Figgins was brilliant tonight without registering a hit. He stole five or six extra bases in this game with his two credited stolen bases, the two forced errors leading to two more bases, the tag up on that shallow flyout by Kotchman, and then going first to third on the Kotchman 2 RBI single.
Just a wonderful player.
Doc, what did you think of Wak's usage of Sean White tonight? Im still puzzled sometimes by his moves. For an organization that I think gets it, in regards to statistical analysis, I don't know how you open the season bringing Sean White into your first high leverage spot of the season.
You hold a 3-1 lead and are four outs from getting to your closer. How are you not going to Brandon League and Mark Lowe to get those four outs? There was nothing tricky about navigating through those final four outs, yet Sean White is the pick. The worst reliever in our pen.
He excuse after the game was that White hadn't worked in a few days... I'm not sure how to even take that. It's the first game of the season, and you're using the 7th inning of a 3-1 game with 2 on and 2 out, to get White his work?
Unless Mark Lowe couldn't go tonight (for some reason) I'm just puzzled by that move and explanation.
Furthermore, this is why I was against the 6 man pen. Shawn Kelly, a legit stud reliever, is not going to be allowed to work these high leverage spots because Wak is going to hold him back for multiple inning stints, and to protect against being shorthanded.
=== Don't Know What This Has to Do With Anything, But I Thought I'd Mention It, Dept. ===
The A's bullpen looked filthy, didn't it?
For those who didn't catch Baker's interview of James, he picked the A's to finish 2nd in the AL West. His reasoning: that the A's young pitching looks like it's about to jell.
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=== Adrian Beltre AB's ===
After the game, I asked the guys with me if they remembered a single garbage swing by the M's. One (1), as in. They couldn't.
Milton Bradley -- of all people -- swung at one or two pitches he'd like to have back. But other than that, I can't think of a single hack that annoyed me. I mean, sure, the stats would show a certain amount of O-Swings. But as far as an A's pitcher firing a sucker pitch low-away? Or up the ladder? And a Mariner chasing? It was one leather-tough AB after another after another.
(Oh yeah. Kotchman had a garbage K against the LOOGY* on a sweeping breaking pitch.)
................
It hadn't quite occurred to me that Casey Kotchman doesn't fish, either, meaning that Zduriencik has brought in these EYE warriors back-to-back-to-back:
- Ichiro
- #2 Figgins (100 walks)
- #3 Kotchman (keeps a tight zone vs RHP's)
- #4 Bradley (freakishly gifted on zone judgment)
- Griffey (M's best EYE hitter, by far, in 2009
So, even though it was Sheets, a RH submariner, a tough lefty, and a ROY closer, the M's took the fight to the enemy.
I unsay my words about Kotchman's GIDP's. The samurai AB's one through five, that factor probably trumps the GIDP factor.
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=== Rob Johnson ===
First test of the newfound 20/10 vision. Smashed a four-bagger off Mr. WBC. Walked twice. (Sandy mentioned a 2009 trend towards 1:1 EYE before the pain started piling up on RJ.)
We'll mention, until the pleas for mercy reach satisfactory pitch, that early in RJ's career arc, Bill James pegged him as an impact hitter in the big leagues, a possible 1B conversion type.
Nice to see that kind of a game right out of the chute.
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=== Kentucky Derby ===
You did indeed get the impression that Figgins and Ichiro were off to the races against each other. Heh!
Figgins has a commercial out in which he suggests that he and Ichiro could "potentially be the best 1-2 in baseball history. I hope."
:grins broadly snapping gum at monitor:
I take this to mean that Figgins views himself as better than Ichiro, as playing at HOF level, and deferring only because he's the newcomer. Thats the vibe I get take it or leave it yknowwhutuhmean. Like ARod going to NYY and saying, well, at least we'll have the best 3B-SS in history...
...............
Don't ever actually remember reading any articles on "the best 1-2's in baseball history," though grew up watching Rose and Griffey Sr. But the point is, in the opening game, Ichiro and Figgins were a lot more than just a flashy top of the lineup card. They were a gamebreaking leadoff combo.
Leadoff hitters synch well with great starting pitchers. Ichiro and Figgins are going to be plenty nuff, on their own, to win a lot of Felix' games.
Cheers,
Dr D
Comments
Taro, Matt, is there any major stat that credits Figgins with the two times he went to 3B on rushed, errant throws from the C?
When I was a schoolkid, we played Strat-O-Matic football, and the unbeaten '72 Dolphins had an absolutely perfect team ... except for one weakness in the D-line, Bob Heinz, that teams would run over constantly for 6- and 8-yard gains.
Shula had alternatives, but for some reason was fixated on the idea that Heinz was a good player...
Cannot figure for the life of me what is going on there. Wok can read a K/BB sheet.
Keep preachin' it brother. :- )
The correct way to use Shawn Kelley is not to hide him for long relief work, but to turn him into a three-inning SET-UP MAN. In other words...you've got a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the 6th inning...your starter is toast...you do *NOT* go with White to get you the 6th inning, League for the 7th, Lowe for the 8th...and burn your whole freakin' pen...in a 6-man pen...someone has to be able to come into the 6th inning and pitch you all the way to your closer. That's Tex and Kelley. They both should be used like that.
Sean White should only pitch garbage innings.
although in fairness to Wok, we think that THIS game he was "tuning" his RP's by getting them a short stint each.
But as a general principle, ya. :shakes head:
And early in the season, it's not a bad idea to get a quick read on all your guys and see whether they can do the jobs you want them to do in shorter stints. But Shawn Kelley and Kanekoa Texeira should be our answer to Kent Tekulve and Mike Marshall. They should be closers who don't pitch the 9th but do give us 100+ innings each pitching every 4th day for 3 innings.
White is one of the pitchers that makes me antsy about how good the Ms bullpen will end up being. I personally wish he were already in Tacoma.
But, as for why you use him in that situation? Because he has EARNED that position with his previous body of work.
It is great that the new club is sabr-savvy. But, this club is about a million light years ahead of the SABR pack on the HUMAN aspects of managing a team. White was in when he was for the same reason EOF got 6.2 innings at the beginning of 2008 -- it is based on his entire body of work. Despite miserable TTO numbers, White had the second best ERA in the pen during 2009 - and while that may not carry weight with the slide-rule crowd, it still does with the people who have to make those day-to-day calls.
Has Wak *EVER* seen League come into a critical game situation first hand? Spring Training doesn't count - because those games are meaningless. Well, if League comes in and has an outing like White ... what happens to him in the press?
Wak will undoubtedly use White in upcoming similar situations. W *MUST* let ALL the pitchers in the pen that he has their backs -- that he's not going to punish players or over-react to a single bad outing.
In the end, April tends to be a hunt-and-peck month for most bullpens. It's nice for the fans to think they know ahead of time how everything will break, but that's rarely the case. By the end of April, Lowe could be closing with League setting up and Colome pitching the 7th - (depending on injury, ineffectiveness, etc.).
You know what Ichiro said in the post game interview to NHK?
He said he has faith in Figgins that he would not swing when he takes off for a stolen base.
And so was Kotchman when Figgins stole 2nd base.
It is something which nobody mention in US but it is team play.
How many times in the past did the #2 batter swing on a bad pitch when Ichiro take off for a base and fouled.
So for the 2010 M's I think if the batter swings with less than 2 strikes on a bad pitch I think it is a H and R.
...that as long as Ichiro's legs feel OK, he is going to be more aggressive this year. So between he and Figgins, the Mariners may have 100 SB.
If he's here, he's going to be used in the clutch, especially to start the season. If Kao-Kan outpitches him gradually along the way, that's one thing, but they're not going to break roles on Opening Day.
We are going to get large doses of Mr. White, agreed.
.................
In fairness, it's not like the guy is Steve Trout. He was effective last year.
Perhaps by 2011, Wok will be able to give Ichiro the captain's jersey?
As to Ichiro's SB attempts, under the circumstances (in which he approves of the #2, #3 hitters' approaches).
You know who RJ reminds me of in the batters box? Edgar. Seriously, watch for this. He has the same measured, deliberate sort of mannerisms. Similar stance. Even his facial features bear a resemblance.
Part of it might be the widescreen at the bar I was at, all the players look like fireplugs when they're stretched out. Except Blevins, for him to look thin on that TV, he must be a real beanpole. Nasty lefty though! : )
But I digress. I certainly don't predict Edgar-style offense from RJ, but he does exude a confidence up there. And he seems like a good kid, I hope he continues to do well.
A lot of M's are going to have FUN this year. If you're Ichiro on 1st, it's FUN knowing that Figgins will be up there a long time messing with the pitcher. If you're Figgins, it's FUN knowing that Ichiro will keep the pitcher distracted and you can create some havok. If you're Kotchman, it's FUN knowing you'll have guys on base almost every time you're up there. If you're MB, I guess you just hope that Kotch hasn't cleaned off the bases already. : )
Figgins commented post-game that in the dugout, everyone is pulling for everyone else. There is absolutely no better clubhouse atmosphere to have. All those guys are going to enjoy this year, and we fans will benefit as well. ; )
For those who don't know my lingo...ISO_D is shorthand for isolated plate discipline (OBP - BA). I think RJ is going to more often than he Ks and his OBP will be 120 points higher than his BA. He might not bat over .260, but he'll be an on base machine.
The clubhouse looks really loose and engaged in the game except for Bradley...who desperately needs Prozac.
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2010/04/06/a-lineup-and-ichiro-a...
Ichiro stole second base and, with Figgins at the plate and a 3-1 count, Ichiro lit out for third, where he was called out on a close play. Would it have made any difference if Figgy knew Ichiro was going?
"If Ichiro lets Figgins know, Figgins can square around at the plate and force the third baseman to make a choice - charge the plate or play back," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Most third baseman are going to come in, and if they don't and Figgins gets a strike, he can drop the bunt and Ichiro's at third base, either way."
Thats what Wak is thinking. I think the 2010 M's will have much more team play than individual player plays. Yes they stole something from Samurai Japan.
I will not call names but players who did not play that way had to go.
To Matt: These are things which does not come in your WAR projections. Any studies on winning and team play?
That is some seriously deep thoguht by Wok...if the team is going to function at that high a leve of sophistication and communcative strategy all season...we're going to score way more runs than people think.