Seattle: 12-19
Baltimore: 9-23
| MARINERS | Δ Ms | ORIOLES | EDGE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HITTING (wOBA) |
-34.3 (29th) | 2.1 | -29.6 (28th) | Baltimore |
| FIELDING (?) | 17.3 (3rd) | -1.6 | -5.2 (25th) | Seattle |
| ROTATION (tRA) |
-5.6 (20th) | -3.6 | -8.1 (24th) | Seattle |
| BULLPEN (tRA) |
-4.9 (25th) | 2.2 | -0.4 (16th) | Baltimore |
| OVERALL(RAA) |
-27.5 (24th) | -0.9 | -43.3 (27th) | SEATTLE |
Well that was not quite winning more than they lost, but after dropping the first two games of the series, I suppose I can be consoled with at least winning the final contest.
Hopefully the off day allowed the Mariners to stew in some positive feelings for a while after having to endure a week plus of constant negativity. Hopefully the off day does not cool off the bats which finally showed up on Sunday. I had a hard time imagining what hitting multiple home runs in a single game would be like much less back to back homers and from two of the most unlikely candidates. Then again, it's not like we have likely candidates.
This is a pretty solid slate of pitchers we're tossing out against a rather hapless Oriole squad. I don't have to work hard to sell anyone on Cliff Lee and most recent start aside, Felix is still Felix, but I figured it's time for a little PR for Hyphen's benefit.
Through his first four starts, Rowland-Smith was displaying a reduced ability to generate swinging strikes, he was throwing too many balls and batters were hitting line drives off him all over the place. I know the last two starts against the Royals and Rays have not looked demonstrably better, but there are some positive signs.
First, he missed more bats in those two starts than he had all season prior and at a rate above his 2009 figure. Ryan still seems to struggle with putting hitters away for the strikeout, but missing more bats is a big first step. Secondly, the line drives slowed down. There're still too many, but being in the low 20s is a damn sight better than being in the low 30s on line drive percentage. Camden is a friendly park to hitters, but the Orioles are running a decidedly impotent offense right now so this is a good chance for Hyphen to get back on his feet. He needs to take advantage because there's no telling how many more chances he's going to get.
| Cliff Lee | Ryan Rowland-Smith | Felix Hernandez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| David Hernandez | Brad Bergesen | Kevin Millwood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0 recs | 257 comments
It really would be nice if Hyphen could get back to his best
I don’t care if it makes the decision harder when Bedard gets back, it’s a nice problem to have.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Thank you for the RR-S propaganda
Hopefully throwing a game against the poor-hitting O’s will help him build some confidence back
tootthekazoo - May 11, 2010
I'm confused as to how our rotation is still below average
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Hyphen skewing the curve?
Along with Felix’ last two starts? I’m not too concerned about that part of things though; it’ll balance out
tootthekazoo - May 11, 2010
Yup, RRS has hosed us
And Felix has been below average!
Teej - May 11, 2010
I imagine it has something to do with Hyphen looking particularly bad through tRA's eyes.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Felix
Matthew - May 11, 2010
Lame
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
I just did some very rough calculations
using my busted phone calculator and 2008 run values and I’m getting something like a 16.0 tRA for his last start. I’m probably doing it wrong, but I imagine the number is up there.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
16.48
Matthew - May 11, 2010
Crickey
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Snell
abender20 - May 11, 2010
I have a question about the rotation part of this equation.
I assume that it includes ANYONE that made a start right? So technically we are using those rankings based off of 3 guys that will start, two guys that will not play in this series, and 1 guy that is in the bullpen. So the overall difference would be a little skewed right? Of course there is some effect on each of those categories (Tuiasosopo and Eric Byrnes would be batting or fielding this series or Bradley) and so forth, but I guess its just for series it would be interesting if we only included the numbers of the 3 guys that would be starting pitchers and how much of a difference that makes because if you have Lee/Felix going in one series and then another series they both miss it, that’s a big swing in our tRA. (assuming Felix comes back to earth) More of a curiousity than a suggestion or anything.
