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IF THE SEASON STARTED 7 DAYS AGO

We would have OPS's over 1000 from DH, RF, LF, and SS.  3B would be at 895.  Only 1B and C would have started slow, really, and we'd have scored 5-9 runs in 6 games with Felix' 2-1 win being the other game.

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WBC-San

Iwakuma's velocity had already been down his first two starts.  As a GENERAL RULE that means a robust gain to the ol' ERA number.  General rules are not absolutes and if anybody can pitch with a minus-minus fastball it's this guy.

So when he started off Sunday throwing 84, 85 MPH I'm thinking, "let's hope he's in the 10%."  Very shortly thereafter the Rangers started gleefully playing pop-a-shot with the RF bleachers.  And Dr. D returned to his senses, that MLB hitters punish weak pitches rather differently than NPB hitters punish them.

...

Blowers politely wrote it off as "Iwakuma didn't have it today" but Servais had scrambled to get Iwakuma's noble personage out of the ballgame quickly, like the -1st inning.  You could see this was not a presentable scene.

IF this start means the beginning of the end for WBC-San, there are positive spins.  Starting with the idea that Iwakuma might be able to cobble a 90-100 ERA for a few months.  As a #5 starter that wouldn't be tragic, if you didn't already have a #6 starter and a #17 starter in the rotation now.

...

Taro was alarmed about Felix and Iwakuma already.  But!  If the outcome is to split the 9's, one SP goes real high and the other goes real low, that's cool.  It's a microcosm of Stars & Scrubs, with one pitcher fungible.  The M's are not nearly as married to Iwakuma politically right now as they are to Gallardo, I wouldn't think.  The Iwakuma signing is no demerit to the front office even if you DL'ed him right now.  The Gallardo trade would be.

The M's are shaping up to have a #1, a #2 and nothing much after.  Except Povse and Moore, right?  Or Overton?  Or ... ?

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BEST BET 

Here is the March 15 article in which we threw in with SABRMatt, on putting this kid into the 6-member SSI Hall of Fame for best prospects.  We axed, What's with Arizona?  How could they give him up?  Along with the attendant CF camera reasoning on the lad.  We raised to pot to "Rookie of the Year" contender; this is now the buzz about Haniger.

...

Mike Blowers said he liked the 9th-inning walk better than he liked the [off-balance 407-foot] home run, better than he liked the RF catch.  Because most rookies, with "the ground rumbling under their spikes" with the crowd as JeDi put it, swing at close pitches.  Haniger is just so remarkable in his presence.

Forgetting about the fact that Maniger was the #8 player in the American League -before- Sunday's game.  (Zeus I think was the #1 player in either league for WAR.)  Forget the stats; Haniger LOOKS like he's going to be a star.

To the point where I have a question.  I'm used to Griffey, ARod, the usual Seattle Mariner young star who is good at 22 or not good at all.  I don't actually GET how he can look this good when he wasn't that good of a young minor league player.  Yes, I know there are late bloomers.  I still don't "get" how this guy wasn't good earlier.  Do you?

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HEREDIA

Goodie gumdrops!  And if you missed it, Scott Servais just said in no uncertain terms that Leonydas' 3-for-36 "isn't going to work" for us.  Last year, he was the M's only center fielder, Servais said nicely.  This year he ain't.

So, my bad jumping all over Servais for this one.  M's face some LHP's coming up and we can assume Heredia has shaken out to get some playing time and -- importantly -- within the first two weeks.

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NO MAGNA CARTA TODAY

Just threw this chat thread up so we could rejoice in the M's streak.  2-11 would have been one thing; 5-8 is a different thing.  Lot of players we'd a liked to celebrate.

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BABVA

Dr D