May 2014
Theory and Praxis, dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/31/14
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9 Comments
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"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not." - Dr. D's Epic File Folder of Thunderous Paradoxes, mostly plagiarized from obscure chess books
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GLS sez, "Two hitters are better than one ...
"... And three great hitters are better than two.
"In the latter half of the 90's, we had Griffey, A-Rod, and Edgar in the same lineup and yes, there were some good teams, but not what you would call great. Not great like the Tigers are this year. But we had a legit murderer's row, and not-great pitching.
"And for these Tigers, it isn't just about those two hitters. Note... Read More
What, did we say something funny
Posted by jemanji on 05/30/14
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2 Comments
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Noon Friday
Bob Dutton gave an excellent primer on the situation after the Mariners optioned Maurer out. Dr. D is big on quick-scans, and he lives to serve, so here is Dutton in a box:
"Anyone" is not better than a 7.52 ERA starter. Good stuff Bob :- )
Taijuan looked "rusty" and the M's don't wanna do that
So it's Erasmo, unless they make a 40-man move
No 40-man moves for short-term benefit. That's amateurish
But if they did, Jordan Pries is the Rainier pitching well right now
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Dinnertime Friday
Dutton reports that it's probably Erasmo, for the sake of making Taijuan prove that he's... Read More
And don't doubt this was one kewl pitcher, dude
Posted by jemanji on 05/30/14
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8 Comments
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TJM sez,
With MLB blacked out locally was forced to watch the Angel's broadcast of this series. Mark Gubicza, one of their color guys and a pretty good sinker-slider righthander before injuries slowed him down, repeatedly made the point during the broadcsts that Ackley, Franklin and Miller all try to cheat to pull the ball at bat after at bat and end up pulling off the ball instead of pulling it. He's completely right. These guys apparently think their value is derived from hitting homers into the right field corner. Why would three guys who came up as middle-infielders think they had to be... Read More
Not sure Roenis will ever get a shampoo commercial, though
Posted by jemanji on 05/30/14
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1 Comments
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Mt Grizzly sez,
Maurer is bad, no doubt, but he's the organizations 7th or 8th starter. I highly doubt he's an impediment to free agent signings. The only viable alternative is Erasmo and he didn't fare any better when he was given his shot. If Walker stays on track, Maurer has one or two starts left and then it's back to Tacoma.
Right ... our dropoff after guys #1-4 is sheer. We get vertigo, watching pitchers' duels for 4 days and then getting a rookie KO'ed by the 3rd inning every 5th day.
Hey. File one more in the melancholy folder titled, "Stoploss Problems." Saberdogs haven't gotten... Read More
Matt Moore, Stephen Strasburg, Tim Lincecum dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/30/14
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6 Comments
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PhxTerry sez,
OBF - Concerning the M's decision-making in 2014 regarding AA as starting CFer/lead-off batter and Maurer over E-Ram as starting pitcher, we have ongoing, basic incompentence. There is no other explanation. How the M's Brain Trust can look the team's few remaining fans straight in the eye and state that they really want to make the play-offs is beyond me.
Yeah, the lack of urgency has driven Dr. D batty since August 1, 2001. That's not two thousand eleven; I'm talking about spitting away the 116-win season because it's always the title 4 years from now that matters. (In... Read More
Freeland ... Newcomb ... Felix + Zuumball ... Taijuan ... Pike & Co. no-no ... Nady ... etc.
Posted by Spectator on 05/29/14
Posted to blog
Mariner Squalls:
Xavier Nady? Yawn? Yeah.
Kyle Freeland, LHP Evansville -- rising buzz for "plus-plus command"
Sean Newcomb, LHP Hartford -- rising buzz for "easy 95" velocity
Full article here.
Wednesday rewind:
The Felix-Mike battery does all the work themselves
Felix' 4-4-4 pattern: let's hope it does not repeat
Zunino's RH ISO has been crucial
Taijuan seems healthy, but allowed a couple of bombs
Tyler Pike comes off two horrible outings to kick off a combined no-hitter with 8 K
Full article here.
Home page here.
Plus two more editions of daily rewind
Posted by Spectator on 05/28/14
Posted to blog
Can you be a hot ticket with an OPS under .700? Apparently so!
Ketel Marte: glove, speed, hard-to-K, draws walks (oops)
Aaron Barbosa: glove, speed, hard-to-K, draws walks
Full article here.
Also:
Monday rewind:
Young looks more interesting.
Mini-assessment of a 25-25 season.
Tyler Olson continues to impress.
Full article here.
Tuesday rewind:
One step forward, one step back. Many times over.
Maybe Kohlscheen will get Pryor's spot.
Pow! and Deeeej!
Full article here.
Home page here.
If you have to ax, you wouldn't unnerstan', Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/27/14
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10 Comments
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In the Shout Box, amigos pointed out that the Mariners are hitting .215 at Safeco. Other metrics similarly depressing. Dr. Grumpy wanted to know, what are the other guys hitting there?
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Team
AVG
OBP
SLG
BABIP
HR/F %
BB
K
M's, home, 2014
.214
.278
.341
.266
10.5
50
200
Enemy, Safeco, 2014
.224
.293
.345
.263
9.6
70
175
...
M's, home, 2013
.239
.306
.390
.279
12.0 (!)
260
650
Enemy, Safeco, 2013
.251
.312
.403
.307 (!)
10.6
230
720
(BB's and K's are rounded, so that they are decipherable.)
(The .307 BABIP last year was due to Saunders, Maurer, Harang, Bonderman, and an... Read More
Midnight (or noontime?) at the oasis, Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/27/14
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4 Comments
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Didn't know, until just now read it, that Dutton had been the president of the BBWAA. As professional accomplishments go, that's a cool one.
I like him for several of the same reasons I liked Baker:
Excellent feel for the game at ground level
Tends to write about the actual pivot points of the season
Not self-consciously cynical; doesn't try to establish "journalistic objectivity" through apathy
etc
For example, here is his article, "Young adds to Safeco Legend." It's not dripping with irony. Something good happens, he's glad to let you know. ... anyway, Baker is irreplaceable, but it's... Read More
It's about on time, on budget, low defects
Posted by jemanji on 05/27/14
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15 Comments
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In our latest, exciting installment of Fortune 500 For You, we axed whether anybody had second thoughts about Nelson Cruz. NO WAY ARE YOU JOKING GET OUDDA HERE HOSER!, agreed the crowd, amicably.
If there is anything Dr. D prefers to a flu that keeps him in bed for 72 straight hours, it's waking up to all his best friends answering a question he didn't ask. SSI did not ask whether we blamed Jack. He asked whether we thought WE got anything wrong in the analysis.
:: blinks :: :: i don't get the question :: :: what did he say? :: :: who knows what this guy is ever talking about... Read More
So much for making hay off the Astros; bouncing off okdan's comments on Clinton
Posted by Spectator on 05/26/14
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Sunday's games:
Astros seem to like playing Seattle more than anyone else.
Keuchel is suddenly red hot, and it's not just facing M's.
George Springer, like Sonny Gray, got passed over in 2011.
But ... Grand Salami Blash Splash! and then Blash Splash again!
Full article here.
Additional commentary on okdan's commentary from the Midwest League:
Wilson the Man among Boys -- yes.
Christian Carmichael overlooked? certainly, after a slow start
Reinheimer one to watch? check out the steals
Ian Miller? another northeasterner on the rise, but he'll need to catch up with Aaron... Read More
Nelson Cruz' HR landing spots, overlaid with Safeco
Posted by jemanji on 05/24/14
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8 Comments
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Nelson Cruz went to the Baltimore Orioles for 1 year, $8M. He is an unrestricted free agent in four months.
Pull up Baseball-Reference on the Orioles -- the team the Mariners are chasing in the Wild Card -- and it shows you that Cruz is the Orioles' best player, by WAR. (He is not there for WAR; he is there to change the scoreboard.)
He has 15 homers in 45 games ... let me divide 162 by 3 here real quick ... and 43 RBI in those 45 games. (Cano and Seager lead our team with 28 RBI each; we feel very relieved to have Mike Zunino's 18 RBI, which pro-rate to about 70.)
..........
Needless... Read More
Friday: Full Court Press; Saturday: De-Maurer-alized
Posted by Spectator on 05/24/14
Posted to blog
Friday:
Felix + Offense = Full Court Press
Wee Willie's first home run since 2011! No, not 1911.
Next Generation Big Four Watch: Sanchez iffy but OK, Pike not so much.
Two homers for Deej!
Full article here.
Saturday:
Teal Alert for Brandon Maurer. Not getting it done.
Cano stays hot, but offense not.
Pax is bax! Also LoMo.
Deej again! And the whole gang joined in.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Mr. Bean heads to the batter's box vs Felix
Posted by jemanji on 05/23/14
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1 Comments
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Ah! So Felix had merely been sick. As in, he had the flu for three weeks. That would:
Explain the way the sweat has been trickling off his chin like Patrick Ewing's, and why he was squinting like he'd Waked and Baked to the game
Be aptly characterized as a "Best Case Scenario"
Have nothing whatever to do with his shoulder, arm, his kick saves, or his mechanics ...
... and turn out as one more edition of Tomorrow's News Today, babe
Put "PAID" to the suggestion that Hisashi Iwakuma is better than he is
Leave Astros hitters described as "pleasantly Mr. Bean-y"
Set up an extended series of "... Read More
Have an idea out there, Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/23/14
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8 Comments
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Lord Farquhar
Danny Farquhar, for a few games, has shed his morbid fascination with 91 MPH cut fastballs out-and-over the plate, and even thrown to the inside edge.
His first hitter in the 9th, Dominguez:
Pitch one, huge yakker right at the bottom of the zone, froze him 0-1
Two: cutter thrown to break off the plate, as if it were ... what's the word ... a "hard slider" 0-2
Three: Up-the-ladder fastball, mid-90's, barely fouled it back 0-2
Four: Buries a 75 yakker in the dirt, strike three.
It was a delicious overmatch.
Next guy, also, two mid-90's fastballs, a changeup, and only one... Read More
My left foot ...
Posted by Spectator on 05/23/14
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Saunders overcomes the April of the Pencil
The May of the Scotch sees his K-rate plummet
And he won the game Thursday with his left foot
Everyone liking our ex-super-sleeper Dominic Leone?
And we liked Yoervis Medina when everyone else was trying to boot him off the 40-man roster
Leone's running mate Carson Smith is on his way back, but Stephen Pryor not so much
Our new super-sleeper is Aaron Barbosa, by the way
Full article here.
Home page here.
KNOWLEDGE = POWER, dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/22/14
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2 Comments
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Mo Sez:
Modern golf analysis teaches us that there is an optimum launch angle for every velocity. Find that optimum angle and you win the kewpie doll. Guys today "dial in" that angle by changing driver loft, shaft and ball configurations to get it just right. Ball changes allow you to optimize spin rates to ball velocity. It makes a difference. A big one. It is one reason guys are so much longer today on the average. A few minutes in the machine gives you tons of info for tweaking your equipment.
I wonder if Smoak's launch angles are "tweeners," not enough to get the ball to the 4th row and... Read More
Connie Marrero, Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/22/14
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Matty sez,
The Yankees tracked this batted ball information with much more detail than ESPN does...and, without giving away precisely what they look at, I think it is safe to say that I had access to several years worth of high quality batted ball info...and found, to my grim LACK of surprise, that the Mariners had been the unluckiest team in baseball EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. since record keeping began for this sort of thing (2008).
Every year, they had regular players near the top of the unlucky list when comparing their actual offense to the offense you expected.
In 2013, it was Ackley, Smoak,... Read More
Chris Young as Inverse-Ichiro?
Posted by Spectator on 05/22/14
Posted to blog
If Ichiro could be a star by making something out of nothing, can Chris Young be a star by making nothing out of something?
Or something to that effect.
But whatever it is that he does, it didn't work as well in Texas, where two longballs were enough to derail the M's.
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But the offense continues to perk up, with Robinson Cano in the driver's seat.
===
Also, Pow! Pow! Paolini!
Full article here.
Home page here.
Sweet harmony?
Posted by Spectator on 05/21/14
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I mean, how often does a headline like that fall in your lap?
Cano is starting to look like The Man.
And (for now) the eight other guys are all home-grown (if you count Smoak).
Ackley, Saunders & Zunino show interesting progress.
Seager and Smoak were already solid role players.
Miller is not as bad and Jones not as good as they've looked.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Tuesday's games + Coffey, Big Two & Draft
Posted by Spectator on 05/21/14
Posted to blog
Two articles:
Tuesday Rewind:
Kuma and Cano combine just like Felix and Cano did on Sunday. We like the way that works.
Supporting cast is very supportive. We like the way that works, too.
Who has the best run differential among contenders for the second wild card?
Austin Power!
Full article here.
Bonus Squalls:
Todd Coffey: replacement-level bullpen dude. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
The remaining Big Two both pitch. Shannon Drayer had video.
More mock drafts emerging.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Pries, Pryor, Franklin + Monday night action
Posted by Spectator on 05/20/14
Posted to blog
What's the deal with Jordan Pries? And how did he come to be the best starter at Tacoma?
Stephen Pryor: not to great so far.
Nick Franklin: you gotta call him up now.
But, yes, Montero may be that RH masher we've been looking for.
We still love Dan Paolini, but we're not sure that he'll be the RH masher we've been looking for.
Aaron Barbosa gets on base and then steals them. I'm just going to keep mentioning that until it catches on.
Full article here.
Home page here.
like SSI … it's best for 6-year-olds
Posted by jemanji on 05/19/14
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2 Comments
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I/O: Art Thiel with a washbowl of wit and wisdom about the M's roster changes.
CRUNCH: Thiel always had more than his share of wit, and a good dose of wisdom, but Dr. D hasn't read him in quite a few years. This had a triple dollop of both -- quite a few laugh lines, and several things that we hadn't quite noticed.
Hm. Must be hustling to keep up with the internet...
That's cool. Most of us in our '50's stop trying to grow, and start coasting in to the finish line. Especially sportswriters.
.....
Hasn't lost the cynicism, though. He tries to coin a verb, "jamesjonesing" it, which... Read More
more will-o-the-wisps to go with yer wit and wisdom
Posted by jemanji on 05/19/14
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22 Comments
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I/O: The Mariners have hit the ball harder, more frequently, than ANY other major league team. They're #1 of 30.
CRUNCH: And here's a "picture" of the ESPN stats table ... if you enlarge it, you might be able to read it, a little bit. Next up, Rickey Henderson's baseball card on the head of pin.
....
The naked eye concurs. The Mariners have hit the ball into wayyyy more share of their hard outs. It is Dr. D's considered opinion that the table's core idea is basically accurate.
....
Does that mean that the Mariners have one of the best offenses in baseball, camouflaged by ballpark and... Read More
Felix & Cano Kick Tail Together ... Finally; plus more good stuff
Posted by Spectator on 05/19/14
Posted to blog
Perhaps late, but hopefully content-filled rewinds.
Saturday:
Bad timing for Elias
A bit about Daniel Carbonell
Jordan Pries has been on our radar for awhile, but not like this.
Full article here.
Sunday:
Cooperstown twins overcome actual Twins
First time Felix and Cano have been "impact players" in the same game.
And the leader in "impact games" is ...
Nothing good is happening on the e-RAM front.
Carson Smith back from DL.
Tyler Pike has a sour outing.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Lincoln, not Almonte
Posted by jemanji on 05/19/14
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1 Comments
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Yes, Lincoln was a ferocious wrestler. Here's an article that will blow your hair back. "Gentle" does not mean "weak." It means "strong" and "restrained."
.....
There is a story about a college dean who was walking the President around his campus. The university had put in sidewalks a few years previously ... the students persisted on walking across the lawns, wearing out the grass. The dean tried everything, punishments, etc., and couldn't stop the kids from "trespassing" onto his lawns.
"What should I do about this?," the dean wailed.
"Put the sidewalks where the students want to... Read More
Wee Willie Keeler, Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/19/14
Posted to blog
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Particularly good material in the "Ask Bill" area at Bill James Online ... I think the last few weeks' worth are public reading. We sent a question, as we do about once a month or so:
....
On BABIP … Ichiro is a maddening test case. From 2001 to 2010 (age 36) Ichiro hit for a .357 BABIP (in Safeco!) and had 6.5 runs per 27 outs. Ron Shandler at BaseballHQ reworked his BABIP formulas based solely on Ichiro, if we remember, saying that Ichiro "busted" the formula.
(He had the #4 WAR of that decade, to Pujols, ARod and Bonds.)
Suddenly in 2011 (age 37) he simply lost this ability: his... Read More
Law of Averages Enforcment Officers Catch Up With Chris Young
Posted by Spectator on 05/17/14
Posted to blog
Young was going to get hit hard eventually. Friday it happened.
But Saunders and Ackley continue to show signs of life.
Not so Corey Hart.
Dario Pizzano promoted!
A good night for our man Sharkie Unsworth from South Africa.
Low-A Clinton loses double header, but gains celebrity.
Full article here.
Home page here.
News & Notes on Bell, Big Three, Taylor, Blash, etc.
Posted by Spectator on 05/16/14
Posted to blog
Weekend pitching matchups in the Twin Cities
Wild Card standings.
Heath Bell & Mike MacDougal
Big Three #1: a guy who came out of major labrum surgery OK
Big Three #2: Walker & Paxton updates
Minors: Blash Splash! plus a very strange play
Full article here.
Home page here.
Posted by jemanji on 05/16/14
Posted to blog
5 Comments
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From Ask Bill:
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Bill, the Cardinals just sent Kolten Wong to AAA after 71 ABs. What is a meaningful sample size to judge a player by?
Asked by: Steve9753
Answered: 5/15/2014
Well. . .71 AB is not a very reliable sample size, but the fact is that we all make decisions every day based on insufficient data. If you go on a date with a woman and she has bad breath, you don't say "It's a sample of one"--but it is. It could be the only time all year she had bad breath.
You try not to make decisions based on too few trials, but sometimes there is more information there than the outcomes of the... Read More
What, me worry
Posted by jemanji on 05/15/14
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4 Comments
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Sez BSR,
bsr: Not just the 1 HR but he also only has 8 doubles. His whole career you could take 40+ doubles to the bank no question, and we're looking at 32-33 at this pace. Just saying. Would be interested to hear the SSI brain trust on this topic...
And DaddyO,
I've seen Yankee fans post that it is not unusual for Cano to get off to slow starts. That said, Cano's lack of power so far has been disconcerting to me. What Tacoma Rain says is reasonable, that Cano Is having to make some adjustments moving from a top offense and a hitter friendly ballpark for LHBs to a struggling offense and a... Read More
Your Run Support is urgently needed! (and a free tote bag!)
