It’s just a few games but the bats have seemed better since Wak really shook up the batting order and put Branyan at No. 2. Unconventional and genius move. But having the two best batters at the top of lineup really makes sense when you have such an overall weak one such as ours.
Wak is really making he best use of what he has. Best manager we’ve had in a long long time.
And Beltre looks better, at least than when he had Mr. Yuni in front of him.
And it’s nice having someone with a clue in left field (these two games at least).
The bats seem better because Ichiro is hotter than Methodist hell
and Beltre and and Lopez are regressing to the mean a little bit. I really don’t think it has to do with the batting order. I’m actually much more impressed with the pitching/defense unit after this series than with the bats. With Mauer back, the Twins have one of the better lineups in the majors and they were kept largely frustrated.
You're right, the pitching and defense has been awesome!
…. asides from Morrow (and a sometimes terrible Lowe) and Yuni’s (Wlad) D.
Z and Co. were really on the ball with their emphasis on D. It’s nice to see us be able to win tight games. Instead of fucking up (with Wlad’s missteps the other day being the norm instead of an anomaly).
.
We may be only lacking one moderately big bat to contend (really).
Sam, I agree that we may be only lacking one moderately big bat to contend.
I’m all in favor of us going after a bat to contend. Since the playoffs are a crapshoot (albeit a lucurative one) I’d like us to try. Unless Z gets a can’t pass up offer for Washburn, Bedard, or Beltre I’d like to see this team in the playoffs this year and next.
Obviously if Z can do that, go for it. I’m content to deal with what we’ve got. We’ve got enough of them, all with the same problem, except maybe Batista.
Batista is making $7,000,000.00 to be a below average reliever
used either as a mop up guy or as a last resort. He has a K/BB under 1.5 and his (sorta) shiny tRA is due entirely to the fact that he’s running a 4% HR/FB rate which… you know. He is not one of the team’s major problems, but he is hardly the least of them.
Something I just noticed, by the way, is he’s made 20 appearances and was ‘pulled’ 15 times. Meanwhile, the average LI when he exits a game is over .5 higher than when he enters. Make of that what you will.
Yes, Batista makes a ton of money but it’s a sunk cost. It’s almost pointless to bring up his salary at this juncture.
He’s been fine. I know everyone hates him and I don’t love watching him pitch but the perception of his performance is way out of line with reality and it annoys me.
You're right, the salary is irrelevant to the discusison
although it does factor into the ‘team problem’ equation.
Beyond that though, he just hasn’t been a good reliever. He hasn’t been godawful, but I never argued that in the first place. I said he’s been consistently not very good, and the numbers back it up.
The okay looking tRA is over 25IP and he’s running a HR rate one third his career norm and a GB rate well over his 3yr average. He hasn’t been fine, unless you mean fine for a guy you allow to pitch in blowouts and innings 12-15.
the results have been tolerable but the way he gets them is the same old turd cobbler he always served up. He’s missing fewer bats than before, he’s allowing more contact than before (95% zone contact rate!!!)… I have aunts in my pants every time he takes the mound in a Mariners uniform, which is to say I am uncomfortable.
I was not being a dick for being a dick’s sake. I was just giving you a hard time. Don’t worry. I like the chart as it is, posted without comment. It’s like a new dimension to post-game charts that has been unexplored as an art form.
Last year on this date we were 4th in the division, 16.5 back with a record of 22-40. Tuesday that pays off with the 2nd pick in the 1st round. I couldn’t be happier.
There is no player I ever want on the M’s who is looking to lose, for whatever reason. I want nothing but competitors to play for the M’’s. Guys who always, always want to win. That’s what this game is about. Players should not be looking to make the team better in some future year. Players are about winning this year, every year, no matter which team they are playing for.
I've seen comments debating the "quality/whatever of the fans".
But for players, it can’t matter that Randy Johnson is going for his 299th win. He must be beat. It can’t matter what he did when he was an M. Players don’t have the right to be sentimental or mediorce. They must be competitors. They must always want to win, do their best to win. Sports depends on it (fans maybe not so much).
This is off topic, but I joined the game thread late...
There was a lot of crap between two guys in the first thread that I haven’t noticed before. Is that something to expect for the rest of the season or was that a one time thing?
I like a chart that goes up, up, up.
According to Wak, he likes Whitey against Lefties.
msb - June 7, 2009
Good win again of a tight game.
It’s just a few games but the bats have seemed better since Wak really shook up the batting order and put Branyan at No. 2. Unconventional and genius move. But having the two best batters at the top of lineup really makes sense when you have such an overall weak one such as ours.
Wak is really making he best use of what he has. Best manager we’ve had in a long long time.
And Beltre looks better, at least than when he had Mr. Yuni in front of him.
And it’s nice having someone with a clue in left field (these two games at least).
Sam Regens - June 7, 2009
The bats seem better because Ichiro is hotter than Methodist hell
and Beltre and and Lopez are regressing to the mean a little bit. I really don’t think it has to do with the batting order. I’m actually much more impressed with the pitching/defense unit after this series than with the bats. With Mauer back, the Twins have one of the better lineups in the majors and they were kept largely frustrated.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
You're right, the pitching and defense has been awesome!
…. asides from Morrow (and a sometimes terrible Lowe) and Yuni’s (Wlad) D.
Z and Co. were really on the ball with their emphasis on D. It’s nice to see us be able to win tight games. Instead of fucking up (with Wlad’s missteps the other day being the norm instead of an anomaly).
.
We may be only lacking one moderately big bat to contend (really).
Sam Regens - June 7, 2009
Sam, I agree that we may be only lacking one moderately big bat to contend.
I’m all in favor of us going after a bat to contend. Since the playoffs are a crapshoot (albeit a lucurative one) I’d like us to try. Unless Z gets a can’t pass up offer for Washburn, Bedard, or Beltre I’d like to see this team in the playoffs this year and next.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
Hopefully that big bat can come from AAA.
You know, maybe if Jeff Clement or Saunders make it up here, they could make a big difference.
Fin - June 7, 2009
It would be ideal if the bat would come from within.
Saunders if he’s ready would be very good indeed.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
We could use a consistent reliever too
I don’t trust Aardsma very much. Kelley was money but who knows how he’ll look once he’s back.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
I don't know how to get a consistent reliever.
Obviously if Z can do that, go for it. I’m content to deal with what we’ve got. We’ve got enough of them, all with the same problem, except maybe Batista.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
Yeah, Batista's problem is he's consistently not very good
Also, Mark Lowe seems to have contracted Gilmechism… Kelley. Healthy Kelley is a large part of the answer.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
I think Batista (although, not consistent, has been adequate).
I’m hoping that good Kelley returns soon.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
Batista has a 4.70 tRA and has been the least of this team's problems.
Aaron Campeau - June 7, 2009
Batista is making $7,000,000.00 to be a below average reliever
used either as a mop up guy or as a last resort. He has a K/BB under 1.5 and his (sorta) shiny tRA is due entirely to the fact that he’s running a 4% HR/FB rate which… you know. He is not one of the team’s major problems, but he is hardly the least of them.
Something I just noticed, by the way, is he’s made 20 appearances and was ‘pulled’ 15 times. Meanwhile, the average LI when he exits a game is over .5 higher than when he enters. Make of that what you will.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
It's almost like I was being hyperbolic.
Yes, Batista makes a ton of money but it’s a sunk cost. It’s almost pointless to bring up his salary at this juncture.
He’s been fine. I know everyone hates him and I don’t love watching him pitch but the perception of his performance is way out of line with reality and it annoys me.
Aaron Campeau - June 7, 2009
You're right, the salary is irrelevant to the discusison
although it does factor into the ‘team problem’ equation.
Beyond that though, he just hasn’t been a good reliever. He hasn’t been godawful, but I never argued that in the first place. I said he’s been consistently not very good, and the numbers back it up.
The okay looking tRA is over 25IP and he’s running a HR rate one third his career norm and a GB rate well over his 3yr average. He hasn’t been fine, unless you mean fine for a guy you allow to pitch in blowouts and innings 12-15.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
He has been fine
Whether he will continue to be fine is a matter of debate
Graham MacAree - June 7, 2009
Dammit
the results have been tolerable but the way he gets them is the same old turd cobbler he always served up. He’s missing fewer bats than before, he’s allowing more contact than before (95% zone contact rate!!!)… I have aunts in my pants every time he takes the mound in a Mariners uniform, which is to say I am uncomfortable.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
Aunts in your pants!
Teej - June 7, 2009
That's only legal in the Rhode Island and Ohio.
CapSea - June 7, 2009
Whose aunts?
OlSalty - June 7, 2009
.
msb - June 8, 2009
AILFs
CapSea - June 8, 2009
ALFILF
Bearskin Rugburn - June 8, 2009
He's throwing much harder out of the bullpen, at the very least.
joof - June 8, 2009
He did pick up 1 tick on his FB
Bearskin Rugburn - June 8, 2009
And of course, good point about Ichiro!
