4/4: Open Game Thread

by Jeff on Apr 4, 2007 2:16 PM PDT in Regular News

BIG NOTICE: Yuniesky Betancourt has been locked up through all his arbitration years, with an option for his first year of free agency.

First Pitch: 7:05pm PDT

Kendall C Ichiro CF Stewart LF Beltre 3B Bradley CF Vidro DH Piazza DH Ibanez LF Chavez 3B Sexson 1B Swisher 1B Guillen RF Crosby SS Johjima C Buck RF Betancourt SS Ellis 2B Lopez 2B ---------- ----------

Harden (0-0, -.--) Batista (0-0, -.--)

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely terrified of having to face Rich Harden tonight, but the fear is mitigated by the fact that he'll probably crack a few ribs and go on the DL after laughing at Jose Vidro's fat ass in the first. Here's hoping that Miguel Batista's next mystery is titled The Improbable Sweep. Or How Anaheim Ceased To Exist One Night And No One Noticed For A While. Either works, really.

MLB.tv page link

LET'S GO MARINERS!!

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Comments

Batista's next book

The Origin of the Funk Blast: Whose Funk? Which Blast?

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 2:23 PM PDT 0 recs

OT

But anybody still salty at Thornton for whatever reason should go check out his line from the Cleveland - Sox game. And we think Mateo is bad.

by Mere Tantalisers on Apr 4, 2007 2:24 PM PDT 0 recs

Thornton's legacy

will end up being his trademarked home-run-to-the-first-batter-he-faces technique.

by Jeff on Apr 4, 2007 2:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Whoooooo!

time for a Funk Sweep!

Come on! I've had better runs in my shorts!-Rip Torn, Dodgeball.

by Coach Owens on Apr 4, 2007 2:26 PM PDT 0 recs

Against Harden

we'll need the Rally Funky.

by Rollo Tomasi on Apr 4, 2007 2:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

You mean

a Funk Rally?

Come on! I've had better runs in my shorts!-Rip Torn, Dodgeball.

by Coach Owens on Apr 4, 2007 2:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh my god

I just learned that Jimmy Carter was once attack by a giant swimming rabbit, attempting an amphibious assassination!

by oompagooba on Apr 4, 2007 2:28 PM PDT 0 recs

Uh, yeah man

that's what the bunny in Monty Python's Holy Grail was all about.

by Mere Tantalisers on Apr 4, 2007 5:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

When Richie hits

grandslams, will they be called Funk Slams?

Come on! I've had better runs in my shorts!-Rip Torn, Dodgeball.

by Coach Owens on Apr 4, 2007 2:29 PM PDT 0 recs

Grand Funk Railroad Slams

by Slozbury Stouvre on Apr 4, 2007 2:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hmm.

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Apr 4, 2007 2:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

Know how, at parties

someone says or does something that just leads to a sudden, complete silence from everyone within earshot?

Yeah.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

Heh.

Thought you'd enjoy that, 'mez...

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Apr 4, 2007 3:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

Presenting the first Mariner Magic Card of 2007!

Thanks to AZSEAfan for the inspiration.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 3:05 PM PDT 0 recs

SWEET

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Epic season of LL graphics so far.

And it hasn't even been three days.

For the record, I had to edit a little of Devin's IM to make it front page appropriate. The full quote:

(23:48:16) Devin: Why the fuck is Julio Fucking Mateo on the Seattle Fucking Mariners? And why the fuck would any fucking idiot bring his fucking ass in in a two-run game against the A's in the fucking 7th innings.
(23:48:27) Devin: Fuck Julio Mateo. Fuck him up his stupid ass.

by Jeff on Apr 4, 2007 3:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

LLers are a creative, motivated bunch

even when the team isn't.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good thinking

That "stupid ass" part might have lost you this blog.

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on Apr 4, 2007 4:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hey

my mind made me think it was going to be much worst.

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 4, 2007 5:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

And with that

The 2007 Mariner season is officially underway.

by ThundaPC on Apr 4, 2007 3:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks Goose

sniff....sniff....it's beautiful.

"You guys should be in every major city. This is some heavy shit. This is, like, Lone Ranger heavy, man."

by AZSEAfan on Apr 4, 2007 4:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

Fun fact

Richie's 2nd funk blast of the season puts him at 275 career HRs, tying him on the all-time list with some dude named Roger Maris, none of whose homers would qualify as funk blasts.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Yet a lot of people

believe should be in the Hall of Fame.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on Apr 4, 2007 3:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

Mostly Yankee fans I imagine

Maris was a good player, no doubt about it. But he's not a hall of famer.I wouldn't even call him a great player. Just a good one.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

By that logic

Denny McLain's long overdue for his induction.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Don't you mean his indictment?

oh wait, that already happened.

by basebliman on Apr 4, 2007 4:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

He can be the first guy

inducted from prison.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 6:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Don't ask me why

But I thought that number would be higher. I keep forgetting he missed most of a year with his shoulder problem.

"Did everything just taste purple for a second?"

by Thingray on Apr 4, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

on the other hand

61* was an incredibly well-done movie, all things considered.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 3:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

I just saw it for the first time about a month ago

Considering it was a "made for TV" movie (if HBO can be considered TV) it was quite good.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on Apr 4, 2007 3:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'd agree

Except I thought it might be a Joey-safe movie. Wouldn't really call it that.

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Apr 4, 2007 3:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

HAHAHA

Yeah, they DID give Mickey Mantle one hell of a foul mouth in that movie.

The dude who played Roger Maris is a dead ringer for him though. I seriously thought they did a LOT of great stuff overall. You can tell that Billy Crystal really loves the Yankees and wanted to do as much of this movie right as possible. If you get the DVD, watch "the making of" sequence, because it's well worth it. Lots of cool little details.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 3:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's a damn good movie.

It's so easy to mistake the dude who plays Maris for Maris, it's not even funny. Billy did a crazy good job with that flick.

You definitely top my knowledge, but I'm still hugely into baseball history. This is one of those must-watches for folks like us who are into that sort of stuff.

Iceberg, right ahead!

by PositivePaul on Apr 4, 2007 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Can't wait to see Harden tonight

He could put on a really wonderful pitching clinic for his five innings of work!

by ThundaPC on Apr 4, 2007 3:23 PM PDT 0 recs

I love Rich Harden.

I used to think Jarrod Washburn had the bluest eyes in the AL, but no, Harden has him beat by a mile. And a better smile, too. And he's a nicer guy and a better pitcher and hmm, maybe I'm on the wrong blog to be talking like this.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 3:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Trader

by InSpokane on Apr 4, 2007 3:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

that is

Traitor

by InSpokane on Apr 4, 2007 4:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

I got a man-crush on him

when I watched him throw in the bullpen before a game at Safeco. He throws GAS.

by Manzanillos Cup on Apr 4, 2007 4:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, see

Man-crushes happen when a pitcher completely and utterly dominates their opposition and turns them into a bunch of whimpering idiots.

Girl-crushes happen when a cute pitcher smiles at us. Of course, it doesn't hurt if they ALSO completely and utterly dominate their opposition...

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 4:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't like this matchup

Of course, that could be said of any of our pitching matchups not involving Felix.

"Did everything just taste purple for a second?"

by Thingray on Apr 4, 2007 3:31 PM PDT 0 recs

Harden owns us

Splits vs. M's: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7180/splits;_ylt=Atxw8ML7LTmnuWIhABcG1jKFCLcF?year=career&ty pe=Pitching

Vs. M's: 42.1 IP, 47 K, 1.49 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, .176 BA
@SAFECO: 35.0 IP, 39 K, 1.03 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, .150 BA

by JConnell on Apr 4, 2007 3:32 PM PDT 0 recs

what

were blaton's number vs. us.

by InSpokane on Apr 4, 2007 3:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

Something I caught while reading throw the USSM

game thread last night that I'm surprised wasn't brung up here.

The Angels are cheating

Speaking of which, they just swept the Rangers. So we gotta keep up.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 3:32 PM PDT 0 recs

The Angels are cheating

Water is wet.

I was surprised when I read that, and, at the same time... not. Figures.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

Of course they're cheating.

Nothing about Anaheim is clean or honorable.

by Jeff on Apr 4, 2007 4:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

Not even their official name

The (neighboring large market city) Angels of (actual city they play in)

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

Also, I won't be around tonight

I was able to skip Monday's class and Tuesday I had no class as my prof was out of town, but I'm out of luck today, plus there's a test tonight to boot. It's an involved class too, so I can't just camp in the back with my laptop and multitask. So I won't be able to watch or track the game.

Perhaps I'll get back towards the tail end of the game, but if not, I hope for THE SWEEP.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Things Learned...

...from watching baseball so far this season.

The Angels are good.
The Rangers are bad.

by stoatboy on Apr 4, 2007 3:39 PM PDT 0 recs

Let me fix that

The Angels are dirty cheaters.
The Rangers are bad.

There.

by Gomez on Apr 4, 2007 3:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

Let me emend that slightly

The Angels, while being dirty, dirty cheating cheaters from Cheaterville, are still, most likely, good.
The Rangers are bad.

by stoatboy on Apr 4, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

By the way.,,

How good is Miguel Cabrera? I love my keeper league.

Have to fall asleep with XM on in my ear again. 10:05pm starts and hufuckingmid summers are the worst parts of living on the east coast.

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on Apr 4, 2007 4:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Miguel Cabrera is the man.

But, remember, he is facing the Nationals...

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on Apr 4, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Very true

The Nationals are horrible. They could be historically bad.

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on Apr 4, 2007 4:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

I love teams like the Nationals

They make predictions so much easier.

Good teams could always suffer some injuries and do poorly, but you know the Nationals aren't going to win 60 games.

by Llewdor on Apr 4, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

They won

today with a three run rally in the 9th!

by dz on Apr 4, 2007 4:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

easiest predictatron lock ever

now the AL, wow that was tough.

by Matthew on Apr 4, 2007 4:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

Who will win the Central?

by dz on Apr 4, 2007 4:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

im lazy and don't want to write it out again

so, in lieu:

Ironclad predictions

Though I've since swapped my 1-2 in the NL Central

by Matthew on Apr 4, 2007 5:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

I hope we get alot of

FUNK BLASTS!

yeah there are a ridiculous amount of these already this season

by PShwa on Apr 4, 2007 5:32 PM PDT 0 recs

These keep getting better and better.

Nice job on the shirt. I love little details like that.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 5:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wow

That is FINE.

by tworsandtwols on Apr 4, 2007 5:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Play that funky music, white boy!

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 5:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

On the official site's 40 man roster

It now shows Adam Jones's number as 24. Can anyone explain that?

by I'm NOT Corco on Apr 4, 2007 5:35 PM PDT 0 recs

Most inappropriate name ever

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=459403

Hot potato is an entirely different game when you're starving

by Mariner John on Apr 4, 2007 5:48 PM PDT 0 recs

News bulletin

Extra Innings will be available on cable!!

by cynthia2003 on Apr 4, 2007 6:25 PM PDT 0 recs

Thank God

Now everyone can go get DirectTV again, despite what I said yesterday.

by I'm NOT Corco on Apr 4, 2007 6:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Whoever did the lineups is my hero.

by Jeff on Apr 4, 2007 6:37 PM PDT 0 recs

I'm not at Safeco tonight,

so I figured I might as well be useful :)

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Apr 4, 2007 7:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

MLB.tv pregame guy

He's making me uncomfortable with his eyes.

by Jeff on Apr 4, 2007 6:55 PM PDT 0 recs

Rotoworld has caught up on DMZ's snippet of

K-Rod cheating.

This could get interesting.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 7:00 PM PDT 0 recs

My favorite

are the resulting comments in his blog

by I'm NOT Corco on Apr 4, 2007 7:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

LOL douchebags

In light of the people who say K-Rod touches his cap all the time, that he has great career numbers so clearly he can't be cheating, I have an interesting question I'd like to bring up: what if K-Rod's been cheating his entire career, and no one had the subtle observational skills necessary to catch him in the act... until DMZ researched and wrote a book about cheating?

by Gomez on Apr 5, 2007 6:46 AM PDT up 0 recs