Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images
bor-ing
I was intending to write something up about the home opener. However, I didn't get back to Portland until 1, and even having been at the Safe to watch them firsthand, the Mariners didn't really give me anything to write about. So here we are. Before the game, FSN ran a poll asking fans what they were most excited about in the afternoon. 45% said "Randy Johnson's first pitch." 21% said "the game." I made a crack about the results when I saw them, but it turns out the people were right. Wisdom Of Crowds, I guess.
It's one thing to get owned by Brett Anderson, but when you're getting two-hit at home by Justin Duchscherer, that's when things get uncomfortable. All game long there were statements being made about how awful this team looks, and while any team would look awful going 2-6, and while the Mariners are better than this, there's no questioning that they have a certain feel about them when they get in these slumps. Maybe it's the same feel that any team gets when it sucks, but when this team's at the plate, there's a feeling of hopelessness, and when this team's in the field, there's an air of inevitability, especially when the other guys get runners on. The only thing more predictable than the M's stranding Franklin Gutierrez in the fourth was Gabe Gross not stranding his two runners in the seventh. Randy's pitch and flashy infield defense aside, that was a miserable game, and what's worse is that it blended in so well with all the others.
Do we panic? You don't need me to tell you that it's still early, that it's only been eight games. Of course the team isn't this bad. Nobody's hitting their averages, and even if Griffey "looks finished," you can't dogpile on him, because he's just one of a number of guys not doing what's expected. Things will even out, and as they do, the team will score more runs. Of that there's no question.
Consider what you think about the Angels. The Angels are 2-5, have a worse run differential than we do, and are well on their way to their sixth loss right now as they've blown some glorious run-scoring situations in New York. A lot of Angels fans are probably freaking out, but you expect them to get a lot better, as you should. The Angels are a pretty good team, and the Mariners are a pretty good team, and pretty good teams don't lose 75% of their games.
Here's the problem, though - at the start of the year, we told you time and time again that the West would be a tight division, and now that we're about a week into the year, the M's are four games out of first place. Meaning they need to be that much better over the remaining 154 if they want to make the playoffs. A four-game deficit over five and a half months can seem like a lot or a little depending on how you look at it, but it's a clear disadvantage. Our postseason odds might be half what they were last weekend. Half! It's both a surmountable deficit, and a significant one.
So the Mariners need to shape up, and they need to shape up soon, because no matter how long the baseball season may be, a bad start can torpedo a team before it so much as moves off the shore. Tonight would be a good time to start. A win tonight pulls the M's a game closer. A win tomorrow draws them closer still. It's too early to care about the games back, but it's also never too early to care about the games back, because games back mean everything. The M's can't afford to fall many more games back. They can't afford it, because they aren't good enough to crawl out of a big April hole.
The Mariners are a talented team, and from this point forward, I expect them to play like it. And they better. There is no panic threshold, no single game on which everything rests. Every additional loss, however, makes things just a little more bleak, and it's too early for bleak. It's April 13th. So with that in mind, I would like no more of this poor performance, no more of this losing. No more of it, indeed.
1 recs | 263 comments
The game was sure depressing to be at after the pre-game festivities.
It’s only made worse by everyone in my section looking at me funny when I started yelling about how Rob Johnson sucks as they heckle Bradley. I hope tonight is better. I didn’t come this far to see two shit games.
SethGrandpa - April 13, 2010
I like how they introduced Bradley first before the game and used fireworks to cover up any potential fan response
Walking out of the stadium, I eavesdropped on some people asking if this was going to be the worst sports year in Seattle history. Obviously stupid, but you can sense that people are already getting fed up with this team.
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
Come on, guys; let's think positive!
Believe big! I’m not going to give up on our M’s just yet, and neither should any of you.
katherinekiyoko - April 13, 2010
We're not giving up by any stretch of the imagination
We’re just frustrated to shit.
cwel87 - April 13, 2010
Nobody's giving up
Literally nobody. But everybody is more nervous than they were eight days ago.
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
Actually ...
… I’m not really a fairweather fan, but I’ve read this book before. What makes it worse is that the braintrust have staked their collective reputation on a couple of decisions that do not look wise and they seem to have little recognition of the notion of sunk costs.
Gekko Mojo - April 13, 2010
Which decisions are you referring to?
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
keeping Sweeny, putting MB into LF, catching situation ...
Gekko Mojo - April 13, 2010
Clearly those are the brain trust's decisions
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
2 out of 3
Seem pretty easy to rectify and expecting them to make major roster decisions within the first 10 games strikes me as a might hasty. The FO has staked their reputation on the Lee trade, Guti trade and Felix extension. All of which are things I think we’re pretty happy about yes?
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
The braintrust staked their reputation on those decisions?
katal - April 13, 2010
to the point where they violated what appear to be their own principles in roster management in making those decisions
Gekko Mojo - April 13, 2010
What
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
I'd say it was the exact opposite
the braintrust has hardly staked their entire reputations on this, and seem stunningly aware of what sunk costs are and how to trade them for Milton Bradley
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
You meant to post this in 2007 right?
moyerLIVES - April 13, 2010
Why do you believe the FO has little recognition of sunk cost?
katal - April 13, 2010
I guess that's a good way to put it...
but we could easily look at this as the low point of the season. Instead of our July slump, we’re getting it out of the way early and soon Lee will be pitching and everything will be better.
katherinekiyoko - April 13, 2010
Unfortunately that's not really the way these things happen
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
Damn it!
You mean were allowed more than one slump a year?
JLProck - April 13, 2010
Our true talent level still as an 83-86 win team, but we can only be expected to play at that level for the remaining 154 games.
So going 2-6 does hurt, and it’s the gambler’s fallacy to think that some force will even all these early losses out.
Decatur - April 13, 2010
Could anything really beat 2008 for Seattle sports?
The mariners sucked, the seahawks sucked, the sonics….left, and the college teams where pretty terrible as well.
the other side - April 13, 2010
No, that year's in a class all its own
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
That was a truly special year
that was a near-impossible level of sucking
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
I sort of miss it
Dewey N - April 13, 2010
You know it's bad when we are forced to romanticize the suck.
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
No I've always romanticized 2008
Dewey N - April 13, 2010
The Storm did something!
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
shut up
Edgar for Pres - April 13, 2010
I've had season tickets since their inception.
They’re pretty good
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
Before I went to Spring Training I looked at Baseball-References and looked at the 2008 Mariners.
My oh my! That team was horrible.
mark sobba - April 13, 2010
I just hate that people have such short memories
that this “could be worse”
rbr07 - April 13, 2010
A quick and dirty calculation tells me that the 2-6 start has cost the team about two games from the projected total
That is, if they are an 85 win true talent team and play that way (.525) for the rest of the season, then they’ll finish with 83 wins. If they were an 83 win team, they should finish at .500. And so on.
I like thinking of things this way because it puts it into perspective. None of our players have gotten worse because of these eight games, and the talent on the team remains, so we shoudln’t panic. On the other hand, the games do count and they’re going to have to play that much better, or luckier, to get to the top of the division.
Bearskin Rugburn - April 13, 2010
I completely understand the concept of gambler's fallacy
But teams naturally go through stretches of hot and cold streaks.
This is undoubtedly colder then Pluto.
cwel87 - April 13, 2010
Nevertheless, whatever your projection for the M's was
you should dock it two games.
Bearskin Rugburn - April 13, 2010
I know, I know
Damn it all.
cwel87 - April 13, 2010
Good thing I projected them as a 100 win team
This slow start will just help the drama of the eventual movie made about this 2010 season.
Snuffleupagus - April 13, 2010
If in a couple weeks, the Mariners are outperforming their projected win rate, should you add to your expectations?
philkid3 - April 13, 2010
(Meant as an honest question.)
philkid3 - April 13, 2010
Say the Mariners play .714 ball for the rest of April after this miserable opening.
This means that at the end of the month, we’ll have a 13-10 record.
You still project them as a true talent level 85 win team (.525). For the remaining 139 games, then, you say 139*.525=72.975+13=85.975 wins, so call them an 86 win team. Your true talent level projection has them gaining a win on the back of the record they’ve already built.
harkening - April 13, 2010
Milton Bradley has 28 PAs and a BABIP of 0.
0!
Matthew - April 13, 2010
And somehow has a .250 OBP
cwel87 - April 13, 2010
I think this is my favorite stat of the year so far
either that or Franklin Gutierrez being on pace to be a 14.5 WAR player if you use +/- as his actual defensive numbers
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
As fan of Gutierrez I think I would love a 14 WAR season from him.
Maybe he would even win the “Gold Glove” award this year.
mark sobba - April 13, 2010
Are you kidding?
Not while Torii Hunter is alive. I mean we all know he’s the superior fielder.
the other side - April 13, 2010
Seems like he let a pretty big one drop today.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
12 balls in play and not a single hit
Lame as hell.
