Game 115, Mariners at Rangers
Happy Pineda day!
Pineda vs. Ogando, 5:05pm
A great pitching match-up is mighty useful to ameliorate the pain of a lost season, and, at least on paper, this one’s basically oxycontin. I’m not looking forward to watching Ogando face this line-up, but we can hope he’s wearing down after passing the 130 IP mark in his last start. Not that there’s any evidence of that, mind you – his velocity’s pretty consistent, he had a good July (and one start in August) statistically. Fundamentally, I’d just like a well-pitched game after last night’s walk-fest, and if the defense wouldn’t mind playing up to their potential, that’d be nice too. I don’t feel like I’m asking a lot.
He’s 1-0 against the M’s this year, yielding 1 run in 12 innings, on 7 hits, 3 walks and 10 Ks. On the plus side, the M’s have changed so thoroughly since he last saw them in May that these small sample results are worth even less than the nothing they’d ordinarily fetch. 7 of his 10 Ks came against Mike Saunders and Ryan Langerhans! I’ve pretty much forgotten that Langerhans played on this year’s team.
What I’m looking for from Pineda hasn’t really changed since his first MLB start against the Rangers back in April: I’d like to see him use his change to give the lefties something else to look for. The results of this particular game aren’t as meaningful as evidence of Pineda’s evolution as a pitcher. This will be Pineda’s third start against Texas – they know what he throws, and he knows most of these hitters. Now what? Can he still throw his FB by them? Will he still throw lefties his slider? Has the change-up been shelved?
With a righty on the hill, temperatures near 100 degrees and Trayvon Robinson on the team, I’d have thought this’d be a perfect day to rest Franklin Gutierrez. The M’s don’t agree, as they seem to operate under the theory that the best way for an enervated player to build up his strength is to put him in absurdly hot weather and have him chase down fly balls and run the bases. This seems so illogical, so…sweat-lodgical. I would point out that the M’s weren’t too bad at getting him a day off or two while Saunders and Halman were still around, and it seemed to help Guti.
The line-up:
1: Ichiro
2: Wilson
3: Ackley
4: Carp (1B)
5: Kennedy (DH)
6: Olivo
7: Gutierrez
8: Robinson
9: Seager
The Rainiers are facing Texas’ AAA affiliate in Round Rock right now, and they’ve added prospect IF Carlos Triunfel. The SS takes Luis Rodriguez’s spot on the roster. Gabe Noriega moves from High Desert to Jackson to replace Triunfel. Carlos has had a solid year, but we’re still waiting for a real breakout. Playing in the video-game-like PCL might help his stats, but we’ll have to wait and see if he’s able to MLB pitching. I’m still somewhat bearish on the guy, but I would love him to prove me wrong. The M’s could really use a decent back-up to Brendan Ryan next year, and if Triunfel wants to lay a claim to that spot, beautiful. He should play for the Rainiers tonight in Round Rock at 5pm; the game also marks Forrest Snow’s AAA starting debut.
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27 Responses to “Game 115, Mariners at Rangers”
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Clonk, clonk. Squeal. “Is this thing on?”
Not looking like resting Pineda was such a brilliant idea.
It’s dangerous and stupid to play Gutierrez on a day like this. It’s actually dangerous to do much of anything on a day like this in Texas, though with 4,095 consecutive days of 100+ degree temps whatcha gonna do. A Tropicana Stadium-like park sounds pretty good right about now.
Fixed it for you…. ;o)
Hey, look, the change-up! Keep using it, Michael.
I don’t know if the M’s can move him, but I am enjoying Jack Wilson’s house cat-in-winter hot streak. Singles, some gappers… I’ll take it.
That swing by Kinsler was classic. Pinedas slider’s great on rhb’s, especially following a 97 MPH FB.
FYI, Triunfel is 1-3 thus far in his AAA debut – game’s in the 6th.
Gabriel Noriega is 0-2 for AA Jackson.
That called “third strike” to Robinson was a pitch I hope he continues to take.
Pineda has settled down nicely. And Hurricane Jack Wilson continues to torment opposing pitchers.
Josh Leuke is not currently a major league pitcher.
Tough call against Seager. Robinson starting to look a bit like a miniature Peguero.
How do you not pick that guy off there?
Ichiro has to make that catch. This is getting painful to watch.
They should have been out of that inning already. First time I have seen anyone take off that early be dead to rights and somehow he manages to steal a base without the pitcher even throwing home.
So Jeff Gray walks a guy, lets up a mental mistake stolen base, and then a fly ball that hits the wall and you’re blaming Ichiro?
What a completely inept team. Truly awful.
He’s not blaming Ichiro. He’s saying that it’s a catch that Ichiro should and use to make.
Oh well.
Seattle Mariners Baseball: Who F-ing Cares?
There aren’t a lot of players on this team that you would call “major league”.
The team as a whole has a offensive WAR of 2.7. They have 7 hitters on their roster with a positive WAR. They have 6 with a negative hitting WAR.
They are, for all intents and purposes, a team of replacement level bats.
He’ll probably get the “be more aggressive” pep talk soon enough.
You’re probably right. Because swinging at a pitch just below your hands for strike three has proven so effective for this team all season.
Glad I didn’t leave work early to watch that train wreck. Just reading the recap and box score leaves me wanting to eat a whole tub of Tums™.
Must read:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2015828873_how_baseball_owners_use_the_re.html
In short, the M’s are printing money. They could contend if they were willing to spend the dough. They can also continue to fool us the “rebuilding myth.”
Geoff Baker, lol!
Well, if “proven so effective” means “gotten your manager to specifically point to you as an example of having a good approach at the plate”, then yes, it has been effective. 😉
And sorry I missed the game, but I was enjoying some extremely good barbeque at Branks BBQ in Sumner. Wait, I’m not sorry at all…
I had the exact same thought – yesterday. Except for Carp (who really isn’t a LF), the LF/OF contingent of callups has done a pretty good job of making sure Saunders stays in the mix. Quite frankly – Saunders could still end up being the best of the lot. Wells looks like he has legit tools to be a major leaguer, but more of a platoon guy than an every day player. LF is still a mess. 3B isn’t any better and the CF situation may or may not be resolved with the help of modern medicine. There is a troubling amount of mediocre talent. More depth for certain (with the recent trades) – but still a lot of fringy prospects.
It’s actually a VERY good article. It’s nothing like Baker’s usual speculation on this or that.