The Final Tune-Up: M’s vs. Rockies in Salt Lake
Brandon Maurer vs. Jeff Francis, 12:05
It may be the proximity of opening day, or it may be the proximity to Jeff’s “If It Goes Right’ post but I’m unusually excited for today’s game. I’ll forgive the spring trainingness of the M’s facing off against the Rockies in the home of AAA team that neither is affiliated with. It’s a sell-out, and it looks great. The M’s are trotting out what looks to be their opening day line-up and the starter isn’t of the Jake Woods/Blake Beavan/Miguel Batista school of the back-of-the-rotation arms, but a legitimate prospect and the best story of the spring.
The M’s face Jeff Francis, the journeyman lefty with a penchant for long balls and a bad habit of underperforming his peripherals and fielding-independent stats. It’s one reason he’s been seen as decent value by people like our own Dave Cameron, but despite the solid FIP, he’s pretty marginal at this point in his career. Like Javier Vasquez, Francis is a gauge of one’s faith in FIP. Like Joe Saunders, he’s seen no reduction in his platoon splits over his career, and he’s coming off a year when righties put up a .380 wOBA off of him. In his career, his FIP’s over 1 full run worse versus righties than lefties, which shows that, like Saunders, he’s not bad at all against lefties.
Today’s line-up:
1: Gutierrez, CF
2: Saunders, RF
3: Morales, DH
4: Morse, RF
5: Seager, 3B
6: Smoak, 1B
7: Montero, C
8: Ackley, 2B
9; Ryan, SS
SP: Brandon Maurer woooooo
Go M’s!
Cheney Stadium’s having its open house today beginning at 11. I think you can try out the new food, and there are kids activities and the like. It’s looking like the kind of day to just go stare at a baseball diamond, frankly. The M’s open house is Monday – the public’s first chance to check out the new video board.
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30 Responses to “The Final Tune-Up: M’s vs. Rockies in Salt Lake”
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I can see the logic with having Saunders in RF along with Morse to give Morse defensive support. But since Guti is just coming off some leg stiffness, isn’t it kind of risky to have him cover both center and left, especially in a game that doesn’t count?
That’s just proves it. Spring training doesn’t count.
I can’t complain about this line-up at all.
I’d rather see Seager hitting second, but whatever. Really is hard to complain.
I’m a bit behind, but – whoever the broadcaster is (a Rockies guy, I think) just asked Blowers if Maurer was like Blake Beaven.
Uh.. no.
The games free on mlbtv, which is good, because other sources (online) wont show it til much later.
Oh, crap, bad looking collision between two Rockies. Cuddyer and Rutledge.
Game is on ROOT as well.
Mistake by Maurer there. He hasn’t hung many like that one this spring, though.
I think I’m going to like Kendrys Morales.
Sorry, I’m getting caught up but I’m still about 8 minutes behind.
Oh, just saw what you were referring to! Tulowitski really clobbered that…
Yeah, Morales is a smart hitter and he certainly has the power.
Is ROOT behind, or just you? No big deal either way, but I’ll keep my mouth shut if ROOT’s behind, so I don’t ruin anything!
Oh crap, maybe it was THAT one.
It’s just me (on my TiVo), and you don’t need to be quiet. I am ALMOST caught up now. Besides, you shouldn’t have to adapt to me here, if anyone else comes in they’ll likely be in real time too.
But thank you.
Just saw Smoak’s bomb!
Smoak, Ackley, and Montero have all looked pretty good this spring. I’m not reading into it, but they’re not doing anything that’s discouraging.
I wonder when they’re going to officially release Wells?
Well, they said they would finalize the roster Sunday.
The bigger question, is which team is likely to snag him? The Yankees seem to have their Wells, which is funny, because I’d rather have Casper.
I wonder if there is a chance for him to clear waivers?
Hey it’s Mike Zunino!
Do you hear footsteps, Jesus Montero?
Random broadcaster: “Raul Ibañez can still catch a fly ball, how about that.”
For some reason I found this hilarious.
Yeah but can he run?
/snark
When are they going to release Ryan and bring up Miller? ’cause without the pornstache for entertainment, that guy is near useless.
No, Ibanez can’t run.
Quality outfield work there, Raul.
Hey, the subsequent play was actually decent.
HAH. Even if he blew a gasket, he was gonna get to that ball!
Never change, Blowers. “Why can’t it be the Mariners’ year?”
Who the hell is the closer for the Mariners these days? It’s been that long since I’ve seen a real game!
That was a nice play to end the game.
So long Casper Wells. Good luck with whichever team picks you up…