Game 145, Devil Rays at Mariners

DMZ · September 13, 2007 at 6:12 pm · Filed Under Game Threads 

I’m glad to see a new opponent, that’s for sure. Jason Hammel, one of a bunch of more or less interchangable, cheap, back-of-the-rotation guys the Devil Rays have been juggling (and who I traded to Jason in our hyper-complicated keeper-league-of-keeper-leagues), faces off against Jeff Weaver, who’s been getting cuffed around since that pretty good August 12th game against a weak White Sox team.

Jeff Weaver, last 5 starts: 2-2, 7.62 ERA, 26 IP, 37 H, 6 BB, 15 K, 9 HR. Opponents: .346/.371/.664
season: 6-12 in 23 starts, 6.05 ERA, 125 IP, 164 H, 30 BB, 69 K, 19 HR. Opponents: .319/.358/.523

Jason Hammel, in 10 starts: 1-4, 6.75 ERA, 45.1 IP, 53 H, 19 BB, 27 K, 9 HR. Opponents: .293/.366/.547

Weaver makes approximately $8m more than Hammel.

Not playing: Adam Jones. Apparently, there is no way to play yourself into the lineup under McLaren: there’s no playing time to be had if you don’t perform up to an undefined standard, and spectacular performances are only rewarded with continued playing time if you’re a veteran.

How is this supposed to motivate anyone?

Comments

283 Responses to “Game 145, Devil Rays at Mariners”

  1. davepaisley on September 13th, 2007 10:14 pm

    So THAT’S what a sucky bullpen looks like.

  2. 116in01 on September 13th, 2007 10:14 pm

    Queue?

  3. Joe on September 13th, 2007 10:15 pm

    Why is Yuni still batting #9? I haven’t understood that for some time.

    There’s an argument for having speed on the basepaths ahead of Ichiro (you can’t bat him behind Ichiro because he hacks too much). And 9th doesn’t necessarily mean “worst” — some NL teams actually have had the pitcher bat 8th, to put a Betancourt-like hitter in the 9 slot for the same reason.

  4. msb on September 13th, 2007 10:15 pm

    Cue.

  5. killa3312 on September 13th, 2007 10:16 pm

    You knew when that ball took that ridiculous hop on Harris, something like this would happen. I hate this team sometimes. The bullpen holds them back so much.

  6. thefin190 on September 13th, 2007 10:17 pm

    131 – Any chance anyone knows what that comics says with Weaver. I am really curious to know, even though I am sure its parodying his Weaverly performances.

  7. Joe on September 13th, 2007 10:17 pm

    Cue was right. Unless you were stacking it up behind other tracks on your iPod.

    Putz on two nights back to back. This must feel strange for him. Like some kind of happy memory from long, long ago.

  8. DMZ on September 13th, 2007 10:21 pm

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  9. killa3312 on September 13th, 2007 10:22 pm

    Pathetic… good night all.

  10. msb on September 13th, 2007 10:23 pm

    aaaand, the DoublePlay Twins ad

  11. 116in01 on September 13th, 2007 10:24 pm

    Meaningless or not it’s still good to see them win.

  12. theraven on September 13th, 2007 10:24 pm

    I dare say, if we win 16 of our next 17 we may have a shot. Umm, yeah, not happening. After tonight’s win you can rest assured that you won’t see Adam Jones get more than 3 ABs for the rest of the year.

  13. msb on September 13th, 2007 10:24 pm

    nice to hear RRS on the radio, but dang I still miss Snelly.

  14. (Expletive) Dave Samson on September 13th, 2007 10:30 pm

    Krueger is suggesting that RRS pitch instead of Weaver next time.

    Sounds like a good idea to me.

  15. Joe on September 13th, 2007 10:45 pm

    Well, he can certainly go as many innings as the M’s starters have been managing lately. And if he can’t give a quality start, there’s always RRS in the bullpen to eat up innnings…. oh, wait.

  16. Colm on September 13th, 2007 10:47 pm

    Every time I see HoRam start I wonder how bad of a pitcher Willie Bloomquist could be. Weaver made me think that tonight too.

  17. earinc on September 13th, 2007 10:59 pm

    Given how many game-winning hits Yuni’s had in the 9th hole, I’m not sure I’d argue with it. Would he really have any more elsewhere?

  18. WardP on September 13th, 2007 11:22 pm

    Ichiro has earned a chance to start a game on the mound for this team.

  19. Colm on September 13th, 2007 11:23 pm

    batting higher than 9th = more at bats
    more at bats = more chances of a game winning hit

    Why would you think otherwise?

  20. msb on September 13th, 2007 11:23 pm

    per JJ, not realizing it was RRS’s first win, he gave away the game-winning baseball and so had to get the ball back from the kid (trading him another ball, and a Beltre-donated bat), then he missed his chance to pie Ryan during his radio interview, and so (alerted by EOF) was forced to race out in his skivvies to catch RRS during the FSN stand-up. It’s a hard job being the closer.

  21. kenshabby on September 13th, 2007 11:24 pm

    Anyone recall that song “Never Surrender” that was in some Van Damme movie back in the late 80s or early 90s? That song should be played at the end of every M’s home game, even after they’ve been mathematically eliminated.

  22. Sports on a Schtick on September 13th, 2007 11:27 pm

    I would think “The Final Countdown” would be more appropriate for this squad.

  23. earinc on September 13th, 2007 11:41 pm

    269: I see your point, but I guess my answer is because nothing about Yuni’s stats indicate that he’d be good in a high-rbi slot (which is where you’d otherwise want you’re game-winning RBI guys to be), and he’s been great in the ninth hole so why change it. But I do see your point, and now that I think about it, I could see Yuni batting a couple slots up. Or even 2nd if he’d stop popping up so much.

    By the way, I haven’t read the thread much tonight except for the later posts, and I only saw a few innings of the game, but what do folks think about tonihgt’s lineup? Aside from Willie, and aside from the fact that Jones should have started, and aside from Yuni batting ninth, and aside from the fact that the lineup sucked through much of the game, I liked it. I like sliding Vidro down to six and Beltre at two.

    Ichiro and Beltre are the only two M’s regulars I truly enjoy watching hit these days. But now I’m also excited about catching glimpses of Jones, Clement, Balentin, etc.

  24. earinc on September 13th, 2007 11:44 pm

    “I would think ‘The Final Countdown’ would be more appropriate for this squad.”

    I would think the Benny Hill theme would be more appropriate at this point (tonight aside).

  25. kenshabby on September 14th, 2007 12:24 am

    I just thought “Never Surrender” would be a nice bit o’ sarcasm that some fans would appreciate. Though Beck’s “Loser” might be more appropriate.

  26. thefin190 on September 14th, 2007 12:30 am

    131 – Nevermind, i translated it on my own…

  27. thefin190 on September 14th, 2007 12:31 am

    sorry let me try that again

    [IMG]http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x188/thefin190/Weaverly.jpg[/IMG]

  28. thefin190 on September 14th, 2007 12:31 am

    Ok just one more time, sorry.

  29. thefin190 on September 14th, 2007 12:33 am

    Ok, sorry for wasting comment space, but clearly it seems i can’t post images directly here, sorry guys.

    here is a link, worked on it for like an hour and a half, hope you like it

    http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x188/thefin190/Weaverly.jpg

  30. joser on September 14th, 2007 12:45 am

    You know… Jones had a 3-3 record with a 2.71 ERA as a pitcher in his senior season at high school.

    Though Beck’s “Loser” might be more appropriate.
    Tom Petty: “Free Falling”
    Nine Inch Nails: “The Downward Spiral”
    Dreamgirls Soundtrack: “It’s All Over”
    And for the fans… Joan Jett: “I Hate Myself (for Loving You)”

  31. mr.smartypants on September 14th, 2007 1:21 am

    From the stands, RRS looked really, really good tonight, though it was probably the Rays hacking lineup combined with watching Weave and White before him. Regardless, he threw 94 at times and struck out 5 in just 2.1. Might he be a good starter someday?

  32. Karen on September 14th, 2007 2:19 am

    #162 msb said “out of [Sims]’ mouth: ‘the Mariners are still mathematically in it, but you have to be the greatest optimist to think …’ “

    The “magic number” (elimination number) for the M’s is 9 for the division title, and 12 for the wild card. 17 games to go, 4 head to head with LAA, 10 in Safeco, all on the West Coast.

    It’d be nice to see more results from the NYYs like last night, with Toronto basically doing the same thing the M’s did. For the WC, Detroit is 3.5 games back, the M’s 5.5 games back.

    Go Red Sox!! 🙂

  33. thefin190 on September 14th, 2007 2:22 am

    [six errors]

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