Game 50, Twins at Mariners
Liriano vs Fister, 7:10 pm.
The Mariners got a bit of a break when they rolled into Anaheim and got to face both Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders, the two worst starters on the Angels roster. They couldn’t take advantage, however, and now have to try to get back on the winning path against a much better southpaw. Among starters with at least 50 innings so far this year, Liriano is fourth in the AL in xFIP, behind only Ricky Romero, James Shields, and Jon Lester. He may not be all the way back to his 2006 form, but this version is plenty good enough, and the M’s will be lucky to put a couple of runs on the board against him.
So, Doug Fister is going to have to be brilliant again, but this time he does so against one of the league’s better line-ups. Even without Orlando Hudson in the line-up, Fister’s still going to have to figure out how to keep Span, Mauer, Morneau, and Thome off the bases, no easy feat for a right-hander who relies on his fastball a lot. As much as the M’s could really use a win to lift their spirits after the last few days, they have to be a really big underdog tonight.
Ichiro, RF
Figgins, 2B
Gutierrez, CF
Bradley, LF
Is He Still On Fire Even Though He’s One For His Last Ten?, DH
Lopez, 3B
Josh Wilson, SS
Johnson, C
Tuiasosopo, 1B
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111 Responses to “Game 50, Twins at Mariners”
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In 2008, we were losing and had decent comments. In 2010, we are losing and have comments like these.
Maybe. But not against dominant lefties.
I agree navio but unfortunately there’s no screening process to be on here.
I miss the old days. Last thing I will say. Adios.
Sodo, baseball might be about numbers, but these numbers are all flawed. There is never an exact science in sports… even this one. There are WAY too many factors. If the Yankees are down by one, at home, and a guy on 1st with nobody out, of course they aren’t bunting, and it doesn’t matter what part of the lineup you’re in for them. BUT US?!?!?! WE NEED to manufacture runs, because present statistics DO NOT account for the poor fundamentals this team plays, nor the bad luck they seem to attract, and horribly underachieving stats the players have been putting up. WAY TOO MANY FACTORS, so before anyone starts saying what should of been done due to statistics, save it. Pinch hit Griffey due to career numbers or pathetic present day numbers? Statistics show that a guy with Griffey’s history should put up decent numbers, but factors like age, deteriorating physical frame, home ball park, atmosphere in home ball park, team makeup, etc. etc. etc. all are not accounted for and change everything. Statistics are horribly over blown. Sports are all unpredictable… except Seattle sports. Build up… let down. Like death and taxes, the only things you can count on.
I’m guessing the tone as of late, is the reason we don’t see msb, Joser, Lauren… etc. anymore.
2004-06 was miserable, but the threads were fun. A chance to commiserate with people in a
positiveless negative way.*Sigh* I wonder how the traffic in McCall is right now?
.
A typical argument about baseball with somebody ignorant:
>Gadfly and Sodo, you guys are idiots.
Bunting in that situation lowers your win probability from 32% to 28%.
>Don’t give me this numbers sabermetrics bullshit.
No, really. It lowers your win probability.
>Baseball isn’t about computers and calculators.
Are you listening? Do you know what the words “win probability” means? It’s simple; it means you have a lower percentage of wins if you pursue this kind of strategy.
>Nerds.
Sigh.
Sodo – I’m with you I think when it comes to considering the numbers. The nerdy part is the point, to a degree of course. We have faced a bunch of lefties recently, true. I started off with Langerhans. I mean, try putting him in at 1B instead of Casey when a righty is starting? Is that such a bad idea? Actually our offense has been not as crappy the last week or so it seems. If it wasn’t for those two walk-offs in LA, we’d have been 5-1 this last week.
But you can’t just blanketly apply averages to every single individual situation.
I’m not saying that a sacrifice was absolutely the best option, but it was certainly better than pinch hitting two double play machines with the tying run standing on first and ending the game with your best hitter sitting in the on deck circle.
If that was the argument, I’d’ve listened.