Hit the red-stitched, white sphere
Now when you see the following batting line, what do you think of?
539 AB, 74 R, 139 H, 26 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 72 RBI, 43 BB, 102 SO, 10 SB, 7 CS, .258/.318/.371
I’m thinking this looks like a full season of a featherweight middle-infielder. Not much patience at the plate. No power. Liability on the base paths. Actually, it reminds me rather of the 2004 version of Eric Hinske.
In fact, this line represents the collective offense of our 2005 Seattle Mariners (thru the Thursday’s Harden shutout). Still last in the American League in home runs. Tenth in the league in walks. Tenth in the league in runs scored.
Harbinger of things to come? Do I need to get worked up about this? Probably not. Not just yet. It is just the third week of April. It’s a long season. Three weeks a baseball season does not make.
But it gets me thinking other questions…
Like, at this rate, what other teams of Mariner-past does this offense resemble? And that got me digging around with some numbers. These are the hit distributions (that is, singles, doubles, triples and home runs as a percentage of total hits) for each of the lineups in the brief and inglorious history of our M’s:
Year 1B% 2B% 3B% HR% 2005 72.7 18.7 0.7 7.9 2004 72.0 17.9 1.3 8.8 2003 69.4 19.2 2.2 9.2 2002 69.4 18.6 2.0 9.9 2001 68.4 18.9 2.3 10.3 2000 64.6 20.3 1.8 13.4 1999 64.8 17.5 1.4 16.3 1998 62.5 20.7 1.8 15.1 1997 62.1 19.8 1.3 16.8 1996 62.6 21.1 1.2 15.1 1995 65.3 20.0 1.5 13.2 1994 63.4 20.2 1.7 14.6 1993 68.0 19.0 1.7 11.3 1992 69.2 19.0 1.6 10.2 1991 69.8 19.1 2.1 9.0 1990 72.9 17.7 1.8 7.5 1989 71.8 16.7 2.0 9.5 1988 68.1 19.4 1.9 10.6 1987 67.2 18.8 3.2 10.7 1986 68.2 17.5 2.9 11.4 1985 65.5 19.6 2.7 12.1 1984 71.5 17.1 2.4 9.0 1983 69.6 19.3 2.4 8.7 1982 70.5 18.1 2.3 9.1 1981 73.7 15.6 1.4 9.4 1980 74.2 15.5 2.6 7.7 1979 70.9 16.8 3.5 8.9 1978 72.6 17.3 2.8 7.3 1977 72.5 15.6 2.4 9.5
Some quick and dirty observations. As always, sample size alert on the ’05 numbers. So far, lots of singles, not a lot of home runs.
The Golden Age of Mariner offense, when they swatted at least one in every ten hits over the fence, is effectively over, and the M’s HR% has been in steady decline since ’99.
After three weeks this year’s offense resembles a bit the 1990 incarnation of the Mariners. That team was led by a 20-year-old Junior Griffey (22 HR, .300/.366/.487). They were second to last in the AL in runs scored and tenth in home runs. Only Junior (22), Alvin Davis (17), Edgar Martinez (11) and Jeffrey Leonard (10) reached double-digits in the longball. However, one thing that does distinguish the ’90 M’s from the ’05 M’s is their patience to take a walk. They walked (596) nearly as many times as they scored runs (640), which speaks volumes to their ability to scoot those runners around the bases with extra-base knocks.
Our current lineup contains more than four hitters that will hit at least 10 home runs. Cold streaks happen. Hot streaks happen. And by October 1 everything evens out. So far, Richie Sexson and Greg Dobbs are the only hitters carrying their weight with the extra base hits. That will change.
And sometimes a little historical perspective never hurt anybody. At least, not much.
Doyle update
Played the field yesterday for the first time this year (I believe). Hitting .476/.556/.571 in six games.
(If you don’t know who I’m talking about, please read this rather than ask in the comments. Be cool now.)
I know this is still small sample-size theater, but I’m glad to see him hitting well in the early going, all things considered. I should also have mentioned that Curto did a really cool interview with Doyle before the Tuesday game where he displayed his humor and even-keeled outlook on life and baseball, but also there was this ache in his voice when he talked about playing again that was affecting. Also, no accent.
Baek down
Baek, who’d been outstanding so far in his starts for Tacoma, is out. “Strained flexor bundle” is the word. He’s gone on the 15-day DL, but the word on the street is that he could be out a month or longer. Something should come out about expected return date soon.
From the Everett Herald:
Utility player Scott Spiezio, who went on the 15-day DL Wednesday because of a strained oblique muscle in his left side, also has been stricken with the flu bug that has swept the team. Spiezio, in fact, hasn’t returned from Southern California, where the Mariners played the Anaheim Angels early this week when he was hurt.
Uh huh. Somewhere in the greater LA area, there’s a nice hotel with a highly-paid backup corner infielder being held in a room by hired goons who make sure he’s fed, comfortable, and out of the lineup.
“But I’m feeling much better.”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have a setback if you don’t step back from the door, Mr. Spiezio. Would you like me to have someone bring up some magazines?”
“You’re not going to drive me out into the desert and tie me to a cactus to die so you can get out of my paying my contract, are you?”
“Uhhh… noooooo…”
PI bit on stealing bases
My weekly bit’s right here. Nothing you haven’t read here and elsewhere: depending on the situation, you need to steal bases with a high rate of success to make it worthwhile.
Feel free to email with article suggestions you’d like to see in the PI. Trying to find things to hit in a short form for a different audience while still trying to be informative and worth reading… whew. I’m thinking about writing about Bloomquist, generate some emails.
And as always, I’d like to mention that if you want these columns to keep going, or if you’d like to see this stuff in print, a totally random passer-by offered places you can write to express your opinions.
Game 15, A’s at Mariners
Can Barry Zito look like the Zito of old against the M’s? Will Joel Pineiro pitch with the rage of an inflamed flexor bundle? We’re finding out as we speak. Use this as a game thread …
Bloomquist as a CF
A lot of people have brought up issues with Mike Hargrove so far. Personally, I haven’t found any of their points overwhelming, and by and large, I think he’s done fine. He’s been exactly what we expected: a manager who doesn’t get in the way of the talent he has. He’s not Earl Weaver, but he’s not Bill Plummer, either.
But, playing Willie Bloomquist in center field… that’s just stupid. Randy Winn, despite public opinion, is a pretty decent center fielder. Ichiro would almost certainly be one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Using Bloomquist in CF simply for the purpose of leaving Winn and Ichiro in their “regular” positions is just a poor decision. Bloomquist is an inferior player being put in a premium defensive position because… well, there’s no real good reason for it. The longer this goes on, the more it hurts the M’s.
Reichert tossed
Well, we wrote a ton about the gamble the M’s took on him, here at USSM and at the PI, and it’s over. The Rainiers released Dan Reichert. It seems… hasty? To punt a guy this early seems needless. I mean, they just brought back Andrew Lorraine. It’s not as if there’s a lot of pressure to create a spot in the Rainiers’ rotation.
On the other hand, I’m having trouble getting that worked up about this. The Mariners brought him in for spring training, and he didn’t make the team, as they chose to make a weird couple of decisions at the back of the bullpen and didn’t give him a shot as a starter.
Meetup Wrap-up
About a dozen of us gathered to eat, drink and make merry last night before heading to the yard to cheer on King Felix, Justin Leone and the rest of the Rainiers. The weather was perfect, and the night would have been perfect, too, if we’d had a Rainier win and a Doyle sighting. Sadly, these latter two qualities were lacking.
Felix looked a little jittery in the first inning, giving up two quick runs, but settled down to pitch well. Dan Meyer didn’t dominate, but wriggled out of several jams. Though I think there’s something to the “Meyer is hurt” theory — his velocity did not seem to be what it should — he also impressed me as a mature guy who knows how to pitch. If he stays healthy, I think he’s got a great future.
It was great meeting and talking with everybody who came out. Thanks for coming!
Other highlights for me included:
— A Justin Leone home run, witnessed by Devin of the blog formerly known as Leone For Third.
— The 25 beers on tap and 25 additional bottled beers available at Engine House 9.
— Debates over what exactly Rhubarb, the Rainiers mascot, is supposed to be. The prevailing theory is “jackalope,” and no one can tell me different. Of course, I also think Webbly looks like a Sleestak.
— Zumsteg booing the four-year-olds trying to shag balls in the outfield for prizes.
— Wiki Gonzalez living up to his reputation as the laziest man in baseball on at least two separate occasions. First, Wiki failed to move a foot or so — or even attempt a goalie-style “skate save” — to catch a throw to the plate, forcing an alert Felix to back up.
Then, he failed to score from first on a double scorched off the left field wall hit by Mike Morse, because Wiki apparently decided it was time to take a leisurely jog and check out the hotties sitting behind home plate. He ran the bases with all the intensity of Manny Ramirez, and half as fast. Also, as my friend’s grandfather would say, it looks like he likes the groceries, too.
— Doing Rick Rizzs impersonations with Devin, Christian and Tim Ferguson in the bleachers along the third base side.
— Just as I was telling my uncle what the “Three True Outcomes” were, Jack Cust hit a ball off the light standard in right field. “Case in point,” I said, glumly.
Despite the loss, a good time was had by me (and, I hope, all) on what Tim Ferguson’s favorite announcer would call “a beautiful night for baseball.” Before he went over the unhappy totals, of course.
Pictures to come, hopefully!
Around the Internet today
— Alan Schwarz looks at 833 current major leaguers for a broad look at farm system success. The Mariners do very well in most of these quick-and-dirty calculations, though you’ll be sure to note that all of the “notable signees” are no longer M’s. It’s kind of cool to see Jamie Moyer singlehandedly put St. Joseph’s on the baseball draft map, though. You’ll see what I mean.
Double meaning department: Schwarz notes that the Brewers have performed miserably in a Win Shares analysis of their draft picks, despite having Ben Sheets. “Then again,” he writes, “that happens when you demonstrate almost no ability to keep your minor league pitching prospects healthy.” Ouch. Did anybody else feel that?
— The TNT tries to put the hex on Doyle.
— Did George Steinbrenner’s tantrum inspire the Yankees to destroy their natural enemy and hated rival, the Devil Rays? What do you think, Joe Torre?
“Ask the players. I’d like to believe we try all the time.”
How about you, Tino Martinez?
“He (Steinbrenner) has every right to say what he said,” said Martinez. “We know we have to pick it up. It motivated us.”
Yankee dissension: smell the long knives as they come out.
— Try reading this story about how versatile Ron Villone is in this way: first, replace all references to pitching with references to hitting or playing the field. Then, replace the name “Ron Villone” with the name “Willie Bloomquist.”
You’d get results like this:
Bloomquist’s response to the duty?
“OK,†he said. “Whatever.â€Â
That’s not a complaint, it’s just that Bloomquist is one of those throwback players who will do whatever is asked of him, without complaint – as long as he feels he’s helping the team win.
Ah, versatility. Say what you will about Greg Dobbs; at least he’s only trying to play two or three positions poorly instead of all nine.
Out of curiosity, what happens when a throwback player feels he’s no longer helping the team win? Does he step across the foul line and transform into an elderly doctor? Take up a career in musical theater? Get on the boat to the Undying Lands with Frodo and Gandalf?
USSM gathering: Felix v. Dan Meyer tonight
Don’t forget: tonight is King Felix Hernandez’ first home start for the Rainiers. We’ll be there, and we invite you to join us.
You’ll be seeing more than one top pitching prospect. Opposing Felix is Dan Meyer, the highly regarded young arm received by the A’s in the Tim Hudson trade. Meyer is off to a rough start this year, and hopefully the Rainiers can continue that trend — but this guy has a terrific future. In over 350 minor league innings, he’s struck out almost 10 batters per nine, posting a strikeout-to-walk ratio of more than four to one.
Details again:
— The game is slated to begin at 6:05 p.m. Map to Cheney Stadium.
— We will be gathering at Engine House 9 for dinner beforehand. We should be there by 4 p.m. [Warning: embedded sound on the website, but you can find directions there.]
— Many thanks are due to Mike Curto for his assistance, and for scoring us five pairs of tickets for five lucky readers.