Thursday, April 29, 2004
NIGHTMARE ON ROYAL BROUGHAM
Here's some semi-paraphrased Bill Krueger comments on KJR's Groz with Gas show...
-- About the ball not bouncing the Mariners' way, Bill thinks it's fake. The Mariners flat out aren't playing well enough to win. The league snuck up on them and they haven't tried to aggressively fill their weaknesses. This is what happens.
-- A series win in Baltimore was really important. The Orioles improved, but they're not elite. The 3rd inning was telltale. Pineiro pitched winning baseball. He could have given up 1 run going into the 7th. He looked great, but the team didn't help him. Boone kicked the Tejada double play ball, Spiezio had the ball through his legs...one run should have scored, but no more.
-- Taking umbrage with Ichiro is pretty fair right now. When he's not hitting like he's able to hit, he doesn't have a Plan B. Ichiro walked in the 1st, didn't run (steal), Edgar hit into a DP, inning over. He has to impose himself on the pitchers, take chances, and force pitchers to throw over a little more. The league knows where he likes the ball; they've caught on. He needs to be a more effective leadoff hitter with a higher OBP. He needs to get some help, info...we've got Julio Cruz in the booth (does he do Spanish radio telecasts?) and Paul Molitor in the dugout, so he could pick their brains...
-- (After Groz/Gas asked if Lou could reach Ichiro in a way that Melvin can't...) It's hard to put a finger on Ichiro's dropoff from first two years. The info I've heard is that the steal sign has been given and he hasn't gone. He tried to steal 3rd in the 8th with the game out of reach. He's not taking the game to people, and that's gotta improve. He doesn't think they have an answer in the leadoff spot (i.e., shakeup) if it's not Ichiro.
-- They need to get leads early, but Bill doesn't see them putting the game in motion when the game's close. They're really pressing to score runs. Boone's biggest swing isn't enough right now. He needs to stay within himself. He doesn't have enough support, so he whooshes. Bill thinks the starting pitching's gonna come around. If there's a move that can be made, Eddie would be much more valuable in an Arthur Rhodes-type role if Soriano closes. Then you'd move off Myers (cut him loose). What other choices do you have unless you make a trade with someone out in centerfield?
Krueger thinks Guardado should take a Rhodes role...I'd be more in line to put Soriano and/or Blackley in the rotation if Meche and/or Franklin fall off (in Meche's case, if he keeps doing what he's doing).
-- About the ball not bouncing the Mariners' way, Bill thinks it's fake. The Mariners flat out aren't playing well enough to win. The league snuck up on them and they haven't tried to aggressively fill their weaknesses. This is what happens.
-- A series win in Baltimore was really important. The Orioles improved, but they're not elite. The 3rd inning was telltale. Pineiro pitched winning baseball. He could have given up 1 run going into the 7th. He looked great, but the team didn't help him. Boone kicked the Tejada double play ball, Spiezio had the ball through his legs...one run should have scored, but no more.
-- Taking umbrage with Ichiro is pretty fair right now. When he's not hitting like he's able to hit, he doesn't have a Plan B. Ichiro walked in the 1st, didn't run (steal), Edgar hit into a DP, inning over. He has to impose himself on the pitchers, take chances, and force pitchers to throw over a little more. The league knows where he likes the ball; they've caught on. He needs to be a more effective leadoff hitter with a higher OBP. He needs to get some help, info...we've got Julio Cruz in the booth (does he do Spanish radio telecasts?) and Paul Molitor in the dugout, so he could pick their brains...
-- (After Groz/Gas asked if Lou could reach Ichiro in a way that Melvin can't...) It's hard to put a finger on Ichiro's dropoff from first two years. The info I've heard is that the steal sign has been given and he hasn't gone. He tried to steal 3rd in the 8th with the game out of reach. He's not taking the game to people, and that's gotta improve. He doesn't think they have an answer in the leadoff spot (i.e., shakeup) if it's not Ichiro.
-- They need to get leads early, but Bill doesn't see them putting the game in motion when the game's close. They're really pressing to score runs. Boone's biggest swing isn't enough right now. He needs to stay within himself. He doesn't have enough support, so he whooshes. Bill thinks the starting pitching's gonna come around. If there's a move that can be made, Eddie would be much more valuable in an Arthur Rhodes-type role if Soriano closes. Then you'd move off Myers (cut him loose). What other choices do you have unless you make a trade with someone out in centerfield?
Krueger thinks Guardado should take a Rhodes role...I'd be more in line to put Soriano and/or Blackley in the rotation if Meche and/or Franklin fall off (in Meche's case, if he keeps doing what he's doing).
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