Game 34, Rangers at Mariners
If the Mariners don’t manage to cut into the Angels’s lead in the next week or two, I get the feeling that there’s going to be a lot of finger pointing going on as to who’s responsible for the team’s awful fortunes, and there’s a very good chance that we’re going to see the new guys, called up to help the franchise, blamed for not turning the team around.
That’s too bad, because they don’t deserve it. Let’s compare where things stand right now just in terms of production.
Balentien’s hitting .238/.238/.524 in his 21 plate appearances. But Wilkerson was hitting .232/.348/.304, so every game he’s playing that Wilkerson doesn’t is an improvement just on offense.
Jeff Clement, new semi-DH, is hitting .176/.300/.176 in 20 plate appearances.
Jose Vidro, the old DH, hit .192/.248/.298 in 113 plate appearances. As a side note, to get to Clement’s line: -3 singles, -1 double, -1 walk (sort of).
In terms of overall contibutions, here’s their VORP: Vidro, -4.1, Clement, -1.2. Clement needs to suck as badly as he’s sucked for another 18 games before he’ll have hurt the team as much as Vidro already has.
If you want to portion out responsibility, start with the players who have really stunk up the place. Johjima, as much as I’ve been a fan, has been horrible (-7.1 VORP). Bloomquist still can’t hit, and managed to get over thirty plate appearances (-2.6 VORP). Miguel Cairo’s awful ten plate appearances (-1.8 plate appearances) hurt the team more than Clement has so far.
And that’s not even getting into who isn’t playing up to expectations or salary. Or the team’s defense, which has been bad.
The rotation’s been pretty good, though Batista and Bedard have disappointed to different degrees. Putz hasn’t been himself, and the bullpen’s been a real weakness so far, along with bullpen management.
Which brings us to the topic at hand. It’s not fair to blame Clement or Balentien if the team doesn’t come back to be competitive. They don’t fill out the lineup cards, forget who’s in the bullpen, or run the game. They didn’t assemble the roster, or hire the manager. They didn’t hire the GM who hired the manager.
Blame, if you’re going to hand it out, should flow upwards from the new guys who’ve only been playing for few games to the architects of the season, roster, and franchise.
But it’s too early yet for blame. Let’s wait a game, at least. And hey! There’s a game in an hour!
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The Rangers…one of a select group of teams that the M’s have a winning record against this year…which are the other teams? uh….Tampa. That is all, TEX and TB. Batista! Balentien!
This was much better than Geoff Baker’s crap today.
Congratulations on your pending wedding! As a married guy of 41 years I can only tell you a good partner is the best part of life. Best wishes!
Thank you also for putting a touch of reality on the current state of the good ship Mariner.
I don’t think it’s time to launch the life boats yet!
Baker thinks he has to fight with everyone who sends him something negative. He just needs to let stuff go.
Agreed. He’s already to pack it in and blame Wlad and Clement for everything.
Thanks for typing this out. Baker’s little Q&A mailbag thing today was just pathetic. I can’t stand the guy anymore. I really can’t.
I really don’t think anyone will blame the “kids”. I think the blame will fall on guys like Sexson.
Geoff Baker picked the M’s to win the division, so there’s got to be excuses and someone to blame if they finish 3rd or 4th. Is it possible that the M’s are exactly where they should be given our roster?
No, Baker wasn’t saying that about Wlad and Clement… but we needn’t get into that here. He does get rather defensive quickly.
It would be nice to win 3 out of 4 of these Texas games, and winning tonight pretty much guarantees that.
I don’t think I’m an apologist for Baker, but I do think he’s getting a bad rap for what he wrote today. In essence, it’s no different that what Derek wrote. Basically, they’re both saying that because of the under performing roster, the kids were brought up to be quick fixes for the whole team and shouldn’t be blamed for their failure to turn around the entire ship quickly. Geoff says that they are going to be blamed for it and repeatedly states that this isn’t fair, but it’s true. Derek states he’s concerned they are going to be blamed for it, that it isn’t fair, they’ve been better (albeit in small samples) than who they replaced, and the blame should be placed elsewhere. I don’t understand the ire directed at Baker for saying this.
I think some of it is that Baker feels that he has to be get adversarial with fans who write in and are critical of him. Frequently it isn’t what he says, but how combatively he says it. Kind of a “Geoff Baker v. the Entire Seattle Mariners Fanbase” mentality, which he doesn’t have to have.
So I predict we’ll get more comments in the thread tonight. Why? It’s not Cinco de Mayo. Given the overlap between Mariners fans and heavy drinkers who don’t need an excuse but will happily adopt a theme, I’m pretty sure a lot of the usual suspects were away from their computers last night trying to commemorate Ignacio Zaragoza SeguÃn’s humbling of the French by snorting tequila and salt out of the navels of people to whom they haven’t been formally introduced. Well, I’m pretty sure Lauren was, anyway.
joser…are you saying Lauren hasn’t been formally introduced to Yuni?
Yeah, I kinda spaced on it being Cinco last nite, Joser — probably ’cause, like St. Patty’s Day this year, it fell on a Monday.
It’s always more fun when those two fall on or near a weekend!
We could use some tequila shots right now. *groan*
Not a great start.
Come on, who’s going to blame the kids for it? Baker certainly isn’t, and what sportswriter or commentator would? That would be ridiculous. The blame will rightfully be on Bavasi for creating a roster that was so obviously deficient from the outset that they had to call up two kids 4 weeks into an already collapsing season hoping (or praying) they would get lucky and catch some lightening. Anyone who’d blame the kids for that would get laughed out of town. You’re creating a strawman here that doesn’t exist.
Tom in Edmonds, I believe (and please folks, correct me if I’m wrong) that Dave is newly engaged, not DMZ.
well, this game was jinxed from the start by Rizzs’ enthusiastic encomium re: Batista being a quick worker.
Let’s imagine that play if Wilkerson was still out there….
Ichiro probably picks that ball up against the wall if Wilkerson is in right, and I’d be drinking this Weinhard’s Private Reserve even faster.
Hey, wow! As much as his bat hasn’t exactly been on fire up until last night, I will say that Wlad’s improvement in defensive ability and range over what was trotted out there before him (especially Willie & Morse) has been absolutely remarkable. Another fly ball that Wlad got to which the other guys might not have…
I guess it all depends on your definition of “introduced.” Or maybe of “formally.”
although I’m sure he would ask the Lovely Mrs Zumsteg to marry him all over again, in a flash.
Ugh, throw strikes! This is painful to watch.
Hmm…wonder if Miggy is still using his “secret” strategy? ‘Cause if he is, it doesn’t appear to be working at the moment.
speaking of picking up the rolling ball, should Raul have gotten to the first hit our to right, back around 30 minutes ago when the inning began?
Weird, weird line for Twins in their game tonight. One run, zero hits.
Tom in Edmonds, I believe (and please folks, correct me if I’m wrong) that Dave is newly engaged, not DMZ.
Yes — DMZ’s already hitched (Mrs. DMZ being pretty rad, herself); Dave’s the recently-engaged one.
msb – Adam Jones would have.
I think Miguel’s secret is that he can’t throw a strike.
…and the hand reaches for the bullpen phone….
It looked like a fleet-footed fielder should have been able to get a glove on it, or at least get to it quicker for the throw in, but that may just be my bitterness speaking.
Anybody just watch Mauer Double in the ninth to end Floyd’s No hitter
Throwing about 45 pitches and giving up 2 runs in the first inning is NOT a miracle! It’s a disaster.
maybe this is just a cunning plan to get Ponson all cold and stiff on the bench, waiting around to get into the game.
28: Crap…I didn’t want to jinx Gavin Floyd’s no-no by mentioning it, but Mauer just doubled off him with one out in the ninth to break it up, anyway.
Looked just about like his outing the other Friday when he threw over 40 in the first, and then came out with a groin problem. Oh and congrats on the engagement Dave
Wish I could watch the game, but no cable, and no satellite line of sight. Does mlb.tv black out Mariners games in the Seattle TV market?
Yeah, I guess I jinxed it.
36 – Floyd is thankful to you… but apparently some other #*$%&@#$ decided to mention it… otherwise it never would have been broken.
Speaking of which Ponson has a no hitter going…
That hit was all me guys. Thank you, thank you.
could we stop swinging at ball four? huh?
man, Ponson is looking positively svelte! and with hair, even.
Where are all those “Ichiro only steals when it doesn’t matter” people? He’s certainly been putting them into the cone of silence the past couple of weeks.
43 – Idiots can not be silenced with Facts.
Oh, no worries…just didn’t realize what inning that one was ’til I looked at the game track. Apparently, the unearned run in the fourth was the only blemish ’til the ninth…still, that always looks a little odd when that happens.
The only people hitting are Lopez, Ibanez, Beltre, and Betancourt. To me, it would make sense to have them all in a row in the lineup.
BTW, I love this. I wish stuff like that still happened. Baseball can be just so deadly serious these days.
Ichiro has been on a tear lately. I guess he needed the calendar to change. I hate to say it, but his struggles were a part of the team struggling. It certainly was nice to see him start to hit and steal bases this past week. This team could use Ichiro! to step up.
Umm why are we hit-and-running 3-2 with a guy that has had trouble finding the zone? And why did Beltre swing at that pitch? And why weren’t both runners going on 3-2?
Rick L:
what about Maychiro! who is 9 for 21 (I think) in May?
At first I thought that was David Eckstein, joser.
wonder if they’ll ever get around to making the “Veeck as in wreck” movie…
My error DMZ….. Please reach out and squeeze her hand again…
Dave, still wish you my best…
Can the M’s break the trend & come back from two down?
My error DMZ….. Please reach out and squeeze her hand again…
Dave, still wish you my best…
Can the M’s break the trend & come back from two down?
They have the same strike zone, I think.
Veeck’s son Mike was President of the management group of the AAA Portland Beavers for awhile. He too was known for his promotions, but promoting minor league baseball in Portland is a tough job.
Of course it’s not fair to judge him based on a strawman. But this isn’t about fair. This is not a rebuilding year for the team like Roch Kubatkois having in Baltimore, where he can blog and ramble, drop some gerunds while popping off the occasional good clubhouse scoop. This isn’t about fairness, I repeat. It’s about what the team needs right now.
Okay, honestly, I don’t know what Baker was trying to say about Clement and Wlad. It sure sounded like he was getting ready to blame them if they didn’t turn the team around, claiming that it was unfair to judge them on a half dozen games but completely fair to judge the impact they’ve had. Whatever that means. Seems he’s having as bad a day at work at Batista is today.
Maybe they’ll both pull it together and salvage the day.
Uh, why has Batista been sent out there again? While the Mariners are batting, isn’t there a conversation in the dugout, something like, How you feelin’, Miggy?
And then when he says, fine, you still send out Baek!
There’s a difference between a first inning that sort of gets away from a pitcher, and an obvious laboring, can’t find the strike zone with a seeing eye dog sort of day.
Oh well, he got out of it with only one run, so I guess he’s good through the seventh. I’m sure he can keep it down to a run per inning.
I don’t think the offense has been magically fixed by that 7-run outburst last night.
We’ve got a walk, a single, and two line drives that have been caught. 3 other outs.
Dave Niehaus “Foul ball to right field”
nothing like placing a fast ball on a tee for the batter.
well, this is disconcerting
Since Batista found “the secret” a few games ago, his velocity has increased and his control has vanished.
Joser:
Speaking of strange pitching lines, I can’t think of one stranger than this:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA199007010.shtml
Literally unbelivable watching these guys lose. You have to be kidding me Miguel. Walking everyone, pitching like the guy is in the damn minor leagues. CAN I GET SOME FOCUS at one OF THE MOST CRUCIAL POINTS OF THE SEASON? GRRRRRRRRR
Maybe we can mount a comeback … or is that too much to ask as well. Angels won and A’s are winning.
most likely 7.5 games back after tonight, that is a big whole to climb, even if it is only the first of may and the angels winning ever night
Gotta love having 10% odds before you come to bat in the 3rd.
Actually, Gaedel would’ve made David Eckstein look like Richie by comparison.
50. Point taken.
At this rate, we’re likely to finish about 40 games back of the Angels by the end of the season.
this looks very un-promising.
That should have been an error on Lopez.
I don’t think ‘focus’ is his problem.
Free the Dickey!
10-0?
Uh… GTAIV time.
We are apparently a very bad team!!!!
Hamilton is just terrifying.
Holy….
Yes. Bring up the Dickey and make sure the Dickey stays up for good.
Well, if you’re looking for strange lines for a pitcher (as opposed to the team overall) check out Burnett’s line in this game. (suggested by Dave over at Fangraphs in response to a post about several other odd ones).
I can’t remember the last time I felt like turning off a game this freakin’ early.
BTW, MSB – In case you were wondering, Matlock is on from 8-9 weeknights on RTN…although, I think Dicovery has a new episode of Deadliest Catch on tonight, too.
Does Murphy need to be making that catch in a 10-0 game? Really?
*Discovery*
Bad News: We’re down 10 runs
Worse News: You have to add up our scoring through last Friday to get 10 runs, and that’s with us scoring 7 yesterday.
We suck as much as a bucket of sucky things.
Did Ponson even have a chance to sit down? Maybe the M’s are hoping that if they keep him on the hill long enough the heat of Texas will dehydrate him and… oh, wait.
Sigh. Time to see what else there is to do on a Tuesday night.
Good night everybody!
G’nite, John Boy.
“Dicovery”? I think that’s those sheaths some New Guinea tribesmen wear…
Fangraphs says our WE is 1%. Whee.
Random observations:
* Bautista is pitching like a 5th starter. Sometimes good (last week vs. Oakland) and craptastic (tonight & early last week). This would be the same as if we put Baek or Dickey or Fierabrand (SP) in that spot.
* I think Baker’s blog was fine today. In fact, I think he tried to go out of his way to say it wasn’t the rooks fault, but they are being put in a position of great importance because the other 7 are not doing their job.
* I think Griffey should come back (for a second-tier minor leaguer) because at least there would something interesting to watch of this putrid team through the summer months.
* Let’s see what this team is made of. If they can at least come back and score 5-6 runs the rest of the way that would at least be something.
Actually, being a Mariner fan these days is almost as dangerous as being on a crab boat.
It would be 0% if the M’s never blew that game in Cleveland years ago.
It’s a good thing I have beer.
Actually, being a Mariner fan these days is almost as dangerous as being on a crab boat.
[mike rowe voice]
The vast Safeco field…
[/mike rowe voice]
What does Deadliest Catch on Discovery and the Mariners have in common?
Answer – lots of bottom feeders
Mmmm beer. Sunshine Wheat for me.
I’ve gone with a Newcastle tonight, just to keep things classy
GTA IV time. Catch y’all later.
More like Dirty Jobs.
95:
[Mike Rowe voice]
“1500 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor…the Mariners continue to stink up Safeco Field…”
[/Mike Rowe voice]
10 runs on 6 hits? Seriously?
Wlad getting his sea legs under him…
That should be southeast…
God, it’s such a bizarro night, I’m even dyslexic with my compass directions.
Maybe Raul needs to bite the head off a herring.
The comeback begins!
(probably not.)
I dunno, the M’s could be 1500 miles southwest of Dutch. They look pretty much lost at sea…
So much for a comeback, with Willie in center. That should be seen as the ‘we’re conceding the game’ sign. Will Cairo being pitching in the mop up roll next?
Why is Ichiro out of the game?
JMHawkins-
I would say the game is out of reach and Ichiro doesn’t get days off. A few innings here and there in blow out losses or wins is good for his long run health.
I know. what a waste of real estate. They could easily move Mission Impossible or The Untouchables to that slot.
because they are down 9 runs?
You know, Cairo taking one for the team on the mound for an inning or so might not be any worse than some of the performances we’ve seen lately out of the old
Arson Squad, er, bullpen.Okay, good, Mac’s just throwing in the towel. I was afraid Ichiro had pulled something or something.
so, wonder what it was the Rangers saw when they watched Ponson pitch for teams this spring that the Mariners did not see.
AB is now having a seat, so Cairo is in at third.
Jeez, even the play by play guys are in a mop-up roll! Blowers and Sims? “Sometimes these games happen, just put it behind you, blah, blah.”
Er, this is one, against Sir Sidney, that the team needed to win. You expect them to get beat by Wang, not some bloated drunk. (My apologies, Sid, if you’re dry these days.)
The way this season has started out, poor Ichi might be wishing he was 1500 miles southwest of Attu right now…
Which means he’d just about be back home relaxing.
well, FWIW, Ponson came into the game with:
ERA W-L SO WHIP
1.10 1-0 10 1.10
Grit doesn’t take a day off even when it’s 10-1!!!
At least we’re outhitting them!
This would be an excellent opportunity for that Ichiro impersonator from last night to play centerfield and see if the McLaren notices the difference.
