Open Thread: Sox in Seattle; Tavarez v. Weaver.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:06 PM EDT in Open Thread

Ladies and gentlemen, Jeff Weaver is awful. No. Really. I mean awful. Technically, the Mariners are in 2nd place in the AL West. However, if GM Stoneman of the Pick-A-Damn-City Angels gets a big bat to protect Vlad in addition to a Juan Rivera return, well. They'd probably just run away with the West even more.

Did I have a point? Well, sort of. Continuing to employ Jeff Weaver is inexcusable, unless it's as some kind of service to the community-at-large. And for $8+M, (plus performance bonuses for stuff like games started and innings pitched, rewarding him for sucking while staying healthy) it would make a lot more sense to hire someone to suck for league minimum. (Yes, this was a pretty frickin obvious statement to make.)

Anyway. Lineups.

Sox:

Drew, RF
DP, 2B
Papi, DH
"Being", LF
Youks, 1B
Lowell, 3B
'Tek, C
Crisp, CF
Lugo, SS

Mariners:

Ichiro, CF
Lopez, 2B
Vidro, Designated (singles) Hitter.
Sexson, 1B
Broussard, RF?
Johjima, C
Beltre, 3B
Betancourt, SS
Bloomquist, LF

...this is not the M's ideal lineup. As a 1B, Broussard was a passable fielder at best. Any M's fans want to let us know how he is in RF? What can I say about Willie Bloomquist? Well, he is better than our #9 hitter today.

Sox Matchups vs. Weaver.

Lowell: 3/10, HR, 2 BB
Lugo: 4/12, 2B, 2 BB
Papi: 7/23, 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, SF
Manny: 7/23, 3 HR, 4 BB, 3 HBP
'Tek: 8/19, 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, HBP
Youks/Crisp: 2/5, 2B each
Hinske: 10/25, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB
'Belli: 2/7, 2B, BB

...whew. Probably would've taken less time to tell you who sucks against Weaver: Drew (3/12, 6 Ks, but 2 HR), and even that's not too awful.

Mariners vs. Tavarez.

Beltre: 5/18, HR, BB, HBP
Vidro: 7/18, 2B, HR

...umm. Go Sox. And I'm hoping that Tavarez both refrains from behavior that might draw the ire of the opposing team, and also that every groundball is hit right to him so he can just continually bowl to Youkilis at 1B.

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Comments

Wow, I don't think Weaver ...

will get any bonus money this year.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

HF didn't throw a first pitch strike

But retires the M's 1-2-3 in the first.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Re: HF didn't throw a first pitch strike

Despite the lack of FPS's, he still only threw 12 in the inning. Weaver got to 20 pitches. Which considering the calibre of pitcher he normally is, isn't neccessarily a good thing for us.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

wow

Weaver just struck out Lowell. What is it with us not murdering bad pitching?

"We don't need him"~Curt Schilling on Roger Clemens

by LuXu on Jun 25, 2007 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

Re: wow

I'm watching the M's feed. They have a version of K zone, and half the strikes Weaver is getting are outside the zone. That said, he's mixing his pitches and changing speeds well.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yo-Yo?

Who in the F refers to Tavarez as "Yo-Yo"? Another of those famous baseball nicknames that no one frickin uses.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Yo-Yo?

Never heard that one before. To me, he'll always be Hatchet Face.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Sexson.

Sexson putting up a good AB.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Sexson.

Ropes a lead-off double. Manny played that really well.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Tavarez...

...regressing to the mean? WTF am I saying. It's still early, and still Jeff Weaver on the other side.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

DP

I'll take it ...

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

JT.

DP leads to a run.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

Re: JT.

That inning could have been a lot worse. HF's control looks a bit shaky.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Stupid discussion.

GGs and FP = Omar Vizquel best fielding SS ever + a HOF. And they think he'll play a few more years.

...OPS+ 54. He's lost a step both on the bases and in the field. Pity whoever signs him for a "few" more years.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Stupid discussion.

How old is he? 40? Who'd sign him for a few more years?

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Stupid discussion.

The Mariners' announcers + no one.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Coco

May be turning the corner.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

Bad bunt by Lugo works out OK

2 base throwing error by Jeff Weaver

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Bad bunt by Lugo works out OK

Did he overthrow first?

by 3000miles on Jun 25, 2007 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Bad bunt by Lugo works out OK

Threw wide of second. No one was covering first.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Commentary.

