Game 42, Mariners at Indians
Felix Hernandez vs. Justin Masterson, 10:05am
Well this has certainly been a frustrating series. The M’s bats have come alive late, only for the bullpen to cough up the lead again. You’ve got to be confident about this game, though, as the M’s start Felix.
Masterson’s Carter Cappsian arm angle has always produced huge platoon splits. This year he’s been successful against lefties largely due to BABIP and HR/FB luck, and the M’s can trot out several hitters who will get a long look at the ball. Saunders and Seager can hopefully get on base for the incandescent Raul Ibanez. Honestly, match-ups like this are why Ibanez is here. He’s a streaky hitter on an insane tear and he’s facing a pitcher who plays to Ibanez’s strengths.
1: Saunders, CF
2: Ackley, 2B
3: Seager, 3B
4: Morales, DH
5: Morse, RF
6: Ibanez, LF
7: Smoak, 1B
8: Montero, C
9: Ryan, SS
James Paxton starts for Tacoma this afternoon in the finale of the 4 gamer against Memphis against ex-M’s fireballer Maikel Cleto, aka the guy the M’s swapped for Brendan Ryan.
Taijuan Walker and Tyler Pike also start in AA and A, respectively, making this a pretty interesting day in the minors.
Go M’s.
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Man, Masterson is just dominating the Mariners lineup today.
In other news, Michael Pineda seems to have his velocity back and is on track to rejoin the Bombers in June.
Come ON, Raul – this is a guy you should still be able to hit!
That Old Spice ad is creepy. Hamilton and his dead, dead eyes, leering at the chick holding him…The ad company does know that he’s hardly The Boy Next Door when it comes to the ladies, right?
I wish Hamilton only the best in his continued recovery, but there’s something scary about that man, as though we’re going to see some O.J. type scenario rolling out 10 years from now when he doesn’t have a baseball to work his aggression out on.
Hey, nothing to see in the game! Might as well wildly make surmises about some dude I don’t know!
Good to hear about Pineda.
Chavez would seem to be the odd man out, but I wonder if they could trade Smoak or Morales now, move Morse to 1B/DH.
With any luck, landing a decent outfield prospect in the process.
What I find funny about that ad is they choose to keep using it despite how badly Hamilton is performing.
It was never of any interest to non-Angels fans, and right now I doubt it appeals to that team’s fans either.
I’d love to see them sell high on Smoak, Steve – but that’s just me. I know some of you believe in him more than I do, though.
For me, letting Morse/Morales alternate at 1B/DH and having Bay, Chavez, and Guti share outfield responsibilities would improve the team.
On a side note – I appreciate the fact that our announcers are fairly even-handed, and acknowledge good performances by opponents (and blunders by our own guys, such as Blowers comment regarding that earlier “wild pitch”).
I’m with ya on selling high on Smoak, though I suppose that doesn’t guarantee he’d net a good return.
I’m really curious to see how things start to play out as they prepare for 2014. I really believe they need to address the outfield before the offseason.
The ad agency probably has a East Coast bias on baseball. They have no idea how the Angels are doing. And since I’m amused every time I see it, in a bitter, bitter way, it’s all good.
Speaking of Angels, once you’ve heard how awful and homer their announcers are, you’ll never rag on Blowers/Rizz/Sims again.
At least this game seems to be mercifully ending quickly.
Need to get into the yard anyway…
Only Babysteps Monty ends on first with a long hit to left field.
Off the wall and it’s a single. Nuts!
Ad agency is Saatchi & Saatchi, out of New York.
And apparently CJ. Wilson is going to be featured in a whole series of ads. Proctor and Gamble are donating a buck for each strikeout this year to inner city baseball. How you would know that from the ad, I don’t know.
Although given that we’re talking about strikeouts, I can see why Hamilton was in one ad. 😉
They’re sayin Guti could move to RF. Probably a good choice. They can’t DH him and he can’t stay healthy.
I agree with Juneau. Due to my surroundings I hear the awful Angels announcers more than I’d like.
Doesn’t Eric Byrnes do color for the Angels, at least occasionally? Speaking of veteran grit…
BTW I’m looking forward to Hisashi Iwakuma starting game 42 for the M’s tomorrow.
We’re gonna play Game 42 til we win it, dammit.
When is someone going to tell Montero that he’s going to AAA, And staying there for a long time.
Well, it could be worse – we could be the Angels.
Second place, we hardly knew ye…
I had the pleasure of missing this game, and catching the Rainiers game in person today. Rewarded with a walk-off Carlos Triunfel game winning homer in the bottom of the 9th (which made up for the 2 runs Memphis scored off his botched textbook double play ball earlier).
I highly advise everyone local head down to Tacoma at least once this year. The field is in beautiful shape, the hype and vibrancy of the place is electric, and the team looks NOTHING like the old AAA Mariners teams… If you base it on the talent in Seattle right now, they’re practically a major league team (at least on par with a Houston)…
Thames, Patterson and Romero in the OF
Poythress, Franklin, Triunfel & Tenbrink in the IF
Paxton pitching and Zunino behind the plate (Zunino had a nice HR today, too).
And Guty was the DH. (Looked healthy, had some good swings, and facial hair/beard?!)
They looked very polished and more athletic than the Big League team currently. To a man, I could see any of them coming up in an emergency without embarrassing themselves (Tenbrink & Poythress would be last on the list though).
It was really a nice time. Even if Paxton didn’t have his best stuff going today (dare I say he looked almost “average” out there).