SSI Hot Seat (top of the inning)
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Hot seat, in which the bleacher bums chat baseball with absolutely no (a) statistical analysis, (b) preparation, (c) accuracy or even (d) undue concern for whether they're completely wrong.
But hey. We're a lot of things -- fair-weather fans ain't one of 'em. As Bill James said, "I believe in struggling through the down times, in watching the kids figure things out. It makes the winning more fun."
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=== Buy a Clue, Dept. ===
Dr. D is as disgusted, and discouraged, as anybody. Why is it an Act Of blinkin' Congress to score one lousy run?
- The Darvishes, Fisters, and Verlanders did it, between the lines, with the radar gun
- The BABIP did it, on the infield dirt, with a splinter off the busted roulette wheel
- The kids did it, in the Starbucks, with a case of Quad-Shot Lattes
- The DL did it, in the training room, with a variety of foreign objects (baseballs, fences, and Eric Davis-like CF's)
- Blaise Pascal did it, under the stands, with the spike-anchor of 2B
- The weather did it, on the frozen tundra, with a bad case of hypothermic baseballs
- The assisted-care nurse did it, in Raul Ibanez' room, with a pillow
Without looking up the stats, we can tell yer that the young players are pressing; Kyle Seager is the only one going up there satisfied to sock a solid line drive anywhere the ball's pitched. We can tell yer that the runs on the board don't reflect the balls in play the last week-plus. And when Ortiz came out of the bullpen, and pitched badly, he stuck out like a coal pile in a ball room.
It's not logical that this offense should be worse than 2012, much less worse than 2011, but you know that as well as we do. As for me, I'm just gonna ride it out.
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=== Dustin Ackley ===
Gordon was first to notice that Ackley was taking better swings. He is. Tonight, for example, he lined an opposite-field single ... 'twasn't the BABIP. At least, not Only.
The outside fastball, an inch or two inside the black, has been Ack's Bane. But tonight he drove the front knee up the middle, extended his Ki right back at the pitcher, and calmly socked a line drive to left field.
He's showing signs. Agree 100% with your man, my man, the G-Money man.
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His post about "tweener" position players was fascinating too. The Dr. D mosh is due and payable.
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=== Justin Smoak ===
Okay, we've applied the shock paddles, the patient started breathing. He's in cardiac arrest again. Hey, G, at what point does the most aggressive doctor call it?!
No pitch recog, no steam behind the swing, just looks like if it ever arrives it's going to be in arb year 5 or 6. If the M's pull the plug they'll get no yap out of any of us.
Supposing they did. Who gets into the lineup?
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=== M's 7 up, 12 down ===
You could come up with as long a list as I could --- > of reasons to despair. So, next subject.
If the M's could poach Sunday's game ... the M's have Felix, WBC-san and Bazooka Joe against ---> the Lastros' three Bottom of Rotation starters. The objective would be a SWEEEEEEP against Houston, not farfetched in view of Felix' presumed (yep) victory to open it up. Logic dictates (yep) that if WBC-san can take on Sale, Darvish and Verlander, that he can take on a must-win against Houston.
Hey, I like to watch baseball. I'm going to watch it. And even root. True to the Blue, baby.
:- P
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