Game 117, Mariners at Rangers
DMZ · August 13, 2006 at 4:00 pm · Filed Under Game Threads
5:05, radio only, because why would anyone want to watch an evening game featuring Felix Hernandez against Kevin Millwood? Errrghhhh.
RF-L Ichiro
SS-R Betancourt
3B-R Beltre
LF-L Ibanez
1B-R Sexson
DH-L Broussard
C-R Johjima
2B-R Willie “The Ignitor” Bloomquist
CF-R Jones
Texas responds with
CF-B Mathews
SS-R Young
LF-R Lee
1B-B Teixeira
3B-L Blalock
RF-R DeRosa
DH-L Stairs
2B-R Kinsler
C-R Barajas
So let’s play the “swap ‘em or not” game: which of the Texas guys would you trade for their Mariner equivalent, contract included? And it’s not Kinsler-Bloomquist, consider Kinsler-Lopez for the sake of having to think at all.
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RF – Ichiro
CF – Matthews
LF – Lee
3B – Blalock
SS – Betancourt
2B – Lopez
1B – Teixeira
C – Johjima
Blalock isn’t great, but lefty power to righty power in Safeco is nice, and he’s cheaper. I like Beltre for defense and talent, but I like Blalock for lefty-ness and contract. I’d want Wilkerson on the team too, as long as he’s healthy (and right now, he’s not.) I might take Ibanez over Lee too, based on contract, as Lee is going to be tough to re-sign and Ibanez is had for 2 more years at decent gettings.
Actually, what am I smoking. Give me Adam Jones over Matthews, if we’re thinking longterm. Just this year, Matthews.
That’s interesting. Beltre’s 27, hitting .264 .329 .437 this year, following a x/.304/.427 collapse last season. Blalock’s 25, hitting .288 .346 .429 this year following a x/.318/.431 collapse last season — and those are raw Arlington numbers for Blalock.
Texas heat + ESPN blackout rules =
1. Ichiro- RF
2. Young- SS
3. Teixera- 1b
4. Beltre- 3b
5. Lee- LF
6. Broussard-DH
7. Johjima- C
8. Lopez- 2b
9. Jones- CF
That would be a beast of a lineup
Teixera would give the M’s a great lefty bat in Safeco against right-handers.
Ichiro, Young, Texieria, Lee, Broussard, Johjima, Matthews, Beltre, Lopez– with DeRosa replacing Bloomquist as the “Super”-sub.
At least DeRosa’s not pounding on our pitching staff, he can offer us all false hope that Willie will slug .500 someday…
At least WHEN….
Check this out. I was look at sportsillustrated.com’s page on the Mariners. It lists Washburn as the team leader in ERA (which is kind of sad), but what’s sadder is he’s still in his Angels uniform.
I meant “looking” by the way. I type english good.
I feel like a voice in the wilderness on this subject, but Teixeira has been a mediocre hitter on the road for most of his career — until this year, in fact (when suddenly he sucks at home). Over the previous three years, his line on the road is .253/.334/.454. I don’t want to pay a bunch of money to put that hitter in Safeco, even if he is left-handed. I may be all wet, but he sure looks to me like a guy whose value is seriously magnified by Arlington.
[Pineiro]
#11, Sexson is tied for the 26th highest salary in 2006 ($13m). Teixeira is not even in the top 100 highest paid players (around $6 million).
If there were any justice, the Dodgers would be beating down the Giants 15-0 while Millwood and Felix were working on perfect games.
Imagine it — a Harvey Haddix sort of incredible game, and no video of it. The lack of video to launch a thousand Skip Bayliss columns.
I don’t know enough about the Texas players to evaluate their worthiness compared to specific M’s. However, I will say Scraps (comment #11) makes a valid point. Any position player the M’s consider acquiring needs to have demonstrated that he can handle Safeco, or at least present good reasons for one to think he could. Arlington and Safeco are at opposite ends of the spectrum as parks. A pitcher who does well in Safeco or similar parks could be a disaster in Arlington (Chan Ho Park, anyone?), and the opposite is true for hitters. I’d be much less concerned about a Detroit player, since Comerica and Safeco are much more similar. By the same logic, I am very suspicious of any NL players coming to the AL who haven’t demonstrated that they can play in the AL.
How is no television coverage possible in the year 2006, with division rivals no less?
13: Teixeira will make more money than Richie soon enough.
