Game 117, Rays at Mariners
Blake Beavan vs. Alex Cobb, 7:10pm
The M’s return home to face the Tampa Bay Rays, who’ve won six in a row to take over the wild card lead from Baltimore/Anaheim/Oakland. The M’s start Blake Beavan, who’s given up 4 HRs over his last two starts. Safeco should help with that, but as Dave’s mentioned, just throwing strikes isn’t going to be enough – he’s got to throw good strikes. He’s still been better since his return from Tacoma, giving up 2 walks in 34 1/3 to go with 4 HRs and 20 Ks (but 20 runs). He could still stand to use his breaking pitches more effectively; Olivo seemed to call for a first-pitch curve nearly every time against Baltimore, but he was either behind in the count or wasn’t able to put hitters away. We’ll see if Jesus Montero has a different approach in mind.
The Rays send Alex Cobb to the hill – the guy who was hit on the shin by a line drive when he faced the M’s in July. As I talked about in that preview, he’s a sinker/splitter pitcher, who gets the most out of subpar stuff by keeping the ball on the ground and in the ballpark. He’s coming off of two excellent starts, going 7 innings and giving up 1 run in each of them – one against Oakland and the other against Toronto. His control may be getting sharper, as he’s giving up fewer walks later in the year, including just 1 in his last 21 innings.
As JY mentioned, Mike Zunino’s been called up to AA Jackson; they’ve got an off day, so look for him to make his high-minors debut tomorrow. The Rainiers broke yet another losing streak last night against Memphis behind a solid outing from Andrew Carraway – they play the Redbirds tonight as Hector Noesi gets the start. Charles Kaalekahi’s starting for Pulaski right now, and Rusty Shellhorn starts for Everett tonight at Spokane.
The line-up:
1: Ackley (1B)
2: Saunders
3: Seager (2B)
4: Jaso (DH)
5: Montero (C)
6: Robinson
7: Thames
8: Figgins (3B)
9: Ryan
SP: Beavan
Looks like Figgy’s rewarded for his two-hit day yesterday, and it looks like Carp’s still not 100% after straining his hip on Seager’s amazing play to get Mike Trout.
WHAT were you swinging at Michael??
Needed a QUOP bomb, there. The guys at LL call Montero “QUOP.”
Being old, I had to google it – but it fits pretty well – when attempting to describe his running “style.”
Capps looks 18 – with wide shoulders and a lot of potential to add 20+ pounds of good weight. Added weight isn’t always helpful for a pitcher but in his case, it very well could be – since he is quite thin, now.
Which QUOP definition Mike? 😉
I had to look that up too, but then I’m even older.
There is a video game which controls a runner – via use of the Q,U,O and “P” keys, apparently. The game is difficult to control well and the “runner” ends up doing a raggedy Anne arm and leg flailing dive into/on/aroumd the running surface.
That is the written definition that best fit, anyway. There were a couple “other” definitions/videos … Which you may or may not have found.
Oh, haha. That wasn’t one I found.
I’d found something about a “quarter pound of weed”, and another about being “suspiciously gay”. 😀
This team is putting its (remaining) fans to sleep.
QUOP is the perfect nickname. Not sure I have ever seen a runner move so much without discernable forward progress.
Man, Ryan really has problems with holding onto his bat.
Did you find the one with the incessant swearing rap song?
I am still trying to figure out the words to Rick Springield songs, so there is no way I will ever understand the QUOP song.
Does Ryan get another beer shower when his average drops below .200 again?
Hehe, I asked my daughter about “the QUOP game” and she immediately knew what I was talking about.
I assume that is not a euphemism, Westy?
Please say “no” … Even if your heart says “yes”
Yeah Mike, except on the way down he gets pelted with beer bottles.
I am euphemism-free tonight, Mike – takes too much energy. This team is working its magic on me as well.
Can we send an entire line-up down to AAA?
Rainiers fan: when is Hultzen scheduled to pitch again – and what is your scouting report on Lafromboise?
Thank you!
Are these really the same guys that took 2 of 3 from Anaheim?!
Actually it’s QWOP not QUOP. You control the runner by using letters on your keyboard, so QW makes a lot more sense than QU (i.e. the term is based on placement of keyboard letters, not on spelling).
Please give Saunders a mental break, Mr. Wedge sir.
Ah, makes sense MKT – thanks!
Well that was something you don’t get to see every day. Molina stole a base … With a lot of help from Montero, but a SB, nonetheless.
That was yuck!
Oh! Hahaha, I thought the game had ended! Nope, it just feels like it ended, four or five innings ago.
Yes yes yes “QWOP”
Shit, my bad.
No wonder I got such weird Google results. 😀
Fernando Rodney has the beard of a Batman villain.
You realize – I am going to have to google the wrong version spelling now. I have no idea what rabbit hole I sent you down.
I like being able to use the “I am too old to know shit” excuse, though.
How about a 4 run walk off rally to wake everyone up.
Okay, Seager! We won’t send you down!
Come on Jaso!!
OK…I’m convinced. Wedge is an idiot, Saunders flat out stinks (has for his entire career, minus 2-1/2 weeks), and Wells will have to wait til he’s released to come back and murder this club like a few dozen other guys before him.
And, oh yeah, this website is actually a private conversation between two bff’s. Too big time for me. I can’t keep up: one of you prefers a healthy Guti to Adam Jones. That’s some heavy-ass insight.
Enjoy your patty-cake, boys. Ban me, Dave. Please.
That was a crap call – not even close to the strike zone.
What the heck was that pose by Rodney? Has he always done that?
I thought you already left. Good veteran grit to come back for one last blast. You will be missed
Per Wedge: Carp going on the DL.
No conspiracy. Actually injured.
More Smoak? Man, I hope not.
I feel bad for Carp – he was putting it together lately.
Of course I get it now, QWOP fits the keyboard better. Thanks for the clarification. Old dude here, totally ignorant but now miraculously schooled and wise in the ways of QWOP.
@Mike, sorry but I haven’t heard much about Hultzen since the statement about limiting his innings. He has pitched 108 innings in the minors this year after pitching 95, 106, and 118 the last three years at Virginia. The Rainiers won’t be in the playoffs so their season will end Sep 3rd. As long as he’s healthy he could easily start the rest of the season and be right on track innings wise. That is just an assumption based on numbers I looked up after he was limited, I don’t have any inside info.
From personal observation, Hultzen generally looks rather good for a guy new to AAA. His last start was rough, he was missing high and got hit a little. Up until then he was getting Ks but giving up walks as well, mostly missing high when he was out of the strike zone. He has some nice pitches and had a great start against Dan Straily of the River Cats (now up with the A’s) Both pitchers were so good it ended up going 18 innings. (That and Triunfel didn’t start LOL)
Lafromboise has been the closer since Prior was called up. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff but he’s been effective. Kind of a Bleavin type but in the bullpen. Not a big prospect but I like him and he gets outs.
Sorry to miss the fun last night. I opted for sleep 🙂
@vc
“Blunt” is for people who don’t think before they speak. You don’t need to wait for a ban, just honor your word, and go away.