Game 25, A’s at M’s
Dave · May 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Outman v Jakubauskas.
Ichiro, RF
Lopez, 2B
Sweeney, DH
Beltre, 3B
Branyan, 1B
Balentien, LF
Johjima, C
Gutierrez, CF
Betancourt, SS
This is probably something close to the best line-up the M’s can run out there. They’re going to hit LHPs better than RHPs just due to the nature of the roster, but this gives us the added boost of having Lopez higher in the order, Balentien instead of Chavez, and Johjima instead of Johnson. I wouldn’t be surprised if the M’s put up 6+ runs today. Outman’s an extreme flyball guy facing a line-up of lefty mashers. This could/should be fun.
Follow along with Daryl Cousins’ notoriously small strike zone below.
Here’s to hoping Balentien can have a good day and earn some more playing time.
Oh, Betancourt is at SS today. Doesn’t he usually play 3B? Or Beltre’s Executive Assistant (BEA)?
Actually I’m looking forward to seeing Jak in action again. It can be fun to watch him work. Hopefully Dave is right and we can score some runs for him!
Haha as far over towards third Yuni plays, you would think that he has a man crush on Beltre or he really wants to play 3B.
Let’s go, Jak! (Uh… Starting with the 2nd batter…)
Another slow ball hit up the middle… Take 2 steps to your left Yuni, thanks.
Sims and Rizzs are raving about Yuni’s range on that ball Cabrera hit.
Jak is falling behind everyone. At least his curveball is moving.
Wow…just as I said that he hung one. Nice pitch.
Oh, shit.
Yuni tosses actually AT second base, we’re already out of this.
Ugh not off to a good start here….
Ut-oh.
In hitter’s heaven, that’s what the “hanging breaking balls” will look like.
Silva, is that you?
Jak seems to pitch much better on the road…
Are we going to need a “Memo to Derryl Cousins”?
(p.s. to Brian Runge)
Jesus christ, not even close. When do we get a break.
These umpires suck eggs.
But they are a Veteran Crew, so must be good.
Despite striking out, Branyan probably saw more pitches in that AB than Yuni and Beltre will all day.
Wow-
Did someone on the M’s seriously piss off the umpires this weekend? I didn’t think Branyan swung at that…
Nice hustle Balentien!
One pregame premonition is right. It’s going by quickly.
Wak needs to get pissed. If Lou didn’t throw first base into right field after that call on Ichiro, he would have burried home plate in dirt after the called strike three checkswing
Nice job Jak.
Hey Dave–
I had a question for ya… Where (or how) does one figure out the “league specific factor” that’s figured into FIP’s? I’ve been studying up a bit, and have read numerous places that “this varies” but is usually around 3.2… How does one figure out what the correct figure currently is?
and that would have accomplished?
It would be way entertaining for all of us fans!
MSB-
Well we had long postings about the power of positive thinking during yesterdays game, so naturally we want to explore the Piniella-esque study of the power of negative tirades on the performance of umpires.
I think. Or maybe not.
Suzuki is a doubles factory versus the Mariners.
Beltre has over a 1/3 of the errors he normally has in a full season already. A bit of a fluke, but still surprising.
defense is letting jak down today
Thank you, A’s.
Man,
I’ve seen the fake to 3rd, throw to first pickoff work twice in the past week– when I can’t remember ever seeing it work before this season.
Fake-throw-to-third, throw-to-first: SUCCESS!
Never seen that actually work before. Well, that’s cool.
Go, old man, go.
3 to 2, thanks to Mike Sweeney, Professional Hitter.
Yeah baby.
I know there’s no such thing as momentum in baseball, but that failed double steal started a sequence the A’s are currently regretting.
I didn’t realize Sweeney still had home run pop
I’m pretty new to this site, and don’t know if this has been discussed in the past but I need to run this past some people who obviously watch a lot of baseball.
Does Dave Sims think before he speaks? Does he realize thousands of people are listening to every word he says? There are multiple times during every broadcast when I scratch my head.
It was an orgasmic experience for him just now when talking about Carl Crawford’s 6 SB today.