I wouldn’t trade Beltre for Blalock, though, contract or not. I’d rather pay too much for a better player. If you save the money on Blalock, you’re putting a worse player at third with no guarantee that the money you spend elsewhere will amount to much.
How is it that there’s no TV coverage and yet I get Rick Rizzs?
Maybe if we all misspell his name he’ll go away.
Is it possible to make an anagram of Rick Rizzs? I don’t think so.
The internet anagram server agrees that Rick Rizzs has no other uses.
why the hell is the game blacked out on mlb.tv?
The internet anagram server agrees that Rick Rizzs has no other uses.
“Other”?
USS Mariner anagrams of note
MANURE SIRS
SMEAR RUINS
EARN US RIMS
UM, SANER SIR
MINUS REARS
DAVE!! Oh thank God
Bud Selig has screwed up a lot of things on earth, but blacking out a Felix start? He’s now crossed the line.
At least there is some pre season football on NBC to occupy us.
Pre season football? Ugh, I might as well go clean the gutters out and cut the grass.
Could you write a chapter on John McGraw? Because that would help me out a lot.
RF Ichiro
SS Young
1B Teixeira
LF Ibanez
C Johjima
3B Beltre
DH Broussard
2B Lopez
CF Jones
I’d definitely take Ibanez over two months of Carlos Lee. The closest one to me is Lopez-Kinsler. It’s hard to be as excited about J-Lo as I was during the first half of the year, when he hasn’t hit a homer since the beginning of June. I ended up taking Lopez because he’s a year and a half younger.
One interesting thing I found while looking at BP’s stats is Michael Young’s FRAA is through the roof this year. I just looked at his defensive win shares and they’re also pretty high. Are both these metrics as unreliable as people say they are (and if so, are there any more reliable readily available ones I can look at), or has he really turned it around in the field? If it’s real then he’s a legit MVP candidate.
Benuardo!!!
Pretty lively thread today.
Wasn’t it the Polo Grounds where the third base coach found the electronic buzzer buried on the field that let the Giants coach signal to the bench what the signs were? Or was that the Baker Bowl?
I wouldn’t use FRAA or Defensive Win Shares if you paid me.
How does Felix look today? All I can surmise from watching on Gameday is that he got a bit wild that last inning and made a mistake to Matthews..
Felix’s fastball is high and his curveballs are hanging.
He’s keeping Jones busy.
Watching on mlb.tv in England.
It’s 2am
MLB.tv is decent coverage, today, though we’re missing all the on-screen graphics. So I need to keep Gameday open to keep track of the score or the count.
Felix’s fastball is high and his curveballs are hanging.
In the show, they woulda ripped you!
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist the Bull Durham reference.
Did Matthews make some sort of splendid catch on Beltre’s flyout? Gameday shows that the ball went over the wall.
Doyle: 1-3, with a HR in the first inning, today in Portland. Also got hit by a pitch and attempted a diving catch, but got up quickly after both.
Wow. Matthews really made up for gloving one over the fence the other night.
Beltre gave him a good long look there, and he wasn’t smiling.
Lesson of the night: TV, not good matchups, drives the majority of game thread activity.
Ah, super, Felix shelled…and the nadir has officially been reached.
So when is Reed back from that broken wrist?
And anyone think there’s still an outside chance of a September call-up for Doyle (not that Hargrove will use him)?
On second thought, with the M’s poised to move a crowd-pleasing EIGHT games out, aren’t at last due for a “play the kids” message from the management?
Matt Stairs, that speed demon from way back, scores easily from third on a wild pitch by Felix.
7-3.
*sigh*
pull felix, please.
If Felix is pitching poorly, I don’t haven’t noticed many other reasons to cheer for him. Aside from his arm and his jersey, I’m not sure he brings much to the table. Not that those aren’t enough when he’s going well.
And DMZ, if you’re totally bored, you could answer the email I sent you guys a couple days back. If you’re really, really bored.
DMZ, to be quite honest, I think lack of TV + Sunday night + gorgeous weather = lack of much game thread posting.
Yup, I meant to say don’t haven’t. That’s how I roll.
Good lord, this has been a depressing game. What was the point in hanging Felix out there for 117 pitches in 100 degree heat? Was Grover too tired to make the long walk out to the mound?
48. Depressing *series* is more like it.
And Texas is the number THREE team in this division, and they’ve beat the Ms like a drum for the entire four games of this series.
