Mariners Insider - Archives for: May 2008, 08

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

GAME THOUGHTS: Rangers vs. Mariners, May 8th

Posted by Ryan Divish @ 07:20:28 pm

The Rangers made a few roster moves before the game, activating tonight's starting pitcher Kason Gabbard from the disabled list, along with infielder Travis Metcalfe. They optioned AJ Murray to Triple A Oklahoma City, while designating Ben Broussard for assignment.

It's amazing how far Broussard fell in the Rangers' eyes and how fast. He was supposed to be an everyday starter for them, now he's looking for a job.

Broussard was hitting just .159 with three home runs and 8 RBI and was basically replaced by Frank Catalanotto at first.

GAME THOUGHTS START HERE:
9:46 -- It's one thing to show some fight in a fight, but the Mariners need to show some fight on the field. They still only have three hits.

9:39 --

9:05 -- all of that brouhaha and posturing won't mean as much if the Mariners don't put up a fight in this game.

Sexson is going to be suspended. I wonder if because he used his helmet it will be longer, like 8 games or so.

8:33 -- Maybe there is a pulse to this MAriners team afterall

8:23 -- Ian kinsler is not happy about getting hit by Felix there. His stare down needs some work. Hey good for Felix, the guy hits a bomb off you, you don't have your best stuff, stick one inside and send a message.

8:01 -- Down 4-0, I wonder how many fans have turned the channel at this point.

7:44 -- So much of what Felix does is based on emotion and that one little confrontation with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild over the swing and the miss has clearly bothered him. He lost his focus on Kinsler and left a pitch out to be hit.

7:37 -- on the list of things I never want to have happen to me, getting hit by a Felix fastball on any part of my body is right up there.

7:19 -- Wow, that was not to good of a throw there by Raul. He doesn't have a great arm, but that wasn't a good effort there. It looked on replay like he might not have had a good grip on the ball.

And Felix well on his way to another 30 pitch first inning.

Categories: Answers to your questions • 10 comments

Pre-game thoughts, notes, linkage, Rangers vs. Mariners

Posted by Ryan Divish @ 05:18:57 pm

Well, I've been released from Don's trunk after the Mariners' awful offense proved I'm not a jinx. Don't worry Don, I won't tell them that you have the remains of Jimmy Hoffa in your trunk.

I knew I wasn't a jinx.

Why?

This Mariners' offense is bad beyond jinxes and superstitions. Still, a big thanks to Don for covering the game, which allowed me to play some fastpitch softball last night and avoid getting more bitter and frustrated with the Mariners.

Here's some linkage...

* Here's Don's game story from last night.

* Here's his notebook which leads with a conversation with Chuck Armstrong.

* Our columnist Dave Boling calls for Junior to be brought back to Seattle.

* Here's Evan Grant's game story from the Dallas Morning News.

* LA Times baseball writer Bill Shalkin thinks the Mariners should go after Barry Bonds.

I cannot believe how bad Vicente Padilla made the Mariners look. Basically the Mariners let a guy, who looks like a serial killer, hold them to two hits...

The lineup looks a little different for tonight's game...

Ichiro CF
Lopez DH
Ibanez RF
Beltre 3B
Sexson 1B
Betancourt SS
Balentien RF
Johjima C
Bloomquist 2B

McLaren decided to give a slumping Jeff Clement - 13 strikeouts in 23 at-bats - the night off with the Rangers starting lefty Kason Gabbard.

Clement is obviously pressing a little, which is something the whole team is guilty of. But the youngster is not this bad of a hitter. I did ask McLaren that if Clement wouldn't have been slumping, would he be in the lineup normally against lefties, and McLaren said absolutely.

Last season in Triple A, Clement actually hit lefties better than righties. He hit .315 (40-for-127) against lefties with 13 doubles, 10 homers and 28 RBI, and .259 (85-for-328) with 22 doubles, 10 homers and 58 RBI against righthanders last season.

Obviously the sample size of at-bats differs, but I've watched Clement consistently rake lefties. One of the main reasons why is that he is willing to stay in on the ball. He doesn't bail out because his strength is really hitting the ball of the opposite field, particularly the left-center gap. When he's hitting well, Clement stays in and sprays the ball all over the field - obviously he's not doing that now.

And that leads us to the decision to pinch-hit for Clement with Willie Bloomquist. The decision belonged to bench coach Jim Riggleman, who assumed the duties after McLaren was tossed out of the game.

I don't care how bad Clement is hitting, I give him the chance to hit because he has a chance to hit the ball out of the park. Willie? Not so much.

It would be nice to have Greg Norton on the bench still, but he's too busy getting big hits for Atlanta.

* Jose Vidro is available only as a pinch-hitter tonight because of his back spasms.

* Lopez said he's comfortable with DHing having done it quite a bit in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Categories: General • 9 comments

Mariners Insider

Ryan Divish has been with The News Tribune since 2006, covering the Tacoma Rainiers and high school sports. Divish played baseball at Dickinson State University and also earned a journalism degree from the University of Montana. You will find news, observations, anecdotes, analysis and photographs on this blog. The purpose is to keep readers informed, but also give them a feel for the team and its players, and a place to go to read about baseball.
E-mail Ryan.

Larry LaRue, who has covered the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball for The News Tribune since 1988, is taking some time off for personal reasons.