Game 133, Angels at Mariners
Haren vs Millwood, 7:10 pm.
The Mariners aren’t going to the playoffs this year, but they just might be able to ensure that the Angels aren’t either. Anaheim is currently 3 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the second wild card spot, and their September schedule is brutal – after they leave Seattle, they get three against Detroit and four against Oakland. They finish up the season with three against KC (okay, so it’s not all hard work) six against Texas, three against Chicago, and six more against the Mariners. Odds are good they’re not going to be able to make up a lot of ground playing teams like the Rangers, A’s, White Sox, and Tigers, so they need to play really well against Seattle and KC. If the M’s win a bunch of these games against the Angels, there’s a good chance they can play spoilers, and ensure that year one of the Albert Pujols Era ends in disappointment.
In terms of the line-up, Saunders is back in the line-up, and has moved to RF to accommodate Guti’s return to CF, which leaves LF for just one of Thames and Robinson. For at least night one, Wedge went with Robinson. Here’s hoping that’s not a sign of things to come, because Thames is a useful player against right-handers, and Robinson is a fifth outfielder if we’re lucky.
Ackely, 2B
Gutierrez, CF
Seager, 3B
Jaso, DH
Montero, C
Saunders, RF
Smoak, 1B
Robinson, LF
Ryan, SS
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47 Responses to “Game 133, Angels at Mariners”
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I was thinking about Wedge’s outfield choices tonight. I’m guessing Robinson is in left because of his Damon-esque arm. Saunders certainly has a better arm than Robinson; but, while he’s strong, he seems to occasionally have problems throwing the ball in the direction he actually intends.
In any case it’s an odd choice to run Robinson out there against a rightie when they’ve got Thames available.
maybe im just ignorant or something, but why are you so incredibly low on robinson…
Robinson over Thames kind of sucks. But, I really like this lineup. Guti and Sanders both in the OF, Jaso and Montero both playing!
Oh, and I would LOVE to just put it on the Angels over this last month.
Trayvon appears to have improved a lot, but no power and no arm. He is exciting to watch, though.
One of these days Millwood is going to have an easy inning and we’re all gonna double-check the name on the back of the pitcher’s uniform to make sure it’s really him.
Ugh.
Morales … No surprise, there.
ugh. this looks like it could be a long game.
Does anyone know why we always hear that a player has to “clear waivers” to be traded in August, when there is a 2 day window to work out a trade with the first team to claim a player? Is it just a misnomer?
I think it’s just sloppy terminology, Mike. If he clears August revokable waivers, the team can trade him to anyone. But if a waiver claim is made, they can still trade him to the team making the claim (as you stated).
Roger, thank you.
Sloppy terminology that confuses the masses … And you cleared it up in two short sentences.
Well done.
I wish I knew what the waiver wire looked like within any front office. I am picturing the ticker tape used in “The Sting” but I am sure the technology has advanced past that point.
So, do the Mariners have until 9:00 pm to trade Millwood and Vargas?
Seager had a bit more time to make that play than he thought he did.
Holy shit flanks.
did ryan forget there were 2 outs…..throw it to first….
Apparently the Mariners actually did run Felix through waivers.
No word on claims though (that I know of).
Felix and Vargas were reported to have been claimed by rivals. Doubt either goes anywhere.
Man, Millwood is not on tonight.
Wow, nice play by Callaspo.
Well, this should be Millwood’s last inning.
Mike Trout is sick.
… And getting more sickly each day
Saunders – out of the game. He looked like he was in some pain after having caught that fly ball to his left, last inning.
Crap
Good grief, the Angels could use 6 infielders and just let Trout cover the outfield all by himself.
Crap on a crap cracker, Mike.
I was reading some 2009 Draft stuff the other day. It is quite funny how matter of fact certain people were about how good Ackley would be and how the same people never talked much about Trout. And when they did talk about Trout it was with a lot of questions. Its pretty crazy how so many teams passed on Trout. I would imagine he had to look pretty darn good at 18, if he is this phenomenal at 21. Just another example of how inexact the science of the MLB Draft is! Which is why it drives me crazy when people overreact to a certain team’s draft before the players take the field.
How the hell did he hit that?
Milwood is just not on tonight. I’d like to see Capps get in though.
Gutierrez was smart to yield to Thames on that catch – we’ve seen what happens when Thames runs into a center fielder. 😀
Yeah I’d rather watch Capps possibly struggle than Millwood.
At least Capps struggles at 100mph.
boa noite
Is it just me or are the Angels playing some excellent defense tonight? UGH!
The Angels are definitely throwing the leather around.
if this game has got you down, do not (I repeat – do not) look at Hultzens AAA stats.
DO NOT!
And don’t look at the almost streaker, Ethel!
But seriously, what the heck happened to Hultzen when he got moved up?!?!
Tightie Whities, eh? Except they were red.
If Trout doesn’t get the MVP, it’ll be a crime. Dude is just sick.
Westside guy, you are starting to sound like an Angels fan haha. I’m getting sick of Trout after a handful of games. The next decade of facing him should be just lovely.
Capps can look absolutely filthy for a couple pitches, then make a couple mistakes and he’ll give up some hits/runs. I still think he’ll be a very good reliever. That command has to improve.
Hultzen is facing older, more experienced hitters. His command still isn’t great and the more advanced hitters have been abusing him by getting into good hitters counts. Plus, it’s a real long season and this is his first year as a pro.
But, yeah … It’s still a bit unsettling.
Better now than a year or two down the road, though.
Walker has been struggling since late June.
Hehehe.
I know, I know he’s going to drive the Mariners’ crazy for years. But he’s just so ridiculously good, I can’t hate him for it.
Are you worried about Hultzen? Honestly, I’m not all that worried, he has still been missing a lot of bats from what I’ve seen. I can’t imagine him having control issues his entire career. Plus, like you said long season, etc.
I sure hope we see Carp and Wells back with the team, tomorrow. The other callups would be after 9/3, correct?
No, I am not really worried about Hultzen, but neither his “command” or his control came much different than advertised. He throws across his body which makes the need for precise mechanics even more pronounced. He has much better stuff than Vargas, so when he figures it out in a year or two or ??? He should be quite good.
Hey it’s that guy again.
But Capps got him!
(Sorry, seem to be lagging by a minute or two)
Montero just legged out an infield single?!
Wtf did I write?
Judas priest.
I meant to say, “neither his command or his control came as advertised.”
I think it’s time for a movie.
My main thought about Hultzen is I’m a little disappointed. When he was drafted, guys like Keith Law talked about his polish and how he could possibly be in the majors by mid-2012.
I realize I’m not really being fair to Hultzen, though. Pitchers almost never move through the system that fast. But I had high hopes…
This has gotten ugly.
And even uglier. A movie sounds like a good idea…