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Top 50 Mariner Moments, 2007: #42

April 15th: Jose Vidro steps in against Brandon McCarthy in the second inning and launches his second home run of the game.

Box score & PBP

Game thread

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He may've gone on to have a phenomenal second half, but as far as I'm concerned, Slampig never had a more thoroughly satisfying day.

In truth, the entire game was a memorable moment. Along with Vidro's home runs were about five or six glaring misplays at third base by Matt Kata, a 13-pitch at bat by Ichiro that ended with an infield single, a strikeout by Horacio Ramirez, and an eight-run victory. But since choosing April 15th as the #42 top moment would be a violation of my own rules, I'm picking Vidro, because to this day his astonishing performance remains vivid in my memory.

That Vidro had already taken McCarthy deep in the first should've been enough. This was a guy who'd been a constant target since the day he was acquired, a big fat slob of a man who wasn't doing himself any favors by batting .143 through the first week. In those seven games, Vidro put 24 balls in play, and 18 were on the ground. The jabs and derisive nicknames were coming fast and furious, and while they were being made in good fun, Vidro needed a breakout game in the worst way so as to deflect some of that criticism somewhere else.

His home run in the first inning should've been it. That was the moment where, in a state of sheer...flabbergastion?...we took back everything bad we said and finally accepted him as a Mariner. Every player on a new team has to do something to win the fans over, and this homer was Vidro's way of earning his first brownie points. We appreciated the gesture.

The moment passed, and almost immediately we began to reflect on it and chuckle. But that didn't last very long, because Vidro's second at bat came up pretty quick, and if you thought the first was preposterous...

That's the first time a home run made me fall off my chair laughing

-Graham, second inning

Based on Vidro's six home runs in 625 plate appearances last year, the statistical odds of him hitting two home runs on a day in which he bats five times are 0.09%, or once every 1117 games. We had witnessed something at about the same level of rarity as, say, Joe Blanton or Gil Meche throwing a no-hitter. Generally speaking, there's an inverse relationship between likelihood of event and emotional response, and as we watched Vidro's second funk blast in as many innings sail a half-dozen rows deep into the right field seats, we lost our shit.

Vidro may never be a favorite in these parts, but on April 15th, four months into his Mariner career, he finally gave us something to smile about. And, oh, did we ever.

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Let it be noted
that this game was also our introduction to the HorribleRatio Ramirez Experience

by Nick S on Jan 14, 2008 2:21 AM PST reply actions  

Man, that's depressing
I get quoted and naturally it's from one of those times when the command of grammar has completely escaped me.

by Graham MacAree on Jan 14, 2008 7:38 AM PST reply actions  

I want to thank you, Jeff
for this countdown.

I often have to work weekends this time of year.  During the summer, working on a Saturday isn't so bad because I can stream MLB.TV in the background and follow either live games or recent games I missed.  But in the winter there are no games.

So what you're doing here is pointing me toward specific games.  I would love to listen to Matt Kata's error parade again.

by Llewdor on Jan 14, 2008 9:30 AM PST reply actions  

Poor Scruffy.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 10:07 AM PST up reply actions  

I was at that game
and ironically telling my mom how bad the Vidro trade was and how he lacked power.  After the first HR I just looked at her and told her, (paraphrasing) "There, he has his quota until the all-star break"

Turbo made me look like a jackass...but like Graham I literally laughed when he hit the second one and proceeded to call all my baseball friends to tell them I was at this historical game.

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Jan 14, 2008 11:21 AM PST reply actions  

Vidro's Anagram is
Odors Jive.

Ironically, Ho Ramirez's is:

Him Ar Zero

Bad grammar and spelling but true nonetheless.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 11:25 AM PST reply actions  

I think so too
and I'm determined to make it work.

by Jeff Sullivan on Jan 14, 2008 1:18 PM PST up reply actions  

I'd miss Turbo.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions  

I don't want to lose "Turbo."
It's one of the classics.

I tried to get Sexson to be called ManBearPig. No dice. I may try again next year when his batting average hibernates for the season in his own filth.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 3:30 PM PST up reply actions  

Speaking of which,
I think I'm going to start saying that "Vidro porks his bat." For no reason, really.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 3:31 PM PST up reply actions  

I think the problem with ManBearPig
is that it's almost too long, plus it's a fairly obscure reference from an annoying South Park episode.
Prospects are under-valued.

by Thingray on Jan 14, 2008 4:12 PM PST up reply actions  

Vidro porks his bat is very good though.
BTW, anyone else notice the site running really slow today, or is just my own personal problem?
Prospects are under-valued.

by Thingray on Jan 14, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions  

BearPig?
I've been experiencing the same thing on the site. Though they are going through upgrades, so this is understandable.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 4:30 PM PST up reply actions  

Our server here at work seems to drag
sometimes, so I wasn't sure if it was an SBN thing, or an issue here. Seems to have sped up a bit now.
Prospects are under-valued.

by Thingray on Jan 14, 2008 4:56 PM PST up reply actions  

I agree it's too long;
I think it's also a case where manbearpig looks bad, and taking the extra time to capitalize mid-word is not conducive to widespread use. It's also not really a direct parody like Turbo or an LL-creation like Beluga Tits. It doesn't help that Sexson's name is really quick/easy to type.

I disagree on the reference though. ManBearPig kicks ass.

by Matthew on Jan 14, 2008 4:33 PM PST up reply actions  

Yeah, good point.
Maybe one will come up in GTE when he pulls a 2007 in April of next year. We should keep an eye out.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 4:35 PM PST up reply actions  

I just can't stand
Gore saying "I'm totally cereal" or whatever it is over and over.

Cartman crapping treasure is a top-ten South Park moment though.

Prospects are under-valued.

by Thingray on Jan 14, 2008 4:54 PM PST up reply actions  

Any confirmation
to whether or not the Meche/Blanton no-hitter odds are comparable?

I want stats for those, too.

by Slica on Jan 14, 2008 3:07 PM PST reply actions  

No-hitter odds are difficult
Perfect game odds are much easier to calculate.

by Jeff Sullivan on Jan 14, 2008 3:23 PM PST up reply actions  

Well
I was only messing, anyways...

by Slica on Jan 14, 2008 3:44 PM PST up reply actions  

Perfect Game Odds for Meche:
One in never, or i%
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by CapSea on Jan 14, 2008 3:47 PM PST up reply actions  

No they aren't.
The odds of me throwing a no-hitter at any level: zero.
Prospects are under-valued.

by Thingray on Jan 14, 2008 4:00 PM PST up reply actions  

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