...and will be going to 2 of the next 3 in Oakland.
It brought back horrible flashbacks of watching the M's play in Oakland last year and always managing to find a way to lose.
You could tell all game that Miguel was getting lucky. There were about 4 flyouts (and Stewart's leadoff double) that everyone in the yard thought were gone. Ichiro and Guillen just kept hauling things in at the track. It was scary. A stronger wind blowing out to center and Miguel would've been pulled in the 5th down 6-2.
Let me tell you how excited I am about tonight's pitching mismatch.... at the same time, Weaver's been inexplicably good lately.
I walked into the bar after losing my softball game by one run (with the tying run on second), and the VERY first thing I see is the score from the M's game....
My (first) beer didn't taste all that great either. :(
All he said is that he should've shook off Johjima and gone with the pitches he wanted to use in the situation. Not like Johjima has a problem with people shaking him off. See Brandon Morrow.
Where Morrow was supposed to throw offspeed junk but was not informed. He shook off Joh and went with the fastball. Joh went along with it instead of sticking to the gameplan.
Then again Naka, Johjima didn't really help Miggy on the offensive side...based loaded DP and popping out on a bunt attempt. So the DP with the bases loaded is understandable (sore hand), but his bunt attempt was pathetic.
It's like with Beltre, everyone was blaming Hargrove for those, so why blame Johjima for his? I say Vidro gets blame of the game. He's perfectly healthy and he's slugging less than .350.
Im just saying that if Miggy and Jo were going to point fingers at each other (which Im glad the Ms dont do) Batista could be pointing at Jo (for his bases loaded DP and not putting the bunt down with 0 outs and 2 on).
Even he's on board the "Call up Adam Jones" bandwagon with his latest entry. So much to the point that he expects (more like demands) a call-up by this coming Thursday.
he said he'd consider it -- and said he's glad he doesn't have to make the call.
i don't think its even a close call -- but i can understand the temptation.
i think that the point he makes about a solid rotation (not great but can deliver) can only work with a productive offense actually argues against the Buerhle trade.
...he pretty much summarizes the wisdom we've all been making.
its turning into conventional wisdom -- Groz on KJR is advocating the same thing right now!
it's amazing what a newspaper story (go Churchill in the PI!) can do to focus the big opinion leaders. let's hope this finally gets the FO to do the right thing.
that if it does happen that Adam Jones actually is able to perform offensively..... I've made it known that I'm a big doubter that he will... but if it does come up, I hope he doesn't become a black hole in the lineup.
an automatic out is a black hole.... Vidro for all his deficiencies with the empty batting average, still has the second highest OBP... outs are the premium in the game as you only have 27 of them per 9 inning game.
The one thing I worry about, is tossing batting average out of the equation, what you get with Jones is a strikeout machine that doesn't walk much.... which is pretty much the current makeup of the players on the Mariners roster and why the offense is so streaky.... Jones's success is going to be very dependent upon his batting average, and that's what concerns me.
Olerud's Runs Created/Game when he got released in 2004:
4.15
Eddgar's when he retired:
4.60
Vidro's so far this year:
4.24
Vidro's not the worst player on the team for RC/G (that would be Sexson at 4.12), but Sexson's OPS increases in the second half over his career... whereas Vidro loses 50+ points of OPS on average.
Even if Jones was a complete disaster, you could bench him and play some combination of Broussard/Guillen/Ibanez. Heck, you could probably platoon Reed and Ellison and get a .725-.750 OPS, plus credible defense out of the deal- basically, you'd get Randy Winn Lite. I really don't see the downside of benching Vidro. It's just not that hard to replace a bad hitter, and by any metric, he's a bad hitter.
Some good news for Chris Young
He won the voting for that final AS spot in the NL. Sucks that he needed that to get in, but still.Gomez - July 5, 2007
In this case I think the result of the fan vote
simply mirrored what would have happened if there hadn't been one, so Chris shouldn't feel like it cheapens his All-Star appearance at all.ningwers - July 6, 2007
Plus
we may get a rematch of Young vs. Lee. May actually bring some excitement to an otherwise boring game.AZSEAfan - July 6, 2007
I Was at This Game...
...and will be going to 2 of the next 3 in Oakland.It brought back horrible flashbacks of watching the M's play in Oakland last year and always managing to find a way to lose.
You could tell all game that Miguel was getting lucky. There were about 4 flyouts (and Stewart's leadoff double) that everyone in the yard thought were gone. Ichiro and Guillen just kept hauling things in at the track. It was scary. A stronger wind blowing out to center and Miguel would've been pulled in the 5th down 6-2.
Let me tell you how excited I am about tonight's pitching mismatch.... at the same time, Weaver's been inexplicably good lately.
EireDuck - July 6, 2007
This really sucked
I walked into the bar after losing my softball game by one run (with the tying run on second), and the VERY first thing I see is the score from the M's game....My (first) beer didn't taste all that great either. :(
Thingray - July 6, 2007
And Batista blame Johjima...
For pitch selections.Yes Batista likes to throw his cut fast ball outside. But the results in April shows that he got hit hard on these balls.
Johjima established Batista's cut fast balls because he had throw them also inside in May.
The 2 HR was not a result that he throw them inside; he throw them a bit to middle of the plate.
DrNaka - July 6, 2007
Batista
All he said is that he should've shook off Johjima and gone with the pitches he wanted to use in the situation. Not like Johjima has a problem with people shaking him off. See Brandon Morrow.ThundaPC - July 6, 2007
You're assuming...
That Morrow has a set place he intends to pitch it. He's a thrower not a pitcher, he couldn't hit Joh's glove if he wanted to.SethGrandpa - July 6, 2007
I'm refering to the KC game
Where Morrow was supposed to throw offspeed junk but was not informed. He shook off Joh and went with the fastball. Joh went along with it instead of sticking to the gameplan.ThundaPC - July 6, 2007
Blame
Then again Naka, Johjima didn't really help Miggy on the offensive side...based loaded DP and popping out on a bunt attempt. So the DP with the bases loaded is understandable (sore hand), but his bunt attempt was pathetic.Rizo - July 6, 2007
Who said he was a good bunter?
It's like with Beltre, everyone was blaming Hargrove for those, so why blame Johjima for his? I say Vidro gets blame of the game. He's perfectly healthy and he's slugging less than .350.Coach Owens - July 6, 2007
Vidro is bad
Im just saying that if Miggy and Jo were going to point fingers at each other (which Im glad the Ms dont do) Batista could be pointing at Jo (for his bases loaded DP and not putting the bunt down with 0 outs and 2 on).But yes "coach" vidro is not good.
Rizo - July 6, 2007
Geoff Baker
Even he's on board the "Call up Adam Jones" bandwagon with his latest entry. So much to the point that he expects (more like demands) a call-up by this coming Thursday.Ball is in your court, management.
ThundaPC - July 6, 2007
But he also said he'd trade him
for starting pitching. Bad Baker!Thingray - July 6, 2007
to be fair
he said he'd consider it -- and said he's glad he doesn't have to make the call.i don't think its even a close call -- but i can understand the temptation.
i think that the point he makes about a solid rotation (not great but can deliver) can only work with a productive offense actually argues against the Buerhle trade.
let's use what we've got better. free Adam Jones!
eagle - July 6, 2007
just read that...
...he pretty much summarizes the wisdom we've all been making.its turning into conventional wisdom -- Groz on KJR is advocating the same thing right now!
it's amazing what a newspaper story (go Churchill in the PI!) can do to focus the big opinion leaders. let's hope this finally gets the FO to do the right thing.
eagle - July 6, 2007
and let's hope
that if it does happen that Adam Jones actually is able to perform offensively..... I've made it known that I'm a big doubter that he will... but if it does come up, I hope he doesn't become a black hole in the lineup.MfaninAlaska - July 6, 2007
can't get much worse than Vidro
i hear what you're saying -- and he should certainly be watched carefully.but Vidro is a known black hole right now.
eagle - July 6, 2007
So is Betancourt.
Goose - July 6, 2007
absolutely
i want McLaren to live up to his commitment to rotate the bench guys in more.and Yuni needs a rest -- and probably should have been benched for couple of games to help him reboot.
eagle - July 6, 2007
Sadly enough, Willie would be an offensive upgrade
Goose - July 6, 2007
I disagree on the definition of blackhole
an automatic out is a black hole.... Vidro for all his deficiencies with the empty batting average, still has the second highest OBP... outs are the premium in the game as you only have 27 of them per 9 inning game.MfaninAlaska - July 6, 2007
its a good point
i'd say his OBP is his one saving grace and probably means he's not a black hole, but i'd still say Jones > Turbo until we see otherwise.eagle - July 6, 2007
I agree that
Jones (potential) > turbo.The one thing I worry about, is tossing batting average out of the equation, what you get with Jones is a strikeout machine that doesn't walk much.... which is pretty much the current makeup of the players on the Mariners roster and why the offense is so streaky.... Jones's success is going to be very dependent upon his batting average, and that's what concerns me.
MfaninAlaska - July 6, 2007
Aside from Sexson, the M's don't really K
We strike 20% less than league average.Graham MacAree - July 6, 2007
I'm unconvinced that outs > runs
Graham MacAree - July 6, 2007
Right, but...
Vidro's made the most outs on the team when you count the DPs.Vidro's like 2004 Edgar or 2004 Olerud, except not even THAT good:
Vidro: .700 OPS, 14 GIDP
Player 1: .733 OPS, 6 GIDP
Player 2: .727 OPS, 15 GIDP
Players A and B? None other than John Olerud (in an M's uniform) and Edgar, 2004.
Edgar, at least, had the sense to retire when he turned into a bad hitter.
eponymous coward - July 6, 2007
Oh, and...
Olerud's Runs Created/Game when he got released in 2004:4.15
Eddgar's when he retired:
4.60
Vidro's so far this year:
4.24
Vidro's not the worst player on the team for RC/G (that would be Sexson at 4.12), but Sexson's OPS increases in the second half over his career... whereas Vidro loses 50+ points of OPS on average.
Even if Jones was a complete disaster, you could bench him and play some combination of Broussard/Guillen/Ibanez. Heck, you could probably platoon Reed and Ellison and get a .725-.750 OPS, plus credible defense out of the deal- basically, you'd get Randy Winn Lite. I really don't see the downside of benching Vidro. It's just not that hard to replace a bad hitter, and by any metric, he's a bad hitter.
eponymous coward - July 6, 2007
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