Game Two, Mariners vs Oakland @ Tokyo
Vargas vs Colon, ungodly a.m.
Hey, remember how Mike Carp was going to be the everyday left fielder? Not saying that Eric Wedge has already changed his mind, but Carp isn’t playing in game two, even with a right-handed pitcher on the mound. Instead, Kyle Seager is getting his line-up spot, and Chone Figgins has moved to left field for the game.
Now, this is absolutely the right move, as Vargas is an extreme flyball left-hander, so there’s going to be a lot of balls hit out to left, and Carp isn’t particularly good at that whole defense thing. You could argue for Wells in left instead of Figgins, but Seager gets another left-handed bat in the line-up against a righty, and as much as I know everyone hates Figgins, we just have to realize that he’s going to be in the line-up most days to start the season. So, it was Seager or Wells, and against an RHP, going with Seager is probably the better option.
So, kudos to Eric Wedge for this move and running out a line-up that gives the team a better chance to win, even if it forced him to bench his “everyday left fielder” in game two of the season.
Figgins, LF
Ackley, 2B
Ichiro, RF
Smoak, 1B
Montero, DH
Seager, 3B
Olivo, C
Saunders, CF
Ryan, SS
Also, despite my statement earlier in the week, no live blog for this one. The game starts in four hours and I haven’t even gone to bed since getting up this morning to watch the first one. If I do make it out of bed in time to watch Game Two, I won’t have any ability to form coherent sentences. FanGraphs is doing a live blog again, though, so you could join in on that one, or just hang out in the comments here. Or sleep. That’s an idea too.
Comments
133 Responses to “Game Two, Mariners vs Oakland @ Tokyo”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I dunno… an extreme flyball pitcher in a dome that I just saw described on baseballprospectus.com as an extreme hitters’ park – maybe not a good match-up for the Mariners.
The A’s shuffle their deck of AAAA 1Bs and start Kila Ka’aihue over Brandon Allen. They’ve got Josh Donaldson in at 3B as well, meaning Eric Sogard – who was oh-fer and made an error in the field despite wearing glasses – gets the day off. Jonny Gomes starts at DH in place of the lefty Seth Smith as well.
It’s been two games, but it looks like the A’s are going to platoon a hell of a lot more than the M’s.
I realize Seager had a pretty good spring correct? Isn’t it kind of weird he is batting 6th? Maybe not, I just figured he’d be batting a little later.
Here’s to hoping Smoak, Montero, and even Olivo can get some hits put together!
I was hoping we’d see Kawasaki play today with a RHP on the mound. Seeing as we’re in Japan for only one more game and all…
I did not realize until yesterday’s game how much I hate Figgins. I hope he’s terrible. I don’t care if his being good saves the club some budget room. I don’t care if his being good wins us the World Series. Ok, I would be cool with it then. But otherwise, No.
Carlos Peguero up, Carp to DL with sprained shoulder, from Churchill twitter.
Peguero eh…sigh.
They’re falling like flies!
Why aren’t these games at 1:00 in the afternoon in Japan, i.e. 9:00 PST?
CCW-
MLB did a great job with these games overall (snark)… Did you hear (real story here) some guys from various MLB teams in Florida came to the clubhouse early, at 5am this morning, to watch the game together, get in a “the season’s starting” mood, only to flip through the best cable/directTV whatever money can buy, find nothing, and realize eventually that the only two places with a live feed were Seattle and Oakland.
So the first game of the MLB season wasn’t available for even OTHER MLB PLAYERS to watch, on the national level.
Just a Fan-
“Carlos Peguero up, Carp to DL”
Does that statement change your opinion at all of Figgins starting in LF? *laugh*
He’s the lesser (stature) of two evils…
MrZ – I’m pretty sure the bay area didn’t have a feed, only Seattle.
Or Westy-
RE: Carp/Peguero
“They’re dropping pop flies!” (more apropo?)
Westy-
That’s worse… Seattle was the only market with coverage? They were planning on doing the same thing for this morning’s game, but after enough player complaints are showing it now (I think on MLB? Somewhere…)
Hehe, dropping pop flies…
I was thinking maybe this was God’s way of punishing people who complained about Carp’s routes to the ball – “You think CARP takes bad routes? Well, enjoy yourself a little PEGGY for a few weeks!”
Go M’s!
Man, Bartolo Colon is heavy!
I am bummed at the lack of glasses in the A’s starting lineup.
Jack has to be looking hard at outside sources for an outfielder.
Weeks looks like he’s in high school.
It’ll be interesting to see who gets the bulk of playing time in left – Wells or Figgins.
I’d guess wells will get the starts with LHP.
Kinda funny that we all wanted to see Figgins shipped, but right now, he probably is the best option as the fourth outfielder. Peguero, Robinson, and Wilson are all pretty equal to each other, none being realistic options. Then again, that never stopped this team before!
14 innings of baseball have been played in 2012 and we’re still looking for our first walk (either by us or issued by us). Opening Day 2001, Edgar had four walks.
MrZ – I would take Peggy over Figgins. Comedic value. I know somebody who insists Peggy is just fine out in LF — he catches what he gets to!
I like that Wells isn’t playing because he’s got platoon issues, but he’s better v. RHP than Figgins.
C’mon, SOMEONE get a hit!
This guy’s strike zone seems a bit generous.
^I’d argue Wells isn’t better against RHP.
Who would have expected to see Colon pitch perfect through four? Geez
I’m not sure the Iron Mike pitching machine couldn’t be perfect through four against this team.
Yes!!
Montero! Glad to see his first hit, happier to see Colon disrupted
After those first couple of swings, I’m really surprised not to see Olivo strike out.
It’s the catcher’s caravan of hits– Montero and Olivo!
Pinch hit Jaso
Perfect time for Saunders to do some damage
Good to see him make Colon work
Sorry, Blowers, no actual manager is giving Michael Saunders a green light 3-0 in this situation.
Wow, most of those pitches to Condor weren’t even close.
Seriously? Bases loaded and I’m getting “A Test of the Emergency Broadcast System”
CRAP.
You didn’t miss anything, MrZ.
Unfortunately.
More I thought about it… Isn’t EVERY bases loaded situation a “test of the emergency system” with this team?
“This is only a test… If this had been an actual scoring opportunity– we would have SCORED SOME FREAKIN’ RUNS!!!”
Nice catch Ichiro!
Did Major League Baseball really think this through? These are the two teams they wanted to be ambassadors of the American game to a world audience?
For real?
You’d think Colon and Vargas were leading the Cy Young voting.
Cespedes has been taking batting instruction from Miguel Olivo, apparently.
I still can’t believe they didn’t televise the exhibition games – those would’ve been fun to watch on decent video!
Second baseman is nowhere near the bag and Reddick dives in. Would be funny if the Japanese fans laughed at him.
Well, this game isn’t hurting Vargas’ stock.
Yeah, Vargas is looking quite good.
Wish we had Pitch F/X right now.
So, really… the A’s and the Mariners have two of the best pitching staffs each year because of playing so many games against each other– they all go 13-15 innings, and the total runs are usually somewhere between 1 and 3, for both teams combined…
Makes sense now.
Don’t forget Colon…. By weight, he’s two of the better pitchers we’ve faced this year.
Maybe they could agree that if neither team scores in 9 innings, the game is decided by who has the most hits…
Right now it’s a tie game: 2-2.
(I’ve noticed I’m super cynical when I’m tired. *laugh*)
Hehe, the dude is awfully heavy – but he’s schooling our boys pretty badly.
You haven’t slept yet, have you?!
Nope. (ZZZZzzzzz…)
If anybody from Barrier Auto is online, I was wondering if they could tell me who their target audience is with their commercials.
^The sleep-deprived and delirious
YEAH!
Suck it, Weeks.
NICE PLAY Dustin…!
Target audience: people who look like Paula Deen?
Steve-
I made the mistake of counting on the excitement of the game to get me through 9 innings. *laugh*
Good outing by Vargas so far, now if the M’s can only give him a couple of runs….
Target Audience: people who look like Heat Miser from the Christmas special “The Year Without Santa”? (That’s who she looks like to me)
Glad I get to telecommute tomorrow… but I hope this game doesn’t go to extra innings.
I’ve never seen a mechanic wearing a coverall that’s been ironed.
Target Audience: People who look like Ursula from Disney’s The Little Mermaid?
Smoak bomb?
Why is Jen Mueller in Japan, but Blowers and Simms are stuck in the Bellevue stuidio?
Sorry… my fault. I just woke up and that’s why there was no offense. Didn’t want me to miss anything.
SMOAK BOMB!!!
Called it.
Smoak!
Smoak! Finally, someone!
Heh and now SMOAKED!
SMOAK!!!!!!!!!!!
Hat tip to Ursula… good call.
Paula Deen? Ha Ha! Is that an inside industry joke?
YEEEEEEAAAH!
JMB, apparently a live video feed was going to cost too much. This way they can use the Japanese feed.
You’re predictions are worthless Z, you’re cheating, using delirium.
Inside industry joke? Isn’t she still on Food Network? I never watch it. Thought that was a pretty mainstream reference…
Be fair, Steve – that’s how the ancient Oracles used to do it, after all.
Do Blowers and Simms really need to be at any game to do what they do?
Steve-
True, but in my game we’re up 6-0… It was a 6 run homer. Delirium is fun.
At least they’re being honest about broadcasting from Bellevue.
Gomes gets my vote for dumbest necklace.
If I hear beer cans falling over from Simms and Blowers, I might start paying attention to what they’re saying.
I don’t know about the Food Network, but that Croque Madame she has on her web site is looking pretty darn good right now. I have a sudden urge to buy an Audi now too.
Uh oh, who’s gonna pitch?
I wonder what the fan reaction would be like if they brought Ichiro in to pitch an inning.
Jack-
I think you caught my delirium– sorry.
damn
dammit.
Well, crap.
DOUBLE CRAP.
man, I really hope this doesn’t go extra innings again
Not the best pitch he has ever thrown.
That’s why you don’t keep throwing the same damn pitch Kelley!
Seeing how we’re losing, I’ll take extras over a loss.
So…
The Cuban kid can hit mistakes… That’s good to know.
(I was just about to say “Kelley knows if he keeps leaving pitches up they leave the yard, right?”)
did Root Sports just try and rip off the sound track to Inception with that montage?
For some reason it seems odd to be hearing “Blitzkrieg Bop” in the Tokyo Dome.
Fail.
double damn
Oh, man…
Well this fell apart in a hurry.
Regression to the mean.
The back end of our bullpen is exactly as good as advertised.
Root jinxed this inning when they put up “End of 7th” on the on-screen graphic right before the two-run homer.
Should have left Vargas in there. Yanked after 86 pitches? Hindsight is 20/20 I guess.
Well, on the bright side– Vargas really WAS pitching pretty good, it’s not just the A’s lineup.
Good.
Yay.
I like the whole ‘mixing up your pitches’ thing Delabar does… He should sit by Kelley and Sherrill.
I miss Guti already. Damnit Saunders!
The Seattle Mariners – resurrecting opposing pitchers’ careers since 2005.
Rally coffee anyone?
Okay, I’m leaving the DVR running but given the way the game is going I’m going to try getting at least a couple hours sleep. Good night everyone.
Good morning?
Heh, the way the game is going it’s going to be over in 10 minutes anyway with a 1-2-3 top of the 9th….
JMB: I wonder if there are people who don’t know that the M’s are broadcasting from Bellevue who brought rally fries signs.
Just had rally coffee and a rally scone. Mmm, scone.
more fail.
Oh, COME ON.
Need some simple kind of baserunners….
stick a fork in us, we’re done.
and back to bed…..
From the perspective of having a full nights sleep and not having watched the game, the “switch” appears to have definitely been flipped in an “offensive” way.
And from the perspective of only having read enough of the thread comments to get a flavor of events without an excessive amount of detail: should someone start making a case to move the fences in at the Tokyo dome? Apologies if someone has already mentioned it previously.
Non Ichiro’s in the two game series: 8 for 51 … If early morning math skills are functioning correctly.
Thank goodness there’s another week of spring training for the boys to work out that whole “drawing a walk” thing.
Or, even accounting for the b.s. strike zone, that whole “being able to foul off pitches and work counts against mediocre second-string pitchers”.
I’m not going to overreact when there’s 159 games left, but my sentiment here is the same as it was before the trip to Japan: I don’t know if I can take another season of the team misunderstanding what Wedge means when he says “be aggressive”.
Well, if Wedge is combining that with his other message of “Olivo is a guy who has a good approach at the plate”, I can fully understand how they could “misunderstand” his mantra on agressiveness.
“I’m not going to overreact when there’s 159 games left,”
Good, but save that comment until after their 3rd game. With 160 games left – there is more time to pre-plan for possible over/under reactions .. and for that, I am thankful.
“Non Ichiro’s in the two game series: 8 for 51 … If early morning math skills are functioning correctly.”
Well, my early morning math skills turned out to be pure crap. The non-Ichiro’s batting line after the first two games is actually 8 for 60 (.133)
The “Non-Ichiro’s” will probably be able to go through the rest of the season without having a 2-game batting line worse than this.
Probably.