Game 133, Angels at Mariners
Beavan vs. Pineiro, 7:10pm
Okay, I generally try to find something worth watching in every pitching match-up, but this is just… this is tough. The series itself is critically important to the Angels, which is why Mike Scioscia’s probably not that thrilled that injuries have forced him to turn to Joel Pineiro again. We’ve all seen Pineiro for years and we know what he throws. Age and injuries have messed up a fascinating sabermetric research project that someone could’ve done with Pineiro: how long does Dave Duncan’s magic fairy dust last? Pineiro’s clearly used up his entire supply, but thanks to his shoulder issues, we’ve got a confounding variable. Joel’s annoying at everything.
Blake Beavan is the ultimate pitch-to-contact guy. On the year, he has Fister-esque whiff rates on his four- and two-seam fastballs, and over his past few starts, they’re going lower. I like the look of his two-seamer on pitch fx; his height and the sink on the pitch gives it a great downward plane, but it certainly doesn’t get more whiffs than his four-seamer. On the other hand, it seems like it should be able to generate some grounders – and if all he’s going to do is watch batters put it in play, then improving his GB% would be nice. It’s been fairly effective against righties, but the fact that he doesn’t like to use it make the sample sizes too tiny to mean anything.
Overall, Beavan’s K rate/whiff rate is so insanely low, you don’t really watch Blake Beavan pitch – you watch what happens *after* Beavan pitches. He’s been a pleasant surprise, but I feel like I should be talking about Brendan Ryan or the day’s outfielders or something.
Speaking of which…
1: Ichiro
2: Gutierrez
3: Ackley
4: Carp
5: Olivo
6: Kennedy (DH… sigh)
7: Wells
8: Seager
9: Ryan
Justin Smoak’s in Tacoma tonight for a rehab start with the Rainiers, who open their last homestand against Tucson.
Hunstville’s taking on Jackson, and why yes, Vinnie Catricala DOES have a double already. How did you guess?
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48 Responses to “Game 133, Angels at Mariners”
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There’s no reason Kennedy should be getting at-bats over Robinson. Or hell Halman or even Saunders.
Why is Kennedy still on this team???
I wondered when the team was going to acknowledge Ichiro’s getting close to not having his 200 hits. Gotta give some drama to the season, I guess.
Look out, guy’s body in 1st row went 3/4 the way over the rail there trying to reach for the bouncing ball from Ichiro’s leadoff ground-rule 2B. Luckily someone grabbed his legs and saved him. Come on fans, did we not learn from Tx.
Time to beat the angels!! Good start so far.
That was a beautiful throw Wells made to gun a runner out at second.
Casper didn’t gun out a runner, he gunned out Bourjos
So if this whole Wedge thing doesnt work out in a year or so what say we just go pure awesome mariners: dan Wilson as manager (retired catcher), buhner as the fiery bench coach, Edgar as the hitting coach (of course), Moyer as pitching coach (again of course), and norm charlton as bullpen coach.
Sorry I’m tired and it sounded cool
2 doubles by Ichiro. Selfish, selfish Ichiro. If he was a better team player there would have been people on base when he did that.
Who, as Jeff from LL has mentioned can be in two places at once, and therefore is actually an electron.
Also, he got a hit, and was out, so that whole thing makes perfect sense.
Man, I love Dustin Ackley!
If Ichiro would only try, he’d be able to put those guys on base with the power of his mind.
My statement aloud was “Man, Dustin Ackley is SEXY!”
My wife looked at me suspiciously.
“What?”
“Well, he is. Not my fault.”
junea what makes you think Ichiro can’t get to 200? What else do we have to root for this year? Ichiro getting 59 hits and the kids getting better.
OH and Casper doing that a bunch.
I know he does not need 59 for some reason I see him being selfish and getting more than he needs.
hahaha!
What makes you think I was saying he can’t? I just found it odd that they weren’t saying anything about it. I worried that Ichiro didn’t think he could, but they’re also running ads about following his race to 200, so he must have sanctioned that.
I’m glad that he thinks he can do it. He’s looked tired this year, and I don’t blame him one damn bit. 10 years is a long time.
