In defense of Raul and Richie

by Snuffleupagus on Aug 17, 2007 7:30 AM PDT

Ok, this isn't really a defense of these two players per se as much as it is my own mental justification as to why they continued to receive playing time as starters while struggling.

I am not trying to pick a fight here, I would like to offer some potential reasoning and hear what you think. To be fair I haven't really heard this reasoning from McClaren or anyone else, so I'm probably just trying to justify Mariners actions in my own mind, so be it.

Okay, here's the theory:

Lets presume that the Mariners would do better and would have done better with BB at first base and AJ in left field (not a big leap). So they take that action and play out the season, catch the Angels and win the west.

Now we're in the playoffs and here's where the problem is. Each game is of vital importance in the playoffs and having a good bench is important to add to flexibility during games. But now the Mariners bench is terrible! are you ever ever ever going to pinch hit Richie or Raul after you benched them during a terrible slump? How are you going to use those players off the bench? you can't.

But it still seems really stupid to keep two players starting with the interest of keeping your bench good. How could it matter how good your bench is if you can't win with your starters anyway? Well, fundamentally I think it comes down to this gambit:

The Mariners will not win in the playoffs this year unless Richie and Raul are at least playing decent baseball. Period. They cannot do it (wrong? maybe, but I think this is a reasonable management position).

The only way to get them to play decent baseball and to know if they are turning it around is to play them on a semi regular basis now (especially the earlier it is the season).

So Management seems willing to take a risk. They will lower their chance of making the playoffs (by playing these guys) but at the same time increase the chance of winning in the playoffs (by hoping these players improve).

Does this make sense to anyone? It's how I justify some of the player decision that have been made this season.

Poll

given the choice (without admitting that is what the Mariners are doing now)

I would rather just make the playoff

15 votes

I would risk the playoffs for a better chance to win in them

7 votes

22 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm not buying the bench = important bit.

In last year's playoffs, the Tigers starters accounted for 92% of playoff AB's. The bench went 6-35.

The Cardinals bench - despite being in the NL - got just 16% of the playoff AB's, and went 17-83.

In 2005, the White Sox bench got all of 12 AB's in the playoffs, and collected three hits.

The Astros' bench the same year got less than 13% of playoff at bats, and went 9-63.

In 2004, the Red Sox' bench went 7-31. The Cardinals bench was 10-64.

...and so on and so forth. For an AL team, the playoffs are almost entirely all about the regulars.

by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 17, 2007 8:00 AM PDT reply actions

Zuh what?

one of the last things you need in the playoffs is a fifth SP. After that, it's a good bench.

by Matthew on Aug 17, 2007 8:03 AM PDT reply actions

best nine all the time

We need the best nine to win the west. We will also need a strong bench. But really what's the point if you don't use the bench? Letting Big Ben rot while hacktastic Richie makes a fool of all of us is just retarded. And on D, having Raul look like monkey stuck in a plastic bag everyday, is not smart. Aj will come around and make fewer mistakes.

The larger questions I have are why in the hell would we have Raul batting 4th? Why in the world we keep Richie in key situations? I know Raul had one good week (most likely his last), he could've had that batting 8th or 9th too.

Hey Raul, Richie, Vidro please quit. Thank you NB

by InSpokane on Aug 17, 2007 9:47 AM PDT reply actions

What would

your ideal lineup look like then?

by vkut79 on Aug 17, 2007 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Against a RHP and LHP

by vkut79 on Aug 17, 2007 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Why is there so much hate for Raul?

He deserves so much LESS hate than Sexson. Yes he's not very good defensively, and yes he's only been hitting well for 10 days or so, but his season numbers are respectable. He leads the club in RBI, batting over .270, etc. Besides, he wasn't even healthy during the first half, give him a break.

by vkut79 on Aug 17, 2007 9:58 AM PDT reply actions