Posted by Spectator on 05/15/14
Posted to blog
SSI was having technical problems that prevented cross-posting yesterday.
[But you can visit MB without the cross-post. It's allowed.]
Anyway ...
Tuesday:
Call now to pledge your Run Support to needy Mariner pitchers!
Yes, we'll give you a lovely tote bag!
Blame Rodney first? Yeah, pretty much.
An Abe sighting with no cringing!
Full article here.
Wednesday:
Odorizzi finds the puzzle pieces that Maurer is missing.
Ackley is heating up. Is it the long-awaited ...
Deeeej goes deeeep again, but his walk rate is way down from 2013.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Right brain, Left brain Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/13/14
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13 Comments
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SLOPS to: David Price throwing a game like that.
David Price is the 2012 Cy Young Winner, and if you take 25 random starts out of his career including May 13, 2014, then this one would have been the best. We're not talking stats, Egbert. We're talking about the fact that the 1961 Yankees would have had no shot.
He's the best pitcher, and that was his best. A once-per-year performance on his part.
But since you brought up stats... he fanned 12 guys, and walked none, according to the home plate umpire, that is. Here is the strike zone plot: +9 strikes, -0 balls.
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PROPS to: it... Read More
WBC-worthy … or at least PLAYOFF-worthy … SP's
Posted by jemanji on 05/13/14
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2 Comments
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At BJOL there's an article up which asks the question, "Is the typical ballclub's Opening Day starter its best starter?"
He stimulates your thinking by asking you to guesstimate how often the two "titles" coincide:
14%
34%
54%
74%
The answer is 34%. Meaning that for the typical team, the guy starting Opening Day will NOT be the guy who should be pitching Game Seven that year. Usually, most of the time, the Opening Day starter is there because he has the Biggest Name, but usually, most of the time, there's somebody on the staff better than him. I wonder how aware the clubhouse is of that... Read More
Nothing finer than Felix being Felix-y and the Carolina boys hitting (and others)
Posted by Spectator on 05/13/14
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1 Comments
Felix had them whiffing at his changeup, and had his command. The four earned runs and the ejection were sideshows.
Offense! ISO is on the rise, and the Carolina crew of Ackley, Seager and Smoak (the latter from south of the line) is a big part.
With a (mostly walk-free) assist from Romero and Zunino.
But still no Cano in the ISO column.
The Rainiers added veteran Mike MacDougal and played in a dust storm, then suffered a bad outing from Erasmo Ramirez.
And Victor Sanchez was not on vector in his return from the DL.
Full article here.
Home page here.
What was all the fuss about again?
Posted by Spectator on 05/12/14
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2 Comments
Misty water-colored memories are all most of us have of Mr. Zero Expectations back when he had Expectations that were Non-Zero.
But all you have to do is pull up his player page on trusty baseball-reference.com and it smacks you right in the face:
Baseball America 2010 No. 4 prospect
Baseball Prospectus 2010 No. 4 prospect
Baseball America 2011 No. 3 prospect
Baseball Prospectus 2011 No. 3 prospect
Baseball America 2012 No. 6 prospect
Baseball Prospectus 2012 No. 7 prospect
MLB.com 2012 No. 12 prospect
People would go … “OK, Bryce Harper, and this Trout kid the Angels have is lookin’ really... Read More
M's lose at Home Run Derby, but Ackley's grinning ... and Young too
Posted by Spectator on 05/12/14
Posted to blog
3 Comments
Sunday:
KC's longballs counted more.
Farquhar's cutter didn't cut it.
Ackley is grinning! Does he always do that? Does he know something?
Deeeej!
Full article here.
Saturday:
Chris Young's smoke and mirrors again.
Smoak and Ackley (no mirrors)
Kivlehan promoted. Victor Sanchez coming back.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Enough. Comedy. Jokes.
Posted by jemanji on 05/11/14
Posted to blog
5 Comments
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Roenis Elias
It's a lot more fun to quit your job after a great day, than it is to quit during the worst day. Y'feel me?
You want to quit your job, there's a right way ... get all your systems going great, hand in your best project, laughs all around, go down to the cafeteria and have your fave meal. THEN if you still want to quit, well. Enjoy. The. Talk.
Same is true inverted. You want to propose to marriage? Catch her on her worst day ever. You still want to propose, then there y'go amig-O.
..........
Fun, too, to analyze pitchers based on their worst performances, worst months,... Read More
Or is this a James Jones POTD?
Posted by jemanji on 05/11/14
Posted to blog
12 Comments
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James Jones - the Bad
By all sabermetric rights, this cake shouldn't be out of the oven yet.
Our man Spectator serves as our saber conscience, reminding us that we need to pay more attention to how players have actually performed, than to what scouts are saying about them. Here is Spec's March writeup on Jones.
