Thursday, August 02, 2007 |
Wasted Efforts: Mariners 8, Angels 7 (12)
If Weaver had only pitched a quality start, Gary Matthews, Jr.'s ninth inning homer wouldn't have just tied the game, it would have been a game-winner. The Angels' subsequent failure to cash in anyone in several opportunities — including and especially Vlad's failure in the top of the tenth — was just maddening, but it's part and parcel of his late transformation into a high-average singles hitter. Vlad just isn't the threat he used to be even last year this time, and one senses the pitchers aren't as nervous about sending him a fat one over the plate as they used to be.
I'll give the Angels this much credit, though: they did manage to give J.J. Putz a blown save. That has to count for something.
Update: There was a moment in the game that garnered Mike Scioscia more criticism than was warranted. The first — and I saw this one coming — was in the top of the 11th when Nate Haynes was asked to pinch-hit for Jeff Mathis against Brandon Morrow. Morrow has been mostly reliable for the M's, but he's walked a lot, too, and so that left the question of Scioscia's reasoning for using Haynes open. It wasn't a bad gamble: with one out, you wanted to avoid the double play, and Mathis is, whatever his other merits, still a catcher with only average at best speed. On the other hand, Haynes hadn't seen live pitching in over a week (not since July 22, in fact), which led to a higher likelihood of failure. Of course, the strikeout wasn't what you'd hope for, and Reggie Willits wasn't able to get good wood on the ball, either, ending the inning.
The other issue with that play was the call for a suicide squeeze by Haynes. Those calling for that play forget the Mariners had the infield drawn in at the time, which would have required a perfect bunt to make it work, and had it failed, it again would have opened the door to a double play.
Scioscia also got some criticism for leaving Jered Weaver in as long as he did; I was even scratching my head (not to mention yelling some obscenities), but as I look at their schedule, I see they have no days off until next Thursday, with a big series coming up against the Red Sox. The bullpen will need judicious use during that time, and the Angels may be forced to let their starters go longer and give up more runs than they might otherwise like.
Labels: angels, mariners, recaps
Two strikes Sc! Third your gone!
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