Snelling against RJ

by Susheel Ramasahayam on Aug 24, 2006 11:23 PM PDT

Snelling was in the lineup only because Beltre had a stiff neck and Grover had already made up his mind to give Ibanez the day off.

This according to the P-I "When facing left-hander Randy Johnson, opposing managers usually want to put as many right-handed hitters into the lineup as possible. The Mariners had two left-handers in Thursday's lineup. One, Ichiro Suzuki, plays against everybody. The other, Chris Snelling, started because the Mariners were out of options.

Manager Mike Hargrove already had determined he was giving Raul Ibanez the night off. And with Adrian Beltre's neck pain keeping him off he field, the Mariners didn't have any place else to turn.

"With Beltre out, one of the left-handers (Ibanez or Snelling) was going to have to start," said Hargrove, who used his spare outfielder, Willie Bloomquist, as his third baseman. "I felt having him in the lineup made us better defensively."

Snelling hasn't been up from the minor leagues for long, but already the routine is that he doesn't hit much against left-handers. He came into Thursday with just one of his 13 at-bats against lefties, and he was lifted for rookie pinch hitter T.J. Bohn against lefty reliever Ron Villone on Wednesday"

Snelling won't get another AB against a LHP all year with Grover still managing. Sad

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Why does that not surprise me

And the double hit today won't change his mind a bit.

Fire Mike Hargrove!

by Goose on Aug 24, 2006 11:29 PM PDT 0 recs

If Hargrove managed the Red Sox

he'd bench Ortiz vs. Johan Santana.

Willie Bloomquist and Mike Hargrove suck

by Mariner John on Aug 25, 2006 12:06 AM PDT 0 recs

He might bench Ortiz against Jake Woods

by Matthew on Aug 25, 2006 6:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

or Thornton

I will come at you like a spider monkey

by Scruffy Lefty on Aug 25, 2006 8:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

or JWash

Hargrove would probably trade Ortiz to improve "team speed". If we can brainwash Theo Epstein into hiring Dudley next year, I boldly predict an Ortiz to WFB trade.

Asked about the trade, Grover stated:
"Willie gives us a lot more flexibility on defense and really opens up our running game, plus he looks great in a uniform."

by PDXTai on Aug 25, 2006 8:45 AM PDT 0 recs

Two things

First, Seattle fans have seem to have a way of altering their perspective to make the unbearable seem bearable. Specifically, they are almost in a "mission accomplished" frame of mind after taking 2 of 3 from the Yankees. They are conveniently forgetting that we are 2-12 in the last 14. They would probably be more upset if we had gone 5-9 without the losing streak.
Second, you might really be on to something with Dudley. If we get him another MLB job, we now have a willing trade partner for a WFB trade. Brilliant!

by Coach on Aug 25, 2006 10:12 AM PDT 0 recs

Unfortunately

We were all hoping for a Willie Ballgame trade to ARI when BoMel went there. I think it's really the entire organization that's in love with the kid.

by oompagooba on Aug 25, 2006 4:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

In a completely lost season...

....taking 2 of 3 from the Yankees, especially given the utter Yankee demolition/demoralization of the Red Sox last weekend, is a huge accomplishment for this team.

Yes, the M's are 2-12 in their last 14 games, but so what? In a season where good moments are so few and far between, the small pleasure of striking out Alex Rodriguez to clinch a meaningless series win in late August's about as good as it gets, Mariner-wise. Enjoy it.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Aug 25, 2006 10:39 AM PDT 0 recs

Sorry,

but I just can't look at it that way. First of all, I look at winning this series against the Red Sox Killers as further proof that this team has severely under-achieved all year and especially in the recent 11 game road trip. This is not a hapless, talent-starved group. There's a good team in there, trying to get out. Taking the "glass half-full" attitude lets Hargrove escape accountability for his part therein.
Additionally, clinging to the few-and-far-between moments, as you say, falls into Hargrove's trap. If there's one thing at which Dudley absolutely excells, it is in SETTING LOW EXPECTATIONS. In fact he seems to be the Master at doing so.
Third, this Front Office gang shouldn't be trusted. If they have any idea that fans only care about the last series, or the last homestand, or the few good moments, they will have Hargrove back on the field in 2007. That is something I just don't think I could stand. Get rid of Dudley now, and I will return to looking at the bright side, per your perscription. Until that time, I want him held accountable for all the mindless decisions that have cost us as well as for those times when things have gone our way.

by Coach on Aug 25, 2006 11:53 PM PDT up 0 recs