OlSalty - April 13, 2010
and he's made some solid contact
he’ll be fine.
Snuffleupagus - April 13, 2010
Ten grand
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Noticed this last night. Remarkable.
Griffin Cooper - April 13, 2010
No line drives neither
Dewey N - April 13, 2010
He had a homer stolen
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Yes he did
Dewey N - April 13, 2010
How can that be...?
He’s at least hit one home run. Does a home run not count as a ball in play?
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Are the stands in play?
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
According to Franklin
yes.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
They are for Frabklin and Ichiro!
lemonverbena - April 13, 2010
And Rajai Davis >:(
Bearskin Rugburn - April 13, 2010
And Kenny Lofton (breaks window with angry thoughts).
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
In a manner of speaking
yes, they are.
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
No
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
Hm, interesting.
Good to know. Is it not considered a ball in play because (at least in theory) a fielder cannot possibly make a play on it?
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Correct
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
Ok, that makes sense.
I’m thinking about the purpose of the statistic from the batter’s perspective. One would want to know a batter’s BABIP to know how lucky (or skilled) he is at putting a ball where fielders could reach the ball but don’t. In contradistinction to that, one would want to know a team/pitcher’s BABIP to know how effective that pitcher/team is at putting balls where they can be reached/reaching balls that can be reached. So I guess knowing how could that player is at putting balls where they can’t be reached, or how bad that pitcher/team is at keeping balls where they can be reached/reaching balls that can be reached wouldn’t matter for this statistic. Wow, I guess that was kind of obvious, but apparently not for me. I had to work that one out for a bit.
So what about a ball that bounced off an outfielder’s glove (or head—hello, Jose Canseco) and over the fence? In theory, at least, a fielder could possibly have made a play on that ball.
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
I would think that would be something along the lines of
an extremely rare anomaly. How many batters have gotten a home run like that in their careers? Have any had it happen twice?
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
I can only think of two.
Jose Canseco and when Jason Michaels had the ball in his glove about 5-6 feet from the wall and in some weird nonsense he flipped it up over the wall.
Lets call in an anomaly.
PShwa - April 13, 2010
That has happened one time in the history of baseball
I think we can call it negligible against the millions of other batted balls in play
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
They'd be classified as HR and therefore not in play
Clearly this is wrong but it happens so infrequently that nobody would care too much
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
And that's exactly what I was guessing.
Yay for thinking about baseball numbers… now back to bending over and letting calc have its way with my sphincter.
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Huh
I believe you, just that it seems counterintutive to exclude home runs from the stat. I assumed a stat measuring “balls in play” would include all in-play batted balls hit between the white lines. If a ball goes over the fence, all the better.
lemonverbena - April 13, 2010
This is exactly what I was thinking.
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Perhaps an easier way to think of it would be
“balls in play that can reasonably be defended against” or something like that.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
If you include homers, it's just batting average, and we already have that stat.
By removing homers, we can at least get closer to understanding how much a hitter/pitcher has been helped/hurt by defense and luck.
Removing homers also helps in evaluating a team’s defensive efficiency. If you add homers, defenders who play behind homer-prone pitchers are unfairly penalized.
I understand what you’re saying, but we already know how many homers a guy has hit. What we’re trying to do with BABIP isn’t to measure a player’s skill, but to gauge if he’s been unlucky or not. Include homers, and you’re favoring guys who hit more homers.
Someone can explain this better than I can, but what I’m saying is we already have stats to reward a guy for hitting homers. BABIP is a supplemental number that we use to learn a little more.
Teej - April 13, 2010
The explanation was perfectly summed up in your subject line.
Matthew - April 13, 2010
I'm nothing if not long-winded.
Teej - April 13, 2010
Rec'd for noticing your own flaw.
Meant in fun.
marinerdan - April 13, 2010
Thank you sir, for entertaining my ignorance
lemonverbena - April 14, 2010
BABIP is not really designed to measure a hitter's skill though
I have always viewed it more as a measurement of a hitter’s luck, and/or a measurement of the defense and how it affects a pitcher/hitter
tootthekazoo - April 13, 2010
You can read right along as I wander my way to this conclusion.
Just click here!
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Splendid!
royalcurve - April 13, 2010
I couldn't tell out in RF, but was Milton getting heckled by the fans over there in the field? Sounded like it.
kentroyals5 - April 13, 2010
I was sitting in the left field stands and there were quite a few fans down on Milton after he flubbed that grounder.
Of course, these were the same fans that cheered like hell when he almost through that guy out at home plate. Go figure that they cheer good plays and jeer bad ones.
JLProck - April 13, 2010
Same
They seemed to grow weary of him as the game proceeded steadily down the crapper.
Omerta - April 13, 2010
So... how long until we get Lee and Bedard back?
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
A month
Matthew - April 13, 2010
Shit
Poochie - April 13, 2010
It's going to be great to get their bats in the line-up....
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
You are mistaken
Pitchers do not hit in the AL
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Shit
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
Why would you want either of them to hit?
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Apparently it was a bad attempt at sarcasm.
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
I thought it was funny
el generico - April 13, 2010
Dude, they'll be in time for interleague.
the other side - April 13, 2010
Pessimistic schedule fot Lee is a week into May
optimistic schedule for Bedard is late May, from what I’ve read.
Bearskin Rugburn - April 13, 2010
Great write-up
I agree… its the old cliche, divisions aren’t won in April, but they can be lost. If we get on a roll and miss the playoffs by a few games, we’re all going to be looking back to the first week of the season thinking “Damn, if only we had played well THEN”. I don’t want that to happen. Things need to turn around quick.
E-Lizz - April 13, 2010
It's not helping that we're a bit banged up right now
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Are we really banged up? We're missing one key player.
Can’t really use Bedard since we knew he was going to be out for a few months
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
Hannahan as well
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
I don't think a back-up infielder is a good example of how "banged-up" we are.
the other side - April 13, 2010
Yeah, because literally not having anyone else on the team who can passably play SS or 2B is a good thing
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Valid point. I'm not saying it doesn't suck that he's hurt. It's just not whats making us lose.
the other side - April 13, 2010
You really think not having Hannahan has contributed to this 2-6 start?
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
It's not helping and we'll be a better team when he returns
also, with Hannahan out, you cannot pinch-hit for Jack Wilson, which is bad
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
I see what you're saying.
In the long run though what does his contribution really equal? 1 win if he plays really well?
the other side - April 13, 2010
Flexibility is a good thing, and the alternatives are Josh Wilson or Matthew Tuisasosopo
but yeah, probably like 1-1.5 WAR sounds reasonable
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
I think that what it really comes down to.
We have a weird amount of flexibility at some positions and then none at others. I think Hannahan would probably help this some. When is he supposed to come back anyway?
the other side - April 13, 2010
Once again, I'm having a hard time recalling a situation this year
where Hannahan would have gotten a start, or gone into a game as a defensive replacement and made an impact.
I’m also having a hard time recalling a situation where Jack Wilson has had to bat in a situation that we could have used a pinch hitter. Moreover, the bench bats are so terrible, I have a hard time believing Wak would have ever seriously considered pinch hitting for Wilson.
Hannahan has value in that he can spell Wilson when he gets banged up for a few days. Other than that, I fail to see how he’s considered a key member of this team.
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
Every time Jack Wilson bats, we could have used a pinch hitter.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
A's fan here
Hannahan was hard to watch in an Oakland Uniform. Unless Alan Cockrell has worked a miracle, I’d imagine his impact would be minimal.
hishnik - April 13, 2010
Hannahan allows the team to pinch hit for Wilson in the late innings without being too great of a defensive falloff.
He’s a better option for spot starts than anyone else available as well.
BrianL - April 13, 2010
And actually has a little offensive upside!
No, Jack Hannahan isn’t a savior. But he’s not terrible either, and he’s a good defensive player, which is a pretty huge plus
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
I want to argue that having Hannahan would help...
But after the PH penalty, is Tui instead of Wilson enough of an offensive upgrade to overcome the defensive impact from going Wilson to Hannahan?
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
The defensive downgrade is almost irrelevant because we are assuming in this situation if we do not score, we lose the game
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Tui wouldn't even be the guy pinch hitting, he's not on
this team if Hannahan is.
So it’s Mike Sweeney or Griffey as your PH.
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
So then it's literally no offensive upgrade.
That’s great.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
They're both significantly better hitters than Wilson
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Pinch-hitting penalty negates virtually any difference.
With Griffey, you get a little boost as long as it’s against a RHP, but it’s like 5-10 wOBA points difference, which is 3 runs over the course of a season or .005 runs over one PA.
The difference between Wilson and Hannahan is about .01 runs over one inning.
So it’s a downgrade even then.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
What about that game in Oakland where Wilson struck out with the bases loaded?
If Hannahan was healthy, Wak could have used a pinch hitter there. And I don’t think that was the only situation.
I Lick Squirrels - April 13, 2010
That's the only situation I recall. And that was in like the sixth
inning. Wak rarely pinch hits, so I’m not going to assume he would have been willing to make a switch there.
Plus, once again, who is pinch hitting, our bench bats stink and you have to factor in the PH penalty
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
So was Davis out at the plate?
I’m guessing the right call was made but it looked close from far away.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
I want to know about the play at first.
That seemed amazingly obvious from my seats in RF, but didn’t get a replay.
Matthew - April 13, 2010
It was obvious
He was incredibly out.
cwel87 - April 13, 2010
I blame Rob Johnson
killer_ewok18 - April 13, 2010
Obviously.
the other side - April 13, 2010
This too. He looked out from where I was as well.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
HD Replays and Pitch F/X
coupled with old school resistance to instant replay is really making me hate umpires.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
I was in the first row of section 320 looking right down on that play.
Seemed like he was out by a mile.
BrianL - April 13, 2010
He looked safe on the replays I saw.
It was a great throw, pretty bad tag. It was Davis though and he is fucking fast.
the other side - April 13, 2010
I like how Rob Johnson has played the catcher position long enough to make a professional team as one
And yet he still has no concept of how to block home plate.
Actually, no, I don’t like it.
cwel87 - April 13, 2010
I was just surprised Johnson caught it.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
Progress!
Wish he would do it when Felix pitches.
the other side - April 13, 2010
I had the benefit of a few replays.
Davis made a great hook slide and Johnson whiffed on the tag. I’m not sure Rob even had a chance, to be honest.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
But he's still welcome to go play in traffic.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
Yes but would a decent catcher have had a chance?
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
I don't think so. Bradley's throw was awesome, but the last hop slowed it down quite a bit.
That slight delay gave Davis the advantage and his slide kept his body well away from the tag.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
Good to know.
It happened lighting quick from the upper deck. The one at first was fucking obvious though. That stupid mother fucker didn’t have an angle but because he’s a god damn umpire he can’t appeal or use replay.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
You have a chance if you block the plate.
It’s simple as that. Am I saying he would have made the play? No, but he’d have had a chance.
PShwa - April 13, 2010
Davis beat the hop to Johnson's glove.
Had he blocked the plate, he Davis would have trucked him and the ball would have been rolling free somewhere.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
But again, I'm all for Rob Johnson getting steamrolled.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
Not going to disagree with this.
PShwa - April 13, 2010
Hard to fault anyone for that, really.
You’re going to have a hard time gunning down Davis on a ball that deep.
Bearskin Rugburn - April 13, 2010
Johnson never touched him
Bearskin Rugburn - April 13, 2010
Alright, good to know.
I was pretty far away and of course couldn’t see a replay so I was just curious.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
I was shocked at the tepid response for Randy Johnson.
There were probably ~5 people in my section standing and cheering, the rest were on their butts.
waldo rojas - April 13, 2010
As stupid as it is, Randy Johnson was never the same icon that Griffey was
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Yeah I was expecting a Griffey-esque homecoming reaction.
People cheered but it wasn’t as deafening as I had built it up to in my mind leading up to the game.
Omerta - April 13, 2010
It didn't help that he walked from center field so the applause was somewhat diluted by the time he got to the mound.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
That just made me think of him coming out of the pen in 95, which I found to be exciting.
waldo rojas - April 13, 2010
He got huge applause when he was back here last year
and you have to remember that some people (stupidly) have negative feelings towards him because of the way both side parted ways
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Randy got huge applause (as I recall) when he came back with the D-Backs in the first week Safeco was open
And got a good response when he started the 2001 All-Star game. Not like he’s never been back.
lemonverbena - April 13, 2010
Dan Wilson got a louder ovation, at least that's how it came across on television
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
Things often come across wrong on television?
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Were you at the game, if so, then I'd love to be corrected, since I find it
amusing (in bad way) that Seattle appreciates Dan Wilson more than Randy Johnson.
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
Dan Wilson is awesome
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Not even remotely as awesome as Randy Johnson
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
Incorrect
Robert - April 13, 2010
I mean that I have no idea
Poochie - April 13, 2010
Randy Johnson had a minute long loud standing ovation
Dan Wilson got a cheer.
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
There were two guys in front of me that damn near fainted with joy when Randy walked out.
I swear it was like being at a Michael Jackson concert and watching all those teenaged girls falling over.
JLProck - April 13, 2010
Good to hear
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
I think too, with Dan, it was the surprise that it was him coming out to catch
msb - April 13, 2010
People were surprised?
We called that before the game. Seemed very typical of how this team likes to milk the entire 1995 roster for all they are worth.
Sec 108 - April 13, 2010
I know what you mean, I thought the same thing.
But I think it’s just due to the applause for Randy finally dying down a bit in anticipation for the pitch. Then the Dan Wilson announcement was made and it spiked again.
I thought the reception was fine, everyone was standing and cheering in my section (328).
ralphie81 - April 13, 2010
I was about 40 rows up around the Home Plate/dugout section.
The ovation was loud and everyone was on their feet.
Randy took a moment to stand by himself out in the mound and wave to all the people. The ovation died a little at that point. So when Wilson came out and everyone realized that it wouldn’t be … I don’t know Rob Johnson or Jesus Colome catching the first pitch, then the crowd went wild. The new ovation wasn’t just about Wilson, it was because the old team was back together again.
mark sobba - April 13, 2010
I can just picture RJ dropping that 58 mph fastball. Getting crossed up you know.
the other side - April 13, 2010
I can hear the interview now.
RJ: I was expecting some high heat, but he threw that little looper. How do you catch something like that? The guys crafty!
mark sobba - April 13, 2010
Ahem... RJ= Randy Johnson (aka the big unit)
If you want to use 2 letters for Rob Johnson you could use DB. I doubt anyone would mind.
ToddK - April 13, 2010
I would mind as those are my initials.
Eyeball Kid - April 13, 2010
Ahhh. Let's go a different direction then.
ToddK - April 13, 2010
Is DB Designated Bitch?
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
Or DoucheBag or DroppedBall (I know, it should be PB but I liked the either/or)
ToddK - April 13, 2010
RoPB Johnson!
On second thought, maybe not.
pmc47 - April 13, 2010
I think it might have been more of a surprise then anything else. We all knew Johnson was gonna be there...but having Wilson come out to catch was unexpected
eflegen - April 13, 2010
I would have been more surprised had Wilson not caught RJ.
kentroyals5 - April 13, 2010
It was loud from where we were sitting
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
Opening day crowd can be a little different.
Even so, I know I’m not the type of fan that likes to hoot and holler. The most you’ll get out of me is some standing and clapping and that’s about it.
Janic - April 13, 2010
Honestly?
Where I was sitting it was people standing and screaming their heads off as far as I could see.
royalcurve - April 13, 2010
It was crazy in my section.
BrianL - April 13, 2010
Just my perception, good to hear others had a different take.
waldo rojas - April 13, 2010
Everyone clapped and yelled non-stop for Randy in my section-2nd tier off left field.
And no boo birds for Bradley. I was just happy to see EDGAR. :) I love him.
wazzu93 - April 13, 2010
It could be a long while for the Griffey challenge people.
Don’t kill anyone.
the other side - April 13, 2010
At least I won't contract diabetes anytime soon.
And yes, I know that it takes more than just sugar to trigger it.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
Thanks Captain Obvious...I hadn't noticed this fact.
You can take your observations and…sorry, I’m a little cranky.
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
I bet you are.
the other side - April 13, 2010
I enjoyed the racist guy trying to heckle me in Japanese(?)
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
Which one was that? One of the dumbasses next to me?
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
As we were leaving the stadium a guy tried to shove his way in front of me
I removed him from the vicinity and he was apparently unimpressed.
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
I was wearing an Expos hat and had a guy yell at me in French.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
That's funny because there was a Japanese guy behind me trying to heckle a racist using slurs.
JLProck - April 13, 2010
I love Johjima!
kentroyals5 - April 13, 2010
I'm pretty sure of the exact moment the season went down the crapper.
Game 2, pulling Shawn Kelley after only 3 batters faced and 18 pitches thrown.
Kermit. - April 13, 2010
You make it seem like this is football
and loosing the second game in a tight division against a rival spells doom for us all
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
I'm pretty confident that was the moment the bell rang.
Kermit. - April 13, 2010
Also, they should fire one of the coaches.
Seems like the usual thing to do in these situations.
Kermit. - April 13, 2010
Mike Sweeney?
Matthew - April 13, 2010
Shouldn't we go after the one everyone hates?
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
Bill Plummer?
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
In all honesty I was expecting someone to reply with Mike Sweeney again.
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
Mike
Brumley.
harkening - April 13, 2010
The usual thing to do after a bad 8-game stretch
is have a better 8-game stretch.
chaney - April 13, 2010
Don Wakamatsu needs to go apeshit on an umpire.
Guaranteed method of igniting a team in a slump.
Kermit. - April 13, 2010
The Mariners need to fire their goalie coach
Matthew - April 13, 2010
You could have just texted me and gotten the same reception
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
There might be others
Matthew - April 13, 2010
Go to hell Sullivan
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
I thought you left the website
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
Which one?
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
Or are you just less sexy?
Jeff Sullivan - April 13, 2010
There's an occultation of my sexy star
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
I'm really not too concerned yet, but
I am pretty annoyed with our pitching. I know our offence is not great, but we knew that long before the season started. Our pitching, on other hand, has been seriously troublesome. Maybe they did not get enough work in during spring training, maybe they just have not found their grove, whatever it is they really need to get their shit together.
InSpokane - April 13, 2010
I imagine there are a lot of groves to search through in Washington to find the right one.
44FAN - April 13, 2010
This team has been flat out not fun to watch, that's the worst part for me.
I hope Lee and Bedard coming back can remedy that, and we start hitting more dingers.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
This team has been annoying the fans.
They’re supposed to be annoying the other teams!
ThundaPC - April 13, 2010
The "Believe Big" marketing campaign is perhaps the worst slogan they could have chosen
I hate it so much. This team has a small, rapidly decreasing chance of making the playoffs, nothing bigger than that. Marketing sucks.
sanford_and_son - April 13, 2010
Strongly agree
I really think they should have gone with something like ‘the future is here’ or something.
Something that would have accented the fact that Guti and Felix are signed to long term contract. No matter what happens this season, as we build to the future we can be happy that two of our best players are here long-term.
that seems like a much better marketing plan to get people here now and in coming years.
Snuffleupagus - April 13, 2010
"Where the future meets the present"?
Obvious understanding is the Felix/Guti point to which you alluded. Perhaps more of a veiled reference to the FO’s practice of maximizing inefficiencies in the market, thus setting trends for the future (defense…?).
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Ever since the Mets started the whole "Your Season Has Come" slogan
I’ve been adamantly against slogans. I can’t remember if that was 2006 or 2007, but lets just say after the 2007 collapse, there was really no reason to have a slogan in Flushing. I hate the fact that Mariners even have one
E-Lizz - April 13, 2010
You Gotta Love These Guys!
harkening - April 13, 2010
2010 Seattle Mariners: This team has a small, rapidly decreasing chance of making the playoffs
Hm. Don’t think that one’s going to drive ticket sales.
Eyebrows - April 13, 2010 via mobile
2010 Seattle Mariners: You Don't Jerk One Until Griffey Does
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
Oh, I can think of worse slogans that have the word "Rising" in it.
ThundaPC - April 13, 2010
Well marketing is almost as bad as HR.
w00tah - April 13, 2010
I really want to panic, but the A's are scoring runs and we aren't.
And I just look at the lineups and realize there shouldn’t be this big of a gap.
SethGrandpa - April 13, 2010
Their hits are falling and our aren't
I think we’ll be fine
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Would be more optimistic, if they weren't hitting so many hard balls, and the M's
hitting so many weak balls.
Of course I expect we’ll turn this around and guys will hit like the back of their baseball cards, but I’m not going to chalk this start up to just the other teams getting lucky with their BABIP and us hitting into hard outs.
From what I’ve seen the A’s have put together much better at-bats and hit the ball with a lot greater authority then our guys.
In my opinion, our struggles on offense aren’t luck driven, it’s the result of poor approach and guys pressing.
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
The plan to be patient and see lots of pitches
doesn’t work if you don’t get any base runners. If every batter sees 5 pitches before getting out. The starter can still make it deep into the game. Frustrating.
Snuffleupagus - April 13, 2010
It doesn't work if you aren't actually patient. That's been more of the problem for a few of our players.
abender20 - April 13, 2010
I want to see this lineup tonight:
Ichiro – RF
Figgins – SS
Bradley – DH
Gutierrez – CF
Tuiasosopo – 3B
Lopez – 2B
Kotchman – 1B
Moore – C
Byrnes – LF
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
Good luck with that. No way Figgins is going to play SS. I'm just hoping we get Byrnes
in LF, and Tui over at 1B.
Rudy4three - April 13, 2010
This is just what I would do with the current 25-man. No regard for what the M's have said/done so far this season.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
I love punting infield defence
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
If we add 50 points in wOBA by doing this it makes up for our defensive downgrade.
I’m in class so I don’t want to run the numbers right now, but I can’t imagine it’s more than negligibly worse than the lineup that will be run out tonight.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
I say we play Tulowitzki at short tonight
abender20 - April 13, 2010
Agreed!
seattlebruin - April 13, 2010
Can we start Adam Dunn at DH?
And Youkilis at 3rd?
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
Fuck that I want Hanley
Poochie - April 13, 2010
You're talking about 2.5-3.5 wins from defence alone
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
Which is 50-70 points in wOBA, right?
Tui over Wilson is maybe 30 points… Alright, so we’re 1-2 wins down, but at least the offense will be a little more entertaining!
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
Yes but lateral moves don't get us anywhere
beastwarking - April 13, 2010
It was really just an exercise in putting our best offensive team on the field and putting them in positions.
Turns out it’s not a good idea.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
Oh yeah!
And the defense will be less so. What a trade.
Matt Erickson - April 13, 2010
30 points of wOBA over 600PA is 16 runs.
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
Which is why Jack Wilson gets paid
Graham MacAree - April 13, 2010
It's nice to see Tui taking the "local guy who isn't actually very good" irrational love spot
That Willie Bloomquist left vacant, the bastard.
Jeff Nye - April 13, 2010
Tui is likely better than Bloomquist though hopefully.
Mariner John - April 13, 2010
Without appearing supremely bitchy;
Watching Nick Johnson go yard today pissed me off proper.
TheBishop - April 13, 2010
Rob Johnson
Why in the world do we still have Rob Johnson? Dude isn’t clutch, isn’t good, and that four year old kid in that Deadspin story today can hit better then him.
Either way, I’m just venting. I’ve had less fun watching this team play this year than all of last year. No lie. At times, I just want to punch the TV out of sheer frustration.
Charles Gipson is a Mangod - April 13, 2010
Fuck Rob Johnson.
w00tah - April 13, 2010
But he looks like a sad puppy...he might cry...
the other side - April 13, 2010
Griffey does look done though, right?
I could have sworn he got ‘all of it’ on the last out yesterday and it didn’t even make the warning track. Obviously one swing doesn’t finish the guy, but he reminded me of Sexson up there waving/watching 87 mph’s right down the middle and can’t make contact. Plus the extra 30 lbs. Bench coach only.
Montucky - April 13, 2010
Griffey will be fine.
I heard that the team just bought an incubator for him to sit in before games to simulate summer weather.
Sec 108 - April 13, 2010
I would be ok with losing
If Jose Lopez would just get a testicle contusion and play through it for the rest of the game.
We can’t even get THAT much entertainment out of the team thus far.
HititHere - April 13, 2010
That's not entertainment.
BrianL - April 13, 2010
I wasn't referring to the pain itself as entertainment
But the witnessing the awesome badasserry of a guy playing through such an injury is entertaining.
HititHere - April 13, 2010
I understand grammar, I swear
Remove the first “the.”
HititHere - April 13, 2010
We had no idea of the injury extent until after the game ended
Matthew - April 13, 2010
True, but I don't think it was beyond the realm of speculation that there may have been some ball damage.
Rich Langford - April 13, 2010
But Loafie isn't a badass.
He’s a league average player and that’s probably as good as he’ll ever get.
ToddK - April 13, 2010
Byrnes is pretty damn entertaining I think.
lailaihei - April 13, 2010
I had a similar moment before a game once
It was Griffey’s first game back with Cincinnati, in 2007. They showed that highlight video on the big screen, and had the on-field presentation, and Griffey’s little speech. I turned to the guy sitting next to me and said “I could go home happy right now.” Nine innings of 16-2 ball later, I was feeling quite prescient.
Aly Edge - April 13, 2010
Yeah, I was at that game too
From the first pitch onward it was a miserable, miserable game. I remember when the “fans” started booing Feierabend for throwing to first with Griffey on. That seriously pissed me off. But hey! We got to see the debut of RRS! So that’s something.
Oh yeah, and we lost 1-16, not 2-16. Just to make it a little worse there.
Karma Police - April 13, 2010
I thought I saw a carload of possible LLers playing catch and drinking beer before the game in the supercheap $40 lot just east of the parking garage.
wazzu93 - April 13, 2010
I know it is too early to panic, but this would be a lot easier to take if
we did not have a DH who can’t hit, a left fielder who can’t field, and Hannah Montana at catcher who can’t do either.
Droid Rage - April 13, 2010
Milton Badley is a fine fielder.
Eyeball Kid - April 13, 2010
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