Game 132, Mariners at Twins
Dave · August 30, 2012 at 9:53 am · Filed Under Mariners
Duensing vs Beavan, 10:05 am.
Morning baseball featuring two of the least interesting pitchers in the sport. Feel the excitement.
Ackley, 2B
Gutierrez, CF
Seager, 3B
Montero, C
Smoak, 1B
Olivo, DH
Robinson, LF
Thames, RF
Ryan, SS
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73 Responses to “Game 132, Mariners at Twins”
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Hey Dave, any thoughts on Jason Halmon being acquitted of Greg’s death?
Michael Saunders is out “one more day” with groin tightness.
Mike Carp was held out of Tacoma’s lineup yesterday… with groin tightness.
Why isn’t anyone TALKING about the epidemic of groin tightness in this organization? Is it Jack Z’s fault, or is this one final legacy from the Bavasi years? Is Big Media in on the cover-up?
3 straight games where we get only 1 of Montero and Jaso?
But, we get two straight games of Smoak and Olivo hitting back to back. Olivo is a DH? BAHAHAHAHA!
The Wells decision becomes more baffling every day. Saunders was hurt on a Friday. Wells was optioned 2-3 days later – after the team had a better sense of what Saunders “day-to-day” status, actually meant.
Groin tightness epidemic, huh? Westy … you would make an excellent straight man.
No pun intended.
I know this is subjective and probably inaccurate, but it always seems like Beavan immediately feels obligated to give back a run whenever the team scores one for him.
Hehe Mike.
I guess Smoak and Olivo did not hit back to back, yesterday. My mistake (they were 5th and 7th).
Today, we will get the more immediate feedback of their combined non-hitting prowess.
Beavan sure came ready to pitch, today.
Lively posting here today.
The team looks to be better in the second half than the last couple of years.
Is this because:
A. The team has improved.
B. We haven’t trade away starters this year.
C. The schedule is easier.
D. Add your own reason.
As boring as this game has been, it’s harder to keep myself distracted from my actual work – which is why I haven’t posted much today.
I’m going with A, Terry. But they are still maddening at times, like today for instance…
I’m retired Westy I don’t have that actual work problem anymore. Unless you’re talking about my lawn.hehe
E. None of the above
The team construct has changed so dramatically from 2 years ago, that a comparison of “the team” to itself, is impossible. It’s a different set of players wearing the same uniforms, though.
The players wearing the uniforms are better, have improved, or will likely improve as they enter their prime. If not, they will be turned into different players.
The overall outlook for the organizaiton looks ‘better’ than it did two years ago. They are making iterations of progress, anyway … IMO
There are two hitters on this roster that have worse seasons than our DH and 1B (each with a 64 OPS+).
Figgins and Mune.
Something is really seriously wrong when the DH and 1Bman are your worst hitters. Really.
This team is certainly better with Guti in the lineup than it is without him!
Terry, is it a lot of work keeping kids off your lawn?
Seager!
Yay, tie game!
Monty needs to come through … look at the two hitters directly behind him.
Great protection … mythical or not.
Monty hasn’t looked good recently.
Hurray for Twins errors!
That’s the Twins this year. Here, have a run.
We’ll take it Willy!! Thank you!
They probably have to keep sharp items away from Gardy in the dugout.
Good move – PH for Olivo.
Too bad we can’t have a perpetual PH for Smoak.
A pitch hitter? Is Wedge on vacation?
Paul B, isn’t Jaso the primary DH at this point? Or at least just as much the DH as Montero?
Very true regarding 1B and DH. It makes you wonder what would the team would look like if we were getting any kind of production from Smoak and Olivo.
I think Mike is right, the team looks different from the one that started the season. Jaso playing and the revampled OF have really helped. In addition the numbers show some incremental improvements for some of the younger hitters recently. If that is real it’s a good sign. If not, it’s been entertaining.
Not watching the game because I am on lunch break at work but the box score looks good since I brought it up!
Paul B, isn’t Jaso the primary DH at this point? Or at least just as much the DH as Montero?
I was talking about today’s starting lineup when I said the DH and 1B were the worst two hitters.
Is Wedge on vacation?
Nicely done, Terry!
Trayvon looks like he could turn into a decent player. He’s learned to recognize the strike zone, he makes some contact, he has speed. His weaknesses are no arm and no power.
But that still could be a useful package, and fun to watch.
Sorry about the double use of “would” in the second sentence of my last post. I retyped it and didn’t proof read it well.
Time to pull Beavan and let the pen finish the game? I have no idea what Beavan’s pitch count is, or how he has actually looked since the 1st inning (as I too, suffer from the working mans plight of having to be where I do not want to be), but removing Beavan just seems like the right move to make – a lot of the time.
Wow, now hopefully Beavan won’t feel obligated to give back these runs as well…
Hehe, Mike and I had the same thought.
Smoak had the opportunity to hit the third sac fly of the inning but he struck out with a man on third. I’m not sure if the Mariners have ever done that – or even if it has ever been done.
Beaven is at 66 pitches. It’s always a little scary with him but he should have something left in the tank.
From Wikipedia: Five teams have collected three sacrifice flies in an inning: the Chicago White Sox (fifth inning, July 1, 1962 against the Cleveland Indians); the New York Yankees twice (fourth inning, June 29, 2000 against the Detroit Tigers and third inning, August 19, 2000 against the Anaheim Angels); the New York Mets (second inning, June 24, 2005 against the Yankees); and the Houston Astros (seventh inning, June 26, 2005 against the Texas Rangers).[4] In these cases one or more of the flies did not result in a putout due to an error.
Strange, I had the same thought as well. He doesn’t inspire much confidence. But he isn’t in dangerous territory as far as pitch count yet. That said, he could implode at any moment.
Beavan. Huh.
Do all MLB teams have major holes in their lineups? It seems like all the Mariners have to do to be more competitive is just remove the negative value players and replace them with useful replacement level parts.
Figgins, Olivo, Mune, Smoak you are all the weakest link. Good bye!
There are several ways to improve a team. The easiest way is usually to replace players who are below replacement level.
… from your keyboard to God’s ears.
… from God’s ears to Jack Z’s lips.
… from Jack Z’s lips to the redwood forest.
… from the Redwood Forest – to the Gulf Stream Waaaters … this team was made by “Z” for thee.
hahahaha!
Thank you, but there is a lot more left in the tank.
Any idea why my comments would be moderated? I don’t think I’ve said anything that has flagged me? Is anyone else having this problem?
Nice job by the pen
No idea “why,” Marcus. There was a comment moderation issue on a couple occasions earlier this year. It’s probably just a minor glitch.
Or, you could consider posting in the form of song lyrics. Those have been flying through.
Might be a transient issue, Marcus. I haven’t noticed you saying anything that would lead to you being moderated.
Nice job only giving up 2 runs rather than 3, Mike?
My sarcasm apparently did not resonate with its usual force and clarity. “Nice” … as in “not good, or nice”
I think it’s possible there’s a phrase that makes it automatically flagged. I could be mistaken but I just tried to explain why I thought it had happened and the comment is awaiting moderation again.
DP time!
I thought I’d detected sarcasm, Mike; but I wanted to double-check we were watching/listening to the same game.
Marcus, now I’m dying to know what the phrase is! haha
“Antiquing”?
Fuck fuck fuck!
Well, that’s not the phrase being moderated.
It’s the opposite of “On Subject” if that makes sense? Haha.
Okay I know it’s a small sample and all, but Wilhelmsen’s last few outings have been more “edge of your seat” than he had been most of the year.
Marcus, maybe you live too close (geographically) to VC. That might be reason enough for some extra double-secret probation moderation.
I wish VC was more open to others’ opinions. I think having someone with a more “old school” mindset would be nice. We all love new statistics but if he were willing to have a calm conversation about why he values certain things more than the numbers (an argument that doesn’t include how many years of expierence he has) I think it could prove some enlightenment.
But alas, those of us with less than 29 years of playing or coaching baseball just can’t comprehend his scouting ability.
feh. Is this strike zone today really as bad as MLBgameday shows it?
This is what I was trying to say initially, hopefully one of these times it goes through.
“I won a contest for Kiro radio (well, had my name drawn) and get to go on to the field for batting practice and talk to some players. Anyone have anything they’re dying to have asked or would really like me to look out for?”
And yes, this is a thinnly veiled way of bragging that I get to go on the field for BP but I am curious if you guys have anything that you would like to know? I don’t comment here every game but I do read the comments every game so I have quite a bit of respect for the regular posters’ opinions so if you guys have anything let me know.
Woooohooooo – winsies!
Back to ‘work.’
Decent road trip (3-4). 4-3 would have felt a lot better.
on a tangent… nope, that’s not it. Okay I won’t keep trying hehehe.
WIN!