Though I still don’t know how in the bloody hell that’s possible.
Since this game lacks a little to excite us I was checking out Sports Center. If you geta chance checkout the throws from centerfield by Rick Ankiel (sp?) Threw a runner out at third on the fly from the warning track plus another great throw. I also believe that he may have hit a dinger. Just some great plays. Sorry to get off track.
If you can’t draw a walk to save your life:
You might be the 2008 Seattle Mariners
If you think having Miguel Cairo AND Willie Bloomquist on your 25 man roster is a good idea:
You juuuust might be the 2008 Seattle Mariners.
If your line up is getting mowed down by Sidney Ponson:
You are definitely the 2008 Seattle Mariners
I was at the game last night and sat 4 rows up from the entrance to the Ranger dugout. After his pop out in the 2nd, Milton Bradley yelled at a fan in one of the olwer rows to “SHUT UP!!!” It was pretty funny. What a nut case. Did anyone see anything about that?
I’m awfully tired of these hangdog post-game McLaren press conferences… nothing about that guy inspires any kind of confidence.
If you’re a baseball fan, but are so frustrated with the season thus far that NASCAR reruns are almost an option:
You’re definitely watching the 2008 Seattle Mariners!
10 walks?!?!?! Good grief.
I kinda wondered why we never took a look at Bradley, considering that he was probably as palatable as some of the other corner outfield options…
…Oh, that’s right — I forgot we have to keep things “family-friendly”.
I am okay with Clement in the lineup trying to figure out the majors. He seems to be hitting the ball hard and usually taking the pitcher deeper in the count (after swinging at the first pitch in his first 3 AB’s). I have faith.
I would rather watch young guys with potential struggle than old guys suck…
I actually thought there was hope of 7 wins in a row after last nights game…boy was I wrong.
That is absolutely depressing. Down right embarrassing with such a beautiful stadium. We are wasting SafeCo Field.
Bavasi should be ashamed of himself.
Well, look on the bright side…as the immortal Benny Hill once said, at least it was “one in a row”!
Geez, I guess we’ve now officially joined the ranks of such fine franchises as the Orioles — who’ve been wasting Camden Yards for a decade now.
If this downward spiral of crap weather combined with miserable play continues, we’ll be right down there with Oakland, Tampa Bay and Florida attendance-wise before too long. >:(
re: 132
The Mariners should seriously consider playing the theme song from Benny Hill every time the hometown 9 takes the field.
It sure beats “Who Let the Dogs Out.”
But the Orioles have these two good players named George Sherrill and Adam Jones.
C’mon Howard, start writing out that check:
T-E-X-E-I. . .
Will someone please fire Bavasi before this gets any worse, I mean, my god, he’s had 5 years to turn this around now. How many more chances does he get?
scott, The Orioles have won a World Series.
Sorry for rubbing it in. I sat through 200+ pitches of detritus tonight – in the damn cold. So I’m not happy.
Tomorrow is another day. And tomorrow is a good day to start a 3-game winning streak.
True — and that was an awesome franchise in those days. How sad it is that Angelos has neglected them to the extent that he has in recent years.
Sorry the game tonight turned out to be such a stinker. And if we get tomorrow’s game, it’s Felix Day! on Thursday.
And, I think after losing his last two starts, he should plenty pissed enough to completely shut down the Rangers.
134: Funny you should mention it…I remember when they used to play that song (“Yakety Sax”) in-between innings at the Safe.
I cracked up every time I heard that, too — ’cause I always thought it’d be funny if the grounds crew, ball girls, and security folks started re-enacting that Benny Hill scene by chasing the Moose around the field.
I picture the Benny Hill song playing in the background whenever Raul tries to chase down a ball.
I agree that blaming Clement or Balantine would be totally off base. If Clement AND Balantine were both as good as The Kid was in his rookie season, this team would still have a long way to go before being a contender. Clement and Balantine were (we hope) solutions to two of our biggest problems this season, but the Mariners have a problem in more than half the hitters in the line up; even if replacing Vidro and Wilkerson fixes a problem or two, we have several more problems to contend with.
Wlad is arguably hitting better than Adam Jones (I know, small sample size).
Patience needs to be exercised with Clement. Eventually, those hard-hit balls are going to drop for hits.
Meanwhile, Johjima is still sucking wind.