Game 54, Red Sox at Mariners
A special dual-author game thread post!
Wakefield vs The Interview, 7:10 pm.
Dave:
Thanks to reader Christian who sent this in. From today’s P-I notebook:
About three weeks ago, the Mariners were sick and tired of seeing a seemingly endless supply of short pop flies and soft liners fall in front of their outfielders.
They were particularly tired of seeing runners go from first to third when the opportunity was presented. So the Mariners did what seemed to be the logical thing — they started positioning their outfielders closer to the infield.
That worked well for a couple of weeks, but during the seven-game losing streak that the club carried into Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox, a number of balls have fallen behind the outfield.
…
“We’ve talked about it, and we’re going to split the difference,” manager John McLaren said. “I really can’t explain what’s happened. I’ve never seen anything like it. First, every ball was being hit in front of us. Then, when we brought the outfielders in, they started getting balls past us.”
Raises Hand: “Mr. McLaren, I can explain it. Raul Ibanez has the range of a poorly watered potted plant. You can move him around all you want, but it won’t matter. You could clone him, stick nine Raul Ibanezes in left field, and they still wouldn’t get to most of these lazy fly balls. You have a designated hitter playing left field. As long as you keep him out there, you’re going to have a serious problem.”
“That’s ridiculous, son. Raul works his tail off, shows up to the ballpark early, and we’re happy with his effort. I just don’t understand how the ball keeps falling in front of him, and then behind him, and occasionally next to him. It’s bewildering.”
Puts hand down, punches self in face “How did you get hired again?”
Derek adds:
More from the PI
Manager John McLaren talked about the energy he felt Miguel Cairo gave the club while playing first base, including making a couple of nice placeon [sic] defense and bunting the eventual winning run into scoring position Tuesday in the bottom of the ninth.
Cairo is an utter embarrassment. He has no place being on the Mariners roster. He does nothing that Bloomquist doesn’t do better, and Bloomquist is a fit as the last guy on the 25-man. Cairo stays on the roster while other players who are more useful to the team have been shuffled off. It makes no sense that he’s on this team in the first place, it doesn’t make sense that he’s stayed on the team..
That the team would start him as a reward for his “spark” is another indictment of McLaren’s incompetent management and lineup construction. We’ve seen this over and over again with this team, where whim and wishful thinking drive decision making, and this is one more in the never-ending series of decisions that make reasonable fans want to punch themselves in the mouth so they’ll feel something other than overwhelming frustration with this team.
Jeff Clement got sent down hitting .167/.286/.250, but Cairo, who can’t even manage that, who we have every reason to think is hitting to his skill level, is starting at first base. Willie Bloomquist, despite having a lower batting average, gets on base more than Cairo and plays better defense — and who we were supposed to see get more playing time because Cairo was on the roster — sits. Sexson, who at least provides power, sits. A defensively inept left-fielder who can hit plays the field while an offensive black hole occupies the “Doesn’t Hit” slot in the lineup. Our manager’s seen that the once-invincible closer, now clearly not right, needs to pitch more often. On and on and on.
In related news, tonight we’ll get under 250 plate appearances before Turbo’s option vests.
And the M’s still have the worst defense in the league.
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145. Bedard an Morrow were pretty much lights out.
Putz does not look sharp at all.
Come on Putz…..
I think the only other guy who could run for Manny would be Alex Cora and he’s *barely* faster than Manny, if at all.
Ichiro – Beltre – Ibanez(DH) – punt x 6
It wouldn’t help the record much. This team is bad.
Splitter time.
This game proves that Morrow is too valuable to waste in the rotation.
Putz……..!
Coco Crisp, offensive cipher.
The chemistry’s turned around! It’s all wins from here on out!
Good series for Ms – on the lucky side of 2 one run games.
That’s probably the most we can expect.
YES!!!
WOO HOO!!!
Jagerbombs for everyone!!!
Still 14 games under .500, feels like a huge mountain to climb. Ugh.
I hate being an all-weather fan. Games like this just have me seeing so many good things suddenly occurring for the team. Why can’t they just be consistent so I can sit back, relax, revel in the consistent ineptitude of my team, and be satisfied that things will get better SOME day. I don’t want it now, I need it just at some point. Quick change leaves me feeling vulnerable and scared. This is first day of middle school all over again.
Hurrrr M’s win I’m so excited omg hurrrrr
Start firing people please.
Two wins? That’s almost a streak!
And it’s even more delicious that it’s against the Red Sox. Damn annoying fans.
Great to see Bedard with a nice outing.
Burke’s asked in if this is the same team that left New York (which, uh… yes, it is), and Burke cites many components of team chemistry! Yay! The team’s having fun again!
lol at pinch running for Casey and not Manny. WTF was that?
162: Don’t look at the forest, just focus on the trees!
Wow. For all the crappy pitching we’ve seen the last week or so, this is great. Shutting out the Boston Red Sox is something that doesn’t happen all that often.
This is the first Mariner shutout this year. Is it not?
I hate to be the bearer of good news… but if this team remotely rebounds things will continue to stay the same-90% bad with enough bright spots to count on one hand
It’d be nice if Bedard settles into an ace role along with Felix. Give a reason to tune into 20% of games (the defense half innings of the games Felix and Bedard start).
171: Yes, it is
my bad. obviously this is the start of the Miraculous Comeback (TM)
so the radio just said we traded for bedard so he could “be a stopper.”
it is. on the other hand, they’ve been shutout 3 times.
Wow! two wins in a row AND a shutout against the Sox….
Best birthday present ever..Thanks guys…
Make it three in a row and we’re all going to Sizzler!!
Well, we made up a game on the rest of the division.
I think the Ms saw the article on ESPN about how they’re the saddest team in baseball, and had a moment of “we’ve been doing it wrong?”
Boy, does it feel good to shut up Red Sox Nation. It was fun pretending that was game 7 of the ALCS … back to the 20-34 reality that is your 2008 Seattle Mariners.
And now I lay me down to sleep, and pray the Baseball Gods my soul to keep, and for Brandon Morrow to not get injured!!!
We won our 20th game! And it’s not even June! We caught up to San Diego!
yes. sublime series win. Way to go M’s.
ESPN’s coverage of the game ends with a quote by Betancout, through an interpreter. I was not aware Betancourt used one, maybe hes trying to be Ichiro.
Was it just me, or did Bedard look kind of pissed tonight? We haven’t had a pitcher who succeeds through anger since Randy. Maybe it was having so many Red Sox fans in the stands, but whatever it was, let’s do more of it.
What sucks about this series is after winning two games on a total of five runs the team will figure they’re “back on track” and change nothing. McLaren’s and Bavasi’s jobs are saved! Halelujah!!
The Mariners win not only this game but also the series against Boston.
USSM ponies are now running happy and free!
That was the Mariner’s first 1-0 win since Aug. 9, 2005. Two thousand and five.
And the media is still pissy because Bedard makes their jobs harder:
Oops, that last line was supposed to be outside the quote (it’s from me, in case you can’t tell).
I do love the fact that when asked the difference between this start and his (9 run) last start in New York, Bedard’s one-word answer was “Location” — leaving them wondering if he was talking about pitches or geography.