Jarrod Washburn

by Jeff on Aug 10, 2007 9:41 PM PDT in Regular News Comment 58 comments

Career:

Overall: .738 OPS against
Pitches 76-100: .753 OPS against
Pitches 101+: 1.005 OPS against

With Seattle:

Overall: .755 OPS against
Pitches 76-100: .796 OPS against
Pitches 101+: .952 OPS against

This Season:

Overall: .752 OPS against
Pitches 76-100: .845 OPS against
Pitches 101+: 1.007 OPS against

In 16 starts under Mike Hargrove this year, Jarrod averaged 99 pitches per game, exceeding 110 just once. His OPS against was .716, and his ERA was 4.03 (4.23 FIP). This is consistent with the previous season, over which Jarrod averaged 99 pitches per start and exceeded 110 three times in 31 games.

In seven starts under John McLaren this year, Jarrod has averaged 110 pitches per game, exceeding 110 five times (and throwing 108 in another). His OPS against is .790, and his ERA is 4.91 (4.77 FIP). In the innings in or after which he's been pulled, he's allowed eight runs in five total innings (for example, today he allowed two in 0.2 innings in the seventh).

Jarrod Washburn starts to run out of steam around 80-90 pitches. By the time he hits triple digits, he's essentially given everything he has. The Seattle Mariners have arguably the greatest, deepest bullpen in all of baseball, which works out remarkably well when combined with a guy who struggles to pitch well into the sixth or seventh innings. There are enough good arms waiting for the call that at no point should it be necessary to cringe your way through any important at bats. Letting Washburn go ~90 pitches and then turning things over to RRS/O'Flaherty/Green/whoever is a recipe for success.

And yet John McLaren continues to ride Jarrod Washburn like a workhorse, even though he's never given the slightest indication of being up to the challenge. And, predictably, it's cost him time and time again. Just last week we saw Washburn give up two critical insurance runs to the Red Sox when he was clearly finished (for good measure, RRS then came in and blew Boston away in relief).

At what point does this stop? At what point does McLaren get over his ridiculous infatuation with veterans and start turning the ball over to a comparatively inexperienced but awesome bullpen before Jarrod actually forces him to? Because every day that he doesn't, he's hurting our chances of winning the game, and never was this more apparent than it was tonight (for several reasons, this being just one of them).

John McLaren is not qualified to be a Major League manager. For this reason he should be relieved of his position immediately (late edit: or he should just get smarter) before he deals any more damage to a team that needs every win it can get.

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MIKE HARGROVE PLZ

by JI on Aug 10, 2007 9:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Again

Anyone worried about these trends when it comes to Felix?

I dunno about you, but I dont want Felix throwing 120+ pitches 5 of every 7 games.

by Slica on Aug 10, 2007 10:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Felix's usage hasn't changed.

I imagine that's because (A) the organization is keeping a watchful eye on his workload, and (B) he isn't a veteran.

I think it's just Jarrod. I don't know why.

by Jeff on Aug 10, 2007 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see

Im not looking forward to the excuses tonight. I cant believe how pissed off I am right now.

Nonetheless, I added the above comment to this thread, after I put it in the wrong one first.

Im also curious as to whether Yuni was told to bunt, or he bunted on his own.

by Slica on Aug 10, 2007 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Washburn

Is pretty much the only one guaranteed to run out of gas late in the game.

by ThundaPC on Aug 10, 2007 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Mike Blowers says

that Washburn eats up innings!

I DON'T KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE ANYMORE

by Jordan of Boise on Aug 10, 2007 10:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

THOSE INNINGS NEED MORE SALT

by Gomez on Aug 10, 2007 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PERHAPS SOME BACON SALT EVEN

by Robert on Aug 10, 2007 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great post

Up until the last two sentences.

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 10:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

These pretzels....are making me thirsty!

by Goose on Aug 10, 2007 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That wasn't the proper way to begin that sentence

It should be, "You take away the last two sentences...."

by JLC on Aug 10, 2007 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because they're a ridiculous overreaction.

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 11:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

(replying to above)

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's a bad manager.

How has he proven otherwise?

Bad managers hurt their teams.

by Jeff on Aug 10, 2007 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad manager?

Every single manager in baseball costs his team games because of poor decisions. Every last one of them makes boneheaded choices; it's just comes with the territory. I don't like how McLaren's managed things since taking over, but the standard he's measured against isn't perfection so I think it's really unfair to call him unfit because of one incorrect strategy. That's especially so since he's only been in charge for less than a month and a half and this is his first time being in charge. He should be expected to have some learning curve.

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hes been a coach

for years... how long of a learning curve does he get? and why should we give him a chance to "learn how to manage" at the expense of our team and playoff chances?

Too close for missles, switching to guns.

by Paseman on Aug 10, 2007 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: Hes been a coach

There's a huge difference between making a suggestion, and actually making a decision. Watching others manage doesn't mean you'll be perfect the moment you start managing a team.

If you don't think the team should take a chance on a rookie manager at this juncture, fine. But that's not what Jeff was arguing (or what I was responding to).

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What part of the hypothetical learning curve

explains McLaren's decisions? How would inexperience lead to overuse of Jarrod Washburn, or ignoring how totally awful Richie Sexson has been all season long?

by Jeff on Aug 10, 2007 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: What part of the hypothetical learning curve

Taking out you're highest paid pitcher when he's throwing fine is not an easy thing to do. It's not simply enough to know in your head what the right thing to do is (assuming there even is a clear "right" thing to do), it takes time to have the confidence to act on your beliefs. At his age, this should be less of an issue for McLaren, but that doesn't mean it isn't one. As for Sexson, it's probably more a case of McLaren still trying to build up his credibility with the team than not knowing the correct course of action.

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why didn't he learn from last week?

The Red Sox clobbered Washburn once his pitch count got high. He did fine in the fifth, but as soon as he got to the sixth and he approached triple digits, he got nailed. Today, Washburn allowed a homer (a long one) the inning before he lost the game, so one could argue there was even more of an indication of impending doom than there was against Boston.

The bottom line there is that, if McLaren didn't learn his lesson the first few times, why should we expect him to be better after this one?

As for the Sexson thing, that's just sending the wrong message. It makes Richie happy, but it tells Ben that experience takes priority over performance, even when you're in the thick of a pennant race. I could've understood that a month or two ago, but now we can't afford to run a black hole out there when we have a better alternative.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Learning curve?

How long has he been on the bench next to veteran managers? While he's never been the actual manager before, you can hardly call him a rookie. He should (and probably does) know exactly what he's doing.

And it's not just one incorrect strategy. The Washburn thing is stupid. Sitting Jones is stupid. Riding Sexson is stupid. Putting Raul in the middle of the order - even against lefties - is stupid. The whole relying on veterans and not trusting youth/the bench thing is stupid. He's hurting us in more ways than I ever thought a manager could hurt a team.

Tonight it just boiled over. McLaren got this game so utterly wrong that I just don't see any reason to believe he has what it takes. Every fan in baseball disagrees with his team's manager, but when you see as many people calling for the return of Mike Hargrove as there were tonight, that says something about the new guy you have in charge.

by Jeff on Aug 10, 2007 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: Learning curve?

You really don't think he'll learn anything over time? The way he managed during game #1 is exactly how he'll manage 10 years from now if given the chance? Please.

It also needs to be considered the exact circumstances he finds himself in. He took over half-way through the season while the team was winning and in serious contention. Not only does he need to build credibility with his players like all new managers, but there wasn't a glaring need for radical change. If he was taking over last year or the year before, he could clean house because the team was losing and clearly needed a change in direction and no one in the clubhouse could really argue against it. But in July and August of this year he doesn't have that sort of freedom. The veterans on the team want to not only keep their job but continue with what's working, and McLaren doesn't yet have the clout to just dismiss their opinions. If he took over in the offseason, either before or after this year, things would be very different.

by Aaron on Aug 10, 2007 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that managers probably evolve.

But I think that evolution is likely to be in the area of in-game strategy (bunting, steals, positioning, and the like), rather than stuff like going to the bullpen and pinch-hitting. That's just basic knowledge, and has little to nothing to do with experience. I've never managed a game in my life and even I could find out in 15 minutes that Jarrod Washburn runs out of gas around 90 pitches. That's something McLaren absolutely has to know.

I also get that McLaren has to build up some credibility. A manager needs to keep his clubhouse happy. But a manager's primary job is to help the team win, and McLaren clearly hasn't been doing that. If he can't find a way to balance a happy clubhouse with a better team, then he shouldn't have taken the job.

Being a manager is stressful. Being a manager for a contending team is more stressful. You have to field the best team possible while also making sure that the players who stand to lose some time don't get too upset. But that's McLaren's job. Right now he's far too loyal and cares way too much about keeping the veterans happy. Guess what? The Mariners are a .500 team since Hargrove resigned. It's great if McLaren wants to stick with what's working, but right now it isn't working, in part because of his reluctance to put the right players on the field.

by Jeff on Aug 10, 2007 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your shifting your arguement a bit

Like I said to Paseman, if you don't think the M's should be risking the pennant drive with a rookie manager at the helm, that's fine. If you don't think McLaren in particular is the rookie manager the M's should have turned to, fine. But that's not what you originally stated. You said that McLaren was not suited to be a major league manager. Period. That is, he shouldn't be in charge of ANY team. That's what I was objecting to.

As for the issue about a learning curve, we'll be able to settle this at least partially. Since both Washburn and McLaren are going to be with the team the rest of the year, we can see if McLaren continues to leave Washburn in after 100 pitches.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't believe he should be in charge.

I will happily admit that I was writing on emotion (I didn't really calm down until Psych came on at 10 o'clock), but honestly, when I think about it, what indication has McLaren given us that he's cut out for the job? What has he done well with the Mariners that makes him any better than your average idiot?

I suppose I can't really assess how he'd do with another roster in another situation, so perhaps I should amend my statement to the following - John McLaren is not qualified to be the Seattle Mariners' manager. I don't see much of any evidence to the contrary. He just has not handled the situation well at all. At some point you have to quit coddling the veterans and trust them not to cause a ruckus when they start to sit more often in the name of winning. But McLaren isn't doing that.

I hope he learns that Washburn isn't a workhorse. I don't know why he ever believed he was to begin with, since Hargrove didn't make that mistake, but better late than never, I guess. I'll cross my fingers, even though I know leaving Washburn out there has already cost us critical runs, regardless of what happens from here on out.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 12:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

While I wanted to like him, I've been really disappointed with the moves McLaren has made since taking over so from a purely objective standard I wouldn't rate him very well (although I still would probably consider him "tolerable").

However, I think, and Ichiro absolutely thinks, that this team lacked a fighting spirit under Hargrove. Yes, I know it's not sabermetrically kosher to talk about a managers "intangibles", but it still is very important. If a manager doesn't keep his players focused on winning and instill a tough frame of mind, you'll have what happened last year- a winning record outside the AL West but suffer an absolute whipping at the hands of the division rivals. In this specific case, if Ichiro says that this team has a much better attitude because of McLaren, I'm not going to take that lightly. For that reason and that reason alone, I think McLaren can be an asset, at least in the short term.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll accept that.

I'm always leery of what players have to say when a team is playing well, but Ichiro's about a hundred times more insightful than I'll ever be, so I'll try my hardest to believe him.

So the question is, how much of the new "fighting spirit" is because of McLaren, and how much is just because they're in a race? How much is simply being rid of Hargrove and his admittedly dead spirit? Would another non-Hargrove manager have had the same effect?

And wouldn't it aid the "fighting spirit" to put the best players on the field? Isn't playing Richie Sexson a bunch kind of shooting the team and its renewed sense of energy in the foot?

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fighting Spirit

I have absolutely no idea how much the new attitude is directly attributable to McLaren. I think simply changing managers is often enough to shake things up and get a team re-focused, even if the new guy isn't anything special in the long run, so he may not be the primary reason.

"And wouldn't it aid the "fighting spirit" to put the best players on the field?"

Absolutely. If a manager makes it clear that he doesn't care how good you used to be or how long you've been with the team but simply how well you're performing right now, players are going to work a lot harder and stay more focused, even they don't get their way. So in that sense, continually playing guys like Sexson can be a detriment to the team's spirit.

However, again, McLaren is in a very awkward position that almost no one ever finds himself in. Normally when a mid-season managerial change is made, it's because the team is struggling, in which case it's easy for the new skipper to make necessary changes. But when the team is doing better than it has in years, there's a lot of pressure from the players to keep things the same. While this attitude may be simplistic and counter-productive, it makes it very difficult for McLaren to kick established players to the curb and still build loyalty.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're in a playoff race

not rebuiling.

Now is not the time to wait for a manager to evolve. We need to win now. Him getting clout hurts the team and is selfish if the sole purpose is for him to gain a reputation. Willie Bloomquist is now the last guy on the bench, so his words actually matter here. He says he rather win so he wont be a cancer about it. The rest need to follow suit. Whats to say McLaren being so loyal wont lead to the clubhouse running the team? It sets a bad example, no matter how extreme the downside could be.

The chances of him being a manager next year are slim to none, barring a miracle World Series appearance.

How bad does it look when Adam Jones, who has done nothing but good, not be rewarded while players playing like crap are?

We cant keep going in the 'just get by' mode we've been in. Turn it up a notch, or go home raking leaves in October.

by Slica on Aug 11, 2007 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

I'm pretty sure McLaren's coming back in 2008.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Based on...

A) Laziness of the FO?
B) Stupidity of the FO?
C) Ichiro liking him?
D) His great managerial skills (im gonna go on a limb and say no to that one)?

Im really asking, not being sarcastic.

by Slica on Aug 11, 2007 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just pretty sure that's the plan.

He gets along well with the organization, he has a lot of experience under more established managers, he has a background here, and Ichiro likes him.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I personally he back for a couple reasons

to avoid change, I don't the FO wants 3 managers in two years.
Bavasi said at the Grover press-conference that Mac was the manager, and would be the manager. I don't see that changing in 2008.

Even if we get a new FO in 2008, I bet Mac is still the manager.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING JOHNNY MAC?!?!

by MFAN on Aug 11, 2007 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I must add this, though

Hes not going anywhere. We're stuck with him for this season.

It all lies on whether or not he magically evolves---not in 10 years---but in 10 hours, or he tries to garner a good reputation and be well-liked.

Ichiro would love him so much better if he didnt have to play LF too, with Adam Jones manning it.

by Slica on Aug 11, 2007 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: Learning curve?

"when you see as many people calling for the return of Mike Hargrove as there were tonight, that says something about the new guy you have in charge."

Sure, it says something (not necessarily anything meaningful), but the fact that Ichiro loves him says something, too. In this case, I'll put a little more weight on Ichiro's opinion than that of the Angry Mob.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Ichiro

but without trying to sound like an arrogant dick (because that's not my intent), players don't really understand the finer points of what makes a good ballclub. There's nobody in any clubhouse out there talking about contact rate and GB/FB ratio. Players love batting average, RBI, ERA, and wins. People can be remarkably good at something without really understanding the significance of what they're doing, and I think baseball players make for a pretty good example.

Ichiro likes McLaren because he was with the team during Ichiro's rookie year, and they get along as friends. It has nothing to do with McLaren's ability to effectively manage a baseball game.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Morgan

Being the prime example of this.

by nfreakct on Aug 11, 2007 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

at least if Joe Morgan was the manager

Sexson would be long gone with at .199 BA, however Ho would be the undisputed ace with a 7-3 record!!!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING JOHNNY MAC?!?!

by MFAN on Aug 11, 2007 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: I love Ichiro

I normally don't care much about players opinions, but that's not the case with Ichiro. I hold him in much higher regard than any other athlete because not only is driven for personal success, not only is he absolutely driven for team success, but he is EXTREMELY thoughtful. He knows what a good manager is and when he says he sees one in McLaren, I'm going to listen.

Anyway, as should have been clear, I brought up Ichiro only because you brought up the reaction of the fans, which I also don't care for. I'm not one to sympathize with the Angry Sports Mob.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that was a stupid point on my part.

But as much as I'd like to trust Ichiro, it kind of stretches my faith to believe that McLaren's strategies and philosophies are helping the team win. Keeping people happy is important, but it isn't a manager's primary job. And if Adam Jones hypothetically took the team on his back and carried it into the playoffs, I don't think Ichiro would be complaining.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ichiro and McLaren

Ichiro doesn't like McLaren because of his in-game decisions or his handling of the roster. Ichiro likes him for reasons beyond x's and o's. And it's not a matter of "keeping players happy"; Hargrove coddled the veterans and Ichiro HATED Hargrove. No, it's more a matter of the attitude he brings, and the right attitude should be one of the most important qualifications for a manager.

Note: I wouldn't assume that Ichiro has a problem with Adam Jones playing. Remember that the whole reason Ichiro is in center field is because he volunteered to shift over there in order to give a young, unproven hitter (Chris Snelling) a chance to play everyday.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder, though

as great as it is that McLaren apparently brings a new attitude to the ballclub, how come they're only 18-17 under his leadership? Why were they better with that shriveled old bag before? I don't like using W/L to back up any argument but you'd think the newfound energy would be showing up somewhere other than quotes in the paper.

We're basically being put in a situation where we have to believe that McLaren's new attitude has a greater effect on the team than his poor field managing. And games like tonight's make me wonder if that's even possible.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll just say this

On August 23rd, 2002, Hargrove's Orioles had battled their way to .500. This was a significant accomplishment for a sorry franchise and it looked like the team had finally crawled it's way out of the cellar. The team immediately lost it's next 10 games and 30 of it's final 34. It was an absolutely disastrous end to the season.

This may seem like a weak answer, and it probably is, but this team may have been worse this last month if Grover was still around or it might have collapsed in September, even though the team played well the first half. I simply don't trust him to keep a club performing.

by Aaron on Aug 11, 2007 1:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a valid point.

But based on what I've seen from McLaren, I don't trust him to help a club perform as well as it should.

I hate having this discussion. McLaren's a big reason why we got Ichiro re-signed, for chrissakes. But tonight was just so, so bad that...that...man, he really couldn't have done any worse.

by Jeff on Aug 11, 2007 2:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

McLaren being even stupider...

Defend this:

Sexson will be back at 1st base tomorrow.

by Slica on Aug 10, 2007 11:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

More McLaren goodness

"We just missed some opportunities, and Fields hit a couple home runs," McLaren said

Having Yuni bunt, Sexson bat...yeah...hear that? We missed some opportunities.

by Slica on Aug 10, 2007 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check this! He takes a previous gem to the extreme

"I was impressed with the way he came back after giving up the grand slam," McLaren said. "You take two or three pitches away from (each of) his last five starts and he's pitched pretty well."

So Ho was good in his last 5 starts, just made a couple mistakes.

Ok, im done ripping into him now.

by Slica on Aug 10, 2007 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damnnnn

I bet he'd be a regular Cy Young minus a few fuck ups here and there!

Great call Mac!

My intestines hurt.

by WAB on Aug 10, 2007 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I now found more great quotes from tonight

"We're getting Richie going," he said. "You can see him coming alive. He's a big piece of the puzzle."

He also said he didnt even CONSIDER using Broussard during Sexson's SECOND double play of the game.

by Slica on Aug 11, 2007 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's scary to think how it might get worse

The way things are going you're almost afraid to replace McLaren because they might get it worse. Bob Melvin was stupid. Hargrove was even worse (although he's now sweet honey compared to McLaren). And now McLaren is as bad as we've seen so far.

At this point I would be totally unsurprised to see Dusty Baker come in next to lead the Mariners and Felix blowing his arm out after his fifth consecutive +150 pitch game.

by nfreakct on Aug 10, 2007 11:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh my gosh, the idea of DB is SO not funny

Horacio Ramirez is God's gift to whoever the Mariners happen to be playing.

by SethGrandpa on Aug 10, 2007 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neither here nor there, but Wlad got hurt today

From Churchill

"Wladimir Balentien rolled over on his left hand Friday night in Colorado Springs, and initially the concern was a severely injured wrist.

He is hurt, and may miss the last three weeks of 2007, but it looks like just a dislocated pinky finger.

This could hinder his chances at a September call-up, but in the long run, that matters very little. No impact wrist damage = great news.

Thanks to Tacoma Rainiers play-by-play man Mike Curto for the update. "

These pretzels....are making me thirsty!

by Goose on Aug 11, 2007 1:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw this poll on the M's site made me laugh

Which Minor Leaguer would you most like to see promoted in September?

Jeremy Reed 30%
Wlad 30%
Morse 19%
Clement 15%
Lehr 7%

That's just what we need...Jeremy Reed...he's had more playing time at the big league level...clearly Mac will use him twice as much as Jones.

Really I don't mean to hate on Jeremy, but I just have horrible visions of Mac finally deciding to take Ibanez out of left and just putting Reed in there with Jones only playing once every two weeks.

Horacio Ramirez is God's gift to whoever the Mariners happen to be playing.

by SethGrandpa on Aug 11, 2007 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Its 5am here now, and I still hate McLaren.

by Slica on Aug 11, 2007 1:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Found some M's coverage...

In Bill Simmons' latest podcast, he asked the coordinating producer of BBTN (Gus Ramsey) who he had in the '07 World Series.

Ramsey said the Mariners and the Diamondbacks. He prefaced it by saying that he accuratly predicted the exact day when Barry would break the home run record. But then again he also picked Matt Cain for NL Cy Young.

Bill's 2 cents on the Mariners:

"I'm so confused my the Mariners. Nobody get on base. They have terrible starters. I just don't get it."

Basically what lots of us have been saying all year.

Horacio Ramirez is God's gift to whoever the Mariners happen to be playing.

by SethGrandpa on Aug 11, 2007 2:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A Mariners/D-Backs World Series would make

my brain explode.

Probably Bill James too.

These pretzels....are making me thirsty!

by Goose on Aug 11, 2007 2:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can almost see batting Sexson late,

but there really is no excuse for leaving Washburn in. I keep trying to figure out what was going on in Mac's mind. Washburn was clearly laboring; the bullpen has been solid; and it's not like he would be sending out the hook for Cy Young anyway. Remember the roasting when Pedro faced a few more batters in the Yankees/Mets series? And baby, that was not Pedro on the hill last night.

With Sexson, maybe he thought that Sexson was getting good swings last night and played a hunch. Whatever. Stupid, but not like having Barry Bonds bunt. But Washburn? Egad.

by Paytheline on Aug 11, 2007 11:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This is why I gave up on becoming a hardcore fan

When I realized that, far too often, the difference between winning and losing is in the hands of the guys in charge, be they managers or general managers. I can accept players failing. When people with power make stupid decisions, it just frustrates me. There is no recourse for this frustration, it just simmers. Until this organization is douched out of all its asshat employees, I'm going to casually follow the team, without putting any emotional currency into their successes and failures.

I'm quite tired of this trend. Has it always been so?

Willie is ours, and you can't have him

by spittle8 on Aug 11, 2007 6:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs