Bhagwan @ Large

May 5

Roll call: Scott Magner, Erik Mona, Minnesota Twins, Joel Piniero’s ERA

Final Score: Twins 5, Mariners 1: Roof = open.

One of the things that I enjoy about baseball is the variety of experience it offers. There are some games that are so engrossing, that you cannot take your eyes off the action. Others are interminably long, and the 9th inning comes with a blessing of thanks.

Today’s game was a pleasant mix of the two. Not pleasant in the sense that it was a good game, for it was not. In a game where pitching power needed to be expressed, Pinero turned in a pretty standard 110 pitch outing.

Standard for him, at least. A little trouble in the first, a run plated in the second, then a big inning in the 4th that put the whole game away.

But he stayed in for 7+ innings, giving the bullpen a much needed break after Monday’s extra innings.

But the real story was my experience of the game. I haven’t really spent a lot of time with my friend Erik since we stopped working together every day, almost three years ago. We talk and correspond occasionally, but we haven’t really been in the same place since I left the company.

Neither of us has changed in any significant way (haircuts aside), and that was a comfort. We spent most of the game engaged in the easy banter we used during our frequent 18 hour workdays back with Wizards of the Coast, while t the same time enjoying overpriced beers and marveling at the spectacular defense played out before us in the nearly empty stadium.

The game flew by as a peripheral experience, and it was okay with me. It happened right in front of us, and we enjoyed it, but “hanging out” was the prime focus of the evening.

And that’s not so bad. What was bad was the complete and utter lack of offense presented by the Mariners. Piniero pitched hard, but a big inning sunk him. The bats never left the harbor, and the day’s Mariners were green sailors, not the campaign weary deck hands they needed to be.

All in all, a good night. But it was the company, not the product, that I enjoyed.

Record= Scott 4-6, Erik 0-1, Pinero 1-4 (deservedly), Bret Boone 0 for 4, with two bad swinging SO, with lots of men in scoring position. You do the math.

M’s , and Even more M’s

Free Baseball.

I love extra innings. I love everything about them. I like mocking those who leave, I like the long, endless AB in which everyone wants to be Barry Bonds, and watching grown men forget how to play baseball at the plate.

And I love, love, love a pitcher’s duel. I really love getting two of them in one day.

But I’d much rather that a baseball game lasted 2 hours, like the ones I watched when I was a kid. STAN! and I were very happy with how fast tonight’s pitcher’s duel was going.

And then everything went to hell.

Even more M’s

Jamie Moyer is 1-2. Jamie is a starting pitcher, who has had a little trouble with the longball this year. His last three starts have been fantastic, but he hasn’t garnered a decision in any of them. Tonight, he pitched 8 strong innings, and left with the lead.

Freddy Garcia is 0-1. Freddy Garcia is also a starter, who has pitched 35.2 innings of amazing, low scoring baseball (5 starts). He hasn’t given up a run in his last two starts.

Eddie Guardado is a closer. His job is to come in and get three outs, preserving a win for a starting pitcher. Eddie has pitched 12 innings, has an 0-0 record, and 4 saves in 6 opportunities. Eddie has also sent two games into extra innings in the last two weeks by giving up the tying run to the first of his three batters.

That’s two wins taken away from starters, two leads that nearly slipped away. Specifically, From garcia and Moyer.

Ron Villone is a journeyman starter, playing the left-handed utility role out of the bullpen in Seattle. Ron’s contract has a clause with hefty bonuses for every 5 starts he makes.

Ron has worked a lot in extra inning games lately. Ron Villone has pitched 19 innings this year, and has a 3-0 record.

He was also a very late invitee to Spring training. He had to earn his way onto the team, whereas the other three had contracts in hand. He narrowly edged out Terry Mulholland for the final spot on the 25 man roster. Terry Mulholland pitched against the Mariners for the Twins tonight.

Jamie Moyer will make 6.5 million dollars this year. He is expected to throw about 220 innings of baseball .

Freddie Garcia will make 6.9 million dollars this year. He also is expected throw about 220 innings of baseball .

Eddie Guardado will make $4 million this year. He is expected to work between 60-80 innings, and get 50 or so saves.

Ron Villone will receive $1 million dollars to ride the pine all year, and pick up the pieces when everything goes to hell.

The Mariners are now 10-16. One of these four pitchers will get traded this year.

You do the math.

posted by Bhagwan : 2:15 AM