2012 MLB Regular Season Running Thread

You think he'd even make it to her?

 

It's about time. They wasted way too many at-bats on Abreu.

 

It's amazing what $500 billion worth of talent (hi OOP!) can do for a manager. It also helps when he's the fuck outta there in the 7th. Explain to me what Ivan Nova, after allowing 10 baserunners in five rocky innings, was doing out there for the sixth.

 

I saw the first five innings, and the bottom of the 9th.

Don't know why Girardi got ejected. Nova's unbeaten streak continues.

 

Excellent. "Honey HURRY DOWN--never mind."

As for Abreu: His PT wasn't the problem (24 ABs). The problem is too many players and too few spots and Scioscia's constant tinkering (in his defense, he's not the one who signed Pujols to a team with a dozen corner infielder/outfielder types). If they're going to play Trout, they need to dump Wells and trade someone (Trumbo? Bourjos?) and stop dicking around.

 

He's got to be better than Raúl Ibañez.

 

Giving Abreu any at-bats was too many.

 

Wild ninth inning for the Mariners -- and epic meldown by the Blue Jays.

Toronto's up 5-3 in the ninth, and after a Michael Saunders solo HR, M's pinch-hitter rolls to third for the easy third out. Except the throw is wild and he reaches first. Moves up to third on the catcher's air-mailed pickoff throw, then Seattle's John Jaso knocks in the tying run with a liner to center.

Mariners could have taken the lead, but Colby Rasmus dives for the sinking line drive, missed it, but it hits his bare hand and dies right there, allowing him to throw out Ackley and keep the game tied.

Saunders hits a grand slam in the 10th and the M's win their fourth straight on the road.

 

Dude, your hard-on for Scioscia kills me.

The problem isn't his "constant tinkering." The problem is nobody can get a hit. Pujols is starting everyday at 1st and hitting .225. Abreu was hitting .208 when they released him. Bourjos is hitting .178. Vernon Wells is hitting .229 -- and leading the team in runs, HRs and RBI. They're awful at the plate right now.

The guy who is being bumped all over is Mark Trumbo. I think he has played 5 different positions so far this season. He's batting .341.

They can't dump Wells. That contract is too big to eat and they already fired the only GM in baseball stupid enough to trade for him. They'll go with Hunter, Wells and Trout in the outfield, with Bourjos making appearances and Trumbo bouncing between 3B and OF. Long term they'll be OK -- Pujols isn't finishing the year at .225 and no HRs -- but right now it's ugly.

 

Hey, I said his plight--about 13 everyday players for nine positions--wasn't his fault. But I am also a firm believer that lineups are like quarterbacks: If you've got more than one set one, you have none. And I think Scioscia is pretty close to averaging a different lineup every game.

He needs to settle on one, even if it means demanding that Wells get cut. Arte just spent $250 mil on Pujols, I think he can afford dropping a sunk cost. Then either decide that they'll live with Dave Kingman-esque defense from Trumbo at third or turn him into the world's most potent fourth outfielder. The constant tinkering isn't doing anybody any good.

 

I had this discussion with a friend of mine who is an Angels fan. I agree that they should stop playing Wells if others outplay him. The money is spent. If he no longer deserves to play, they shouldn't compound the mistake by playing him.

Trumbo needs to play every day, preferably at one position, though the moving around doesn't seem to be bothering him so far. The only problem is that if he plays the outfield, they can't find regular at-bats for both Trout and Bourjos. I know Bourjos is off to a lousy start, but given how well he played at the end of last season, I think he can help them.

 

Bourjos should be traded. He reportedly has a great trade market despite limited offensive skills.