Let’s see: the M’s used to be an offensive powerhouse, until they moved to Safeco Field, where the emphasis moved to pitching and defense. They haven’t shown much of either in this series.
I sure hope they have some sort of plan to address their pitching shortcomings in the offseason. As has been pointed out by the guys who run this site time and again, pitching, pitching, pitching.
Felix’s year is starting to become a solid diaappoinment. He hasb’t been awful (though this game…). Overall, decent. But well short of what I expected or hoped.
With Beltre’s and Sexson’s numbers to this point, I’m amazed we’re only four games below .500.
I’ve been questioning the appropriateness of rushing Felix to the majors all year. Also, he looks out of shape to me.
He was fabulous when he was brought up last year, so it wasn’t unreasonable to figure he was ready. But he’s been mediocre or bad most of this year (or so it seems).
I’ve been questioning the appropriateness of rushing Felix to the majors all year.
What the hell else was he going to do in Tacoma? He was destroying AAA ball. What would another 30 starts against Hiram Bocachica do for him?
Also, he looks out of shape to me.
That is true. And he’s still learning how to pitch, rather than throw. But the hype machine was out of control, honestly. He’s damn good, and a winter of weights and instruction will make him that much better.
Don’t make me call Dave in here to remind you all how un-bad Felix has actually been.
Way to go, Kenji.
It’s true, Felix really hasn’t been all that bad. I just looked up his season stats (before tonight’s game actually fewer hits than innings). But the lousy games like this stick in the memory.
I was pretty set to believe he was going to dominate this year.
So… each time the M’s get within a game of .500 they roll over, play dead and let their opponents tickle their tummies…
What’s up with that?
Is there a way to rent a time machine and trade tonight’s triple by Dobbs (while were down by six) for a single last night, with the tying run on second?
Dobbs got a TRIPLE?
Coupled with Bloomquist’s double the other night, the proof is incontrovertible: Arlington *is* a launching pad.
#56, can we coin a new phrase: “Seattle being Seattle?”
It’s what you do with mice when you know you’re getting dish of IAMS at 5 p.m.
Ball game. Sweep.
I just want the broadcasters to stop talking like we’re still in it. Baseball Prospectus had their playoff probability at
Silver lining alert: this series ought to be just another nail in the coffin of Mike Hargrove’s career as Mariner manager.
Dan Rohn still in the wings? Hope so!
There were a lot of positives in this series.
63. Yeah, if your name is Gary Matthews, Jr.
62 — Exactly. 7 straight losses to division rivals should be enough to get him axed.
56. So true. We need Carl Everett power. wooo
Hargrove and Bavasi need to go, the benefit of mlb.com is that you get to hear the other announcers make fun of Hargrove’s decision to play for a bunt when Mike Young is at bat with zero outs and runners at 1st and 2nd
67. I think Bavasi’s done a pretty good job of rebuilding a club and a farm system that was destroyed by first Woodward and then Stand Pat.
But we agree on Hargrove.
I agree, but he hired Hargrove and continues to stand by the GROVER, needs to go.
Personally, I think there should be a rule that you can’t pinch hit with your #1,3,4,5, and 6 hitters.
“why would anyone want to watch an evening game featuring Felix Hernandez against Kevin Millwood”
well, as someone coming at it from the other end, and just getting the “highlights” after the fact, I guess I vote for not watching this one….
oh, and we are writing off Felix? puhlease.
How’s this for a little misery pileon?
Ichiro: .324/.374/.412
Cirillo: .323/.379/.418
USS Mariner Anagram:
Rise, Mr. Anus.
#40:
Actually, it’s:
a) Jim Thomsen on endless flight layover;
b) David J. Corcoran on seemingly endless hangover.
Sigh.
On a brighter note, my favorite personal anagram:
Amoral He-Nun.
I hate times like these, Just lost the last 7 games against division rivals and got 7 more coming up.
Well, this seems a little appropriate.
The Mariners chances of getting in the playoffs are basically ending as the Seahawks season gets set to begin and as I get ready to go to college Thursday morning.
I guess if there is one thing we’ve learned from seeing this team play this season, and one thing we will learn during the last 45 games of this season is that this team is getting better and making progress.
But if this team wants to be perenial pennant contenders again in the next couple of years, there are going to be some tough decisions the Mariners will have to make as an organization.
