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Tiny by Jeff on in Game Recaps Comment 272 comments

I love fights.

In hockey.

People criticize the proliferation of fights in the NHL, but what they don't realize is that, on top of the fact that most fights follow from a gentleman's agreement, there's also a strategy involved. Fights evoke emotion. Fights lift the bench. If a team is trailing or simply not playing very well, oftentimes you'll see one of its players drop the gloves in an effort to get everyone amped up and back in the game. Chances are good that, if a guy on a struggling team goes out there and fights, afterwards the rest of the guys are going to be skating a little harder.

No doubt this line of thinking crossed Richie's mind somewhere between waking up and charging the mound like a crazy idiot. You'd have a hard time convincing me that that stunt wasn't at least a little bit premeditated, and that it wasn't at least a little bit intended to light a spark under a team that, lately, has been playing like crap. I'm sure a big part of it was also just the boiling over of personal frustration, but the fact that Richie ran out there on a pitch that wasn't even particularly close tells me that he was just waiting for the opportunity to send a message. A message to the Rangers, a message to the AL, and - more than anything else - a message to the Mariners.

But here's the problem with that: baseball isn't hockey. Hockey is a sport that feeds off of emotion. It's blatantly obvious when a team is trying and when it's just going through the motions. Bad teams beat good ones all the time because they skate a little faster, pass a little crisper, and hit a little harder. In short, hockey is equal parts ability and effort.

Baseball isn't. Granted, if you have a team that doesn't really care at all about winning, it'll show up in the box score, but by and large, the results are driven by ability and randomness. There just isn't very much room for emotion to play a significant role. Almost everything in baseball is done best with a clear head. Batters need to focus. They can't go up to the plate looking to beat the snot out of the pitcher because it isn't going to work. And pitchers can't stand on the mound all angry-like trying to make the batters look stupid, because they'll get wild. These kinds of things (defense too) require incredible concentration. Especially in the Major Leagues, when the other guy's perfectly capable of using your emotions against you. Players can't afford to let their feelings get the best of them.

If Richie wanted to give his team a lift, he should've tried to hit. Or walk. Or just play better in general. Because as much as I imagine baseball players won't want to admit it, stuff like this just doesn't accomplish what people think it does. It's a fantastic way to vent and just go completely insane for a few minutes - and we can all understand the need to do that from time to time - but in terms of actually helping a team improve, I'm not seeing it. I'm not seeing how that would work. It certainly didn't work tonight. It was entertaining, and it probably helped Richie blow off some steam, but I don't see how this sort of thing could shake the Mariners into playing better baseball. To do that, they need to score more runs. And to do that, they need to be better at hitting. They're bad at hitting, and no amount of hilarious helmet tosses is going to make them improve.

5_8_08_medium

Biggest Contribution: Richie Sexson, +2.1%
Biggest Suckfest: Felix, -22.3%
Most Important AB: Lopez double play, -7.7%
Most Important Pitch: Kinsler homer, -13.3%
Total Contribution by Pitcher(s): -23.9%
Total Contribution by Hitters: -27.3%
Total Contribution by Opposition: +1.2%
(What is this chart?)

I guess I probably shouldn't try to think rationally about this whole thing since there's nothing more irrational in baseball than the bench-clearing brawl. Teammates see a guy charge the mound and five seconds later they're out there pinning the other team's backup catcher in a chokehold while getting sucker-punched from the side by a veteran LOOGY. It doesn't really make that much sense if you think about it. It's not just the players, either. Look at the opposing fan bases during a brawl and they'll be spitting some of the most potent venom you've ever heard. When a brawl first breaks out, even the most objective, even-handed fan on the planet is going to be pointing at the backup catcher screaming "THAT GUY'S A BITCH!" They're just insanely polarizing. From the field to the broadcast booth to people's living rooms around the country, a brawl truly makes a baseball game feel like an us-versus-them battle royale. It's energizing, but it's also really, really ugly (update: and clumsy. Holy crap, the clumsiness. Baseball players should not be allowed to try to throw punches) (update #2: well I guess technically they're not allowed to throw punches). A big part of me is thankful they're as rare as they are. I couldn't deal with that level of hate on a more frequent basis.

The game? Felix was bad. Richie was kind of stupid. Kason Gabbard got his ass beat, albeit not on the scoreboard, which would've been way better. Mark Lowe was awesome. We lost again. If I'm starting to sound like a broken record, that's weird, because I'm typing, you freak.

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Read More: Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners, May 8, 2008 7:10 PM PDT

Comments

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You know who else is a freak?

Your mom ohhhhhhhhh snap

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on May 9, 2008 1:41 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes I am a liiiiiitle ibt drunk.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on May 9, 2008 1:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Join the club

Whose turn is it tommorow night?

by Robert on May 9, 2008 3:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lookout Landing's

Let’s all toast the end of the season.

by Alex B on May 9, 2008 3:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can I volunteer?

I’ll be drunk at some point tonight (although I probably won’t be where I have internet access)...

I like midgets more than I should.

by Thingray on May 9, 2008 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

'll be.

Unfortunately, I’m not funny when drunk posting because I try to spell correctly too hard

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The drunk typo thing is played out

Type well, so we can all immediately understand the nonsense that you’re thinking.

by marc w on May 9, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

just got back from work

I don’t know what started the fight, but it was awesome!

FREE JEREMY REED!!

by MFAN on May 9, 2008 2:30 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

"awesome"??

for one ballplayer to run out and hit another with a helmet, then fall on him. Gabbard fell to his knees..he didn’t even swing back, and Sexson hit him with his helmet, for a pitch over the plate.

That’s “awesome”??

IMO, sounds like you’d probably call the Grand Canyon “cute”.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on May 9, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

it was fun and entertaining to watch

therefore it was awesome

FREE JEREMY REED!!

by MFAN on May 9, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why is this douche still around?

A 50-year old A’s troll that’s made nothing but snide comments on here? I’ve seen it all.

by redwolf75 on May 9, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We do

but since young people are never wrong, it’s a moot point

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Get off my lawn!

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on May 9, 2008 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on May 9, 2008 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was at the game in row 9 by the home plate (photos up tomorrow night)

the fight ‘felt’ like a good thing. Everyone had something anything to cheer for. I laughed. I screamed. I cheered for the team that I have followed so closely for so long was doing anything worth cheering for.
If I had the choice, I would have choosen a true King Felix day with a HR from all the starting 9. But that was not going to happen. The brawl happened and it was something, anything, that made me want to stay to the last pitch.

Now start playing baseball you clowns!

by mark sobba on May 9, 2008 2:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I totally agree!

I was at the game as well and I was yelling, laughing, cheering and going absolutely nuts. For the fans, this just felt AWESOME. It reignited our fading interest in the otherwise terrible and boring game and made us feel SOMETHING again. It was epic. Sexson rocks my world.

by l0nepinemall on May 9, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So we still invading DRays Bay?

Because I’m all for it.

Other than that, I think I’m gonna ignore this team for a while. No games, No Felix Days, no nothing. Box scores and game recaps will suffice for a while.

Felix Hernandez may be The King, but Justin Upton is a GOD.

"I eagerly await the day when I can shit in the living room"
~Robert

by Goose on May 9, 2008 3:07 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i wish i could

i can’t totally leave the team even when they suck. too much of a die-hard. but i sure as hell won’t be caring about the loses as much. this season is over. go drays! go mets!

by phil333 on May 9, 2008 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mets? Pfft.

Felix Hernandez may be The King, but Justin Upton is a GOD.

"I eagerly await the day when I can shit in the living room"
~Robert

by Goose on May 9, 2008 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Sexson's reaction to throwing the helmet is hillarious

Over on Geoff Baker’s blog:

“Sexson admitted he should not have thrown the helmet. Used a swear word to describe his action, which has to do with a chicken and is a euphamism (sic) for cowardly.”

He also seems convinced that the high pitch was on purpose. Looking at the signs during the game I got the impression that Laird wanted something inside at least, really inside probably, and a plunk maybe.

It’s been a while since I caught, and when I did I wasn’t on TV so when I wanted a guy plunked I just stuck my thumb out. What did you guys make of it?

by Smegmalicious on May 9, 2008 3:19 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

After watching it myself

The setup was perfect. Two Rangers plunked, a retaliatory message was inevitable. Raul and Beltre complied by grounding out and flying out respectively to set up a two out situation where a plunk or a buzz wouldn’t mean much except as a signal. Up went the pitch. Up went Sexson’s temper. Up went our interest for a few minutes.

If he’d have done it on the fourth pitch, non issue. But it was the first pitch with two out. It was an obvious message, problem was Sexson wasn’t taking messages. He should have just stood there, stared, and jawed like a good little angry baseball player. Ump comes out and issues warnings, and that should have been the end of it. Instead, Kevin Nash flung his dome cap.

Stupidity, to be sure.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on May 9, 2008 3:44 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Except

the pitch was not inside. It might have even caught the plate. It was just a high fastball.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're making the fallacy of not seeing it from Sexson's perspective.

Watching it on replay is much different than being at the plate yourself and seeing a high 90 mph fastball coming your general direction at eye level. I’m not defending Richie’s decision, but your over-simplifying the problem.

by redwolf75 on May 9, 2008 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

"Your general direction"

I realize that Sexson’s skills have diminished quite a bit, but that pitch was out over the plate. If that’s your definition of “in your general direction” then every time a batter comes to the plate the pitcher is going to be throwing in their general direction.

Sexson wanted to fight. He so much as admitted to it in the post game interview. He said that he knew he was going to get hit. He made a real ass out of himself.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

None of us our denying that Richie made an ass out of himself.

He did, however, provide amusement, of which that game was sorely lacking.

My point was that just because that pitch ended up more toward the middle of the plate (and it wasn’t looking at replay), it may have not looked that way coming at Richie.

by redwolf75 on May 9, 2008 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Richie knew he was a target

he expected to be thrown at… when the pitch came in at eye level, rather than at hip level, he went ballistic. It was supposed to be a message pitch… that much was obvious to everyone on both teams. It was NOT supposed to be coming in at head level.

by johnbai on May 9, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tell me about it --

I stopped watching 5 minutes before he charged the mound.

by redwolf75 on May 9, 2008 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Me too

At least the Spurs-Hornets game was entertaining

by ningwers on May 9, 2008 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fuck the Spurs

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on May 9, 2008 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Think of all the infield singles!

His Batting average would be near .250!

Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!

by MfaninAlaska on May 9, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately, he's only required to throw it AT the shortstop

there’s nothing in our rules requiring that he HIT the shortstop. Kind of like his hitting in general.

BAVASI: When we’re at home, you’re required to swing at low, outside breaking balls
RICHIE: But I’m not required to hit them, right? I can just miss then go sit down?
BAVASI: Yes
RICHIE: Alright, sounds good. WHIFF

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

BIG RICHIE

He’s getting shut out and he still sucks
If you throw a high fastball you’d better duck
Richie: EAT MY HELMET BITCH
Kason: But I wasn’t even throw at y- [eats helmet]
BIG RICHIE

by Gomez on May 9, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions   3 recs

This video would be cooler

if Richie then turned around and ran back to homeplate, went into a headfirst slide 20 feet in front of the plate and slid past home base, then did a 180 while still sliding and came back to tag the plate.

by johnbai on May 9, 2008 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

holy crap

i unfortunately am too poor to get cable, or i dont spend my money in a manner that allows me to pay fucking comcast their stupid monthly increasing prices to get ti. So i cant watch the games.

I didnt see the video until i heard that Sexon got a 6 game suspension. I was like WTF. but this video explains it. When I first heard about a fight, I thought, wow, cool a fight, maybe we can motivate ourselves and save the season… but this is a lame ass attempt. I do not discredit Sexon, in fact I sincerely appreciate the effort. However, could you please make it a little less obvious. Albeit, this is pretty funny if you think about it. Unfortunately, this was more hilarious than serious.

I still owe you a thank you Sexon. Hopefully you have motivated us. Now raise your terribel batting average!

by SeattleReign on May 9, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I finished mowing the lawn after work, and got back in the house just in time to see Cairo and go:

WTF??? I had to wait until this morning at work to watch a replay and find out what happened.

I like midgets more than I should.

by Thingray on May 9, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In other news to make Jeff happy, Ben Broussard was DFA'd yesterday and is now available.

I also was looking at THT team stats and it wasn’t very pretty. 2nd to last in the AL for runs scored a game (KC is last), they allow the 4th most runs per game, and only Texas has a lower DER. If I wasn’t raised as a fan of the mid-80’s Mariners I might not watch baseball this year.

by Jed MC on May 9, 2008 7:59 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I would be better than Cairo

All I’d do is stand there and hope to draw a walk. Cairo actively swings to get himself out

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think they throw too fast for me

the fastest I’ve ever been able to hit is 85 and that’s weak shit in the bigs so…

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Show off

I think Hoffman’s “heater” is down to that speed now though, so I guess you could potentially make him blow another save.

by Fin on May 9, 2008 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

hmmm
Sexson admitted the way the Mariners have been struggling on offense, and the fact he missed Wednesday night’s game to be with his child, who was taken to Children’s Hospital, probably had something to do with his reaction to the pitch

Some explanation for Richie’s actions perhaps?

