Lookout Landing

Posted on Mon Sep 03, 2007 at 04:58:03 AM EDT

Up early or up late Jeff? Either one probably sucks.

Bold prediction of how the game will go:

Felix will look good, not great, and take a 1 run lead into the bottom of the 8th inning. McLaren will wake up and realize his team has a lead and rectify the situation by bringing in Parrish to set up Putz. Parrish walks 2 men on base and gives up 2 runs without yielding a hit. Mariners put up 3Ks in the 9th to end the game with Lopez batting for himself as the last out.

Nah, that could never happen.

PDXTai - September 3, 2007 reply

Last time I saw Felix live

He threw a one hitter. Let's hope I see a repeat performance at Yankee stadium today.

If any of you see a young guy in a dark Mariners t-shirt and a light blue trident Mariners hat, that's me. Say hi and we can hopefully celebrate the end of a losing streak and gaining a game on the Yanks. Please God. I can't deal w. seeing this team lose 10 in a row, this one in Yankee stadium surronded by those idiots.

It's already a 2 hitter

and a 1 run deficit...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

We beat the angels twice

Your welcome.

TexGoesYard - September 3, 2007 reply

your company's computer guy!

We have no chance at the division

We don't need you to beat the Angels

we need you to beat the Yankees...unfortunately, you don't play the Yankees, but you could help by beating Detroit the 3 games you play them up there...and, oh, we need you to lose 3 to us the last 3 of the season...thanks!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

cheers: Happy Felix Day!

jeers: Rick Ankiel murdering the Reds.

Cheers: Rick Ankiel is murdering the Reds

fixed

JI - September 3, 2007 reply

Grr....

Enough of these morning games. I may have enough in me to watch the pre-game show and the first 30 minutes of the game but I'm going to bed after that. Time to play 'nother round of "TiVo that game!"

ThundaPC - September 3, 2007 reply

night-shifter?

Yep.

ThundaPC - September 3, 2007 reply

me too...

I'm in Mountain time so i might make it through a few innings.

from shannon dreyer's blog. . .

discussing college football.

J.J. is a Michigan fan. Ouch!

He's not just a fan.

He kinda went there.

yay YES Network feed

I always called him "Joe-Bah."

But apparently it's "Jobba." And that's retarded.

StevenH - September 3, 2007 reply

By the way

Did anyone read the thing on Putz in ESPN the Mag?

StevenH - September 3, 2007 reply

High of 101, 30% chance of rain

I'm going to die.

Florida was even worse.

Extremely humid, making it seem even hotter.

Ichiro!

We win!

Worst Clemens scouting report ever.

vidro being vidro.

Vidro!

We lose!

seattlesundevil - September 3, 2007 reply

Beat me to it..

Jose Vidro...

You get in this house RIGHT NOW!

weebs - September 3, 2007 reply

See

swinging at a first pitch splitter. That is stupid.

and clemens K zone already looks gigantic

rad.

weebs - September 3, 2007 reply

And we already know,

that's Felix's zone will be the size of a postage stamp. Thank you east coast bias! And thank you elder respect rules of society!

seattlesundevil - September 3, 2007 reply

Wow.. 8 pitches.

I say we lose by eight.

If you take away the 18

GIDP Vidro has hit into this year, he's a pretty good hitter to have up there, with a runner on first and less than 2 outs!

<3 little big league

He's 4th in the American league in batting against left-handed pitchers he's never faced before, in domed stadiums, east of the mason-dixon line! So that's something to keep in mind!

weebs - September 3, 2007 reply

So

do we see Mediocre Felix or Hilariously Embarrassing Felix?

Hopefully, Hurricane Felix.

Surprisingly Really, Really Good Felix

crosses fingers

StevenH - September 3, 2007 reply

Kenji's CS rate is 42%?

Sweet mercy.

Well not anymore it's not

Stupid cheap hits.

It begins earlier than usual

What's with the stolen bases?

they're running on felix you idiot

Zack - September 3, 2007 reply

Finally

I get to see a full game for the first time in about...10 tries.

I feel good luck coming.

Then again, it might be that whole Seahawks will go 14-2, win the SB thing.

Ok

Good luck AFTER the first run scored.

Felix has a good two-seamer today.

A shame it won't matter.

I hate 2 out runs

by the other team.

Felix runs pretty fast for a

guy his size.

Andy Phillips is hurt.

OUR WINDOW IS OPENING

To trade them sexson?

NOW!?! they made a Dane Cook M's commercial

Hmmm, wonder if that caused the losing skid

There's only one Dane Cook

and he gets on my fucking nerves.

Dane Cook is attracted to losers.

Like dissolves like, and all that.

Man

These hitters have shitty eyes.

DP coming

Unfortunately.

Come on Joh!

Well that was ballsy

That ball literally went two feet.

Come on Jlope!

Ben Grieve is jealous of you!

Awesome! A tapper that doesn't score a run!

Just what we need, Kenji!

nice bunt, joh.

Haha, you old fart, Clemens!

Woohoo

Jlope!

: ).

His career...isn't...dead...yet.

Suck on that, roidbag.

You get cheap hits, we get cheap hits. I hope you're injured for life.

weak grounders woo!!

Zack - September 3, 2007 reply

Pout it on

Yu Bet!

um...*Pour

But Yuni's cute when he's pouty.

How do you miss that pitch?

Gameday doesn't think Clemens has thrown a strike

like all game.

to be fair

we do swing at everything

Zack - September 3, 2007 reply

I don't think he has.

We swing at a lot of bullshit.

Well

at least they didnt take the lead so they can coast the rest of the game.

I have a feeling Yubet wont be doing Ozzie-flips anytime soon.

What happened on that Wild Pitch???

Why didn't Broussard go to 2nd base on that?

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Poor Rocket.

Somebody misses the comically pathetic NL.

Like HoRam?

that was a strike

ECB.

Davis was born in Missouri.

well then he is retarded

and addicted to meth.

but not biased.

Where the hell was that?

I wish we had talented roiders.

New York gets everything.

a team of Reggie Willits

but with power. Yuck.

Hmm

I wonder why noone pointed out that Selig was always a Yankee fan when Giambi got off with a slap on his wrist?...

bullshit

other than the foul, only two pitches were out of the strike zone

sweet jesus!

that was awesome.

Good lord that was sexy.

I'm turned on.

Im sorry

but I feel awkward saying 'Melky'.

Oh

and why does Felix always get squeezed? You'd think they are over the rookie thing by now.

He's still one of the youngest

pitchers in baseball right now, umpires almost always give the older, more veteran, pitchers a little leeway and squeeze the younger, more inexperienced pitchers.

yay for double plays

Well that pitch was a huge mistake.

Good thing Cabrera has the power of an eleven year old cub scout.

ichi.....

200 hit homer!!!!

gblady - September 3, 2007 reply

ICHIRO!!!

Good way to wake up.

ICHIRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FUNK BLAST!!!!!!!! 200!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

HAHA ICHIRO HOME RUN???

About damn time, Ichiro.

Ichiro homers?????

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Gameday indicates it wasn't cheap either.

It was blasted.

POWER SWING!!!!

Ichirooooooooooo!!!!!

Nice way to get #200 this season.

Is Ichiro one of the greatest signings

in baseball history?

Haha

This rocks.

If you've seen the billboard near American Airlines Center, you might think the Stars should be sent to the penalty box for slashing another sport when it's down.

Or you could soak in the message - "The only thing our refs shave is the ice" - and do what Mavericks owner Mark Cuban did.
...
Most of the billboards use clever phrases to focus on the aggressive nature of the sport. A billboard by Central Expressway and I-635 states, "One game a week? Is the N in NFL for Nancy?" The club takes a jab at major league baseball, a passion of Stars and Rangers owner Tom Hicks, at I-635 and Old Denton with a sign that reads, "Maybe baseball should stop using the word sacrifice."

Shame that hockey is a sport for pussies.

Disagree

More:

Too bad

they're my least favorite team in the NHL.

Thats a shame.

I don't like them either

but it's a hell of an ad campaign. I wish they wouldn't have scrapped the Vick idea.

"Almost hit Clemens."

Yeah, that'd be a shame.

BULLSHIT YANKEES UMPS

That was not interference, was it?

Yeah it was.

Guillen does that all the time. Finally got caught.

It was interference

I'm just surprised they finally called it.

nfreakct - September 3, 2007 reply

Too far, Jose.

That time it wasn't particularly close.

Ah, this is what I get for listening not watching

What the heck?

They actually called him on it.

Jordan of Boise - September 3, 2007 reply

Yeah that actually was totally the right call.

I love those illegal shank slides, though.

Okay, Jeff, I understand what you were saying

aobut first swinging at pitches....and I am watching GameDay...that pitched looked inside, not even in the strike zone, but Raul just had to swing at it...why???

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Yeah

Beltre swung at a bad first pitch too.

1st pitch, DP

57 mph?

Sorry...guess I should ask him....

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Clemens looks terrible

No movement, up.

nice job raul

I still love you for that jose

that was a strike.

That was right down the middle!

What the fuck?

Hear the part cut from ther

real interview, only on LL TV! "I am an idiot and don't know how to run a baseball team! I make terrible mistakes and I admit, Rick White paid me half his salary to put him in close games!"

Captain intangibles!!

captain clutch

that was a clutch double play, naturally

HAHA Cap'n Jetes is clutch

Jeter does the little things.

Too bad he occasionally sucks at the big ones.

Thank you, guys...

hopefully we don't have to see Rodriguez this inning....

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Wow!

What is with all the DPs in this game?

Groundball pitchers?

Too obvious?

Have you not been watching the last 9 games?

M's have GIDP'd something like 500 times.

No, I haven't actually.

I was in Florida and wasn't in the hotel much.

Derek Jeter is so clutch.

John McLaren balds funny

i love double plays

The reason the YES announcers

were so surprised by that DP is because Jeter would have had to jump five feet in the air to make the play...

Not that it wasn't a nice DP.

Well, it's nice to have a lead again

even if it is only the 4th inning

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

This game needs another

Igawa/Bean/Vizcaino inning.

Anyone know why the strike zone suddenly shrinks..

...on Gameday? As in, you can see the "box" suddenly growing shorter. Am I correct in assuming that has something to do with height of the batter?

Nice hit AB.

I think so, yeah.

Does the Sexson zone fit on your monitor?

Good job Adrian!

If we would just be a little patient today...Clemens is all over the place...Raul, are you listening????

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

That 2nd pitch was a generous call, Ump

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Gameday is a cruel mistress

Is it just me or is Clemens getting a bigger zone

than Felix???

I am watching on game day and it sure seems that way!

Brandon Webb is in the top ten all time

in ERA+.

That was a ball.

Ab with an SB!

clemens is trying

to walk Ben and the ump won't let him

Ben Broussard makes pitchers work.

Gotta like that.

Gotta like

Ben in the lineup!

Hey Kenji, how about a flyball?

He should've walked.

Six balls, 3-2 count. Fuck the "Clemens is a superstar" strikezone.

Melky runs funny routes.

God darn it Joh!

Man

Kenji Johjima is like exactly the same player he was a year ago.

You expected him to become Johnny Bench?

It's weird to see such consistency

Thanks Kenji.

You're a peach.

Thanks, Kenji, great swing...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

It's cool

we totally don't need insurance runs against this lineup, Kenji.

When was that ever in the strike zone, Kenji?

Lopez up, inning ov-

... huh.

Joh's OPS w/RISP .649

.948 last year.

Come on JLope!

Resurrect your career!

Thanks, Rocket!

Fuck you Clemens.

I bet that shit was intentional, because Lopez made him look like a fool. Clemens is an asshole.

You mean because of the DP?

RBI swinging bunt

Hey Roger...

do that to Raul next time...that way he can't swing at the first pitch

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Are you sure?

No, I wonder what would happen

if he swung at a pitch that hit him that was for strike 3...would he be out, or go to first???

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Out.

How did Lopez score on that?

most productive lopez at-bat ever.

YUNI DOUBLE!!!

What the hell? The Mariners LEADING?

YUNI!!!!!!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

He put an awesome swing on that.

Yowzah!

First pitch swingin' . . . .

YUNI IS THE GREATEST CALIFORNIA RAISIN

I love Johnny Damon's noodle-arm.

thank god lopez and yuni

are making up for kenjis SUCK

kbd24 - September 3, 2007 reply

I love it

First pitch, off speed, probably out of the zone and Yuni ropes it for a double

Gameday sez it was way low.

Yeah

that was a splitter at the ankles.

How about another dinger, Ichiro?

Ichiro! OMG..he just ran off the field

said fuck the run down

That was pretty kick ass!

Ichiro believes in Japanese efficiency

You know, why waste time and effort on an exhausting run-down? Just say "fuck it" and grab your glove.

Ichiro is a hilarious baserunner.

KISS IT CLEMENS!

ICHI- ro.

Nice work but was there really a need to turn for 2nd?

ICHIRO!!!!!!!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Ichiro cannot be stopped.

HA! DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO GET TAGGED.

I think we would all hate Ichiro

if he played for any other team.

Absolutely.

Almost as much as Willits.

Not so sure.

We would be immensely pissed off at him and frustrated with him, but would nevertheless grudgingly tip our caps to his awesomeness. Sort of like Vlad, really.

Besides, his entire attitude and approach to the game is refreshingly different to your typical major league player.

I love Damon's arm.

I also love watching when Ichiro gets in a rundown.

Rundowns are dishonorable.

WELL, I'LL TAKE IT...

it was great to see a 3 run inning....I hope they keep Clemens in there for another couple of innings...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

3 ice creams today bitches

5-1 after 4

lookin' good!

gblady - September 3, 2007 reply

After three and a half

don't get ahead of yourself, not against this lineup.

Its just a new way to lose we are trying

the whole, 'get a big lead early' type of thing. I still am wary about this squad ever winning..I honestly forget what it feels like

We already tried that against Santana.

Oh shit, our losing streak is looping.

Mussina warming up

this would be an embarrassing game to lose.

sorry......

gblady - September 3, 2007 reply

Excellent!

Mussina is warming up in the pen. What a beautiful way to end a summer.

where was that first pitch to Matsui?

Clemens gets that call...and 6 inches more inside too...bullshit

Clemens' strike zone is bigger :(

I like how Felix is going right after the Yankees.

Oh no, that's jinx material there.

But Felix gets out of the 5th.

4th

You notice I make those mistakes a lot.

It's because I'm intensely stupid.

No wonder you don't like hockey.

Giambi crushes that two years ago.

That Giambi

is only a couple shots in the ass away.

"Having been hit in the head,

I say get out of the way." Not having been hit in head, I say stand there and take it off the dome like a man!

Yeah

Because clearly you need experience getting hit in the head to know that getting hit in the head is bad for you.

Man

this guy does not like to call Felix's curveball a strike.

Except right there.

Beltre and Ben! WOO

Beautiful, Adrian.

60 pitches in 4 innings...

maybe we won't need Rick White today....

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Holy crap

the infield ate its Wheaties today.

Sexson's gigantic ass

falls over on that scoop attempt

Then he goes to argue the call

gets ejected and takes three swings at the umpire, and misses.

Adrian tries to grab him to stop him

and Richie knocks him into the LF bleachers and injures him for the season.

WTF is going on?

Mariner John - September 3, 2007 reply

No more Clemens :(

Way more Mussina :)

Mussina is bad, he goes to bullpen.

Ho is worse, he continues starting. Huh?

To be fair

we don't have an Ian Kennedy. But, yeah.

Not one but TWO washed up veteran pitchers!

I wish M's fans

booed HoRam when he started out his day 2-0 on a hitter...that'd be entertaining. Mussina already hearing it a bit

I believe that's "Mooooooooose"

Thats what it was on 3-2

but on 2-0 they were upset

Wow, Mussina out of the bullpen?

This is exactly what they said wouldn't happen.

84mph fastball?

You serious?

that was a ball!

I would like

100% evidence those pitches were all strikes.

In mariner lore

Is there anyway we win a game in which both Mussina and Clemens pitch?. I wonder if the yanks will bring out Chris Hoiles to hit a walk off slam.

seattlesundevil - September 3, 2007 reply

:::shudder::: Hoiles... :::shudder:::

Way to watch

the only strike of the at-bat

Yankee bloggers at Pinstripe Alley

have already given up on this game...after they saw Mussina come in...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

pile it on pile it on pile it on

Guillen is totally awesome.

Mussina

is getting a bigger zone than Clemens...

Mussina's K/9: 5.53

Mussina's career K/9: 7.15
Mussina's 2006 K/9: 7.84

That curve hung.

He should've swung.

I yelled that too

and it hurt my lungs

That inning should've been better.

For us

Gamedayers

How is Felix looking?

Good, Bad, Ugly, Rany Winn-generic?

Really good.

Not Boston-good, but good.

Thank you

Im glad he hasnt gotten flustered with the strike zone.

In fact, gameday just said a pitch to Damon was down the middle and called ball.

His command is not that good.

But the stuff is moving.

Very good, mixing his pitches,

getting a lot of groundballs. He's a little wild though.

Yes...we need every run against the Yankees...

GameDay scoreboard has us with 1 run in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd and 1 in the 4th...can we check those scores on the last 9 games????

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Brilliant strategy by the M's

By not scoring off Mussina, Torre will insert him back into the rotation in September where he can blow critical games early!

Guillen≠team player

Sit down Robbie.

Go away Cano.

Where the fuck is this strikezone?

Two of those pitches were strikes...

when Clemens was pitching

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

All four of those pitches to Damon

Were arguably strikes!

His control could be better.

I suppose I'd rather have him miss off the plate than miss over it, though.

way to jinx him Jeff

COME ON UMP!

Felix getting SERIOUSLY squeezed now by the ump!

Uh

Hes getting fucked

patented yankee strike zone

WHERE IS THIS FUCKING STRIKE ZONE!?

JEEZ, WHAT IS UP??

On GameDay, those are strikes.....

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

THAT WAS ANOTHER STRIKE

COME ON

THAT WAS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE!!!!!!

HOW THE HELL IS THAT A BALL?!?!?!?!

THREE OF THOSE PITCHES WERE STRIKES!

That... was... a ... ball?

You suck ump.

I turned the game on...

as Damon was walking to the plate.

I haven't seen a strike yet.

It's about to be 5-4.

Stupid ECB, Yankees, America's team.

mumble...

Gasp

A strike? Whats that?

Knock it off, you

all EIGHT balls to Damon

and Jeter were arguably strikes.

They were certainly stikes for Clemens and Mussina.

Get out ther McLaren and do some yelling!

Abraeu gets a hit and A-rod goes deep. watch

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

Honestly, and I know it's not a popular opinion,

I think with Gameday being able to call balls and strikes accurately, there is no need for the home plate umpire to call balls and strikes anymore. Just plays at the plate. If we have a 100% accurate way to call balls and strikes, then fuck the "integrity" of the game and the umpires. Isn't it more important to get the calls right?

I couldn't agree more

Gameday isn't infallible.

However, I agree with your point, even though it's never going to get much public support.

Yeah, I know it will never happen.

But getting calls right should take precedence over the tradition of the game. Instant replay and a game day strike zone would make the game so much better...

I think they should have a little

handheld electronic indicator to immediately check the close pitches, that way they can still keep the classic look of the game as much as possible

Thanks Bobby

for taking the inning away from the umpire.

This was a four-pitch walk

This is why gameday should call balls and strikes

And umpires should only be used for plays at the plate.

holy shit...

I turned the game on in time to see Jeter walking. Has it been this bad all game?

It's been bad.

But I don't want to sound like I'm bitching so I'll leave it at that.

Jeter is so clutch he clouds the minds of the ump

Who's calling balls and strikes? He's sucked nuts all day.

That was the most pathetic home plate

umpiring I have ever seen on GameDay.

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

So, if the Mariners can score a few more

then next inning I say Felix throws a fastball towards Kenji's head, and Kenji ducks out of the way at the last second.

right in the balls

I am sure there is a rule somewhere

that says if the Yankees swing and miss at a pitch out of the strike zone, it is still a ball...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

fuck the yanks,

felix is getting ridiculously squeezed

wow, we didnt get that 2nd strike on ben

That was a ball for Felix. Weird. :\

That DS thing

was actually pretty interesting. I wonder if they could put gameday on it.

First pitch offspeed, off the plate

= Broussard swings.

"You can only imagine what's going through

(Phillips') mind as he watches his team play without him."

Hey, they look better.

GREAT at bat Ben!!!

Richie could never do that

Good AB Ben

keep it up

That hit rocked.

I love you Ben.

MOOOOOOSE!

Cant get much more down the middle than that

Can we have Lopez bunt please?

Ok

There's your bunt.

Can we have Lopez bunt better please?

FUCK

you mclaren

HE WAS SAFE!

If Olerud were at first he'd be safe

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

Dave says he still thinks of Moose as an Oriole

Hopefully that means we'll light him up like an Oriole.

Oof. Nevermind.

Way to ruin an inning

I'm tired of this sacrifice shit

surprise...a first pitch swing...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

If we weren't up by 4,

I'd be extremely upset by that.

So uh, Moose gets hit hard.

Sac bunt? God I hate traditional managers so fucking much.

Lopez is terrible.

That wasn't a bad idea.

I understand Lopez sucks.

But still...I mean, Lopez has been pretty terrible at bunting as well lately. I think letting him swing has less room for error (K, IF popup, strange 1B)....

Lopez was safe at first.

Yuni saves our asses again

Yuni!

Happybelly - September 3, 2007 reply

YUNI!

2 runs! Oh wait....

YUNI

mary - September 3, 2007 reply

NEAR YUNI-BOMB!

Damon

looks like a Manny style LF

Way to go, YUNI

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I love Betancourt.

I hate the bunt

too bad McClaren plays for the 19th inning instead of the current inning at the wrong time and decides to be traditional at the wrong time.

Can he do any right?

Yubet is tearing it up.

Do you really trust Lopez to do anything there?

Im referring to

nothing going right no matter what he does.

But yeah, im torn on the bunt in that position.

Almost a YuniBomb.

I love watching Johnny Damon play defense. It's like track and field at the special olympics.

That pitch was a foot outside

but it was thrown by a Yankee!
It's a strike.

Yuni had his Wheaties today.

Do you all realise that that was Yunis

THIRTY FOURTH double of the year!

looks like the blog-o-shpher was wrong about Yuni!

Where, exactly?

.289/.310/.403
.285/.307/.414

At the end of last year

the blog-o-sphere was touting Yuni as a singles hitting, all glove SS, who had PEAKED in 2006 hitting wise.

I would say this year has been an improvement over last year, and that there seems to be more upside in his swing than he was given credit for, thats all.

He's almost exactly the same player.

None of his peripherals have changed. The slight boost in ISO is just random fluctuation.

I still don't see the power upside. He doesn't have it in him.

still . . .

he is God's (Castro's) gift to SS.

Ok seriously....

I know that it's never mentioned as one of those "unbreakable" records or anything, but does anyone realize that Wee Willie Keeler's run of 8 consecutive 200 hit seasons was accomplished between 1894 and 1901?

Seriously, the fact that anyone can debate his MLB HOF status is completely foolish.

All that means is that it's a worthless record.

Nothing that comes from that era is worth a damn at all. AT ALL. Cy Young's records are basically bullshit, except to indicate that he was a great pitcher.

Baseball records from before the modern era (1901 onward), especially hitting records, are a farce. Before 1901, foul balls weren't even considered strikes.

That's why most people consider the Rangers' 30 runs against the Orioles to be the "true" all time record. Because the 37 run game was done in 1897, back when baseball had primitive rules.

Oh I know...

that makes what Ichiro is doing all that more historic.

The guy is just an amazing player. I know a lot of people like to rank guys like Sachel Paige and Josh Gibson on their "all-time player" lists, so where would Ichiro rank?

Is it ridiculous to say that he's one of the best baseball players that has ever played the game? I'm not talking just a HOF level player, but a guy who would go into the HOF wing of the HOF if one existed.

Oh, I totally misinterpreted you.

I thought you were saying that Keeler's HOF status shouldn't be debated, not Ichiro's.

I think if Ichiro plays ten years, he's in for sure. Though the voters won't technically be able to factor in his Japanese seasons, I think that most of them will keep that in mind.

They weren't after 1901 either,

not at least until 1903.

Modern baseball started at 1892 (or 93?) when the mound was pushed back to 60'6". I took the pitchers a few seasons to adjust... but the rules of the game from 1897 are almost exactly the same as the rules used in 1903 (when fouls became strikes).

JI - September 3, 2007 reply

Anyone feel safe yet?

I know I don't.

No...I guess I understand the bunt

in normal circumstances, but we're talking about a pitcher who has given up about 100 runs a game in his last 5 or 6 outings...why not keep swinging?? We still need every run...Rick White lurks out there in our bullpen

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I do.

I'm hoping against hope that this is when the team comes off the mat.

eponymous coward - September 3, 2007 reply

I dont know about anyone else,

but I was really enjoying the little matchup of prepitch rituals between Ichiro and Mussina. Seemed like a choreographed dance.

That was a BEAUTIFUL pitch to A-Rod.

Damn, Felix is doing pretty good up until now.

DON'T SAY UP UNTIL NOW...

say "so far"---means two different things...you had me scared, I was reading the blog and thought Alex hit a HR

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Great, thanks for reminding me Sims,

only two days until school starts. I had forgot for a minute.

Aw, is someone nervous

about their first day in fifth grade?

Hilarious.

Thank you Felix!!

Go away already

GREAT JOB FELIX!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Did I just hear that Michael Kay

has never eaten an egg? (or was it ketchup on eggs?) That's a weird thing to mention on a broadcast

I think it was

never eaten an egg, never eaten ketchup, or a banana...

yeah, that whole exchange was strange.

Agree on the Bananas

I also, have never eaten a banana.

If they taste anything like they smell - which I hear they do - I'm not really interested.

huh.

well, people are weird. I have a friend who can't stand ketchup. Not the taste mind you, she likes the taste of it just fine; she just gets incredibly upset and disgusted if she gets it on any part of her skin.

You're not missing much.

Hey, bananas can be pretty damn good.

You just have to eat them before they're too ripe.

oh, then there's this chick.

This has got to be a fucking joke

Maury Povich is so pathetic. PICKLES???

Oh my gosh

I think of myself as a fairly understanding and sympathetic person, but that was fucking hysterical.

Omerta - September 3, 2007 reply

He's got another inning in him.

Score more runs.

He should have 20 less pitches.

He would have...

if the home plate ump gave him the same strike zone he gave Clemens

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I would be happy with a normal zone

With a Clemens or Maddux zone he might have a no-hitter.

and two less walks.

Let's not get greedy.

Just be happy with what we've gotten.

Brad Ausmus just hit his 3rd triple of the season.

Riiiighhhtt.

All right, Jose Guillen!!!

Pour it on these guys....but save something for tomorrow, too

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Why

is Ibanez swinging through 89 mph fastballs?

Since August 21st

Raul Ibanez has 14 singles and two doubles.

Raul Ibanez: power hitter.

and how many double plays?

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Just the two.

So he's anti-clutch

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

And probably 10 of the singles

were those awkward swings where he is off balance and hits a dribbler that finds a hole

God Bless America

the only place in the world where Jason Giambi can admit what he did and not get in trouble.

Good ol' Betre, low and away

That probably would've been called a strike though.

7-8-9 due up.

Man, their 7-8-9 is terrifying. I don't like that.

That wasn't a strike.

Hey, a break.

Yay, yankee strike zone for Felix!

The ump

is giving us make-up calls on strikes now

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Wow, Michael Kay is pissed off.

Good

That guy is jackass of the highest order.

He's actually grown on me.

Living in Connecticut for four years, I saw a lot of the YES Network, and he's pretty good at what he does.

Yep

I grew up in CT. For as much as I despise the Yankees, I always found YES to be surprisingly watchable. Everything seems very professional. Some of their calls are annoying, but atleast they do it for both teams (Ichiro got a "SeeYa!" earlier).

Yeah, that pretty much nails it.

They're professional, they're smart, they tell good stories, and they're objective. Al Leiter doesn't contribute much, but Kay's right up there as one of the top broadcasters in the league.

Parrish warming up

ugh.

uh

Parrish warming up,

I FEEL SO CONFIDENT NOW! THANK YOU MAC!

Parrish sits down

George gets up.

Mariner fans put away guns

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I would've used a Super-Soaker.

That also wasn't a strike.

The zone's bigger.

And it's Sherrill warming up.

Had a picture of Parrish stretching earlier

Then a shot of George throwing.

But THAT one was...nice job, Felix

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Be less patient.

Give it up Melky.

C'mon, stop this, it's annoying.

GOOD BOY!

K!!

Dear Lord, that's unfair.

The best part of Kay's rant

is that it implies that somehow having John Parrish in the bullpen gives us an advantage.

I've been away for a while but

has anyone noticed a correlation in losses and the LL picture change to Richie crying?

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

the picture changed

after the losing streak was well under way.

Didnt it change after Angels loss #2

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

Nope.

Changed after Cleveland.

I thought it was the cleveland loss,

but I might be wrong.

it was the cleveland loss

the picture is from cleveland dang-gummit

quoted the wrong person

the picture says indians right on it though

Okay, I have to ask.

What quote?

The one with David and Goliath

then referring to Bill Buckner

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

Felix didn't think he had one. He KNEW it.

Felix is still throwing heat.

I assume he's trying to leave it all out there on the field for his last inning.

Here's to a day of GOOD FELIX. He could give up six singles from this point on, and it's still been a great, much-needed game from him.

where did that miss???

Felix!!!

Happybelly - September 3, 2007 reply

KING!!

HAIL TO THE KING.

He put us on his shoulders today. Team gave him six runs, but he only needed 2.

What was that about?

Great job, Felix. Great job.

Felix at 114 pitches....

man, did we ever need this today!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Vidro watched a pitch

in the same location for strike three.

quality start for felix

Quite a bit better than that.

1 run against the Yankees offense at Yankee stadium, under this sort of pressure, is damn impressive. He wasn't flashing Dice-K/BoSox-game stuff, but he was clutch.

So let's recap

Five singles, "four" walks, five strikeouts, GB:FB > 2

Awesome outing. Say what you will about Felix's immaturity, but he's stepped it up on some big stages this year.

Yanks had hammered him up until now, too.

Holy crap Chris Britton is enormous

Ben's gotten on base 3 times today.

And Richie crying seems even more appropriate now.

Nice to see Felix pitch so well

Even with the tough strike zone and the long at bats. Well done sir.

mary - September 3, 2007 reply

So, Ben

Great first baseman, or greatest first baseman?

In baseball now?

In baseball EVER.

In any sport

ever.

Greatest 1B in NFL History.

Manzanillos Cup - September 3, 2007 reply

Keep it alive....

I wanna see these replays on ESPN ALL NIGHT LONG...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

End of season stats will look funny

We have a first baseman who will get 500 plate appearances with a .200 BA, and another 1B with a third of that hitting .300. Makes sense!

Pedro's back

and strikeout #3000 was, fittingly, the opposing pitcher.

That's the hardest he's hit the ball in months.

YAY BEN!!!!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Lopez!!!?????

LOPEZ?!

Jose!!!

Should just let him swing.

BlueBaron - September 3, 2007 reply

First pitch curve, not swung at

Stop all the presses.

Raul was not up to bat

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

uh, sorry...I mean JOSE!

not sure what happened there...I need more caffeine

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

you can't stop our 8/9 hitters

you can only hope to contain 'em

We have assured Mr. Torre that Mr. Mussina

SUCKS

andyboi - September 3, 2007 reply

The Yankees...

have given up 9 runs, 6 runs, 9 runs, and now 7 runs in their last 4 games...

Can it please last 2 more games????

GO M'S

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Make that 9, 6, 8 and now 7

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Lopez.

: ).

Oh my God this guy throws slop.

7-1, this thing still doesn't feel over.

I hate you Yankees offense.

I really think that Felix

picked up the whole team today....including ALL the pitchers...Green seems to be confident out there

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Hey, more Sean Green.

The Yankees love them some right-handed groundballers.

Jeter ALWAYS comes through...

late in games.

He's never not been clutch.

Six consecutive outs in the next 2 innings

would really be nice here

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I love that Gameday is ahead of MLB.tv

it lets me spoil the surprises.

That was also a strike.

phil333

I hope you're loving this.

It was pretty sweet.

97 but feels like 103

here in Echo Park CA (near downtown L.A.)

I'm fucking melting, and it's only gonna get worse this afternoon.

I drink half a beer and put in the freezer and then finish the one I put in the freezer earliar. It's way too much effort for a cold brew.

Even Long Beach

is sweltering...that is why I am in Starbucks right now...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

yeah but,

do they have icey cold beers?

I'm in Arizona.

It's basically been like that for the last two weeks here.

I'm in east hollywood

just on the border of silverlake/K-town. My fan just blows hot air. My dog sounds like she's dying. My mattress is hot to the touch. It's gotten to the point where I can't wait to go back to work tomorrow because the office has A/C

That's sad

...wanting to go back to work.

(OT) If you need a really good video store, I own one downtown (4th and Main and not to far from ktown) Check us out at oldbankdvd.com

looks promising.

I'll czech it out. I usually netflix everything, but there's a bunch of stuff I know is on dvd, but that netflix doesn't carry (besides, sometimes you need the immediacy of just being able to head out to the store and get your movie)

Only 94.5 right now.

Was 100 an hour ago.

That half degree will kill ya!

Perhaps Felix's game against LA

was his way of telling us that we should focus on the Wild Card instead.

The King offered to cut the AL West

Championship in half. Giving a piece to both the Ms and Angels. The M's would have taken this deal, while the Angels offered to give up the title rather than destroy it. Being a wise ruler, Felix gave the AL West to the team that really deserved it.

awesome.

Where the hell was that?

Happybelly - September 3, 2007 reply

Where was that!?

George

Now is not the time to suck.

Thank you. That will do.

I agree with Michael Kay

Heh

McLaren wants to end this thing in a hurry.

NOW I am starting to feel a little worried

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

OK, false alarm...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Atta boy.

well that was easy.

What's with the pressure?

6 run lead, 4 outs to go. I'm just sayin'.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

And now you jinxed us.

THANKS A LOT!

Ummm

It's the Mariners riding a 9 game losing streak?

Haha! Comments at the exact same

time!

Holy random coincidences, Batman

Are we not sabermetricians?

Do we not know win expectancy?

We're making this more tense then it is.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Not a bad idea to let Putz pitch the 9th

Considering the M's have an off game on Thursday. He could still pitch if necessary tomorrow and Wednesday.

A day off?

The fuck is that?

I think thats when a team

gets to pile onto a plane and fly a few thousand miles before their next zillion games in a row. Either that or its an old wooden ship, I'm not sure which.

New York State Smoker's Quite Line

Yeah, this game won't help.

Oh, hey, M's still winning in 8th

This is encouraging.

By more than one run!

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Jimerson time woohoo!

FARNSWORTH...

hasn't been through the wars like Rick White, but he is the Yankees' Rick White

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I know Im not the only person

Who thinks Jimerson could be a useful player, even if he's not a prospect anymore.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Me too

He'd shatter the K record if he played everyday, but Charlton Jimerson could do some serious damage with his bat and his legs off the bench.

The hell was Kay talking about?

the combined winning percentage of our remaining opponents is .515, not .415.

He's predicting

29 game losing streaks for everybody by the time we play them, apparnently. Which... would be some trick.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

I really wanted to see Raul get a quality hit

that at bat...might boost his confidence.

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Tony Randazzo

has had a hard on for the Mariners all year. That was not a surprise.

Jimerson

1-6 in his career with a homer. His only hit.

He's 2-6 with a single and a homer.

I've got 2-6

where are you getting your info?

Well its time for bed.

Ive been up all day.

Erm.

Yeah, lack of logic in math. 6 ABs with a .333 AVG = 2 hits.

Hurry up and win Ms.

Okay, now make this easy.

Hey, it's JJ.

Whatever.

So does Jones come in for Raul or Guillen?

I don't see why not.

You've got Reed and Jones, to go with Ichiro. All of them cover ground faster then any other combo of guys out there. Use them.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Ibanez it is

Guess I didn't phrase that well...I assumed it was a given that he'd be in for defense (cause Mac doesn't risk giving him an AB) but I didn't know which one he'd be in for. Whatever. Putz in, game over.

YES...one down...

I don't even want to see Damon's ugly face up to bat one more time today

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

The fact girls find him hot

makes me glad im not a girl or gay.

Not that there is anything wrong with it.

Awww, poor Giambi.

Somebody misses his power and ability.

Hey, remember strikes?

Apparently this umpire doesn't either.

Up yours Blue

Call strikes, fat fuck.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Where were those 2nd & 3rd pitches????

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

That was a strike.

I've said this a lot today.

I love that

pitch triangulation system, don't you? =D

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

even when down 7-1

and 2 outs to go, they still get the yankee strikezone

With a strike zone like that,

how do the Yanks ever lose?

Getting them to swing and miss

Like Oakland. This is why it is important to have an ability to "miss bats".

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

K

PUTZ!

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

8 pitch at bat

and the only 2 not in the strike zone were the first and the last

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Why is Putz in a 6 run game??

He hasn't pitched in a while

he needs some polishing

To get him some work

and to slam the door without any doubt.

and he still strikes him out

this gives me alot more confidence in JJ, those first 3 pitches we're painted perfectly

96mph

JJ isn't dicking around.

Amazing

Arguably, Cano only saw one ball but worked a full count.

Arguably, Cabrera never saw a strike, but sucks ass.

Seriously.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

YUNI! Totally awesome.

BALLGAME

So this is what this feels like.

They all look so happy :)

Good game guys.

mary - September 3, 2007 reply

ballgame!!

all hail the king!!!!

and Ichiro

HORRRRAAAAAAYYY...IT'S OVER!

Time for a 9 game win streak

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

What just happened

Anyone else see the zombie

peak around the corner from the clubhouse into the Mariner dugout!?

9-game winning streak starting now,

por favor.

MARINERS WIN

THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHE MARINERS WIN! LOSING SKID OVER

TEEN GIRL SQUAD

CHEERLEADER!

SO AND SO!

WHAT'S HER FACE!

THE UGLY ONE!

LADIES, WE BE LOOKIN'...

SOOOOOO GOOOOOOD!

IT'S OVER!

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

ARROWED

CHOMP!

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Corn is no place for a mighty warrior.

Wiggity Whack?

No, just regular kind.

Is this thread BALEETED yet?

eponymous coward - September 3, 2007 reply

ESPN

will probably show highlights about 20 minutes into SportsCenter for 15 seconds, and give us 15 minutes of Dodger highlights...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

No.

They'll show highlights of Roger sucking for later conversation.

They'll show Ichiro's 200th hit, a home run, because they have to.

They'll show the one run the Yankees did get, because... they just will.

They'll mention that this ends a 9 game losing streak for the Mariners and that it puts them only one game back of the Yankees.

Then they'll talk about Roger Clemens sucking for the next 10 minutes.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

BUT...TIED in the loss column

...and how is Detroit not playing today? How can any team not play on Labor Day? Isn't that un-American???

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Hmm

We win.

And I feel no 'shit damn fuck' coming on...

It's weird, isn't it?

The Yankees get down on their pitching...

just like we do...this from PinStripe Alley:

[new] What do you know
Farnsy pitches a shutout inning when it counts the most.

GO M'S

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

I'd rather have Farnsworth

Then Josh Parrish, Sean, or Rick White. If for no reason other then we'd have a Mariner player as a reoccuring Dugout character.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Not only that, but Farnsworth will wreck shit...

...in any brawl. Guy's a bruiser with several famous takedowns in recent years.

Which in turn would mean

regular appearances in The Dugout for other Mariners.

same here...

I'm just saying he has not been all that consistent lately, and the Yankee fans dump on him as much as we do on our guys...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

Thing is

It sounds like the guys at PA are just being whiny bitches. I know they have reason to not like Farnsworth's mediocrity, especially with his contract, but he's still better then some of our craptastic relievers.

Then again, with the mentality of Yankee fan, unless you're Mariano Rivera or Joba The Hutt (The Fat Hutts, You Know The Hutts I Mean) Chamberlain, you suck.

Which is, mostly true I suppose. But you get my point. Unless you get everybody out all the time without giving up runs, you're HORRRRRRIIIIBBBBBLLLLEEEEEEEEEE.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

Lord

ESPN News just said:

"Today's game was a bad matchup for the Yankees with Felix Hernandez going against Roger Clemens, and he got roughed up. Tomorrow's matchup is more favorable with Horacio Ramriez going against... well anybody."

When ESPN News says "you suck", you suck.

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

I know he has a huge ERA...

but how has he won 8 games for us this year??? Did we score 15 runs a game in his wins???

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

In his 8 wins, we've scored 67 runs

But we better get to Wang early tomorrow

...his last start against Boston he had a no-hitter till the 6th and wound up with a 2 hit shutout....and I am sure he is hearing from everyone how important this game is to the Yankees tomorrow, what with their pitching staff giving up an average of 7.25 runs in the last 4 games

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

That's where I'm concerned

Wang no hit us for over 7 frames last time we faced him in Yankee Stadium.

Gratuitous OT Photo

Brett Boone meeting Darryl Hannah?

vj - September 3, 2007 reply

Mariners meeting their playoff chances

Even if they're lucky, it doesn't look good.

Most unlikely Shawn Bradley 2nd career ever

Clemens is having an MRI on his elbow

yeah, we're never seeing Felix highlights on ESPN.

I can see it now.

Doctor: Your results just came in.
Clemens: So what's the word?
Doctor: Well, according to this, you take steroids.
Clemens:
Doctor: You're also an asshole.
Clemens: I don't-
Doctor: See, right here, that's the Asshole Epicondyle. I don't have one, but yours is pretty prominent.
Clemens: uh
Doctor: Yeah.
Clemens:
Doctor:
Clemens:
Doctor:
Clemens:
Doctor: Oh, and you need ligament replacement surgery.

Some corrections are in order

Doctor: Your results just came in.
OldLOL: So what's the word?
Doctor: Well, according to this, you take steroids.
OldLOL:
Doctor: You're also an asshole.
OldLOL: I don't-
Doctor: See, right here, that's the Asshole Epicondyle. I don't have one, but yours is pretty prominent.
OldLOL: uh
Doctor: Yeah.
OldLOL:
Doctor:
OldLOL:
Doctor:
OldLOL:
Doctor: Oh, and you need ligament replacement surgery.
MarkPrevious: Sucks to be you!

TIF @ Lookout Landing - September 3, 2007 reply

You forgot the last line

MarkPrevious: /sneezes, tears labrum

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/2007/09/a_few_notes_before_todays.html?page=3

BTW

I was at the game when the Yankees announced that Clemens had signed with them (an otherwise dull loss for the Ms). Fans around me were very excited.
And its probably a record that the Ms today faced opposing pitcher with more than 600 wins combined. Can't have happened since the days of Cy Young.

vj - September 3, 2007 reply

I have some confidence tomorrow even with

ho pitching. The way this team works it doesn't make any sense to go out and lose tomorrow.

houseofprime2 - September 3, 2007 reply

Losing

would be the logical thing that we all expect. And obviously, this team has decided never to do what we expect...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

You guys think this blog is brutal???

The Yankee fans are all ready to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge...

LongBeachDave - September 3, 2007 reply

even worse

on the yesnetwork's message board they have threads with titles such as "9-3-07 - The day the season ended"

How'd it look on TV?

At the game, it looked sweet. Not just the result, but the way the M's played. Felix did not get hit hard, once. Even the harder hit balls were on the ground up the middle, just not at a fielder. Posada got on twice that way. No extra base hits for the entire Yankee offense is pretty sweet.

As for the M's bats, they hit the ball HARD. (except for the Lopez RBI lol) .. Even their fly outs were realllly hit. Team looked very good.

Felix had a couple 4 pitch walks, at least 2 of them with 2 outs. Needs to work on that. He still seems to be getting flustered on the mound, but thats to be expected from a 21 yr old. He really brought his A game today.

Thoroughly enjoyable day at Yankee stadium. Beautiful weather and beautiful baseball. The woman in front of me called me a jerk, even though my cheers for the M's were polite the entire game. I'm sorry lady if you don't want to hear me clap and yell "I love you Ichiro!" after that home run or "Nice rip Jose" "Nice rip Ben" after great hits by both those guys. I'm surronded by 50,000 of your fans, you'll just have to deal with your team losing a game.

Losing strak over!

Felix

I take back what I said about those Felix walks. I looked at the game thread and saw the Gameday images of one of the walks. Wow that's a horrible home plate ump. I was on the first base line so couldn't tell.