This one is earned
Some losing streaks are a collection of tough breaks – a blooper here, a blown call there, and all of the sudden, you’ve lost a few games in a row.
This is not that. The Mariners have earned this six game losing streak – the one that’s essentially taken their playoff chances and ground them into powder. Through sheer ridiculous stubbornness and a complete lack of understanding of real baseball strategy, John McLaren punted tonights game. Just threw a win right out the window.
The Mariners didn’t deserve to win tonight’s game, even though they had it in their grasp. As an organization, they’ve put people in charge who simply aren’t capable of making enough good decisions to create a team that wins enough games to be considered a contender.
John McLaren simply doesn’t understand how to manage a roster. In game strategy isn’t everything, but it’s part of the job, and he fails at it.
I wonder what the average leverage index been for White so far when he has pitched. I’d almost guess it has been around 2.0 or higher. Which, is mind numbing.
I’m scared to look it up.
To 144: I attended the Boston game. RF was dreadful. He was saved by Ichiro! who tracked down every blast, and there were a bunch.
151:
http://www.fangraphs.com/statsd.aspx?playerid=456&position=P&season=
pLI (average leverage index per plate appearance):
White, in 4 games with the Mariners, has had pLIs of 5.03, 1.26, 0.98 and 0.19. Average of 1.865.
5.03 in last night’s game! 🙁 🙁 🙁
I hate McLaren. And Bavasi. 🙁
Team’s shouldn’t have to win despite their management.
single handedly?
um, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Jim Lefebvre (and the 1st winning season) …
McLaren will probably be back next year. The justification will be something like: he only had half a season, he took over the team at a difficult time, he deserves a full year to show what he can do, he’s been a loyal member of the organization, the players like him, he’s a real baseball guy.
Just in case the FO dumps him, is there any reason to think they’ll hire someone significantly better?
I have a hard time blaming sucky players for being sucky. Rick White can’t help it, he just sucks, and seems to be good at tricking people into paying him a lot of money.
McLaren, on the other hand, has been working in baseball for a long, long time, and still seems completely ignorant of many seemingly obvious game management principles. That he thinks the “closer” is only to be used when we have a lead is unbelievable to me. You have to betray common sense and intentionally ignore overwhelming evidence to come to this belief.
I’ve loved the Mariners for almost 20 years now, but I can’t bring myself to call for ineptitude to be rewarded. They don’t deserve to reach the postseason. I’m not going to lie at this point, I want to see Bavasi, Mac, and Co. completely exposed.
# 134: the pitching.
121, 125 et al
The use of the term “gas can” to denote a particularly incendiary reliever dates way back to at least the Bobby Ayala era on usenet.
Noter this 1997 post in the Astros newsgroup.
So it’s like when I wrote the song “Mrs. Robinson” last week. Turns out Paul Simon wrote it before me 40 years ago.
There is nothing on paper that should lead anyone to believe the M’s are a playoff team. It just so happened that all of the elements necessary for them to appear to have a chance alligned briefly several times this season, but rationally, those elements aren’t real enough attributes to sustain themselves. They’re two solid starters from being that team, plus a decent 1st baseman, left fielder and DH. That is pretty much agreed upon here. It’s frustrating to watch, but that is why baseball is such a great game. Can they get themselves out from under this temporary insanity and make another run like ’95? That’s what keeps us coming back, at least for the next week or two.
The way the M’s keep finding bad managers can no longer be viewed as a coincidence. Failure is endemic to the kind of go-along-to-get-along types the organization seeks out. This is an extremely corporate ownership and they look for yes-men in their managers. Lou Piniella didn’t go along so he was pushed out. We don’t need another manager or GM for that matter that is, to put it succinctly, a pussy. We need guys that the players don’t think of as buddies, but as bosses…guys they need to keep happy or lose their jobs. People keep bringing up Girardi’s name…is he a guy that commands respect and won’t be the players’ and owners’ bestest buddy? A big part of making good decisions on the field is not giving a happy crap whose feelings you’re stomping on when you do it.
I think the nickname “Gas Can” was originally a play on “Oil Can” Boyd.
oh, there have been so many relief Gas Cans through the years ….
speaking of which, for me, Mesa has a special place after managing to blow the Safeco opener
Either Putz is hurt or McLaren deserves those comments that question his ability to manage.
Most closers can work a maximum of three straight days; and then must have a day of rest.
Also, most closers can rest a maximum of three staight days; then must “get in some work.”
Putz has been idle for six straight days. Hmm!
Hopefully it”s just managerial incompetence.
162: Actually, in the case of White, I think the nickname “Garbage Can” might be more appropriate.
159: good to know I’m not an original thinker in this regard.. the can, however, fits in this case..
152 – yea i was at that Game too, sitting in the second row from the right field wall. I saw the marvelous catches Ichiro made that day. I guess you are right, i was thinking of how RF held down Boston to only 1 run, but at the same time, if Safeco wasn’t so pitcher friendly and if Ichiro wasn’t playing center field, RF probably would’ve gotten shelled. RF probably needs a couple more years in the minors if he has any shot at being a major league pitcher
I wonder what was going the Putz’s mind as McLaren called in White over him.
161–So, would you be interested in the way Ozzie Guillen is blazing a trail right out of Chicago?
Just try imagining Ozzie in Mariner blue. You can’t do it. You simply can’t.
The city would explode.