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Seattle Mariners: Baseball, uninspired

U

UMclassof2002

Well-known member
DONOR
Does this team have one vocal leader? One single player or coach ('sup Hargrove) who will get in somebody's ass to fire the team up? Every guy on the team: "Yeah, he's not real vocal or boisterous, but he is more of quiet leader." Not working.

They seriously look like they are just going through the motions in what is probably the most important series of the year. Twice in the last two games we have had the bases loaded with nobody out and got precisely nada. Once was the top of the ninth with 4-5-6 hitters each with a crack at getting the go ahead runs to home plate. Contact was barely made by any of them, let alone RBIs. And nobody really seems to be all that concerned about it. Just quietly letting it all slip away.

Sexson: He either completely sucks, or the league has figured out how to pitch him and he can't/won't adjust (in which case he still sucks).

1st pitch: Fastball in that he can't turn on - strike 1

2nd pitch: Fastball down mainstreet that he either just looks at or fouls back - strike 2

3rd pitch: Breaking ball in dirt and/or away that he misses by a mile - strike 3

*the only variance in this formula is he will hit a grand slam once every 1.5 months.


This team is hard to root for sometimes. Any sign of life or emotion that surrendering to the A's is unacceptable would be a start. It seems like Ibanez should be the guy - I was encouraged after he got tossed out of the game in Texas. He demonstrated that he's got the emotion - would like to see him use it when a game is on the line.


Am I way off base here?
 
Nope - you are dead on. This team hasn't had an identity since Edgar started his slide and hasn't had any balls since Boone started to stink.
 
UM2002,

Grabbed this from a Mariners board, have you seen the "Big Richie" commecial on FSN? If so, here's an updated version of the song;

Two on, two out, and who could it be?
Why, Big Richie's here to swing at strike three!
Richie: Actually, I'll strike out looking.
BIG RICHIE

When he steps in the box with the game on the line
He strikes out almost every time
Richie: That was a strike?!
BIG RICHIE

He'll swing and miss at everything
But it doesn't matter, cuz he gets bling
Richie: HAHA, $13 MILLION PER! I'M RICH.
BIG RICHIE!

BIG RICHIE!!!
 
Have you heard the spoof radio commercials that they are playing on KJR in Seattle? Damn, they are funny.

Real Mariner radio commercial:

"I spell Raul Ibanez with 7 U's"


Spoof commercial:

"I spell Richie Sexson with 7 K's".



Seriously, though, even with his troubles the guy is still on pace for 23 HR's and 105 RBI. That's not worth the $11 million or so that they are paying him but it's not a complete black hole either. Sexson is having a bad first half - that happens. I'm not willing to throw him out yet. I remember Buhner having some horrible half-seasons and Bone is the guy that I always comp Sexson to.

I am, however, more than a little concerned with Beltre. He's been stinking it up for a season and a half now. If he can't be moderately productive for the life of his contract, the M's are screwed.
 
Let's be honest. It's time for Ichiro to become the leader in the clubhouse. There really isn't a language barrier anymore, and if anyone watched any of the Japan games in the World Cup, it was pretty clear that Ichiro can be a very visible, vocal leader.
 
I'm kind of seeing JJ stepping up into the leadership role as well. Of course the closer is the guy who everyone is high fiving afterwards, assuming the team wins. I've seen a few pregame shows where the pitchers are messing around playing games or whatever and JJ is usally the most vocal, and guys seem to listen to him when he speaks.
 
I agree, Max. And he certainly has the physical stature to command some respect.

This damn team, though. Once again, I was all high on them when they got to Oakland. Then I hated them again. Now I'm all excited. If this keeps up all year, I'll have to throttle someone.
 
A "clubhouse leader" just about has to be an every day position player. Putz might be a leader in the bull pen but Lopez or Beltre aren't exactly going to look to him for leadership. He just doesn't interract with them enough.

I don't know what the M's can do about this. The veterans like Ichiro, Beltre and Sexson just aren't the clubhouse leader type but they also won't follow the lead of the youngsters. Bringing in some over the hill jackass like Everett was their attempt to inject some leadership but that's not much of a solution.
 
