46-36

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 5, 2007 11:02 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Regular News

I walked into the bar just in time to see Ichiro line into that double play. I've had happier beers.

I'll take care of all the Win Expectancy stuff when I get back. For now, tough beans.

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Some good news for Chris Young

He won the voting for that final AS spot in the NL. Sucks that he needed that to get in, but still.

by Gomez on Jul 5, 2007 11:32 PM PDT reply actions

In this case I think the result of the fan vote

simply mirrored what would have happened if there hadn't been one, so Chris shouldn't feel like it cheapens his All-Star appearance at all.

by ningwers on Jul 6, 2007 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Plus

we may get a rematch of Young vs. Lee. May actually bring some excitement to an otherwise boring game.

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

by AZSEAfan on Jul 6, 2007 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I Was at This Game...

...and will be going to 2 of the next 3 in Oakland.

It brought back horrible flashbacks of watching the M's play in Oakland last year and always managing to find a way to lose.

You could tell all game that Miguel was getting lucky. There were about 4 flyouts (and Stewart's leadoff double) that everyone in the yard thought were gone. Ichiro and Guillen just kept hauling things in at the track. It was scary. A stronger wind blowing out to center and Miguel would've been pulled in the 5th down 6-2.

Let me tell you how excited I am about tonight's pitching mismatch.... at the same time, Weaver's been inexplicably good lately.

Bavasi shouldn't be fired. He should be knackered.

by EireDuck on Jul 6, 2007 6:52 AM PDT reply actions

This really sucked

I walked into the bar after losing my softball game by one run (with the tying run on second), and the VERY first thing I see is the score from the M's game....

My (first) beer didn't taste all that great either. :(

This place has a sign hangin' over the urinal that says, "Don't eat the big white mint".

by Thingray on Jul 6, 2007 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

And Batista blame Johjima...

For pitch selections.

Yes Batista likes to throw his cut fast ball outside. But the results in April shows that he got hit hard on these balls.

Johjima established Batista's cut fast balls because he had throw them also inside in May.

The 2 HR was not a result that he throw them inside; he throw them a bit to middle of the plate.

by DrNaka on Jul 6, 2007 10:23 AM PDT reply actions

Batista

All he said is that he should've shook off Johjima and gone with the pitches he wanted to use in the situation. Not like Johjima has a problem with people shaking him off. See Brandon Morrow.

by ThundaPC on Jul 6, 2007 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions

You're assuming...

That Morrow has a set place he intends to pitch it. He's a thrower not a pitcher, he couldn't hit Joh's glove if he wanted to.

by SethGrandpa on Jul 6, 2007 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm refering to the KC game

Where Morrow was supposed to throw offspeed junk but was not informed. He shook off Joh and went with the fastball. Joh went along with it instead of sticking to the gameplan.

by ThundaPC on Jul 6, 2007 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Blame

Then again Naka, Johjima didn't really help Miggy on the offensive side...based loaded DP and popping out on a bunt attempt. So the DP with the bases loaded is understandable (sore hand), but his bunt attempt was pathetic.

by Rizo on Jul 6, 2007 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

Who said he was a good bunter?

It's like with Beltre, everyone was blaming Hargrove for those, so why blame Johjima for his? I say Vidro gets blame of the game. He's perfectly healthy and he's slugging less than .350.

Top 5 Greatest Players ever: 1. Josh Gibson 2. Cool Papa Bell 3. Babe Ruth 4. Matty 5. Ty Cobb

by Coach Owens on Jul 6, 2007 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Vidro is bad

Im just saying that if Miggy and Jo were going to point fingers at each other (which Im glad the Ms dont do) Batista could be pointing at Jo (for his bases loaded DP and not putting the bunt down with 0 outs and 2 on).

But yes "coach" vidro is not good.

by Rizo on Jul 6, 2007 1:42 PM PDT reply actions

Geoff Baker

Even he's on board the "Call up Adam Jones" bandwagon with his latest entry. So much to the point that he expects (more like demands) a call-up by this coming Thursday.

Ball is in your court, management.

by ThundaPC on Jul 6, 2007 2:14 PM PDT reply actions

But he also said he'd trade him

for starting pitching. Bad Baker!

This place has a sign hangin' over the urinal that says, "Don't eat the big white mint".

by Thingray on Jul 6, 2007 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions

to be fair

he said he'd consider it -- and said he's glad he doesn't have to make the call.

i don't think its even a close call -- but i can understand the temptation.

i think that the point he makes about a solid rotation (not great but can deliver) can only work with a productive offense actually argues against the Buerhle trade.

let's use what we've got better. free Adam Jones!

by eagle on Jul 6, 2007 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

just read that...

...he pretty much summarizes the wisdom we've all been making.

its turning into conventional wisdom -- Groz on KJR is advocating the same thing right now!

it's amazing what a newspaper story (go Churchill in the PI!) can do to focus the big opinion leaders. let's hope this finally gets the FO to do the right thing.

by eagle on Jul 6, 2007 2:17 PM PDT reply actions

and let's hope

that if it does happen that Adam Jones actually is able to perform offensively..... I've made it known that I'm a big doubter that he will... but if it does come up, I hope he doesn't become a black hole in the lineup.

by MfaninAlaska on Jul 6, 2007 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

can't get much worse than Vidro

i hear what you're saying -- and he should certainly be watched carefully.

but Vidro is a known black hole right now.

by eagle on Jul 6, 2007 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions

So is Betancourt.

Protect the enviroment, or I'll FUCKING KILL YOU! CAPTAAAAAIIIINNNN PLANNNNET! ~Ted Turner

by Goose on Jul 6, 2007 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

absolutely

i want McLaren to live up to his commitment to rotate the bench guys in more.

and Yuni needs a rest -- and probably should have been benched for couple of games to help him reboot.

by eagle on Jul 6, 2007 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Sadly enough, Willie would be an offensive upgrade

Protect the enviroment, or I'll FUCKING KILL YOU! CAPTAAAAAIIIINNNN PLANNNNET! ~Ted Turner

by Goose on Jul 6, 2007 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I disagree on the definition of blackhole

an automatic out is a black hole.... Vidro for all his deficiencies with the empty batting average, still has the second highest OBP... outs are the premium in the game as you only have 27 of them per 9 inning game.

by MfaninAlaska on Jul 6, 2007 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

its a good point

i'd say his OBP is his one saving grace and probably means he's not a black hole, but i'd still say Jones > Turbo until we see otherwise.

by eagle on Jul 6, 2007 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree that

Jones (potential) > turbo.

The one thing I worry about, is tossing batting average out of the equation, what you get with Jones is a strikeout machine that doesn't walk much.... which is pretty much the current makeup of the players on the Mariners roster and why the offense is so streaky.... Jones's success is going to be very dependent upon his batting average, and that's what concerns me.

by MfaninAlaska on Jul 6, 2007 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Aside from Sexson, the M's don't really K

We strike 20% less than league average.

by Graham MacAree on Jul 6, 2007 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm unconvinced that outs > runs

by Graham MacAree on Jul 6, 2007 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Right, but...

Vidro's made the most outs on the team when you count the DPs.

Vidro's like 2004 Edgar or 2004 Olerud, except not even THAT good:

Vidro: .700 OPS, 14 GIDP
Player 1: .733 OPS, 6 GIDP
Player 2: .727 OPS, 15 GIDP

Players A and B? None other than John Olerud (in an M's uniform) and Edgar, 2004.

Edgar, at least, had the sense to retire when he turned into a bad hitter.

by eponymous coward on Jul 6, 2007 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, and...

Olerud's Runs Created/Game when he got released in 2004:

4.15

Eddgar's when he retired:

4.60

Vidro's so far this year:

4.24

Vidro's not the worst player on the team for RC/G (that would be Sexson at 4.12), but Sexson's OPS increases in the second half over his career... whereas Vidro loses 50+ points of OPS on average.

Even if Jones was a complete disaster, you could bench him and play some combination of Broussard/Guillen/Ibanez. Heck, you could probably platoon Reed and Ellison and get a .725-.750 OPS, plus credible defense out of the deal- basically, you'd get Randy Winn Lite. I really don't see the downside of benching Vidro. It's just not that hard to replace a bad hitter, and by any metric, he's a bad hitter.

by eponymous coward on Jul 6, 2007 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions