The 2016 Seattle Mariners (Official season edition)

[2_0_6]

Sidearm pitchers like that are either damn near unhittable or throw complete meatballs right down the pipe. His pitches seem to keep rising and often end up center cut and he gets smashed.

Just think, this is year one of a two year $10mil dollar deal

When I played baseball, once you got over the fear of getting hit by them and a little used to the arm slot where the ball was being released from I found them easier to hit off of. Didn't have to worry about up and down, I just looked inside - outside.
.....and I was a Joe Nobody.

The guys that are effective throwing sidearm are ones that come over the top most of the time and just drop down on occasion to give it a different arm angle and release point.

I played baseball from the ages of 7 through 22, and I don't think I ever saw a sidearm/submarine pitcher that was left handed. I saw a few righties but never had to deal with the ball coming from that angle from a lefty.

I'm not sure what the odds are for risk of injury with the various arm angles, but some of these look really uncomfortable.

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

............Just think, this is year one of a two year $10mil dollar deal

Oh for heaven's sake. That means he'll be the closer next year too unless DiPoto is willing to 'admit' his mistake in signing Capt. Goperball. Doubtful, very doubtful.

 

[IndyHawk]

This is the Bigs if you suck like Cishit you won't be pitching for long.It's just some will wait longer than others in the FO.

 

[Seahaaaawks]

Astros are to the Mariners what the Rams are to the Seahawks. At this rate the only positive is we won't see Cishak tonight. ukeface:

 

[kearly]

The Mariners chances are slim, but they did pick up a game on both the Rangers and Astros today. Do it again tomorrow (unlikely as that may be) and the season has a glimmer of hope.

Hopefully today is the last time all year we see three AAA scrubs in the lineup back-to-back-to-back.

 

[Thepeelsessions]

Will Cishek ever get through the 9th inning without almost blowing it? I just want to see him go 3 up and 3 down, for once. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall him conquering that mountain yet. He either gives up the lead, or gets the save right by the skin of his teeth.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Will Cishek ever get through the 9th inning without almost blowing it? I just want to see him go 3 up and 3 down, for once. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall him conquering that mountain yet. He either gives up the lead, or gets the save right by the skin of his teeth.

I think he's done it once or twice, but it's a rarity.

They need to make Diaz the closer. He's shutting down the eighth inning like a knife thru butter.
I don't care if he's a rookie. He has the mental makeup and the stuff to close NOW!

 

[Hawk-Lock]

I think the reason why the M's are hesitant to move Diaz to the closer is fear of pushing a young kid too much. First off, he has never pitched into September ever. The MLB is so much longer than anything else. Plus the last thing they want to do is rush him into a big role that he may not be ready for. We don't want to handle Diaz the same way the Jack Z regime handled Ackley, Zunino, etc.

 

[sutz]

I think the reason why the M's are hesitant to move Diaz to the closer is fear of pushing a young kid too much. First off, he has never pitched into September ever. The MLB is so much longer than anything else. Plus the last thing they want to do is rush him into a big role that he may not be ready for. We don't want to handle Diaz the same way the Jack Z regime handled Ackley, Zunino, etc.

Good points, but I would love to just once let Diaz pitch into the ninth and see how he does. Cishek is approaching Rodney territory with his slip-ups.

 

[Atradees]

Montgomery to win the series today vs the Strohs.

Lind and Lee are in the lineup. I like that.

The division is up for grabs with the Rangers fading fast.

Look for Montgomery to cement his spot in the rotation.

Next man up is LeBlanc vs the Sox.

I agree lets find away to get Diaz the nod as closer. Maybe he could split time with Cishek?

Paxton, Walker, Miley fight it out for long relief? Worse guy gets dealt or something?

What are the odds of this mix?

 

[Sports Hernia]

I think the reason why the M's are hesitant to move Diaz to the closer is fear of pushing a young kid too much. First off, he has never pitched into September ever. The MLB is so much longer than anything else. Plus the last thing they want to do is rush him into a big role that he may not be ready for. We don't want to handle Diaz the same way the Jack Z regime handled Ackley, Zunino, etc.

I respectfully disagree.

That type of "conventional wisdom" would have had Russel Wilson sitting on the bench "and learning" for 2 years instead of winning a Lombardi trophy.

Sometimes it's good to think outside the box especially when you have an exceptional talent. The innings load isn't much more as he is pitching the 8th in close games anyway.

 

[kearly]

Jayson Stark finally said something I agree with on Seattle radio. These next two weeks are the Mariners playoffs. Every single team the Mariners play this month is currently .500 or better, so it's a brutal test. But, if Seattle is sitting within 5 games of the playoff picture by the deadline, it is probably worth taking a shot at a big buy, especially if that buy helps the team in 2017 as well.

However, for Seattle to be within five games of the playoff picture by July 31st, they have to play terrific baseball because their opponents this month are no joke. They could very easily be 10 games out instead and in such a scenario the team should probably fold the tent on the season, at least from a trade perspective.

 

[kearly]

I would like to see Diaz close out some two or three run games. Don't name him the closer, just do it as a trial balloon a few times and see how he handles the pressure. Ideally he should take over for Cishek as the closer as quickly as possible, but it would also be wise to ease him in as to avoid a repeat of Carson Smith.

Cishek has blown five saves, most of them within the division. Make that number two instead of five, and Seattle is nipping at the Rangers heels.

It's too late to undo the damage of those blown saves, but it clearly illustrates, just like the 2014 and 2015 seasons did, the value of an effective closer and the damage caused by an ineffective one. If the Mariners can turn Diaz into a good closer long term, it will help them actually over-achieve on their run differential for a change. Wouldn't that be nice?

 

[Sports Hernia]

Jayson Stark finally said something I agree with on Seattle radio. These next two weeks are the Mariners playoffs. Every single team the Mariners play this month is currently .500 or better, so it's a brutal test. But, if Seattle is sitting within 5 games of the playoff picture by the deadline, it is probably worth taking a shot at a big buy, especially if that buy helps the team in 2017 as well.

However, for Seattle to be within five games of the playoff picture by July 31st, they have to play terrific baseball because their opponents this month are no joke. They could very easily be 10 games out instead and in such a scenario the team should probably fold the tent on the season, at least from a trade perspective.

Stark is right and Dipoto pretty much said the same thing in a round about way, though Jerry was talking more about the trade deadline. Even more reason to have Diaz close IMHO.

 

[sutz]

I would like to see Diaz close out some two or three run games. Don't name him the closer, just do it as a trial balloon a few times and see how he handles the pressure. Ideally he should take over for Cishek as the closer as quickly as possible, but it would also be wise to ease him in as to avoid a repeat of Carson Smith.

Kind of what I have in mind.

 

[Hawk-Lock]

I think the reason why the M's are hesitant to move Diaz to the closer is fear of pushing a young kid too much. First off, he has never pitched into September ever. The MLB is so much longer than anything else. Plus the last thing they want to do is rush him into a big role that he may not be ready for. We don't want to handle Diaz the same way the Jack Z regime handled Ackley, Zunino, etc.

I respectfully disagree.

That type of "conventional wisdom" would have had Russel Wilson sitting on the bench "and learning" for 2 years instead of winning a Lombardi trophy.

Sometimes it's good to think outside the box especially when you have an exceptional talent. The innings load isn't much more as he is pitching the 8th in close games anyway.

You can't compare the NFL to MLB. Most NFL rookies play right away, most top picks in MLB don't debut until much later. The big knock on Jack Z was that he rushed Zunino and Ackley, calling them up after just a few months in the minors. Lets not ruin Diaz in what looks like a season we won't be playing postseason baseball.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be the closer, but I'm sure the M's front office is going to be very cautious with him.

 

[sutz]

Well, two more innning to get a strikeout and double play ball. :34853_doh:

 

[Hawk-Lock]

Looks like another season where we have to say "Next Year."

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

I would like to see Diaz close out some two or three run games. Don't name him the closer, just do it as a trial balloon a few times and see how he handles the pressure. Ideally he should take over for Cishek as the closer as quickly as possible, but it would also be wise to ease him in as to avoid a repeat of Carson Smith.

Cishek has blown five saves, most of them within the division. Make that number two instead of five, and Seattle is nipping at the Rangers heels.

It's too late to undo the damage of those blown saves, but it clearly illustrates, just like the 2014 and 2015 seasons did, the value of an effective closer and the damage caused by an ineffective one. If the Mariners can turn Diaz into a good closer long term, it will help them actually over-achieve on their run differential for a change. Wouldn't that be nice?

This is an excellent (as usual) post Kip. A closer is so hugely important to a team's success this day and age and blowing them against division opponents has killed the Ms. Plus, he's like Rodney when he does successfully close a game it's rarely an easy, 1-2-3 outs save.

Looks like another season where we have to say "Next Year."

Sadly, I agree. But if they can finish at .500 or better, it'd be a step in the right direction.

 

[kearly]

Today wasn't much fun. Four errors and five double plays hit into (both likely season highs), plus a grand slam allowed. If you are going to lose, might as well lose big.

Looks like another season where we have to say "Next Year."

The sad part is, the Mariners will probably be 2-3 wins worse next year based on talent loss and aging. 2016 really was their last best shot for a while. They will need luck on their side to make the playoffs in 2017.