Wow, that is great Marcus! Congratulations!
The term is the opposite of “on” and then tropic without the r. Hopefully that will get through.
Ah! You are right Marcus, and I just tested it and got moderated.
That’s weird, though – is the thinking that people will *say* that when they are *being* that? hehehe
Marcus – you should ask the players if they ever feel like stopping and applauding when Ryan makes a really spectacular play.
And ask Olivo if he knows his cERA. hehehe
Haha I suppose so. Kind of funny though because I feel like conversations go on to tangents often but if someone warns they are about to it gets flagged.
Oh well, another series win for the M’s. Hopefully they can keep inching their way towards .500. At least we don’t have any more games against the White Sox to halt our progress haha.
I think I need to avoid Olivo entirely. I’m worried that I would end up getting myself kicked out with the questions I wish I could ask him.
I just pulled up the video of that last play. Smoak did not tag the batter-runner, but the umpire was pointing to a spot while explaining something to the runner (shortly after the play). I would bet he was explaining that he was called out for going out of the baseline in order to avoid the tag. The runner establishes his own line (and usually it is straight heading toward 1B – while up for some interpretation between the other bases).
Good call by the ump. IMO
Actually there would be an interesting question for one of the catchers – during a game, how much talking do they do with the ump?
Or maybe everyone but me already knows that.
That’s a good question actually. I caught growing up so catching questions are facinating to me. Also wondering how much they game plan with each day’s pitchers and whether it varies. It seems like Milwood would need less time discussing the scouting report than Erasmo and things like that.
I wish I could ask things like “Why can’t you chest up a ball properly?” And “Do you have some sort of information that would get Eric Wedge fired if he sat you?” and “Did you know taking four balls gets you on first base as well?” Or “How can you be such a terrible guess hitter when you’re a catcher? Wouldn’t you throw yourself 5 straight down and away sliders if you were catching?” and other things of that nature.
Oh man, Marcus, I would pay money to hear you ask those questions.
Maybe a less “don’t get punched in the face” way of asking would be – how come all catchers don’t hit .500, given what they know?
Haha perhaps that is a more delicate way of approaching the question.. I think I would just ask Jaso if his experience behind the plate helps him when he’s at the plate or something along those lines. So avoid taking a pot shot at Miguel.
Staying on topic is less of an issue in game threads, but yes, any comment that self-identifies as deviating from the subject under discussion will automatically go into the moderation queue.
Can someone let the Oakland A’s know that they are supposed to lose? Holy smokes!
Personal experience (no higher than Semi-Pro):
Catchers and umpires talk all game. Not much dialogue, but there is some – and it goes on throughout the game. Both catchers … and every one of them has their own personality
Umpire: Your job today is to prevent that ball from hitting me.
Catcher: Okay, blue
Umpire makes a call: Either ball or strike, it doesn’t matter
Catcher: That up? That down? That out? That in? Or, good call!
Umpire: Answer based on whatever he just called. Or, sometimes he will say, “I missed it.” Yes, they do miss them and they usually know it. Otherwise – “good pitch (or) got the corner (or) got the edge (or) got the top (or) got the bottom … let’s go!”
Catcher: No problem – or says nothing
Umpire: Stay low – you blocked me on that pitch
Catcher: No problem
Coach (to his catcher): Did he miss that pitch
Smart cather: Shakes head no No
Dumb catcher: Subtly nods head Yes
Politically inclined catcher: Says nothing … which means “yes.”
Coach: Usually smart enough to ask the Catchers opinion, but he is really yelling at the umpire while calling out the catchers name.
Umpire to catcher: Tell your coach to stop asking
Fans: The plate is not round, Blue … it has corners. Which is a time tested fan favorite.
Umpire: Pretend to ignore it, while realizing what they know is what they know. Or, maybe they were right … maybe I did suck on that pitch – amongst the 300 pitches I will see today
Umpire between innings: Bounce, 2 more – bring it down
Catcher: COMING DOWN!
Umpire: Let’s have a Batter!
This goes on all game, every game.
When a catcher is really frustrated with a pitcher (and its rarely ever the other way around), it is kinda comical. A 5’6″ catcher bossing around a 6’5″ pitcher – and cussing him during the game.
The worst thing to do (as an umpire) is to miss a pitch when the Catcher is up to bat.
The next worst thing (as the Catcher who may or may not have gotten screwed) is to remind the Umpire of it when you go back to play Defense.
The smart catcher will say: “We want that pitch, too.”