Winless In Seattle
Steve Sauro
Elliott SmithStarting the Week Off Right...
July 27th 2010 05:47
Admittedly, I watched very little of tonight's Mariner's game. We had a meeting with our insurance agent that I had to use the "we can go get ice cream if you're good" trick on my boys. Needless to say is was a Mexican food and Baskin & Robbins kind of night for the family.
My favorite Mexican place in my town (more for the staff vs. the food) has currently purchased and installed a bunch of flat screen TVs for their place. Enrique, the owner, tells me it was "just for me - so I could spend more time (money) in his place" and had "nothing" to do with the recent World Cup (which, coincidentally, they had every game on twice a day - live and recorded). So, I was given my normal table with prime viewing of about 3 of the screens just in time to see Michael Saunders drop a double under a glove and then see Rob Johnson POP OUT ON A BUNT. The food arrived soon after, and the next time I looked up, it was evident that Felix didn't quite have his best stuff, and the Mariners were making Danks look like he did. Then the camera cut to Wakamatsu just standing there, blankly staring out onto the field. I couldn't take it and stopped watching. In the short time I watched the game - I did come away with some talking points:
First - Michael Saunders. Is this guy making a case to be the everyday LF next year or what?! He simply has to be in the lineup everyday from here on out to get a true test of what he can do at the plate. He needs to see righties. He needs to see lefties. He needs to see fastballers. He needs to see off-speed guys. He needs to see starters. He needs to see the bullpen guys. He needs to see parks - both offensively and defensively. He needs to get hot. He needs to get in a slump. I think that these next 2 months or so will be crucial to his development - and I say let him play it out.
Second - Rob Johnson. What is it about this guy that I hate? Well, I guess being the major league leader in passed balls is a start. Look, I get he's a great story - new hips and more surgeries than I care to count - he's a better man than me for still being in the majors, much less walking without a cane. But being a non-power hitting major league baseball player - it is simply disgusting that you can't bunt. Maybe I'm being unfair to Rob... after all, Jack Wilson laid down the bunt of the year a few days ago - maybe that is still fresh in my mind. Then again, maybe not. Perhaps it's the catchers in Seattle since Dan Wilson that bug me? We've had more prospects at this position go through this system then I care to remember (where is Adam Moore by the way?).
Third - Felix. What is it lately about Felix? Don't get me wrong, when he's on - he's on. But when he's off - even a little - it's clearly evident by the 3rd inning. Maybe it was the all-star "snub" for Weaver (who wasn't going to pitch anyway...) or perhaps it's the departure of Cliff Lee. I say that last one for two reasons: #1 - maybe he felt that when Lee was here he wasn't the clear cut ace, and had to prove himself (a la when Bedard was brought on and billed as the ace); and #2 - maybe he's wondering if that ink is dry on the new contract/extension he signed after seeing how valuable he'd be to a winning ball club.
Fourth - Don Wakamatsu. I'm not saying he's a bum. But I am saying that he might be the wrong guy. After seeing the fight in the dugout (and the subsequent 4 inning "punishment") - I get the feel that Wak isn't as highly respected in the locker room as a manager should be. When you don't have respect, or confidence, from your players - you are on thin ice to begin with. Having this bad of a season also opens the door for a lot of looking/second-guessing into just how much luck (over managerial skill) played into last season's modest success.
Fifth - Mariner bats. Did John Danks break a sweat? I swear, I'd look up at to the screen during dinner to see the first Mariner AB of the inning, look down to eat some enchilada and swig some Negro Modello - then look back up to catch us going into the commercial break. I just looked at the stats - 8 innings, 95 pitches (67 for strikes), 6 hits, 1 walk. Nope. He didn't break a sweat. Though I did like that we only had 3 k's for the entire game - and none of them were Justin Smoak... now if he could get 0 k's in a game he plays in - then we're talking!
Side Notes - I watched part of some 2010 Covergirl Gymnastic US Championship or something tonight (don't judge me). Reason was pretty simple. I was flipping channels and I saw Alicia Sacramone, so I stopped for a second (or two). Well, did you know she's dating Brady Quinn?! Even more reason to hate that guy.
Did anyone catch the ESPN highlights of Garza's no-hitter against Detroit? In the highlight they flash to Armando Galarraga like 4 times in the 2 minute clip... did they do this DURING the game too? That's pretty harsh.
My favorite Mexican place in my town (more for the staff vs. the food) has currently purchased and installed a bunch of flat screen TVs for their place. Enrique, the owner, tells me it was "just for me - so I could spend more time (money) in his place" and had "nothing" to do with the recent World Cup (which, coincidentally, they had every game on twice a day - live and recorded). So, I was given my normal table with prime viewing of about 3 of the screens just in time to see Michael Saunders drop a double under a glove and then see Rob Johnson POP OUT ON A BUNT. The food arrived soon after, and the next time I looked up, it was evident that Felix didn't quite have his best stuff, and the Mariners were making Danks look like he did. Then the camera cut to Wakamatsu just standing there, blankly staring out onto the field. I couldn't take it and stopped watching. In the short time I watched the game - I did come away with some talking points:
First - Michael Saunders. Is this guy making a case to be the everyday LF next year or what?! He simply has to be in the lineup everyday from here on out to get a true test of what he can do at the plate. He needs to see righties. He needs to see lefties. He needs to see fastballers. He needs to see off-speed guys. He needs to see starters. He needs to see the bullpen guys. He needs to see parks - both offensively and defensively. He needs to get hot. He needs to get in a slump. I think that these next 2 months or so will be crucial to his development - and I say let him play it out.
Second - Rob Johnson. What is it about this guy that I hate? Well, I guess being the major league leader in passed balls is a start. Look, I get he's a great story - new hips and more surgeries than I care to count - he's a better man than me for still being in the majors, much less walking without a cane. But being a non-power hitting major league baseball player - it is simply disgusting that you can't bunt. Maybe I'm being unfair to Rob... after all, Jack Wilson laid down the bunt of the year a few days ago - maybe that is still fresh in my mind. Then again, maybe not. Perhaps it's the catchers in Seattle since Dan Wilson that bug me? We've had more prospects at this position go through this system then I care to remember (where is Adam Moore by the way?).
Third - Felix. What is it lately about Felix? Don't get me wrong, when he's on - he's on. But when he's off - even a little - it's clearly evident by the 3rd inning. Maybe it was the all-star "snub" for Weaver (who wasn't going to pitch anyway...) or perhaps it's the departure of Cliff Lee. I say that last one for two reasons: #1 - maybe he felt that when Lee was here he wasn't the clear cut ace, and had to prove himself (a la when Bedard was brought on and billed as the ace); and #2 - maybe he's wondering if that ink is dry on the new contract/extension he signed after seeing how valuable he'd be to a winning ball club.
Fourth - Don Wakamatsu. I'm not saying he's a bum. But I am saying that he might be the wrong guy. After seeing the fight in the dugout (and the subsequent 4 inning "punishment") - I get the feel that Wak isn't as highly respected in the locker room as a manager should be. When you don't have respect, or confidence, from your players - you are on thin ice to begin with. Having this bad of a season also opens the door for a lot of looking/second-guessing into just how much luck (over managerial skill) played into last season's modest success.
Fifth - Mariner bats. Did John Danks break a sweat? I swear, I'd look up at to the screen during dinner to see the first Mariner AB of the inning, look down to eat some enchilada and swig some Negro Modello - then look back up to catch us going into the commercial break. I just looked at the stats - 8 innings, 95 pitches (67 for strikes), 6 hits, 1 walk. Nope. He didn't break a sweat. Though I did like that we only had 3 k's for the entire game - and none of them were Justin Smoak... now if he could get 0 k's in a game he plays in - then we're talking!
Side Notes - I watched part of some 2010 Covergirl Gymnastic US Championship or something tonight (don't judge me). Reason was pretty simple. I was flipping channels and I saw Alicia Sacramone, so I stopped for a second (or two). Well, did you know she's dating Brady Quinn?! Even more reason to hate that guy.
Did anyone catch the ESPN highlights of Garza's no-hitter against Detroit? In the highlight they flash to Armando Galarraga like 4 times in the 2 minute clip... did they do this DURING the game too? That's pretty harsh.
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