Irrational/non-irrational things to root for
by MT Olson on Jul 23, 2010 9:57 PM PDT
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PrintFor me, this season feels like a square root symbol. No really, think about it. I was excited and optimistic but was afraid it could go downhill quick. It did. After the initial nosedive, my optimism about the organization is on the upswing. I’ll be climbing until the end of September, after which my only interest in baseball will be rooting for Cliff Lee and Adrian Beltre in the playoffs, to be rekindled in December.
A lot of negativity has been running around here lately, so I’d like to take a moment and encourage people to look at the positives. Find something you want to root for in a lost season. Subplots often make or break a novel. They still make our season enjoyable too.
I’ll give you a few things I’m focusing on. Not a complete list by any means, just my top six. Bear in mind I have an irrational love of players who face an uphill climb.
Adam Moore: Besides the obvious fact that him playing boots out RJ, I wanna root for this kid because he isn’t really a kid anymore. His window is closing fast and his future could be in question if he struggles in the majors. Prove them wrong Adam, it’s your time. Clement broke my heart. I want you to break Rob Johnson’s hand.
Probable run at the Cy Young for Felix: J
Michael Saunders: Of all the rookies debuting this season, I think I’ve heard the least about him. Maybe because the M’s aren’t doing well or maybe because he’s not exactly crushing it, but it still makes me mad. His lack of recognition has me rooting for him more than any other member of this team.
Youth: With Ackley, Smoak, and Pineda all on their way the future is bright. When rosters expand, we’re gonna get one hell of a show. Nothing is more exciting than watching potential greatness open its wings for the first time. Watch em take flight. I'm so freaking excited for September.
Josh Wilson: Josh Wilson sucks. I love Josh Wilson. Somehow he got to the majors and somehow he’s defied expectations. I hope he continues to prove he can be a quality utility guy. I hope he continues to be more attractive than Jack Wilson. I hope he proves he’s better than everyone thought, including himself. It’s not likely, which is why I gotta root for him.
The Baltimore Orioles: I hope they win a game. I hope they win ten games. I hope they make a surprise playoff run. I hope Adam Jones loses a Gold Glove to Franklin Gutierrez. I hope they win one more game than us.
This season is still worth watching. There are plenty of things to root for without focusing on the win/loss column. I’m sure you have your own list. OPTIMISM.
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Also, gold gloves in the outfield are not awarded by position. There are three gold glove winners in the outfield and they can all be at the same position. Guti and AJ can both win in the same season.
Lueke could present a reoccurring issue for the no politics rule
I’m sure I’m not alone when I bristle at calling his alleged actions a ‘mistake’ – so I both don’t want to let it go, but this isn’t the forum for it. I’d ask that we all do our best to not reference it either way. I’m certainly no moderator, it’s a just a request, because I think it’s almost impossible to reference without injecting politics (like framing it as a ‘mistake’).
I was using mistake in the broadest sense- meaning something that clearly shouldn't have occured.
Nevertheless, you’re incredibly right. Although speaking of character and fresh starts is an occasional topic here, this one might come with too much baggage, at least currently. Removed per request.
Crime and punishment is politics?
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 24, 2010 2:38 AM PDT up reply actions
It can be
When you’re arguing how serious a crime is, especially crimes of alleged rape. Some people feel strongly that date rape situations aren’t taken seriously enough, and that the reaction often involves a high level of victim blaming and slut shaming. Other people feel quite differently, and a full gambit in between. When saying that someone should be forgiven, given a second chance, or that he paid his dues (I’m not saying the OP did that here), you are inherently engaging of a discussion of whether or not the punishment and prosecution for his actions were sufficient. That’s politics, or at least unproductive for a baseball blog. Much like my comment right now.
It’s certainly possible to reference to talk about Lueke and his criminal past without getting political, but it’s tough. It’s much easier to do what the front page posters here and elsewhere have done which is to reference the issue with a link and then talk about the baseball.
by Snuffleupagus on Jul 24, 2010 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 6 recs
This is an outstanding comment.
During my freshman orientation, two sides of people in my dorm nearly came to blows arguing over what constitutes rape when we had our sexual health and law orientation/discussion. What made it all the more freaky was that we got along together as a whole really well aside from this episode. Fortunately, the group I had when co-ran the same exercise a year later was a lot better (and came to the right conclusion without my help), but it’s pretty scary how wigged out people can get about this issue.
Everything else aside. . .
I watched this kid pitch the other night and holy hell can he bring it. I wish there was nothing else to worry about. As it is, when he makes it to the show he’s gonna get asked a lot of questions about it. I think if I were him I would call Shannon Dreyer now and give her my side of the story as early as possible.
Fear the NPE
by thewyrm on Jul 24, 2010 4:28 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Are other people rooting for the disappointments to bounce back?
I will be rooting almost as hard for Figgins and Bradley as I will for the youth of the team. They are a serious part of the immediate future, and it will be interesting to see if they can recover any value.
I'm with you
People are looking at next year, can they get back to contender status, are they going to have to go into rebuilding mode, what should they do in the offseason……
It would make things a lot easier and a whole lot more clear if we could see some of these guys start putting up better numbers.
by nathaniel dawson on Jul 25, 2010 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't understand what's appealing about this guy.
2010 Safeco Field Record: 2-1 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 12-5
So, Lueke.
This guy looks pretty unhittable, and seems to me like he’s due for a promotion to AAA. His track record in the minors is thus far phenomenal, and I’m starting to think I want him as a set up guy in the 2011 pen. I know its silly to get excited about minor league relievers but his numbers are better than anything I’ve seen in our system for a while.
De Gutibus non disputandum est
by Bearskin Rugburn on Jul 26, 2010 7:29 AM PDT reply actions
12 K, 3 H, 6.1 IP
derrrrrrrr
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors
by JY on Jul 26, 2010 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Using the MLE feature on minorleaguesplits
his numbers would translate into a ~3.1FIP in the majors. Right now. Oh, and he’s got no platoon split. And he’s got a GB rate over 50. He might be our best closer candidate right now.
De Gutibus non disputandum est
by Bearskin Rugburn on Jul 26, 2010 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions
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