Series Preview: Seattle Mariners @ Detroit Tigers

by Matthew on Jul 2, 2010 7:30 AM PDT in Seattle Mariners Previews

Seattle: 33-45
Detroit: 41-36

	MARINERS	Δ Ms	TIGERS	EDGE
HITTING (wOBA)	-78.1 (29th)	0.9	27.2 (6th)	Detroit
FIELDING (UZR)	16.4 (8th)	12.2	14.6 (9th)	Seattle
ROTATION (tRA)	2.7 (15th)	-2.7	-17.6 (23rd)	Seattle
BULLPEN (tRA)	-14.4 (25th)	-1.1	8.4 (9th)	Detroit
OVERALL(RAA)	-73.4 (26th)	9.3	32.6 (10th)	DETROIT

The downgrade in the starting pitcher category might be surprising after seeing Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez toss complete games with four runs between them and Ryan Rowland-Smith throw six innings of two run ball, but while Felix's game was a legit gem, Cliff Lee and Rowland-Smith both tossed poor games from tRA's perspective due to low strikeouts and home runs.

Digression time! Yesterday was, as previously mentioned, Canada Day. Canada Day also marks the start of free agency in the NHL. I don't know if the two are related, I doubt it, but it's funny for me to assume that the latter caused the former. For those uninitiated in following the NHL and only used to following the more popular US sports, NHL free agency is something to behold. A beast so different from our usual experiences so as to remind me of Bill Simmons' response to the first prompt in his World Cup 20 Questions piece.

The NHL doesn't dick around. Free agency starts and many of the big names are gone by the early evening. All in all, about 40 players signed yesterday and though that may not be a high percentage of all available free agents, keep in mind that many of the all available free agents are terrible and quite a few of them are restricted free agents which by rule drags the process out. A high percentage of the big names signed on day one. It all seems very Canadian to me.

Now watch as I bring this around to baseball. While NHL's Canada Day shopping spree sure is entertaining in the way that baseball's July 31st trading deadline used to be 15 years ago, it also leaves a lot of dead time afterward. The majority of major American sports on the other hand take their time to get going in free agency. For those steeped in both sports, which do you prefer? As a fan, I much prefer hockey's routine. It makes the day exciting and then gives me time and space to pursue other interests. As a writer, oh god would hockey be terrible for 365-day coverage.

Plotting the off season period as a single day, baseball, football, basketball etc. are like me; prone to sleeping in, unmotivated to begin my day until the coffee kicks in and prone to getting things done just before the deadline. Hockey is like that annoying neighbor who gets up at 5am every morning and immediately begins doing noisy household chores that you can hear through your not-thick-enough walls. And he or she is always chipper. Why are you so damn happy? It's too early to be happy. Emotion isn't allowed to begin for another five hours.

Oh, and we play the Tigers.

Fri Jul 02, 16:05: Doug Fister vs. Max Scherzer

Sat Jul 03, 16:05: Jason Vargas* vs. Justin Verlander

Sun Jul 04, 10:05: Cliff Lee* vs. Jeremy Bonderman

If Cliff Lee makes his next start, I will reward all of Seattle with a fireworks show in Lake Union. If he is traded, I will cause millions of gallons of toxic oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. Your move, Jack.

Doug Fister

Jason Vargas

Cliff Lee

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	58%	88	20	70	55
Change	20%	81	40	80	70
Curve	9%	75	55	25	70
Sinker	7%	88	25	45	70
Slider	6%	83	35	80	70
Overall	--	--	20	70	65

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	46%	87	50	35	30
Change	23%	80	80	75	30
Sinker	22%	86	30	55	30
Slider	6%	82	20	45	45
Overall	--	--	60	50	25

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	55%	91	70	80	45
Sinker	17%	90	50	80	40
Change	14%	83	55	80	55
Curve	8%	76	60	50	80
Slider	6%	85	30	80	50
Overall	--	--	55	80	50

Max Scherzer

Justin Verlander

Jeremy Bonderman

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	68%	94	80	70	35
Change	17%	84	65	65	70
Slider	13%	84	55	50	50
Overall	--	--	75	70	40

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	64%	95	80	80	35
Curve	18%	80	40	40	55
Change	13%	84	75	55	45
Overall	--	--	70	70	35

Pitch	%	Sp	K	BB	GB
Fastball	44%	90	30	65	65
Slider	22%	83	75	50	25
Sinker	21%	91	35	65	45
Change	12%	84	50	20	30
Overall	--	--	60	50	50

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Comments

I really try hard not to make noise until around 9am.

If you aren’t awake by that hour it is not my problem.

by Sec 108 on Jul 2, 2010 7:57 AM PDT reply actions

Unless you're like me and just getting home from a 12 hour night shift at that time.

It seems like every week someone above me is getting new flooring.

by Boz86 on Jul 2, 2010 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I guarantee a sweep

by Robert on Jul 2, 2010 7:59 AM PDT reply actions

What, you think Lee's going to lose, too?

by The Ancient Mariner on Jul 2, 2010 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm torn

Trading Cliff Lee now would better our chances of getting a good return for him. The longer we hold onto him, the greater risk. And it’s not like we’re riding him to the post-season, unless Branyan single-handedly makes this a .750 team.

But trading him means we would lose Cliffmas.

by skjes on Jul 2, 2010 8:44 AM PDT reply actions

14 games out.

I say trade Lee. It sounds to me like he doesn’t seem too fond of hanging around much longer anyways. He’s hot, trade high. Get as many young bats as possible.

6/30/10- The Beginning of a New Era

by Bballpitcher2 on Jul 2, 2010 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions