Series Preview: New York Yankees @ Seattle Mariners

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 1:00 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Previews

	MARINERS (61-85)	Δ Ms	YANKEES (88-57)	EDGE
HITTING (wOBA)	-148.7 (30th)	-1.6	96.5 (3rd)	New York
FIELDING	30.5 (5th)	5.1	-12.5 (12th)	Seattle
ROTATION (tRA)	20.4 (10th)	1.4	11.4 (12th)	Seattle
BULLPEN (tRA)	-14.6 (27th)	1.6	24.4 (5th)	New York
OVERALL(RAA)	-112.4 (26th)	6.5	119.8 (4th)	NEW YORK

Mariners current draft spot: 4th

Great, the flippin' ducking Yankees. Which means we'll get to hear about 7,000 references to Jesus Montero and Justin Smoak again because that's an easy story. I cannot control (yet) what everybody in the media says, but I will issue this warning to LL commenters. Please just don't bring it up. Everyone is already aware of the rumors at the time and honestly they were that, rumors. You don't know for sure what the actual trade offer was. You don't. So please stop acting like it was a one-for-one choice between Jesus Montero and Justin Smoak. It may have been. You don't know. I don't know.

Mon 12 Sep 19:10
FELIX HERNANDEZ	PHIL HUGHES

Humanity cannot often be sure about these things, and this is one such case of uncertainty, but September 12 is the date generally accepted as when the Battle of Marathon (never forget!) happened way back in 490 BC, assuming it ever actually happened and wasn't a total hoax. Turns out Herodotus was just making shit up and his books were well known Athenian slasher fiction at the time. Given enough time and lack of context and people will believe anything. Look at Atlantis or King Arthur. Also, most people have a completely warped view of life in the Middle Ages thanks to the romanticism of the Victorian era. Maybe you're fake, too.

That paragraph took an unexpected turn.

Tue 13 Sep 19:10
CHARLIE FURBUSH*	A.J. BURNETT

I got sucked into the void reading about ancient legends and now have very little to say about Charlie Furbush. He's a little interesting in that his pitch-level results are fairly acceptable, as you can see above. He's about prototypical average for a Major League starting pitcher, which is an improvement, I feel, over what many of us thought of him as when he was traded over. However, the strikeouts haven't yet materialized and the walks are a bit high compared to his pitch results.

Wed 14 Sep 19:10
JASON VARGAS*	IVAN NOVA

The increased ground balls from Jason Vargas at the start of the year mostly faded into the background. His rate is still elevated over 2010, but not by a staggering amount. It's minutely helpful, but Vargas would derive more help from figuring out a way to punch a few more hitters out in this lowered run environment.

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Comments

Oh great, so now you're telling me I missed the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon?

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

Nope.

No year 0, so 2011 is actually the 2,500th anniversary.

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

That's incredible, actually.

2,500th anniversary of a hugely important event and like nobody cares!

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Kenyan runners are taking the day off from training in thanks and celebration

by pdb on Sep 12, 2011 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

The Western world kind of sucks, so I can see why people are ignoring it.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

It would likely be an entirely different political and social world right now!

The scale of the turning point is immense! Assuming you take the recordings of the battle at face value

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm trying to imagine this. Would Alexander even have been able to rise to any sort of power had Persia stomped Greece?

Europe probably would have evolved hugely differently.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Europe and then, by consequence, the Americas

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

The Middle East/Northern Africa as well, because Alexander probably wouldn't have risen up and conquered Persia and Egypt and spread Hellenistic ideas.

And his Generals wouldn’t have been able to divide up his Empire either and rule them long term either.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Especially since Greece is a major news story right now with their debt problems

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions

You're right. Better stick to gyros.

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Probably still paying off the battle of Marathon.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

They shouldn't have put those loans in deferment for 2500 years.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

They probably figured they'd still be ruling the world by then and could just forget about the whole thing

by pdb on Sep 12, 2011 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions

You're an engineer

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Kind of.

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I am trying to figure out how to get sand out of my phone and avoid a trip to High Desert

I am not in a state of mind to figure this shit out

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Dear Boss cannot travel to desert already have too much sand in phone.

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

That only solves one of the problems and doesn't get me four free days of per diem

holy shit $72 per day!

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Matthew, thanks for all your outstanding work on series previews this year

P.S. I think the blockers filter on the word “preview”

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I will provide an experiment to test that with the next one

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

72 dollars per day in High Desert

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Los Angeles County

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Counting?

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

It's harder than you think

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh man, some bad poster is about to get boxxxxxed

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

This hasn't helped

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

How is that in any way true

by Jeff Sullivan on Sep 12, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know how you think, so I'm not sure

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Proving if something is countably infinite vs uncountably infinite is kinda difficult, and in the realm of counting.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

It's not even really counting.

It’s just knowing that if something happened in 1 BC, then 1 AD is the first anniversary, not the second and then you extrapolate from there to know that 2011+490-1 = 2500

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Well yes, but as if I think before I post

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, right, internet

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I sense that I am not your intended audience for Lookout Landing right now >:(

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Have you read me?

My intended audience is basically myself, Jim Lehrer and Ben Zimmer

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I've mostly read Jeff's Series Previews

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Oh shit I totally forgot about that

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Rivera could be the all-time saves leader, or at least tied for such, by the end of the series.

I don’t know if that makes me want to watch this series, or makes me want to look away.

by Chris_FB on Sep 12, 2011 1:52 PM PDT reply actions

He'll have that.

But we’ll have this.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Sep 12, 2011 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

The biggest question is how the hell did Saunders get on second against Rivera?

"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds along with the good and let me be judged accordingly. The rest is silence." ~ Dinobot

by beastwarking on Sep 12, 2011 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Pinch running, I would guess.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Sep 12, 2011 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he pitch ran for Sweeney or something?

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Pinch Ran for Sweeney.....

…..who came off the bench to pinch hit and drilled an opposite field double.

I was at that game with my sister, and the first thing she said when Ichiro hit that bomb was “He did that because he got picked off twice and didn’t want to face the wrath of Griffey in the kangaroo court”.
Epic Bomb and for sure on the top of my list of live Mariner moments.

by sliderinside on Sep 12, 2011 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions

A. Your sister sounds cool. B. That game stands out in my memory as the best comeback in M's history post 116 win team

I was watching and thinking “god why does no one just swing like 3 inches outside of where they see the pitch coming in, you know it’s a cutter” and Sweeney did exactly that and nailed it. So much fun, if not weighty significance

Ready to Play

by tsunamijesus on Sep 13, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh goodness, Kyle Seager is battind 2nd.

Lineup

Ichiro RF
Seager 3B
Ackley 2B
Carp DH
Smaok 1B
Olivo C
Robinson LF
Saunders CF

by ThundaPC on Sep 12, 2011 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

*batting

by ThundaPC on Sep 12, 2011 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

*Smoak

not your day, huh?

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Also, you don't have a shortstop in your lineup

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Do the Yankees have to give up their shortstop too?

by seattlebruin on Sep 12, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Home team advantage

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Only if the pitcher plays third base.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 12, 2011 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm so bad today!

by ThundaPC on Sep 12, 2011 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Any lineup that doesn't have Kennedy in it, doesn't bother me

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Thumbs up to that

I just wanna see WIlly Mo a few more times not Kennedy

:) 18

by i-bificus on Sep 12, 2011 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Other than Dingers this year, why do people like Willy Mo so much?

He’s much older than all the other OF/DH options and I’d rather they get more time a they’re a more likely part of the future. Also, Willy Mo has a pretty well established track record of not being that good.

by CMC_Stags on Sep 12, 2011 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Wily

and because he’s more exciting than Adam Kennedy who is Wily Mo (in terms of future value) with none of the redeeming entertainment value. Also, Wily could be a useful depth piece for next year’s team if they can keep him around in Tacoma or something

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I completely understand the Wily Mo > Kennedy angle

I was asking more from a general “why is there so much Wily Mo love” point of view as there seems to be so much of it throughout the the last month or so. I’d rather see Carp, Wells, Robinson, Saunders, etc. get time in the OF and at DH over him though. All are younger, can play the field, and are probably more likely to be part of the initial 25 man roster next year.

by CMC_Stags on Sep 12, 2011 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Pure emotional clamoring I imagine.

Wily Mo is a fun story and he hits huge dongers. He’s fun to watch play

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

You know what's a fun fact?

Behind Ackley, Carp, and Smoak, Seager is tied with Ichiro for OBP. Since Ackley, Carp, and Smoak are kind of the 3/4/5 guys by default and Ichiro is Ichiro, Seager makes some sense as the #2 hitter. I’ve actually wanted it this way.

by abender20 on Sep 12, 2011 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Ideally, Ackley should be 2, but yeah, this is better than Guti or Ryan there

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually doesn't look all that bad.

by joof on Sep 12, 2011 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Oops, sorry Brendan Ryan (SS)

Still like you!

by ThundaPC on Sep 12, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Hernandez/Hughes

Best matchup analysis yet!

History is cool, even if made up. I agree with Tolkien:

“I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of the readers.”

by PackBob on Sep 12, 2011 6:19 PM PDT reply actions

Article strictly for reference (since you know something will come up somewhere eventually)

Larry Stone – Yankees reduced to joining arms race (February 15, 2011).

Just how close did Lee come to wearing pinstripes? I posed that question point-blank Tuesday to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman at their Legends Field spring complex.

“Oh, I had him,” Cashman replied. “The medicals didn’t work out, so they (the Mariners) jumped off, and Texas jumped in.”

The “medicals” to which Cashman referred involved Yankees second base prospect David Adams, who was having ankle issues. The Mariners didn’t like what they saw (rightly so, considering Adams was later determined to have a fracture).

Cashman said the Mariners asked for the deal — which originally was to have premier catching prospect Jesus Montero, Adams and pitcher Zach McAllister going to Seattle for Lee — reworked. The Yankees balked…

According to my brief research, the recovering David Adams is currently doing nothing of note in A+ ball (last year he was in AA). Zach McAllister was last seen……getting owned by the Mariners (decent AAA numbers though!).

This is about as close as we have gotten to knowing the actual trade offer and wow I do not see myself regretting having this team pass up on it.

by ThundaPC on Sep 12, 2011 6:28 PM PDT reply actions

The key issue for me is that we didn't know for sure what was leaving.

Nobody had Mark Lowe leaving in the Cliff Lee deal, but he did to Texas. Whose to say (as some surmised at the time) that for that package, the Yankees weren’t asking for Lee and Nick Franklin or something. That’s what I mostly mean by saying it’s not just Smoak or Montero.

The other pieces coming back to Seattle are also a point.

by Matthew on Sep 12, 2011 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions