Some Wednesday Optimism While I'm In A Good Mood
by Jeff Sullivan on Jun 2, 2010 2:30 PM PDT
in Seattle Mariners Good News
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PrintHanging out in the Tropic Of Cairo? Sipping out of a pineapple cup, catching some sun with nary a care in the world? You might want to stop reading now, because what follows stands a chance of pulling you back into the tormenting clutches of hope. I don't know why I'm doing this. I know it isn't healthy. I swear I can quit whenever I want.
- Since that miserable eight-game losing streak at the start of the month, the Mariners have played 21 games. Over those 21 games, they've scored 96 runs and allowed 89, with a .732 team OPS. Ten of those games came against current division leaders.
- Jose Lopez and Chone Figgins are heating up, Josh Wilson's doing all right, and Griffey isn't playing, meaning the offensive black holes that were killing us have nearly disappeared.
- The Mariners have gained a game and a half over the last week.
- Divisions can see a lot of quick movement. The Rays have lost 3.5 games of ground to the Yankees and Red Sox since May 23rd. The Twins have gained 4.5 games of ground on the Tigers since May 20th. The Rangers blew a four-game lead in a week. The Phillies blew a five-game lead in two weeks. The Cardinals blew a five-game lead in two weeks. The Padres blew a six-game lead in two weeks. The Mariners are in a hole right now, and their odds are long, but teams go on runs both good and bad, and runs can change the standings in a hurry.
Since the beginning of the season, we've maintained that this is a mediocre division, and that a mediocre division allows its participants a little more margin of error. The Mariners are 20-31. In any other division, they'd be just about buried. In the AL West, though, they are seriously - improbably - still alive. With a very tough schedule ahead, they might finally sink, but we're not there yet. Somehow, we're not there yet.
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I am celebrating a +7 run differential
This is pathetic.
by Jeff Sullivan on Jun 2, 2010 2:38 PM PDT reply actions 7 recs
I have found myself hanging out above the Tropic even though I know the season is sunk.
It has to be because I know that ceasing to care means there’s no point in watching games, and I enjoy watching games. Also, I find that I am rarely interested in watching other teams play baseball so giving up on the Mariners for the year basically means giving up on baseball for the year.
by abender20 on Jun 2, 2010 2:46 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
I think I've been straddling the border for a week or two
Right on the border. I can’t stand it. If I’m in a good mood, I’m hopeful. If I’m in a bad mood, I don’t give a shit. I wish the Mariners would make up their mind, so that I, in turn, can make up mine.
by Jeff Sullivan on Jun 2, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Even with a really putrid team, my inclination is still to watch. Like the Seahawks last year.
I’m just much more likely to stop halfway through a game and go “Fuck these shitheads.” I guess I’m like a bad closer in that I have a short memory despite getting burned repeatedly.
I'm a fan of the Seahawks, Mariners, and WSU Cougars
I’m numb to being burned. I just keep grabbing the hot stove.
Sucker
I fucking hate you Mariners
by kentroyals5 on Jun 2, 2010 3:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Probably Sonics as well eh?
Wow.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
by the other side on Jun 2, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Bingo.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
by the other side on Jun 2, 2010 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Zombie Sonics?
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jun 2, 2010 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Just to be clear, hanging out below the tropic doesn't mean you don't watch the games.
There is always a point to watching the games; you just don’t feel crushed by the next walk-off loss.
Then again, I’m interested in watching other teams play baseball. I stayed up last night watching a bit of a replay of the SWAC conference championship between Grambling and Alcorn state.
Thanks for this...
Trying to be cautiously optimistic. I’ll be at the Rangers series next week, arguably the
most important series of the year up to this point. I’m nervous.
Obvious.
But how bad can a team be when they have the better pitcher on the mound 70-80% of the time? We have a single weak link in the rotation. One guy where you’d say he’s sub-par and wouldn’t pick him against most starters. That has to be good for a hot stretch. Would rather have the better pitcher than the better lineup.
I haven't given up hope yet
The thing that keeps me gong, is the thought of some really exciting August/September baseball if we find a way to make it close
There's still so much to like about this team. It hasn't even come close to reaching its potential.
I was so ready to forget that 2008 team ever existed. These guys I just want to play like I know they can for the next two months and see what happens.
Here's the plan:
Mariners win one of next two against Minnesota for the series split. Then take two of three from Anaheim. All the while, Texas will be 2-3 in their next five games. Then in the series between the two, Seattle wins three of four and is only four games out! (Assuming Oakland remains the same).
Actually even that seems highly unlikely so instead we will be further buried :(
We're always the ones bending over for Anaheim, Oakland, and Texas
Now would be a perfect time to reverse it.
Carlos Silvelite
Having watched the collapse against LAnaheim Sunday afternoon in person
I am still in a lobotomized stupor. The last few days I’ve been looking at clouds a lot. I can’t fathom hope.
by sigalert on Jun 2, 2010 3:12 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
This team could not be more heartbreaking.
So many close losses, so many blown saves, so many walkoff losses, and yet they won’t just fall completely out of it so I can stop caring every time it happens.
This only increases my hate for everyone else in the division.
FUCK THE MARINERS!
by Fuckmikereilly on Jun 2, 2010 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Glad to see you write this Jeff
I’ve been a downer most of the season, but this last week with, all it’s familiar heartbreak, has given me a glimmer of hope.
Carlos Silvelite
Exactly, I'm thinking Figlet is finally going to get his swing back and he will be the catalyst
for a good month of June.
by TrustBaseball on Jun 2, 2010 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
A 30-19 record and this team is right back in this thing!
Seriously, is 30-19 an impossible thing to hope for from this team?
I'm getting a really foreboding feeling looking at today's lineup.
Sorry, I’ll stop pissing on our timid offensive spurt :(
Pitching and defense!
Still at war with Fred Peete
thank you
I don’t understand why everyone has been so pessimistic lately. We’ve clearly been playing far under the level of play that we can and still are only 7 back in a division where no one is going to run away with it. this season is far from over!
Depends on your definition of 'far'
Personally, it’s without eye contact of over
Thanks a lot Jeff. I was already above the tropic and this pulled me all the way back up to anger at our team.
Why the hell do we suck? We were supposed to be good.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
None of the gambles that needed to work have.
by Jeff Nye on Jun 2, 2010 3:48 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Franklin too!
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
by the other side on Jun 2, 2010 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Y'all are some nit-picking sonsobitches.
The point, in the main, still stands.
3rd and 4th string catchers with some pop!
And fewer passed balls.
You can't be a catcher if you can't catch. Rob Johnson will henceforth be listed as a traffic cone on the roster.
Since we don't have baseball to root for, we've all decided to fuck with your points.
It’s the new American Pastime.
Except some people on this website live in Europe with a select few in Canada.
So it’s not really an “American” past time.
...and now I'm here
Enjoy is kind of strong, more like it something that makes us smirk through the pain.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
by the other side on Jun 2, 2010 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions
We'll have Lee, Felix and Vargas going against the Rangers!
Unfortunately, Snell is going to get destroyed so at the very most we’ll take 3 of 4.
FUCK THE MARINERS!
Maybe we can score like 31 runs in the Snell game.
Meaning we would lose my 2. Oh well.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
by the other side on Jun 2, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I love Mariner fan optimism.
The moment we start getting a little excited, we’ve got to beat ourselves back down just to keep our hopes down.
that is a lot of optimism for a team that hasn't won a three game series since taking two of three from the Royals in April
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
This is a hope thread, stop trying to kill it.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
by the other side on Jun 2, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
We wooped up on the Tigers though
You can't be a catcher if you can't catch. Rob Johnson will henceforth be listed as a traffic cone on the roster.
Having similar thoughts...
…and trying to separate capability from watchability.
The worst thing about the Mariners over the last month is that they have been very hard to watch. Losing games is one thing, but losing games that should have been won, losing because of sub-high school baserunning and stupidly aggressive coaching, losing late, is just hard to swallow. Expecially just before going to bed.
On the other hand, it’s because they’ve lost this way that makes me think they are capable of being better. It doesn’t take much to tip the scales when most of the games are close. They have the starting pitching, and I think the latest move will solidify the pen. The bats are starting to heat up.
But please, God, STOP with the stupid baserunning. How do the best baseball players in the world, most of whom have played all their lives, run the bases like kids playing back-yard ball?
Yes, I did a double take when they fired a coach and then said it wasn't Brumley
You can't be a catcher if you can't catch. Rob Johnson will henceforth be listed as a traffic cone on the roster.
I pretty much did the same thing this morning.
Figgins and Lopez and Sweeney all improving, having competed well against 3 division leaders and the Blue Jays, this whole recent string of not-total-suckiness.. and the entire time I was looking at the numbers I kept telling myself “This is a stupid and bad idea that will only make me optimistic for what is almost surely a lost cause”
“Almost surely”
It just won’t go away.
More optimism???
Just got a text from 710 saying Shannon Drayer’s reporting Griffey’s retiring effective immediately.. Um, buh?
Hearing the same on MLB network - wow
37 on the 40 man?
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