Playing With Matchups: Mariners vs. RHP

by colintj on Apr 28, 2009 1:46 PM CDT Comment 28 comments

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Experiencing some soreness, eh General? (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Yesterday, I wrote about how bad the M's offense has been and is projected to be, and in particular how they fare against LHP. In short, an already crappy offense loses two of its three best bats and ends up below replacement level at 1B and DH. Against RHP, they get the best General Soreness and Russell Branyan can currently offer. PECOTA pegs Griffey at .254/.356/.444 vs. righties and Branyan at .245/.351/.534. The two obviously provide much needed OBP and SLG for a team nearly bereft of such offensive necessities.

They are however the only notable lefties Seattle can bring to bear outside of Ichiro (and he's got fairly even splits besides). Endy Chavez can be a nuisance, but he's there for his defense. So while the Mariners do get back much of their pop, they're still a righty-oriented lineup with a lot of outs to be had. For example, their best non-Ichiro player, Adrian Beltre, has a career .269/.318/.458 line against RHP. Jose Lopez: .266/.297/.397. Outside of Ichiro, Branyan and Griffey, they really just can't hit.

This suggests a pretty obvious strategy: pitch around Branyan. Ichiro is wily. I'm sure he's going to run all over a Colon-Pierzynski battery and will likely not have much of a problem with El Grande's assortment of fastballs. But a walk is worse than forcing the ball to be put in play by a guy with little power. Runs aren't going to come in bunches, though, unless Branyan has something to do with it (outside of a funtastic single-double fest courtesy of BABIP and spotty command, anyway). He's going to have no problem sizing up a 90-92 mph fastball, especially since there's no accompanying change-up. Griffey on the other hand has batspeed issues. Get under his hands and then work low and away and he's probably an out. The rest of them are contact-type hitters that are going to have success depending on the command of the opposing RHP. If we lose, it's probably not going to come on a HR fest.

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I want HSA's take.

She lives it.

We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

by winningugly on Apr 28, 2009 1:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

she tried to convince me yesterday that the M's offense does not suck

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Apr 28, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That I do. I was going to say yesterday that their lefties are really the only bats in the lineup (Beltre aside). Chavez has been awesome so far...more than a "nuisance," ctj.

Obviously, Ichiro has been a Sox-killer, and will do just what Colin said.

Guy to keep in mind: Rob Johnson (back-up catcher while Johjima’s on the DL). He’ll pull an xbh and provide a nice oomph at the bottom of the order….leading right back into Ichiro, who will put the damage on from there.

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ichiro = Wile E. Coyote?

More like Roadrunner.

We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

by winningugly on Apr 28, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

meep

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

White Sox Minor League Updates at http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Apr 28, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, this is your sweet spot, isn't it?

We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

by winningugly on Apr 28, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

have you had that Cloudy Bay? from New Zealand

I believe the common character of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility, and murder.

by hoodlight on Apr 28, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

or do you drink that Californian muck?

I believe the common character of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility, and murder.

by hoodlight on Apr 28, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

huh.

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't see Griffey in the lineup yesterday. Not sure if/how their lineup has changed since, but he wasn't scheduled to be starting game 1 at least.

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

(probably due to Danks and the fact that Sweeney has had so much success against the Sox....guess I wouldn't be surprised if Griff's in the Colon game).

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

According to Guillen, Thome will be out until Friday, and Getz is very unlikely to play today.

cowley.

White Sox Minor League Updates at http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Apr 28, 2009 2:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

really seems like cowley should be signing off "cowley out!"

by Trooper on Apr 28, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice

Though I wouldn’t worry about Ichiro walking or running on Colon… he only has 1 walk and 1/2 in SB in 68 PA vs Colon. Colon’s move causes earthquakes, but he’s quick.

by Trooper on Apr 28, 2009 3:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah.

not sure if it’s still as good but, at his peak, colon probably had the best slide step in baseball. as i recall, he allowed one stolen base when he was with the sox in 2003. aj ain’t much help but i don’t think there are many who are going to run on colon.

