Series Preview: Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers

by Matthew on Jul 30, 2009 12:00 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Previews

Seattle: 53-48
Texas: 56-43

SUMMARY

	MARINERS	RANGERS	EDGE
HITTING (wOBA)	-61.3 (27th)	-19.6 (22nd)	TEX
FIELDING (UZR)	35.9 (4th)	22.4 (8th)	SEA
ROTATION (pRAA)	-3.5 (15th)	-46.8 (27th)	SEA
BULLPEN (pRAA)	-20.9 (27th)	-5.6 (20th)	TEX
OVERALL(RAA)	-49.8	-49.6	Texas

We won the series against Toronto. That was weird. It took me several hours after the conclusion of yesterday's game to realize that. We lost a Felix start and still won the series.

This is the closest match up between two teams since the first series of the year (obviously). Three straight righties running out for Texas allows us to put out our now superior left-handed heavy line up. All we need to do is sweep the Rangers and we will be tied with them in record.

GAMES

Game 1: Garrett Olson* (?) vs. Derek Holland*
Game 2: Jason Vargas* vs. Vicente Padilla
Game 3: Felix Hernandez vs. Tommy Hunter
Game 4: Jarrod Washburn* (Please god no) vs. Kevin Millwood

Garrett Olson is still with the team? I had forgotten about him. Maybe they should start Washburn again on his throw day to give teams another look. You sure, everyone? Top 5 ERA! Holland has not had any problem with strikeouts or walks, but has been line drive and home run prone to start his Major League career in the rotation.

"Padilla was scratched from last Wednesday's start due to swine flu and Tuesday's start because he didn't think his legs would last." I am not sure which is funnier, Padilla missing a start with swine flu or LaTroy Hawkins going on the DL with shingles. What is next, typhoid?

Padilla has been consistently bad going on three years now with the Rangers, with tRA+s between 83 and 88. Great extension, Daniels! Hunter meanwhile, has been decent with an average batted ball profile and solid strike and swinging strike rates.

Millwood's BABIP is around .266 and he is running a LOB% near 80%. Those are the sort of things that will get his 2010 contract guaranteed as he is just 42 innings away from hitting 180 innings, the quicker of the three milestones he has built in to his contract. Whether or not he is worth $12 million next year (doubtful), removing the option for Texas to void his contract only helps us.

1 recs | 27 comments

Comments

Niehaus mentioned winning the series on the radio last night.

Thought he finally has lost his marbles, I had to look it up.

Kermit. - July 30, 2009 reply

Why won't Washburn just get traded!

Slurvey - July 30, 2009 reply

Snell vs Millwood

russak - July 30, 2009 reply

Remember in 1996 when we gained 8 games on Texas in 9 days?

That was fun!

Poochie - July 30, 2009 reply

Sweep!

Decatur - July 30, 2009 reply

Did this really happen?

Robert - July 30, 2009 reply

I might have to find a VCR to play my season highlight video

but almost surely yes

Poochie - July 30, 2009 reply

"Padilla (TEX): Scratched from start (swine flu)"

I enjoyed that the other day

HHZ - July 30, 2009 reply

It always makes me sad when there is no beer sponsor

InSpokane - July 30, 2009 reply

No beer review?

katal - July 30, 2009 reply

Unfortunately most people still look at Washburn and feel that he has an ERA that tops 5, instead of top 5.

But its so shiny!

Kenny Knows Sports - July 30, 2009 reply

Wow

Texas starting pitching is as bad as our offense. Imagine how bad they’d be if they’re defense still sucked. Their outfield UZR seems a bit flukey though.

Manzanillos Cup - July 30, 2009 reply

Sweep the Rangers and we will be tied with them in record. As opposed to:

1. Historical failure and misery
2. Current heat index
3. Nicknames ending in “ers”

lemonverbena - July 30, 2009 reply

I had to read that twice.

Craig Powers - July 30, 2009 reply

Where do the Rangers and Mariners rank in the Majors in overall RAA?

Also, are the rankings adjusted for strength of league, like Beyond the Boxscore’s power rankings are (and if not, what are the drawbacks of doing something like that?)

Decatur - July 30, 2009 reply

Shannon Drayer's Twitter:

Wash still here, Branyan out again, Wilson hitting 7th

So, no Branyan still. I despise this lineup without Branyan. But hey, Wilson covers up one of the black holes!

Fuckmikereilly - July 30, 2009 reply

Millwood.

It’s a little strange to hear you say that about him, I think the general consensus at lonestarball is that we would like to have him back. We realize that he’s not as good as his ERA is this year and that he won’t be a bargain, but he seems to be the best bet for league average-ish type pitching with a decent number of innings. Obviously, we’d love for him to be slotted down to a No. 2 role in the rotation, but I’m more concerned about how the rest of the rotation fills out right now.

GhettoBear04 - July 30, 2009 reply

It's similar to the Jarrod Washburn situation.

Below averagish pitchers may not be a cancer to the team, especially when you have good defense, but having them on expensive and long contracts is simply a waste of resources. Millwood may be above replacement but that’s not a ringing endorsement, and spending a lot of money on him is still a waste of resources.

CapSea - July 30, 2009 reply

Hmmm.

Millwood – to an outsider – is either awful (according to tRA) or just averagey (according to FIP). What’s worse is that there are signs he’s in decline, which is perhaps not terribly shocking. His FB velocity is down again, and has been down each year since 2005. His K rate is the lowest its ever been, and has passed under 6/9ip.
Resigning him means betting he can stay league average, and being OK with paying him more than league average is worth. He hasn’t been the disaster for y’all that I thought he might be, and there’s value in keeping a known commodity, but if I was the GM, he’d be gone.

marc w - July 30, 2009 reply