John McLaren
You suck at baseball strategy. And evaluating talent. And dealing with egos.
But other than that, you’re great.
To paraphrase someone, “My mom always told me if I didn’t have anything to say besides [Expletive] John McLaren, then don’t say anything at all. Is my mom great or what?”
Game 113, Mariners at White Sox
Washburn vs Vazquez, 5:11 pm.
John McLaren hates us. And winning, apparently. Sexson at first, Ibanez in left, Jones and Broussard to the bench.
If the M’s were an NBA official, we could convict them of throwing games with ease.
Scheduling Change
If you’re planning your day around listening to my weekly segment with Groz on KJR, well, first off, that’s rather sad, but secondly, you’ll want to move your listening time back a few hours – this week, we’re doing it at 5:05 pm pacific time to accommodate… I don’t know, honestly, but something else.
So, we’re still doing the USSM on KJR gig today, but just a few hours later than normal, and it will almost overlap with tonight’s first pitch. So just start your baseball listening a few minutes early tonight.
Hi John
Mr. Manager Sir,
In case you didn’t notice, I just went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk, scored four runs, and added an outfield assist just for fun. Please play me more often.
Thank you.
Adam
Game 112, Mariners at Orioles
Ramirez vs Cabrera, 4:05 pm.
So, the line-up is today’s story, as it’s essentially a rehash of the one they ran out there on Sunday against Josh Beckett.
The good: Adam Jones in left! Ben Broussard at first!
The bad: Jose Vidro at second! Raul Ibanez hitting cleanup!
The M’s vastly improve their outfield defense by sticking Jones in left… and then give it all right back by putting Vidro at second. Turbo should never take the field in any scenario that doesn’t involve an 18 inning game and multiple injuries. He’s that bad defensively. The Lopez-Vidro downgrade might actually be larger than the Ibanez-Jones upgrade. Despite Adam Jones being in the line-up, the defense isn’t any better, and we’re throwing a contact pitcher who has been destroyed outside of Safeco. That’s not good.
Look, obviously, we’re all happy that Adam Jones is playing today, and this might be the best offense the M’s have put on the field this year. But they’re still punting defense behind a guy who needs defense to succeed.
Let’s hope AJ has a huge night offensively and Turbo makes a few painful defensive plays that don’t cost us any runs but highlight his inability to field, allowing future line-ups that include Adam Jones to also include Jose Lopez. Hitting or not, the M’s need Lopez playing second base, especially if the alternative is sticking the potted plant known as Turbo out there.
In Other News
Edit: Mariners have acquired John Parrish from Baltimore, reportedly for non-prospect outfielder Sebastian Boucher, and optioned Mark Lowe to Tacoma. This is probably a good move for Lowe to get more regular work in low pressure situations, but Parrish won’t help this team. He’s now their worst reliever and they’re very unlikely to realize that.
And, if you wanted an alternative, the Indians released Fernando Cabrera today. Cabrera > Parrish, and he’s now available to anyone for a minor league contract.
Here’s a new thread for discussion of the team before the game thread goes live later tonight. However, this thread comes with rules. The following topics are off limits:
1. Jose Vidro
2. Chemistry
3. Clutch Hitting
If you want to talk about any of those things, your thread is below. Call it segregation if you want, but we’re serious about trying to get this place back to being something better than what it has been lately.
Wild Card Leaders
M’s are .001 ahead of the Tigers in the wild card race. Huzzah.
Congratulations to Jose Vidro on your recent hot streak. Congratulations to Raul Ibanez on hitting home runs in back to back nights. Congratulations to the Orioles for being a disaster of a franchise.
I had a few interesting ideas kicking around for a post, but I’ll save them for another day, because I have a feeling that no matter what we put up, the comments are just going to turn into more of the same tired arguments that I just can’t have again without putting my head through a window. So, if you really have to talk about how awesome Vidro is or how chemistry is the secret ingredient to winning or how Adam Jones can’t help this team or how Ibanez’s defense isn’t that bad, knock yourself out down below. The rest of us – we’ll resume intelligent commentary another day.
Game 111, Mariners at Orioles
FELIX DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
4:05
Felix versus some Guthrie guy. Whatever.
No Jones in the lineup! Yeah! We get Sexson! And Ibanez! Woooo!
Have you seen this man?
Have you seen this man?
If so, please contact the Mariners immediately, as they are needed for tonight’s game.
Pitcher Available
The M’s need a starting pitcher. David Wells is reportedly going to be designated for assignment by the Padres later today.
Wells: 2.4 BB/G, 4.6 K/G, 41.7% GB%, 4.78 xFIP
Ramirez: 3.2 BB/G, 3.3 K/G, 45.6% GB%, 5.41 xFIP
Even accounting for the change in leagues, Wells is obviously a far better pitcher than Ho-Ram. The Padres are dumping him because he’s posted a 14.04 ERA in his last 4 starts, but a huge amount of that is due to an insane batting average on balls in play. This is an obvious buy low situation, as the problems that have plagued him the last couple of weeks won’t continue at the same rate.
Wells wants to play on the west coast. He won’t cost much and he should make it through waivers. He’ll make the team better.
Make it happen, Bill.
Game 110, Mariners at Orioles
Weaver v Trachsel, 4:05, FSN.
Can we pretend Trachsel’s a left-hander for purposes of getting Jones into the lineup? Please?