What an ugly, silly way to lose a ballgame. Then again, they didn’t have much business winning the other two so it’s OK. It’s going to be nice when Olsen or Vargas can go back to the pen so we don’t have to see Batista and Lowe face a bunch of lefties any more (which… actually where the fuck was Vargas today? I’d have loved to see him up there).
but with Morrow going as long as he is and Bedard back to face the Os i don’t see where Vargas fits in. Schedule says Washburn, Bedard, Felix for the Orioles, so I guess it’ll be Olsen to kick off the Rangers series followed by Morrow Washburn and Bedard. Not the best alignment for Texas but I like our chances against the Os.
He’s not the worst pitcher alive, but the idea that he’s turned a corner this year is wrong. He’s striking out fewer and walking more than he did last year.
how just a couple defensive players can make an entire pitching staff look so good. Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz are carrying that team defensively (though Kinsler has been much better than usual).
Yes but if the argument is over whether Millwood himself is a good pitcher because of his ERA....he's really not
Saying Texas’ defense and therefore overall run prevention has improved is true, but saying Millwood is a better pitcher is not, because his ERA is inflated by said defense while the things he has control over have actually gotten worse.
Agreed, but the crux of the argument is whether or not Millwood is a bad matchup for us
and since he’s a decent pitcher thanks to his defense, him on the mound is thus a bad matchup for us. Were we to be considering acquiring him or something, I’d be running away screaming, but in this case, the defense of Texas has to be factored in.
to name a few. I am a little shocked by how much Lowe sucks now that he’s back to normal velo after his surgery. Maybe a little stint in AAA to cool his heels and remember how to throw strikes would be helpful… Corco can keep his spot warm for him in the meantime.
Washburn … debatable, given how he is pitching now. And Aardsma was unlikely to be a trade piece until he took the closer job from Morrow. Originally he was just a useful bullpen arm, which are sort of always trade pieces, but not really.
Everyone is conceivably a trade piece, but Beltre, Bedard, Lowe (?), and Balentien who were all very likely trade candidates are now likely to fetch very little. We always have options because everyone is a trade piece, but I would say that at least our big two are gone, along with a few likely candidates.
The awful thing about bullpen regression is that when it happens, it has a very good chance of costing the team a game in the standings.
I desperately want to see the team make a trade; either so the pitchers who have been pitching above their heads can go to another team before they come crashing down to the earth, or so we can seriously upgrade.
I think it regressing in a game like today is fine. Lots of regression today lumped into one game.
Lets not forget the bullpen was pretty darn good this series given the opponent and ballpark.
Im totally fine with them blowing up today. Let them get that regression out of their systems in what was pretty much a cherry on top final game of a series
I'm actually having a blast this season and as much as I want to win and go to the playoffs it would be tough for me to feel prolonged disappointment no matter the outcome.
On top of that, I’m thrilled with the road trip and with taking two of three at Fenway.
But I am still really pissed off about today’s game.
I'm still haunted by the ghost of Bavasi past, that's some tough baggage to get rid of.
Knowing that defense is hard to quantify and responsible for much of this success doesn’t help. Looking at a line up of sluggers has it’s own measure of reassurance. I think the only solution for my particular problem is a good old fashioned revenge killing.
but mostly because I expected our bullpen couldn’t hold up against a very good offense for that long, so I had low expectations. The only thing that ended up bugging me was that the bullpen (Lowe) beat itself instead.
in Arizona tonight. Don’t know how long it would take for him to get all the way back. I still don’t think he’s quite ready for the majors, but who knows.
A 9 game road trip against LA, NY and Boston. We didn’t get crushed, instead we went 5-4 against three of the better teams around…..on the road…..with some serious injury holes. Realistically, 3-6 wouldn’t have been terrible.
And we were in every game we lost except the first game in LA.
Missed the game, other than the first inning on the radio
How did Morrow look? His line doesn’t look too bad, especially the BB/K, but I know he was piping a bunch of fastballs down the pike in the first inning, yielding the 2 HRs. Which was annoying because it seemed like he was getting the FB in the zone enough to work in the offspeed stuff. Was he able to throw the offspeed stuff consistently in the later innings?
3 HRs in one game obviously sucks, but it’s cool that they were all solo, I feel like earlier in the season he would have had walked a couple of guys on before those blasts.
Well poop
Poochie - July 5, 2009
Cedeno!
Bearskin Rugburn - July 5, 2009
I know I should be happy with a winning road trip
but goddamnit, bullpen.
I Lick Squirrels - July 5, 2009
Ah, the long awaited shoe has dropped for the pen
What an ugly, silly way to lose a ballgame. Then again, they didn’t have much business winning the other two so it’s OK. It’s going to be nice when Olsen or Vargas can go back to the pen so we don’t have to see Batista and Lowe face a bunch of lefties any more (which… actually where the fuck was Vargas today? I’d have loved to see him up there).
Bearskin Rugburn - July 5, 2009
Vargas still is starting next week, right?
Or is that Olson?
calim - July 5, 2009
I dunno
but with Morrow going as long as he is and Bedard back to face the Os i don’t see where Vargas fits in. Schedule says Washburn, Bedard, Felix for the Orioles, so I guess it’ll be Olsen to kick off the Rangers series followed by Morrow Washburn and Bedard. Not the best alignment for Texas but I like our chances against the Os.
Bearskin Rugburn - July 5, 2009
Baker said Felix was being saved for the first game in the Texas series
So Wash-Bedard-Vargas, Felix-Morrow-Wash-Bedard?
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
We're going to sweep the Rangers
gregrabble - July 5, 2009
Eh
Felix-Holland
Morrow-Feldman
Wash-Millwood
Bedard-Padilla
Only the first one seems like a true advantage, given that Padilla always seems to kill us.
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
Millwood and Padilla are terrible.
Teej - July 5, 2009
Well, they also get Hamilton back
So there’s that.
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
Yeah but he does crack
gregrabble - July 5, 2009
So did Doc Gooden
and Doc Gooden was fucking good.
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
Doesnt Millwood have like a 2.90 ERA or something?
Rudy4three - July 5, 2009
That is irrelevant to whether or not he sucks
gregrabble - July 5, 2009
Texas also has one of the best defenses in the league.
His tRA is 5.58 and his tRA+ is 86. Washburn’s tRA+ is 91.
ERA is bad. You know this.
Aaron Campeau - July 5, 2009
I was trying to get lucky. I've seen him pitch pretty well and assumed that
his sub 3 ERA likely put him with at least a respectable tRA
Rudy4three - July 5, 2009
And a 4.49 FIP with a low BABIP and a high LOB%.
He’s not the worst pitcher alive, but the idea that he’s turned a corner this year is wrong. He’s striking out fewer and walking more than he did last year.
Defense!
Teej - July 5, 2009
It's amazing
how just a couple defensive players can make an entire pitching staff look so good. Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz are carrying that team defensively (though Kinsler has been much better than usual).
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
I want to take Elvis Andrus home with me.
Teej - July 5, 2009
But it's not like Millwood faces us without his defense
seattlebruin - July 5, 2009
Yes but if the argument is over whether Millwood himself is a good pitcher because of his ERA....he's really not
Saying Texas’ defense and therefore overall run prevention has improved is true, but saying Millwood is a better pitcher is not, because his ERA is inflated by said defense while the things he has control over have actually gotten worse.
OlSalty - July 5, 2009
Agreed, but the crux of the argument is whether or not Millwood is a bad matchup for us
and since he’s a decent pitcher thanks to his defense, him on the mound is thus a bad matchup for us. Were we to be considering acquiring him or something, I’d be running away screaming, but in this case, the defense of Texas has to be factored in.
seattlebruin - July 6, 2009
Also, it feels really weird to be complimenting the Rangers on their defense.
seattlebruin - July 6, 2009
In this case, it is not Millwood that is the bad matchup, or even Millwood+defense.
It’s simply the Texas defense.
Matthew - July 6, 2009
Not likely
oc - July 5, 2009
Oh I would say very likely sir
gregrabble - July 5, 2009
No faith in Lowe to do anything
Batista, ugh.
appleshampoo - July 5, 2009
Was Kelley dead?
Graham MacAree - July 5, 2009
I know Wak said he didn't want to put Kelley into any high leverage situations right away.
But considering how many pitches Lowe threw on Friday night, and that Batista is Batista, you’d think he could have made an exception.
katal - July 5, 2009
I think people also need to realize that Shawn Kelley isn't amazingly awesome either.
He’s pitched well, and yes, with really good control, but we have a really small sample to go with.
Matthew - July 5, 2009
The last time he made an exception with Kelly we lost a two run lead.
There really isn’t an obvious answer right now.
ThundaPC - July 5, 2009
Woo.
Morning slightly ruined.
IcebreakerX - July 5, 2009
I hate the Angels official subthread
They’ve tied up Balitmore for a third time, 6-6, and have bases loaded no outs in the seventh
calim - July 5, 2009
And
a bases-loaded walk. I hate those
calim - July 5, 2009
Every likely trade piece we had this year has turned into a tremendous failure.
CapSea - July 5, 2009
Branyan? Washburn? Aardsma?
to name a few. I am a little shocked by how much Lowe sucks now that he’s back to normal velo after his surgery. Maybe a little stint in AAA to cool his heels and remember how to throw strikes would be helpful… Corco can keep his spot warm for him in the meantime.
Bearskin Rugburn - July 5, 2009
Branyan, yes.
Washburn … debatable, given how he is pitching now. And Aardsma was unlikely to be a trade piece until he took the closer job from Morrow. Originally he was just a useful bullpen arm, which are sort of always trade pieces, but not really.
Everyone is conceivably a trade piece, but Beltre, Bedard, Lowe (?), and Balentien who were all very likely trade candidates are now likely to fetch very little. We always have options because everyone is a trade piece, but I would say that at least our big two are gone, along with a few likely candidates.
CapSea - July 5, 2009
The awful thing about bullpen regression is that when it happens, it has a very good chance of costing the team a game in the standings.
I desperately want to see the team make a trade; either so the pitchers who have been pitching above their heads can go to another team before they come crashing down to the earth, or so we can seriously upgrade.
katal - July 5, 2009
I think it regressing in a game like today is fine. Lots of regression today lumped into one game.
Lets not forget the bullpen was pretty darn good this series given the opponent and ballpark.
Im totally fine with them blowing up today. Let them get that regression out of their systems in what was pretty much a cherry on top final game of a series
Rudy4three - July 5, 2009
That isn't how regression works.
It isn’t the flu.
Aaron Campeau - July 5, 2009
Gambler's Fallacy
pygmalion - July 6, 2009
Or perhaps
you’re just playing around, in which case, no harm, no foul.
pygmalion - July 6, 2009
So I figured my annoyance at the way this game was lost would fade as the day went on
but it turns out no.
Aaron Campeau - July 5, 2009
Same here!
gregrabble - July 5, 2009
Does it feel like that's the way the entire season has been going, and you have to look at the w/l column to feel better?
Only it just feels like there is a huge disappointment that just hasn’t happened yet?
Kermit. - July 5, 2009
I'm actually having a blast this season and as much as I want to win and go to the playoffs it would be tough for me to feel prolonged disappointment no matter the outcome.
On top of that, I’m thrilled with the road trip and with taking two of three at Fenway.
But I am still really pissed off about today’s game.
Aaron Campeau - July 5, 2009
I'm still haunted by the ghost of Bavasi past, that's some tough baggage to get rid of.
Knowing that defense is hard to quantify and responsible for much of this success doesn’t help. Looking at a line up of sluggers has it’s own measure of reassurance. I think the only solution for my particular problem is a good old fashioned revenge killing.
Kermit. - July 5, 2009
I think its the way that it was lost that is bothering everyone.
I mean, if Boston started out with an 8-0 lead, I am sure we wouldn’t be as pissed about today.
Fin - July 5, 2009
I was barely bothered by this game
but mostly because I expected our bullpen couldn’t hold up against a very good offense for that long, so I had low expectations. The only thing that ended up bugging me was that the bullpen (Lowe) beat itself instead.
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
Yes! That's what bugs me the most, there's this helpless vibe when Wak turns it over to the bullpen
Like fate is going to be determined by which the wind is blowing, that is such a shitty feeling
Kermit. - July 5, 2009
That and the Angels coming back on bases-loaded walks.
msb - July 5, 2009
Ronny got it his OPS above .500.
Its steadliy climbing.
houseofprime - July 5, 2009
Well...sounds like a game I'm not sad I missed.
kentcheesehead - July 5, 2009
It was fun for a while
msb - July 5, 2009
RUINATION!
Teej - July 5, 2009
Tui is back in action
in Arizona tonight. Don’t know how long it would take for him to get all the way back. I still don’t think he’s quite ready for the majors, but who knows.
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
Would he be a significantly better option than Woodward?
gregrabble - July 5, 2009
Offensively he would.
But he’s just rehabbing at this point so lets just wait and see.
Slurvey - July 5, 2009
Yeah
Reports around the time Beltre got injured said he wouldn’t be back that long before Beltre, so sounds like it may be a long process.
Fuckmikereilly - July 5, 2009
Yes
Poochie - July 5, 2009
Gayoffs?
OlSalty - July 5, 2009
Walk, Walk, BOOM!
Big Seahawk Loser - July 5, 2009
That's how Arizona snapped a no-hitter!
Walk, walk, MARK REYNOLDS’D!
Slurvey - July 5, 2009
‘SPLODEY! … I’m tragedorable!
oc - July 5, 2009
I'm very happy
A 9 game road trip against LA, NY and Boston. We didn’t get crushed, instead we went 5-4 against three of the better teams around…..on the road…..with some serious injury holes. Realistically, 3-6 wouldn’t have been terrible.
And we were in every game we lost except the first game in LA.
Big Jared - July 6, 2009
Missed the game, other than the first inning on the radio
How did Morrow look? His line doesn’t look too bad, especially the BB/K, but I know he was piping a bunch of fastballs down the pike in the first inning, yielding the 2 HRs. Which was annoying because it seemed like he was getting the FB in the zone enough to work in the offspeed stuff. Was he able to throw the offspeed stuff consistently in the later innings?
3 HRs in one game obviously sucks, but it’s cool that they were all solo, I feel like earlier in the season he would have had walked a couple of guys on before those blasts.
appleshampoo - July 6, 2009
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