45-42, Game Notes

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 12, 2009 2:57 AM PDT in Seattle Mariners Game Recaps

So if last night's game erased the game before, and tonight's game erased yesterday's, then does that mean we have Thursday back? Franklin!!!

Home runs don't come much more unlikely than Rob Johnson's off what I can only imagine was a fatigued Kevin Millwood. I could spend hours trying to explain the magnitude to which I didn't in any way see that coming, but I think Wakamatsu's face did it best. I'm guessing Ranger fans feel about as good about this as we do when the M's let Jeff Mathis tee off. Texas lost for a lot of reasons tonight, but none were more visible than letting Rob Johnson take their ace deep.

Jarrod Washburn has improved this year. That much is measurably true. The issue is that he hasn't actually become particularly good, and people need to stop looking at his ERA and getting carried away. All this business over the past week or two regarding his "Flipper" pitch - look, I'm as excited as anyone that Washburn's getting more confident in his breaking stuff, but this isn't some sort of breakthrough. Take away the cute little name and you're left with Washburn embraces, hones revolutionary new 'curving ball'. What's that? Sometimes it takes hitters by surprise? Messes with their timing? That's what curveballs are supposed to do, and what's more is that this isn't even a new pitch; Washburn's been throwing a slow curve for years. Now, it seems to be better this season, and that's terrific, but let's be reasonable.

You know what the statistical difference is between Jarrod Washburn 2008 and Jarrod Washburn 2009? +1.5% swinging strikes and +1.3% strikes. That's good, and it's really helped his walk and strikeout numbers, but it's not like those things alone punch his ticket to stardom. He's pitching better, and getting lucky, and working in front of a wonderful defense. He is not one of those things. He is all of those things. I will happily admit that I feel more confident going into a game with Jarrod Washburn than with someone like Garrett Olson or RRS, but at the end of the day, that doesn't mean anything.

Ryan Langerhans has played all of nine games in Safeco Field, and already he's become intimately familiar with the walls in left field. In the top of the second he played a carom off the retaining wall behind third base and threw out Marlon Byrd trying for a double, and in the ninth he put himself in perfect position to receive a ball off the top of the fence and almost threw Byrd out again. Side note: after twice getting gunned down on the bases, Byrd must've really, really wanted to make it to second base. I remember one time at school I was waiting outside for a cab in the wind, and it was really cold and annoying, and after about ten minutes of taking a beating I started to yell at it. Then the wind stopped and I was contented and smug. "Fuck you, wind!" "Get fucked, wind!" I imagine that's how Byrd felt about the bag at second once he finally got there safe.

Mark Lowe threw a couple of real good changeups to Josh Hamilton there in the eighth. The change was by far Lowe's best pitch a year ago, but for whatever reason it's gone away in 2009, so it's great to see some signs of his getting it back. He's going to need that pitch if he wants to have a good career.

Aardsma looked as good as ever. Struck out Hank Blalock on a 90mph split and later taught Nelson Cruz a little something about the high fastball. If anyone was concerned about possible lingering after-effects from the Baltimore meltdown, you can stow those away.

Jack Hannahan hit a rope of a double, saw 17 pitches in three plate appearances, and made a couple nifty defensive plays, including picking a short-hop off the bat of Andruw Jones to lead off the ninth. Short-hops always look so simple until you actually have to field one yourself, at which point most people just put the glove somewhere and hope for the best. It's always impressive, then, to watch a big leaguer who knows where the ball is going to go.

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Comments

I'm glad you mentioned that short hop from Hannahan, he made it look so easy.

Langerhans has looked terrific in the field so far. I am so glad that UZR and Fangraphs came around to make people like myself have quick references to see how much of a difference these guys can make to a team. Three years ago I wouldn’t have liked players like him because he doesn’t hit for a high average or hit many HR’s: now I can truly appreciate the value they bring to the team with their plus gloves.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Jul 12, 2009 3:46 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I agree, word for word.

And how awesome is it having a GM who is on the same page as all the sabermetricians?

by JBell523 on Jul 12, 2009 4:46 AM PDT up reply actions

I feel the same way.

A couple years ago I would’ve thought GMZ was crazy getting these guys. Not only is their defense a huge addition, both Langerhans and Hannahan know how to take a friggin pitch. Regardless of the contact made in the end, an 8-pitch out is more productive than a 1-pitch out.

I actually bought a Betancourt t-shirt.

by Hopefulmsfan on Jul 12, 2009 7:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I totally agree, and adding on to what you were saying.

I think one of the reasons too, is that some of those really good pitches the opposing pitchers would make on us, a hitter like Yuni would just rollover on.It’s refreshing to have a person up there that actually knows what their doing.

by C-Nage on Jul 12, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: the .gif, it always makes me smile when Bedard is celebrating at the front of the dugout after something good happens.

