Name the best hitter in the American League. Alex Rodriguez? Carlos Delgado? Alfonso Soriano?
Edgar Martinez. As of May 13th, Edgar Martinez is 4th in the AL in batting average, 2nd in on base percentage, 4th in slugging percentage, and 3rd in OPS. He’s done this while playing half his games in Safeco Field. His competition on the leaderboard is dominated by Rangers and Yankees, neither of whom view their home park as a disadvantage to offense.
At home, Edgar is hitting .315/.435/.519 with 5 extra base hits in 54 at-bats. When he leaves Safeco Field, he’s putting up a .375/.500/.708 line which includes 8 extra base hits in 48 at-bats. Just to put that in perspective, Babe Ruth’s career line was .342/.474/.690. When Ruth was 40, he hit .181/.359/.431.
There simply isn’t a better hitter in the American League than Edgar Martinez right now. What Edgar Martinez is doing at the age of 40 is historic. Remarkably, no one is noticing, because we’ve all learned to take him for granted.
Minor League Highlights for Monday, May 13
Tacoma 4, Oklahoma 2. RHP Aaron Taylor, who blew a save on Sunday, was thrown right back out there on Monday night and picked up his 7th save of the season (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K). Such is life for a closer; you can’t dwell too long on past successes or failures, because your next shot might be the very next game. Taylor secured the win for RHP Brian Falkenborg (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K), now 2-1 on the year with a sparkling 2.29 ERA. The Rainiers scored their four runs on just four hits, as two Oklahoma errors led to three unearned runs. 1B Andy Barkett his his 6th homer of the year for Tacoma.
San Antonio 5, Midland 1. LHP Travis Blackley (6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) found his control and had a good outing, picking up his 4th win of the season and lowering his ERA to 2.72. Eight different Missions had a hit, all singles save a homer for 3B Justin Leone who drove in three of the team’s five runs. C Jim Horner drove in the other two, and his hitting a ridiculous .448/.500/.603 in 15 games with San Antonio. Leone hasn’t been too shabby either, with a .315/.426/.550 line that includes 22 walks in 111 at-bats and nearly 55% of his hits going for extra bases. CF Michael Curry stole his 19th base of the year in 21 attempts (a 90% success rate), and is now wanted for grand theft in at least six states.
Inland Empire 14, Lake Elsinore 8 (11 innings). As reported here last night, the 66ers sent LHP Matt Thornton to the hill for his first appearance of 2003. Thornton (4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) had been out since the middle of last season after Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, so those five strikeouts against just one walk are a particularly good sign. The real hero, however, was RHP Mike Steele. Normally the team’s closer, Steele stretched out his arm and saved a weary pitching staff by working the final four innings of the game (4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). He was rewarded with his first win of the year, as the 66ers scored six runs in the top of the 11th. The offensive star was 2B Ismael Castro, who just may have turned things around after a slow start. Castro went 4-7 in the game including his first two homers of the year, a double and three runs scored. One of his homers hit the light tower and came complete with an explosion, a la Roy Hobbs in The Natural.
Battle Creek 4, Wisconsin 1 (DH Game #1). This one started well enough, as for the second straight contest DH Dustin Delucchi led off the game with a homer. However, the Timber Rattlers managed just one hit after that — a harmless single by LF Carlos Arroyo — and a total of only two baserunners. RHP Tanner Watson’s struggled continued (5 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K), as he dropped to 0-2 on the year and saw his ERA pushed to 6.64. LHP Oscar Delgado pitched well in relief (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K), but by then it was too late.
Battle Creek 4, Wisconsin 2 (DH Game #2). The Timber Rattlers fell behind 4-0 in the first inning before even getting to bat, as a costly error by SS Michael Garciaparra led to three of the four runs being unearned. LHP Cesar Jimenez (4 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) settled down after that to keep the game within reach, but once again Wisconsin was unable to get anything going offensively. They did manage nine hits in the game, but eight were singles. 3B Matt Hagen hit his 6th homer of the year, and Garciaparra, perhaps trying to atone for his 1st inning error, went 2-3 with an RBI.
I tuned into the Inland Empire webcast to take a listen to Troy Cate’s start against Rancho Cucamonga tonight and got a bit of a surprise. The 66’ers starting pitcher is the apparently healthy Matt Thornton. I’d heard he was making good progress, but wasn’t expecting him to take the hill so soon. The recovery time for Tommy John surgery is steadily being trimmed.
And yes, I’m that big of a nerd that I listen to minor league baseball games on the internet. And Derek wonders why I’m single.
Quick update. Ismael “Roy Hobbs” Castro just busted the Quakes light fixture with a huge home run in the fourth inning. Apparently, the explosion was Natural-esque. Still no word on whether Castro is legitimitely younger than Robert Redford, however.
Our own resident minor league guru, David Cameron, with whom I really should check my stuff before posting wild guesses, reports that LHP Cesar Jimenez will start the second game of Wisconsin’s double header tonight. If he pitches well, he has a chance to stick in the rotation as Beau Hintz, Tanner Watson and Juan Sandoval have all been rather ineffective this season in the 3-4-5 slots. Frankly, it’s a wonder they didn’t turn to Jimenez earlier, but apparently the organization isn’t all that impressed with him because he’s not a power pitcher. Pshaw! Check out this link to see what he’s done over the past year or so. The first line is what he did in the Venezuelan Summer League before being called up to Everett last season. Wow. After that are this season at Wisconsin, last year at Everett, and his brief stop in rookie ball on his way from Venezuela to Everett. Jimenez has a very good changeup, particularly for his young age, as well as an Arthur Rhodes-style hitch in his windup that makes it tough for batters to pick up the ball.
Further, Rafael Soriano should make his way back into Tacoma’s rotation eventually, perhaps in place of a struggling Ken Cloude who could be on his way to the pen. Cloude’s ERA is nearly seven, he isn’t striking out many hitters and his K:BB ratio is quite poor at 21:13 in 33 2/3 innings. Might be time to make a move there.
Finally, I’ve updated the Big Board for the week. Highlights include Kazuhiro Sasaki’s return to the majors, Soriano’s return to the minors, Cha Seung Baek on the disabled list, Kevin Olore’s demotion from San Antonio to Inland Empire to bail out the 66ers beleagured pitching staff, and the reappearance of Jay Pecci.
Oh, and if you’re just finding us thanks to a new link from one of the various blogs out there, welcome aboard.
Minor League Highlights for Sunday, May 11
Oklahoma 3, Tacoma 2. RHP Aaron Taylor blew his second save of the year, allowing two runs in the top of the 9th as the Rainiers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Taylor (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) entered the game with a 2-1 lead in relief of RHP Rafael Soriano (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K), but surrendered a two-run homer and saw his record fall to 0-2 on the year. Soriano, making his first appearance since returning to Tacoma, worked in relief of RHP Jeff Heaverlo (6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K). It is unclear whether Soriano is now being groomed for a relief role or if he simply needs to get his arm stretched out with a few long relief outings before returning to the rotation. There is very little to report offensively, as the Rainiers were held to just four hits.
Midland 12, San Antonio 8. The Missions played quite well Sunday… if you take out the second inning, in which RHP Chris Wright (4 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 1 K) allowed eight runs, essentially ending the game. A costly error by SS Jose Lopez led to five of the runs being unearned. San Antonio fought back by scoring in five seperate innings, but fell short as it was never more than two runs in any frame. As you might guess when the team scores eight runs on 15 hits, several hitters had big days. 1B John Lindsey led the way, with a 4-5 game including two doubles, a homer and four runs scored. 3B Justin Leone was 3-3 with a double, while DH Jim Horner and the aforementioned Lopez each had two his.
Inland Empire 14, Lake Elsinore 9. This was a strange one. RHP Kevin Olore, making his first appearance since being demoted from San Antonio, got the start but was lifted in the 4th despite not allowing a hit (3 1/3, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 5 K). LHP Justin Blood (2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) took over in relief and got his team through the 6th holding a 4-1 lead, but then things got ugly. It started in the 7th, when the 66ers put up nine runs to take a 13-1 lead. LHP Russ Morgan, sent in for some mop-up work, pitched a scoreless 7th but was touched up for four runs in the 8th. After the 66ers scored once more for good measure in the top of the 9th, Morgan allowed four more runs in the bottom half of the inning to arrive at the final score of 14-9. His line for the game finished at an ugly 3 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 2 K and three homers, and his ERA ballooned to 12.71. Among the hitters, LF Shin-soo Choo and C Chris Collins each had three hits, including a triple for Choo and two doubles for Collins. RF Greg Jacobs, 1B John Castellano, 3B Hunter Brown and CF Sheldon Fulse each added two hits, including homers for Jacobs and Castellano. Whew!
Wisconsin‘s game with Battle Creek was rained out, as the Midwest League lost six of its eight games — including a double header — to bad weather. Baseball America doesn’t show the two teams playing a double header today to make up the lost game, but the Timber Rattlers’ website, probably a better souce for such information, says they’ll play a pair of seven-inning games starting at 5pm local time. RHP Tanner Watson and LHP Beau Hintz are the probable starters for Wisconsin assuming they stick with their regular rotation.
I’m just now getting around to reading the Steve Kelley article Derek linked to yesterday. Really, that’s some pretty shoddy journalism if you ask me. If you’ve got something concrete, come out and say it. If you’ve got nothing, don’t make these vague statements — “And he isn’t spending the extra time between starts to tweak his messy mechanics” or “Is he more interested in night life or night games?” — with nothing to back them up, even if it’s more or less known that Freddy is out and about in Seattle. Kelley’s column brings nothing to the proverbial table on this particular topic. And what’s up with his hair?
With respect to the Grand Salami — a mighty fine publication, I might add — this is nothing new. Last year they sent out fairly aggressive vendors in an attempt to hit fans up for programs before they could reach the Salami vendors, partly to be confrontational and partly to try and trick fans who are used to buying the Salami from street vendors. Earlier this year, editor/founder/publisher Jon Wells was told by the Mariners that he was not allowed to call his publication a “program,” as if the Mariners have some sort of exclusive rights to this word and/or concept. You hear stories about cities where the unofficial program is actually welcomed by the team, which is smart enough to realize that they’re getting free publicity and coverage (Baltimore is the one that comes to mind), and it boggles the mind that the M’s are the way they are. They’ve basically done everything they can to run the Salami into the ground — including publishing their own “unofficial program a few years ago! — short of taking legal action. Uh, knock on wood.
Boy, did we post enough content today, or what? Anyway, next game is on Tuesday, when the Mariners head to Cleveland to beat the heck out of the Indians for a couple of games.
Tuesday, RHP Pineiro v RHP Anderson
Wednesday, RHP Garcia v RHP Davis
Thursday, could go a couple of ways — probably RHP Franklin on 5 days rest v. RHP Westbrook
I like the M’s chances here. It’s telling that the Mariners made a big deal out of what Freddy’s next start would tell them about his dedication (etc). Last time he faced their stopgap lineup, he gave up 7 hits, one a homer, two walks, and struck out only one, allowing one run in six innings of work. That’s what we call ‘lucky’. Meche shut them out the next day (8ks), and Jamie gave up two runs (striking out 7) the day after that. It’s weird, though, the Mariners are playing .600 ball but if you’d asked me, I’d have told you they were closer to .550, and I’ve seen every game so far (I think). That says something about me, or the team, I don’t know which. Still, I was the only guy at Prospectus to predict the Mariners would finish as high as second in their division.
Also, the Mariners have escalated their continuing battle against the Grand Salami, the unofficial and frequently-critical (though not of advertisers) program sold for $3 outside Safeco Field that is markedly superior to the $4 official program. Tired of having fans buy the Grand Salami on their way to the park and pass up the official program, the team is now deploying street hawkers who do the Grand Salami schtick, with one adjustment — “Programs! Four dollars!” in the hopes, I think, that fans used to buying the Salami will buy from them, thinking it’s a price increase… I’m not sure what the next step will be, but I suspect it involves some kind of favorable legislation to ban vendors not sanctioned by the team from Safeco Field property, forcing the vendors away from the gates and the lucrative parking garage-to-ballpark fan streams.
Minor League Highlights for Saturday, May 10
Oklahoma 1, Tacoma 0. The Rainiers held Oklahoma to just three hits in the game, but unfortunately managed only three hits of their own and were unable to scratch out even a single run. LHP Craig Anderson (7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) had yet another good start, lowering his ERA to 2.61 on the year. It took him a few starts at the beginning of the year, but he’s apparently figured out how to fool PCL hitters with his assortment of junk. RHP J.J. Putz (2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) took the loss in relief, as he allowed a run in the top of the 9th. 3B Luis Figueroa had two of Tacoma’s three hits.
Midland 6, San Antonio 4. The once-hot Missions have now lost two in a row, as RHP Clint Nageotte (4 2/3 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) was hit quite hard and took his first loss of the season. If you’re looking for a positive, it’s that he only walked one this time out; command is key to Nageotte’s success down the road. 1B A.J. Zapp led the offense with a homer and a double, and 3B Justin Leone walked three times to go along with his second homerun of the season. CF Michael Curry stole two bases to give him 18 on the year, by far the highest total in the system.
Lake Elsinore 5, Inland Empire 2 (DH Game #1). In typical 66ers fashion, the team scored just two runs despite having ten hits in the game. For comparison, Lake Elsinore scored their five runs on seven hits. 3B Hunter Brown and CF Sheldon Fulse each had a pair, and six other players chipped in with one hit each. LHP Glenn Bott (4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) took the loss in the abbreviated game, dropping his record to 0-2 on the season.
Lake Elsinore 3, Inland Empire 2 (DH Game #2). The 66ers were done in yet again by a poor offensive showing, this time managing just five hits. It should be noted that they also drew six walks; this team actually walks quite a bit, but for whatever reason they seem incapable of stringing together hits to score than just a single run here and there. It doesn’t help that they’re dead-last in the California League in homers, either. Getting back to the game, RHP Enmanuel Ulloa pitched very well (5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) and left with a 1-0 lead, only to see RHP Emiliano Fruto cough it up in a poor relief outing (1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K).
Wisconsin 6, Battle Creek 2. LHP T.A. Fulmer (9 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) gave the Timber Rattlers their first complete game of the year, picking up his second win and lowering his ERA to 3.63. Fulmer took a no-hitter into the 4th inning, but allowed a two-out double followed by an RBI single which tied the game at 1. Wisconsin countered with a SS Michael Garciaparra solo homer in the bottom of the 4th, followed by a 3B Matt Hagen three-run shot in the 6th. Hagen and Garciaparra, hitting 8th and 9th in the batting order, combined to go 6-8 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBIs on the day.
Let’s talk about Freddy. Pitching coach Brian Price has hinted around knowing what’s up, saying that the amount of effort someone puts into becoming a great pitcher is a personal choice, and lately that “Freddy is facing a challenge right now, and we’ll see what he’s made of.”
Freddy’s known as a party dude, a nightclub-hanging-out guy with a reputation for enjoying the women his fame attracts. I have no personal knowledge of any of this, I only know that he does get spotted at clubs a lot. He’s also got issues with his work ethic, preparation, and his tendency to come unraveled easily. Now, do any of the local media types come out and confront this?
Nope. Steve Kelley (“The worst sports writer in Seattle”) writes a column “Garcia more like a house of cards than supposed ace” in which he dances around this: he asks if Freddy wants to win, or “Or is he more interested in using baseball to help him live the good life?” and then, after discussing the collapse, writes “[the Mariners didn’t sign him to an extension because] they saw a flaw in his personality that told them he wasn’t worth their long-term faith. Garcia likes having a good time.” Uh huh? How, exactly? Kelley goes on to talk about these other guys who party, or have a wild lifestyle, after-hours habits. “Is Freddy Garcia a big-league ace? Or a big-time party animal? Is he more interested in night life or night games?”
Look, if you know something, say it. Put it in black-and-white on a page. There are obvious flags out there if you look for them, but what Kelley does here is say that Garcia likes a good time, and then gives examples — of other players.
The P.I. ran a bit in their notebook in which Price offers the theory that it’s when Garcia reaches back for more speed on the fastball that he’s getting hurt. That seems to run counter to my own opinion, which is that Garcia sucks, has no plan, and is easily rattled. Anyway, Price bravely tries to take the blame (this is a huge credit to Price, btw).
Also, while I’m ranting, I’d like to complain about Bob (“I’m well acquinted with other lint in the Mariners pockets”) Finnigan’s May 10 notebook, which starts off being about Freddy and then goes horribly wrong. As one of the M’s unofficial spokespeople Finnigan writes about the possibility of a Portland franchise and said “While the Seattle club maintains its silence on the matter, it is thought that as much as one-third of its broadcast audience and 20-25 percent of its attendance comes from this state’s southwest corridor. Those fans could be drawn away to support a team nearer to them in Portland.”
Thought by who? Who in their right minds believes that one in every four or five fans is driving to Safeco from Vancouver, Washington, given that the Seattle-Tacoma metro area has 3.5 million people in it. The total population of Washington is 5.9m, and there are ~650k in Spokane-Yakima, 189k in the Tri-cities… does Finnigan really think that of the remaining 1.8m people in this state, that they’re all baseball fanatics hiding in the southwest corridor of Washington who watch the game in far greater proportions and are also willing to drive two, three hours in traffic to see the Mariners play, that they’re so baseball crazy… argh. That this 1.8m hidden population in Finnigan’s southwest corridor attend games at a rate (0.75% of population per game) barely below that of people in the Seattle Metro area (1.1% of the population)? What kind of utter stupidity is this?
“It is thought” that that’s true? Here’s a thought, Bob — you work for the Seattle Times. If you want a story, COMMISSION A FREAKING POLL. Here’s my stat: it’s between 90 and 125% of Seattle Times readers wish their baseball section featured more writers like Stone and less of the Kelley-Judd-Finnigan-Newham League of Lazy Sportswriters.
Speaking of Larry Stone, he’s got two good articles on sign-stealing for your reading enjoyment: “Sign language is game’s lifeblood” and “Masters of sign-stealing get in opponents’ heads but aren’t proud of it“). I’m a huge sign-stealer myself, and last year wrote about stealing Mariner signs for Baseball Prospectus, after which Piniella went to Toronto and was annoyed and baffled that the Blue Jays seemed to be stealing his signs (they weren’t, he was just predictable in many situations).