Seattle sports thread

[monkeyman576]

I think his speed and ability to get triples makes up for that and I think his hitting will improve as he gets older.

[monkeyman576]

I can't believe the '98 Mariners went 78-85 with Griffey, A-Rod, Edgar, Buhner, Randy and Moyer

[Syd Thrift]

Over .500 baby!!!!

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

I think his speed and ability to get triples makes up for that and I think his hitting will improve as he gets older.

Like, speed is nice and everything but when he's projected for a .285 OBP 9th in the order is where he belongs. If his hitting (and particularly that K rate) get better and he learns to draw walks, sure, move him to the top of the order then.

[monkeyman576]

Now we need to keep up the momentum against Arizona. Hopefully we can at least win 2 out of 3 if not sweep!

[monkeyman576]

Rojas has been promoted to leadoff.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

Now we need to keep up the momentum against Arizona. Hopefully we can at least win 2 out of 3 if not sweep!

A sweep, dare to dream, especially without JP. They lose out on defense, speed and hitting. I would be surprised if they continue their hot streak missing his presence in all facets of this team.

[monkeyman576]

Originally Posted by Mariner and Giants Fan

A sweep, dare to dream, especially without JP. They lose out on defense, speed and hitting. I would be surprised if they continue their hot streak missing his presence in all facets of this team.

I wouldn't be surprised. We have some good guys on the bench.

[monkeyman576]

Grand Slam Haniger!

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

Grand Slam Haniger!

I am pleased and a little surprised that they took 2 out of 3 especially with this terrible hitting. It will catch up to them if they do not get markedly better as this will wear the pitchers out, having to allow only 1 or 2 runs to get a victory. I hope I am wrong but I have seen this happen to many excellent pitching teams with weak hitting over the years. So let's hope they find their hitting "mojo".

Oh by the way I have run multiple simulations starting from this Friday and Saturday and OOTP's engine is really "down" on the Mariners as they end up struggling to be competitive in the ones I have run thus far.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

I can't believe the '98 Mariners went 78-85 with Griffey, A-Rod, Edgar, Buhner, Randy and Moyer

I just looked at their team. Their run differential between scored and given up was four.

They went 76-85..so they certainly underperformed. Probably some blown saves in the bullpen.

Edit..Timlin had 18 saves, 2.95 ERA..high for a closer, but a decent WHIP.

All other relievers, between them, had an ERA over six. Ouch.

One other thing. Randy Johnson only won 9 games, and got traded to Houston in July.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

I just looked at their team. Their run differential between scored and given up was four.

They went 76-85..so they certainly underperformed. Probably some blown saves in the bullpen.

Oh I remember those teams as I attended dozens of their games. They had terrible bullpens with many blown saves. It was really quite frustrating but then as a Mariner fan since 1977 that is something I have gotten used too and the pain never goes away

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

I just looked at their team. Their run differential between scored and given up was four.

They went 76-85..so they certainly underperformed. Probably some blown saves in the bullpen.

Edit..Timlin had 18 saves, 2.95 ERA..high for a closer, but a decent WHIP.

All other relievers, between them, had an ERA over six. Ouch.

One other thing. Randy Johnson only won 9 games, and got traded to Houston in July.

I think it was that team that set a then-record with 26(?) blown saves.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I think it was that team that set a then-record with 26(?) blown saves.

Interesting. I saw that their overall saves total was quite low...Timlin lead the team with 19, IIRC.

That, coupled with relievers having VERY high ERA's, probably meant a very high rate of inherited runners scoring, too. Not pretty.

[monkeyman576]

ESPN gives the first place mariners a C+? Is this a joke?

I get that we are 16-13 in a weak division but we are still in first place.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

ESPN gives the first place mariners a C+? Is this a joke?

I get that we are 16-13 in a weak division but we are still in first place.

You know the answer to your question is quite simple. 16-13 is just above average and the lack of hitting and an injury riddled bullpen makes this team a questionable division winner at best. However if their hitting picks up over the next few weeks that could change. I think C+ is actually generous.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

I read an article about how Mitch Haniger's playing awful defense this season. Today's Braves game is a testament to that. Time to take Haniker and Garver and split them at DH to limit the defensive problems as well as the low batting averages. Yeah, nice pickups this off season, just like the prior two years. C+ is about right. A starting pitching but all the other areas are less than C or lower. Still concerned about what happens when the starting pitching is not superhuman (like today).

[monkeyman576]

Originally Posted by Mariner and Giants Fan

I read an article about how Mitch Haniger's playing awful defense this season. Today's Braves game is a testament to that. Time to take Haniker and Garver and split them at DH to limit the defensive problems as well as the low batting averages. Yeah, nice pickups this off season, just like the prior two years. C+ is about right. A starting pitching but all the other areas are less than C or lower. Still concerned about what happens when the starting pitching is not superhuman (like today).

Dude, the Mariners are going to take 2 out of 3 from maybe the best team in the league. And we have beaten the world champion rangers and the pennant winning Diamondbacks the two series before that.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

Dude, the Mariners are going to take 2 out of 3 from maybe the best team in the league. And we have beaten the world champion rangers and the pennant winning Diamondbacks the two series before that.

Dude, are you not remembering last season? How they took over first place once Julio started hitting (along with a few other scrubs) and then in September they crashed, hardcore and fell out of the playoffs? Why did they crash? The pitchers burned out and had nothing left. Luis was dead in September as were other starting pitching. They seem to be on the same trajectory this season after the first month.

You are so focused on the now that I do not think you see the big picture especially with the way they are playing which is so similar to how last year started. Julio looks like a sub 10 homer hitter and his contact is so weak (when he makes contact that is). His defense is fine but they did not sign him to that huge longterm contract hoping for a defensive star. This was my single huge concern with giving hi that contract as an untested young ballplayer with "potential". Last year he had to have an unbelievable hot stretch to turn his season around. It is crazy to think he can do it again. It seems to me that major league pictures have figured him out though I do hope I am wrong.

I love your hopeful and positive attitude, mine has been dulled by being a fan of this team since 1977 and seeing this type of fall short of the playoffs season rerun before, too many times.

[monkeyman576]

Originally Posted by Mariner and Giants Fan

Dude, are you not remembering last season? How they took over first place once Julio started hitting (along with a few other scrubs) and then in September they crashed, hardcore and fell out of the playoffs? Why did they crash? The pitchers burned out and had nothing left. Luis was dead in September as were other starting pitching. They seem to be on the same trajectory this season after the first month.

You are so focused on the now that I do not think you see the big picture especially with the way they are playing which is so similar to how last year started. Julio looks like a sub 10 homer hitter and his contact is so weak (when he makes contact that is). His defense is fine but they did not sign him to that huge longterm contract hoping for a defensive star. This was my single huge concern with giving hi that contract as an untested young ballplayer with "potential". Last year he had to have an unbelievable hot stretch to turn his season around. It is crazy to think he can do it again. It seems to me that major league pictures have figured him out though I do hope I am wrong.

I love your hopeful and positive attitude, mine has been dulled by being a fan of this team since 1977 and seeing this type of fall short of the playoffs season rerun before, too many times.

It could happen but this is probably our best pitching staff ever, I think that will carry us far. Kirby and Gilbert, along with Miller, Woo, and Hancock, or only getting more experienced as time goes on and that experience is starting to show. Jrod is only 23 and a lot of players his age are still in the minors, so I am not going to throw in the towel, not by a long shot. With the Astros having a down year it looks like I think the Mariners chances are as good as ever. Not that anything bad can't happen, but yes, I remain optomistic.

[Mariner and Giants Fan]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

It could happen but this is probably our best pitching staff ever, I think that will carry us far. Kirby and Gilbert, along with Miller, Woo, and Hancock, or only getting more experienced as time goes on and that experience is starting to show. Jrod is only 23 and a lot of players his age are still in the minors, so I am not going to throw in the towel, not by a long shot. With the Astros having a down year it looks like I think the Mariners chances are as good as ever. Not that anything bad can't happen, but yes, I remain optomistic.

Good answer and I hope you are right. This pitching staff has already proven that they can carry this team but how long can they carry this hitless burden.