I was able to catch most of the game, but I'm home entirely too late to write about it, so I'll just leave it at this: no matter what the situation, beating the Red Sox is always one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Biggest Contribution: Jose Lopez, +41.7%
Biggest Suckfest: Adrian Beltre, -11.3%
Most Important AB: Lopez single, +36.9%
Most Important Pitch: Ramirez homer, -29.0%
Total Contribution by Pitcher(s): +31.1%
Total Contribution by Hitters: +13.7%
Total Contribution by Opposition: +5.2%
(What is this chart?)
We were watching two screens tonight, and I swear Brandon Morrow struck out two hitters in the time it took one Trevor Hoffman fastball to get to the plate. I love pitchers.
0 recs | 126 comments
Poor Adrain Beltre
Such bad luck. He just rakes the ball everyday but he can’t ever find a hole or some grass…but even in his bad luck he is still finding the seats a 32 HR pace so that it good. But I mean even the umpires are screwing Beltre over.
Highlights though. Morrow was just amazing to watch, Lopez came through, RRS is RRS (underrated)., Good Game 499 was not fun to watch though.
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
Holy crap! Ortiz hit a homerun that game!
joof - May 28, 2008
Manny being Manny
He dressed up like Ortiz before the at bat.
The Typical Idiot Fan - May 28, 2008
Weird, I thought it was Manny's 499th HR that I caught....
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
So did you keep it?
What was the offer?
Teej - May 28, 2008
Kept it.
They asked what I wanted. I asked a few friends and family members what I should get. I decide on asking for either the bat he hit it with, signed, the jersey he wore last night, signed, or a picture with him which he would sign. They said to keep it. I started to walk away, Kevin Youkilis came out to barter with me (he’s way shorter than you’d think, and his beard is even more gnarly in person) and he said “Look man what do you want for it?” and I repeated the demands and he said to just keep it then because Manny’s very particular about keeping all his stuff. So I kept it.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
Right on.
Though it’s weird that he would care enough to send someone out to talk to you, but wouldn’t even take a picture with you to get his ball back.
You should have traded it for Youk’s beard.
Teej - May 28, 2008
They could have even gave you some random bat..real signature or not.
kentroyals5 - May 28, 2008
WHy didn't you ask for money?
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
I don't want money.
Money goes away, but the ball, or any 499 related stuff that Manny used that day I’d have forever. Plus it’s 499, not 500, it’s not like I’ll make too much bank on that. And I’m a baseball nerd, so sentimentality for having one of my favorite hitters’ 499th home run ball is more important to me than like a thousand bucks or something.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
Dude, he would have given up more than a grand.
Maybe not, actually.
Sounds like he at least cared. But I guess if he really cared, he would have come out himself and just asked you straight up like a man for it.
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
e-bay
JI - May 28, 2008
How do you prove it's the real-deal, though?
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
That matters?
JI - May 28, 2008
They marked every ball thrown to Manny last night with "M 99" on it.
Here’s a picture of the ball
Yeah, the 99 is upside down. But today (and last night after he hit the ball to me) they started writing “M 00” only on the balls thrown to Manny. That’s what they told me anyway. So if he fouled any off last night there’s a few other people with “M 99” balls too. But I’ve got the video proof….woo.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
Sweet deal. I am goona go watch ther replay
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
Where you the guy in the Mariner Tee jumping up and down in the Stairway?
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
I'm in a Doyle Jersey, Ray's hat, and sinking ship LL T-Shirt
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
Is this the same Doyle Jersey
That your mom tried to ask Chuck Armstrong directly for a refund? Or was that Robert’s mom. I always forget…
PositivePaul - May 28, 2008
That was my mom. Lincoln just gave her a death glare during my mom's schpeel.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
Did an usher sweep you away right when it was caught?
or was it up to you to go down to the clubhouse?
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
It was 499..probably none of the above
kentroyals5 - May 28, 2008
Yeah, my section's usher and a security guard led me down to the clubhouse.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
I know what you mean about Youklis...
I saw him outside of Fenway after a game…you would think he’s the garbage man. Unassuming baseball man if you ask me.
kentroyals5 - May 28, 2008
You know what i bet they..
did little variations on, say, 20 balls that Manny was being thrown…
and then had a little notepad… and then when M-99 which was upside down and with unconnected 99s got hit, they just ticked it off. Makes sense.
I’m way too into this, by the way.
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
No, they said he didn't care enough about 499 to give up anything good for it.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
That would be awesome if you caught 500
tonight… and the look on their faces when you come marching in after the game.
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
Manny being Manny
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
You could probably dupe some RSN West fan for hundreds of dollars.
I am sure there are plenty of rich Sox fans in the area that would pay a pretty penny for Manny’s 499.
Fin - May 28, 2008
Unless I'm getting six figures or more I'm keeping it.
It’s worth more to me than money.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
SIX figures? Really?
Damn, I mean…. someone offers you 5 or 10k, and you’d turn that down?
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
Maybe I'd sell it for 80 K or so.
But for me money really isn’t an issue. My family does pretty well and I don’t need the extra money. Unless it could pay for my whole college or let me skip college entirely and skip straight to retirement, I’m going to keep it. 499 isn’t enough to get me more than just some savings which is nice but I don’t know, having the ball means more to me.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
I agree with this statement.
There are a few things I have that are worth way, way, WAY more to me than the money they’d fetch in return—even though it wouldn’t be insignificant…
PositivePaul - May 28, 2008
Exactly.
Money never crossed my mind when they were asking me what I wanted…the moment is worth more than the money
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
I'd be selling for 5 figures easy, but that's me.
Matthew - May 28, 2008
4
but I’m pretty easy
JI - May 28, 2008
Yeah, I'd sell it for 3K or more.
That’s how much I just spent on my new PC – I could use it.
Llewdor - May 28, 2008
I know it's irrational.
And I may change my mind if I saw the money in front of me, but for me it’s the experience and having that in my possession that’s important, not the money.
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
Do something like make a plaque with your ticket and the ball
I did this when I caught Carlos Guillen’s first career homer.
Sec 108 - May 28, 2008
That is way cool beyond words...
PositivePaul - May 28, 2008
Where did you go to get this done?
Man, the icing on the cake would be if I could get Manny to sign it too….but if he wanted it back I doubt he’d do that…haha
BrettJMiller - May 28, 2008
The place that did that one no longer exists
But I’ll bet any trophy shop can do it.
Sec 108 - May 28, 2008
Yea I could really use the money for college.
Fin - May 28, 2008
It was late
):<
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2008
JI - May 28, 2008
hahaha rec'd
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
also, congrats on a comment with no typos
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
That beard is a typo
Fin - May 28, 2008
Thank you, I'm here all week.
JI - May 28, 2008
Lmao
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
My favorite thing about the game
Listening to the archived radio broadcast I could tell that Mr. Niehaus was having fun calling the game tonight. A lot of excellent calls, and man was he excited while Morrow was pitching. He was a lot of fun to listen to tonight.
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
He was great on TV too
you know, he seems to be having a hell of a lot of fun this year somehow. Maybe I’m just grasping at something positive, but he’s having a great year – no misjudging fly balls, great rapport with Blowers, etc. Good stuff.
marc w - May 28, 2008
I bet knowing he will get his deserved spot in Canton finally has helped make this year fun
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
Niehaus is so impressive
that he gets into the NFL hall of fame too?
pdb - May 28, 2008
HAHAHA
Sorry ‘bout that. Yeah, that Niehaus was one hell of a Quarterback huh?
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
Defensive tackle for the Seahawks
Niehaus
seattlebruin - May 28, 2008
Brandon Morrow has looked absolutely awesome so far
This isn’t the “WALK THE WORLD, BRB” rookie we were seeing last year. His fastball command has improved dramatically and he’s getting some secondary stuff over for strikes.
Dare I… dare I convey a glimmer of h.. .ho… ho… hope?
The Typical Idiot Fan - May 28, 2008
Given we're seeing him locating and making secondary pitches
I dare say yes.
Gomez - May 28, 2008
No TIF
...don’t’ curse us with the h-word
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
Saw this nice little blurb on ESPN page 2
The story: The Mariners, a popular playoff pick, own baseball’s worst record. GM Bill Bavasi says, “This is not a field manager issue. … It’s related to (players’) underperformance and underachievement. No one had the nerve to pick us anywhere but first or second or making it as the wild card.”
The real story: Well, as my friend Doug wrote me, “Everyone except just about every amateur and professional sabermetrician in the entire country who pointed out Bavasi has wasted money and talent acquiring overpaid and past-peak players for half a decade now” picked the team to finish near or under .500.
The verdict: Fire Bill! Before he messes up yet another draft (like taking Brandon Morrow over local boy Tim Lincecum).
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
The draft is more based on scouting recommendations.
And Morrow is a great pick if he is made into a starter, which may be happening soon.
Wilder. - May 28, 2008
I wasn't saying I necessarily agreed with their blurb
just thought it was interesting ESPN is pointing out Bavasi’s misleading comment.
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
hahahahaha
I wasn’t even a saber head then and I still wasn’t going to drink the front office kool-aide. When you get outscored by a TON and still win 88 games, there is just no way you were a 88 win ball club.
USSM said it best. People the cover the game as HOBBY should not know how to run the team better than Bavasi does. But we do and its wrong.
Edgar for Mayor - May 28, 2008
Is it ok if this win makes me hold out hope we could maybe go on a run and finish at .500?
I don’t wanna hope, but I can’t help it.
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
Am I reading that graph right...
When Ichiro took 2nd base without a throw just before Lopez’ game-winning hit, did the win probability really go DOWN? Any explanation for this?
Milendriel - May 28, 2008
I believe that drop is actually Ichiro being IBB'd
Graham MacAree - May 28, 2008
Nope
Win probability stayed the same, I think the dip before the Lopez hit on the graph was the second out of the inning. From there the IBB to Ichiro and him advancing to second didn’t affect the WE because the winning run was on third already.
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
It dropped 0.4%
I don’t know why, but it’s pretty insignificant.
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2008
Oh, maybe because the pitch Ichiro took 2nd on was a strike?
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
No, it's not that detailed
I think it might just be a minor glitch in the spreadsheet.
Jeff Sullivan - May 28, 2008
Nope, just confirmed with Markov
it varies on the run environment, but it does dip sometimes.
Matthew - May 28, 2008
So the argument here is that
catcher’s indifference is inversely correlated with scoring?
I guess all the random CI’s with 2 outs and a closer’s on the mound have taken their toll.
Oh Markov Chain, is there anything you can’t do?
marc w - May 28, 2008
That makes some sense.
Since the WPA isn’t calculated pitch by pitch, and defensive indifference typically happens late in games where the pitching team is way ahead, advancing on defensive indifference is also a pitch delivery, and probably a strike, so you’re 1/3 of an our closer to the end of the game.
Llewdor - May 28, 2008
Poor Carlos Guillen
Via Rotoworld:
Alex B - May 28, 2008
see what partying will do to you?
Bavasi is vindicated!!
Matthew - May 28, 2008
As A fan
I find Safeco Field a safer and more enjoyable place when I know hemorrhoid sufferers are nowhere to be found on my hometown nine.
Robert - May 28, 2008
I don't care what troubles he had with his butt.
I would have taken this guy any day.
Sec 108 - May 28, 2008
Yeah, zero-tolerance for 'rhoiders
Alex B - May 28, 2008
You are terrible
Graham MacAree - May 28, 2008
God that was bad.
BrianL - May 28, 2008
screw the above two. I love good puns.
Matthew - May 28, 2008
I didn't say 'terrible' was a bad thing to be
Graham MacAree - May 28, 2008
I meant exactly what I said.
BrianL - May 28, 2008
What a pain in the ass
Gomez - May 28, 2008
You’ve got to be kidding me! Tell me Leyland wasn’t freaking pounding beers before he made this comment…
Way to look out for your guys, Skip!
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
No kidding.
Show some respect for your player and don’t announce to the world he’s playing with speed bumps on his ass.
Thingray - May 28, 2008
Yeah, imagine drunks in the stands shouting for at least the rest of the season.
I think even Jarrod Washburn is jealous with the amount of under-the-bus-throwing going on in this story.
lyleleander - May 28, 2008
This is nothing new
George Brett went thru the same thing when he was playing and it was reported in the press as well.
MfaninAlaska - May 28, 2008
Reported like this though?
I seem to remember the reporting on his condition being a bit more subtle.
Thingray - May 28, 2008
I remember a whole interview
on TV with him about it. I could be wrong as it was so long ago…. but I know it was pretty big in the news back then as he was going to miss some time because of it and he’d been playing with it for a while.
MfaninAlaska - May 28, 2008
of course news back then
wasn’t as rampant as news nowadays with all the internet access.
MfaninAlaska - May 28, 2008
Maybe that's it.
Thingray - May 28, 2008
So far, my morning has consisted of:
1) 20 minute shower
2) 5 minutes staring at fiddle cat
3) 10 minutes eating oatmeal/reading paper
4) 10 minutes staring at fiddle cat
5) 20 minutes brushing teeth/grooming
6) 40 minutes staring at fiddle cat
I’m not getting anything done today at this rate
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
It's OK, I have a lot of work to do this morning
and then I got really confused by sexonsux’s posts in the GT Part 1 and retroactively rec’d LFoJL for recognizing me at the Penultimate Fan of Jose Lopez.
And those were the highlights
seattlebruin - May 28, 2008
Thank you. Also:
I went to bed early and completely missed JoLo fucking the man. Goddammit, even when this team satisfies me, it’s never complete
Last Fan Of Jose Lopez - May 28, 2008
Fiddle cat is still freaking me right the fuck out
Yet one more thing to haunt my dreams
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
The Fiddle Cat is turning on me, man! I gotta get out of here! brb
Jordan of Boise - May 28, 2008
5 free recs to the person who can find the original source video.
JI - May 28, 2008
I'm looking - think I may have found it
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laurel-Hardy-March-Wooden-Soldiers/dp/B00004CZU8
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
err, I mean I realize that's not the video itself
but it should help you find it
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
I was thinking Laurel and Hardy too
Sure it’s not Babe’s in Toyland?
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
Oh God I haven't seen that movie in years
Last Fan Of Jose Lopez - May 28, 2008
Yep, it's Babes in Toyland, I just found the video
The Cat and the Fiddle sketch from the movie
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
ok so I was wrong
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
Post it NOW
Last Fan Of Jose Lopez - May 28, 2008
apparently
“March of the Wooden Soldiers” and “Babes in Toyland” are the same movie, so we’re both right. Two names, apparently.
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
You're right
By the way, prepare yourselves….
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
sound?
JI - May 28, 2008
I've gotta run
I’ll try to find the whole movie when I get back, this is from the trailer on youtube
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8iVPyJ1viFE
Nero - May 28, 2008
It's in color WTF?
JI - May 28, 2008
I think they did a retro technicolor job on it after the fact.
I think I remember seeing this movie in color when I was a kid.
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
Fast Forward to the 25 min mark
link
Sadly I can not give you the full five recs since I had to find the video myself.
JI - May 28, 2008
Yeah, I think that's where the confusion came from
March of the Wooden Soldiers was the technicolor “remake” of the original, or something like that.
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
My eyes! The goggles do nothing!
Now I am going to have daymares.
Seishi - May 28, 2008
IMDB link
Babes in Toyland
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024852/
Comments confirm this is the movie.
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
That movie sounds terrifying
thewyrm - May 28, 2008
Victory is yours, Eyebrows!
confirming comment
seattlebruin - May 28, 2008
I am watching Blast of Silence right now
But as soon as it’s over I will be watching that movie. Awesome.
Aaron Campeau - May 28, 2008
I was reading about it
and apparently Babes in Toyland was a quick remake of this movie. I think this is the one with the cat and mickey, at least as far as I can tell from google search.
P.S. – Mickey Mouse is played by a capuchin monkey.
Eyebrows - May 28, 2008
No recs until I see moving pictures.
JI - May 28, 2008
I'm 99% sure I know what it is
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
The kind of movie to watch high.
Fin - May 28, 2008
Woohoo!!!
Just scored front row tickets to tonight’s game! Just down the line from 1st base.
Thingray - May 28, 2008
Fun fact of the day:
Felix has the worst run support of any pitcher in baseball, averaging 2.52 runs per start.
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
regular starting pitcher, that is.
OlSalty - May 28, 2008
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Lookout Landing to post a comment.