Game 8, Rangers at Mariners
McCarthy vs Ramirez, 1:05 pm.
Standard line-up 1 to 7, but Lopez is batting eighth because Willie Ballgame is getting the start at shortstop. According to Geoff Baker, “Manager Mike Hargrove said Bloomquist is starting in place of Yuniesky Betancourt because Bloomquist needs playing time.”
So, on a day when the M’s are starting hopeful groundball pitcher Horacio Ramirez, they’re benching their elite defensive shortstop and replacing him with a utility infielder who lacks the range to play the position on a regular basis. As a bonus, flyball pitcher Jeff Weaver is scheduled to start on Tuesday. If you want to give Willie a start at shortstop, don’t you think you might want to do it when you don’t have a guy on the mound whose goal is to get as many groundballs as possible?
The M’s acquired Ramirez in large part because of his groundball tendencies. So now, when he takes the hill, they make his infield defense significantly worse “because Willie needs to play.”
Argh.
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Maybe he forgot that Weaver is still on the roster after that last “performance”?
Would be nice if they just skipped him, knowing that if Felix went on Tuesday it would already be 5 days rest. Nothing like maxing the potential out of what you have, eh?
Just noticed that they have back-to-back two-game series in Texas and then Oakland. That’s a little strange, I don’t recall that kind of scheduling recently. I’m sure it has been around, and my brain is just not responding. A four-game series at Texas makes a lot more sense, though.
At a quick glance it looks like (at least some) other teams are doing the same thing. Why make them all play those two short series when you could instead have them all on a four-game series (or three-game with an off day)? It’s not like anyone’s dying, but it’s just really inefficient.
damn, put him at 2nd at least.
Willie needs playing time? Ben Broussard- Proven Major League Starter needs playing time.
Bench Vidro, darn it.
Bloomquist needs playing time??
What about Ben Broussard- Proven Major League Starter.
Let’s give THAT guy some playing time…
nice willie
!!! I don’t know what to say!!!
!!!
First play of the game, Thanks Willie.
And the first play of the game, E-6. Fantastic.
HAHAHHAHAHA wow.. talk about instant hargrove hating gratification!
Willie is THE MAN
Good job Grover.
Looks like Willie’s igniting anouther rally
I can’t believe Blowers said that HoRam needs to “keep the ball down”. I thought Fairly retired.
“Not the greatest of starts….”
oh really…
WFB just had too much grit on the ball
Willie is a good baseball player.
anyone else think that if lofton isn’t on richie would have gotten to the hit through the hole?
those are on you willy, all on you.
There’s a place for Mariners roleplayers when they need playing time..
T
A
C
O
M
A
That bat sure sounded corked.
*wink wink*
Man, that’s a horrible pitch.
Nice groundball there, Horacio.
Ladies and Gentlemen – the first unearned runs allowed thanks to Willie.. cool. (Nasty curve on Tex though!)
It’s Sunday, and this isn’t very christian of me, but I HATE Hargrove.
How many people are at Safeco today? Nine?
groan…
23 – I think I counted 13 before the game started – but I think a few probably left when they realized Willie sucks.
Why isnt THIS game being vroadcast in Oregon..
Cmon offense… say it with me… Take WALKS
At least Willie’s batting ninth.
In Oregon also, it says the game dosent start tell 2 and for the next hour they are playing SMALLVILLE :{
I don’t already feel like this game is over. Haven’t felt like that in this type of situation in a long time.
26- I don’t know but I am getting it on fsn in alaska.
Ichiro!
ICHIRO!
Ichiro!!!
IIICHI FUNK BLAST!
Oregon is getting Womens Softball between Cal and Arizona st LOL
I C H I R O ! ! !
Ichiro!
Now it clicked on….. YES!!
“AND THAT BALL IS BELTRED DEEP TO RIGHT FIELD… but not far enough, and Sosa will make the catch”
ICHIRO!!!!!
Its not on Fox because its on KRCW here in Oregon (Channel 3 on Comcast Cable)
…Vidro?
TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
McCarthy looks down right Weaver-esque
Turbo! now lemme grab a beer and walk the dog.while he runs the bases
Vidro???
Turbo!
VIIIIDRO FUNK BLAST! (wait.. what?!)
what is up with the “funk blast” thing? is it in reference to anything, or just silly?
I love Texas pitching.
Turbo!
WTF???????
Not complaining, but….
Well, that’s a way that Vidro can avoid a groundout.
I don’t think I can handle this much funk in one inning.
That just added 3 months onto the Great Vidro Experiment…
Anyway, 2-0 Ms!
Man, McCarthy just can’t get a break. Even his trip to SafeCo he gives up bombs.
The first ball he hits hard all season, Sims assumes Turbo has “more pop than people give him credit for”
Ichiro and Vidro were about the 2 players I would least expect to hit a homerun today….
Wait, no, Bloomquist is playing…
God bless the Texas defense…
Move that butt, Sexson!
Hit it at Kata!
Nice “double” for Richie.
2 huge breaks. Jeez.
That’s a double? Are you kidding me? Official scoring is such a joke.
AGAIN!
Strange happenings…
De-fense! …..
they gave sexson a double?!?!?!
Kata v. WFB at the Safe tonight!
HAHA oh this is legendary.. this is why we will not be cellar dwellars this year
Man looks like Texas does not want to win today
E-5? Should have been E-3.
Anyone else notice Vidro gasping for air three minutes after a home run trot?
Anyone know why this isn’t on Extra Innings?
Anyone else notice Vidro gasping for air three minutes after a home run trot?
That’s okay. Willie carries oxygen inside his uniform – he’s that scrappy.
I actually kind of like Ramirez. Not that I like the trade now, but he reminds me a little of Washburn (a lefty, with average stuff, who throws strikes). And they aren’t paying him 10 million a season.
Anyone know why this isn’t on Extra Innings?
It’s irritating because it’s on the FSN for Texas but not available to anybody else.
76
Haha. Best Willy B. and “scrappy” usage yet.
Regardless of our opinion on Hargrove as a whole, there is one undisputable fact; with extensive evidence over the years to prove it. And that is this: Hargrove does not comprehend the baseball concept of GB/FB tendencies.
Grit!!
YAY for Willie. He made that look like a really difficult play like Jeter is so good at. Well, I guess that was a really difficult play for him.
i am really startin to like what I am seeing from Horacio.. great breaking stuff, keepin the ball down, first pitch strikes ::knock on wood::
It’s irritating because it’s on the FSN for Texas but not available to anybody else.
Well, that does make it extra irritating. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that the M’s are the most frequently dropped game from Extra Innings. 14 games on, and Seattle miraculously absent.
Bunt!!
If the mariners lose by less than two runs can we count this as a game that Hargrove lost us? We should keep a running tally.
Grit Blast?
Oh well.. gritty line out! (uggh)
Extra Innings has played just 2 Mariners games so far this season. One of them was pushed back until another game was complete (even though there were 6 empty channels). The other was already being played on ESPN.
I’m contemplating asking for my money back.
more like gritty dying quail
has McCarthy thrown the big hook for a strike yet?
Why are the hitting and running when the pitcher was ready to walk Ichiro? Just stupid.
an epic at bat by Ichiro…
He should be standing on first base.
Why doesn’t the pitcher just throw the ball in the dirt, automatic out.
has anyone seen a ballgirl field anything this year?
What an at bat…
They need to going to the wide-angle shot during this at bat. I’d like to be able to see pitch location.
Good thing it’s not Vidro on base (like Vidro can get on base) or he’d have been wheeled off for an IV by now, with all that shuttle running.
now THAT was gritty
Hargrove must be smiling iside that cold, black heart of his…
If we can clone Felix – can we also clone Kata and put him at every position on every AL West team?
Found the “‘Funk Blast’ as home run call for Sexson” origin:
http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/6449117p-5745737c.html
If that doesn’t prove it’s impossible to walk Ichiro!, then I don’t know what further proof is needed….
I say we turn this game into a communist witch hunt…
97 should say,”They need to stop going to the wide-angle shot…”
Sad how that at-bat ate more pitches than a pair of innings in several previous games.
McMarthy!!!
Kata is one helluva 3rd basemen. I don’t know if he just sucks, or has had some tough plays.
c’mon Beltre!
Defense is soooooo overrated.
Ha! another one.
if richies was a double that has to be a hit.
Good Lord, the Rangers look beyond awful.
KATAAAAA!
Kata is out-gritting WFB 3-1
Ole!
Another Kata base hit…
3-0 Ms!!!!!!!!!!
Come on Vidro, hit into the DP.
I’m getting a pretty good feeling about today.
I thought Blalock was a GG caliber defender at third base.
So I think McCarthy may be ready to have Kata tried and executed for treason now…
concerning Vidro, have you ever see a major leaguer who looked more like a softball player?
#121 – I’m surprised Blalock didn’t manage to field that one from the bench. He sure couldn’t have done any worse…
Turbo!
Turbo!
Hell yeah!!
Turbo-licious!!!
Vidro!!!????!!!!!!
Vidro! Again!
Turbo twofer!
VIDRO!
TUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
When you hit the ball hard enough… you don’t have to run…. Turbo!
No way.
Professional hitter.
Turbo CHARGED
Another Turbo Funk Blast???
I’m suddenly developing a nightmare: the Ms have the Dream Season, win the World Series…and we have Hargrove and Willie for the next 17 years.
Vidro?!?!?!?!
No double play!
I refuse to believe this is a real game… where is the snow to give a mulligan?
6-0 Ms!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turbo OPS = instant respectability…
WTF 2?????????
I think turbo figured out how to get out of running the bases. But hey whatever works.
This is like Bavasi’s offseason wet dream. Vidro with 2 HRs, Ramirez pitching through WFB errors. If only Guillen homers today and guns someone out with his surgically repaired arm then we can officially call this Bavasi Day 2007.
What the hell is going on?
139-
What? I would gladly let Hargrove manage the club and Willie play 30 games a year for the next 17 years if they won a World Series this year. No question.
The Yankees YES Network has all runners caught steeling sponsered by an auto anti-theft device. Isn’t New York great?
I went for a long walk, came back in time to see Turbo’s second homerun and apparently that was enough of a novelty to crash the server.
And if the M’s win the World Series, there’s no way that can be a nightmare
nice running catch by Guillen anyway…
148-
You use a much higher discount rate than I do.
Wow, Jeter with his 6th error today – who does he think he is – Matt Kata?
Jose Vidro – total bases, first 7 games: 4
Jose Vidro – total bases, first 2 innings of today’s game: 8
He raised his slugging percentage from .143 to .400 in two at-bats.
are they trying to get me to turn the game off with these camera angles?
Are Yankee fans upset with Jeter?
I wonder what they would be doing to A-rod.
OK I just walked into the room, and I might be going crazy but…did they just play Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” as Johjima’s walk up music?
huhh??
It sounded like the part where theres no real lyrics, just “Oh! Oh! OOHHHHH!”
Looked safe on my digital view.
Just loved Rico on the radio telling us that his favorite part of school was “lunch.” Simple humor, always the best.
That’s an amazing throw.
safe: adj. baseball A runner is safe when his foot reaches the base before the tag.
He’s had two of those throws today.
he made just about the exact same throw on richies “double”. had further to run that time though.
He was still safe.
Looks like grit runs in the family:
Andy Hargrove has scored twice to get Wisconsin back into their game.
For anyone else that cares: I called DirecTV, they blame MLB and specific teams for which games don’t get shown on Extra Innings. I left a message with a Marcie Watson (I think) with the M’s front office, asking what their policy is on Extra Innings games. I’m hoping for a good explanation next week: the M’s are why I pay the rather exhorbitant price for Extra Innings.
I have to imagine how good that double play of Ichiro’s was, just now.
I just noticed that 8 of the 9 guys in today’s lineup have BA’s over .200! This 2007 version of the Texas Rangers has been berry berry good to the Mariners.
Ichiro! has simply taken over this game.
Ichiro…a poor man’s Rickie Henderson…
166: It was good but unspectacular; ran to catch but sort of lobbed to 2B (didn’t have to hurry).
Turbo!!!
Wow, infield hit by Vidro is mildly shocking.
What are Ichiro’s HOF chances assuming another 3 quality years before mortality sets in?
Looks^H^H^H^H^HSounds like Ichiro is trying to stoke a fire. Leadoff homer, bunt single, stolen base… shaking off some cobwebs.
I’m sorry, but if you can’t throw out Turbo on a little chopper, you should retire.
Did Turbo just have an infield single???
I think we’re in Bizarro world.
NOW i have seen it all… Turbo with 2 dongs AND an infield hit?!
simply incredible.
What in the world is going on. Turbo just got an infield hit?!?!
I think the first base coach must’ve held out a sandwich for him or something.
Ibanez messin’ with the run expectancy table!!!!!!!!
Those two hits which diddnt make it past the mound really came back to bite the Rangersin the ass.
173: I think if Ichiro gets past 2000 hits in 10 seasons he a very good chance.
Kata with another own goal…Man, other people’s embarrassments are fun to watch…
This is the worst defensive performance by one player I’ve ever seen.
*cough* rbi single?
Seriously, I thought Blalock was one of the better fielding thirdbasemen.
That train whistle got me through grad school…
187: Blalock is not at third.
That’s not Blalock.
He can’t do much from the bench.
This is sad.
But in a good way.
that was an angry, angry throw by loe.
How many bad defensive plays can Texas commit.
That throw has been building up inside for the last 20 pitches….
Whatever is infecting Kata is spreading
What was the injury delay about?
Pitcher throwing errors to any base but home plate is pretty common.
are*
sorry Hank Blalock
Kata is out-igniting Wee Willie.
What was the injury delay about?
Loe stabbed Kata for infecting him with bad fielding.
187, 189, 190, 191, 200, I was watching with the sound off, I guess they’d have done better to play him today
Holy cats.
Mariners RS: 28
Mariners RA: 35
If this game were over now, it’d be 38-37.
Well, now Ho-Ram (lol “Ho Ramming…”) made it 38-38…
The jury on Blalock’s leather is pretty much still out though isn’t it…I mean, I’m not sure he’s necesarily as good as his reputation…
Quick check to see if that bat was corked.
Holy crap! just turned on the game and it’s 10-2, Vidro 2 dingers????? We’re not in Kansas anymore…
No doubt Grover will take WFB’s performance today as proof that he simply needs more playing time.
Yanks just tied it with the A’s. Mariners pulling ahead of the pack already.
By the way, Rich Harden was just pulled in the 7th due to a possible shoulder injury. Not much word on his condition yet, but he was pulled after a leadoff double by A-Rod with only 87 pitches thrown.
In Texas on a 100 degree day and a breeze blowing out, Turbo would have 3 HR
So many of his hits just die in the LCF area.
BTW, those Mariners bloggers over at another blog that is not allowed to be mentioned on this site tried to say that Felix’s lack of success last year at supressing homeruns was a clear indication that groundball tendencies were not more desirable. I believe the erroneous term was “groundballing was not the third true outcome”. At the time, I said to them “Chien Ming Wang says ‘hi’.” Well, add Horacio Ramirez to that list.
Three walks, one strikeout, and groundballs. Of course, his groundball:fllyball ratio is 6:8 in this game, but we have a guy who sucks at not walking people and sucks at striking out people. That’s all he’s got left.
Groundballs not the true third outcome? I beg to differ.
Louder – 2 home runs in back to back innings AND an infield hit! History.
damn, nevermind I need to pay attention
Nay, the Yankers are ahead of the A’s now.
Much as I’d like to see the Yanks lose, I don’t mind seeing the A’s buried another game deeper in the cellar.
Kata left some of his mojo at 3rd this inning.
That play was Kataesque.
That was Sexson’s error.
Beh… Adrian stlll picks it better then anybody else in the AL.
