Game 86, Rangers at Mariners
The beginning of the post-Yuni era. Cedeno is at short, as he has been for some time now, but I remain curious about those Pirates scouts said to be in the stands in last night’s game. A more permanent move for a shortstop could be in order, and Dave has already talked up those possibilities plenty.
I’d also like to highlight Drayer’s final piece on this trade. Her clubhouse insights are, as always, excellent. While we have been frustrated with the performances of the Double Play Twins over the years, both have had their share of things to deal with early in their careers. I’d like to hope that Yuni uses this as an incentive to get back on track with his career, as he’s not a bad guy, just rather unfocused.
Anyway, let’s get to the lineups. I notice that Branyan, as of last night, has moved back to the second spot in the order.
RF Ichiro!
1B Branyan
2B Lopez
DH Griffey
CF Gutierrez
LF Langerhans
C Johjima
3B Woodward
SS Cedeno
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I’m hoping it’s a good, boring blowout tonight.
No nail biting. None of this putting a guy on inning after inning and then flailing around. Just score some damn runs and get the game over with.
At what point last night did we win 1-0?
Poor Cedeno, how the on-air guys keep talking about he’s The Guy now, he can get comfortable, meanwhile we’re all expecting another trade. Hopefully, he’s a realist.
Wow…had to go watch the monster in the bath for a moment and Ichiro was up when I got back. I’ll have to figure out what happened.
That ball was on the plate on the pitch tracker, yet Ichiro turned it into a base hit.
Only took Morrow 6 pitches to get through the first inning.
It was probably 8-10″ above the plate. Well out of the strike zone, but it wasn’t a pure golf swing (he ducked down to hit it).
And here’s how to start that blowout.
ok, weird.
Jr & Omar.
I love Jose’s “shoes tied together” style of running.
Omar is one of the great shortstops of all time? Seriously?
I think it’s impressive that he’s still playing, but I think that’s seriously overstating his abilities.
Wow, I didn’t think they didn’t let Omar Vizquel play in the field; thought he was there to be a veteran presence, blah, blah.
Now you think Cedeno hits like crap, wait until Omar gets up. His bat speed has slowed down so much, if he does get a hit, it’s because he hits the ball on the back swing.
I wonder if there is something wrong with Branyan. He ends his 0-10 with a double but I don’t think the ball ever got higher than about 35-40′.
I keep saying that Jose runs like one of the Flintstones to me. He’s shaped like them too.
If you think Omar doesn’t rank with Ozzie Smith as a defender, then you haven’t been watching enough baseball.
And, by the way, another nice productive at bat by Ken Vidro Jr.
Lol…it’s fun watching Griffey run…
Griffey from first? You’d think Gutierrez would have been able to catch up with him and score too.
Just for you, diderot, Griffey ran the bases. That was some crazy running.
Good mocking by his teammates. And the on air crew!
Haha nice to see Jr’s teammates reviving him in the dugout after that run
Defensively he was great…but as an overall player I would think he would drop more into top 20 or 25. I was thinking about that, and trying to figure where he would really come out as a player.
Any other MLB team make as many base running errors as the M’s do?
Trying to think about actual names though, maybe he really is up there.
What do we senior softball guys scoring from first say? “Oxygen!!!!”
I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. Ichiro did a perfect impression of Griffey’s weird stride.
The funny thing is, I think Griffey was running like that on purpose, as a long, effect stride, like you see trained runners run. He probably paid someone to train him like that, only to get mocked!
Holy crap, that shot of Junior getting the treatment in the dugout was hi-larious.
Also, my love for Guti grows deeper every day…
Can Morrow go one friggin start without giving up a HR? Geez
Some very common word pairing going on lately…Woodward bobbles…
I hereby submit my chosen nickname for Franklin:
Wootierrez!
Damn Blalock.
I think that’s my favorite comparison. Very fitting.
I’m watching the pitch by pitch on my phone. How badly did Guti smoke the ball?
Why didn’t they throw Johnson in on that trade?