"Nice buzz to that fastball at the letters."

...or, y'know, at the chin.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

M's defense sucks

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Re: M's defense sucks

To someone watching online sure seems like a 3-ring circus out there. Would be nice to get a few more runs out of this though. argh two outs.

by 3000miles on Jun 25, 2007 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice scoring

They took Lopez's error away. Drew gets an infield hit and 2 RBIs.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

Papi steals second!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Papi steals second!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How did that happen?
I'm watching on gameday so...

"We don't need him"~Curt Schilling on Roger Clemens

by LuXu on Jun 25, 2007 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Papi steals second!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They weren't holding him on so he took off.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeff Weaver...always fun to watch him suffer

I used to enjoy it when he pitched for the Yankees.

by wmassfan on Jun 25, 2007 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

HF benefiting from M's hitters ...

who don't take strikes. Almost every time Tavarez falls behind a Seattle hitter, the hitter hacks at the first pitch near the strike zone.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

DP.

Pedroia with a nice play on a ball that almost hopped over him, which to be fair, isn't that difficult for the ball.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

Announcers.

WTF kind of team changes announcers in the middle of a game? I'm not exactly complaining since the previous team was ridiculously inane.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 11:14 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Announcers.

A mickey mouse team ...

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Coco =

...hit machine.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

Stolen base

No throw

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Stolen base

If you didn't watch the game, and I told you two Red Sox players stole bases, you'd immediately say Coco and also you'd say "HOW THE F DID LUGO GET ON BASE?"

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Lugo stinks right now

I'd rather have Hatchet Face in the 9-hole.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Coco definitely changed his stance...

and is hitting better. He used to look like Damon standing up there, now his legs are closer together.

by wmassfan on Jun 25, 2007 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Coco definitely changed his stance...

Whatever he has done, I like the results.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Coco definitely changed his stance...

Me too, and who needs to be reminded of Damon?

by wmassfan on Jun 25, 2007 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

the dice k cd is starting to get on my nerves

tell jerry and don to stop it

by wmassfan on Jun 25, 2007 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

Weaver is sulking about the calls

But he is getting a wide zone and has nothing to complain about.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Weaver is sulking about the calls

According to Seattle's own pitch tracker, which I've looked at for most ABs, Jeff has thrown 3! 1/2 strikes tonight.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Weaver is sulking about the calls

Amazing, isn't it?

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

is weaver losing it?

he is pacing a lot

by wmassfan on Jun 25, 2007 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

Tavarez losing all control.

...crap. At least he's already gotten two outs.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 25, 2007 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Tavarez losing all control.

Yeah ... walks Sexson on 5 pitches and Broussard on 4.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Jojima bails HF out

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 25, 2007 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: Sox in Seattle;

God when will this inning end.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Walking in runs.

Well. We're boned. Surely they're handling all this with class at LL.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

You know, after basically calling out all Red Sox fans over there, which was a pretty f*$%ing classy move to begin with.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

I missed this, what happened?

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

To put it mildly, Mariners fans hate us. Because they can't tell the difference between bandwagoners (they had em in '01) and actual fans.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

Ahh I see. Lame.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

I mean, y'know what? I don't like bandwagon fans, Red Sox or otherwise. And I'm not fond of Fenway being full of (well, the Yankees fans generally make the strongest presence, at least in recent years) opposing ballclub's fans. So there I see the point.

But not distinguishing between bandwagon fans and actual Red Sox/baseball fans? I'd say borderline ignorance, but that's an insult to something.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

I was going to write a longer post, then decided on ahh, I see in case you didn't really want to get into it.

As a fan 3,000 miles from Boston, I totally hear you. It's amazing the red sox hats I see now, so many, but then again I wear my hats more now. For a while I just couldn't handle the 1918 crap that I would always get.

Then again I go to A's games when the sox are in town and there are more sox fans than A's fans, and that can't be fun for them. On my mlb audiocast I heard a lot of Youks from seattle. I can see why they would be annoyed, but to call people bandwaggoners? That's really hard to tell unless you ask, are you from NE? Been a fan all your life but moved away? Those people just want to see their team, like me :)

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

Exactly.

I don't know. Blanket statements of any kind piss me off, no matter what group of people they're about (fans of a team, different races, religious groups, etc).

I'm from NE, but moved to Tennessee 14 years ago. I mean. It's not like there's a (nor should there be) a set formula for "true fans" or something. But as you pointed out, there are plenty of people who now wear Sox hats that didn't before '04.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Walking in runs.

By the way, this game is really painful. I'm getting way more work done than I would for a normal game. In addition, every game the sox lose from now on increases the likelihood that I have to buy beers for two of my co-workers that I have a monthly bet with. sigh I finally pick the sox to rock, and then yeah not so much.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Lugo...

"0 fer 2 tonight." How many times has that been said this season?

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

Keeping it close...

Timlin grooving the FB right down the middle. 2-run HR for Johjima.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:51 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Keeping it close...

ARGHHHHHH

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Timlin = "SUPER"-

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Timlin = "SUPER"-

Ha, that actually is making me hungry.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Timlin = "SUPER"-

It is supertoast, after all.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

DFA.

So if we DFA Timlin today, how long after no team is interested in trading for him will it take for the Yankees to pick him up (a la 2005 Embree)?

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 12:59 AM EDT reply actions

Re: DFA.

If they did, wonder if he would magically stop sucking. Whoa just noticed bases loaded?!?

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: DFA.

Yeah. Sean Green had...marvelous control.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Murphy for Lugo.

Not at all who I wanted, but a PH is a PH, especially where Lugo is concerned.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:07 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Murphy for Lugo.

S#** is that allowed? PH for PH?

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Murphy for Lugo.

Now it shows WMP? Due to pitching change?

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Murphy for Lugo.

Can change anytime the ball is dead?

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Murphy for Lugo.

Yep. And the M's get the DP anyway.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok I officially hate WMP

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:13 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Ok I officially hate WMP

Should've put Beckett up there.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Ok I officially hate WMP

Seriously.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Ok I officially hate WMP

I do see the temptation for Tito though. A WMP grand-slam would've been like 7,000 ft to left-center right there. Was it likely? No. But if there's such a thing as getting a team mentally back in the game (where were they anyway, right?), it's a ridiculously long grand slam to bring the differential from 7 runs to 3.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Ok I officially hate WMP

Yeah, he'd be the hero if it worked out. But, instead we all just shake our heads.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

The greek god of doubles?

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:30 AM EDT reply actions

Re: The greek god of doubles?

And of ultimately false hope, though gameday made strike 3 to Lowell look even less than borderline.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 26, 2007 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: The greek god of doubles?

I haven't been paying too much attention but all I hear is that the umps have been stinking it up tonight. Sigh well the torture is over at least. Worried about tomorrow now. That's the one I thought we'd probably lose. Tavarez did not perform that's for sure.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: The greek god of doubles?

Wow it's pretty late your time. Most people dropped off a while back it seemed.

by 3000miles on Jun 26, 2007 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Go Mariners!

Visiting Mariners Fan.

by Coach Owens @ Over the Monster on Jun 26, 2007 6:35 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry

I don't mean to talk down to ya here Coach, but this doesn't help. We can dislike the Red Sox and their fans filing into Safeco and out cheering all the passive John Q. Mariner fans, but this doesn't help our image of trying to be smart, knowledgeable die-hards.

Yeah, we can boo them down at our park, but this is equivalent to going into their stadium and getting a "Let's Go Mariners" chant going. Granted, that'd be funny since the Red Sox do that to every other stadium, but totally unnecessary and classless.

Also, it kind of surprises me that you'd come over here to get the Sox fans mad, when you're playing as the BoSox in our BMO league....

Sorry Coach for raggin' on you here, and sorry OTM posters for getting something like this started. I may not like the Sox or a lot of their fans, but experiencing stuff like this on LL and other M's blogs, no one really deserves it.

by Bretticus on Jun 26, 2007 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

That being said about Sox hate--

Manny, Ortiz, Youkilis, Beckett, and Papelbon (despite him not being in Putz's league :P) are awesome players. Manny may be my favorite not Edgar Martinez RH hitter ever (Though Miguel Cabrera and Pujols will make a strong case to dethrone him)

Just want to know that I'm not all negative despite coming off that way (since I flat out said I don't like the Sox) in the last post.

Visiting M's fan from Lookout Landing.

by Bretticus on Jun 26, 2007 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions