SB Nation - Login for mobile commenting

Lookout Landing

4/8: Open Game Thread

Because, dammit, I can't wait any longer.

Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners, 10:05pm EST.

Starting lineups:

Texas:

Soriano 2B
Blalock 3B
Young SS
Teixeira 1B
Hidalgo RF
Gonzalez DH
Mench LF
Matthews Jr. CF
Barajas C

The Ho "SP"

Seattle:

Ichiro RF
Reed CF
Betre 3B
Sexson 1B
Boone 2B
Ibanez DH
Winn LF
Olivo C
Valdez SS

Sele SP


How much can we expect from Sele tonight against one of his former teams? What would you consider to be a good start?

LET'S GO MARINERS!

0 recs  |  174 comments

Comments

Poulsbo's own
I'm working tonight, designing the front page of The Sun (the official "hometown" paper of Aaron Hjelmer Sele and William Dynamite Bloomquist) and, during our 4:30 staff meeting to map out the placement of stories, brought up the issue of how big a deal to make the story of Poulsbo's own -- whether we should put a big picture of him in our "skybox" (the teaser space up top on page A1).  

Quoth our managing editor: "It's not like he's going to get out of the fourth inning, so let's not go overboard."  

Re: Poulsbo's own
That's pretty funny.  
aaron
i'm saying: 5 ip, 3 r, 2 er, 6 h, 4 k, 2 w; and i'd consider that an especially good result. if reed'll get on base for beltre one time, that would be even more miraculous...
HJELMER TIME! CAN'T TOUCH THIS!
I almost agree, except that as much as there is to dislike about Sele as a pitcher, poor control isn't one of them.  He doesn't strike out anyone, but neither does he issue a bushel of free passes.

I'll say: 5 1/3 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs 4 earned, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.

big sele...
I think he's going to blow us away tonight, something along the lines of 7IP, 1ER, 5H, 2W, 6K.

Unfortunately, that will give the front office the crazy idea that he's worth a damn and Sele will block Felix from getting called up midseason.

Yeah, and CHEERS to Jeremy Reed, hopefully he gets his first hit tonight! LET'S PLAY BALL!

The sad part is...
Sele won't be going up against the Ho every start. That's when it will get ugly.
Chan Ho
dominates against the M's...

Sele...eggh.

Me...
I'm just impressed that Wee Willie hasn't gotten a start yet.

Hargrove threatened to bring the nightmare to reality during the offday, but nothing materialized.

Willie
I'd rather have Willie out there than Vilson Waldez...
Re: Willie
Valdez's minor league numbers translate to be roughly equal to Willie's in the Majors, so I'll take the glove and be happy for the week or so until Pokey's back.
Valdez Glove
I am no Willie defender, but I haven't been happy at all with Valdez's glove. He seems to be asleep on hard hit grounders, his arm isn't very good, and his range is awful. Plus, he attempted to get an out at 3rd instead of first with a man on 2nd. Result= Men on 1st and 3rd, nooobody out.
Re: Valdez Glove
On the contrary, I've liked what I've seen of Valdez's range so far. He's gotten to balls up the middle that we've been seeing get through to the outfield for years.

Hard to say for sure. Small sample sizes apply to defenders just as much as they do hitters or pitchers.

The #7
Hey does anyone know the former Mariners that used to wear the number 7? I know one of them is Jeff Cirillo. I swear the suckiness of Cirillo is eating its way into Jeremy Reed through that dam number.

Go back to 58 Reed before its to late

Yes. I keep a #'s database
2 average players, Meyer and Mitchell, and the rest are scrubs. Olivo wore it for 2 games, so it doesn't really count.

Dan Meyer    Jim Essian    Spike Owen    Steve Yeager    Mike Kingery    Mike Brumley    Alonzo Powell    Kevin Mitchell    Jeff Cirillo    Miguel Olivo

Kingalicious
Dear God. Mike Kingery. That's Jeremy Reed's exact worst-case career scenario.
Re: Kingalicious
You're right.

That's pretty creepy. And ominous.

King Jeremy
As a 26-year-old, Mike Kingery hit .280 with 9 HRs and 52 RBIs in 120 games as the Mariners' centerfielder. He walked 27 times and struck out 43 times, and got a whoppin' 38 extra-base hits, for an OBP of .329 and a slugging percentage of ... .449.

Doesn't that sound exactly like what a Jeremy Reed who couldn't consistently handle major-league pitching might do?  He'll draw more walks -- we think and hope -- but otherwise that sounds like a good 10-20-percentile projection.

Kingery washed out with a grand total of 546 hits.

kingery
That's a really interesting comparison.  The thing that makes me a little more hopeful about Reed is that I think he's probably a better athlete than Kingery was.
King trivia
The big selling point on Mike Kingery in the trade that brought him to Seattle (for Danny Tartabull) was that he was a better athlete and better-suited to center field than the Mariners' crop of candidates at the time:

A. Donell Nixon (Otis' younger and MUCH faster brother)
B. Danny Tartabull
C. Ivan Calderon
D. Mickey Brantley

jeez.
Don't tell me these things.

(As Reed grounds into a double play.)

Standards...
I am not sure that I understand the question. Why should the definition of a "Sele decent start" be any different than a "Santana decent start?"

Anything less than 5ip 2R or 6+ip 3R is uncalled for and should not be tolerated.

Re: Standards...
Do you hold Kyle Lohse and Johan Santana to the same standards?

You treat the ace and the back-of-the-rotation starter differently. Given the opportunity right now to take 5 IP and 3 runs from Sele, I'd take it without thinking twice.

Standards...
I suppose I could take 5ip 3R, but I still don't think that you should treat pitchers any differently based on where they are in the rotation.

You run into all kinds of problems when you try to rationalize a players performance. You'd never hear George Stienbrenner singing the praises of his 5th starter with a 4.75 ERA.

Re: Standards...
Fair enough.

Perhaps the question should be re-stated as, "Knowing what you know about Aaron Sele, what kind of performance would you be satisfied with?"

Unrelated
Jaret Wright's Yankee debut: six runs in four innings.

That contract's already paying off.

6 runs 4 innings?
I'd say that's about the over/under for what we can expect Sele to do. My money is on 5 runs, 5 innings.
Unrelated
I don't think that anyone is shocked by that performance.
Wind Blowing In from CF
ugh, that doesn't bode well for our RH power. Nothing like making Safeco play BIGGER.
Re: Wind Blowing In from CF
Sexson could plow through it.

And hey, anything to make Sele look better, I guess...

Who will perform better tonight?
Chan Ho
Aaron Sele
Felix Hernandez

Discuss.

Re: Who will perform better tonight?
Felix could give up eight runs in two innings, and I'd still have more fun watching him than I will either of tonight's starting pitchers.
Who better?
Sele is going to win the Cy Young award or My Name is David J Corcoran.
Per Mike Curto
Leone scratched from todays game.

"Reports are that he may be heading up to Seattle."

Really?
What purpose would he serve? Valdez replacement?
Or Madritsch replacement...
Although I just assumed it'd be Sherrill replacing Mads...we could be going with a 5 man bench...
Re: Per Mike Curto
Don't say things you can't take back.
Re: Per Mike Curto
Regardless of the news on Leone (which, I have to admit, doesn't really make much sense) tonight's Rainier game is going to be about a zillion times more interesting than the M's game.

Foppert and King Felix...Foppert struck out two in the first, Felix coming up. WOO!

...God.
Go to hell, Sele.
Dang Barn It.
This is a fine kettle of fish.
Sele's getting hammered already.
Warm up...someone...
I dunno...
It's either Ron Villone or Aaron Sele at this point.  That's like asking me if I'd rather jump out of a plane with no parachute at 40,000 feet, or be in the airplane while it fiery spirals into the pacific ocean from 40K feet.
Interesting...
At least you can enjoy the view if you jump out.
Felix's 1st
2H 1K 1R 0ER

Not exactly helped by his defense.

And Sele needs to be beaten.

Re: Felix's 1st
Apparently Bavasi lied when he said Santiago could "pick it up and throw it".
I'm not jumping to conclusions or anything...
...but it really does feel like last year.
That reminds me of a brilliant idea...
you should create a Jump to Conclusions mat. Think of the possibilities!
Good F'n God....
WTF was that Olivo??
Re: Good F'n God....
Patience is for losers.
Re: Good F'n God....
Half of this team is asleep.

Seriously, what kind of thought process went into that at bat? How do you play baseball for the better part of your life and still make that mistake?

Didn't The Ho...
Pitch like 6-7 SHO innings against the M's once while walking 6-7 guys?

Looks like we may see a repeat of that.

Re: Didn't The Ho...
In the last three seasons, he has a 2.29 ERA against Seattle in 35.1 innings, with - get this - 27 walks and 28 strikeouts.
King Felix...
Just hit 94 on the scoreboard gun...which is three MPH slower than the Rainier scout guns.
Little Big League...
Mike Curto just pointed out that Ramon Santiago led the ML in sacrifice bunts in 2003.
94/97
I wonder which won is right?
Re: 94/97
I'd go with the Rainiers gun.
IT'S CHAN HO FRIGGIN' PARK.
G-O-D.
1 Hit in 3 innings
This is unacceptable. The Ho just throws belt high 88mph fastballs and the M's are clueless against them.
THIS IS EMBARRASSING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ANYMORE.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

On the plus side...
That was a good inning for Sele.
This game is over....
##%$#%#$%#$%$#%#$%%$%#%$#%#$%#$%

Die Beltre and Sexson.

And choke yourself Mike Young.

This is getting insane.
Struggling like this against The Ho is pretty ridiculous. Someone swinging at the first pitch (I am looking at you, Sexson) is retarded.
Walking Rod Barajas...
should be an immediate ejection.
On four pitches...
No less.
I will say this...
Little Valdez is pretty fun to watch play defense. How did he make that throw?
Re: I will say this...
More importantly, you notice how he didn't give it to Boone for a candyass relay throw?

That's smart baseball.

Valdez
I go and say his defense sucks and he goes and fields these great plays...Thanks a lot, Wilson...
First pitch swinging.
First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging. First pitch swinging.
Good Job Winn
No one can hit him, but he can hit you!!
Curto.
Says Leone is on his way to Seattle.

WOOHOO!

Curto again!
"Chan Ho Park hasn't gotten a non-Mariner out in four years."

AWESOME!

Re: Curto
That was pretty funny.
YES!
RALLY TIME! Miguel!
Valdez.
Two on.

Important AB.

Good lord.

Santiago in Tacoma
in the same situation right now. Eerie or what?
And they both fail
Santiago K's, Valdez force (thank god it wasn't a DP)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
THANK GOD.
I-chi-ro...I-chi-ro....I-chi-ro
I'll gladly take a single.
Injury Delay!?
What's going on!?
Finally...
Thank you, Ichiro.
HALLELUJAH!!!
ICHIRO IS KING!!!
A run!
Remember those??
Ichiro is my god
I bow to greatness.
Pick move at 3rd
Ho is getting nervous... he's getting wild... He's imploding!
Steal dumb idea...
That was too risky...
JEREMY REED OWNS MY SOUL
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
REED REED!!
Way to pick up that first hit!
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!
BOOOOOO YAH!!!!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEESSS!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!
Finally Reed
about damn time
Finally, Trent.
About time you show up.
Heh
I'm working on my LA enterance. I'll arrive late and leave early.
Beltre....
Twice he's hacked at ball 4s. That's not good.
Re: Beltre....
He's struck out on that pitch four times in three games.

It's a problem.

Sele
seems to be losing it. Is anyone warming up? I don't have TV or radio.
Re: Sele
Haven't heard any mention of bullpen action.
Beltre
Does anyone else notice how he does twinkle toes whenever he doesn't swing at a pitch (he doesn't do it everytime but does it a lot)
Re: Beltre
He does it when it's tough for him to lay off...
Besides the fact that he has 0 K's
how has Sele looked thus far. He seems to be throwing a respectable game.
Sele
Rocky first inning, but his control has been decent overall. Too many fly balls for comfort though. He resembles Ryan Franklin on a good day right now.
Re: Sele
No...not yet.
Re: Sele
Mateo is now up.
Ichiro showing off the range...
No other RF in the game gets to that one.
Boone
That dick is easily the most overrated defensive player in MLB.
Re: Boone
his drop off been in the fast lane since last season. He will never be that player he was in 2000-02, but he will still be one of the better 2B in the AL (all things considered).

Besides, we need him to play as well as he can. We need to get some quality for him in June.

Bullpen action.
Mateo's getting ready.
Re: Bullpen action.
Villone, too.

Get ready for the Melvin Matchup Game.

Who is coming in
?
Re: Who is coming in
No one yet.
In comes Villone.
...joy.
Sele's done.
Here comes Villone, for better or worse.

Two on, two out.

Villone time...
I guess there is an improvement there...somewhere...
AGH!
Not Villone!
Consensus on Sele...
Not so bad, no?
Ryan Franklin
on a good day is what he looked like. It was better than FRanklin usually. I'll take it.
Re: Consensus on Sele...
I said before the game that I'd take three runs in five innings, so this is fine with me.
DAMMIT!
NOO!O!!!!!!
ugh
%&%%&%$&#$#&#&#
Ichiro's arm.
Strong, yet overrated.

His accuracy isn't that great.

Re: Ichiro's Arm..
Wah??
Re: Ichiro's Arm..
He's got better than average accuracy, but he still misses pretty often. He seems to have problems throwing up the line on plays at the plate.
Rainiers trainer on the field....
giving eye drops to Mike Morse.
Villone's night is done.
1 pitch, 1 inherited runner scored.

In comes Mateo.

...one and done.
Yay Mateo.
Who was the bigger waste of resources?
Villone or Hasegawa?
Villone
At least Shiggy had a great year when he got his big contract. Villone got a big contract after an AVERAGE year.
Worthless Bullpen
Just freaking worthless.
Dag Nabbit
They should put me on the mound with my 75 MPH fastball, 45 MPH palmball, and 70 MPH slurve. I'd be better than this...
Plus...
I am an ambidextrous submariner... that should count for something...
This is stupid.
We need Soriano, Sherrill, and Atchison.
Is Ibanez really good enough
to make it worth pulling Cy Ho Park for Ron Mahay?
Well Felix is done...
I'd say start #1 is a resounding success.
Three more innings of this.
I hate baseball.
Unreal.
DP after DP after DP after DP.
A Wilson Valdez double...
going to waste here.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
PH'ing Spiezio for Reed?
WTF is going on?
What scares me more is that...
Speez will play left and Winn center next inning probably. Imagine the balls dropping in.
Heh.
That was an obvious strike.
Earn your $64m, Beltre.
WALK!
That'll work! C'mon Belt!
BELTRE!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAY TO EARN THAT CASH!!!!
BELTRE!!!!
WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!
Richie Richie Richie!!!
Let's go!!
I don't know about everyone else
but I have really enjoyed this season thus far. It's a lot more fun to watch, especially with $114 million in offense in the middle.
Bloomquist in CF!?!?!?!?!?
OH

MY

GOD!

EGH!
That's as bad as Speez in left and Winn in right!
Re: Bloomquist in CF!?!?!?!?!?
Could be worse.

...well, not really.

Better than
Winn in center and Speez in left.
Finally a competent reliever...
but he gets the 4th best CF on the team out there.
Re: Finally a competent reliever...
Willie Bloomquist has exactly one game of experience in center field.

Geez...

If it were me....
I'd forefit the DH, pull Sexson, move Spiezio to first, put Ibanez in left, shift Winn to Centre, and PH Dobbs if the pitcher comes around.
OK I lied...
All the competent relievers are dead.
I'd say it's time for a little
Matt Thornton!
GOD DAMMIT SEXSON.
YOU ARE WAY TOO FRIGGIN' TALL.
Olerud...
would have had that.
Simply amazing.
Great defense.
i%&%$&%$*#*#@$&%$*%*
DIE VALDEZ!!! I TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID EARLIER!!!
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
BASEBALL HAS DONE NOTHING FOR ME IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Apparent comment problem.
Hopefully it's been resolved.

If you don't know what I'm talking about...good.

Raul!
Yay!
RAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLL
This has been a fun game.
RAUL F'ING IBANEZ!!!!
I HAVE EXPERIENCED EVERY EMOTION KNOWN TO MAN IN THE PAST THREE INNINGS.
No kidding
this has been a fun.
Advertising
Do you guys get the cash if someone puts an ad on your site?
Re: Advertising
Via Paypal, yes. It's one of the reasons we moved here in the first place.

No, there will never be pop-up or Flash ads.

Fast Catchers
are good.

And pitchers named Regilio are too.

Regilio = shell-shocked.
Ran into a buzzsaw offense.

Yep...

Bloomquist is immortal
What an amazing athlete!!
WEE WILLIE BLOOMQUIST!!
BASEBALL ISN'T AS BAD AS I FEARED
Bloomquist>Beltre?
Hmmm.... I say we bench Beltre. Bloomquist is where the future is.
HOLY BLOOMQUIST BATMAN!!!
What in the hell is going on here?
I love it.
What a fantastic ballgame.
It's been fun boys.
Tomorrow's recap better center on the greatness of Willie Bloomquist.
Re: It's been fun boys.
It's going to be a fun recap to write, whenever I wake up tomorrow morning.

Thanks for hanging around, and have a good night.

You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Lookout Landing to post a comment.