Think Sweeney may of knew what was coming there!!! Touch em all!
I have no clue why Sims is calling games….
Diehard-
Agreed. I think Branyan, and now Sweeney, have both earned the jump on a guessed first pitch greenlight.
I honestly don’t pay attention to Sims… The volume is on, but I usually don’t notice what he’s saying until someone blogs about it. He’s become another piece of the crowd/white noise in the background.
Wlad is having a very nice ballgame.
I know I’ve said it before, but I’m a big fan of the Sims-Blowers booth.
jmb- I actually don’t mind Sims for that exact reason. He says stupid stuff and can be annoying, but you can’t say he’s not into it. And that’s what I want from my announcers more than anything. If I want intelligent analysis, I come here or LL or to Baker. When I’m watching the game, it’s all about unchecked emotion until i have a few minutes to process it, and i feel like sims is there with me.
According to Sims Sweeney hit career HR #2. lol
callm – to me that unchecked emotion comes off as a bit forced. Like he can’t be THAT excited that today is little league day…
Sims makes me miss Rizzs. And thats saying a lot.
Don’t know if I’ve heard it yet this year, but Sims can deftly throw subtle jabs/jokes out there. I like him for that reason.
It was his 200th career homerun.
white shirts? Is this back to 1939 again?
We finally have more hitters over .300 than under. I’ve been waiting years for that. Years. Now if only Beltre can get his up from .204
Jeez, I don’t pay attention and Denny Stark is gone and Lowe’s up there sweating again…only to have the crappy umpiring go our way. Excellent.
I can see Holliday’s point on that one– and you could read his lips– “that was the same pitch” (as the last one he just called a ball… which I wasn’t happy about…)
Same pitch, twice in a row, same location… “ball”, “strike”… But in this case, I’ll take it.
Wlad needs more playing time.
The second one was in the strike zone. The first one wasn’t.
Dave-
Did you see my question earlier about the “league specific factor” in figuring a guy’s FIP? Is there a source that lists that varying number, or is it the norm to figure it as 3.2 in the equation (the “usually around” number)?
Oh goody, Yuni’s up.
nice hit Yuni
Ichiro! Let’s do this Jose…
if we could take some pitches and get a few walks, this might be a different game.
Nice inning gang… Now let’s bring up the guns (Sweeney, Beltre, Branyan)…
For the league factor, you just run through the FIP calculation for the league as a whole, then the league factor is whatever the difference between league average ERA and league average FIP is.
So, if league average ERA is 4.5, and the calculation gives you 1.3, the league factor is 3.20.
Ahh! Thanks…
Kenji Johjima, professional hitter. Tie game… Franklin Gutierrez, professional bunter. Let’s win this!
KENJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Funk Blast!
and a nice bunt too.
KENJI!!!!!!!
I think he was looking for that pitch…
Bunt, bunt, bunt! *doing bunting shimmy dance*
The usually excitable Sims didn’t get hyped up on that one right away.
NICE drag bunt by Gut!
Funku blastuuuuu!
Wow… we are gonna win this game!!!
Wow, I turn on the game and see a homer and a drag bunt. Talk about a reward.
As much as I hate to see bunts, that was a pretty one. Right in that sweet spot where the first baseman has to field it, and the pitcher can’t get to first fast enough.
Wak please please please please please pinch hit for Yuni!!!!!!!
PULL POWER KENJI!!!
Shouldn’t there be a pinch hitter here?
Please?
Give Guti a chance to steal second, Yuni, before you go ahead and hit into the 4-6-3 that usually happens when you come up with runners on.
Pretty sure Ichiro isn’t bunting.
Hush, Diehard! :>
Yuni came thru. Wow. Ichiro with the game winning hit. Just watch.
Yuni scoffs at the calls for a pinch hitter… Go Ichiro! Ichiro! Ichiro!
Iccchhhyyy!! **sigh**
14 pitches from now– WE WIN! (er… next inning…)
Extra innings!!
I would advise anyone with a heart condition against becoming a baseball fan. Every pitch takes a little bit off my life expectancy…
Wow! At first I thought he popped that up..then Guti looked at the wall like it was going out…arghgh
Aren’t you getting this series confused with the Celtics-Bulls?
Haha yeah I realized my follies! Every game has gone at least to the bottom of the 9th, this has been a good series.
Whoa where was that pitch?!?!?!?!?!?!
How can Cousins call the earlier 2-0 pitch right on the corner a strike, and then call THAT pitch a ball? It was right down the middle!
According to the Pitch FX data on MLB Gameday, it was literally right down the middle.
Come on, AB – this would be a fantastic time for your first long ball of the year…
WHY IS BELTRE SWINGING 3-0 ??! GOD!!
how on earth was he greenlit 3-0 there? That’s Wak’s fault
I wonder if PitchFX or similar will ever be in charge of calling balls/strikes.
Why is Beltre still in the everyday starting lineup, even after having an awful start to the season? He has played every game this season, the only M’s starter to do so. Why not let Cedeno play for a bit? I havent seen him in 3 weeks..
Flowin’ -
If the argument is to give Beltre a day off… maybe.
But if the argument is to bench him, have you seen him play defense? And the bat will come around.
Beluga Tits is in — game over.
Batista! I’d think the A’s would be the ones wanting to get outa the park, now, not the hometown team.
Why the frick is Batista in? Dammit.
Flowin – Cedeno has been nursing a hammy injury, that’s partially why you haven’t seen him lately. That said, he should be playing for Yuni now, not Beltre.
Batista, not the last man standing but it feels like he is going to drive the bus over the cliff.
Miggy Bat is clutch.
M’s gotta score fast, Batista is like a dam that is on the verge of bursting.
Ok… earlier, the argument is certainly NOT to bench Beltre, but to just give him a day or two. I didn’t know about Cedeno’s hammy.. thanks.
Batista isn’t looking too bad, certainly better than Silva. Still, I dont trust him. Lets just score in the bottom of the inning.
amazing. Griffey is the only one on the team not determined to never take a walk. I feel like I’m watching a softball game, guys swinging at pitches 3 feet outside just so they can continue batting instead of getting on base.
Double play for Yuni. What a shock.
Now we get to hold our breath for 3 more outs..
Wow Vintage Yuni right there
If I were the manager, and saw that “I’m such a bad boy” smirky face on Betencourt after hitting into that double-play, I’d slap him silly.
But I’m crazy that way.
Frickin Yuni!!! Why does Wak refuse to pinch hit?!?
^more importantly, when was he planning on sending Guti? Wak should know he doesn’t have many pitches to decide..
Come on Batista, hold for 3 more innings… you know you want that win Miggy.
I don’t care if they only get some bats or a bucket of balls in return, TRADE YUNI!
For every good thing he does, he does like 5 things wrong!
Yeah, that too.
Sit down Sweeney!
Ugh. Cabrera hasn’t hurt us this game…yet. This will probably be it. God, I hate this little flea.
I’ll take being wrong there!
I wouldn’t have even bitched about a bunt in that situation. Normally a bad move there to bring them to 2 outs, but at least it would have kept Yuni out of the DP and given Ichi a chance to drive in Guti from second…
That’s right Miguel! Raise your trade value!
Four pitch walks against a guy hitting .143
Not good.
Well, back to holding my breath…
Oh man… 3 more outs! Come on Miggy!
Time for Ichiro to pitch!
Come on double play ball right here…
Wow, did they really just say 18 balls and 17 strikes for Miggy? God I’m sick of him…
(19 now…)
Wow-
I leave for 3 innings to mow the lawn (when I saw Batista on the mound) and surprise! We’re still playing! Good for you, Miggy.
Now if you can stop walking the lead off guy in extra innings (see: walking Crosby to lead off the 9th yesterday)…
Davis is running 1-2… I think Wak senses it too…
Edit: Maybe he didn’t sense it.
Damn you Lopez!!! That was HORRIBLE!
Wow horrible throw and now there’s a runner at 3rd with no one out. ugh
I hope they give Kenji (for even bothering to throw) AND Lopez for not bending over… BOTH errors.
Yeah, Yuni, that thing rolling past you into the outfield would be the game ball. You might want to stop it.
wow..did Yuni even try to back that up?
E-4 in my book – no way he should not stop that.
who do we have left in the pen? Just a banged up Morrow?
Glad that was a foul ball
Vargas is the only one left in the pen. Morrow’s on the DL.
Just setting up the double play!
You know what, ground ball now and I don’t mind hitting him there… Let’s get a DP.
And the game begins to unravel… I only wish Yuni was playing for the A’s and was up right now.
We still have Vargas in the pen…
Ugh Miggy… we could really use a double play and we really need to score at the bottom of this inning. I don’t think we can hold out much longer.
What’s an authentic jam? If this is one, then what’s a replica jam, second and third?
BIG K!!! Wow… Nice dip on that one…
Who’s the guy in MB’s uni?
Strikeout. Maybe Miggy isnt that bad after all. I think he is better than Silva. Maybe we should switch him into the rotation for Silva. Can’t hurt…
You know what though, no matter the outcome of this game, our bullpen has kept us in it for almost 8 innings. We should be asking a little less from Miggy and a little more from our offense..
please DONT walk the backup catcher, who is hitting .174!!!
Edit: Did I forget to mention, please don’t hang a slider against him either.
Is Batista auditioning for N.S.C.S.’s spot in the rotation? Clutch up Miggy!
(Silence)
i spoke too soon. game over. fuck.
shit
Terrible.
good….at least they’re warming up Vargas now….
Oh..
I requested a double play, not a double given up to a backup catcher on a cheap team who looks like a beer league softball player.
Fuck, and now the wheels fall of Lopez again.
Damn it Lopez. You are picking a bad time to lose your head.
How many leadoff walks come around to score? It’s not a pretty number… Lost us the game in the 9th last night… And is losing us the game today. (Rolls eyes at Lopez’s bobble…)
When was that fake to third throw to first that worked?
Alex,
Your point is actually still pretty good– 4 innings and 2 runs (so far) from Miggy is pretty good. We really need to score some runs…
G-Man…
Can’t remember exactly when, early on, and in the books the out would have been at home, the runner broke and we threw to 1st but Branyan actually threw to home and they got the runner from 3rd out in a rundown.
Why is Batista still on this team, again?
That appeared to be actual analysis from Blowers.
The last two games have been depressing.
I don’t blame Batista for this. Yeah he sucks but we got the best out of him we could have hoped for. I blame the errors and for leaving him in so long. Wasn’t hard to see he was out of gas this inning and the Oakland hitters were catching on.
Jeff-
I think ’cause he stands as close to Silva as possible as often as possible, and seems like a lower priority of concern that way.
It’s not really about blaming him, he just serves no useful purpose.
Either that, or Batista has video of Wak of Mr.G in an embarrassing moment?
While I don’t think Batista is completely to blaim for this, I would still love to be rid of him and/or Silva.
I have an idea. Why don’t we start a pledge drive and see if we can get the Mariner Nation to donate money to the cause. If we can get enough donation money (say $50 million), we can give it to the Mariners to offset the cost of DFAing Batista and Silva.
Any takers? I’ll put down $20.
DSmiley-
I would seriously put up $100. No lie. Brilliant idea.
Regardless of the outcome, you needed to/should’ve won this game in the bottom of the 9th when you had 2 on, 1 out (and Gutierrez at 2nd) for Ichiro and then Lopez.
Let’s hope Gonzalez is out of gas too and we can win it here. Nothing like a lead off hit from Beltre.
Wow Gonzalez up to 65 pitches. Wlad better come through, I can remember several chances he’s had to come up big so far this year and yet to deliver.
Wow nice work Wlad! Glad I did the reverse jinx.
I sense a Balentien/Chavez platoon coming in the next few weeks… Wlad has earned it with his bat recently.
Just not the DP, Kenji.
Is there an obvious reason why Griffey isn’t pinch hitting for anyone?
Nice walk Joh! alright Guti, little leaguers dream about this at bat their whole life. Make yours come true.
Who was that making sweet love to their bat in the dugout?
Having a gay porn flashback: “I imagine that Endy’s been warming up downstairs…”
Lauren, Gonzalez is a lefty.
Juneau – We’re not going down that road again….
Does Oakland have anyone warming up?
HEYYYY!!! THIS GAME IS NOT OVER!
Oh wait.. here comes Yuni. nevermind.
Mrmitra, Bailey just got up in the Oakland pen
Edit: Bailey just sat back down. I guess his arm isn’t recovered from yesterday?
Edit2: Bailey’s back up. Seriously, I’m getting dizzy.
What’s that called when one of our guys doesn’t swing at 4 pitches out of the strike zone, and then gets to go to first base… That’s pretty cool, why don’t we do that more often?
Why, why, why is Yuni batting!!!!!?????
Alright Yuni, make us all look silly with your amazing batting finesse.
Guti would be good at taking balls wouldn’t he?
Oof. Griffey hitting .091 against lefties this year. Good point.
Yuni: PATIENCE.
C’mon, Ichiro. Selfishly hit a game-winning home run.
If it weren’t for Lopez’s error, this game would be tied.
Is it me, or has Ichiro been in the position to win this game like three times today?
I’ll take that, alright Ichiro, seal the win for us!
This poor kid. I want us to win, but Gonzalez has really put everything out there.
And if it weren’t for Lopez we wouldn’t have won the game on Friday
Ichiro! selfishly tying the ballgame. And was that Yuni hustling to third? Great baserunning!
Yeah I agree…90+ pitches in relief is ridiculous.
How selfish of Ichiro to just hit a game-tying single instead of hitting it out of the park.
ICHIRO!!!
I am quickly losing all of my fingernails. My hair will be next. What a game!
Ichiro I love you!!!!
Okay, I said it once before this game… But 14 pitches from now we win!
Wow, what a game this has been. Those people who left are feeling stupid now though.
Yeah I agree…90+ pitches in relief is ridiculous. Terrible managing by the A’s right there.
I really need to go buy groceries….but I’m not going anywhere.
(double post – deleted)
(double post – deleted)
Holy frickin crap… I’m stoked that they came back, but I was so ready for Lopez to get a walk-off again. I don’t think my heart can take much more…
Last year I would’ve turned off my computer after the top of the 13th. Thank you Jack Z and Wak for everything! This summer is going to be so much better than last year!
I’ve been waiting to go outside for a couple hours now but now way I am leaving this game.
I like Vargas here… Innings and innings of right handers and the lefty cleans it up.
All these close games have really messed up my dedication towards studying for finals
I kinda like this Vargas guy
Ichiro! has once again earned the exclamation point.
PS. We’re at $120 for the “Find Batista and Silva a (New) Home Fund.”
Vargas might be earning an extended stay in The Show.
Oh wow.. I walked away and the game is TIED?!?!?!
Wow.. this Mariners team has resilience!
That wasn’t fair for Davis. That pitch was a ball earlier for Jak (see pitch f/x chart above).
Yea I pretty much clicked off ESPN, enraged once again at Murder He Wrote. But now, rejuvenated!
Whatever the outcome of this game, send Silva to the DL/AAA and DFA Batista. Please.
Of course, the one problem with K after K is that JV has to pitch the last 12 innings of today’s game.
I am not a fan of Batista at all but I can’t help but feel sorry, there’s no way he should have been throwing 60+ pitches in relief.
Those older ladies are hangin’ in there! Awesome.
Vargas is really the last option? If worst comes to worst, would Wak use tomorrow’s SP?
I can’t imagine Wak would use Felix. One of the lesser starters would be better if needed.
Where’s John Mabry when you really need him?
I know … Griffey!
I predict lead-off triple by Sweeney. Intentional walk to Beltre. Bunt single by Branyan for the win.
Let’s do this.
Mr. Mitra -
I’m so glad I’m not alone. And to make matters worse, I’m a senior so between the M’s and graduating in two weeks.
Ugh.
Branyan is due, I’m predicting a homer to win the game this inning.
Yep.. i have a great feeling about this inning.
I still can’t believe that they left Gonzalez in there, when they still have pitchers available. With us, we had no choice, since we used everybody up.
Gonzalez is STILL in the game!?!?!?!?!??!!
WHAT!?!?!?!
Ok, if his bat hadn’t shattered that definitely would’ve been a home run.
Ibanez plays left for the A’s? (Thanks, Holliday!)
Oh great, if Johnson ends up winning the game for them we’re never going to hear the end of it…
Ok, no need to worry about that I guess…
Why is Gonzalez still in there? Do they want to kill him?
Okay, so who pitches once Vargas has pitched 100? Silva didn’t pitch a lot last game, plus that’d be a sure way to end the game quicker… Just saying.
mrmitra, I can’t believe that either. I didn’t think the A’s bullpen was that taxed. What are they thinking exactly?
Ok, I’m kind of a baseball beginner, but can’t they make stronger bats?
Gonazalez has been a stater for most of his career. Not saying it’s a good idea, but he’s used to throwing a lot of pitches.
I hate to look ahead but we absolutely need Felix and Bedard to go at least 7 innings apiece the next 2 days (especially since I’m flying up from NorCal to see them!)
Raven – He’s probably not even ready to pitch. He’s downstairs workin on the Mini Sirloins already wondering where everyone else is.
jld, a lot of bats nowadays have a really thin handle and are lighter weight than in the old days. Plus, there’s a difference between the maple bats and the ash bats, I believe the maple bats tend to shatter while the ash bats will just break cleanly. Most ballplayers use maple bats though.
Regardless, his stamina is overtaxed, and it cost them the game in the 13th inning. Why couldn’t they bring in Muertz or somebody to shut the door?
Hey.. I’m not complaining. Im just grateful that our management is no longer that incompetent.
Horrible baserunning by Petit. A ball over Gutz’ head, he’ll score if it gets down anyway, so why not tag? The A’s are really finding ways to lose this game…
Edit: *moot point*
Can we have SOME kind of a moratorium on “Silva’s fat!” jokes? They’re just really not funny. Let’s face it, fatness is the least of his problems.
How old is Vargas? He’s looking pretty good so far. 4 or 5 Ks, plus he’s thrown quite a few strikes. Does he usually start in AAA or is he a reliever?
Yesss… Ok guys. THIS is the inning. Lucky 15th. We gotta score here. Or else Felix is gonna have to start warming up.
Either that, or maybe Ichiro can pitch!
Vargas was cool like the other side of the pillow picking that one… really strong first outing by him
Yea, skinnier Silva is way worse. Fat Silva was Bob Gibson compared to the new version.
Win Mariners. Win now. Win.
Wow.. they finally pulled Gonzalez.
Will Yuni be able to get this sac bunt off?
I really can’t believe that the A’s only had 3 relievers at their disposal for this game.
Was it Jack Z who didn’t want Ichiro! pitching in the WBC? I know he was throwing before the compitition.
Yuni, please, please, please show us that Endy’s been teaching you how to bunt still.
I LOVE Guti…
Ok Wak. Now you gotta send him on the first pitch. Before Yuni can hit into that 6-4-3
Holy cow! Unbelievable!
Yessss! A Yuni screw-up worked in our favor!!!
What is it with the sac bunt errors this year?
Eveland has a dinner reservation he needs to get to before it’s too late.
OMG, Ichiro to win it!
Oh, damn, intentional walk?
Horrible bunt, but apparently Eveland wants to go home…
Lopez gets his chance again…
Lopez gets a chance to star again.
Axtell, no it was a horrible bunt, but luckily the A’s really don’t want to win this game.
Bwhahahhwhaha!
Axtell, no it was a horrible bunt, but luckily the A’s really don’t want to win this game.
Good god what a ride!
That’s a HUGE win
How was that not caught with a shallow outfield?
YESSSSS!!! MARINERS WIN!!
