Aug 10-12: Seattle v Chicago of AL

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 07:18 AM

This series seems a winnable one, some might even say a must win for a club leading the wild card (1 game up on Detroit) and a mere 2.5 games back from LAAAngels.

Seattle leads of the series with Washburn facing Javier Vazquez. Washburn looks to end his month long winless streak against one of the better pitchers in the AL.

The poet/writer faces once hot prospect Gavin Floyd in Game Two

Jeff Weaver v John Danks for Game Three

If veterans matter this should go to Seattle.

THT Offense, Pitching and Defense
R/G - Sea 4.90, CWS 4.31
RA/G - Sea 4.83, CWS 5.13
Fielding - Sea -31, CWS +4

Taking a look at the White Sox WPA we can see that they have a struggling offense with only two players in positive BaseRunsAboveAverage. The two rookies on the pitcing staff each have negative WPA and BRAA. In the bullpen they are lead by fireballer Bobby Jenks, who by BRAA would be the 3rd best pitcher on the Mariner relief core, but only barealy ahead of two.

If the Mariners can chase Vazquez early it could be a long series for the Sox with a bad bullpen. Here's to an extension of the 3 game winning streak.

The opponents that matter

Yanks @ Cleveland - Here's hoping for a split with a game in Cleveland's favor
Athletics @ Tigers - Root for Oakland, swallow your pride and root for the damn green and yellow
Twins @ LAAAngels - It would be both good and bad for the Twins to win, but I think that any loss for the Angels as I will always prefer a pennant over a wild card.

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 07:28 AM

Later, probably shortly before game time, I'm going to take a one week look at Adam Jones v Raul Ibanez, a two week look at the first base platoon, as well as the performances of Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen, since there seems to be the feeling that proper rotation of the LF/RF/1B/DH roles are key to the offense performing at its top level.

I'll do something like GP, PA, ba, hr, rbi, OPS as those splits I know I can get. We will see what else I can find

Wiggen · August 10th, 2007, 09:32 AM

I'd be happy with 2 out of 3 here. I'm beginning to get the feeling that, notwithstanding their shellacking by the Blue Jays in the last game of that series, the Yankees are going to make the playoffs. If we make it, I think it will have to be as Division champs.

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 06:21 PM

Ok, as promised, but later than expected

Adam Jones in the last 7 days
3 GS, 6 G, 13 PA, 0HR, 417/462/500

Raul Ibanez last seven days
5 GS, 5G, 26 PA, 3HR, 400/538/950

Last 14 days for Ben Broussard
5 GS, 6 G, 20 PA, 1 HR, 368/350/579

Last 14 days for Richie Sexson
8 GS, 9 G, 32 PA, 0 HR, 138/219/138

Jose Vidro, last 14 days
11 G, 11GS, 54 PA, 1 HR, 422/481/533

Jose Guillen, Last 14 days
12 G, 12 GS, 57 PA, 3 HR, 333/404/529

I'm a little disappointed at how infrequently Adam Jones is being played, but that has been covered quite a bit. What really strikes me as odd though is how the "benching" of Richie Sexson, didn't even become a real platoon. There's offense going to waste, and the club could use it with how bad the pitching can be at times.

So tell me, why isn't Broussard starting today?

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 07:03 PM

Raul is coming on strong lately, something sorely needed for this near playoff caliber club.

Jim Potable · August 10th, 2007, 08:04 PM

Unreliable/slow online gamecasts are driving me mad.

Updates are appreciated.

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 08:06 PM

Anyone else remember "two outs, so what?"

This year I feel like the slogan should be "Man on third, less than two outs, who cares?"

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 08:24 PM

Now we enter their bullpen of suck, first victim is Matt Thornton

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 08:26 PM

YOu know when you suck as a lefthander? When Raul Ibanez gets a hit.

bedir than average · August 10th, 2007, 08:31 PM

The Bullpen of Suck continues, this time with Mike McDougal.

Adrian Beltre, you the man

bedir than average · August 11th, 2007, 04:28 PM

Tonight Richie Sexson gets to try and better last night's performance by getting three productive outs in just one At Bat. Last night GIDP was 2PO as it advanced a runner to third.

Gavin Floyd Stats and Graphs - Chicago White Sox | FanGraphs

Floyd is just plain bad, and as a righty I kind of like Ibanez out there in that Raul can help run him early. But isn't this exactly the type of game that Broussard should be starting?

bedir than average · August 11th, 2007, 04:32 PM

Also, the Mariners have a marginal percenatage lead on NYY, while Detroit sits just a game back. LAAAngels have a 3.5 game lead.

Only NYY won last night of the CLE/DET/NYY/SEA/LAAA grouping.

Toronto and Minnesotta still have an outside shot.

bedir than average · August 12th, 2007, 11:15 AM

Nothing is more fun than watching a good offense meet up with bad pitching in a hitters park. At least not if you are a fan of the team with the offense.

NYY won and the Ms still have the percentage lead.
LAAA won and so the Ms are still 3.5 back.

Cle lost to NYY, Detroit won, Minn lost its third straight and Toronto lost.

The remaining 3 against the Yanks and the remaining seven against Angels are likely the ones that get the Mariners in, or out, of the playoffs.

Wiggen · August 12th, 2007, 11:42 PM

As much as I am enjoying this Mariner season, I cannot see any way this team makes the playoffs. We are feasting on the bottom-feeders, and beating the crap out of second rate pitching, but the last two games of the Boston series showed our real weakness. Good pitching kills us. Good pitching shuts down most teams, but we don't have the good pitching to match it.

August 10th, 2007, 07:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Aug 10-12: Seattle v Chicago of AL This series seems a winnable one, some might even say a must win for a club leading the wild card (1 game up on Detroit) and a mere 2.5 games back from LAAAngels. Seattle leads of the series with Washburn facing Javier Vazquez. Washburn looks to end his month long winless streak against one of the better pitchers in the AL. The poet/writer faces once hot prospect Gavin Floyd in Game Two Jeff Weaver v John Danks for Game Three If veterans matter this should go to Seattle. THT Offense, Pitching and Defense R/G - Sea 4.90, CWS 4.31 RA/G - Sea 4.83, CWS 5.13 Fielding - Sea -31, CWS +4 Taking a look at the White Sox WPA we can see that they have a struggling offense with only two players in positive BaseRunsAboveAverage. The two rookies on the pitcing staff each have negative WPA and BRAA. In the bullpen they are lead by fireballer Bobby Jenks, who by BRAA would be the 3rd best pitcher on the Mariner relief core, but only barealy ahead of two. If the Mariners can chase Vazquez early it could be a long series for the Sox with a bad bullpen. Here's to an extension of the 3 game winning streak. The opponents that matter Yanks @ Cleveland - Here's hoping for a split with a game in Cleveland's favor Athletics @ Tigers - Root for Oakland, swallow your pride and root for the damn green and yellow Twins @ LAAAngels - It would be both good and bad for the Twins to win, but I think that any loss for the Angels as I will always prefer a pennant over a wild card. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 07:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Later, probably shortly before game time, I'm going to take a one week look at Adam Jones v Raul Ibanez, a two week look at the first base platoon, as well as the performances of Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen, since there seems to be the feeling that proper rotation of the LF/RF/1B/DH roles are key to the offense performing at its top level. I'll do something like GP, PA, ba, hr, rbi, OPS as those splits I know I can get. We will see what else I can find __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Ok, as promised, but later than expected Adam Jones in the last 7 days 3 GS, 6 G, 13 PA, 0HR, 417/462/500 Raul Ibanez last seven days 5 GS, 5G, 26 PA, 3HR, 400/538/950 Last 14 days for Ben Broussard 5 GS, 6 G, 20 PA, 1 HR, 368/350/579 Last 14 days for Richie Sexson 8 GS, 9 G, 32 PA, 0 HR, 138/219/138 Jose Vidro, last 14 days 11 G, 11GS, 54 PA, 1 HR, 422/481/533 Jose Guillen, Last 14 days 12 G, 12 GS, 57 PA, 3 HR, 333/404/529 I'm a little disappointed at how infrequently Adam Jones is being played, but that has been covered quite a bit. What really strikes me as odd though is how the "benching" of Richie Sexson, didn't even become a real platoon. There's offense going to waste, and the club could use it with how bad the pitching can be at times. So tell me, why isn't Broussard starting today? __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 07:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Raul is coming on strong lately, something sorely needed for this near playoff caliber club. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 08:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Anyone else remember "two outs, so what?" This year I feel like the slogan should be "Man on third, less than two outs, who cares?" __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 09:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,286	I'd be happy with 2 out of 3 here. I'm beginning to get the feeling that, notwithstanding their shellacking by the Blue Jays in the last game of that series, the Yankees are going to make the playoffs. If we make it, I think it will have to be as Division champs.

August 10th, 2007, 08:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jim Potable Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aichi, Japan Posts: 205	Unreliable/slow online gamecasts are driving me mad. Updates are appreciated.

August 10th, 2007, 08:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Now we enter their bullpen of suck, first victim is Matt Thornton __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 08:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	YOu know when you suck as a lefthander? When Raul Ibanez gets a hit. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 10th, 2007, 08:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	The Bullpen of Suck continues, this time with Mike McDougal. Adrian Beltre, you the man __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 11th, 2007, 04:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Game Two: Mariners bad lineup v Gavin Floyd Tonight Richie Sexson gets to try and better last night's performance by getting three productive outs in just one At Bat. Last night GIDP was 2PO as it advanced a runner to third. Gavin Floyd Stats and Graphs - Chicago White Sox \| FanGraphs Floyd is just plain bad, and as a righty I kind of like Ibanez out there in that Raul can help run him early. But isn't this exactly the type of game that Broussard should be starting? __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 11th, 2007, 04:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Also, the Mariners have a marginal percenatage lead on NYY, while Detroit sits just a game back. LAAAngels have a 3.5 game lead. Only NYY won last night of the CLE/DET/NYY/SEA/LAAA grouping. Toronto and Minnesotta still have an outside shot. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 12th, 2007, 11:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Nothing is more fun than watching a good offense meet up with bad pitching in a hitters park. At least not if you are a fan of the team with the offense. NYY won and the Ms still have the percentage lead. LAAA won and so the Ms are still 3.5 back. Cle lost to NYY, Detroit won, Minn lost its third straight and Toronto lost. The remaining 3 against the Yanks and the remaining seven against Angels are likely the ones that get the Mariners in, or out, of the playoffs. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

August 12th, 2007, 11:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,286	As much as I am enjoying this Mariner season, I cannot see any way this team makes the playoffs. We are feasting on the bottom-feeders, and beating the crap out of second rate pitching, but the last two games of the Boston series showed our real weakness. Good pitching kills us. Good pitching shuts down most teams, but we don't have the good pitching to match it.