Comments on: Not Sure If You’ve Heard http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/ Seattle Mariners blog and general baseball discussion Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:00:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: joser http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362502 joser Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:49:38 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362502 Speaking of adorable pictures, remember <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/4294273105_836af3e8f8_o.jpg" rel="nofollow">this</a> hair-and-hat combo, or more frequently <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4295016572_7022978c26_o.jpg" rel="nofollow">non-combo</a>? What I most distinctly remember about that version of Felix Hernandez -- aside from all the times I saw him in Tacoma looking bored at the non-challenge AAA batters were giving him -- was him challenging Vlad Guerrero in that ST game... and blowing him away. Speaking of adorable pictures, remember this hair-and-hat combo, or more frequently non-combo?

What I most distinctly remember about that version of Felix Hernandez — aside from all the times I saw him in Tacoma looking bored at the non-challenge AAA batters were giving him — was him challenging Vlad Guerrero in that ST game… and blowing him away.

]]> By: Lauren, token chick http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362483 Lauren, token chick Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:29:50 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362483 Did y'all see the freaking adorable picture of Felix in his fancy suit? http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2010857214_mari22.html Did y’all see the freaking adorable picture of Felix in his fancy suit?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2010857214_mari22.html

]]> By: dingla http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362450 dingla Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:58:11 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362450 favorite Hernandez moment? heres a good one: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200806232991136 favorite Hernandez moment?

heres a good one:

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200806232991136

]]> By: joser http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362401 joser Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:46:31 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362401 Pineiro is a very different pitcher than he was when he left Seattle. Last year he was <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=2&season=2009&month=0" rel="nofollow">the groundballingest pitcher</a> in all of baseball... and it wasn't even close. Over his five seasons with the M's he had a GB% around 45%; with the Cards last year it was over 60%. That's a huge change in his pitching profile, and as Jeremariner notes it seems to be mostly due to a fastball he now throws far more often (and effectively). Judging Pineiro based on your memories of his time here is misleading. However, that was with the Cards, in the NL, and it was just one year. Will he be able to do it again, this time in the AL and (perhaps most importantly) no longer under Dave Duncan's miraculous tutelage? The Angels clearly think he can, and they (unfortunately) aren't a stupid organization; they also have a decent infield defense to leverage. It's a gamble, but it's not a bad one. I wouldn't chortle overmuch about this move. I look forward to seeing the M's play against Pineiro, but it's not without some trepidation. Pineiro is a very different pitcher than he was when he left Seattle. Last year he was the groundballingest pitcher in all of baseball… and it wasn’t even close. Over his five seasons with the M’s he had a GB% around 45%; with the Cards last year it was over 60%. That’s a huge change in his pitching profile, and as Jeremariner notes it seems to be mostly due to a fastball he now throws far more often (and effectively). Judging Pineiro based on your memories of his time here is misleading.

However, that was with the Cards, in the NL, and it was just one year. Will he be able to do it again, this time in the AL and (perhaps most importantly) no longer under Dave Duncan’s miraculous tutelage? The Angels clearly think he can, and they (unfortunately) aren’t a stupid organization; they also have a decent infield defense to leverage. It’s a gamble, but it’s not a bad one.

I wouldn’t chortle overmuch about this move. I look forward to seeing the M’s play against Pineiro, but it’s not without some trepidation.

]]> By: Jeremariner http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362387 Jeremariner Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:24:02 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362387 First of all, the main point was that Sheets will be harder to sign now. And yes, of course I remember Pineiro's decline as a Mariner. And he might suck again. But to be fair to the guy, his recent success can't be entirely discredited as an NL fluke. He has had a veritable fastball renaissance ever since he put some sink into it. Compare his fastball over the last two years, both with the Cards: 2008 -- FB%: 58.4; wFB: -20.1 2009 -- FB%: 71.0; wFB: +23.1 To compare, the highest Runs Above Average Sheets has ever had on his fastball was 19.2. Felix? 19.0. Was this a one-season spike for Pineiro? Probably. But a total fluke? I doubt it. First of all, the main point was that Sheets will be harder to sign now.

And yes, of course I remember Pineiro’s decline as a Mariner. And he might suck again. But to be fair to the guy, his recent success can’t be entirely discredited as an NL fluke. He has had a veritable fastball renaissance ever since he put some sink into it. Compare his fastball over the last two years, both with the Cards:

2008 — FB%: 58.4; wFB: -20.1
2009 — FB%: 71.0; wFB: +23.1

To compare, the highest Runs Above Average Sheets has ever had on his fastball was 19.2. Felix? 19.0. Was this a one-season spike for Pineiro? Probably. But a total fluke? I doubt it.

]]> By: Techno_Viking- http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362348 Techno_Viking- Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:45:37 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362348 Haha! That's fantastic news! I'm guessing he won't be welcomed back to his old American League home very well. <blockquote> Hmmm, Piniero, did he not already have his career derailed by the AL? Welcome back to hell for Mediocre pitchers Joel. I am sure you remember the nightmares. I give him 6 starts max before he hits the wall. </blockquote> I couldn't agree more. 6 starts seems fair, probably less but hey. Well see how he fares soon :) . Haha! That’s fantastic news! I’m guessing he won’t be welcomed back to his old American League home very well.

Hmmm, Piniero, did he not already have his career derailed by the AL? Welcome back to hell for Mediocre pitchers Joel. I am sure you remember the nightmares. I give him 6 starts max before he hits the wall.

I couldn’t agree more. 6 starts seems fair, probably less but hey. Well see how he fares soon :) .

]]> By: Jake N. http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362330 Jake N. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:39:18 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362330 Hmmm, Piniero, did he not already have his career derailed by the AL? Welcome back to hell for Mediocre pitchers Joel. I am sure you remember the nightmares. I give him 6 starts max before he hits the wall. Just fishing, but does it appear that noone wants to sign with the Mets? Hmmm, Piniero, did he not already have his career derailed by the AL? Welcome back to hell for Mediocre pitchers Joel. I am sure you remember the nightmares. I give him 6 starts max before he hits the wall.

Just fishing, but does it appear that noone wants to sign with the Mets?

]]> By: Goody http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362329 Goody Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:28:53 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362329 Joel Piniero might find the AL West as unhospitable as it was when he left it. Perhaps he should have stayed in the NL with the pitcher hitting? Joel Piniero might find the AL West as unhospitable as it was when he left it. Perhaps he should have stayed in the NL with the pitcher hitting?

]]> By: Arron http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362328 Arron Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:08:17 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362328 I've got good news and more good news: The Angels signed Pineiro. The Mariners didn't sign Pineiro. He is terrible. Batting practice. I'm so glad we didn't sign him. I’ve got good news and more good news: The Angels signed Pineiro. The Mariners didn’t sign Pineiro.

He is terrible. Batting practice. I’m so glad we didn’t sign him.

]]> By: ninjasintheoutfield http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/01/20/not-sure-if-youve-heard/comment-page-2/#comment-362327 ninjasintheoutfield Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:00:52 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10075#comment-362327 Someone smack me with some knowledge regarding the risk of waiting a few more weeks and bottom feeding on what's left of the pitching market? If the Value of Pineiro (puke!), Sheets, Smoltz, Pedro, Wang, etc.. are all relatively similar....Is it logical to expect at least two of these top 5 or 6 may get a little desperate as we get into mid February? Is Ben Sheets at 10 or whatever his number ends up being of better value to the 2010 M's that say pedro and wang at close to the same number? Am i way off base on what these players will be expecting in terms of 2010 salaries? Someone smack me with some knowledge regarding the risk of waiting a few more weeks and bottom feeding on what’s left of the pitching market? If the Value of Pineiro (puke!), Sheets, Smoltz, Pedro, Wang, etc.. are all relatively similar….Is it logical to expect at least two of these top 5 or 6 may get a little desperate as we get into mid February? Is Ben Sheets at 10 or whatever his number ends up being of better value to the 2010 M’s that say pedro and wang at close to the same number? Am i way off base on what these players will be expecting in terms of 2010 salaries?

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