Dr. D signs off, with gusto. There ain't much in the performance record that would make you want to give Safeco time to James Jones right now. He's here because they don't like Saunders and 'cause of Almonte's situation.
Can we survive it? Can Nick Franklin play center field? ... Read More
Armor up, and get hit by three or four pitches, maybe?
Posted by jemanji on 05/10/14
Posted to blog
2 Comments
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The M's are a tick over .500 and 0.5 games out of the Wild Card. That rates a good solid A-/B+ considering the April rotation, Brad Miller, and Almonte scenarios.
.........
Yordano Ventura looks unfair, as Jeff Sullivan warned us in this Fox article. He throws every inch as hard as Taijuan and K-Pax, and then add some to that.
But wait! Here are .gifs of his Beckett-like curve ball, and ...
His changeup has a +1.83 run value. Meaning, every 100 changeups he throws, you can figure on scoring -1.83 runs against the league average against it.
He throws both offspeed pitches a good 15-20%... Read More
SSI, your daily Multicultural M's Fix
Posted by jemanji on 05/10/14
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2 Comments
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I think ZZ does tour Japan, right? Like pancakes with corned beef hash and eggs on top. Which I plan to assimilate shortly...
Segue'ing off from a cute ZZ promo into a particularly egregious rant, even by my standards. Dr. D has a real peeve going, modern 'net rats talk about tolerating people who think differently (and then invoke TOS at the slightest irritation).
At SSI we walk the talk, bab-eh. Bring it! No whiners. You think different, type it in. The response will be tennis volley'ing, not punishment.
Ahhhhh ... just skip on to the next paragraph. Dr. D is just cranky because... Read More
Nickeled and dimed and dimed and dimed ... plus Tyler Olson! (who?)
Posted by Spectator on 05/10/14
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1 Comments
One of the strangest outings you'll see.
No strikeouts
No walks
No extra-base hits
34 balls-in-play
14 singles
But it didn't add up for Brandon Maurer, whose mid-90s heat doesn't fool anyone without something else to cross up the hitter.
***
Also:
Tyler Olson has fast-tracked from Gonzaga to AA and is zipping up the depth chart.
Abe is still not pencil-worthy so far.
An appearance from 2014 Mariner MVP Randy Wolf.
Diaz is struggling.
Full article here.
Home page here.
How many Mr. WBC's does one team GET?
Posted by jemanji on 05/09/14
Posted to blog
7 Comments
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(That's Robinson Cano behind Rodney. Cano slugged 5.000 during the WBC. The Mariners also have Hisashi Iwakuama. And Michael Saunders. And I bet James Jones hit six homers for Brooklyn.)
("Mr. Magic Closer," a term that Dr. D has used for 20 years to deride the weird ideas that have developed around baseball's 9th inning.)
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White Knuckle, Bab-Eh. And Lovin' It
You guys know where the scouts sit in the stands at Safeco, right? If they're not behind the plate, they're (often) back on the concourse, directly behind home, where they can see the ump and the tiny monitor they've got. Like... Read More
Hisashi is ours, and you can't have him (until 2016)
Posted by jemanji on 05/09/14
Posted to blog
3 Comments
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Q. What says the jemanjinator? Big $$ to extend Iwakuma?
A. It says here that Mojician has the right opening argument on this one: Iwakuma to play out his current deal, and then see if he can finally get that $100M deal he deserved in the first place.
The M's underpay him this year and next, and that's more than enough exploitation for my (increasingly queasy) stomach.
But, naturally, if Iwakuma would go a 3/$50 extension, you're all over it. (If he wants more, he's got the problem that you can easily wait until next year to talk about it.)
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Q. Is he a "legit number 2"?
A. We get... Read More
plus "Mariner Squalls"
Posted by Spectator on 05/09/14
Posted to blog
Thursday rewind:
Kuma had all his pitches working and the Royals had no chance: we do a freeze-frame breakdown
Is Xavier Avery next in line for Pencil-hood?
In High Desert: Barbosa's on-base ability and Jabari Henry's power are off the charts so far.
Full article here.
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Also Mariner Squalls:
Brad Miller breakdown was Topic A of the day
The top international teen has a kind-of famous uncle (uh-oh)
The NFL's was real, but the MLB is still at mock stage. More Mariner possibilities.
Full article here.
Home page here.
M's split but stay wild card-y ... Littlewood's slam caps unthinkable 16-run comeback
Posted by Spectator on 05/08/14
Posted to blog
Two new posts:
MLB split in the O.co
M's record still wild-card-worthy but BP says only a 30% chance
Felix after eight starts: Hall of Fame 4, "Meh" 4
Another key rally with Saunders, Smoak and Seager at center stage
Full article here.
Clinton scores 16 runs in four innings after falling behind 17-1!
Marcus Littlewood's Grand Salami Time in the 9th ties it up
Amazingly, LumberKings win 20-17 in the 12th after 19 unanswered runs
Our man Pagan is in the thick of the battle
Plus ... Blash Splash! and heroics from Little Nicky!
Full article here.
Home page here.
looking for sustenance in the Dust Bowl
Posted by Gordon Gross on 05/08/14
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5 Comments
Here's where I would insert prose, blah blah blah, but it's a busy morning, so all you get are the facts.
Lotta conversation in the Shout box about Miller this morning, with Matt declaring that going back to the minors is what's best for MILLER, regardless of what's up with his team contributions. I agree (and look forward to Matt's article on Miller's chase tendencies that should be coming along shortly). This is a simplistic example of my current issue with Miller.
Brad Miller looks lost. There's nothing wrong with his talent, but he's gone from a .265/.320/.420 hitter to a .180/.235/.300... Read More
Kicking A's & Taking Names
Posted by Spectator on 05/07/14
Posted to blog
A walk, a bunt, Corey Hart does NOT clog the basepath, and ...
Suddenly the A's are wishing for more soggy turf to break their fall.
We look at the numbers before and after the TTE11PABHR.
And "if the playoffs started today ..." what?
Nick Franklin is still kickin' too.
Jordan Pries? Stephen Kohlscheen? Yes, more guys you heard about here first.
Full article here.
Home page here.
… but that's coming from a mad scientist, and worse, a lawyer
Posted by jemanji on 05/06/14
Posted to blog
2 Comments
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Mojo Sez
Doc, In view of the record, and other obvious signs, a pronouncement of the season is necessary.
Here’s the form. Choose only one box then sign.
Its:
□ Dead.
□ Mostly dead.
□ Almost dead.
□ Not dead.
□ ALLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!!!
Tritely,
Dr. Detecto
No, Let's Win 8 of 10 and Then Shut Down the Power Grid
Mojo's implication is clear enough, that as of 6 May 2014 our pulse is as strong as a jackhammer. It ain't like you score 3 TD's on 3 straight drives and then walk off the field in resignation.
.......
But the ... Read More
Is Lloyd nuts? Plus ... Young Again
Posted by Spectator on 05/06/14
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3 Comments
I conclude that McClendon is not nuts, but very confident in is his Motivation Techniques.
Full article here.
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And Monday Rewind:
Three cheers for Randy Wolf's indignation!
Politely ignore Hypothetical Chris Young.
Same goes for Stefen Romero's BB-rate.
Peek at the Wild Card standings. It's OK. Really!
5th home run for The Tank.
Full article here.
Home page here.
Could Romero still play the savior watching over us from the shadows?
Posted by jemanji on 05/05/14
Posted to blog
8 Comments
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The Orcs mighta been lucky to lose by only two runs. We out-hit them 9 to 4, or something, and in one of those innings had runners killed at 3B and HP. The game kinda reminded me that first Angels series, to tell you the truth.
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Stefen Romero
Rick sez,
Cherry picking season! Look at Stefen Romero's last 8 games: .290/.313./.452 for a .764 OPS.
No cherry pickin' about it, homie. You're just right. No need to hedge. Stefen has wayyyyyy shrilled down, not that he was a spooked fawn before. Whoop, that metaphor won't fly. Stefen looks a little more like "The Shot-Caller On Cellblock D... Read More
Chris Young is loved by many, many, Many SSI denizens
Posted by jemanji on 05/05/14
Posted to blog
26 Comments
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"Orcs" with apologies to Mojo. But this one will stick. The Orcs thing, that is.
They're manufactured cheaply
They definitely look ugly
They obviously play ugly
They're extremely dangerous
Robinson Cano, by stark contrast, is quite elf-like. So if he can take out half-a-dozen or so on his own, maybe the humans have a shot.
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Chris Young
"Can pitch for me any time," sez Dr. Grumpy.
"Pitches with auTHORity!," sez Bill Krueger.
"Working the top of the strike zone is an art form," sed Blowers during the telecast.
"I'll take him nine miles before Joe Saunders," groused Dr. Detecto upon Young'... Read More
Buncha stuff that I haven't cross-posted yet
Posted by Spectator on 05/05/14
Posted to blog
Didn't get a chance to cross-post various things over the weekend, so here's a chance to play catch-up:
Following up on Gordon's draft preview. Here. Features our existential discussion of the draft pick that might exist only for the sake of not existing. Also includes Tyler Beede's person-on-the-street interviews with non-baseball fans. "I went to half a game once. It was really hot." (She meant the temperature.)
Friday rewind. Here. M's out of gas. E-Ram revives in AAA. The Dutch Master gets on track.
Satuday rewind. Here. Offense opens the floodgates. With walks and... Read More
Jemanji decides to be contrarian, for a change
Posted by jemanji on 05/03/14
Posted to blog
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Contrarian with the format, that is. You'll get a lot more out of the Shout Box poaches, themselves, than you will out of Dr. D's hip-slams against them. But, hey, any port in a quota-storm.
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Mojician
How did we miss this: http://m.mlb.com/video/v32230653/laadet-three-errors-lead-to-a-run-for-k... Conger over throws second base, on a steal by Kinsler. The ball goes to the outfield, Calhoun again overthrows the 2b cutoff man (this time coming back in) the ball is fielded poorly by pitcher Richards who throws it past Conger. Kinsler scores. Moral of the story: We should not get too busy... Read More
Mickey, you are AMAZING (relatively speaking, that is)
Posted by jemanji on 05/03/14
Posted to blog
3 Comments
Mo' Dawg
It would take a couple of sea changes for McClendon to de-lineup Almonte and re-lineup Montero (on a platoon basis). Two of the three great pronouncements the Skip made early in ST, or as we came out, were that Almonte was his man and that Smoak owned 1B (the other being that Ackley wouldn't play CF "because"). That's a lot of movement on the Skip's part. I'm with you. I would do it. But then you and I haven't "invested" in the statements above.
Odd that I take Moe's name in vain, about 50% of the time, to zig against his zag. That creates a false impression of the actual 92%... Read More
So explain to me, Blake Griffin trying to dunk and missing the rim
Posted by jemanji on 05/03/14
Posted to blog
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Gordon
I think Felix isn't turning as much and is losing both movement and accuracy. The changeup is completely missing today, and it looks mechanical to me. Maybe Doc can break it out tomorrow. Hopefully after a victory.
Felix badly lost the feel for his changeup, three (3) games ago, right.
He spikes the changeup a good part of the time, and leaves it up sometimes, and then --- > he throws it exactly right, so it drops out of the zone, and they hold up. Meantime, he always looks like he's pitching with a migraine headache.
Which ... explain to me, why don'cha, if Blake Griffin lost... Read More
At least Dr. D's (and Danny's) blood isn't donated to anything silly
Posted by jemanji on 05/03/14
Posted to blog
1 Comments
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Given the finish of our last post, the Chicago Manual of Style leaves us no choice but to clarify. The above photo is not an actual depiction of my tiredness. Just in case that helps.
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PHX Terry
Picking from a long list of interesting shouts by Terry, let's go wit'
Saunders shows AA how to play the outfield - wonder if the Pencil was watching. I'm listening to the Stro's broadcast team on MLB TV, their color guy said after Saunders play in RF: "Saunders is a very good outfielder. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in center field, as early as tomorrow. It's just not working out with... Read More
Bronx Bustin'
Posted by Spectator on 05/02/14
Posted to blog
Elias weaponizes the curveball, and suddenly the "plateau leap" seems leapable.
Cano doubles = Mariner offense
Lloyd is going to need more scotch
Pizzano has a bust-out game in California
Full article here.
Home page here.
Immigrant lands on East Coast, sends NY back to Stone Age
Posted by jemanji on 05/01/14
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8 Comments
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Dr. D's Jaw Snaps Shut So Fast You Can Hear His Teeth Click
After Elias' March starts, and after his first few reg-season starts, we pegged his ERA in the 100'ish range. He's got guts, we sez, and a lively fastball he throws to attack locations. But the curve looks rudimentary -- he can't throw it for strike consistently, and it's a little mushy. As well, the change is for show, approximately a Paxton-level changeup. From 2013.
It is a Bill James axiom, however, that "With most good young starting pitchers, strikeout rate will increase in the second and third year." Check Justin... Read More
Blast from the Past, dept.
Posted by jemanji on 05/01/14
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5 Comments
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We'd been casting about feebly for a halfway-convincing comp to Roenis Elias, when MLB Network inadvertently helped us out.
.....
A quick foreword: it's not necessarily overreacting, when you go "HEY DID YOU SEE THAT ROOKIE FAN 10 GUYS?" It's a topical discussion at BJOL. Extreme pitching performances tend to rule a young pitcher out of the "lousy but lucky" category. For instance, there will never be a major league game in which Anthony Vasquez strikes out 12 men.
Edit to add, after we'd had the above remark in the main Elias post ... MLB Tonight gives the following 4 Mariners rookies... Read More
Clips of Montero, Taylor, Pries, Blash, Marte & Wilson
Posted by Spectator on 05/01/14
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1 Comments
We track down the grainy clips so you don't have to!
Plus the usual Daily Prospect-palooza.
Full article here.
Home page here.
The Mariners seem to be stocking up
Posted by Spectator on 05/01/14
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1 Comments
Sports Illustrated points out how the right-handed power hitter is becoming a rare item. But the Mariners seem to be in the midst of an unexpected renaissance.
Article on MLB shortage here.
Article on Mariner potential suplus here.
Home page here.