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gnatto:  I can actually see them moving themselves all the way up to one spot out of the #Wild card. No chance they pass the Angels or Yankees in the #Wild card spot though.

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:: broad smile ::  Hey, they're -6 out of the Wild Card in early/mid August.  MLB.com has their postseason chances at 3%.  As Duke Leto the Sandworm told his gentle Hwi, "How sweet these last few sips of humanity are."

Why not enjoy the series in Boston?  What's the penalty for doing so?

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DaddyO:  It was recognized back in June that August would be the M's best month to make hay. It will be a minor miracle for them to make up the 7 game deficit to .500 by the end of the month. Personally, I don't think it will happen. If it does, then a minor miracle September might get them within reach of possibly maybe perhaps being in the hunt. That's the hole they have to climb out of. Don't hold your breath.

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If he had been Dr. D, DaddyO would have said something more like, "It was me, myself, I who prophesied this run.  Are you not entertained?"  Instead of that, DaddyO murmurs in the passive voice, "It was recognized."  What is THAT all about?!  

But sadly, he follows up this called shot by trotting around the bases and, in grand Ted Williams tradition, spitting at the crowd.  Keepin' it real, Daddy.  +1

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Mojician:  Is it just me or have the Mariners have played better since Dustin Ackley left? It seems like they win better, they lose better, they are calmer and try harder.

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Mojician also with a Nostradamus-like quatrain:  earlier, quoth he, the M's need perform two tasks to align themselves against the Hister.  Shedding Ackley was one, but Dr. D forgets what the other was.  Whatever it was, the M's musta done it.

Very impressive, Counselor.  Not the modesty.  That's bush league.  But the Ackley thing, wow.

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MtGrizzly:  Just saw a close up picture of Felix hugging Iwakuma after the game - Felix with a big grin, wearing a blue fleece bear hat. Perfect.

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Dr. D watched the whole tape in order to pick that image out of the 120MB.  It was there.  Muchas gracias for the alert.  And did you guys realize how LIKED Hisashi Iwakuma seems to be?!

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SABRMatt: Doc, LaMehieu is in #Colorado. The BABIP there is like .335. Markakis used to have power, now he doesn't and he's surviving on better than average batted ball velocity on grounders...  Doc, LaMehieu is in #Colorado. The BABIP there is like .335. Markakis used to have power, now he doesn't and he's surviving on better than average batted ball velocity on grounders...

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EVERYBODY threw crumpled Dixie cups at the suggestion we watch Marte for a couple of weeks.  LOL!  That's when Dr. D is in his element, when everybody thinks he's crackers.  You want to offend against the Jobu Burial Grounds at Detect-O-Vision Yards, it's your funeral.

And that's what makes SSI what it is, but ... you guys DO remember that Unkle Dok introduced you all to the concept of "no ISO = no BB"?  What's next, you scolding Dr. D that he should recognize the possibility of NPB pitchers succeeding here?!  :- )

First of all, Marte hasn't walked in the minors too much yet.  He's been fifteen years old, too, I notice.  Walks are an old players' skill.

Second of all, if there are three balls, the pitcher can miss.  Think about it.  (Like, it happened to Marte just tonight.)

Third of all, Ketel Marte has the ability to track a slow curve with ease, while also fffflllllicking a 95 mph fastball out of the catcher's mitt, foul.

Fourth of all, if you're going to argue that it's *impossible* to draw *decent* walks without ISO, you're going to lose.  Unkle Dok has tried to teach you, repeatedly, that general principles seldom lend themselves to dogma.  But he loves you all the same ...  The last three years inclusive, there are 10 batters who walk 7-10% of the time with ISO's under .100.  Nori Aoki, Alberto Callaspo, Nick Markakis oh by the way has had no power for a LONG time, John Jay, and several guys.  Go ahead and invent 10 reasons to exclude all 10 if you want.  It's a free country.

Fifth of all, you hit .280 with 7% walks, your OBP is .350.  There are a few Mariners who don't.

Funny thing:  Ketel Marte is INDEED very likely to be Endy Chavez'ed.  Maybe an 80%, 90% chance of that.   :- )  Me personally, I'm going to watch him a little bit.  Like Chris Taylor, he's a lot tougher in the box than I expected him to be.  That's all.

So cheer up.  There are worse things than finding out that your 21-year-old shortstop might be able to play in the big leagues.

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OBF:  We don't actually know what the M's plan is for payroll. They're locked in to Felix, Seager, and Cano. We know that.

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And Nelson Cruz :- )  

... oh, and Paxton and Taijuan are locked in, right?  Four aircraft carriers and some exciting talent behind them ... on paper it's good enough. Somebody sacrifice a bucket of chicken in the locker room and clear this curse.

BABVA,

Dr D