J. Lo has been showing awesome plate discipline lately. You’d think he could be teaching Yuni some of that during their tandem bicycle rides.
And… YES!
Jose!!!!! Wow this was an awesome game!
Holy Crap! What a game!!! It may have been UGLY, but it was entertaining as hell!!
Bwhahahhwhaha! That was amazing.
Holy shit that was an awesome game.
Excellent come from behind victory: Once again the M’s show some surprising strengths and showcase already known shortcomings. This may also be a good sample of how weak the division really is as well, all the better for Seattle.
That was a terrible play in center field. Not sure what happened.
double post deleted.
Twice in three days for Lopez . . . dude’s having a pretty good week.
That wasn’t so much a Mariners win as it was an A’s loss…who cares, I’ll take it.
I’ve never seen a fangraphs playlog with a leverage index over 7. That rally in the 13th inning had two of them, back to back — Yuni and Ichiro. And after Brayan flew out earlier that inning the M’s bottomed out at a 4.8% chance of winnning. Four point eight. There was a better than 95% chance that they had lost. And then they didn’t.
Un-fucking-believable.
Whatever this team does down the stretch, whatever it does in the division race, it’s certainly been delivering entertainment.
Wow..that was a battle of attrition. The A’s definitely wanted to lose that more than the M’s. Anyone else think if the CF comes up with Jose’s single on one hop, he has a chance to throw out Guti at home on the force if he throws a strike? Guti was probably standing on 3rd when the ball hit the grass..
What.
The.
Hell?????
I turned it off when Beluga Tits gave up the two runs–figgered there was no way.
What.
The.
Hell.
Unbelievable game. But, really….Bob Geren has to be about the most strategically incompetent skipper in the bigs.
Case in point: Gonzalez wobbling, he gets Bailey up. Then after what must have been 4 tosses, sits him down. Gonzalez gets an out. Then looks wobbly again. So up goes Bailey, again. In a panic. But after that, all ready to go, right?
In the meantime Gonzalez was working on FUMES for at least his last 25 pitches.
But. Geren. Keeps. Putting. Him. Out. There.
Then Geren finally goes and gets….Dana Eveland, one of their starters. Who grits his teeth with each ginger throw and looks like he’s worried his arm’s gonna fall off after each pitch.
(Fastball went from 90 to 88 to 86 in the space of about seven pitches!)
And, of course Eveland gives up a bloop hit for the loss after a botched throw to second that he never should have tried.
Not that Geren told Eveland to try and throw that ball to second and set up the winning run…but it’s wonderful to have my team benefit from the other manager being such an idiot with his bullpen.
I can’t get this smile off my face.
[you are not the judge of fandom]
The sun was out, and shining across the middle of the field. That is the only explanation that makes any sense, that the A’s centerfielder didn’t see the ball off the bat. Otherwise, absolutely correct, with the outfield pulled in there is no way that last hit should have dropped in.
True story: I left to go biking on the East Lake Sammamish Trail. The game went into extra innings just before I started my ride. The entire ride south (11 miles, per the King County parks link above), the game was tied. The A’s scored just as I turned north. The M’s of course tied it and I finished my ride about the time they brought Eveland in. I expected to spend the ride listening on the radio to the Rangers and White Sox on the ESPN late game. Not so much.
Welcome to the American League, Jason Vargas.
We were in the center field bleachers today, and that ball dropped because the CF got a TERRIBLE read/jump on the ball. As soon as it went up, I looked at the dude and said “um.. dude.. you might wanna.. hey, you should probably.. start uh…”
SWEEEEEEEEEET!!
And yeah, Yuni’s bunt was REALLY bad. Bunted HARD right back to Eveland. Was going to be a DP for sure.
But I will take it!
(go M’s)
I wouldn’t be surprised if the M’s put up 6+ runs today.
All right, but how many innings did you think it would take?
I had to go to work after Sweeney’s HR. On checking the box and the play-by-play, then reading the remainder of this thread, my question is:
how many Mariners’ fans required treatment for repeated cardiac arrest?
Roller coasters are fun, but this one was right out of that Roger Rabbit short.