Sam Regens - June 7, 2009
I've never heard that expression before, but I love "hotter than Methodist hell".
Thanks for that.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
You are right.
This is a team that would absolutely romp teams when they would win, yet the Mariners held them to just 5 runs in the whole series.
Fin - June 7, 2009
Worst LL chart of the year.
No hilarious commentary or picture.
Seattle Rodiners - June 7, 2009
I know, fuck this place.
Teej - June 7, 2009
Seriously! The gall of Matthew not spending more of his weekend to entertain total strangers for free.
What a fuckbag.
abender20 - June 7, 2009
I'm sorry I can't be around this place for every second of every day
Jeff Sullivan - June 7, 2009
We're all sorry about that
especially those of us with thesis proposals to write.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
I think you're doing a super job!
Dewey N - June 7, 2009
I don't want to sound like a suck up, but yes, you are doing a great job.
You should take a couple of seconds off every now and then.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
Fogel's master of the English language is second to none, it's true.
CapSea - June 7, 2009
It's not that much to ask that you do your job in exchange for your salary from Kos
amirite
seattlebruin - June 7, 2009
If you are good enough for Fogel then who am I to criticize?
Poochie - June 7, 2009
Your welcome!
Matthew - June 7, 2009
OH JESUS
I was not being a dick for being a dick’s sake. I was just giving you a hard time. Don’t worry. I like the chart as it is, posted without comment. It’s like a new dimension to post-game charts that has been unexplored as an art form.
Seattle Rodiners - June 7, 2009
Theirs something wrong with your spelling
ermac - June 7, 2009
How ironic.
Wilder. - June 7, 2009
A little TWO ironic...
ermac - June 7, 2009
Didn't want to say anything. haha
Seattle Rodiners - June 7, 2009
I think correcting Matthew's grammatical errors is a good strategy going forward.
Aaron Campeau - June 7, 2009
Yesterday's was even more worser.
What have you been doing, grading players or something?
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
Hmm. Does this help?
msb - June 7, 2009
Yup.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
This is not a chart we saw in 2008. I love it.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
I just checked.
Last year on this date we were 4th in the division, 16.5 back with a record of 22-40. Tuesday that pays off with the 2nd pick in the 1st round. I couldn’t be happier.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
What about if we had the first pick on Tuesday!
Fucking Oakland sweep!
Mariner Melee - June 7, 2009
I love the fact
That Larry Stone did an article on this.
ThundaPC - June 7, 2009
I occasionally like Stone's writing.
There is no player I ever want on the M’s who is looking to lose, for whatever reason. I want nothing but competitors to play for the M’’s. Guys who always, always want to win. That’s what this game is about. Players should not be looking to make the team better in some future year. Players are about winning this year, every year, no matter which team they are playing for.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
I've seen comments debating the "quality/whatever of the fans".
But for players, it can’t matter that Randy Johnson is going for his 299th win. He must be beat. It can’t matter what he did when he was an M. Players don’t have the right to be sentimental or mediorce. They must be competitors. They must always want to win, do their best to win. Sports depends on it (fans maybe not so much).
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
This is off topic, but I joined the game thread late...
There was a lot of crap between two guys in the first thread that I haven’t noticed before. Is that something to expect for the rest of the season or was that a one time thing?
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
I'm assuming you're talking about me as one of those people. Don't worry about it, I'm going to work on it.
gregrabble - June 7, 2009
Thanks Greg, I appreciate your attitude.
Even if the other guy doesn’t want to play nice, I appreciate you wanting to do your part.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
This is not worth bring up publicly.
There’s nothing to gain by drawing further attention to the matter when the moderators have already dealt with the issue.
Matthew - June 7, 2009
Thank you.
Sinking Away - June 7, 2009
Kevin Slowey has 8 wins?
ThundaPC - June 7, 2009
Yeah man
he’s a great pitcher. One of the league leaders.
Bearskin Rugburn - June 7, 2009
He's quite good (K/BB of SEVEN coming into today!) and has gotten some good run support.
Teej - June 7, 2009
Yea. I just didn't notice his performance for some reason.
ThundaPC - June 7, 2009
You were probably distracted by his last name sounding like a retarded pokemon.
CapSea - June 7, 2009
John Sikel's Cy Young Darkhorse!
bluemax - June 7, 2009
Working Slowey into Cy Young contention.
Fin - June 8, 2009
Slowey but surely.
msb - June 8, 2009
He doesn't walk ANYONE
.Taylor - June 8, 2009
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