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
This would make things unnecessarily complicated
if you want to compare the starting pitchers directly just look up their numbers on the appropriate sites. Obviously, this would be impossible for the pen and hitters, so you would be doing it only for the rotation. You get an iota more information for considerably more effort.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
And I wasn't asking anyone else to do it either.
Just curious if it was taken into affect at all. I’m not sure it would make an “iota” more difference all the time. When you go into a 5 game playoff series its not an “iota”
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
My bad I misread your comment
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
It makes sense, but
I’ve resisted doing it because I cannot do the same for hitters and relievers. Also, I cannot provide a ranking.
Matthew - May 11, 2010
Jeff just tweeted that our DH's combined .213 wOBA is dead last among all positions among all teams
On the plus side, they rank a solid seventh among NL pitchers, ahead of the Marlins and just a touch behind a good hitting Reds rotation.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
I'm crying, it's not that they're there but the why and the who that's making that decision.
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
Ye of little faith.
Give Z a chance to fix this.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
He had a chance to fix this.
It was called the off-season.
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
So he made a mistake.
Give him a chance to correct it. It’s not as if there are tons of teams selling right now. And if we grab from the scrap heap we’ll get just that. Scraps.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Although with some further thought,
this probably isn’t the right thread for this discusssion.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Scraps are an improvement over what we have now.
I like this front office a lot, but I am going to be critical of them when they mess up, especially when they mess up something so easy so much.
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
Precisely this.
I get the “In Z We Trust” sign. I get the love for the front office, but generally I think the blogosphere has had a little too much Kool-Aid. There’s a small separation between a “belief system” and “trusting the process.” Shudder.
harkening - May 11, 2010
Well to be fair,
I am literally drinking Kool-Aid as we speak.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
I prefer Fizzies, myself.
msb - May 11, 2010
Fizzies?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
yup.
best ones were the root beer— you could get a fine rabies-like foam going if you put it on your tongue.
msb - May 11, 2010
Oh, I remember...
Do they still make those?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Apparently they're making them again.
I got some at Archie McPhee for my brother. Sadly, no root beer.
msb - May 11, 2010
Darn.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
They claim they still make them... Archies just had lemon and orange.
msb - May 11, 2010
I could go for orange.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
It wasn't bad
I didn’t put the whole thing in my mouth, but I did do the traditional Tongue Tip Test, to see it fizz.
msb - May 11, 2010
I'd still drop it in water rather than just eating it.
Now where/what the heck is Archie McPhee?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Ballard is the most notable place I believe.
Mariner John - May 11, 2010
Actually it's in Wallingford now, corner of 45th and Stone
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
Wouldn't drinking the Kool-Aid imply that the M's blogosphere blindly agrees with everything this org does?
I don’t think anyone was speaking glowingly of Griffey and Sweeney being signed.
BrianL - May 11, 2010
I told Brett to shelve the sign for a while.
GMZ needs to win my trust back right now because holy shit they have fucked things up so far this season.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
If they can go 4-4 or better on this trip I'll think about bringing it.
Especially if good roster moves come with it.
BrettJMiller - May 11, 2010
What row do you guys sit in?
Because I was in Sec 108 last Wednesday and Friday but since I don’t know what you guys look like, I didn’t know where to look.
Hopefulmsfan - May 11, 2010
Wouldn't you like to know....
Thingray - May 11, 2010
You caught me, I'm a LL stalker.
Actually, I just think it’d be cool to meet some of the posters here and be able to talk baseball with people that are knowledgeable as opposed to most of the people that go to the games.
Hopefulmsfan - May 11, 2010
I was kidding.
I’m just not giving out his row number for him. Kind of up to him if he wants that info known publicly, although I’m sure you could find it in one of these threads.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
I am not at many games this year but I sit in the first row on the aisle.
Brett sits in the second row in the middle.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
Correct?
You mean by cutting Sweeney and forcing Wak to go to a six-man pen?
Z is great. He wins “the important” deals, the home runs. But he doesn’t micromanage the roster that hot, or at least he hasn’t proven to. The little things bug me. Do I trust Z for the long term? Yes. Because I believe making the big moves, signing the right contract extensions, will result in a winning team. Do I trust Z in the short term? No.
harkening - May 11, 2010
I trust him to get to where he needs to be with these things eventually.
He gets it. He’s a smart guy with a plan. But he’s also relatively new at this, and there’s going to be a learning curve.
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
I guess that's kind of what I'm saying.
Too many people are going too far the other way. You don’t have to like every move, or agree with every decision, but let the man do his work. He’s done way more good than bad so far.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Hasn't he said that they are working on a 3 year plan to get to the playoffs, also?
I know some moves, like Cliff Lee, have seemed to move this timetable up, but right now we are in the 2nd year of the 3 year plan. I don’t agree with Griffey/Sweeney being on the team at all, but at least there is a plan in place.
seattle_since_81 - May 11, 2010
I will forever hate Ken Griffey Jr. for wasting the team's one year with Cliff Lee.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
I still love him =(
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
But seriously Griffey, go retire and enjoy the time with your family
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
And let us enjoy more time with Langerhans!
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Exactly.
I trust Z long term. But the short term roster management (see: Griffey, Sweeney, and to a lesser extent Morrow/League) bugs me. That’s all I’m saying. I am happy to give him time. I have every reason to expect the playoffs if not next year than certainly 2012. But isn’t it frustrating watching us flounder with so much potential?
harkening - May 11, 2010
I'm pretty sure I could post a .213 wOBA by simply never swinging
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Jack Cust should be pretty available.
lailaihei - May 11, 2010 via mobile
The way this year has gone, they'd get Cust just in time for him to fail a test.
msb - May 11, 2010
Cust has a 2.5M contract and we have Bradley
not sure what we’d need anyone else for.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Pretty soon it will just be worth the comic relief to see him play the outfield.
Cantu Easley Winn - May 11, 2010
Bench bat that can hit would be pretty cool.
lailaihei - May 11, 2010 via mobile
For 2.5M?
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
They'd eat salary.
What are we paying our LH DH-only bat?
lailaihei - May 11, 2010 via mobile
So, you're saying that the A's will be willing to part ways with Cust
and pay 2.5M for it? Oh-kay.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
I'm hoping for Sam Fuld.
Former Stats Inc. intern.
w00tah - May 11, 2010
Sure would be great if we swept this series
OlSalty - May 11, 2010
I guarantee it
Dewey N - May 11, 2010
The best part of this is that you've been to the future so this isn't a prediction.
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
Been there? I'm living in it
Dewey N - May 11, 2010
We have a worse record then the Orioles. God.
joof - May 11, 2010
What?
Matthew - May 11, 2010
It had the Angels' record listed next to the O's before you fixed it.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Yeah, I loaded this a while ago and it said this:
Seattle: 12-19
Baltimore: 12-18
I refreshed and it’s better now.
joof - May 11, 2010
The beauty of a win going into an off-day and a series against the Orioles...
Its like I feel freely washed of my sins and can picture 15-19 with relative ease. Even if that doesn’t happen, I’m glad I finally have hope again.
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
Last series I felt bad for if/when we sweept the Orioles, my how that has changed this series.
Slurvey - May 11, 2010
Yay for Griffey batting 7th.
Lineup
ThundaPC - May 11, 2010
But still boo for Griffey batting.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
"Batting"
Cantu Easley Winn - May 11, 2010
That was the point, yes.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Josh Wilson is batting sixth in the lineup of the Seattle Mariners, a baseball team in the Major League of Baseball
Dewey N - May 11, 2010
We really need a sweep.
Really, really.
SethGrandpa - May 11, 2010
Chone has gone back to basics
and called Mickey Hatcher
msb - May 11, 2010
.
This makes absolutely no sense to me. He’s hit leadoff for the vast majority of his career, seeing Ichiro take any pitches should give him a better gauge of the pitcher than he’s used to.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
And anywy it's nonsense
Ichiro has seen 3.6P/PA so far, which is just a touch below the league’s average of 3.8. For his career he’s always been around there.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
I've noticed this a few times now, thought I'd finally ask the question
Why does the M’s rotation seem to get less credit than it’s due in these previews? I have a basic (read: not thorough) understanding of what tRA is. I really don’t believe that we have the 20th best starting rotation in baseball. Like any fan I’m a bit biased, but it sure seems to me that more often than not the starting pitcher has gone deep into games and pitched well and we’re all ready to hang ourselves because the lineup can’t give them any run support.
I went over to fangraphs to look at the team FIP numbers instead, and we rank 18th, still not too impressive. Is the D really just making everyone look good?
shuswapslugger - May 11, 2010
Pretty much, yes.
But, as Matthew said above, Felix’ last start is a big, big stain on the rotation’s sheets. Also, a guy like Fister, who has been on the ERA leaderboards, isn’t going to look very good by tRA (which is also how you know that tRA works and ERA doesn’t).
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Doug Fister looks just fine by tRA
he’s not walking ANYONE
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Whoa I didn't realize he's running a 50% GB rate,
or that he’s allowed only one homer. All the same, his SABR numbers aren’t as good as his ESPN numbers.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
True, but if he puts up a 3.46 tRA for the whole season, I'd take that in a heartbeat
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Especially since that 4.54 lgtRA seems really low
since it’s been ~5 the last few years
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Wow, I didn't realise it was that low.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Yeah, that HR/BIA isn't going to stay at 1.5% for the whole year, but he's been legitimately good this year so far
not 1.20 ERA good or whatever it is, but he’s been good
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Maybe we could contrive to only start him at Safeco and other pitchers' parks.
Of course, that would leave us starting RRS in hitters’ parks :/
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Well yes. I'd even be happy if he split the difference with his tRAr
and ended up with 4.10 or so. Buuuut I’m not gonna count on it.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
I was looking at his numbers last night, both traditional and sabre. Just sat there dumb founded.
He’s really off to a hot start, good for him. And then the thoughts of regression creep under the door.
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
His last start was not encouraging.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
Until this offense gets in the habit of scoring runs I'm not even worrying about our pitching.
Just sitting back and enjoying the sunshine my friend.
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
You are wise.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
Lying my ass off too
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
I'm no scout or anything,
but Fister looks good out there this year.
d0nkey - May 11, 2010
Buck Commander at 1st?
TrashiDawa - May 11, 2010
So, it seems the immedite effect of the LaRue article is an internal witch hunt
per Drayer. I guess team chemistry took a big hit yesterday morning. Sounds like players are angry and looking for someone to tar and feather. I suppose a bunch of wins would go a long way toward calming things down, so, yay Orioles.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Seriously, what will it take?
What would the “Kid” have to do to actually get people to stop making excuses for him/write him off? I swear, if he killed somebody in a drunk driving incident, it’d be written up as “chemistry” in providing a valuable lesson to the younger players.
Rachmaninoff - May 11, 2010
Yeah, but 1995.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Ken Griffey Jr. killed and raped a woman in 1995.
w00tah - May 11, 2010
I was going to post a sarcastic remark here until I realised that I'm about as fed up with making jokes about 1995 as I am with hearing about it all the damn time.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
1995 was awesome =(
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Losing my virginity was awesome too but I don't start talking about it every time I get laid
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
Unlike 1995 losing your virginity did not bring a bunch of idiots out of the woodwork
to sleep with your girlfriend.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
Are you sure about that?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
So you're saying they weren't idiots?
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
I'm saying I screwed your girlfriend.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Idiot
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
Now I know why you're always scratching yourself.
Idiot.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Oh crap this isn't the OT and there's any number of intelligent people reading this
I think I left the oven on
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
You're married though, right?
So you’re admitting that you also have a girlfriend on the side?
Decatur - May 12, 2010
A girlfriend? C'mon man give me some credit.
Plural, Decatur. Plural.
Kermit. - May 12, 2010
Well, if you've only got laid a couple times since 1995 it'd be a big deal.
JAH - May 11, 2010
I'm sure it was
It was also 15 years ago.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
In that order
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Langerhans playing first again.
Is Kotchman really hurt, or do you guys think they’re trying to figure out what they’re going to do with first?
Is it reasonable to think that in their trade explorations, they’re finding options for first basemen?
BigR - May 11, 2010
I really really doubt they're looking at fixing first base when there are more glaring, more fixable issues
Kotchman has shown that he can still drive the ball and play good D.
Did you see him get hit? ball got him right in ball of the tibia (someone help me with the anatomy here). It looked as painful a place for a beanball as any.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
No I didn't, that's why I was asking. I'm a little out of the loop right now what's going on day to day.
BigR - May 11, 2010
I couldn't believe he was walking afterward.
there’s got to be some serious swelling. Luckily, speed is not a big part of his game so I guess as soon as he’s able to step on it he’s back out there.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
What are you talking about? Speed is a part of everyone's game!
/Mike Brumley
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Woooooo Langerhans and Saunders!
Stormton - May 11, 2010
So according to Rosenthal's twitter...
Sweeney stood up and challenged whoever told that to LaRue to fight him, and nobody stood up, so he believes the story is made up of lies.
The fuck?
Stormton - May 11, 2010
Well that's not a very Christian thing to do.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Well he did tell the camera and the dugout to suck his dick in Toronto once.
w00tah - May 11, 2010
Frankly, I'm beginning to think it's all an act
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
I told a giraffe and a spork to give me a reach-around in Hawaii twice.
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
That's not a very Christian thing to do
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Agree to disagree.
TheBishop - May 11, 2010
Since it was a closed door meeting.
Who leaked that piece of information?
ThundaPC - May 11, 2010
That's a good point
I’m sure Mike Sweeney will have something to say about this.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Maybe he will challenge whoever leaked this to Rosenthal to stand up and fight him
then realize it was himself, punch himself in the head and be out for the season
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
We can but hope.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
wut
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
This team may somehow be more infuriating than 2008
and the gamethreads aren’t even good this time
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
They got so much better after the 8 game skid
We’ll make good posters out of (redacted, you know who you are) yet.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Links
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/13807156918
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/13807199336
Stormton - May 11, 2010
What the fuck Sweeney?
joof - May 11, 2010
Give em' the ol Jesus jab
russak - May 11, 2010
Crucify them?
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
Chemistry!
stredarts - May 11, 2010
Where's Silva when you need him?
Someone’s gotta throttle a bitch, and Sweeney’s clearly not up to the task
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Hmmm...seems like a convenient way to cover for yourself.
Good on you Judas.
SethGrandpa - May 11, 2010
I read that in a closed-door meeting, Josh Wilson and Rob Johnson admitted that they leaked story to LaRue.
lailaihei - May 11, 2010
Really? Where did you read this?
Link?
Rachmaninoff - May 11, 2010
I'm guessing the joke is he wants them to get punched
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
Whoops, missed that one.
‘well done to Rob Johnson’ rescinded.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Here
It’s on Twitter, it must be true!
lailaihei - May 11, 2010
Now someone will post this on Bleacher Report and people will think it's news, and it will get fanshot'd here.
lailaihei - May 11, 2010
HAHAHAHAHAHA
My favorite “it must be true because it’s on the Internet!” moment was when in high school, my health class teacher brought up the wikipedia page on Dwarfism, and there was a picture of Gimli (from LoTR) with the caption “A typical Nordic dwarf on his way to work”
Rachmaninoff - May 11, 2010
This made me laugh out loud at work. Well done, sir.
sanford_and_son - May 11, 2010
Link?
Also I’m going to break out of character here and say well done to Rob Johnson.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
This would be awesome, now Sweeney will punch Johnson, Johnson will be out for the season
and Sweeney will get suspended and we won’t even have to pay him!
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
I really want Rob Johnson to catch fire offensively
so I can make jokes about him carrying the team and then dropping them when he returns to his normal self
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
I really want Rob Johnson to catch fire
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
Catch fire,
or catch ON fire?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Never mind the fact that he can't seem to catch anything else.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
I believe the usage can go either way, but
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
I think it can.
But to me saying “he’s about to catch fire” means he’ll start hitting well, whereas “he’s about to catch ON fire” means he’s standing to close to a blowtorch.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
It's the eternal battle between being true to the original statement in the form of a pun to create laughter
Or getting the point across far less subtly and therefore jeopardizing some laughter to those who get it.
However, to be perfectly clear – I would like him to be put up in a large Wicker Man with his legs broken as we all stand around with torches and burn that mother down.
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
I don't dislike him that much.
I just wish he weren’t our starting catcher. As a backup he’d be passable.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Yes, hes very "passable"
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
Sweeney would literally babysit Johnson's kids
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
Then the hugging would turn creepy.
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
Rhu, Rho. Felix better be ready to defend his pudgy receiver in unarmed combat.
stredarts - May 11, 2010
That line would have a bit more authority if it came from a guy who was hitting better than an NL pitcher.
stredarts - May 11, 2010
I dunno, it's not like he has any problems with swinging the bat.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
We are talking about Sweeney, right?
stredarts - May 11, 2010
I was making a joke about his lack of plate discipline.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Where is the user with the novelty account "Joke Explainer".
stredarts - May 11, 2010
AK1984Interpreter?
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
I miss that guy.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
He said swinging, not hitting.
Rachmaninoff - May 11, 2010
Yeah, it's getting his bat on the ball that's the problem
Adam F - May 11, 2010
.
Mike Sweeney’s bat ~ Rob Johnson’s glove
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
The odds of Sweeney landing a punch on Johnson are pretty low.
lailaihei - May 11, 2010
They should solve this confrontation the same grown men do.
Interpretive dance.
stredarts - May 11, 2010
Rob Johnson would drop Sweeney in a heartbeat.
schismatix - May 11, 2010
Not that it matters
but the players in question, if the story’s real, were almost certainly pitchers. That game was Fister’s start, and he went seven innings. He also seems like enough of a space cadet that he’d say something to LaRue without realizing the implications…
Anyway, at this point I wish they’d go back to talking about how they can’t hit for shit.
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
How on earth could anyone believe that anything other than winning
breeds good clubhouses after this debacle? Seriously!
Cantu Easley Winn - May 11, 2010
Mike Sweeney is trying to instigate a fight in the clubhouse.
Chemistry!
BrianL - May 11, 2010
Maybe everyone will play better angry?
Cantu Easley Winn - May 11, 2010
He's a seasoned vet!
His headlocks have a certain grittiness to them that you just can’t find anywhere.
Stormton - May 11, 2010
Seriously though
Mike Sweeney just ruined any chance that whoever said these things could find some way to civilly set things right with Griffey.
BrianL - May 11, 2010
Which is one of the reasons why this seems so unreal.
Wouldn’t a “seasoned vet” like himself know better than to do something so foolish? I’m probably giving him way too much credit here, but still. I’m having a hard time believing all this.
sanford_and_son - May 11, 2010
Like anyone would square off against God's Favored White Man
lemonverbena - May 11, 2010
Just because he's friend with Jim Caviezel, doesn't make him God's favorite.
russak - May 11, 2010
It's gone past the point of media blacklist
Blood in the water, reporting fray, bits and pieces with no clear picture of what is happening.
Kermit. - May 11, 2010
Chemistry as in...
“Breaking Bad! "Sweeney has become the Walter White of MLB.
AltCtrlDelete - May 11, 2010
And of course Felix is...
Byrnes would be Jesse of course.
Karma Police - May 11, 2010
Tuco? Nah...
Felix would be Gus. Cool as the other side of the pillow.
Angry Milton is Tuco.
AltCtrlDelete - May 11, 2010
Yeah, Felix is known for being cool and composed
Jeff Sullivan - May 11, 2010
This team is a disaster.
Fuckmikereilly - May 11, 2010
Finally we get to play someone worse than we are!!
Without Baltimore imagine where we would be right now!!!
quidveritas - May 11, 2010
Probably in a similar position but with a better farm system
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Is this real life?
sanford_and_son - May 11, 2010
No
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
THIS IS SPARTA!!!
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
It's a good thing you're so much cooler than your Twilight-loving coworker.
Eyebrows - May 11, 2010 via mobile
This was totally an appropriate use of this =(
seattlebruin - May 11, 2010
It wasn't a discussion about the bullpen.
?
harkening - May 11, 2010
Seriously, the last few days on here have just seemed like a complete farce fueled by unconfirmed souces and hearsay
And now Sweeney is threatening to fight other grown men on his team? Really?
sanford_and_son - May 11, 2010
And we were worried this year's team might be boring...
Fear - May 11, 2010
They are boring once the game starts.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
It was all a grand conspiracy to rally team support for Griff and simultaneously discredit a media member
And maybe now Junior’s bat will “wake up”! VICTORY
lemonverbena - May 11, 2010
Let's hope so!
sanford_and_son - May 11, 2010
Is it gonna be this way forever?
Kenny Knows Sports - May 11, 2010
Last I checked this isn't my fantasy team
Dewey N - May 11, 2010
This is all gonna be blamed on Bradley, isn't it?
Brian Floyd - May 11, 2010
Well he did go and snitch out Griffdawg
Bearskin Rugburn - May 11, 2010
I saw Sweendog enter the clubhouse wearing this today
Brian Floyd - May 11, 2010
Posnanski to the rescue!
Link.
TheBishop - May 11, 2010
Huh, well Joe isn't rooting for the team Griffey is dragging down so gets to enjoy it.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
I rarely find myself disagreeing with Pos
But this is one of those rare occasions.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
This seems to reflect the common sentiment among Griffey apologists.
And it’s something I never quite understood. They aren’t rooting for Griffey, the player, as much as they’re rooting for Griffey, the memory. They aren’t even RECENT memories either. Aren’t all of these embarrassing at-bats he’s been having now tarnishing that memory at least a little bit? At this point he isn’t even a shell of himself…more like an apparition that gets to hold a bat 4 times a game. It’s sad and unfortunate that this all could have been avoided had Griffey just went out after last year when he was supposed to.
schismatix - May 11, 2010
When he resigned at the beginning of this year, the word was he'd take any role, however limited.
And then they signed Byrnes and fetched Bradley. And I thought things would look like this:
DH – Bradley
1B – Kotchman
LF – Byrnes/Langerhans
Bench – Junior (PH/ticklemaster), Byrnes/Langerhans, Hannahan, Backup “Catcher”
Then we lsot Hannahan to injury and Griffey is the regular DH and Sweeney is on the roster. This is not how it was supposed to be. And as of now, love Griffey, but get him off the damn roster or fix the roster so he can be on the bench. I have no desire whatsoever to see him playing.
harkening - May 11, 2010
According to Shannon, a FSN producer says they have video of Griffey in the dugout from the dedicated dugout camera.
and that he doesn’t think the shot went on-air, so you won’t find it on the game tape.
msb - May 11, 2010
What if this whole napping thing turns out to be BS?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
It's at the point that it doesn't even matter anymore.
Brian Floyd - May 11, 2010
It would mean that someone was trying to make Griffey look bad.
More so than he already does all by himself at the plate.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
It's so blown out of proportion, it's ridiculous
The point of the story wasn’t that he was asleep in the clubhouse. The point was that he sucks and he’s done. The sleeping part was an anecdote that blew up.
The players never say Griffey couldn’t hit because he was sleeping. LaRue asks that question himself. Was he asleep? I’d bet he was earlier in the game, but not toward the end when he could’ve been used.
Brian Floyd - May 11, 2010
I'm more than ready to waive good-bye to Griffey
But the way this is playing out, it would kind of suck if they released him right now.
Shut up and let his bat give a reason to cut him.
tait644 - May 11, 2010
His bat's already given plenty of reason to cut him.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
I can't see a single scenario where the M's could just cut or "fire" Griffey.
Unless he did something horrible in public, and I don’t see him murdering a box full of puppies outside Safeco.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
We could frame him?
harkening - May 11, 2010
Here's the plan.
You put on these high heels, this leather mini-skirt, and carry this chihuahua. Stand outside Safeco before the next home game…..
Thingray - May 11, 2010
What time?
melenious - May 11, 2010
I've only cross-dressed once, and I was getting paid to do it.
…but if it’ll get Griffey out of the lineup…
harkening - May 11, 2010
This didn't have anything to do with Griffey....
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Wonder if Shannon feels weird now about posting how Griffey sleeping in the clubhouse is no big deal, happens all the time.
marc w - May 11, 2010
He probably was sleeping during the game at one point.
There’s no context to the quotes.
Brian Floyd - May 11, 2010
I couldn't care less about the napping. I am more bothered by the two rats in the clubhouse, Mike
Sweeney challenging teammates to fight him, and the fact that Griffey (who we all loved at one point) is going out ugly with his play and now this report.
Rudy4three - May 11, 2010
I don't even care about that
And Dave sums up why nicely.
Brian Floyd - May 11, 2010
Please don't speak for everyone
I tolerated Griffey last year, liked him on occasion but certainly never loved him.
This year I prefer even Mike Sweeney. I fucking hate Mike Sweeney.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Did you not like him even back in his prime?
Thingray - May 11, 2010
I have been a baseball fan for about three seasons.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Then it makes perfect sense that you have no strong feelings for Griffey.
But you should go back and watch some footage of him in his prime. It was amazing to watch.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
Of course I've seen footage. I know he was brilliant
but he’s not anymore and I care more about this team than those teams. Call me crazy.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Like a fox.
Sec 108 - May 11, 2010
Well you should still love him. There is a good chance you'd be rooting for another organization if not for Jr.
Although, this last 7-8 seasons indicates that maybe we all would have been better off finding a new team to root for
Rudy4three - May 11, 2010
I love people that tell me how I should feel.
Oh no, wait a sec, I usually tell those people to fuck off.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Nostalgia is so fucking useless in the present.
MT Olson - May 11, 2010
And he was handsomely compensated for his contributions.
I owe him nothing.
Aaron Campeau - May 11, 2010
In reality we all should thank Slade Gorton far more than anyone.
He is the reason we have Safeco Field.
Sec 108 - May 12, 2010
Two rats in the clubhouse?
Were they in a wool sock, f**king? And was one of them from Kansas City?
I love Ichiro, man.
AltCtrlDelete - May 11, 2010
The best thing about that quote is that Ichiro got it wrong.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
Actually, I don't think there is a best thing about that quote
It’s just awesome all round.
Eyeball Kid - May 11, 2010
This is getting ridiculous
I’ve seen plots on “24” that make more sense.
tait644 - May 11, 2010
Unleash Jack Bauer to discover the snitch(es)!
TheBishop - May 11, 2010
The nap doesn't even matter
Seriously I could not care less if he went in and took a nap during the game or not. If Guti took a nap on his day off it wouldn’t bother me, the problem is that Griffey isn’t producing. Who cares what he is doing when he isn’t in the game the important thing is that he isn’t hitting when he is.
wetzelcoal - May 11, 2010
Agreed, I couldn't care less about the nap
The fact is that Griffey and Sweeney are less than useful and both of them need to go away, like yesterday. And if Sweeney’s going to get all confrontational with the media and generally anyone outside the magic clubhouse, he can also go f**k himself. Bitch.
AltCtrlDelete - May 11, 2010
Tell us how you really feel.
Thingray - May 11, 2010
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