Seattle: 33-45
Detroit: 41-36
| MARINERS | Δ Ms | TIGERS | EDGE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HITTING (wOBA) |
-78.1 (29th) | 0.9 | 27.2 (6th) | Detroit |
| FIELDING (UZR) | 16.4 (8th) | 12.2 | 14.6 (9th) | Seattle |
| ROTATION (tRA) |
2.7 (15th) | -2.7 | -17.6 (23rd) | Seattle |
| BULLPEN (tRA) |
-14.4 (25th) | -1.1 | 8.4 (9th) | Detroit |
| OVERALL(RAA) |
-73.4 (26th) | 9.3 | 32.6 (10th) | DETROIT |
The downgrade in the starting pitcher category might be surprising after seeing Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez toss complete games with four runs between them and Ryan Rowland-Smith throw six innings of two run ball, but while Felix's game was a legit gem, Cliff Lee and Rowland-Smith both tossed poor games from tRA's perspective due to low strikeouts and home runs.
Digression time! Yesterday was, as previously mentioned, Canada Day. Canada Day also marks the start of free agency in the NHL. I don't know if the two are related, I doubt it, but it's funny for me to assume that the latter caused the former. For those uninitiated in following the NHL and only used to following the more popular US sports, NHL free agency is something to behold. A beast so different from our usual experiences so as to remind me of Bill Simmons' response to the first prompt in his World Cup 20 Questions piece.
The NHL doesn't dick around. Free agency starts and many of the big names are gone by the early evening. All in all, about 40 players signed yesterday and though that may not be a high percentage of all available free agents, keep in mind that many of the all available free agents are terrible and quite a few of them are restricted free agents which by rule drags the process out. A high percentage of the big names signed on day one. It all seems very Canadian to me.
Now watch as I bring this around to baseball. While NHL's Canada Day shopping spree sure is entertaining in the way that baseball's July 31st trading deadline used to be 15 years ago, it also leaves a lot of dead time afterward. The majority of major American sports on the other hand take their time to get going in free agency. For those steeped in both sports, which do you prefer? As a fan, I much prefer hockey's routine. It makes the day exciting and then gives me time and space to pursue other interests. As a writer, oh god would hockey be terrible for 365-day coverage.
Plotting the off season period as a single day, baseball, football, basketball etc. are like me; prone to sleeping in, unmotivated to begin my day until the coffee kicks in and prone to getting things done just before the deadline. Hockey is like that annoying neighbor who gets up at 5am every morning and immediately begins doing noisy household chores that you can hear through your not-thick-enough walls. And he or she is always chipper. Why are you so damn happy? It's too early to be happy. Emotion isn't allowed to begin for another five hours.
Oh, and we play the Tigers.
If Cliff Lee makes his next start, I will reward all of Seattle with a fireworks show in Lake Union. If he is traded, I will cause millions of gallons of toxic oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. Your move, Jack.
| Doug Fister | Jason Vargas | Cliff Lee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Max Scherzer | Justin Verlander | Jeremy Bonderman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2 recs | 17 comments
I really try hard not to make noise until around 9am.
If you aren’t awake by that hour it is not my problem.
Sec 108 - July 2, 2010
Unless you're like me and just getting home from a 12 hour night shift at that time.
It seems like every week someone above me is getting new flooring.
Boz86 - July 2, 2010
I guarantee a sweep
Robert - July 2, 2010
What, you think Lee's going to lose, too?
The Ancient Mariner - July 2, 2010
I'm torn
Trading Cliff Lee now would better our chances of getting a good return for him. The longer we hold onto him, the greater risk. And it’s not like we’re riding him to the post-season, unless Branyan single-handedly makes this a .750 team.
But trading him means we would lose Cliffmas.
skjes - July 2, 2010
14 games out.
I say trade Lee. It sounds to me like he doesn’t seem too fond of hanging around much longer anyways. He’s hot, trade high. Get as many young bats as possible.
Bballpitcher2 - July 2, 2010
Cliff Lee's value can only go down at this point.
Move him, but of course, nobody wants to panic and move him at a price not worthy of him.
Kenneth Arthur - July 2, 2010
When the Canucks go out with a mission like that
then I prefer the NHL’s way . . . :)
The Ancient Mariner - July 2, 2010
Scherzer, Verlander, and Bonderman
It’s like we’re up against hard-throwing lawyers or something. Hopefully the DA shows up when we need him.
Aaroniero Arruruerie - July 2, 2010
In Detroit's bullpen?
Matthew - July 2, 2010
He'll be late for the whole thing and still make a difference
Aardsma will be the M’s version of Harvey Dent, except he’s bald and lacks a crispy, skeletal face.
Aaroniero Arruruerie - July 2, 2010
If this season actually mattered still, I'd be willing to cut him a view of his masseters.
abender20 - July 2, 2010
White can hold him down while you're at it
That way he’ll start feeling like he’s doing something useful for an M’s fan.
Aaroniero Arruruerie - July 2, 2010
Not for long.
SeaKoala - July 2, 2010
Query: Can't you take any three names and make a law firm joke?
tait644 - July 2, 2010
Answer:
But the joke works especially well when the meatbags in question have names of Germanic origin. It makes them easy to associate with the Ashkenazi population, and all Jews are lawyers.
harkening - July 2, 2010
Terrorism gets shit done
DrunkAmerican - July 2, 2010
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