3/9 Cactus League Game Thread: Battle of the Jeffs!

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 11:43 AM PST in Seattle Mariners News, Regular

I promised that I'd sneak a front page game thread up here today so that we could all root for the Mariners and lend them a little bit of extra karma to beat down the Colorado Rockies.

Wonderfully, the starting pitching matchup is the Mariners' Jeff Weaver vs. the Rockies' Jeff Francis. Elsewhere, you can see the matchup of Lookout Landing's Jeff Sullivan vs. USS Mariner's Jeff Shaw.

Starting lineup posted to the Seattle Times blog reads as follows:

First Pitch: 12:05pm PDT

Ichiro CF Finley DH Bloomquist 3B K. Matsui 2B Vidro DH Hawpe RF Ibanez LF Lopez C Sexson 1B Gomez LF Broussard RF Koshansky 1B Johjima C Stewart 3B Lopez 2B Barmes SS Betancourt SS C. Sullivan CF ---------- ---------- Weaver (2 IP, 13.50) Francis (2 IP, 0.00)

Adrian Beltre has a sore shoulder, which is why Willie's at third today. Baek, O'Flaherty, Sherrill, and Reitsma are scheduled to pitch for the Mariners as well, and Putz has tightness in his right elbow so he won't be out there.

I'm guessing that the Gameday app for this will be here, but won't know for sure until the game actually starts.

Last time I posted a front-page game thread was the only time the Mariners won a preseason game. Can they do it again? Who knows. At the very least, getting beaten by the Rockies would be marginally less embarrassing than getting beaten by the Royals.

LET'S GO MARINERS!

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Comments

We need more Jeffs. More Jeffs!

Plenty to choose from, too. I can't imagine Jeff D'Amico is too busy for a sympathy NRI.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 11:52 AM PST reply actions

Do Geoffs count also?

I noticed that the Rockies have a guy named Cory Sullivan playing center field today, too, so you're covered on all angles.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 11:54 AM PST up reply actions

Geoff's okay

but a little Canadian.

I can't wait until I'm rich enough to play my team of Jeffs against Matt White's team of Matts. Epic. And you thought Sox/Yankees was intense.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 11:57 AM PST up reply actions

And after you defeat them...

...you can take on Bloomquist's team of "Bills"

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

As much as I like you

I'd be rooting for the Matt's.

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2007 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

Jeff Harris just pitched a scoreless inning

...for Cleveland. But still :)

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 11:57 AM PST up reply actions

That was a really odd anecdote

by Graham MacAree on Mar 9, 2007 12:20 PM PST reply actions

Wow.

Broussard in RF. That's, well, interesting...

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 12:20 PM PST reply actions

You know

MLB.com is not a very user-friendly website when it comes to trying to track down all the different MLB.tv/Gameday Audio features.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 12:36 PM PST reply actions

ditto

How in the name of Zeus's butthole did you get out of your cell?

by Scruffy Lefty on Mar 9, 2007 2:46 PM PST up reply actions

5-pitch inning...

All of 'em strikes.

Nice.

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 12:43 PM PST reply actions

By the way

did I hear Dave discussing Jason and the Argonauts a few minutes ago?

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 12:43 PM PST reply actions

Yes.

I also talked about forcing a bully to kiss a 'mule's rear end' with coercion provided by shotgun.

I'm bemused.

by Graham MacAree on Mar 9, 2007 12:48 PM PST up reply actions

Erm, he also talked.

by Graham MacAree on Mar 9, 2007 12:48 PM PST up reply actions

Uh

is that the new "kissing your sister" for tie games or something?

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 12:50 PM PST up reply actions

God bless you, awful defense.

You're the man, Gomez.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 12:51 PM PST reply actions

Crud

Been stuck in an impromptu code review for the last hour. What did Broussard do exactly for the error I see him reported with?

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 12:53 PM PST reply actions

I don't know

but he did strike out, which sort of counts.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 12:55 PM PST up reply actions

if strikeouts were errors

Adam Dunn would have an FP of like what, .500?

(where FP is Flailing Percentage, not fielding)

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

Strikeouts are errors.

As long as you've whiffed more than zero times, you've got something to work on in practice.

(No, I don't really know where I'm going with this. Please stop me.)

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 1:00 PM PST up reply actions

Bobblred the ball

Turned a single into a double

by Graham MacAree on Mar 9, 2007 4:18 PM PST up reply actions

BONDS!!!

Just went deep of Loaiza.

Wait. Wrong game thread. Sorry...

Damn, the M's suck so bad they're not even getting coverage on XM...

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 1:00 PM PST reply actions

Animated audience today.

Louder than most Safeco crowds, anyway.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 1:02 PM PST reply actions

GERPOTENWOGEN!

Looks like WFB "Bill" is using up all of his base hits. Dude. Chill. Save some of those hits for when they really matter...

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 1:02 PM PST reply actions

I don't like ST.

The pitchers change too quickly for me to think of how to make fun of them.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 1:05 PM PST reply actions

And (according to GameDay Interns, anyway)

Baek got a pop to short, and two ground balls...

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 1:07 PM PST up reply actions

Bloomquist

He's doing it all to please Grover. That's his motivation. What's yours?

by JLC on Mar 9, 2007 1:08 PM PST reply actions

Sexson strikes out looking.

All right, let's bring it back.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 1:08 PM PST reply actions

Okay, enough of this.

I fully expect to check back in a few hours and see that Deanna's front page game thread ploy paid off again.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 1:13 PM PST reply actions

I dunno.

Sadly, I can't even follow the game because people keep making me leave my office to do work. So whether or not I am karma-lizing the team is yet to be seen. Plus Gameday's pretty behind for me and I can't actually listen to audio here goddamnit.

Some Sullivan kid just scored a run it looks like. Damn him!

Also, uh, Willie is having a pretty good day.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 1:31 PM PST up reply actions

Richie Sexson

Determined to finish spring training with a .000 average.

For the love of God, Beltre, please be good this season.

by JLC on Mar 9, 2007 1:13 PM PST reply actions

Speaking of Beltre

Why has Bloomquist started the last few days at third?

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2007 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

Beltre has a sore shoulder

Out for a few days. He'll probably be back by Sunday/Monday-ish.

by JLC on Mar 9, 2007 1:18 PM PST up reply actions

I told you guys.

Willie's smokin' all the regulars. If you just give him a chance, he could be like Mickey Mantle. He's got the looks, and he's got the talent.

by Big Bat Willie on Mar 9, 2007 1:39 PM PST reply actions

Hey, I recognize you

Weren't you on here as Vidro4MVP a bit ago?

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 1:53 PM PST up reply actions

Gah! They're multiplying!

Ok, where's 'Reyofsunshine'?

by marc w on Mar 9, 2007 2:49 PM PST up reply actions

probably hiding with

the Ramon Santiago Fan Club and the Bucky Backers and the Bocacheering people and whoever.

Or, maybe they're all just made up as part of that stupid Steve Kelley article. Y'think?

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 2:51 PM PST up reply actions

Weaver

sounds stoned out of his gord getting interviewed.

by dust on Mar 9, 2007 1:52 PM PST reply actions

Wow, Broussard!

Pulled a Hat Trick in Spring Training! That's Richie's job, ya know...

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 2:24 PM PST reply actions

What the eff?

Jeff Francis (5.95 career K/9 and trending down) struck out 5 in 4 innings?

That's a right kerfuffle!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Mar 9, 2007 2:31 PM PST reply actions

Well, wait

To be fair, he's still a fairly young player, plus being stuck in Colorado can't help.

Maybe he finally got the memo from the British Columbia Pitcher's Association that said, "Dude, you and Harden are making us look bad. Go strike people out and be healthy and stuff, eh?"

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 2:36 PM PST up reply actions

ALSO DEAR GOD, CHRIS REITSMA

I DO NOT LIKE HIM SAM I AM

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 2:37 PM PST reply actions

Thank god for Brian LaHair.

Not that it helps for him to be so good right now because we don't have a place for him on the roster, but I'm cheering for him anyway.

Gameday's showing the score tied 5-5 going into the 10th...

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 2:48 PM PST reply actions

The better LaHair looks

the sooner we can unload Sexson and buy a real #2 starter. Or something.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 2:52 PM PST up reply actions

I guess that's true

Also, sigh, 6-5. That Sullivan kid scored again. Someone kill him.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

Cory is a stupid name.

He's ruining Sullivan for all of us.

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

Uh ohs...

This Means WAAAAARRRRRR!!!!

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 3:02 PM PST reply actions

Colina is a dumb name for a catcher.

It's like he wanted to be a Molina and made a typo or something.

Okay, I really have no point here, I'm just antsy waiting for Gameday to update, goddamnit.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 3:04 PM PST reply actions

Mariners lose 6-5, 10 innings

Guys, I'm sorry. I tried. At least they made it into extra innings before losing today. That's worth something, right?

Don't blame me, blame Chris Reitsma.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 3:07 PM PST reply actions

You did your best

by bluemax on Mar 9, 2007 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks for trying Deanna.

I still went 0 for spring training on my trip...Reitsma ruined it twice for me...hopefully he gets injured :(

We'll Always Have the Kingdome:

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2007 4:35 PM PST reply actions

Yeah, I'm sorry.

I wish I had something sympathetic to say besides "At least it wasn't a blowout loss against the Royals".

So which games did you go to again? Did you wear your Snelling jersey?

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 5:17 PM PST up reply actions

I went to five games...

Four Mariner games...M's vs. Cubs on Monday, D-Backs vs. Padres on Tuesday, M's vs. Giants on Wednesday, M's vs. Royals yesterday, and M's vs. Rockies today. If it's any consolation, I got a ridiculous amount of autographs though, it was amazing.

I wore my Snelling jersey today...I've been tryng to get players to sign their jersesys...didn't manage to get any though...most players are good about signing...except for Beltre, Sexson, and Guillen...all in all it was a fun trip, and I probably got over 60 autographs...and talked to some minor leaguers in my hotel pool...in fact, I saw Jose Lopez walk out of my hotel lobby today...half the players are staying here at the Hampton, and half at the La Quinta inn.... I strongly reccomend going to spring training if you get the chance.

We'll Always Have the Kingdome:

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2007 5:42 PM PST up reply actions

You saw Jose Lopez walk?

That's a first.

...

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 9, 2007 5:47 PM PST up reply actions

Wait for it. Wait for it...

RIMSHOT

(Sorry Gomez/Goose/whichever one of you G-named dudes generally does that)

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Mar 9, 2007 6:24 PM PST up reply actions

That's cool

I never saw a computer last night.

by Gomez on Mar 10, 2007 7:22 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I dunno.

I've thought about going to spring training a few times, but whenever I feel like spending money on baseball travel, I end up doing something like running around Japan for a few weeks, or roadtripping around east coast stadiums, or going to the Metrodome for a friend's wedding, and such.

There's also a weird effect of the offseason such that I don't really think "Hmm, spring training. That'd be kind of cool to go to" until it's actually started, at which point it's completely unfeasible to make arrangements.

Did you take lots of pictures? I think that's probably what I'd enjoy doing most if I went... lots of bright sun and good seats and all.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Mar 9, 2007 6:03 PM PST up reply actions

I know just enough Japanese to say thanks

To Kenji and Ichiro. Because I don't want to call them shit, pretty, cute, or be completely obvious and tell them that they're from Japan. That's all I know how to say in Japanese. So I wouldn't be able to manage going to Japan. The east coast I've done, and even some Cali stadiums. That's fun stuff. Never been to the midwest stadiums though.

I didn't take many pictures, my mom got about 100 though. My dad's the picture taker in the family and he didn't come along on this trip...got one with Jay Buhner though. I enjoyed the bright sun (which totally burned the shit out of me) and good seats out on the lawn, just not the high number of balls hit off of Chris Reitsma coming to those seats....that was autograph time--but for some reason no one signed my sweetspot on my Mariners ball today...

Willie must recognize me and my voice...I was waiting on Jeremy Reed to sign my ball, and WFB came. Not wanting him to deface my Mariner ball, I held out my program. Now, over the years I've been a very vocal heckler of Willie, and was talking to some other fans...he saw my program...looked me right in the eye...and walked past me. That's better than an autograph...knowing that WFB hates me like we hate him.

We'll Always Have the Kingdome:

by BrettJMiller on Mar 9, 2007 6:47 PM PST up reply actions