Game 149, Orioles at Mariners
Erasmo Ramirez vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7:10pm
Well, it’s gotta be better than yesterday’s unwatchable contest. How’s that for a game thread introduction? Hey, it’s true. This game is going to be Noesi-free, and I think that makes it easier to get into, despite the playing-out-the-string aspect of it. And if Hector Noesi doesn’t show any improvement, then tonight’s starter is one of the clear beneficiaries. Erasmo Ramirez could be the half-decent #3 we wanted Noesi to be, and Ramirez’s development is one of the few remaining items of interest in Marinerland this month.
Opposing Erasmo is Wei-Yin Chen, the Taiwanese pitcher who came over from the Japanese leagues this season to give the Orioles a crucial, steadying 2-3 win season. The Orioles starting pitchers, especially once Jason Hammel went down, have been bad (not that the M’s have noticed), and Chen’s solid lefty stuff (combined with his durability) is a key reason the Orioles are in a playoff race. He dominated the M’s back on July 3rd, going 7+ and striking out 9 while walking none. The game ended up a contest between bullpens, with Pedro Strop blowing a lead before Charlie Furbush gave up a game-winning HR, but on that day, Chen outpitched King Felix.
He’s uses a good rising four-seam fastball along with a slider and change-up to post slightly better than average K rates and slightly better than average BB rates. He’s given up a fair number of home runs, but he doesn’t have exceptional gopheritis. He’s a solid pitcher who succeeds because he can put himself in pitchers counts. In fact, his splits by count are one of the most interesting things about him. If you just read Dave’s post about John Jaso, you know how important getting ahead is to a hitter. When Chen gets to 0-1, batters post a .244 wOBA and Chen luxuriates in a FIP of 2.54. If he starts 1-0, the story’s a bit different: batters have a .375 wOBA and his FIP’s over 6. Most any pitcher is going to have extreme splits between 0-1 and 1-0, but Chen’s are remarkable. (For the other end of the spectrum, check out Blake Beavan). He’s been successful because he’s able to *get* to 0-1 counts. Go back to his last outing in Seattle – how many batters put a ball in play when they were ahead in the count? Zero. The M’s put 14 balls in play against Chen that day (not including one HR), 3 came on the first pitch of the at-bat, 4 came in even counts, and 7 came in pitcher’s counts. Add those to his 9 strikeouts and it’s pretty clear that Chen was ahead of the M’s all night (2 of the ‘even counts’ were 2-2 counts, where the batter had to expand the zone to avoid a K). If the M’s want to avoid a repeat, they’re going to have to be smart. Don’t let him get first-pitch fastballs over.
Erasmo Ramirez is easily one of the most likeable M’s prospects in a while, and his growth from low-velo control artist to a guy who can hit 95 with some regularity while maintaining solid walk rates is perhaps the M’s player development system’s biggest success story in recent years. Here’s the righty-heavy line-up behind him (at least Jaso will be available as a PH? Right?):
1: Ackley
2: Gutierrez
3: Seager
4: Montero (DH)
5: Saunders
6: Smoak
7: Wells
8: Olivo (C)
9: Ryan
SP: Erasmoooooo
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195 Responses to “Game 149, Orioles at Mariners”
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I do like the defense in the outfield tonight.
Hopefully Casper won’t hurt his neck during BP tonight.
No-Li-Vo?!?! Grrrr!
Haha, I’d love to hear the King’s Court chanting “No-O-No-Li-Vo”!
Great write-ups on the game pitchers, as always.
My god, I can’t wait until Zunino (righty bat) gets here, so that the stupid platooning nonsense reasons go away, and we’ll always have a competent catcher or DH in regardless of handedness… the dynamic trio of Zunino / Jaso / Montero in the C/DH rotation can’t get here fast enough.
And no, I don’t agree that Montero should be turned into a 1b. Montero should catch once a week or so and be considered the ‘emergency catcher’ / 3rd catcher, and primarily DH otherwise.
I’d love to see Olivo in King County Court, to be tried for reckless endangerment with both the glove and bat.
I can’t wait to read the comments if Olivo and Figgins end up with the team next year. However, I’ll forego the amusement of that if one isn’t.
Honestly, who would we complain about if they weren’t on the team?
The minute I saw Chen was pitching I knew Olivo would be in the lineup.
Nice to see Wells in right!
SSS aware but aren’t Jaso’s left-handed splits still better than nOlivo’s?
When Figgins, Mune and nOlivo are gone we could still complain about Smoak, because we know the team realizes his hitting woes are in the past with his recent improvement, and he will likely start 2013 at 1b. On that note, what do you guys think of Ike Davis as a possible trade target? He bats left and if you can overlook his early season struggles has had a decent season. I’m not sure how the Mariners match up with the Mets, but they’re a wreck at just about every position too so we’d likely have something they’d want, right? I believe Davis represents an improvement over at least Carp and Smoak so there’s that.
Actually they’re not Jordan.
Jaso:135/262/162 wRC+ 31 wOBA 210
Olivo:210/228/395 wRC+ 70 wOBA 266
Both are bad but in this case Olivo’s less bad. SSS of course.
Ouch, that is Figgins low. He’s still getting on base but not doing anything with the contact. Perhaps if he had a few more at bats he could become less pathetic? I guess we will probably never know.
It’s not fair to call Jaso’s splits against lefties “pathetic”. Thrity five AB’s just isn’t enough. His numbers against RHP weren’t much higher in spring. Look how that turned out.
True. Steve I’d like to see him get a chance against left handers more often. Still he has batted only .163 in 115 AB lifetime. Not enough at bats to call his spits bad for my money but enough to hold him back in the mind of some.
Yeah, but 115 AB’s over 3 years, shouldn’t scream “can’t hit lefties”. Maybe his minor league stats tell a different tale? What I do know, is he should be getting more looks, especially at this point in the season.
Let’s look at the plus side. When Olivo’s played recently, Wedge puts him far, far down in the lineup.
For all we know, Olivo’s playing time may simply be Wedge’s attempt at keeping the clubhouse calm – “he’s on the roster, he’s been a good guy so we might as well give him a few starts before we cut him loose”. Perhaps come spring Jaso will start getting starts against righties.
Yay, Erasmo’s already better than Noesi was at this point in the game!
Before reading the comments, you might want to check the obituaries to see if the news led to a spate of fan suicides.
Seager’s RBIs have, understandably, really fallen off in the second half of the season.
Good one, Westy haha
I know Seager will never be a power hitter or even a super star but having a guy with 81 RBI’s and 18 home runs isn’t to shabby. Even if he doesn’t improve over the years and just holds at these numbers I’d be okay with that for the most part. If he wasn’t blocked by Ackley at 2nd I’d like to see him there but if Ackley comes around then it is less of an issue.
It’s nice to see Smoak have a few games where he is productive, but I remember he had a pretty good September (or at least for a good portion of it) last year, so I am very leery of what could be a “false positive”. Plus, it’s only a few games. The overall body of work left too many lingering memories.
Sorry to be a Debi-downer, but his swing is still executed in an odd looking un-coiling that sometimes isn’t even sequenced with itself very well (top half and bottom half)
Nice catch Casper. Keep playing him, please!
You really can’t say he’s blocked by Ackley, because there’s nobody forcing a look at third, and he’s been fairly decent there. There’s plenty of second basemen in the system as well, so it’s highly unlikely he’d end up there even if Ackley failed. Worth noting, Ackley has been fine defensively.
OLIVO ACTUALLY WALKED!!! That’s his 5th one of the year, woot woot!!!
If we have to have a terrible player who can’t catch worth a damned, why can’t we just put Luis Jimenez behind the plate?
I mean we put Hector Noesi AND Anthony Vazquez on the mound for us in 12 months. There is no shame we haven’t already caused ourselves.
You’re not a debi-downer, Mike! It’s a legitimate point.
Funny Henry! He looks like the kind of catcher you see in the movies.
I would like to have Luis Jimenez play goaltender in my old guys hockey league.
Luis Jiminez and “behind a plate” – just seem to be a natural fit.
Starting at catcher The Wall of Jimenez.
Oh, you meant ‘home plate’. I guess both definitions apply.
Ramirez isn’t looking too bad, eh?
Did I successfully ruin your joke, Mike? I did my best.
I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t expect Erasmo Ramirez to be a decent pitcher in the 5 man rotation.
Miguel!!
Durability is about the only concern at this point. Perhaps the Mariners can shop Jimenez as a stopgap backstop? Steve, Jaso’s numbers in their current state are pathetic, but I definitely recognize SSS and completely advocate giving him a shot at improvement until Zunino forces his way onto the roster.
Maybe there’s somethan to our Olivo-bitching being a reverse jinx?
Jaso hasn’t had enough at bats to properly evaluate, I was just shocked how low they were. I guess when you’re hitting 160 WRC+ for the last 4 months I wouldn’t expect below Figgins’ rate from the other side.
