Game 16, Mariners at A’s
Dave · April 25, 2007 at 6:56 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Washburn vs Blanton, 7:05 pm
Standard M’s line-up. A’s go Stewart-Ellis-Chavez-Piazza-Crosby-Johnson-Buck-Kendall-Putnam.
Blanton owned the Mariners last year, and pitched well against them earlier this season even while giving up four runs in six innings. The M’s offense is still pretty terrible.
On the other hand, the A’s have approximately four healthy players, and their offense is likely the worst in baseball. This game could last all of about two hours and end 1-0 without either pitcher breaking a sweat.
So 10-8 A’s?
I don’t think this A’s line-up could score 10 runs if they were given 6 outs per inning.
They have got to figure Blanton out. someday. don’t they?
Baker has a note about the re-scheduling hell that is the Mariners
Me neither. That’s why I figure they put up a 10 spot just to rub it in.
Sweet. Another game not in HD on 664.
ooh. FSN keys to the game:
Make Blanton work.
Don’t walk ‘em.
rematch of game 2… lets hope we get at least 4 runs off Blanton this time, and that Mateo doesnt blow Washburn’s lead this time and get lucky…
#5: There are very few road games in HD on 664. There WOULD be some in HD on ESPNHD…if FSN didn’t black them out to show us the game in glorious 480i. Douchebags.
of course the Angel batters were struggling until the M’s got there …
Blanton, cat-like reflexes.
So close.
God is going to continue to judge Beltre by knocking down his long fly balls until he stops appealing his own check swings.
Haha. What are the dimensions of McAfee vs Safeco vs average park?
will someone please tell that to Adrian? I don;t think God has.
I can’t believe Pentland hasn’t slapped him upside the head for that yet. It’s horrible.
McAfee’s big. It’s not quite Safeco as a pitchers park because the weather is a little different, but its big. Lots of foul territory, too.
Yuni should do more of that and less of what he did against Anaheim.
Well he can make the tough plays…
Eric Chavez might be the biggest waste of talent in the last five years.
And he is still has the best BA on the team.
but, but he’s a Gold Glover! and a Hitter! and a Gold Glover!
Attendance for tonights game: 13.
Sexson has to be closing in on the record for most games to start the year without a single.
McAfee vs Safeco
I want a Guillen Funk Blast.
OOOOOOOOOOOO I CALLED IT!
you got it.
Funk Blast! Guillen!
Guillen crushed that pitch.
That ball was shat on.
whoooo!!
Nice. Hey, maybe that’s tha ballgame.
That was more like a funk rocket. Got out of there in no time, wow.
I want $10,000,000 and Jessica Alba.
21
Dave stole my thunder, I was about to say something like “entertaining dozens tonight”
I guess Guillen isn’t part of the Blanton Hex since he wasn’t around last year.
Is the Oakland offense really worse than the Angels?
They’ve scored about the same number of runs. And most of the Angel runs came in the 3 game series against the M’s…
So I hear Alex has as many or more home runs than 30% of all big-league teams
The Angels have Vlad. And when he’s healthy, Howie Kendrick.
The A’s middle of the order is 7-8-9 for most clubs. Bobby Crosby is hitting 5th, and he hasn’t been good in three years.
GREAT looking swing by Jose there. It was like he fell asleep mid-way through.
so, just what is it that the Oakland fans have against Ichiro? They seem to have taken against him, even before he’d really done anything in MLB
Jesus Christ. We HAVE to lead the league in DP’s.
They still remember the throw that got Terrence Long out in Ichiro’s rookie season.
Wash looks good tonight.
9 up, 9 down…. good start for washburn
Jake Peavy has fanned 9 out of the 12 batters he has faced.
8 of the in a row.
Can anyone explain to me why Beltre feels the need to swing at the first strike he sees when the opposing pitcher has just shown he’s struggling to get the ball over the plate? Anyone? Is there a reason he keeps doing this?
Can we please ban the term “funk blast”? Also, “walk-off” anything ….
Dave, why do you call Chavez a waste of talent? Do you mean he’s squandering his, or that the A’s are squandering chances to acquire talent because they’re so disproportionately committed to him in the team budget?
Make that 10-13 and 9 in a row.
Peavy has 10 k’s through 4 against Arizona..wow
Turbo turning on the jets!
You can’t teach speed.
look at those wheels
look at those wheels!
Sorry for the repetition…my computer is slow…vidro-slow
The prediction of a fast, low-scoring game is very accurate so far (top 4).
At least Blanton doesn’t look like Roger Clemens tonight against these M’s.
they were booing him in Oakland before that throw …
Vidro being Vidro…The man can hit singles with the best of em
Man, Blanton covering/Vidro “running”
I had to make sure that was shown in real time as slow as that play was
So they gave Vidro a single? Can that be explained?
Dave, why do you call Chavez a waste of talent? Do you mean he’s squandering his, or that the A’s are squandering chances to acquire talent because they’re so disproportionately committed to him in the team budget?
Chavez has the physical abilities to be one of the premier players in the game. With his bat speed, power, and athleticism, he’s the kind of guy who could hit .300/.400/.600 while playing gold glove defense. Basically, he should be a perennial MVP candidate, and instead, he’s a league average third baseman.
Is Oakland’s offense worse than Washington’s or San Fransisco’s?
Are we finally seeing the decline of Raul?
On second thought…I spoke too soon. Wash will pitch a gem and lose 2 to 1. UGH….
grover needs to ditch the zebra stripe goatee
And another DP. Good gravy.
So they gave Vidro a single? Can that be explained?
Blanton wasn’t on the bag when he caught the toss from Dan Johnson. Fat pitcher unable to play defense loses to fat runner.
and yet another dp…..
But, why wasn’t that scored an error on the pitcher?
I guess you can’t assume that the pitcher can find the bag with his foot?
hmm. apparently I am not the only one who has wondered.
40: I think the main reason we don’t is that the Ms lead the league in games postponed/canceled.
team GIDPs
Can you throw him a Goddamn strike, please.
I like Beltre in the field.
#71: The moral of the story is: “You have to have someone on base to GIDP!”
71: That’s because we never have anyone on base.
I don’t think there’s any argument that Beltre is a stellar defensive third baseman. But so is Jeff Cirillo.
Thanks msb. So that makes at least 15 after tonight, and you gotta figure each team averages about 1 a game, putting us right near the top of the list. Assuming we hadn’t gotten PPD all those times.
Prediction: 2 hours, 1-0
Halfway: under 1 hour, 1-0
!
Hey at least turbo doesn’t have on yet tonight…
Thank the good Lord you’re not talking about that traffic in Idaho…
Put down those sushi rolls ethnically diverse A’s fans, here comes Ichiro!
Tomorrow, we’re going to read nothing but stories about how awesome Washburn has been, and how this is the guy the M’s expect him to pitch like everytime.
In reality, this is just horrible hitters hitting horribly.
Is Jose serious with his 2 ABs tonight thus far? Really?
Washburn is by far the best #4 starter on the team.
well, now we know the secret to speeding up those MLB game. Horrible hitters hitting horribly.
Dave, having said that the A’s have the worst offense, does this mean you think they will score less runs this season than the Mariners?
re: 82.
You really think he’s been that average tonight? He seems to be hitting his spots and his tosses have had good movement. Not saying he’d be quite as lights out against a league average lineup, but I’d definitely take this guy in my number 2 spot every night.
Ichiro thinks of walks like Jose Vidro thinks of salads.
Think of the talk tomorrow if Baek had the start tonight and held the A’s scoreless
I feel like I’m watching a condensed game on the computer, except it keeps going to commercial for 2 minutes.
You really think he’s been that average tonight? He seems to be hitting his spots and his tosses have had good movement. Not saying he’d be quite as lights out against a league average lineup, but I’d definitely take this guy in my number 2 spot every night.
He’s throwing below average pitches that are getting hit weakly because the opponents suck.
Jarrod Washburn is a #4/#5 starter on most major league clubs.
Peavy has 12 K’s through 5 innings. He also has a base hit. Oh, and Melvin was tossed. Good times.
For all the bad thoughts we have about Washburn, at least he gives us a chance to win each time he takes the mound. I realize this is against the light-hitting A’s, but he looks great. What do you think Weaver or Ho-Ram line would look like now? I doubt either would still be in the game.
Dave I agree with you completely. But at the same time… let’s just put it this way. I can sense the frustration in your words about the Mariners and this season. We’ll take the win any which way we can get it at this point.
But boy are you right…the A’s are just cold. Finally a team that’s cold offensively isn’t warming up when they are playing the M’s — yet. Yaaay.
Ichiro doesn’t walk, he runs!
What has to happen to the universe such that Chad Durbin pitches 8 shutout, 9 strikout no walk innings vs. the semi-mighty ChiSox lineup?
Dave, having said that the A’s have the worst offense, does this mean you think they will score less runs this season than the Mariners?
Yes. The A’s might not score 700 runs this year.
Have to agree with Dave. That was belt high at 84, and grounded weakly to first. Awesome!
The entire 6th inning – both haves – went by in like 8 minutes.
is that one of those SAT questions?
oh, that fiery Bob.
56 pitches through 6 for Washburn.
I may not miss a single minute of Pussycat Dolls tonight! Outstanding!
Two infield hits for Vidro in the same game – the world is clearly about to end.
Angels offense is so bad they are getting 1 hit 1 walk shutout through 4 by Edwin Jackson!
Vidro is legging out his hits
We are on a pace for a 1 hour 49 minute game. What is the M’s record?
Sexson really needs a day off, or 5.
Peavy @ 96 pitches: 13k, 5.2 innings.
If Washburn was playing for the As, would he bat second or third?
how low can Sexson’s average go?
They had like a 1:35 minute game a few years ago. I think it was Ryan Franklin’s CG shutout where he threw like 78 pitches or something ridiculous.
102. Vidro has been doing well lately. IN fact, he has become one of our more consistent hitters.
Secondly, is anyone sick of Sexson hitting like a huge idiot?
First pitch was 68 minutes ago, and we’re now at the seventh inning stretch.
102. Vidro has been doing well lately. IN fact, he has become one of our more consistent hitters.
You do realize that he’s still posting a .725 OPS as a DH, right?
He’s terrible.
“This game could last all of about two hours and end 1-0 without either pitcher breaking a sweat.”
Nice prediction. We’ll see how right you were.
111. Wasn’t this the exact same situation last season? He’ll end up with pretty much the same numbers he had last year; it’s not like his power has dropped off or anything.
Weaver vs Meche. Now there is a match-up.
so, if Chavez keeps hitting as he has, and Beltre warms up and finishes the year with better numbers, how many years must go by before Beltre is voted the Gold Glove?
Peavy @ 104 pitches: 14k, 6 innings
I don’t know Sexson ever hits well. Does he even break his wrists in that robotic swing?
Oh sure, he’s league terrible, but he’s M’s excellent.
So, what is Billy Beane’s strategy this year? Besides crappy hitters?
I wasn’t saying he should be our 3 hitter but I am saying he has been a hitter. Can you say that of Beltre or Sexson. Only one I see batting 3 for the M’s other than Vidro at this point would be Johjima but you know Grover’s opposed to change as a concept.
“Take a look at Brandon Morrow. Keep looking.”
i found an article from 2005 that says the shortest game in M’s history is 1h39m, so unless there was a shorter one last year, thats the record… best i could find
well, here is Baker’s first take
Vidro should be hitting 7th or 8th. He’s that bad.
Granted Chavez is a waste of talent, is he a future HoF waste of talent?
I’m convinced Dave loves to hate the Mariners. If we were having a good season, and Hargrove was getting accolades, and Vidro was hitting .323, I really don’t think he could handle it. It would be a very uncomfortable thing for him.
MY OH MY
Johjima!!!
Right – I dedicate thousands of hours every year to running this blog because I hate this team…
No one wants the Mariners to win more than I do.
Well Vidro is hitting .303 as of right now.
Sweeeeeeeeeeet.
this game is unreal!
1 hour 20 minutes and were in the 8th
p.s. johjima has the hottest bat on the team comin out the gate!
I BELIEVE!
New home run call… Johjima says, hey Rich…can you hear me now?
Well Vidro is hitting .303 as of right now.
We’re using batting average to evaluate hitters again? Awesome. Should I take a horse and carriage to work tomorrow?
How many pitches does Washburn have?
Yeah, but with no power, that really belongs further down the lineup. Being “Mariner good” really isn’t enough…
Sims needs a better homer call then, “Good nite—It’s out of here” Wow thanks Sims I’m pumped.
Blanton’s starting to lose his command
not that he ever had any…
NICE STEAL
Haha, terrific jump by Yuni.
Show me where we have any power…..Sexson blows.
Be kind. He gets to use it so rarely….
127: Hargrove can get all the accolades he wants, he’d still be a terrible manager and deserve none of them. Vidro could very well be off to a hot start hitting .323 (all singles) with an OPS under .8 and still be a colossal disaster considering his contract and the trade that brought him here. The Mariners could be winning, but they aren’t and there are reasons for that, most or all of which Dave has discussed. It isn’t reasonable or rational to think he’s getting any sort of sadistic pleasure over the Mariners losing.
Washburn mowin’ em down, Vidro legging out infield singles, the M’s htting Pork.. er, Blanton.
But, Grover still believes in bunting the guy to third, so some things remain the same
April 16, 2005
CHICAGO — It was a pitching duel to behold, except there wasn’t much time for beholding. One hour and 39 minutes, to be precise, the quickest game played in the majors this year and the quickest in Mariners’ history.
It was just long enough for the White Sox to edge Seattle, 2-1, for their eighth straight victory over the Mariners, all at U.S. Cellular Field.
For his second straight outing, Ryan Franklin was sharp and efficient, giving up just four hits in recording the Mariners’ first complete game of the season. But two of the White Sox hits were solo home runs by first baseman Paul Konerko, who also made a vital defensive play in the ninth.
alright beltre, just get it in the air, and dont appeal your check swings
I hate Ichiro..trade him now
Hey, I was just floatin’ a theory.
Fuck
Was I wrong in thinking that was a balk?
I feel like I’m watching a little league game right now… WOW
Well, the basepaths giveth, and the basepaths taketh away.
Peavy done for the night at 7 shutout innings, 16k. He had a similar outing last year where he struck out 16 in 7.2
um.
huh?
Speaking of WOW…Peavy has 16 K’s through 7.
Sims sounds totally generic, but I actually like Blowers. He hasn’t said anything idiotic and I’m partial to his low key tone.
Meh. In the 8th or 9th inning, I’d give him more of a pass, particularly with the way Lopez has been hitting.
Question: Does Ichiro get a SB for that? or he just advances on the throw home or what?
Should I bring up the conversation I started the other day? Where’s Ichiro’s focus? Where’s his head? I mean…this is the guy that fired up a Japanese team to win… He is so out of it. So are the rest of the M’s. Sorry to say it… Yeah Hargrove…keep stroking your stupid beard.
80 pitches for Wash
From Richland… hey Travis… stike out will ya? Thanks.
I’m sure it’s “Betancourt out at home trying to steal; Suzuki takes second base on the play.”
Ichiro is wondering what he will look like in pinstripes.
Except Ichiro is the next guy up, the guy on the team most likely to get a hit and drive someone in from 2nd, and bunting with the #9 guy usually get’s Ichiro a casual stroll down to first.
THis guy at work keeps telling me that…he’s probably wondering if Arod hit another A-BOMB…
Isn’t Ichiro getting that walk already? I would, to set up the force.
A’s broadcaster just said “almost 20,000 came out tonight.” What the heck is “almost”?
Putz warming up in the pen
161: Ichiro’s puting up an .878 OPS for a CF in Safeco, playing incredible defense and stealing bases. There is no evidence that “firing up” a team causes them to do better. There is no evidence that the Japanese team won because he fired them up any more than that they were very good and had Dice-K dealing for them. I had a coach in little league that was very fiery, we went 2-17.
Thank you Beltre.
This may have been said already, but this is quite a prediction. Tell us the winning Lotto numbers, Dave.
A’s Broadcaster: “Boy, if theres ever a time to use Bobby Kielty, this is it.”
Theres never a good time to use Bobby Kielty
Beltre! Brick wall..with a built in canon that is sometimes off..but great play!
Odds of Putz actually throwing his splitter tonight?
I love how the A’s network plays Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin in and out of commercials, and FSNW plays the same stupid and grating music.
that’s because Turbo prefers to go down fighting.
We’re down to only one U, folks.
and apparently infield singles
It would seem so. Also of Sexson. If Hargrove wants to keep his job, he migh consider playing Brousard at 1st. Especially against right handed pitching.
when did we see the rise of sexson?
would that sound sort of like a short cough?
*Rul*
Richie, you are allowed to use your hands when you swing! You don’t have to use pure torso.
get him out…let him win.
anyone else think Putz would have been a better choice in the 9th, even if Wash has only thrown 90 pitches?
Everyone else besides grover does…
Mike Hargrove: Not slim.
Time for Putz, splitter or no.
Chavez can’t hit lefties. If you’re going to let Washburn pitch the 9th, you have to let him pitch to Chavez.
I probably would’ve pulled Washburn there, but a small part of me wants to see him get the shutout.
For once grey beard makes the right choice…
hahaha. Hargrove to Jwash “Get this mother fucker out”
It would seem so. Also of Sexson. If Hargrove wants to keep his job, he migh consider playing Brousard at 1st. Especially against right handed pitching.
Argh.
2006 splits for Richie Sexson:
April – .213/.308/.351 2 HR
May – .198/.252/.358 4 HR
Season- .264/.338/.504 34HR
I think Treebeard would be a better manager. Actually, Treebeard would probably be a kickass manager. If a little slow at decision-making.
game ending DP time
Uh, what’s the difference between Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and “stupid, grating music”?
i think a goldfish would be a better manager
game over.
190. Thanks Dave. Your knowledge of such matters is one of the reasons I like this site. I wouldn’t have known that.
WHAT A TURN
beautiful play
Nice call, Robert Redford. A game ending DP it is.
Look, I hardly know anything about baseball, really.
But that double play was AWESOME.
M’s win!!!
sorry if someone already posted this but GOOD CALL DAVE!!!
not even close, but oh well
Haha, even though he was obviously safe
Wow… that’s not close.
love the bad ass swagger by yuni durring the post game high fives.
Oh gee, that was an awful call
Sexson pay the ump off or what?
He was SO safe! Not that I’m complaining :^)
Holy crap, Dave. Got any lottery picks?
204 Except the replay shows it was a bad call. Chavez had the throw beat.
That was a horrible call at first base.
That said, this A’s line-up might not score again until June, so it wouldn’t have mattered.
Why do A’s fans sound like they are at an MLS game? Are they fooled by the score?
Oh well, M’s win with 3 minutes to spare before Pussycat Dolls on the WBUPICW! Wahooo!
I swear the defense gets a little wiggle room on a good play to first.
The M’s pitching staff: leading the majors in complete game shutouts. And you all do nothing but mostly rag on our starters …
OK, Dave. You’re a genius.
How was that not counted as a PO against Ichiro? I thought those were automatically deemed pickoffs even if the runner eventually reached safely at another base. In this case he was only safe because of Betancourt’s break to home, anyway. What gives?
Yeah, replay does seem to indicate that he shouldn’t have been out. But they turned that attempted double play extremely nicely nonetheless.
Washburn on the mound conference with Grover:
“I made him look smart.”
That could be taken more than one way.
I guess Grover will be back in Seattle to manage over the weekend. . .
Over .500 WOOOO HOOOO! I know you’re all thinking, no we’re not you idiot! But I’m not talking ’bout the M’s. I’m talking ’bout the Man! That’s right Grover’s career record is 1149 – 1148. Yeah Baby!
Another win for the Mariners; one more day that Hargrove clings to his job.
Wow, nice perdiction.
Whenever I see a prediction like Dave’s come true, I am reminded how much more they know about the game than myself. Priveledge to read and go Mariners!
82: MLB.com is calling this “perhaps the finest game of his career”. 2K. Be afraid.
I’m really starting to worry about Raul…
One of many many things to worry about. They really need to shuffle that lineup, mainly moving Johjima up the lineup (5th?) and maybe even look into moving Ichiro, since this lineup is not capable of batting Ichiro in most of the time.
Yeah, replay does seem to indicate that he shouldn’t have been out. But they turned that attempted double play extremely nicely nonetheless.
I watched the replay frame-by-frame. Usually that shows me the play was closer than I thought when I saw it live. In NFL terms, there was indisputable evidence that he was safe, as in the runner’s foot is on the base and the ball is clearly not to Sexson yet.
Still that was a great turn by Lopez and Betancourt. When Lopez threw to second I thought it was a bad play — there’s no way to turn two, the lead runner doesn’t matter, just get the sure out at first. Guess they showed me, even if they got some help from the ump.
I think it’s way too early to talk about making drastic changes to the lineup. And lead off is still the best spot for Ichiro.
#232: That just shows how much they wanted the win. I’m beginning to feel a substantial momentum swing in our favor. It’s either that, or the euphoria of an M’s win has clouded my good judgement…
I hope he “clings to his job” forever. It means we are winning.
Washburn’s performance so far is one of many early bright spots. This season could go either way.
Get better, Felix!
Concerning the “terrible” M’s offense:
Isn’t it too early in the season for that assessment? I think we can expect quite a bounceback from Beltre, Sexson, Ibanez, Guillen as well as possibly from Lopez and maybe even Betancourt. They’re all below 300 for their OBP and below 400 in their SLG. I’d expect all of the first four and probably Lopez to be significantly better than that for the season. Even Betancourt ought to be above 300 in OBP.
MLB.com is calling this “perhaps the finest game of his careerâ€. 2K. Be afraid.
MLB.com doesn’t understand DIPS or BABIP, so that’s no surprise.