With his reputation you’d expect him to be listening to his iPod with Yuseless in the clubhouse, but he always seems to be paying attention and visibly supporting his team-mates [remember his reaction to the Felix Slam?], which goes against the 2008 local media meme that he is a total jerk.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Jul 12, 2009 3:49 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

He does always seem to be on the top step when these things happen. Happy Bedard = happy RC

by royalcurve on Jul 12, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions

I like our fielders

It’s such a pleasant thing to have good gloves in the field — not just from the standpoint of results (though certainly I appreciate giving up fewer runs), but aesthetically. As painful as it can be to watch someone like Ronny looking clueless at the plate, I think defensive butchery (like this, for instance) is quite a bit worse.

by The Ancient Mariner on Jul 12, 2009 5:26 AM PDT reply actions

That article is priceless.

And to think just a year ago we were losng games like that too, to the Nationals no less.

I actually bought a Betancourt t-shirt.

by Hopefulmsfan on Jul 12, 2009 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the "waiting for a cab in the cold" story is apocryphal

Didn’t you grow up in San Diego? I call bullshit.

by lemonverbena on Jul 12, 2009 10:16 AM PDT reply actions

I think Hartford gets mighty cold in the winter

by seattlebruin on Jul 12, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I love Waka's facepalm after the Johnson HR.

by HARRYP09 on Jul 12, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions

I just get the feeling more and more everyday that Washburn won't be dealt.

and that Erik Bedard will. Two more starts for Erik and then I think he’s pitching Milwaukee or Philadelphia.

by Kenny Knows Sports on Jul 12, 2009 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

Hush, you.

by royalcurve on Jul 12, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Hey even if it does happen, has Jack steered us wrong yet? I'm sure it'll involve us upgrading our SS position.

by Kenny Knows Sports on Jul 12, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions

From the SomethingAwful forums

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 12, 2009 11:39 AM PDT reply actions 24 recs

This is magical!

by royalcurve on Jul 12, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions

The rec I gave you is not enough

I wish there was some sort of Ultra Rec I could give you instead. This is amazing and I literally laughed out loud.

I never really liked the old tagline.

CougCenter

by Craig Powers on Jul 12, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions

So are you saying that somebody else made this?

Wonder why he isn’t over here.

I don't know how to stop.

by esoteric on Jul 12, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Probably ripped the gif from Jeff.

by Wilder. on Jul 12, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

It is clearly a modified version of my gif

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 12, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Which makes it an even more relevant question by esoteric.

How could someone create such a glorious piece after ripping the original gif and then not post it here?

Did you find it yourself or did someone alert you to it? I don’t know what qualifies as sidebar material, but this has to come close.

by Wilder. on Jul 12, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Something in there linked to us

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 12, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Do you have the link?

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Jul 12, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions

This was in the traffic listings

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3163200&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=53

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 12, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Perfection

You got slurved!

Hehehe Mark Reynolds is so awesome.

by Slurvey on Jul 12, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

The part where Felix takes the towel off with that excited look on his face had me laughing the hardest.

The Rise of a Superstar:Justin Upton-.425 wOBA, 21 years old.

by Goose on Jul 12, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions

BWHAHAHAHHAHA

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Jul 12, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Marlon Byrd getting to second

Is it just me, or is Lopez the slowest man in the world when it comes to turning to tag somebody? I’ve watched the replay a couple times and on both occasions where Langerhans threw him the ball, Loafie made a really lazy turn towards where the tag should be made. He only barely got Byrd on the first one, and the second one probably could have been much closer had he made the turn properly. It’s pathetic

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Jul 12, 2009 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

Anyone know when the Futures Game starts?

by russak on Jul 12, 2009 12:07 PM PDT reply actions

Rain delay.

Who knows.

by Wilder. on Jul 12, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions

It started

But as noted is in what may be a lengthy rain delay. Looks like they won’t be able to play for at least an hour with the rain.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Jul 12, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

So, guess who's catching today!

by MFAN on Jul 12, 2009 12:09 PM PDT reply actions

Holy crap we broke tradition

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 12, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Washburn has improved

So has the defense. Don’t know how many times they’ve bailed him out in the past month.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Jul 12, 2009 12:24 PM PDT reply actions

Hell is driving through Chehalis to pick up a friend in Portland after the STP

There’s a 30 mile radio dead zone around Chehalis. 710 AM doesn’t work anymore, 1490 (Kelso) doesn’t come in yet and 1080 is far away. I missed Russell’s homerun!

by LauraBu on Jul 12, 2009 12:41 PM PDT reply actions