I hope the other shoe is going to drop soon on the trade front. Cedeno is only marginally better that Yuni.
Angels are quickly down 4-0 to the Yankees. Let’s hope it stays that way, as much as i hate to cheer for the Yankees.
And when is the bloom going to finally be off this particularly stinky rose?
Dammit, Brandon… (Ichiro!, that was almost one of your greatest catches ever.)
Yeah, Morrow’s not fooling anyone, by the sound of things…
Morrow is struggling. Doesn’t seem to be fooling anyone, guess he only has one pitch or something.
A little off the thread topic but I just heard that “saber-geeks” are opposed to Omar Vizquel in the Hall of Fame. As a Mariners fan this is the only really sabermeteric site (i know we all hate labels) i’m familiar with … so as we are watching Omar play … would anyone be willing to give me the basic framework for why Omar is not a HOF’er?
Frickin a, Brandon.
That’s what frickin happens when you groove fastballs down the middle. Dammit!!!
stupid walks, ahhhh
Morrow needs to be having his “growing pains” down in AAA like 95% of all starting pitchers at the beginning of their career!!
If you can sit a hitter against a pitcher that is particularly tough on him, why can’t you sit a pitcher against a team that wears him out?
I don’t tell me that the sample size is too small to make that decision. For Branden Morrow and the Texas Rangers there is a sufficient sample size, whether you’re counting homeruns or losses.
Um, about Cedeno being a fulltime MLB shortstop: no.
We could have sent Morrow to Tacoma instead of Vargas for the next couple of weeks.
Watching on gameday it appears that Morrow was squeezed on those walks… Probably would have turned out better with a better ump.
by the way, did lincoln or armstrong start up an alumni association there at mlb network? first harold, then valle, who’s next, phil bradley? jim presley? funny.
Was that Buhner sitting right behind the on-deck circle? Or just another really bald dude?
Well at least one M’s Facebook club is thriving.
That was Buhner. I’m curious about the strange eyes on the otherwise reasonably attractive woman sitting next to him.
Even 15 year olds know Morrow needs to stop throwing the fastball all the time.
Life to flying things!
That’s the second ball the rangers have let drop so far.
I love the reaction shots of that consummate professional, Ron Washington, at the Rangers’ crappy fielding.
Never gets old.
I love the shot of Ron Washington after that drop. I like to think of him talking in 1970′s black stereotypes.
Can’t always play the Padres Brandon.
The guy who played jesus in passion of the christ is in attendance. How random…
Now it’ll be 25 more pitches until Morrow throws another off-speed one.
I like the routes Langerhans takes to the ball.
Brandon’s bit hit or miss tonight, but if he can go one more inning against the bottom half of the Rangers’ order, that’ll help out the bullpen. I thought he’d be gone after 3 the way he was pitching earlier.
Brandon Morrow should have to wear Mac Suzuki’s number 96 while on the mound
Jim Caviezel is from Mt. Vernon, played basketball for O’Dea (Seattle) and Kennedy (Burien). Not so random.
First job as a paper route, I delivered the paper to his aunt.
Caviezel also went to the Univesity of Washinton and was a Sigma Chi. So not that random he was picked to play Jesus
That was a unique slide… Go go Ichiro!
Random Subway commercial in Spanish on FSN…
What is up with Branyan? I think the man needs a day off.
I never think of him as the guy from Passion of the Christ, but instead I always think of the lyric “You can be the Jews, I can be your Jim Caviezel” from one of the Lonely Island songs. Nobody ever said I thought too straight though.
The random Subway commercial in Spanish was on yesterday’s game too. Not quite sure why. Doesn’t that SAP translate the ads too?
Yuni trade on the front of yahoo sports, interesting. Do that many people really care? I’m just sayin.
Other than the 2 walks before the homer, it’s been a decent start by Brandon. Can he go one more inninng? I hope so. I don’t know what his pitch count is.
That was a nice play by Branyan to start the DP… Now we need a couple of runs, please.
Jose runs like Yuni.
Lopez thrown out by a player old enough to be his father. That man needs some running lessons from Griffey.
Ichiro would have had a double on that, Lopez out by a step and half at first.
Just as well Lopez was out, we don’t want him clogging the bases for Jr.
Clocking in at 25, Saltalamacchia v. Jakubauskas could be a contender for most letters in the last names of a batter – pitcher matchup (non-hyphenated division).
Ew. Our offense.
The article felt more like an admiration for Zduriencik’s trading skills than any big drama over Yuni.
I think of him as The Count of Monte Cristo. He really is a good actor…it amazes me we don’t see more of him.
And with that hit cedeno raises his avg to .153…
Crap. Kendry Morales with a 3 run blast, Yanks and Angels tied at 5.
Branyan home run please
Oh god
Noooooooooooooooooooooo!
This game is now over.
Here’s a new nugget from the yahoo short article:
Cortes recently got himself in a spot of trouble – he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication when police in Fayetteville, Ark., said they found him urinating outside a bar – but still comes highly regarded.
Take what you will or will not.
It Jose had any range, this would be a 5-2 game, not to be bitter.
Kelley needs to go back to AAA now. He needs work.
95Ms, it’s all in the posts about the trade. With funny comments.
Man what I wouldn’t do for 5 Jamie Moyers in the bullpen. The Rangers eat power arms for lunch. With the exception of “El Ray” last night and his off speed stuff was awesome.
ok that was a double for Griffey, there’s no reason why Lopez couldn’t score. Except wait, I forgot, Griffey’s fast now
Junior’s ball took one of those routes from The Family Circus Sunday funnies.
I swear to god, why, in all that is holy, do the M’s baserunners look at the damn ball the whole time they’re running, instead of the damn coach who’s paid to do it for them!!???
Lopez is running with his head completely twisted around behind him to see what’s happening, so he starts pulling up halfway to third. Griffey almost caught him! How about running hard, or as hard as your thick little Barney Rubble legs can go, and let the coach tell you to stop or not??
Okay, I feel better now.
How does Junior not score there?
So, he’s one of the whiz kids?
We always end up in the ass-end of our lineup in cluch situations
At least we have someone on the bench who can actually hit for once.
Shelton!! woo!
Is he going to stay in to play 3rd? If he hits a home run then its a problem we can deal with, if he doesn’t it won’t matter.
That may be my biggest Bob Feller-like b*tch about baseball the last several years. Don’t look at the damn ball, fool. Look at your base coach!
Thank you! Retire the old man who can’t hit, please!
Damn Juan Uribe.
Jonathan Sanchez now 3-8 with a no-hitter.
Of course, if you’re base coach is Bruce Hines…
How does Junior not score there?
He didnt score because kinsler woulda gunned him down just like he did branyan in the first
“First Giants no-hitter since John Montefusco in 1976″
Wow, that brings back memories, I took my wife, them my 16 year old girlfriend to see the Count at the ‘stick back in ’78. I froze my ass off because I had to give her my coat, cause she underdressed.
Man Sanchez would have had a perfect game if not for Uribe’s error. I believe Uribe owes him a steak dinner.
Ok Lopez, redeem yourself.
What does it take to get the crowd on their feet?
brandon only had 74 pitches tonight? why not let him go longer. Then jakab and everyone else could’ve been pushed back farther you know. I’m no expert or anything, but you know.
I don’t understand the “indifference” move by teams. I mean, make a throw. You pretty much get Branyan if you do and then the game would be over instead of tieing run still at the plate. Worst that happens is the catcher throws it into center and Branyan takes third. Odds are though Branyan would be thrown out.
Well, dammit. We need to take the next 2 now… hopefully Wash and Bedard are on top of their respective games…
Yes, but it also takes out the force at second.
I don’t understand the “indifference†move by teams. I mean, make a throw.
It’s not just making the throw it’s also taking one of your middle infielders out of position t if the ball is put in play. That’s what could really end up hurting you.
I’m very tired of this ‘on-the-job training’ for Morrow. We have other options.
I was really not a fan of Wakamatsu’s pitching changes tonight. I think Morrow, Jak and Olson could have gone longer, and now you’ve burned up more pitchers for the remaining 2 games. Instead, they get to Kelley and those are your deciding runs.
I still have no earthly idea why Shawn Kelley pitched tonight to get one flipping out.
Why, why, why does Wak NEVER pinch hit for Cedeno? I’d rather see Woodward bat in the eighth and save Shelton for Cedeno in the ninth. Why is he so in love with this guy?
“Yes, but it also takes out the force at second.”
huh? Doesn’t Branyan successfully making it take out the force at second too? I was talking about the team pitching. Indifference makes no sense for them, especially in this case. At least try to throw him out. In this case, given Branyan isn’t exactly speedy, they probably get him and the game is over. Instead they allow him to take second and give Lopez a chance to tie it.
It didn’t end up hurting Texas in the end in this case, but I just think letting someone have an extra base when you probably could have gained an extra out by throwing him out is silly. Often on defensive indifference the runner also isn’t running that hard as they expect the other team to let them have the base in those cases. To me when you see a potential out, you take it, even if you have the lead and that run by itself means nothing.
“it’s not just making the throw it’s also taking one of your middle infielders out of position t if the ball is put in play.”
That’s valid, however you could easily make the argument that that also might take the infielder to the ball if it’s hit up the middle (where they wouldn’t have got to had they not already been running towards there). It all really depends on where the ball is hit.
In this case with a slow runner who doesn’t expect a throw however, you pretty much guarantee an out if the person covering second catches the ball. So then game over and no more potential tieing run at the plate.
In Wak’s defense on this one, I think he was trying to get to his one power bat on the bench in a situation where he could tie the game with a home run. Other than tonight I completely agree though.
Lopez said he told Yuni, ‘maybe you can play in KC the way you used to play here a few years ago.’
Ouch.
“Lopez said he told Yuni, ‘maybe you can play in KC the way you used to play here a few years ago.’
Ouch.”
Wow, that’s tough love from your “best friend” if reports are true. Something Yuni probably needs to hear though.
Because that would be plain stupid. You bring up Shelton with a man on and he’s the tieing run, exactly the place for a power hitting pinch hitter. Woodward isn’t going to tie the game with one swing. You take your best shot when it will do you the most good, you don’t save your best pinch hitter for a lower leverage spot.
OK. Howzabout Wak runs Shelton out to third in the ninth, bat Wlad for Cedeno, and save Wilson for the chance the score is tied.
I wasn’t really paying attention, but first there was that bit, then Felix yucking it up about how he was going to get Yuni to strike out (I’m sure he will) when he faces him; he’s even told him the pitches.
These were his two best friends on the team. I’m sure they’re not stupid and saw it coming, but wow.
Just a thought. If it’s a no hitter against the Padres should it really count as a no-no?
Why isn’t Balentien getting any playing time? Is he a possible trade chip or have they just lost all faith in him?
hidalgo, i was thinking the same thing! I say it counts, but only the same as maybe a 6 inninng rain-delayed one (ala Meche’s 5 inning one). Everyone knows the 2/3rd Padres Rule, duh!!
On the whole, I haven’t questioned Wak’s pitching moves much at all. I think he’s done a great job this year with that (no exaggeration)! But, tonight, I esp. didn’t understand pulling Brandon. 74, really? It’s not even close to full. But, whatever. I’ll give Wak a pass since he seems to be doing such a great job this year.
Time to rock and roll tom and Sun and get the 3-1 series.
Ugh. It’s starting to look like we need to clear out all of the Bavasi stink, Morrow included
You may just tad bit ahead of yourself on that one…
Now that Yuni is gone, who will be Silva’s 4th meal wingman?
Because he’s not very good, would be my theory.
Okay, I know I’m not exactly the president of the Morrow Fan Club, but what do we do with him? He got hammered again tonight and was erratic. He doesn’t have the head to be a closer, so what do we do? Trade him? Make him an expensive long reliever? What the F&%$ do we do with him!!