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=== Tuesday Postscript ===

This article is exactly right, word for word, not that SSI readers questioned Wedge on this particular point.  Sometimes things just happen too quick for a manager to get a reliever into the game in time.  That was the way in the Millwood tragedy.

The better question is why Kevin Millwood threw SO many pitches that were SO terrible.  If he'd just thrown random bad pitches, then some batters would have hit some non-line-drives.  Baseball doesn't work so that you get a .900 BABIP and 7 runs in one inning.  

But Kevin Millwood threw 9,000 consecutive fastballs high and away.  It was (seriously) a great visual as to what would happen if you actually played a Pros vs. Joes game on national TV.  

Manchester United beat the Sounders 7-0.  There is a certain level of supreme-osity that manifests with ALL major league teams, including the 2010 Mariners.  Put them against somebody who is normal and you'll see seven runs an inning.

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I think we're all agreed:  Millwood doesn't get many more of these.  Dr. D takes comfort in Sandy's prediction that there won't be many more.  Dr. D is not so sure.  And for which outcome do you think he is hoping?

Millwood is Sandy's homie, so we presume him to be right.  If he's not, it's gravy.

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=== That's Why They Pay Me the Big Bucks ===

Cyber-amigos say it is early to bring Paxton or Hultzen up because ... what if he only went 5 innings?  Where would we ever find pitchers to cover the extra inning?

1.  The average start produces 5.9 innings.  The average #5 SP start produces fewer.  You realize that we're talking 1 inning's difference here -- in some starts.

2.  After 13 games, Hisashi Iwakuma has 0 innings.  (Luetge has 2.)  I have an idea how you could survive a 5-inning start.  To access it, dial 1-800-THERAPY.

I kinda liked the suggestion that Paxton and Erasmo swap the 5- and 3-inning roles in #5SP job shares.  Sometimes baseball traditions really hurt the ballclub.

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You know how you're listening to a commencement speech and it's going sideways, and there's that point of restless murmuring, right before the audience decides whether to boo or not to boo?  The feeling around Iwakuma is like that.  Each game that goes by, with 0 innings, gets weirder and weirder.  The audience begins to murmur confusedly.

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=== Priorities, Dept. ===

The ChiSox are coming in to The Safe, tied with the Mariners and Blue Jays for the two Wild Cards.  But Felix misses this do-or-die series.  Another predator hunt, and another grouchy voice over the comm set demanding, "lose the magazines, kiddies.  Radiation down there."

Nice the Mariners are taking control of the Wild Card, even here in the pre-Paxton and Hultzen phase.  Would be nicer if they were using all a bunch'a players that they planned to win their next pennant with.

Who knows.  Could be this year.*  If they used all their best guys.  Like my mommy told me when she left my daddy:  life is complicated, dear.  Some things are more important than love.

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=== Alphanumeric Characters, Dept. ===

The M's are #2 of 30 teams, fewest swings outside the strike zone.  (#1 is the Indians, also a lefty team.)  But the Mariners are a solid #15 in swings at strikes, so that's a great ratio.

They are #2 of 30 teams, in contact rate.  #1 is the Phillies.

The Mariners are #2 of 30 teams, in fewest swings and misses.  #1 is the Indians again.  Of course the M's are not exactly leading the majors in HR's or ISO, though they are not exactly last, either.  They're about #20 in both.  An excellent tradeoff.

This much is not in dispute:  (1) Wedge's vision is for the Mariners to pick a pitch, be ready to do something with it, and to lay off other stuff.  (2) That is what the Mariners are now doing.  So Eric Wedge will be happy to live or die with this approach.  The car is running as designed and built.

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Bring It OWwwwwn,

Dr D

*I know, I know