Series Preview: Florida Marlins @ Seattle Mariners
Seattle: 24-45
Marlins: 37-32
GAMES
Game 1: Carlos Silva vs Andrew Miller*
Game 2: Felix Hernandez vs Scott Olsen*
Game 3: R.A. Dickey vs Ryan Tucker
Andrew Miller is throwing balls 40% of the time and has lost his groundball ratio. In short, he's nothing like the pitcher he was profiled as as little as a year ago. He's facing a bit of a velocity drop, but nothing significant so that's good news for his shoulder and core, but the loss of control points to a possible elbow issue.
Scott Olsen has received some press this season for his turn around, but once again it's a case of the media following the traditional stats and then applying hackneyed cliches to his "improvement" instead of digging deeper. Olsen is throwing more strikes and allowing fewer line drives, but he's missing the same number of bats and generating the same percentage of groundballs. Has he improved? Yes. But the big push of his improvement in the stupid stats comes from a BABIP that has gone from an unsustainably high .341 to an unsustainably low .224.
One possible repercussion of Bavasi's firing is that it hopefully sends a clear message that 2008 is over, which means giving Dickey an extended look in the rotation to see if there's anything worthwhile there.

Likely Starters:
C Matt Treanor
1 Mike Jacobs*
2 Dan Uggla
S Hanley Ramirez
3 Jorge Cantu
L Luis Gonzalez*
C Cody Ross
R Jeremy Hermida*
D Alfredo Amezaga^
Florida doesn't do much, but what they do do, is power with a team isoP of .195 they are pacing the senior circuit ahead of the Phillies (.188) and then a big gap to the third best team. They lead the lead in homeruns, but also in striking out and are near the bottom in drawing walks and on base percentage. This offense has the makings of one that will go fishing so we could see some good games from Felix and Dickey provided that Felix doesn't pitch like an idiot and Dickey shows more movement on his knucker than last Friday.
CONTEXT
Finally an embarrassing (if you're still rooting for the team) sweep leads to an unexpected front office change. There's nothing more to say here at the moment though that isn't being said elsewhere.
THIS SERIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Lia Fail
Inveralond. Perth, Scotland
I've never had it, but it seems appropriate no?
It's a bitter from Scotland that has a full malty aroma and taste according to reviews. It actually ranks quite well with a noticeable bitter palate and a dark brown color.
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Comments
May I add that, to the naked eye, this Marlin team appears to be the worst defensive team in history.
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 3:32 PM PDT
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While the stats likely don't agree
We at least have Beltre, Reed and Ichiro
Break it down position by postition:
C Treanor v. Johjima--> *Treanor (He’s a horrible hitter, his CS% is meh, but he’s allowed no PBs)
1 Sexson v. Jacobs-> *Jacobs (He’s less horrible)
2 Lopez v. Uggla --> *Loafie
3 Beltre v. Cantu —> *Beltre
S Yuni v. Ramirez --> *Yuni (even bad Yuni is probably better than Ramirez)
L Raul v. Gonzo —> Gonzo (by default)
C Ichiro v. Ross --> *Ichiro (I don’t know too much about Ross, but his rep isn’t good)
R Reed v. Hermida -> *Reed
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 3:45 PM PDT
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I'm always amazed by this
given the few times I saw him play for salt lake, but the stats say Alfredo Amezaga is basically awesome in CF. So that’s perhaps part of the reason they don’t rate as historically terrible as you’d think given the names.
Personally, I’d think putting Cantu at an infield position would overcome mid-career Willie Mays in CF, but who knows.
by marc w on
Jun 16, 2008 3:55 PM PDT
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Miller's Velocity
It looked fine to me in his last outing when he was reaching 98mph and shutting down the Phillies. I’m a little concerned about his groundball ratio, but sometimes it seems it might be necessary to make a change to become a better PITCHER by mixing things up a bit. And he’s also shown better control this year, especially in the last two months as he’s harnessed a 2.3 K/BB over that time span. It’s going to be especially interesting to watch him tonight against the M’s.
by Bodhizefa on Jun 16, 2008 4:07 PM PDT 0 recs
With the Bavasi firing, this means the team is no longer holding on to any rediculous belief that
we are still in this. I hope we see some changes in the lineup that have been needed for a long time.
by thewyrm on Jun 16, 2008 4:33 PM PDT 0 recs
Ichiro will be in RF today, WFB will be in CF per Geoff Baker’s blog….
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.
by BrettJMiller on Jun 16, 2008 4:39 PM PDT 0 recs
Weird.
That wasn’t the kind of roster change I meant.
by thewyrm on
Jun 16, 2008 4:42 PM PDT
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See, told y'all not to say "It can't get any worse."
Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I know baseball. Yes, I even drink beer.
by NOLAmarinergirl on
Jun 16, 2008 4:53 PM PDT
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This team never ceases to surprise me
seriously, they could start putting ichi at catcher, and vidro at CF and I would not be surprised. Season over, might as well have a laugh and get Vidro some exercise before we cut his fat hot dog-eating ass
http://seattlesportsmaniac.blogspot.com
by LantermanC on
Jun 16, 2008 6:06 PM PDT
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Interesting.
He says the team “has discussed moving Ichiro back to RF” if they can find a suitable CF replacement. ADAM JONES ANYONE??!?
Okay, if they really want to put Ihciro back in RF, how about Reed in CF, and Wlad in LF?
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 4:46 PM PDT
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I'm not even that big on that move.
From everything I’ve heard, Ichiro is a better CF than Reed. If the club could find a CF that’s better than Ichiro, I would be fine moving him back to RF.
by BrianL on
Jun 16, 2008 4:49 PM PDT
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He's the best option we have in-house.
All our other OF’s are either to low in the minors to even think about hitting at the MLB level, or have no chance of playing CF.
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 4:52 PM PDT
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If Reed is the best in-house option
then the club needs to leave Ichiro in CF.
by BrianL on
Jun 16, 2008 4:54 PM PDT
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I tend to agree with you.
And I don’t understand why they would be in such a hurry to move Ichiro. Seems like more of an offseason type of move, unless we picked up Coco Crisp or something.
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 4:56 PM PDT
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Maybe having Ichiro in RF is management's idea of giving him a night off.
Seriously, has Ichiro had a single day off yet?
by BrianL on
Jun 16, 2008 4:58 PM PDT
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It could be I suppose.
Or a way to get WFB into the lineup for some reason (my guess at this would be that they don’t think he has the arm to play RF?!?).
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 4:59 PM PDT
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Putz for Crisp
and a prospect
http://seattlesportsmaniac.blogspot.com
by LantermanC on
Jun 16, 2008 6:07 PM PDT
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Yeah I was thinking he might be ready for the bigs
by mid-season next year.
by houseofprime on
Jun 16, 2008 5:05 PM PDT
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If he is, you could move Ichiro then.
But you shouldn’t move him now for WFB, unless it’s just a one night deal.
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 5:06 PM PDT
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Why don't we just trade the rights to negotiate Casey Craig out of retirement for Carlos Beltran?
Because clearly it’s easy to get CFs if you’re moving Ichiro back to RF…
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.
by BrettJMiller on
Jun 16, 2008 4:55 PM PDT
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I think he's as good as he's ever been.
Although I’ve never thought of him in the “Cameron class” of CF’s.
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 5:07 PM PDT
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Mike Cameron spoiled us.
Damn it was fun watching him play CF.
by BrianL on
Jun 16, 2008 5:08 PM PDT
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And yes it was.
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 5:09 PM PDT
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Obviously.
But we’d need to trade for Josh Hamilton to make keeping Ichiro in CF long term look like a good idea.
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 5:10 PM PDT
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I realize hamilton is awesome but with texas having such a problem
with pitching for like 10 years why do you trade volquez. Do they have a loaded farm system?
by houseofprime on
Jun 16, 2008 5:16 PM PDT
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This would make sense if we had another centerfie.... oh right.
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 5:03 PM PDT
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I used to say "Erik Bedard is really good" to make myself feel better.
It just doesn’t work as well anymore.
by BrianL on
Jun 16, 2008 5:07 PM PDT
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So...
USSM followers go chasing after SP Lager, and you’re implying LL followers chase down some Lia Fail. I wonder if this here readership is sophisticated enough. Hmmm….
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum
by PositivePaul on Jun 16, 2008 4:45 PM PDT 0 recs
Wlad is not a good Rf so lets play him in CF.
Makes sense.
by houseofprime on Jun 16, 2008 4:46 PM PDT 0 recs
Good thought.
I hope you’re right!
I like midgets more than I should.
by Thingray on
Jun 16, 2008 5:08 PM PDT
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At least by saying he wants to go the NL
he knows hes nothing more then a bench player.
by houseofprime on
Jun 16, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
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According to Baker the move to RF is not so temporary
Just finished speaking to McLaren, in the dugout, and he says the Ichiro move is a permanent one for now. He’ll be auditioning others, including Wladimir Balentien and Reed, for the center field job. Unless the M’s have a deal pending to bring a center fielder or left fielder here. Maybe Ken Griffey Jr. in left. Maybe Coco Crisp in center. Who knows?<
by OlSalty on Jun 16, 2008 5:12 PM PDT 0 recs
Wlad in center?
Was Shin-Soo Choo not available?
I love it. Bring it on.
Sexson for SS.
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 5:16 PM PDT
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The Mariners are looking at options for the unproductive Richie Sexson, and one could be to have Johjima get some games at first base. That would allow the club to call up catcher Jeff Clement from the minor leagues.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/archives/141288.asp
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 5:17 PM PDT
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via Baker
For the record, McLaren says he wants Ichiro to have more fun, like he did back in 2006 when he was still in right field..
“I just think he’s a great right fielder,’’ he said. “I just want to see him get the smile, the zest and everything going.’‘
Mac may be my favorite Mariner at this mooment
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 5:22 PM PDT
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I do miss that Ichirio zest.
Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I know baseball. Yes, I even drink beer.
by NOLAmarinergirl on
Jun 16, 2008 5:23 PM PDT
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Oh wow and YOU are talking to ME about bad jokes.
At least I can blame my suckage on John Olerud.
by Slica on
Jun 16, 2008 5:52 PM PDT
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Good point..
Ichiro had a HORRIBLE year last year… oh wait, he was awesome… and 2006 was his worst year, or close to it…
http://seattlesportsmaniac.blogspot.com
by LantermanC on
Jun 16, 2008 6:08 PM PDT
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This just keeps getting better and better
FELIX FOR SHORTSTOP!!
by OlSalty on
Jun 16, 2008 5:19 PM PDT
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Well then we'll have to move Yuni to catcher
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on
Jun 16, 2008 5:20 PM PDT
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No, catcher would be taken. He'd have to pitch.
Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I know baseball. Yes, I even drink beer.
by NOLAmarinergirl on
Jun 16, 2008 5:21 PM PDT
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Then we shoot Beltre out of a cannon
Unclutch piece of shit.
by OlSalty on
Jun 16, 2008 5:23 PM PDT
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We'd certainly have a lot more to talk about in the game threads if this all were to happen.
Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I know baseball. Yes, I even drink beer.
by NOLAmarinergirl on
Jun 16, 2008 5:24 PM PDT
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Can it really hurt?
Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I know baseball. Yes, I even drink beer.
by NOLAmarinergirl on
Jun 16, 2008 5:19 PM PDT
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Besides our sides from laughing, I meant.
Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I know baseball. Yes, I even drink beer.
by NOLAmarinergirl on
Jun 16, 2008 5:20 PM PDT
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I guess this increases his chance for serious injury
so, no. not for us anyway.
by JI on
Jun 16, 2008 5:23 PM PDT
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Ironic
Cause laughter is supposed to be the best MEDICINE.
by Slica on
Jun 16, 2008 5:33 PM PDT
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So how do you feel after posting that abortion of a joke?
by BrianL on
Jun 16, 2008 5:35 PM PDT
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I guess it's true.
It can always be worse.


