Game 149, Orioles at Mariners

marc w · September 18, 2012 at 3:11 pm · Filed Under 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

Comments

195 Responses to “Game 149, Orioles at Mariners”

  1. MissouriMariner on September 18th, 2012 11:24 pm

    Waste of breath and energy…I’m hoping that someday we will actually have a decent manager…not holding my breath though…

  2. Breadbaker on September 18th, 2012 11:25 pm

    Are there people on the 40 man roster in the greater Seattle area we should be calling in to the game?

  3. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:26 pm

    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. 😀

  4. californiamariner on September 18th, 2012 11:27 pm

    This might be frustrating but I find this game quite entertaining the longer it goes haha

  5. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:28 pm

    Hehe, Breadbaker, given Wedge’s management – maybe the team needs to dispatch a charter for Zunino.

  6. msfanmike on September 18th, 2012 11:29 pm

    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.

  7. terryoftacoma on September 18th, 2012 11:29 pm

    Don’t ask. I think our bench is down to the windmill.Peguero.

  8. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:30 pm

    Carp’s available as well, Terry.

    Nice swing by Triunfel, but the ball just held up too long.

  9. terryoftacoma on September 18th, 2012 11:33 pm

    True. Westy. I wonder if he’s hurt, though. They moved Ackley to first and put Figgy at third.

  10. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:35 pm

    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.

  11. msfanmike on September 18th, 2012 11:36 pm

    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!

  12. terryoftacoma on September 18th, 2012 11:38 pm

    Night Mike. Can’t blame you a bit.hehe

  13. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:40 pm

    I’m glad Endy Chavez has managed to make it back and continue with his career – his recovery took long enough.

  14. terryoftacoma on September 18th, 2012 11:44 pm

    I don’t think he’ll ever forget Yuni.

  15. Breadbaker on September 18th, 2012 11:45 pm

    Some consistency from the home plate umpire might help end this game.

  16. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:46 pm

    Haha, Lookout Landing just got a shout-out from Sims!

  17. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:47 pm

    All right Trayvon!

  18. Westside guy on September 18th, 2012 11:51 pm

    Wells – I am pleasantly surprised at Wedge.

  19. terryoftacoma on September 18th, 2012 11:54 pm

    So am I. Not that it helped us scoring in any way.

  20. terryoftacoma on September 18th, 2012 11:59 pm

    Carp must be unavailable or I’ll kick Wedge for letting Figgy bat twice.

  21. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:01 am

    Bad time for a pitcher to get hurt.

  22. terryoftacoma on September 19th, 2012 12:02 am

    Olivo and the coaches saw something but Kelley must have said he was alright.

  23. Breadbaker on September 19th, 2012 12:12 am

    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.

  24. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:16 am

    Oh man…

  25. terryoftacoma on September 19th, 2012 12:18 am

    Olivo gets 3 walks in one game? He only had 7 before this game for the season..

  26. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:30 am

    Seager with a double!! Come on!!

  27. kenshabby on September 19th, 2012 12:31 am

    Sometimes I wish MLB would allow games to end in ties like in NPB. This being one of those times. *sigh*

  28. lucky on September 19th, 2012 12:33 am

    End in a tie?! Sacrilege! Loving the crowd shots of the folks left holding down the Safe.

  29. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:34 am

    Bad pitch to swing at, Trayvon.

  30. pgreyy on September 19th, 2012 12:36 am

    Q: So, what inning will Wedge put Noesi in?
    A: The last.

    (Though, it might mean the game never ends.)

  31. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:40 am

    I just realized – Olivo has been catching for 17 innings now. Good grief.

    So has Matt Wieters.

  32. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:42 am

    Oh man….

  33. terryoftacoma on September 19th, 2012 12:43 am

    Studs. Both of them. Diffence is Matt can hit. Olivo bats second.

  34. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:45 am

    Well, at least Jaso will be catching Felix tomorrow. 😀

  35. terryoftacoma on September 19th, 2012 12:47 am

    Jaso would have probably anyway. I’ll bet Olivo DHes and Montaro sits. Jaso against a lefty, too.

  36. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:47 am

    Double crap.

    Nice recovery by Triunfel though.

  37. vetted_coach on September 19th, 2012 12:53 am

    0 – 17 R I S P Tragiclally pathetic

  38. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:54 am

    Well there’s Carp… so he’s not hurt.

  39. terryoftacoma on September 19th, 2012 12:54 am

    Can I kick Wedge now?

  40. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 12:55 am

    Please do, Terry.

    Good night, folks – thanks for sticking it out.

  41. terryoftacoma on September 19th, 2012 12:56 am

    Good night Westy!

  42. Breadbaker on September 19th, 2012 1:11 am

    The game that had everything. And shouldn’t have.

  43. nvn8vbryce on September 19th, 2012 1:14 am

    Let’s play two…. or not. I was too busy celebrating Reno’s dominance over Pawtucket in the AAA Championship series…. er game…

  44. The_Waco_Kid on September 19th, 2012 11:02 am

    So tired. Can’t believe I stayed at Safeco for all 18.

  45. Westside guy on September 19th, 2012 1:49 pm

    You’re a very dedicated fan, Waco.

    … Or maybe just stubborn. 😉

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