Felix Hernandez may be The King, but Justin Upton is a GOD.

"I eagerly await the day when I can shit in the living room"
~Robert

by Goose on May 9, 2008 8:02 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The child (I don't know gender) is at the Children's Hosiptal.

That can’t be good. I don’t think anyone has said in the media what he/she is going through, but I really wish their family the best.

by Jed MC on May 9, 2008 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Baseball Brawls

while I agree that they don’t have the immediate impact that a hockey fight would, I do think there is something to them that lifts a team in a different way, especially a struggling team. The thing with brawls like last night is not the emotional lift the team gets, but rather the change in thought patterns that happen for the next game. Baseball is played upon concentration, focusing on your job and not dwelling on the struggles. When a brawl happens for a team in a funk, the impact happens after the game and the next day. You aren’t swamped with questions of your struggles and what you can do “right the ship”, you’re given a mental break because the majority of questions will be about the fight, the impact of the fight, the impending suspensions and so forth.

The problem is they don’t help long term and you can’t brawl every few days. So usually its just a short term thing where the team comes out a little more relaxed in regards to their struggles… but then the talent will again take over and the struggles will come back.

Remember just a few years ago down in Texas, when the team was struggling and Raul when batshit at the homeplate umpire… the team then rolled off a couple wins. It gives you an emotional break when something like that happens.

Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!

by MfaninAlaska on May 9, 2008 8:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

...but we have the talent

I dont know how much I agree or disagree with your bench clearing brawl argument, however I do believe that for a astruggling team that is already on a one way trip to sucksville. The problem, I believe is that we arent missing the talent, we just have a bad combination of things facing us right now.

1) Cold bats
2) really bad luck in general… nothing goes our way. lets face it, baseball has a lot of luck involved, its just a fact (IMO,lol).
3) Our manager has no passionate temper (Lou)—i think this drives teams to fight for a win, not just hope for one.

im sure others can list much better reasons

by SeattleReign on May 9, 2008 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

OK

1. Poor roster construction leads us to have utter offensive black holes – Richie, Kenji, Vidro, Wilkerson. Yuni and Loafie aren’t great either. Wlad and Clement will be good, but up to this point they haven’t been.
2. Bad defense. Bad, bad defense. Beltre, Ichiro and Wlad are all good, Kenji and Loafie are ~average, Yuni is below average and Raul and Richie are just terrible.
3. No hitting off the bench. Anytime the words “pinch hit” and “WFB” are used in the same sentence, it had better be “WFB is being pinch hit for,” not the other way around
4. Bullpen mismanagement and subsequent implosion. No Sherrill, so Potatoes was forced to open the year as the LOOGY, but when his FB control deserted him, he punched himself what’s probably a one-way ticket to the minors.

Basically, we suck in every phase of the game except the starting rotation. We’ve been unlucky, but even if we were getting lucky we’d still be a ~.500 team.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep

although I don’t think anyone would have been able to predict that Kenji would become such a major blackhole that he did…. and even I wasn’t real thrilled with Wilkerson, but his cliff dive wasn’t something I expected either. I think that’s where some of the “bad luck” comes in….

Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!

by MfaninAlaska on May 9, 2008 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, on the one hand, Kenji's premature demise wasn't anticipated

but we also didn’t anticipate Richie hitting home runs or Loafie being third in the league in hits (huh??), either

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno. I seem to remember last year (I'll check the stats later)

that RZR had him third worst and UZR had him third best or something and that Dave decided just to call him a 0 CF and average the results. (BTW this article doesn’t back up my claim at all. I’ll have to get back to you)

Personally, I think he’s above average, but I’d have a hard time quantifying it. His range is very good, but I think he has a lot of trouble with shallow flies hit in front of him.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

I was gonna post something like this disagreeing with Jeff’s premise, but you beat me too it. Baseball is a very emotional game. Now, you can’t just go apeshit like you would in other sports, you have to channel that emotion into concentration, but if you’re a major leaguer, you can do that just fine. Now, whether this little episode it helps the team or not is another question entirely.

I like to travel

by Black12 on May 9, 2008 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It won't

because they can’t score runs. No amount of fisticuffs will help that.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on May 9, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Best save of Eddie Guardado's career

That was an awesome move… I was at the game, and had a good view of Felix going apeshit. Johjima couldn’t stop him, and I had visions of Felix breaking his hand on Ian Kinsler mug. Well done, Eddie.

by marc w on May 9, 2008 8:45 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That's the second time Felix

has gone apeshit, he did it last year in the Ellison vs. Cupcakes brawl as well…. .me thinks Felix is a bit of a hot head when these situations arise.

Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!

by MfaninAlaska on May 9, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it would be hilarious to see Ichiro or Felix

end up fighting a guy one on one. Something tells me they would beat the shit out of whoever charged them.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ichiro has about 0% body fat, he's all muscle

even though he’s short I wouldn’t mess with that dude.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on May 9, 2008 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah.

Ichiro’s an Acura RSX. Richie’s a 60’s Impala. I suppose the Impala could kick butt in a battle of brute horsepower, but the RSX would win most other races…

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on May 9, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

:(

:(

Determined, Jonesing Commentor

by I'm NOT Corco on May 9, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kenji looks like he's in the process of

copping a feel of Eddie’s quite large derrière

by redwolf75 on May 9, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, this is truly an orgy.

Eddie and Felix making out.
Johjima and the coach on the right are copping a feel.
The coach on the left is licking his chops to get in on the action.

by Wilder. on May 9, 2008 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That is wrong on too many levels.

Eddie would probably be the man of the relationship. I would guess Felix would be like one of those hot girls that are for some reason with an ugly guy but everyone around knows she could do so much better, but yet she stays with him because of his maniless, or in other words veteraness.

by Fin on May 9, 2008 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Richie

I’m pretty confident that him charging the mound had nothing to do with helping the team and everything to do with him just completely reaching the boiling point.

I mean, this is the same guy that does a love tap when the opposing team’s catcher blocks home plate to prevent a run from scoring.

by ThundaPC on May 9, 2008 9:31 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Plus his kid's sick

We don’t know how serious it is, but that would tend to make
the whole “You’re putting my livelihood at risk” thing a little more
intense.

by lyleleander on May 9, 2008 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I stopped watching prefight, shit

I think it is kind of good that they are as pissed as I am.

by InSpokane on May 9, 2008 9:49 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Throwing the helmet

Was the only reason that Sexson was able to tackle Gabbard so easily. If you watch the fight, Gabbard was clearly most interested in protecting himself from the helmet, which allowed Sexson the easy opening to tackle him.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 10:09 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Some people

are acting like Sexson kicked Gabbards ass. What’s your point? Who’s the bigger ass, the ass who defends the ass or the guy who acted like an ass in the first place?

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How about the guy that bitches about the ass that defends the ass?

I’d vote for that one.

Save your moral arguments for elsewhere. They’re useless here.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What moral argument?

The guy didn’t get thrown at. Period. He made an ass of himself by making a premeditated mound charge.

If I am driving down the street and a pedestrian is standing on the sidewalk, I did not try to hit him if I drive by at 45 mph a foot away from him. If the guy runs me down and kicks my car, he was totally unjustified and deserves to be punished.

I do find the “Save your moral arguments for elsewhere. They’re useless here.” comment hilarious though.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're attempting (badly) to turn it into a moral argument.

When we have no reason to view it as a right or wrong issue. We saw it, it was cool to see, and now its over and you’re here from HH to troll about it. Congratulations.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ahhh, finally. Graham's back.

What I’ve wanted to say the whole time. That whole “no derogatory” thing makes it hard to put it so succinctly.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I, too, wish Richie's kid and family well...

...but his livelihood is more at risk by his batting average and diminishing skills than that high pitch from Gabbard. Even if in his diminishing skills it felt a lot closer than it was.

I can see why he snapped, but it was nowhere near justified. Even if he expected it coming, which it sounds like he did, he was wrong for snapping like that.

This last week has been incredibly trying on my patience in my personal life—my wife’s been miserably sick, and we spent a morning recently in the ER (killing sleep for all of us). My son has treated my like absolute crap to the point where I’ve wanted to pound the crap out of him. But I cast aside those desires, even in the point of utmost frustration, and dealt with him differently. Pounding him would’ve done neither of us any good. Granted, I’m not playing ultra-competitive baseball (being paid millions of $$$) on a team in a massive funk, but even THAT shouldn’t justify it.

While it was definitely the most entertaining thing that’s happened in an M’s game for awhile, as Jeff mentioned—this isn’t the NHL. Richie’s actions last night were completely stupid.

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on May 9, 2008 10:25 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Rangers Announcers bash sexson

Did you guys see this, from Awful Announcing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzGywBeWT6Q (short version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl4AJ5wOKRI (full)

via http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/05/rangers-announcer-tom-grieve-doesnt.html

“that pitch wasn’t even close! ...boy that is a gutless, 6 foot 7, .200 hitting, formerly good player. what a joke.”

I’m not a huge fan of Sexson’s, but f the Rangers announcers.

by FrayLo on May 9, 2008 11:10 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Not a Rangers or Mariners fan

I thought the call was right on. Sexson made a total ass out of himself and he deserves all of the scorn that is being heaped on him.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I want to kick that color guy's ass.

Degrading Richie Sexson is off-limits to non-Mariners fans. His sucktitude is an asset to other teams.

I hope the Mariners players listen to that dick. His announcing is worse than the Mariners’ offense.

by Wilder. on May 9, 2008 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Barbarism or a necessary evil?

I think Sexson had to charge. No exception.

Even if there really isn’t anything to be gained in terms of “team morale”, if what looks like a retaliatory pitch is thrown near your head, don’t you have to respond in kind? It’s easy to look at this “objectively” from a detached perspective and call it immature folly, but like others have pointed out, it’s a bit different when you’ve got a ball screaming near you head at 90 mph.

Perhaps our situation is akin to a military analyst who has never fought “in the trenches.”

Also, helmet throw? Sheer awesomeness. I wonder if that would work against the T-Rex.

Coldly devouring reason as if it were a delectable snack

by Frosty Raptor on May 9, 2008 11:15 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Over the plate a foot away

IS NOT NEAR YOUR HEAD. You guys are either really really biased or really really dense.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There are no Mariners fans

only people that torment themselves with a crappy baseball team for no apparent reason

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's why I'm here

I like to see how fans respond when they’re players are clearly in the wrong. Some idiots just knee jerk and defend their players no matter what.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

duh... you made your point

go away now.

Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!

by MfaninAlaska on May 9, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think you understand.

We don’t care if it was right or wrong. We’re not defending that part of it. Hence, my claim that morals don’t work on this above.

Don’t be a moron. You’re trolling.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My favorite part of this comment is how you used "their" twice in the exact same context

but you spelled it “they’re” once and “their” once like you don’t know which version to use and you’re just trying to hedge your bets.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll hire a proofreader

It’s the internet. Get over it.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh no, I'm over it. I just think it's really funny.

Otherwise I would be indignant. Would you like more anger?

OMGZ I CAN’T BELIEVE HE USED THEIR AND THEY’RE THE SAME WAY IN THE SAME SENTENCE. STUPID STUPID YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO REMEDIAL FOURTH GRADE ENGLISH AND LEARN TO SPEAK. BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Better?

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like more how he wants to feel superior over people here,

so he bitches at us, when his real problem is he can’t find anyone in real life that he’s better than.

It’s pretty much the complex of choice among older white rednecks.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Where's Graham

when you need him.

Midnight Baseball - No Lights - Only in Alaska!

by MfaninAlaska on May 9, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Try getting a 90 mph baseball thrown a foot away from your head

And then come here and tell me how close it feels.

I don’t excuse his actions in the least, but come on.

by patsfan on May 9, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wish there was an "idiot" flag

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on May 9, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

not for you, patsfan

just realized the timing of my post might be confusing, I was wishing for the “idiot” flag for the Halos Heaven visitor.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on May 9, 2008 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sexson

Sexson is supposedly a professional baseball player. His job is to stand in the batter’s box and try to hit balls that are about a foot away from him.

For me, that might be a little unnerving but that happens to professional baseball players thousands of times a season.

by HungryHunter on May 9, 2008 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Every now and then we get one of these

You disagree. That’s neat. We can let it rest now.

by Gomez on May 9, 2008 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why do people always insist on doing this?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on May 9, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

God damn it where's Graham?

I want to see some blood.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on May 9, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, it's starting to get late over there.

He should be coming out of his Vampire sleep shortly.

by Wilder. on May 9, 2008 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here's what I understand from this conversation

LL: Man Richie made an ass out of himself last night
LL: Yeah, but I guess I understand where he was coming from. The pitch was high and tight and it looked pretty much like a retaliation attempt, but at his head.
LL: Yeah, but Richie really made an ass out of himself
HH: Sexson sucks now. He made a big ass out of himself!
LL: Yes. And?
HH: BUT HE MADE AN ASS OUT OF HIMSELF
LL: We’re not disagreeing
LL: Man it was funny though. It was awesome, because how often do you see a basebrawl?
HH: See you guys are just biased or stupid. HE MADE AN ASS OUT OF HIMSELF
HH: Also, people should hire proofreaders for they’re errors
LL: WE’RE NOT DISAGREEING

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

But Rocks.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on May 9, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions   2 recs

I did like that they should hire proofreaders for their errors burn

It would’ve been for effective if it was grammatically correct.

by Fin on May 9, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

also I think we have to realize

the culture this person comes from, in the HH culture everything your team does is right 100% of the time, therefore it is not crazy to think that this guy would think that we would blindly defend Richie’s actions at all costs. I think the most hilarious thing to come out of this is that most of us don’t like Richie, we take pleasure in booing him, but now we’re biased Richie fanboys? Explain.

by JI on May 9, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's a SoCal fanbase thing

It’s really strange, because for some reason, Southern Californian culture as a whole has this really weird black and white “with us or against us” mentality that’s funny most of the time, but at times like this can be annoying as shit.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sheltered people get defensive easily.

California is the center of the universe, apparently.

by Wilder. on May 9, 2008 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am now thinking

that maybe the Rev’s sponsorship of the 2008 Mariners page really cursed the team .

by Fin on May 9, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's bad.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Also, I'm always down for some online Grand Theft Auto IV or Rock Band. Gamertag: Phildopip

by Phildopip on May 9, 2008 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not even that California is sheltered

it’s just a really, really weird thing. Honestly, a lot of fanbases are like that, but they have the good sense to know that. It’s really only the SoCal fanbases that have this weird thing where they claim to be open-minded all the while keeping the “with us or against us” mentality.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is that as true for Dodger fans?

Because the ones I’ve met were not nearly as bad and Angel fans.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

To be honest, I know a lot more Angel fans than Dodger fans

but my cousins are Dodgers fans, and of the people they’ve introduced me to who like the Dodgers, they have tended to be more rational people who can just talk about sports. Then of course it might just be that they’re cool people, so I can’t really speak for them as a whole.

by seattlebruin on May 9, 2008 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

CHEESE!

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on May 9, 2008 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I aprrove of this useage of the "but rocks" meme

it is the most sacred of all the memes

by JI on May 9, 2008 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

It’s usage needs to be carefully monitored

by ningwers on May 9, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

the big question

was Cha Baek throwing down?

FREE JEREMY REED!!

by MFAN on May 9, 2008 11:28 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Does this season remind you of Major League II at all?

When the team is supposed to be good, but then loses continuously to the point where the have almost no fanbase, but then comes back in the end? I think at one low point of their season, they get in a huge fight, kind of like this.

by Fin on May 9, 2008 11:49 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

HAY GUYS WHATS UP WITH RITCHIE

HE’S SUCH AN ASS HE WAS TOTALLY WRONG YOU GUYS ARE ALL BIASED FANBOYS GO BACK TO YOUR RAIN-FLAVORED LATTES HURRRRR

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on May 9, 2008 1:15 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I was probably just as sarcastic as you were being bro

I’ve been here for almost 2 months, I’ve seen you plenty of time.

by Fin on May 9, 2008 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the reply he wanted was something along the lines of:

OMG U SUCK SEXON SHOULDA KICKED HIM WHIEL HE WAS BEATIN HIM UP U SUCK!! GO BACK TO YOU’RE RAT STADIUM

Were you here for the hilarity last night?

by Faux on May 9, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

nope

read through most of the thread later though

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on May 9, 2008 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I plan on sending big rich 10 bucks for the entertainment he provided,

should he get suspended. I also suggest wading into the swamp over at LSB and reading those GTs. The trolls that came here took back posts with them, and they all gawked at them for a while.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe they'll use it as a training session for Clement @ 1B.

Or maybe they’ll bring up LaHair, and get the same output.

by Faux on May 9, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hope they bring up LaHair

Then after Raul gets suspended for drop kicking Bobby Jenks this weekend, we can bring up Reed ..

We may have stumbled on an excellent way to replace our dead wood with young talent – have all of the old guys get suspended for maiming the opposing pitchers. Two birds, one stone!

by Jordan of Boise on May 9, 2008 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sexson too sexy for suspension
Richie Sexson, the 6-foot-7 helmet-throwing Mariner, was suspended for six games and fined for his role in yesterday’s brawl. The suspension was supposed to start tonight, but he’s appealing.

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on May 9, 2008 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I think the team's telling him to appeal

so that he be suspended longer. Gotta play Cairo.

by eponymous_coward on May 9, 2008 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is that a recurring character?

We don't negotiate with terrorists.

by Mariner John on May 9, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh my God.

How did I not think of this!?

I am a complete and utter failure.

by BrianL on May 9, 2008 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree completely with Jeff, in fact I thought it was a piece of crap post.

I haven’t played pro baseball and I am assuming Jeff has not either, so I don’t think either of us can really determine how strong emotions like anger and aggression can effect a player. I do know, and I don’t have to be player to know this, indifference will effect anyone’s performance in any task. I think this team, in it’s mannerisms and effort over the last week has shown that they’re becoming quite apathetic to losing. I think this was a calculated move by Sexson to wake this team up and for the first time since he got here I cheered for him last night. Whether or not the move will work out or not remains to be seen, but this team needed someone to show some energy and fight, something that has been lacking from some of the players the team relies on the most (e.g. Lopez, Betancourt, Felix-who pitches like a whinny/lazy 21 year-old every 3 starts). I really have no idea, and neither does Jeff, if this aggression will make them lose their concentration, but I do know that-right now—I couldn’t hurt.

by bmteddy on May 9, 2008 5:36 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Why hello there and welcome LL

We really enjoy using buttons like “Return” to make our comments a bit more readable.

We also really like Jeff here.

Just a bit of advice. Do not join a blog and three days later post for the first time in a manner ripping on our good friend Jeff.

Oh, and expect Graham to call you a retard. And before you get your panties in a bunch over that, we are all retards in comparison to Graham.

by Sec 108 on May 9, 2008 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comma splice in the subject line

it’s/its
effect/affect
tons more that I don’t feel like going into.

When trying to convince people of something, especially around here, writing like an adult goes a long way. Also, insulting the author will get you a good flaming.

[. . . waits for Graham . . .]

by Teej on May 9, 2008 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fine, get mad at me for the insults,

that’s fine. Aside from that and using effect instead of affect, how am I wrong?

return

I am up for a discussion/debate on a team that frustrates the crap out of me.

by bmteddy on May 9, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not saying you are

but Jeff has played baseball and he knows more about hockey than most of us so I’m willing to take his word for it. Plus, just with my meager observations, hockey involves much more coordination and teamwork that baseball does, hockey is six guys on the ice (I think it’s six) baseball (or at least in Richie’s case) is a series of one on one match ups. Just my $0.02.

by JI on May 9, 2008 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Instead of crap, I should have said over simplified

I think there are valid points at saying someone may over swing or throw wildly, but how what about aggression is bad when it comes to charging a ball in the hole? What about getting Felix to quit moping over balls and strikes? What about showing me that the players still care? What is wrong with that?

Honestly, can it get any sloppier?

I just think that a little of piss and vinegar is good. In this case, it was the right move.

That, and Richie will be sitting the pine for 6 games. That’s called a Win/Win from where I’m from.

by bmteddy on May 9, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

"What about showing me that the players still care?"

Sexson charged the mound to show you personally that he still cares. You’ve hit the nail on the head.

by Graham on May 10, 2008 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You know what else is crap?

Gravity. Fuck Gravity. Something pushes you down TOWARDS earth? I think not. If I take a glass of water and spin it, the water flies out of the cup. The earth spins. Ergo, the earth spinning is slowly throwing us off the planet.

Tomorrow I plan on disproving birth. Stay tuned.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on May 9, 2008 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree, in fact I think your a piece of crap

Neither you or me know for sure whether theres such as thing as gravity.

by Teej on May 9, 2008 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, take a day or two off around here and you miss EVERYTHING.

*Visiting Angels fan* Never give up, never surrender!

by TheOptimist on May 9, 2008 6:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Moral of the story?

Never leave.

Felix Hernandez may be The King, but Justin Upton is a GOD.

"I eagerly await the day when I can shit in the living room"
~Robert

by Goose on May 9, 2008 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hay Rangers trolls... meet Gameday Advanced....

Pitchfx system has no bias and no reason to lie about the pitch location. Now shut the fuck up about the thing being “over the plate” when it wasn’t.

God, I linked this thing to the right in a fanpost to try to get people’s attention. Apparently it failed miserably.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on May 9, 2008 7:12 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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