The Mariners aren't sure who will start Saturday against Tampa Bay, but they've told Miguel Batista it won't be him.
Batista, coming off two decent starts, lasted just three innings Monday against the Twins. It was the 14th time in 19 starts that Batista didn't pitch six innings. A year ago he reached at least the sixth inning 23 times in 32 tries.
The most likely candidate to start Saturday is former reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Welcome back to the show, Ryan. You will be replacing a giant tool.
The big news afterwards? Miguel Batista says a new discovery is what led him to toss 7 2/3 scoreless innings and strike out eight.
Batista won't say what the discovery was. He isn't sure it's going to work again. But he sounds excited about it. He should be. His velocity wasn't there today, but the Angels were still swinging through his pitches all afternoon.
"I might have found something that I wish I might have found years ago in my career,'' Batista said. "I don't know if I'm right yet. It's going to take me at least four or five more starts to figure out if it's going to be able to work as good as I believe it might work.
"And if it does, I might be able to pitch another five years.''
As a starter, you couldn't even last another five months. But at least you pitched through pain, because you're a warrior, and a warrior looks out for his team. Nevermind that in so doing you repeatedly put your team at a substantial disadvantage. You manned up, dammit. You manned up and did your job, unlike that pussy Bedard. And for that you should be commended, not demoted. Can't nobody match your tenacity and heart. You left it all on the field every time you took the mound, and that's the only thing that matters.
Miguel, you suck. And your writing sucks too. Never again will I have to spend two hours watching you throw four innings, and that - that's better than coffee. What a good way to wake up.
1 recs | 31 comments
This sudden influx of good management both confuses and delights me.
Anyhoo…
Yes, Miguel, you do suck. You listen to bad saxophone players too. Go away.
BrianL - August 7, 2008
His book is horrible.
When I found out he wrote a book, I decided to get it (1.11 + 1.25 sh from amazon). Wasn’t even worth that. I used it as fire starter the next time I went camping.
Faux - August 7, 2008
You burned a book?
Ray Bradbury would be so proud.
Llewdor - August 7, 2008
chinn - August 7, 2008
Best. Anagram. Ever.
Llewdor - August 7, 2008
Wait was he DFA'ed or just demoted to the bullpen?
Robert - August 7, 2008
Demoted, I believe.
BrianL - August 7, 2008
Demoted
Jeff Sullivan - August 7, 2008
I can't wait until next year when he is the most overpaid middle reliever in baseball.
JI - August 7, 2008
I miss Barry Zito having that title.
Matthew - August 7, 2008
I am holding out hope that Carlos Silva will be that man next year.
Could you imagine $20 million worth of long relief between Silva and Batista?
Sec 108 - August 7, 2008
So building a staff comprised of long term contracts dealt out to mediocre pitchers is a bad idea?
JI - August 7, 2008
Surely no one saw this coming.
BrianL - August 7, 2008
I wish Dickey moved to Saturday and RRS were starting on Sunday.
Kirsten Schlewitz - August 7, 2008
Nope
Either of them starting as opposed to seeing Washburn, Beluga Tits or Silva is equally awesome. If I can’t get King Felix, they’ll do.
eponymous_coward - August 7, 2008
Batista is still saying that he had "a discovery" that will help him?
Has he seen 99% of his starts? Or the last time he had a “discovery” and was then butt-raped in his next start? What a tool. Why can’t they write into contracts that if you suck it voids your contract.
RafaelCarmona22 - August 7, 2008
No, that was the original.
April 20.
Faux - August 7, 2008
That's how the NFL works.
It’s a bad idea.
Llewdor - August 7, 2008
I think his discovery was that he could suck as bad as he wanted and the team would still pay him to pitch
Gomez - August 7, 2008
Would it make any sense to bring Feierabend up, rather than RRS?
Ryan F’s been doing well in Tacoma for quite a while now – wouldn’t this be a good time for an audition? Give RRS more time to work on starting?
The Alaskan - August 7, 2008
I think Feierabend could be a decent back of the rotation guy, im sure nobody agrees with me though.
RafaelCarmona22 - August 7, 2008
I'm with you
I used to be higher on Ryan F than I am now, but I still think he has a place in the bigs. Either as a 4-5 in the AL or a solid 4 in the NL. His first start in Seattle was Griffey’s return, and he was mercilessly booed by the home crowd the minute KGJ stepped up to the plate. Not sure he ever regained his composure after that last year, but he’s been slowly and quietly improving down in the minors. I’d like to see him in September. Jettison Washburn over waivers and make Silva a peanut vendor in the 300 level… Morrow, RRS, Feierabend would be a much more interesting 3-4-5.
thejew4u - August 7, 2008
Correction
It wasn’t his first start, just one of his first starts. He had a cup in late 06 and a few respectable outings prior to that game. Wheels really fell off at that point though.
thejew4u - August 7, 2008
You risk really, really pissing RRS off by doing that.
I wouldn’t blame him, either; he’s earned a spot in the big leagues. Feierabend will have other opportunities later on this season, I’m sure.
Aaron Campeau - August 7, 2008
That's a risk I'm willing to take, and I really like RRS.
Appeasing your players is not the way to run a baseball team. See: Ibanez in left field. I think at this point we have a better idea of what RRS can do in the majors than Ryan F. I know Feierabend’s been up in the past, and stunk it up, but a cursory glance at the numbers suggest a lot of improvement since then.
The Alaskan - August 7, 2008
Keeping a guy in LF to the detriment of your team during a pennant race
is much different than further depriving a talented young player his real first shot at sticking in the rotation.
Aaron Campeau - August 7, 2008
Yes, no doubt.
I didn’t mean to exaggerate. I was just demonstrating what can happen when you worry more about the individuals than the team.
RRS is a big boy. I’m sure he can handle it, and I’m sure he recognizes that Feierabend’s put his time in, as well, and deserves the chance just as much as he does.
The Alaskan - August 7, 2008
Feierabend has had a chance, and was bad.
RRS hasn’t had a chance, despite being good.
Aaron Campeau - August 7, 2008
I think you're missing my point and focusing on what the players "deserve".
RRS has been up most of the year. As Dave pointed out at USSM, starting won’t be a big change from long relief. So, we should already know what we’ve got. Meanwhile, as I pointed out before, Feierabend has been significantly better this year than last. The improvement deserves a look at the majors level.
Also, as it’s been pointed out by others, they’re both going to get a chance this fall. It’s just a matter of who should come first. So it’s really not that big a deal either way.
The Alaskan - August 8, 2008
Coffee is for closers.
waldo rojas - August 7, 2008
I felt this way about Aaron Sele in 2005
Gomez - August 7, 2008
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