 I should have used a sarcasm tag… personally I think the closer should be saved for innings with few outs and lots of people on base to get out of jams. However, I don’t manage a MLB team.
Now we are getting into the fun part of the Toronto bullpen, maybe something good can come of this yet and Putz can be used in a normal Putz situation..
433, my bad haha the joys of only having text
Criticism of Grover always welcome 
Johjima!
Still mad about being pinch run for on that triple no doubt.
I thought their entire bullpen (aside from Ryan) was fun. Just not for us.
I’ve been away from the game for a while (can’t believe it’s still going on). Did we find out what’s going on with Perez?
Come on, Ichiro!
Oh, IBB. Never mind.
well god damn it….
come on beltre!!!!!!!!!
Could you imagine an 0 – 7 game for Ichiro? Thank God they walked him haha
For those of you following on Gameday, Wells ad Eric Hinske just made amazing catches. Yes, that’s right, Eric Hinske.
Apparently according to Buster Olney on BBTN “The Jays have to win this game, teams with experience need to win these games” Oh, well, you heard him.. Guess we HAVE to lose this game.
Bases chucked for the Mariners all-star… Cmon Jose!!
So no word on the whereabouts of Mr. Perez?
448 – Apparently on the radio they said that he was in fact available.. but thats all that I have read
the Jays are at the bottom of their pen….. I like the M’s chances if this keeps dragging on…
I can’t take this anymore, I have to go eat something.
i’m listening on the radio but I’m pretty sure Lopez was hosed at first…
Thanks 449. I can’t believe that inning was foiled by a great catch from Eric Hinske. He’s a bum. That’s almost as bad as an inning ending strikeout from C-Rex batting right handed.
win or lose….. i’m starting to get that tingly feeling in my tummy about the Ms last felt in September of ’03…. this isn’t an automatic loss….the Ms COULD win this game…
452: He was out by 3 feet.
Thank God Grover finally took out Soriano.
I’m 99% sure that Perez is still completely available and on the M’s roster, but I find it amusing (in a painful way) that between Hargrove’s apparent unwillingness to use him and MLB Gameday’s bizarre inclusion of Morse as a Mariners reserve, it might almost seem plausible that Perez got dumped.
Wasn’t Morse DLed? I could be mistaken…
458, thats the prevailing thought in this whole thing, especially since CBS Sportslines gameday has Perez on the roster
Way to go Fruto!
Woohoo Fruto! Gettin Wells to K lookin.. Huge inning, now lets get some runs on the board and get Putz into this ballgame.
458, thats the prevailing thought in this whole thing, especially since CBS Sportslines gameday has Perez on the roster
Right. I thought he (Morse) was DLed less than 15 days ago… I’m not sure about the extent of his injury and capability of returning now, but I was fairly sure he wouldn’t be allowed to anyway.
ANOTHER great situation to use you know who after Ibanez…
Are Perez and Rivera the only options left on the bench? Damn 12 man pitching squads.
Does Hargrove actually realize that he has a better hitting option than Bloomquist in this situation? Maybe he has a copy of the old roster and forgot that Perez was traded for FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION
This is the Jays’ 8th pitcher. How big a pitching staff do THEY have?
Perez! He lives!
how does the crowd thin out in an extra innings game when the home team is in a pennant race and the game is played on saturday afternoon?
No freaking way. Edwardo Perez lives.
no hitting… i hope with a chip on the shoulder
well atleast we now know what it takes to get hargrove to use Perez… its so obvious my 7 year old daughter just suggested the move
OH thank heaven! Theres the end of that debate haha
johjima is japanese for dinger right?
#468: how does the crowd thin out in an extra innings game when the home team is in a pennant race and the game is played on saturday afternoon?
Same thing happened last weekend with the defending world champs.
468: Toronto baseball fans suck. The Ms should have 2 World Series banners hanging at Safeco.
So which one of these guys TOR has thrown out there is a starter?
Pitchers that is.
Apparently batting Perez for Everett was such a shock that CBS Sportsline.com’s gamecast just took a dump in confusion.
if the Ms win this game, ill buy a jersey….
I love this nugget on MLB Gameday:
Defensive switch from designated hitter to designated hitter for Eduardo Perez.
Thanks, I was almost confused there.
Someone please tell me Ibanez should have caught that. Gameday shows it dropping almost where a LF would be stationed.
This is insane.
Hey, I woke up just in time to hear the game end. I fell asleep after the tie.
I should do this for every Ms game.
wtf?
Sad.
well there’s a nugget.
Still, it was a good effort by the bullpen.
The same can’t be said for Hargrove.
Betre should have tried to dive and at least keep the ball in the infield. Looks like he gave up on it.
well…that sucks…. atleast the Reds bullpen is imploding again and Aurilia is about to ground into a doubleeplay to kill a reds rally…
I guess all is right with the world afterall….
Why not walk Benjie in this situation.
and Aurilia shoots and scores…..doubleplay…. he’s money.
Nick in Taiwan,
Send me e-mail and we can get together and watch a game on my slingbox. I will be back in Taiwan during the month of August. My e-mail address is david_at_cherryhill.antiques.com.tw.
David
M’s are now 4-17 in games Ichiro! goes hitless. No more 0 for’s for Ichiro!.
Ah, little Richie.
damn it this games hurts….but at least I feel about the Ms again… thats kind of nice
They put in Perez, and the Ms lost. Ergo, Perez cost them the game.
Ouch, Junior got plunked and Aurilia didn’t take advantage of it. There’s gonna be some steaming in the Reds’ clubhouse.
Ichiro is really struggling. The few hits he has been getting look lucky.
Atleast the A’s are probably going to lose.
They put in Perez, and the Ms lost. Ergo, Perez cost them the game.
Everett wouldn’t have reached on an error. He would have hit a homerun. :rolleyes:
I’m told the MLB EI package is free this week if anyone wants to tune into the Sox/A’s game.
the Ms couldve easily won this…. some hits just didn’t fall and Kenji smoked one that was caught…
and…. beltre to sexson does have more of a ring to it that Aurilia to Hatteberg (this could’ve happened for the M’s)
so, as someone who was surprised to come across a post-game show still on as late as 6, just what happened at the end?
oh, and Meche has always liked pitching at Yankee Stadium, and the ‘bulldog’ attitude is new this year, and supposedly a result of the talks with Hargrove about baseball mindset– he even (successfully) argued to stay in the game a start or so back….
chris23 said:
“The math was lacking a little in this equation. Moyer was counted twice in your math or Moyer and the 9 starters. Moyer is the ninth starter and I think everyone needs to chill about Perez not being on the roster because he most certainly is on the roster. Bavasi deserves to be questioned, but no GM would do such a thing.”
1. Returning some patronization for patronization, here in the American League we have this thing called the designated hitter. Moyer was not counted twice, and *my* math was right. The problem was they had Morse listed instead of Perez, not bad math.
2. No one is freaking out, but it can raise an eyebrow that he is listed as “waived” on his player page. That’s all.