M's 1, A's 7 - Props
Looo-Kee here, Josh and Danny: this is where your torso winds up on a baseball-pitch followthrough. - Your friend, Dr D
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I'll take precisely 31 more starts from Doogie Fister like Sunday's. And the M's would win 20 of those starts.
Never mind 31. I'll take a million of 'em, just like that, replicated like from a Blade Runner factory.
Fister won't throw that good every time out, and they won't win 20 of his starts, but if M's win 50% of Fister's and Vargas' starts, well .... the other pitchers being much better than they are, you do the math.
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Doogie was #3 in the American League (TM) last year, in fewest walks. It ain't like he might NOT be one of the most precise pitchers on the planet.
And Sunday his command was razor-sharp even for him. Which is like saying that Jack Wilson is fielding great, even for him (which is the case).
Weirdly, the gun was showing 90-92 a lot. Maybe it was the fast gun. But the A's needed those glossy Lakers mesh shirts to cobble three hard-earned runs off Doogie.
This rotation is not a lot of fun. For them.
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Last year, the M's 19- and 39-year-old catchers simply hated Doogie's 74 change-curve. He threw it like four times per game, or seven times per month on 2-for-1 family nights, or something.
Eyes slideways: Miguel Olivo enjoys the pitch thoroughly. Bet you it's 'cause he knows he can outthrow the tape delay it has on it.
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Where is Dr. D on his change curve? He hasn't made up his mind on Doogie's overhand change curve; have certainly seen him hang it, big time. But have also seen garbage swings.
Maybe it's one of those things where you need more than your rookie year to polish your craft, I dunno.
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Eric Wedge, who to Dr. D's general embarrasment, has (for three games) timed his pitching changes like Tony LaRussa.
Had I been in the dugout, I might very well have made every change Wedge made, when he made them. I know you didn't need that visual. Some things you can't unsee, even mentally.
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The Hustle Board, which battled a satisfying 147-141 pitch-count draw even with our #5 SP on the mound and six balls lost in enemy jerseys.
After Ichiro called the meetin', the Mariners came out Opening Night, lips parted but meanin' it about the gun part:
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Props to Tom Wilhelmsen, whose performance unfortunately we didn't see.
Remember Justin Smoak's "13-game" hitting streak across a six-month break? Only 43 to go to catch Joe? Wilhelmsen's scoreless-inning streak will have to be carried across four pro levels if they want to count that one.
Considering where his last outing was, this 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 ballgame can be safely presumed as the closing scene in the movie. AdrrrriiiiiiANNNN!
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The Kansas City Royals. The 2011 Angels are eerily similar to the 1977 edition: they got two SP's. SSI had been fervently hoping for a 2-2 split, in view of Weaver and Haren. It got more.
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Erik Bedard and Michael Pineda have set their feet against Texas' charge down the lane. Nuts to them and their lucky 11 homers this weekend. Props to every man who won't be flinching as Bedard and Pineda throw down.
At this point, the Mariners are not.
Come to the park after your sweep. Pack the place out and sit down laughing. It'll be the worst mistake you ever made, you Texas brushpoppers.
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Cheerio,
Dr D