Game 7, Mariners at White Sox
Hisashi Iwakuma vs. Chris Sale, 11:10am
The White Sox beat Felix and ruined a perfectly good Felix day, so the M’s need to return the favor and get out of Chicago with a series win. It’s a tall order. Sale is dominant against lefties, and despite significant platoon splits, he’s pretty good against righties as well. The human foul pole gets well above average velocity and movement on his fastball, dropping to a low 3/4 delivery and firing 94-95mph darts. He mixes in a very good slider that he throws around 30-40% of the time, and which he uses against lefties and righties alike.
The big difference driving his large splits by FIP is home runs. Lefties don’t hit many, and righties hit a few. So if the M’s have a chance here, they’re probably going to need a HR from Morse, Morales or, if you’re still in the ‘he’s changed!’ camp, Smoak.
Iwakuma’s got his own HR problems, but he was brilliant in his first start against a lefty-heavy line-up. The White Sox don’t have as many lefties, but he’s still going to have to be careful with his fastball to guys like Konerko and Rios. More of the same, Hisashi.
Line-up:
1: Gutierrez, CF
2: Bay, LF
3: Morales, DH
4: Morse, RF
5: Montero, C
6: Smoak, 1B
7: Seager, 3B
8: Andino, 2B
9: Ryan, SS
SP: Iwakuma
If you’re going to get Ackley some rest, this is the game to do it. Of course, this is his 2nd time sitting against a lefty in a week. Boy am I glad the M’s don’t have any more of those ‘part-time’ players. This does mean that the M’s might have a better answer against Sox closer Addison Reed than bringing on a cold Jesus Montero. I understood the decision, but Reed is essentially the worst possible pitcher for Montero to face, particularly coming off the bench.
So a day or so after I write that the M’s OF defense won’t be TOO bad for a variety of reasons, yesterday’s loss turned (in part) on some poor defending and a terrible throw on a sac fly that gave Chicago its 4th run. I still believe the M’s won’t be legitimately awful, but that doesn’t mean the M’s are going to have some ugliness in high-leverage situations.
Go M’s!
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Let’s go Morse!
I wish I could generate some optimism about Montero’s future, but I just can’t do it. I fully expect a Zunino for Montero swap in June, so Montero can “figure it out”.
What could Montero garner in a trade?
Pineda? 😉
How does Smoak swing at a fastball that never came close to the zone
Oh ffs Smoak. That’s embarrassing. The WS announcers could scarcely believe it. Still chuckling about their goood fortune.
I think Kyle Seager leads the A.L. in “chin music heard”.
Seriously, every game he has to duck one or two pitches going for his head.
Why is Andino on this team? Automatic out
Pineda is apparently throwing off a mound now, and might be back mid-season.
Time to hold on for extra frames.
Hard to believe, but this bullpen really misses Josh Kinney.
I know it’s less than 10 games, but so far Smoak has looked like the old Smoak more often than he’s looked like re-invented Smoak.
Hurry up Zunino…
WHAT was that, Montero? You KNOW it’s gonna be in the dirt, you need to get those knees together!
Nice Fundies, Jesus! … For Phooking out loud!!
In slow motion it was obvious Montero flinched receiving that last pitch to Rios.
He seems like a good kid, but he really isn’t a catcher.
I wonder if its a result of the changes they’ve been working on with Jesus, trying to get him to be a better thrower?
I remember when we first saw him at catcher last year – the one thing he seemed to do reasonably well was square up and block pitches. I remember it because it was such a contrast to Olivo… but now, it’s like he IS Olivo.
All right Condor! Now let’s drive him in!
(Thank goodness Wedge can’t bunt in this situation)
Okay, Morse, try to lay off those sliders low and away for once.
Intentional walk to get to the Seamonster…. Whack it Morse!
Does walking Morales really make much sense? Morse hit’s RHP fairly well, and they only need one out.
Walking Morales was a Wedge-esque decision. I hope it bites them.
DAMMIT.
Guess they’re ok with that decision;)
I was thinking the exact same thing Westy. Something we would expect from Wedge.
This Chicago White Sox team is really starting to piss me off.
Good night.
And the M’s take their rightful place under .500 for the rest of the year.
A 3-4 roadtrip against the A’s, and in Chicago is pretty good in my book…and both losses in Chicago were by one run.
Still not a fan of Loe, and wonder why we traded Kelley?
We miss Kinney, what a freak injury.
Gee weird….M’s great spring training doesn’t translate to the regular season .
It’s almost like spring training stats aren’t predictive.
Who would have thought?
Both spring training and the 2013 season so far count as small sample sizes, of course.
Morse will almost certainly continue to mash… but not at a rate anywhere near what he’s done so far – 1.182 OPS would be a season for the ages. I expect Kendrys Morales to mash as well. Raul will probably hit well enough to not embarrass himself in the Gritty Veteran Leadership roster spot… as long as Wedge doesn’t decide he should start full time. Bay, though, really needs to be on a short leash as far as even having a roster spot goes – but I will be surprised if Wedge/Z actually do that.
I am finding this team more fun to watch, though; and while I get annoyed at Wedge, he hasn’t (yet) done any of the truly stupid things I thought might happen. Hopefully Hultzen and Zunino will force themselves onto the 25-man by mid-year. If another of the big three does that as well, it’ll be gravy.
How about putting Wedge on a short leash if the Mariners so much as lose a single game against the AA team known as the Astros. What an embarrassment to the game