White Sox Minor League Updates at http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Apr 28, 2009 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

MLB is moving the June draft to the evening:

The commissioner’s office said Tuesday that this year’s draft will start at 6 p.m. on June 9 and be held at the studios of the MLB Network in Secaucus, N.J.

There will be 111 picks on the first day, which includes the first three rounds mixed in with two compensation rounds.

What a great idea! Schedule the bulk of the draft against a full slate of Tuesday night baseball games!

I don’t think this will work that well as television until teams can trade picks. Then there will be some anticipation in the room.

http://baseballmusings.com/?p=33040

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Apr 28, 2009 3:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rounds 4-30 are scheduled tentatively for June 10, with the remaining 20 rounds the following day. The last two days will be held by telephone conference call.

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Apr 28, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

because it would really make a huge difference if the draft was scheduled against a less than full slate of night baseball games.

good one.

White Sox Minor League Updates at http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Apr 28, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So fucking stupid

This is not the NFL, which has a retarded draft as well. If you need 5 minutes to make your pick, you should forfeit the rest of your picks in the draft.

Stupid made-for-TV bullshit.

Twitter: @SouthSideCheat
SouthSideSox on Facebook

by The Cheat on Apr 28, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not following either way so i don't care.

i’m sure they’ll publish a list of the players drafted whether it takes three hours or thirty minutes to do the first round.

White Sox Minor League Updates at http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Apr 28, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trading picks would ruin the purpose of the draft.

by Daniel Berlyn on Apr 28, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the horror

White Sox Minor League Updates at http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Apr 28, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently Cheat is no longer with us. He threw us a slutter and hasn't returned...

That said, any of the remaining editors picking up the gamethread slack? T-35….

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 3:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nevermind. Auto-Cheat came through at the exact minute I wrote that.

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on Apr 28, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guillen said he wouldn’t mind coaching a hockey game.

“You know why? In baseball, they don’t let the coach do whatever he wants to do. In hockey, if you want to fight, let’s go fight. You get a two-minute penalty. In baseball, you get a 10-day suspension.”

Guillen believes there’s no doubt that hockey players are better athletes than baseball players.

“You won’t see any fat boys playing hockey,” Guillen said. “You won’t see anyone 60-years-old (playing). Can you see (Juan) Uribe skating?”

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/04/white-soxs-guillen-following-bulls-blackhawks.html

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Apr 28, 2009 5:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

After signing with the New York Mets for more potential money, Garcia was released on Tuesday.
Still trying to make it back from the right shoulder surgery he had in August of 2007, Garcia was cut loose by the Mets after going 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in 2 starts with Class AAA Buffalo.

“Maybe I want to try it one more time,” Garcia told the Buffalo News. "If I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to be feeling right now, I don’t know. Hopefully it will work out for me but I don’t know. I’m working really hard to try to get right but my shoulder doesn’t respond.

“I’m going to try my best. If not, I guess I’ll go home. I don’t know. That’s it, man.”

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1886

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Apr 28, 2009 8:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cowley: Garcia back with the Sox?

First there was Mike MacDougal, then Jack Egbert and now Lance Broadway – the Bermuda Triangle of bad middle relievers.

No wonder Freddy Garcia’s names was brought up following the Game 2 loss to the Mariners on Tuesday. And it just so happens that Garcia is now jobless after the Mets cut ties with him.

“I need to talk to him [Wednesday], see where he is, if he’s hurt, how he’s doing,‘’ White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen admitted. "I guess [general manager] Kenny [Williams] and the scouts know more than I do. I have to ask them and see how he’s doing. I know he will find a job and hopefully he pitches better for the next team, I don’t want to say us yet because I don’t know anything about it.’’

Yet?

Everyone knows that Garcia is not only Guillen’s close friend, but married into his wife’s family. And as Guillen put it, he couldn’t do worse than some of the other relievers sitting on team’s rosters.

“I don’t think he should retire,‘’ Guillen added. "There are a lot of worse guys out there. A lot … and very bad. I think Freddy can still help. If Freddy’s healthy, hey, Freddy can still pitch. There’s a lot of really bad guys making $5-$6 million in the game still.’’

http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2009/04/garcia_back_with_the_sox.html

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Apr 28, 2009 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs