Series Preview: Seattle Mariners @ Cleveland Indians
Seattle: 12-14
Indians:12-13
GAMES
Game 1: Carlos Silva vs Fausto Carmona
Game 2: Jarrod Washburn* vs Cliff Lee*
Game 3: Miguel Batista vs Paul Byrd
Fausto Carmona has allowed more walks than strikeouts in all but one start (2K, 1BB) and has walked at least four in all but one start (SAA). All told he has 22 walks and 11 strikeouts over 28 innings pitched. He's getting groundballs at his usual great rate, but man alive, this is a pitcher our offense will either destroy or flail away at.
On the other hand, Cliff Lee took his experience back at Triple-A last season and apparently decided to start inducing more groundballs and finally start striking batters out. His K rate had been in steady decline over the past four years from 7.8 down to the mid to high 5s until this year where he's struck out 29 over 32 innings. He's also walked just two batters and not given up a homerun which leads to a 1.47 FIP and an ERA+ of 1,527.
Paul Byrd's strikeout rate has taken another step lower and he's already given up seven homeruns on the season. He's too boring to come up with anything further to talk about.
Likely Starters:
C Victor Martinez^
1 Ryan Garko
2 Asdrubal Cabrera^
3 Casey Blake
S Jhonny Peralta
L David Dellucci*/Jason Michaels
C Grady Sizemore*
R Franklin Gutierrez
D Travis Hafner*
Asdrubal Cabrera: .219/.301/.288. Thank god Jose Lopez is back to being good so that we can shut up about that trade for the time being. Victor Martinez, Dellucci and Sizemore have been the only real productive bats for Cleveland thus far, with Travis Hafner continuing off his poor 2007 with an even poorer start to 2008.
Despite an offense that is sub-standard in every meaningful way (though they do take a lot of pitches), they have managed to score an above average number of runs. How so? They've been "clutch". As a team they are batting .292 with runners in scoring position, compared to the league average of .271 and their own team batting average of .247.
CONTEXT
It's not a mirage that this offense seems to not be able to come back from any deficit or pad any lead. Generally, that would require late inning scoring which to date has been nearly non-existent for the Ms. Seattle's offense, innings 1-6, posts a .743 OPS and has scored 85 runs or a touch over 14 runs per inning. In innings 7-9 they post a .629 OPS and have scored just 32 runs. It's no secret that the Ms are getting destroyed by relief pitching this year, notably losing their patience at the plate.
Brad Wilkerson looks more done than ESPN as a source of well thought out analysis and yet, who should we replace him with? Internal candidates are sparse and all lack merit. Jeremy Reed might be the best candidate, but he's also the best candidate to solve the Raul in LF problem. Wlad's probably not yet ready. It's just a quagmire right now with no clear solution because our GM left us with no OF depth coming into the year.
As Dave Cameron pointed out, it's not just isolated to one position. The glaring holes in this team so far are: C offense, 1B defense, LF defense, RF everything and DH. The solution to C were pretty apparent, but the Ms with the do-the-exact-same-thing-that's-not-working approach so, yeah. Moving Raul to DH solves two problems at once, but leaves you with needing two corner outfielders. It's a complicated, delicate balance and the person in charge of making those decisions believes in needlessly extending a catcher for his mid-30 years while low-balling Felix Hernandez on an extension.
THIS SERIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Blackout Stout
Great Lakes Brewing. Cleveland, OH
A perennial award winner; imperial stouts are always a winner with me. Super black, as you can tell, with a foamy head, it's much like most other stouts but with a bit more vanilla and bourbon in the aroma and taste.
0 recs |
80 comments
Comments
Lee
They’re running a sick DER behind Cliff Lee; that and his absurdly low LD% give me some hope.
He’s certainly deserving of a lot of success, but not THIS much.
Carmona’s running Washburnian FIP/xFIP rates… very odd. Superficially, it’s similar to what Nick Adenhart is doing at AAA – 4-0, 0.87 ERA but with 19Ks and 15BBs in 31 IP. Carmona’s got way more GB, but c’mon regression – show yourself.
The best candidate to replace Wilkerson is Wlad. People may wish we had other options, or wish we could’ve let him season a bit more in AAA, but the answer to the question, “Who’s the best option for RF” is a simple one.
Even taking Dave Cameron’s (rather pessimistic) forecast, you still get more production. Wilk’s BB rate is probably about to drop as pitchers realize he’s incapable of making them pay for pitches over the plate.
by marc w on Apr 28, 2008 2:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Paul Byrd is too boring to talk about?
What about his admitted “addiction” to porn?
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Apr 28, 2008 2:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Jesus, Porn and PEDs
That was Warren Zevon’s worst song by a longshot.
by Jordan of Boise on Apr 28, 2008 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But to be fair it was a first draft
the lawyers didn’t show up until later.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.
by pdb on Apr 28, 2008 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank god Werewolves of London is good.
Cheeseburgers are delicious.
by Coach Owens on Apr 28, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not addiction.
Unless you consider yourself addicted to food.
...and now I'm here
by Librocrat on Apr 28, 2008 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that is a good spin on that
I am going to tell my shrink that when she asks about it.
by Fin on Apr 28, 2008 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I tried to tell my GF this
and I ended up at a therapist.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
by bluemax on Apr 28, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think its unwritten man code
And women don’t seem to believe it. I think they think its ‘normal’ for a guy not to look on porn. What are we, priests? Come on now.
by Fin on Apr 28, 2008 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really think signing Kenny Lofton would be a huge help. Obvious upgrade in left or right, and had an ops+ of 105 last year. I can’t believe no one has taken a shot on him.
by niems on Apr 28, 2008 3:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yay! HGH on Thursday!
Cheeseburgers are delicious.
by Coach Owens on Apr 28, 2008 3:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It's already Matthews's nickname
We don't negotiate with terrorists.
by Mariner John on Apr 28, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As opposed to Matthew's nickname
which is Rip Steakface.
by Jeff on Apr 28, 2008 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beef Flankchest
(oh noes, here we go again!)
by Matthew on Apr 28, 2008 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is the new Hedberg meme
Punch Sideiron
by Jeff on Apr 28, 2008 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have the whole list on me
I don’t need to make new ones up yet.
by Jeff on Apr 29, 2008 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So?
Multiple people can share the same nickname.
Cheeseburgers are delicious.
by Coach Owens on Apr 28, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Slica's Series Preview
Now that the happy/cute thread effects have worn off…
Game 1 – Grim Death
Game 2 – Rosie O Donnell Cleavage
Game 3 – Tongue Burns From Barbecue Turds
We suck. We will suck some more. One big season of suck.
This is to make up GTE from yesterday.
Wlad needs to be brought up. Even if he was killing Tacoma they will let him rot, so just call him up now. Replace Wilkerson. Wlad’s unseasoning will still be an upgrade on both sides of the ballpark. Reed should come up as the 4th OFer. Dump Cairo. Bring Clement up for DH and dump Vidro. As for Sexson, simply dont re-sign him next offseason.
Of course I expect a long term extension for Sexson…because…
He’s tall. : /
by Slica on Apr 28, 2008 3:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So what the hell is going on with the server?
by OlSalty on Apr 28, 2008 3:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Extension of Johjima
Geoff Baker mentioned in his latest blog that the Japanese ownership may have influenced the Joh extension. Which makes a lot of sense if you think about it. Hiroshi Yamauchi may have turned management of the team over to Nintendo of America, but he undoubtedly still has power. So maybe we can’t blame M’s management for blocking Clement at the plate. Not that shifting blames fixes the problem at all.
by Defenestrator on Apr 28, 2008 4:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It should be noted
That Geoff Baker also says to get Clement the fonk up here NOW!
by ThundaPC on Apr 28, 2008 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and NOW is not today
Clement starting at catcher today for the Rainiers.
Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!
by MfaninAlaska on Apr 28, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bullet points
• Batista vs. Byrd is the crappiest pitching matchup ever.
• Why couldn’t we catch C.C. in one of his first 5 starts? At the very least, we don’t have to face him.
• If it snows, the Mariners will be the team to lose out this year when we are ahead 5-0 in bottom of the 5th inning and there are two outs with Assdribble Cabrera hitting with a 3-2 count and the game is discontinued.
• Cleveland goes from 13th in the AL in hitting to 6th in just 3 games.
• Our local talent evaluators draft players like Willie Bloomquist, but not Grady Sizemore.
• This is series is going to suck.
by Wilder. on Apr 28, 2008 5:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Almost right
but Batista versus Traschel would be worse.
by AZSEAfan on Apr 28, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget
Passing up Tim Lincecum too, but signing Matt Tuisisospeiopepoopoo
by Fin on Apr 28, 2008 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two totally different orgs, but yeah
Also, and again completely unfair, but we got Chris Minaker. We didn’t get Travis Snider.
by marc w on Apr 29, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And we took Justin Thomas
When we could’ve landed Brent Lillibridge—and flipped him to Baltimore for George Sherrill!
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum
by PositivePaul on Apr 29, 2008 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we make Joe Borowski pitch all 27 innings in the series
Does anyone see this as giving us any sort of advantage?
by thenatural on Apr 28, 2008 5:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he's on the DL
FREE JEREMY REED!!
by MFAN on Apr 28, 2008 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's actually worse.
Cheeseburgers are delicious.
by Coach Owens on Apr 28, 2008 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How can we make them do anything? They're the home team
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Apr 28, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure that makes Nick Punto
our new 3rd baseman, though.
by Liebkartoffel on Apr 28, 2008 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, we have to play a pitcher at third
I nominate Lowe
by seattlebruin on Apr 28, 2008 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Impossibe. Considering how it's the first week of an odd-numberered month,
we have to go with a lefty under six-foot-five in height. Suit up, Hyphen.
by Liebkartoffel on Apr 28, 2008 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
DAMN
Totally forgot about that. Are you sure that the every three month rule doesn’t apply? Because that switches everything around so we’d have to have a righty over 6-5. Sean Green?
by seattlebruin on Apr 28, 2008 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if a new moon is scheduled within a 2 and a quarter weeks
of the oldest player’s half-birthday. Somebody grab an almanac.
by Liebkartoffel on Apr 28, 2008 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hafner
Done or what? looking like two rough years in a row…
by bhsmarine on Apr 28, 2008 6:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
his power looks gone
at least for now.
by Matthew on Apr 28, 2008 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seems a little young...
Only 30, which means he started falling apart at 29 last year.
by bhsmarine on Apr 28, 2008 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

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