No way, Virdo got an infield hit!?! Did Grover hide some chocolate under first?
sure seems like Ibanez has been busy this weekend.
What a great game so far. Hopefuly it continues.
I absolutly love the FUNK BLAST!! Lets keep it going all year. Go M’s!
in the A’s/NYY game, Harden was tossing a shutout in the seventh, felt something tweak, threw some warmup pitches, felt okay, gave up a laser double to A-rod, was pulled after 93 pitches, Joe Kennedy sucked his way to 3 runs.
Isn’t it time to bring Betancourt in as a defensive replacement?
AAAA line for Ramirez
6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 8:9 GB:FB, on 106 pitches
Damn, it missed Chuck Armstrong.
Do you think Mateo can hold them?
I hope those five runs are enough.
Nice inning Julio.
zowie, where’d that offense come from?
232: Turbo.
A-Rod just hit a 410 ft flyball out, scored Damon from third, 4-2 yankees
Bruce Chen is not very good.
I love K-Jo.
Man, is he hot.
‘My Hero’ by the Foo Fighters for Bloomquist? Really?
Jojima’s OPS is over 1.200 right now…
Chen has been overrated since his Atlanta days.
Willie actually walked!
Wow…….walking Willie Boom-Boom to get to Ichiro? Ok.
willie works a walk
240: HoRam has been overrated since his Atlanta days.
Man, listening to white people try to clap rhythmically is painful.
Every time they play that “Getting To Know You” Oscar Hammerstein song I expect to see Deborah Kerr waltzing out to the mound in a hooped skirt…
That might be a big enough lead to put Woods in.
now, that I’d pay to see.
BELTRED!
Boom! Beltre!
4 hits for Ichiro today. Who was that idiot saying that Jones was a better player yesterday. Some guy going by Louder.
Beltre, Funk Blast!
Homer, Now we can put anyone in.
Beltre’d!
Wow, that Oakland A’s offense has been just pathetic today.
And their post-starter bullpen pitching, too.
Chavez, Crosby, and Walker coming up in the bottom of the 9th, and by that time they may have to score 4 runs to win, not just 3.
Runners on first and third Beltre homers and Sims says add 2 more to the tally.
BELTRE!!!
beltre!! FUNK BLAST!
I’ve been saying it for the last week:
Ladies and Gentlemen: GOOD BELTRE IS HERE…
Who said Bloomquist should play at second?
A curse upon their house!
RE: Oakland/NYY game: Nah, the score is still 4-2 Yanks.
And I meant to say “post-starter (slash) /bullpen pitching” (trying to make sense again)
M. Rivera in to get a save for NYY…
Oooh, oooh! Mr. Kata! Mr. Kata!!!!
I guess Hargrove thinks Putz needs the work, but it seems a waste to use him in this situation.
Very nice game for Mateo today, of course we took any pressure he had off him during the 7th.
This game is just a South Kitsap grad Funk Blast away from perfection!!
A’s/NYY game: I can’t believe Geren is letting Scutaro bat (.050 BA).
off day tomarrow, weaver on tuesday(no chance of a save sit), felix on wednesday (felix goes nine)
might as well get putz some work not gonna need him till thursday at the earliest.
Damn! Scutaro hit a walk-off HR!!!!!
The Yankees LOOOOOOOOSSSEEEE!
Scutaro just hits a 3R HR in bottom of ninth with 2 outs, 0-2 count off of Rivera, down 2, to win the game and beat the Yankees!!!
Beat me to it.
Geren looks like the smartest man alive right now.
Oddity in the Game Graph Today:
Johjima -.043 WPA
Bloomquist -.043 WPA
While Kenji is 3 for 4.
Ohh, Brossard sighting!
Man, Adam Jones is owning the PCL … .400/.479/.620. And 6 walks, 9 Ks. I love to see a player develop like he has.
Mariano Rivera: Blown Save, L.
Seems like that Scutaro guy has a lot of ‘in the right situation’ hits. Don’t wanna use the word ‘clutch’, but… man…
Homer by A’s pulls out victory. Crap!
screw you rivera
Scutaro’s HR, just hit the foulpole, A-Rod didn’t even turn around and look, he just dropped his head.
Rivera today: -.903 WPA
That’s tossing gasoline on the fire.
God I love to see Rivera hammered
Ouch @ Rivera.
Rich Harden has shoulder stiffness.
Why is Putz only throwing fastballs?
Try going up the ladder on him, Putzie…
Nice way to wrap up the game…
…A little higher than THAT, Putzie! Geesh.
Man Kinsler’s off to a hot start.
seriously, I’m not a fan of this “not throwing my best pitch” strategy. Does he have an injury that they are actually expecting to heal while he’s out there pitching, such that at one point he will be able to throw the splitter? I can’t see someone who goes out there and throws as hard as he can for 15 pitches every other night healing anything.
5-3!
M’s win!!!
Not a record setting number of pitches in this game — 329 (174 for Texas vs. 155 for Seattle) — but it sure seemed to take a long time.
Re Putz,
9 run lead, didn’t get all his work in during spring training…
I’m not worried. He hasn’t even had a save situation yet and Putz has been notorious for not giving it his all when he’s not in a save situation. He did this a lot last year too during “mop up” and “getting his work in” appearences.
He still is missing bats at a good rate.
Anyone watching the Ottawa/Pittsburgh NHL game? An Ottawa player just took a vicious hit, it looks like he might be paralyzed. I haven’t seen him move since he went down. Just awful. I hope to God I’m wrong.
High-scoring games tend to take longer than low-scoring games.
214: Dave has been doing those “belted” popups to shortstop since 1977.
It was probably a concussion, Dylan, according to ESPN/NHL.
(phew)
M’s RS-RA: 42-41.
Took winning 3/4 to get back from the hole Weaver (etc.) put them in. Wonder how far down they’ll be after Tuesday.
295, Yes I saw that. Thank goodness, that looked terrible.
Awesome game this afternoon; lucky enough to catch most of it on the radio as I went about Sunday’s business. If Vidro can just do that a couple times a week the M’s are going places!
Last night during the Sonics/Blazers game Kevin Calabro noted that he hoped the M’s would do well this week for the sake of Chuck Armstrong. He said Armstrong “worked so hard” and that he “lived and died” on how the M’s are/were performing. I can’t see it. If true, after the past two seasons he’d be decomposed by now.
M’s are looking good against the West so far. Woot!
I think “The West is looking poor against the Ms so far” would be more accurate.
Another classic Ichiro quote:
Dude, whatever ice cream that is, hand out two scoops to everyone.
High-scoring games tend to take longer than low-scoring games.
That’s certainly true. Detroit and Toronto played a 2 hour 14 minute game the other day. It was 10 innings (Halladay threw a complete game).
#299:
Glass half full/half empty… Both outlooks may be true; while I choose to look on the bright side, some dwell in the gutter.
There’s a fair anmount of sabremetric simulations that say that the AL West is unlikely to have a world-beating team in it this year (think the 2005 NL West). The Rangers won the 1996 AL West with 88 wins, and this might be another year where 85-90 wins takes it all.
So far, I haven’t seen anything that makes me disagree with that assessment. A Mariners team that’s .500 (or even a bit below) when it’s everyone but Felix on the mound and wins 75-80% of the Felix starts has got a DEFINITE shot in that environment- if you figure the M’s go 24-8 when Felix is on the mound, that becomes 89-73 when wedded to a .500 record in the other games.
Did anyone else see spit flying of one of Chen’s pitches? I think he was facing Bloomy. He threw some kind of breaking pitch, and I could of swore gobs of spit were spiraling off of it. Does anyone know where to get yesterday’s game footage? I guess, either way it didn’t really ‘help’ him. He got shelled shortly after that, but I thought, in light of Zumsteg’s breaking news on K-Rod-’less’, we might as a Mariner fan base, keep our collective eyes open for this stuff. Especially, if it is happening against us…
If Feliz himself goes 18-6, the rest of the team just has to go two games over .500 to get to 88 wins. Can’t see that as impossible (maybe not likely, but it’s doable…).