It will start this offseason as the Mariners will likely look for successors for Grover and Bill Bavasi, and don’t forget how 2 Mariners pitchers (Moyer and Meche) face free agency at the end of the season and how Pineiro is eligible for arbitration, but of course anyone with common sense knows his days as a Mariner are numbered.
So the Mariners are basically looking at needing 3 starting pitchers, a manager, and a general manager for next season.
Seems like a lot to do, but if the Mariners are committed to winning like they say they are and if they don’t want to lose any more business to the Seahawks, then obviously these changes will have to be made swiftly and quickly.
I guess that’s what rebuilding (or being a “team in transition”) is about sometimes.
Making tough choices to get better.
The Mariners will more than likely stagger to 75 wins this year and draw about 2.4 million fans.
They will now have 2 choices to make.
They can accept the mediocre or they can pony up with the payroll a little bit to get the best starting pitching possible and immediately after the season start to find a new manager and GM.
Taking risks is something pretty foreign to the Mariners.
Just take a look at the winter of ’04 for example, the M’s could’ve signed Miguel Tejada and/or Pudge Rodriguez, and yet, they went with Rich Aurilia and Scott Speizio.
Ouch.
The M’s are defenitely at a crossroads right now as this team has gone from a 100 loss team in 2004 with aging players to almost a .500 team with young talent in 2006.
Not bad, but not good enough.
And with Ichiro among other players facing free agency next year and people that were fans of the Mariners in, oh, 2001, now turning over their allegiance to the Seahawks, the time to act is now.
Well, what are you waiting for Howard Lincoln? Why are you still reading this? Time is wasting.
Go fix that starting rotation, go get a new manager (Lou Pinella, please!), go get a new general manager, go restore the faith of Mariner Nation everywhere before we become a second tier franchise, go out and try and WIN.
Just thinking ahead…..
Saw this on benmaller.com today.
“Toronto initially proclaimed Eric Hinske as the foundation for rebuilding, but he since has been bounced from third to first to the outfield to a backup role and has a $5.626 million guarantee for next year, which makes him a definite albatross. The Jays would pick up part of the salary to get rid of him.”
Hmmmmm… we sure could use a guy like that huh?
#73…Cirillo is only a part-time player so that’s not a good sample.
I think it’s time to put most of the team on waivers and trade some of the veterans away..adios Sexson, Ibanez, Bloomquist, Moyer, Joel, etc. See what kind of mid-tier talent we can get in return..Bloomquist might fetch a can of sunflower seeds though if even. At this point I think it’s time to call up the kids and let them play out the rest of the year, bring up Bazardo, Snelling, etc.
9 games back is an impossible albatross to climb back from..1995 was 11 years ago..GET OVER IT!! It will never happen again!
This is only the beginning of a 20 GAME LOSING STREAK!!
I will go on record to predict that the Mariners will finish 6-38 the rest of the year. (The six wins coming against TB and KC.)
oh, Preston Wilson could be available but not a big deal now since there’s nothing to play for but meaningless games.
Oh the Royals swept the Red Sox so they will most likely steamroll the Mariners….ok so make it 2-42, the rest of the year…Yay!!!
1. Lou is not coming back. Just stop it. And it is Piniella.
2. The various players have likely all been on waivers since the process began, just like every other team in baseball.
#83 – Agree.
Besides, who is going to want Joel for the stretch run, unless its KC trying to solidify their chances for the #1 draft pick.
I think we are stuck with the team “as is” until September callups.
Once the season ends there will (should) be major changes. I think more so than even the last couple of off seasons I am curious to see where the front office will go. It’s obvious we need starting pitching, but will they be creative and maybe trade a few pieces for some or to move extra salary? Will they move the fences? Who will be the new manager?
Now that we are pretty much D.O.A. I am looking forward to this offseason of mystery and all the blogging about the M’s moves bemoaning or praising each one.
Oh, and what’s up with that Mariners Revolution blog? Did Bill Bavasi run over that guys dog or something. That guy is seriously angry.
78 – Lou would be a TERRIBLE fit for this team. It’s like all the homers who wanted Griffey back have jumped on the Lou wagon now. 1995 is OVER people.
80 – Hinske’s been having a decent year, actually, and there’s only one year left on his contract. And he’s a lefty.
We’ve done worse.
#85– not to mention Lou wants nothing to do with a rebuilding team