I don't even care. Nobody cares. This is stupid.
Here's the actual box score. Things you need to know:
Things available for you to know:
- Jason Vargas had another shutout appearance, establishing himself as the early favorite to win out as the fifth starter. Should the numbers matter? Some, but not much - over small samples against varying competition in the ST environment, the relationship between performance and statistics is flimsy at best. However, they do matter a little, at least in that Wak would have a hard time giving the #5 job to a 10.00 ST ERA over a 2.00 ST ERA. And it's not like ST performance is completely random. So Vargas does have the edge here. Throw in the fact that we're hearing he looks "calm" while Doug Fister looked nervous, and that doesn't hurt.
- Luke French and Garrett Olson also think they're competing for the spot, which is just darling.
- Felix Hernandez threw a simulated game today and looked good. Rob Johnson caught the simulated game and looked less good.
- Jose Lopez played third again, of course, and while he couldn't handle a pop-up hit into swirling winds, he did apparently manage to turn a backhand play, which is good, because if he weren't able to turn a backhand play, that would be bad. MGL has it right - if the M's choose to move ahead with this Lopez/Figgins arrangement, they are presumably doing so because they think it's in their best interests, and we simply aren't sufficiently informed to criticize their call. We can question it, and we can talk about it, but we can't arrive at any unique conclusions.
- Things I noticed from today's PITCHfx data: both Mike Koplove and Steven Shell get crazy tail on their fastballs. Their embarrassing, womanly fastballs. Levale Speigner gets a lot of movement, too, but he actually has some concept of what "90" feels like, so he's far too talented to belong in this bullet point.
- More action at shortstop for Matt Tuiasosopo. Matthew and I talk about this in the podcast (which will go up tomorrow), so I don't want to spoil very much, but keep an eye on this. Tui hasn't played short since 2006, and it's never been considered a long-term position possibility of his, but by and large he's been receiving positive reviews so far, so if he can handle it, that's meaningful. Says Wak:
"[Tui] gives us some offensive plusses compared to some of the other guys (vying for utility roles) so it's going to be a big key for him."
I like Jack Hannahan, but I also like offense, so there's nothing wrong with the team gathering information and looking to increase its options.
- Franklin Gutierrez is fine, in case you were aware that he wasn't a week ago.
Since when have we had a player named Steven Shell
Dewey N - March 9, 2010
May 9th
Mariner John - March 9, 2010
7/26/09: Never forget!
Steven Shell is tough.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2009/08/02/831385/rainiers-pitcher-who-was-hit-in.html
that’s a mobile link. Wish I could make it pretty for you, but such is life.
marc w - March 9, 2010 via mobile
That's nothing
Jeff Sullivan - March 9, 2010
I guess so. He was reassigned to the minors today.
marc w - March 10, 2010
This tickles me
royalcurve - March 9, 2010
Color me NOT BOTHERED by Loafie being tried at third.
If that is a color, anyway. It’s ST and it’s early ST at that. It’s a good time to try guys out at different positions. Loafie and Chone presumably remember where to run to at their original positions. If Loafie’s still looking like a joke of a 3B around Opening Day time I guess I’ll be more worried. But more than anything else I’m okay with it if the physical tools (primarily his arm) look up to the task. Really, Chone’s the one I’m more worried about.
Johnny Slick - March 9, 2010
*I* care....
section331 - March 10, 2010
Wrong era FTL
appleshampoo - March 10, 2010
Oh, shush.
I can’t help it that pretty much everyone here is younger than I am by a good decade. :p
section331 - March 10, 2010
No no no
I’m saying the picture of Luke is from RotJ and the quote is from ANH. I’m a huge Star Wars junkie despite being born after the last (good) movie.
appleshampoo - March 10, 2010
Oh dear
You’ve just outgeeked me, frisbee boy.
In my defense, it was the first photo I found that I didn’t have to work too hard to resize. ;)
section331 - March 10, 2010
Where are you getting the Pitch/Fx data from?
I would love to take a look at it but after a brief persual of the mlb site, could not find anything. Is this from a non-public source or am I missing the obvious?
tdot mariner fan - March 10, 2010
Here you go
This is yesterday’s game, and you can get pitch fx data by clicking on ‘pitch by pitch’ for any game played in Surprise or Peoria.
marc w - March 10, 2010
Whoopsadoodle.
HERE’S one that actual has data. Weird.
marc w - March 10, 2010
Why'd they remove the pitch fx data from yesterday's games?
I was following it at the time, but now the M’s game and the Royals game have no pitch fx data. Odd.
marc w - March 10, 2010
No idea
I noticed the same thing.
Jeff Sullivan - March 10, 2010
You can still find it here, though
http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2010/month_03/day_09/gid_2010_03_09_clemlb_seamlb_1/
Jeff Sullivan - March 10, 2010
Thanks this is a great tool I had no idea about
tdot mariner fan - March 10, 2010
I just watched Shell work with 5 coaches in a bullpen.
It sucks he got hit around like that.
mark sobba - March 10, 2010
"Luke French and Garrett Olson also think they're competing for the spot, which is just darling."
This cracked me up, well done.
sanford_and_son - March 10, 2010
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