GrizBiz said:
A "clubhouse leader" just about has to be an every day position player. Putz might be a leader in the bull pen but Lopez or Beltre aren't exactly going to look to him for leadership. He just doesn't interract with them enough.

I don't know what the M's can do about this. The veterans like Ichiro, Beltre and Sexson just aren't the clubhouse leader type but they also won't follow the lead of the youngsters. Bringing in some over the hill jackass like Everett was their attempt to inject some leadership but that's not much of a solution.
Click to expand...


I still wish Ibanez would be the guy.


Get ready for an adventure tonight. Piniero is on the hill which is always, shall we say, interesting. Brad Penny has been nails for the Dodgers. Only one loss and the second lowest era in the NL.
 
With Joel pitching 2nite the Ms had better score 6 or more if they even want to be in the game come the 5th inning...
 
The club is thinking about moving Joel to the pen. There's another guy who just PO's me to no end. It's obvious he has a great deal of talent, and the ability to just overwhelm hitters on occasion. But too often I think he's trying to look good rather than be good.

And why the hell does it seem like the M's always face another club's ace? Why couldn't the A's have had to face Penny? I hate the A's.
 
Piniero is toast. When he threw 94 mph he was good but now that he struggles to hit 88 mph, he's just another right handed junk ball pitcher. He's Ryan Franklin, really. If one of his breaking pitches like his curve is really, really on he can be good but it just doesn't happen often enough. He doesn't have enough command of his pitches to paint the corners and that is a recipe for disaster if you don't have a consistent out pitch.

I'm ready to believe Churchill's claims that Joel's loss of velocity is due to the lack of - ahem - performance enhancing substances. He was hurt in 2004 but healthy for most of last year and all of 2006 so far. His velocity has never returned.

Gil Meche is the one that drives me nuts. He's got #1, ace pitcher stuff but he just can't seem to keep it together for any meaningful period of time. I mean, the guy throws 95 mph, with a filthy curve ball and a good two seam sinker.
 
I agree with the Meche comments, Biz. My greatest fear is that the M's will trade Gil in a deadline deal, and -- as alway seems to happen to them -- he instantly becomes someone's ace.
 
I'd trade Gil in a Seattle minute if the return was right. He's going to command a 4 year deal in the neighborhood of $8 mil per year. He's pitching a lot better this year but I'm not willing to sign him to a deal like that. Too risky.

I want Matsuzaka, dammit.
 
GrizBiz said:
I'd trade Gil in a Seattle minute if the return was right. He's going to command a 4 year deal in the neighborhood of $8 mil per year. He's pitching a lot better this year but I'm not willing to sign him to a deal like that. Too risky.

I want Matsuzaka, dammit.
Click to expand...

Ohhh yeah. I'd trade him too. I just fear that as soon as we do, he puts it altogether.

Perhaps they can trade him and Matt Clement for Heathcliff Slocumb....
 
EverettGriz said:
Perhaps they can trade him and Matt Clement for Heathcliff Slocumb....
Click to expand...


Ouch. That damn trade hurt, no doubt.

Every time I see the name "Heathcliff Slocumb", I remember Harry Carry trying to say his name about 12 Budweisers. Funny, funny stuff.
 
As per usual, as soon as I throw (either the whole team or an individual player like Sexson) under the bus, they start to rebound. Sexson goes 5-5 with 2 HR and is really starting to square up on some pitches - plus, if we win tonight we are at .500 on the year.


Washburn, do not ruin this for us please.

And Mike Hargrove....for the love of God, Eddie doesn't have it anymore. What will it take for you to realize this? He was within 3 feet of giving up back 2 back 2 BACK HRs. Holy crap.
 
Yep, big game for the Ms tonight, even if it's just mental. They've been trying to get over that .500 hump the last few weeks.

Honestly, I think Eddie's appearence the other day was an opportunity to showcase him for a deadline trade. Didn't work out so good though, did it? It may be awhile before he sees the light of day again. I mean, I love the guy and all, and he really keeps guys loose and laughing, but getting repeatedly shelled just ain't that funny.
 
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