Steve, I know it works for me with Brad Evans and the Sounders + it couldn’t hurt any, either he’s still Olivo or …no, he’s still nOlivo.
Erasmo seems to be pitching well tonight…I am kind of excited about him. Nice to see some of our young pitchers actually pitching well…I am excited about the future…
Because I know that Guti reads USSMariner, I would like to thank him for being injured so much over the last couple of years, just so that I wouldn’t be subjected to listening to Dave Sims butchering his last name.
He would have to hit around 80 homers a year to make up for all of the cringing caused by hearing Sims say his name.
The point was, 35 AB’s can’t warrant any label, other than ‘insufficient’.
Dave Sims pronunciation of “Gutierrez” is like scratching a chalkboard against another chalkboard.
What they failed to mention is that Sami Salo destroyed Atlantis with his slap shot.
Dave Sims is absolutely annoying anytime his mouth is moving…
If you complain about Simms you may have forgotten that not that long ago Ron Farley called games for this team.
SMOAK.
That is what we want to see from Smoak. Doubles against a LHP.
I am blissfully ignorant of Sim’s voice.
LOL Farley was terrible and always was…
Pitchers, DO NOT cover the plate if you’re not going to make the out. Just stand there, and watch Miguel Olivo (or whoever else, but probably Olivo) go pick up the ball.
Regarding Olivo’s earlier homer – nobody’s ever said he couldn’t hit a mistake pitch a mile. Chen left an off-speed pitch up, and Olivo absolutely destroyed it.
I’m also glad to see Guti’s left hand remained attached to his left forearm after that diving attempt in the fifth inning.
Wedge has stayed with a 2/1 rotation with his catchers for the last couple of weeks for the most part. Two days at either DH or catcher followed by a day off. I’d be interested in seeing if he keeps that up for the last two weeks. I bet he does.
As Farley might say, “that was fairly well said”. Assuming he isn’t busy somewhere “in a van, down by the river!!! – or playing hockey under water.
Boy, after Noesi’s performance in last night’s game… I really needed to see Erasmo do well tonight!
Thanks guy! You’ve helped preserve what little sanity I continue to possess!
Is it just me, or is this game taking way to long for a 2-0 game?
There have been a few long at-bats that ended up amounting to nothing – maybe that’s why, Henry.
*to = too, because I do word as good as Miguel Olivo does catch.
… And doing it against a team that NEEDS to win. As someone stated above – no reason he can’t be considered a solid #5 candidate. Vargas is coming back if the team wants him. Iwakuma has said he would like to come back. That leaves one spot for a solid FA or another pup.
Maybe KC needs a Paxton, because we sure need a Butler. And a Gordon, Cabrera or etc.
Vargas is going to cost nearly $8M… Not a terrible price for a ~2 win player who perfectly fits your stadium.
Now you bring in the fences, and it might make him look significantly worse that he does now, but he’s still a reliable pitcher who doesn’t get hurt much.
He is also ugly as sin, so he’s a good morale booster for Mike Carp.
Trading pitching prospects for bats is nearly always a great idea, and I hope the team dumb enough to get Yuni twice might actually do it.
And now go get him.
No, SERIOUSLY, GO GET HIM!
Just let Wilhelmsen finish this……
If that’s actually a 5 digit crowd, I’ll eat my hat.
Suck!!!
Ah, Eric Wedge, a hitter late and a brain cell short.
I had this nice write up about bunting there and he bunted before I could finish it.
bum deal for Ramirez…should not have started the inning or at least only gotten the first guy….crazy…
Don’t worry, guys – Olivo is batting this inning!
haha Westy.. Miguel go long! Bet Jaso hits for him, though.
No he won’t. Smoak is going to end it, early. Walk off for Smoak. I am calling his shot. Bank on it. He’s the man!
A smart manager would pinch-hit Jaso for Olivo, given that Baltimore has a righty on the mound. But I’m guessing he pinch-hits for Wells instead.
If Nostra-Mikey is right, though, it won’t matter!
Yep, he’s the man!
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville,
Nostra-Mikey has struck out.
Haaha Olivo will hit for olivo. We’re both wrong.
Well that was a shitty AB, Casper.
Terry, looks like we both were wrong.
– Great minds and all that!
Nicely done, Westy.
Olivo has walked TWICE today!!
Kudos, Miguel – seriously!
Olivo walks? Wow!
Jaso for Ryan? With a runner on first? OK
Hey unless Wedge pulls him back – Jaso will be facing a lefty.
Hmm…
Jeez Wedge. You could have at least let him bat.
Best use of Jaso, ever. FO Wedge.
I really dislike Wedge…
Nice AB Liddi
I really don’t get Wedge. Sometimes it’s as if he won’t substitute to save his life, and other times like this he mixes and matches with wild abandon.
He didn’t bat and now he can’t. He was “announced” and then pulled back. His beard has a better chance to catch flies than his bat has to hit one – for the rest of today.
Absolutely fucking brilliant managerial strategy. Teams best hitter rendered impotent for the day. You have got to be kidding me !!!
It always makes sense to threaten a team with your best hitter and then sub for him with Liddi…
Man, every time I see it – I love Wilhelmen’s curveball!
This is why I agree with Showalter. I hate expanded rosters.
Next time I hear Blowers say that Showalter bunted because they are 13-2 in extra innings, I’m muting him.
Wedge lets Saunders flail for 4 AB against left-handed pitching, but pulls Jaso – his best hitter. There’s a word for managers like that: “loser.” And the Mariners keep hiring them. Earn your money, Z.
Somebody needs to teach our guys how to bunt – most of them suck at it.
If Montero tries to bunt, I will personally kick Wedge in the groin.
Montero’s bunting.
If that is the case I want to get my shot in too Westside…..
This is possibly Wedges worst managed game this season … And that’s saying something.
Another K…
Did he just swing with his eyes closed?
The Mariners are probably the only team in baseball that can afford to give away outs with bunts. They have no issues getting on base. None!
Lefty strike zone strikes again.
On gameday that last pitch looked to be outside…was it?
Not to worry, the Orioles are terrible in one-run games.
That last pitch wasn’t even close. Saunders has a great eye. Unfortunately, blue does not.
I started another pot of coffee. This could be a long night.
That pitch was outside..
Sarcasm mike?!
Guess Saunders didn’t like the call….
I don’t have to work in the morning, so I may grab some bourbon.
It’s 12:12 here….I might just go to bed….
It was a bad call, but against lefties that does get called a strike quite often.
That ball clearly hit the batter.. Home plate umpire blowing it
4 guys missed the ball being re-directed off of a foot and the batter jumping up in the air in pain. Really!
Lol Mike, exactly… Jumping in the air wasn’t obvious??
Is this umpire just wanting to go home or what? On gameday he is blowing a ton of strike calls…
Ump’s 6’8″ tall – his back is sore from bending way over, and he wants to go home.
THAT was a nice catch by Olivo, I must say.
And I can’t believe the dude swung at it.
Great, bases loaded, Matt Weiters up.
WHERE’S THAT BOURBON??
HA! KINNEY!!
You are going to have to call your own shot this time, Justin.
Nice bunt…when will Wedge learn????
What is it with this team and crap bunting??
We teach our players to bunt on one knee. It’s called bunt and pray.
I guess two walks were enough…might as well swing at the first pitch…
Good God. Statistically reduce your chances to score – with guts that rarely bunt and when the other team knows its coming.
Brilliant!
And with that said, what a shitty effort by Wells. Pinched the bat back – and you will pop it up EVERY TIME. Should have let him hit, regardless
Hey Wedge – go eat a big bag of shit.
Olivo with a steal!
Let me stir the pot here. And our best left hand bat is where Wedge?
^ Playing cards in the clubhouse with Saunders, perchance?
Oh, let me re-phrase … Eat a big “pot” of shit, Wedge.
Hehehe Mike.
Robin Williams quote from “Good Morning Vietnam”
It’s funnier when he says it.
Ackley! So close to just ending it right there!
Spankage!
Ackley!! Double means no bunts!!
I always thought Wedge was working sunflower seeds, but he’s not. He’s just twitchy in an obsessive compulsive bad decision making and twitchy kind of way.
He does know more than Mike Golic, though.
Another Guti fail.
I just about spit bourbon on my screen, Mike.
You are the DH.Your mission is to hit. darn it!
Designated flail-er…
Okay Millwood start warming up! hehe
Oh, yeah, Figgins is still a Mariner.
hmm Mascot, Wells and Olivo? Good grief!
Fastball down the middle for strike 3. I have sure missed you, Figgy!
Too bad Olivo started the game – we could’ve been looking forward to seeing him pitch!
Way to go Chone! I’d hate for you to hurt your arms by swinging the @#$%ing bat! I hope he’s on this team next year! Nothing like watching poop play baseball!
like I didn’t see that coming Mr. Wells.
I can’t say it someone else needs to. hahaha
Well I am out for the night…great game management by ol’ Wedge tonight…must be quite proud of himself. What an idiot…
Oh boy, that was pretty. The back Leg flying backward, drop to a knee and flail swing. The only thing missing was a pirouette. Nice pitch recognition, Casper.
No, I did not know how to spell pirouette. It spelled itself.
MissouriMariner… don’t even give him sarcasm for his game management! He’ll bunt with a man on first and no outs… god forbid doing it with a man on 2nd and no outs!!! All we do is waste our breath with our frustration on his brilliant managing.
How’s the bourbon, Westy? Is it getting along with the one whiskey and the one Scotch?
Speaking of all things Scott/Scotch – where has Mr Z Devotee, been? He has not opined in several fortnights.
You know, after a bit of this Basil Hayden bourbon – ol’ Wedge’s in-game management decisions have started to make sense.
Waste of breath and energy…I’m hoping that someday we will actually have a decent manager…not holding my breath though…
Are there people on the 40 man roster in the greater Seattle area we should be calling in to the game?
You’re right, Mike – where has MrZ been?
I mean if Steve can regularly check in from Sao Paulo, and MissouriMariner can stay up until 2:30am – MrZ should be able to occasionally check in from Puget Sound.
This might be frustrating but I find this game quite entertaining the longer it goes haha
Hehe, Breadbaker, given Wedge’s management – maybe the team needs to dispatch a charter for Zunino.
We could sure use some of that Rob Roy MacGregor mojo about now. RIGHT NOW!
Maybe he gave up posting for lent – and then forgot when lent ended.
Don’t ask. I think our bench is down to the windmill.Peguero.
Carp’s available as well, Terry.
Nice swing by Triunfel, but the ball just held up too long.
True. Westy. I wonder if he’s hurt, though. They moved Ackley to first and put Figgy at third.
Oh, good point.
I bet/fear your implication is right re: Peggy – I bet we’ll see him hit for Wells, if we get to that spot in the lineup again.
Alrighty then ……. It’s the 15th inning and I officially do not give a fuck who wins, now – unless it’s sleep.
Yes, sleep wins!
Night Mike. Can’t blame you a bit.hehe
I’m glad Endy Chavez has managed to make it back and continue with his career – his recovery took long enough.
I don’t think he’ll ever forget Yuni.
Some consistency from the home plate umpire might help end this game.
Haha, Lookout Landing just got a shout-out from Sims!
All right Trayvon!
Wells – I am pleasantly surprised at Wedge.
So am I. Not that it helped us scoring in any way.
Carp must be unavailable or I’ll kick Wedge for letting Figgy bat twice.
Bad time for a pitcher to get hurt.
Olivo and the coaches saw something but Kelley must have said he was alright.
I was at the 19 inning game. The second Fassero came out to pitch I knew we’d win. The Red Sox had all left the field before Cammy finished rounding the bases and so had the rabid Red Sox fan who had been bothering us for 19 innings.
Oh man…
Olivo gets 3 walks in one game? He only had 7 before this game for the season..
Seager with a double!! Come on!!
Sometimes I wish MLB would allow games to end in ties like in NPB. This being one of those times. *sigh*
End in a tie?! Sacrilege! Loving the crowd shots of the folks left holding down the Safe.
Bad pitch to swing at, Trayvon.
Q: So, what inning will Wedge put Noesi in?
A: The last.
(Though, it might mean the game never ends.)
I just realized – Olivo has been catching for 17 innings now. Good grief.
So has Matt Wieters.
Oh man….
Studs. Both of them. Diffence is Matt can hit. Olivo bats second.
Well, at least Jaso will be catching Felix tomorrow.
Jaso would have probably anyway. I’ll bet Olivo DHes and Montaro sits. Jaso against a lefty, too.
Double crap.
Nice recovery by Triunfel though.
0 – 17 R I S P Tragiclally pathetic
Well there’s Carp… so he’s not hurt.
Can I kick Wedge now?
Please do, Terry.
Good night, folks – thanks for sticking it out.
Good night Westy!
The game that had everything. And shouldn’t have.
Let’s play two…. or not. I was too busy celebrating Reno’s dominance over Pawtucket in the AAA Championship series…. er game…
So tired. Can’t believe I stayed at Safeco for all 18.
You’re a very dedicated fan, Waco.
… Or maybe just stubborn.