Game 115, Mariners at Angels
Hisashi Iwakuma vs. Dan Haren, 6:05pm
Hisashi Iwakuma and his excellent splitter faces off against Dan Haren and his famous cutter. Haren’s been a good-to-excellent pitcher for a decade, so it’s somewhat surprising to see him struggle the way he has in 2012. He hasn’t been awful (well, he was for a while in the early part of the season), but he’s just not the Dan Haren that the Angels traded for. His FIP currently stands at 4.27, the highest it’s been since his first half-year in the big leagues back in 2003. The biggest problem for him has been right-handed batters, who’ve hit a collective .320/.353/.511 against the right-handed Haren this year. The reverse splits aren’t a massive surprise, as he’s been harder on lefties than righties over his career – but the magnitude of them suggest something’s amiss. He did take some time off with a sore back earlier in July, and he’s been better since then, but even so, a league-averagey pitcher isn’t what the Angels expected, and it’s one reason the A’s are neck-and-neck with their richer rivals to the south.
Haren’s been declining for a little while now, as his velocity’s now solidly in the high-80s, and not the 91-92 he used to work at:
Lucky for Haren, he’s never really been a pure fastball pitcher, and his cutter’s still reasonably effective despite losing a few ticks along with every other pitch. The problem is that without average FB velocity to back it up, and with the cutter itself coming in at 85mph, it’s something of a feast or famine pitch. That is, it gets a solid number of whiffs, but it no longer gets a lot of ground balls, and as a result, some cutters get hit a very long way. That’s part of the reason Haren’s suffering from a poor HR rate.
Iwakuma knows all about a bad HR rate, but he’s pitching in what’s normally a good fly-ball pitcher’s park. Of course, it’s broiling in Southern California tonight, so the ball may fly a bit further than it normally does.
Tom Wilhelmsen’s going to rejoin the team soon following the birth of his daughter last night – congratulations to Tom and his family. That should mean we won’t see the absurdist comedy of last night’s game in which the Ms didn’t use their emergency closer (Stephen Pryor) because they weren’t in a save situation.
Line-up:
1: Ackley
2: Saunders
3: Seager
4: Jaso (DH)
5: Carp
6: Thames
7: Olivo (C)
8: Robinson
9: Ryan
SP: Iwakuma
Looks like someone doesn’t buy into Haren’s reverse splits; the M’s have seven lefties in the line-up tonight, including the switch-hitting Robinson. Go M’s!
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79 Responses to “Game 115, Mariners at Angels”
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Wow, what an outfield.
Nope – instead, we’ll see the absurdist comedy where the M’s won’t use their regular closer because they aren’t in a save situation.
I doubt any of us would think Wedge is even capable of that level of thought. This is the same guy who keeps people out of a lineup because they’re 0-fer-7 lifetime against a particular starting pitcher.
0 for 7 lifetime against a pitcher they haven’t even seen since 2008… Haha
We’ve been speculating for a while about players who might be a good fit here. Maybe it’s time to start looking at managerial candidates as well? I know I’ve seen enough of him.
Anyone else having the sound cut out occasionally (on Comcast)?
I am hearby banning Saunders from grounding out to second in all future AB’s.
Saunders grounds out to second base AGAIN.
Something is going on. I know all the argument about being “smart aggressive”, but I think it’s time for some of these guys to just stop listening to Wedge/Chambliss.
Saunders is probably listening to both Wedge and Chambliss.
Funny we were thinking the same thing, Westy!
So what time is it where you’re at in Brazil, Steve?
Four hours ahead. It’s winter here. Sunny, calm, but still winter. Very similar to summer there.
Other than swapping out an outfielder for Wells,and maybe Montero for Olivo, I don’t see much else that Wedge could throw out there. Unless you want to see Figgins and I sure don’t.
I know what you’re saying Steve, Wedge is old fashion and does a lot of things against the book but we knew that when the season started. He can only deal with the roster he given. Granted he sometimes doesn’t deal very well. But it is what it is.
I agree, Terry, but even one or two substitutions, could mean the difference. To be fair, it could be Jack requesting playing time for Trayvon. Still doesn’t sit well with me.
Let Jaso catch and DH Montero – Olivo should sit against righties, always.
Montero’s not particularly good against righties, but Olivo is terrible.
Given Wells’ slump, Trayvon being in the lineup doesn’t bother me as much. Given the lineup we’ve got, anyway.
At least Montero’s young enough that he should be given the chance to improve against righties.
Trayvon took advantage of a mistake. But still – it’s good that SOMEONE did for once!
I think I rather see Olivo play today than against Weaver tomorrow. I’m thinking Wedge wants to use him at least once this series. If I’m right I rather see him go today.. personally I wouldn’t use him this series at all.
That’s pretty much the whole game, taking advantage of mistakes.
Nice to see Ackley (mostly) turning it around lately.
Please be patient Michael.
THAT WASN’T PATIENT.
Maybe I created a reverse-jinx for Olivo and Trayvon? Glad to see them cash-in.
Steve, I think Condor could benefit from some of that reverse-jinx mojo right now…
Iwakuma with a perfect game so far…
Iwakuma’s looking sharp. I don’t know how accurate gameday is with location, but he appears to be hitting all the borders of the strike zone well.
I think Condor’s trying too hard to cover the hole in his swing
Jaso!!
Atta baby, Jaso!
Jaso!!! wow, do I have a slow connection.
wRC+ just got some air time on ROOT. And a pretty decent explanation as to what it was. I hope they go back to it and give it a little more explanaton time. That was good to see
Yeah, looks like the ROOT guys are reading LL now in addition to USSM!
(And there’s nothing wrong with that – I would encourage even more of it!)
I think they’re playing better because I switched from beer to whiskey….as good of a reason as any. Haha
What the hell was that?! Iwakuma…. some nerve, actually throwing a ball.
Dammit, there went the perfecto AND the no-no
Don’t count chickens just yet we lead 5-0 going into this inning yesterday.
Haha, Olivo is doing his best to prove me wrong!
Atta boy Miguel!
I am SO SICK of Wedge’s fascination with bunting!
He must be reading USSM between inngs. haha
All this bunting, yet he won’t try a suicide squeeze ever!
Clearly, Wedge has summoned Nostradamus, or maybe Edgar Cayce. I’ll give him credit for that. Good idea.
Maybe Eric Byrnes led to an organization-wide ban on the suicide squeeze, forever! hehe
With only one hit – we have guys on 2B and 3B.
This is great! It will be greater if they can be pushed across
Could be that gameday’s pitch recognition is off, but both Iwakuma and Haren, aren’t getting the low-outside calls.
Pujols! hehehe
We don’t have a lot of power which I think in Wedge’s mind means you play little ball.
Greater!
Keep throwin’ us runs, we’ll take them!
I guess in my mind “not having much power” means the team shouldn’t give away outs, ever.
Yay, Condor didn’t ground out to second! Little steps, little steps…
The Angels have power and giving away outs isn’t helping them either
Haren obviously was distracted by Jaso’s beard and ashamed of his sub-par attempt at growing one.
Heheheh Steve!
Weeeeee!
I am just going to go ahead and assume that we need a few more runs, regardless.
Given 2/3 of tonight’s Mariners outfield, I’d say that’s a reasonable assumption Mike.
Larry LaRue has already christened Eric “Adventure” Thames>
Iwakuma’s pace has been much better tonight. They must have said something to him about it. No glaciers gaining distance on him today.
Quick question – taking production and total salary cost into consideration: would you rather have Figgins or Vernon Wells?
Figgins, without a doubt. Wells is making 24.64 million this year – AND the next two years!!
What are you swinging at, Michael Saunders?
yeesh!!!
Yep, I think that is the right answer Westy. So, in conclusion … Having Figgins is a good thing – via a recent survey of Mariner faithful. I am now qualified to be a pollster.
Geez, Mike, that’s like saying I’d rather get punched in the balls than kicked in the balls.
Good analogy
Nice to see Thames get a hit.
Time to mix another drink. Haha
Damn, that Trout kid is pretty good
What was Thames thinking there!?
I can’t stand stupid baseball. Seriously. You need to know virtually nothing. Don’t screw up simple stuff.
Om listening to the radio broadcast, so maybe it wasn’t as stupid as it sounded?
All these mistakes force the issue of outfield depth. Tryna see the positives so I don’t pull all my hair out.
Damn, I was hoping to get another chance to see Josh Kinney pitch again today.
Nice game by Iwakuma, for the most part
Although of Wells contract would also come with the Angel’s payroll – or alternatively the best player in baseball, at MLB minimum salary – I’d take Wells.
I hope you’re joking, Mike. Don’t make me drive out to Horn Rapids and throat punch you. Haha
I’m watching the Seahawks – had to choose
Speaking of the Seahawks, how about those new uni’s? Yuck..
93 mph slider? Damn, that’s brutal.
Yes, I most definitely was joking. Not a Kinney fan
Man, Pryor just worked Trout over.
The Seahawks still play in the NFL – from what I have heard.
Uh, Rizz- at 200mph he could certainly afford a mistake location-wise.
Pryor is for real.
Everett vs Spokane is on SWX – for those who get that station.
Is that a recent game Mike? Seems that station shows some REALLY old games.
Don’t know for sure how old that game was, but one of the announcers made a reference to “that young pup Jackie Robinson”.
It was a live game. Mcgruder got thrown out trying to tag up and go from 1B to 2B for the last out of the inning with Zunino on deck. Everett was up by one at the time. A runner had tagged and gone to 3B on the same play. It seemed very much mariner appropriate for the last out to be at 2B with a runner on 3B and the teams best hitter coming up. Brumley could not be blamed for this one, though