=== Baseball Musings ===

If you hadn't noticed -- on most nights, you can get a Real Live Baseball Expert (David Pinto) doing a saber-literate, internet version of Baseball Tonight recaps. :- )

Joel Piniero pitched well for the Cards, but they lost in 15 innings, 1-0.  The Cubbies won, leaving the Cards' magic number at 12.  Thanks David.

Jo-El is 14-9, 3.28 with a 4:1 control ratio.

Ryan Franklin has a 1.67 ERA with 37 saves.  Ryan always caught Seattle grief far out of proportion to his actual shortcomings, but still .... do you ever get the feeling that after Gillick left, the problem was just flat-out on-field coaching?

If so, the problem has been sol-vuhd, Inspector Clouseau.  Now we have our Rowland-Smiths, Aardsmas and Morrows getting things straightened out.

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=== Lookout Landing ===

... Pointed out that Michael Saunders was scheduled to sit, since the Mariners weren't facing a tough lefty starter.  :- )

About 75-80% of American League starters are righthanded, but Saunders has over half of his plate appearances against lefties.  Sigggggh.  He's .189/.189/.189 against them.  Don't do the kid any favors, guys.

.

=== Prospect Insider ===

Has an article up on all youse guys' fave Mariner.  No, not Luke French.

There's a great quote from an NL scout in there, giving Guti credit for BTA-but-not-great talent, for physical strength and for tenacity in his AB's. 

I think the scout hit the nail on the head, giving Guti his props for recognizing the offspeed stuff better.  I agree with that 100% and there is no telling by how much more his pitch recognition will improve.

The scouts agree with each other, and with me, that Guti has one decent plateau jump in front of him, which would leave him right around Mike Cameron's level offensively. 

The AL scout pointedly opts for Gutierrez in an Adam Jones tale-of-the-tape, though Dr. D thinks that's a tough call. 

...........

Jones, BTW, started off sizzling but has since crashed and burned:

360/430/630 - April

330/370/590 - May (but with a horrific 4/24 EYE)

75 OPS+ ... everything since June 1

Score one more for the EYE indicator.

...........

At 23 Jones is of course not done, but with his poor EYE ratios and non-Beltranesque power (19 dings this year in cozy Camden) his upside is starting to coalesce at something less than franchise player.

...........

Anyway, Franklin Gutierrez has mirrored Adam Jones at the plate in 2009, and the impact defense in Safeco sets the club for years at a key position.

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=== Section 331 ===

The baseball gurus at 331 have a cool little article up on the Rainiers' win on Friday night, along with a fresh brace of photos from behind the Rainiers' "bullpen." 

Interestingly, they think that the Rainiers are getting the short end of the umping stick.  We had mentioned about three calls that the Rainiers protested, but I didn't notice until now that the Cats had had nothing to complain about...

The 331 folks are contemplating a road trip to Sacramento, so if so, eyes slideways.  :- )

Cheers,

Dr D