Wilhelmsen is pretty good when he can throw stikes…
Sorry, It seems like everyone is writing him off. I was having a discussion on a facebook site, and the guy said we should sit Ichiro and let the kids play. He felt Casper should be the starter in RF. I just do not get the thinking of giving up on a guy that has done so much because of one bad year. I hope Ichiro goes to the South of France or where ever he needs to go and gets rest and comes back like crazy next year.
Like I said before what else do we have to root for?
We need to sweep these guys, I want Texas to win the West.
I am normally all for letting the kids play – but I think Ichiro has done enough for the Mariners that he should be given the chance to make his run at 200 this year.
And Ackley! Again!!
Ackley…
Soooooo sexy.
BIG FISH!
I hate both, Texas and LA, can Oakland win the division still?
hahahahahahaah!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!
Buhner might want to get into betting on sports.
WOW Bone is the man.
Carp is pretty cool too.
It’s so nice when the batting practice is being pitched by the other team’s bullpen.
That curveball is so sweet.
If he can put a good change-up together, he could be a good starter someday.
I could see him being a dark horse for a starter later in 2012.
Miguel Olivo really should be a defensive end or outside linebacker.
If they sat Ichiro, that would be it for me. I mean, do we want to see more of Peggy? We’re seeing the kids in the outfield enough. Jeez, sit Guti and his bad gut first.
Ichiro is a huge part of this franchise and his records are part of that. And I really, really hope this is just a down year too.
When does Olivio keep trying to steal?
Sometimes I wonder if Jay Buhner sees things happening that aren’t really there.
“Let’s see a little fillet of fish out there.”
Okay, Jay. Let’s do that.
I hope they bring Miggy back next year. I don’t see any real upgrades from the minors. edit Never mind I’m an idiot he’s got a 2 year deal haha.
Not likely to be much in free agency, either.
There are some in the lower minors, but nothing for next year, probably.
I think if we can put together a team that has a chance for the playoffs we see a different Ichiro. I think he came into the year with the same attitude as the two clowns upstairs. We have no chance, so we will not spend money. I think he was tired of the losing, with the Kids, and a few others we have a chance now. Ichiro comes back with a vengeance.
I was watching the Jays game today and they said they have 2 guys better than the guy up now. Forget his name but a weird one. Cincy has a couple too, maybe a trade and get em up here fast.
Talking about catcher, Auggey?
D´Arnaud maybe, and Grandal or Mesoraco from Cincy, the problem, AA won´t trade D´Arnaud, he came in exchange for Halladay, Mesoraco is the best catcher in the Minors, maybe we can get Grandal…
I have a feeling that we will see Ackley many times a home run short of the cycle.
I see Smoak was HBP in the Rainers game, and taken out. Anyone know what happened to him? Is it serious?
He´s fine , he was removed as a precaution…
According to Ron Fairly, he is five years younger than dirt.
Sorry Henry yes catcher.
If we can get a catcher that is close to MLB ready do we throw him to the lions, send him to AAA or let him sit behind Olivo and start a couple games a week? As he improves then give him more starts?
Ichiro has to hit like .400 from here on out to get 200 hits. Unlikely. Still, I’d give him the chance. When Smoak gets back, it’ll be tricky, but until then, I’d DH Ichiro more and more. Honestly, he’s not what he once was in the field and we seem to have a sweet OF in Trayvon, Guti, and Wells (and they may be good offensively). I guess we can have a 5-man platoon for LF/CF/1B/DH when Smoak gets back. I think Ichiro will get the playing time and I’m okay with it. Go for 200!
Ich needs to average 1.68 hits a game if my math is correct. If anyone can do that… It’s Ichiro.
For the first time in years I am looking forward to our lineup in the year or two to come.
I have it at 1.62 but I’m not trying to split hairs. I expect Ichiro to have a couple of 3 or 4 hit games soon.
Ichiro has shown himself capable of getting 45 hits or more in an month on a number of occasions – most recently, September 2010 (technically that includes the first couple days of October). Looking back through his splits, he seems to hit 40+ most Septembers.
I think it’s safe to say he’s likely to come tantalizingly close to 200 hits this year – and we’re going to be holding our breath towards the end of the month.
Ichiro over his last 28 days: .324/.345/.410
Chone Figgins over his last 28 days: (did not play)
I think I am fine with that.