Big day for m' man Sgt. Wedge

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=== Montero #4 and Seager #5 ===

When Dotel came in and walked Ryan, and walked Ichiro, something happened that hadn't happened for quite a while.  Dr. D thought, "we're behind and the other guys are in big trouble."

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We know that Justin Smoak did not respond well to hitting cleanup.  It's fascinating that Montero is completely comfortable in the slot.  The at-bat in the ninth, for example ... Dotel wound up and threw.  He's behind again, 1-0.  I'm thinking please don't help him out man, please don't help him out.  Dotel went to 2-0.  I'm thinking puhLEEEZE don't swing at a pitch off the plate.  Went to 3-0.  ... you can probably guess what I'm thinking then too... Montero coolly takes a pitch.

On 3-1 he fouled a pitch back, and on a 3-2 count was he jumpy?  No, nice easy swing and therrrrrrre sheeeee goes!  Right up the middle, with timing that gave Montero margin for error both early and late.  Bee yoo teeeeee ful.

How many balls has Montero hit off the fence?  Has anybody counted?

His first week, Montero was fishing for sucker pitches on 0-0 and even on 1-0.  That's gone.  He's relaxed and letting the game come to him.  Jesus Montero is liable to be in the cleanup slot tomorrow, and the day after that, and every day after that for six years.  If I'm the Mariners, that Evan Longoria contract is on the table tomorrow.

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Kyle Seager is hitting .455 with runners on base.  This does not prove that Kyle Seager is going to amass 192 RBI this season.  It does prove, er, indicates that Kyle Seager does not get phased by pressure.  He's also slugging .857 with two outs and RISP.

Which totally stunned the baseball people at the game, that Eric Wedge would use Seager to bunt Montero* to third base in the 9th, with a lefty-on-lefty Jaso matchup next.  Wedge had burned most of his bench, had Montero out of the game, was going to lose the DH, and his bullpen had been pedal to the metal since the 4th inning.  He pushed every button on the console to win the game right then and there, knowing that he was at a disadvantage in extras.

Ballplayers will tell you that they love this, love to see their manager going for broke and "taking the game to the other team."  It's the O.K. Corral equivalent of bringing a side-by-side shotgun, looking the Clantons in the eyes and opening fire.  This attitude permeates.

There isn't such a thing as a manager who does everything right, or who does everything wrong.  Give the Monday game ball to the bullpen and to Eric Wedge.  Those were the two gutsy, brilliant forces behind the M's glorious victory.

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NEXT

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