Imaginary Game Four: Indians 4, Mariners 0 (4 Innings)
by Ryan on Apr 6, 2007 9:59 PM EDT
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PrintPaul Byrd has got to be one angry guy right about now. He was possibly one pitch from finishing off the Mariners in the top of the fifth, at the very least getting credit for a win, and possibly even a no-hitter. But Mike Hargrove's stall tactics worked just long enough for the lake effect snow squalls to scuttle the game. So even though Byrd pitched 4.2 innings of no-hit ball, those innings will not be part of the annals of MLB. Adrian Beltre's three errors have been vaporized into nothingness, even though we did see them happen.
Unfortunately, Victor's quad will stay strained; he injured it hustling down to first base during one of Beltre's errors, and is listed as "day to day." It doesn't appear that he'll go on the DL, which creates an uncomfortable roster situation, especially with a day-night doubleheader slated for tomorrow. There's a spare 40-man roster spot available for one of Buffalo's catchers, but who would go from the active roster? Ryan Garko is around as an emergency backup if Kelly Shoppach goes down, so I don't think the Indians need to make a move if this is just a 2-3 day injury.
Today's game will be replayed tomorrow at 1:05 PM, starting from the first inning.
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Re:
What on earth does it accomplish besides giving a team that was losing a free pass?
by mikebrowns26 on Apr 6, 2007 10:18 PM EDT reply actions
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This whole situation stinks. The only reason this game was even started was because Seattle's only here once, and there are no off days to make a postponed game up. It stinks because the game was one pitch from an official game. It stinks because the environment was a likely factor in Victor's injury. And it stinks because this will mess up the Indians' pitching rotation for the next few days, while Seattle won't have to do anything because they had an off-day on Thursday.
It was the correct thing to do, but it seems like there's something very wrong with the way it happened.
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With Seattle only coming to town this weekend, this has 160 game season written all over it.
What a debacle. How the schedule makers don't take this stuff into consideration (Detroit and Chicago have also cancelled games in the past 2 days) is beyond me.
by The DiaTriber on Apr 6, 2007 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
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Maybe the rule of thumb is this: if you must have a home series before April 15th, there must either be a common off-day after the series or the series must be against a division opponent.
Or better yet, play in warmer climes the first week of the season.
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I'm just curious about the reasoning behind the rule.
by mikebrowns26 on Apr 6, 2007 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
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I presume that Arizona game from a few years...
Hello Ryan,
I don't know if you recall that game, but I remember Schilling started the game, it got suspended, then Johnson continued that game the next day, and I think, got the win. I presume that game was tied when it was suspended?
Again, like I said before, I think it's a dumb rule, especially when the Minors don't follow that rule. And, we got cheated by it - personally, that rule should be changed, especially when you have a situation like we have with Seattle, a one-time opponent, coming to a northern climate city like Cleveland in the early part of April.
You need to get in every game possible so you don't have to make it up later in the year, something that will likely hurt both teams more down the stretch than an early season loss (yes, I know Seattle could only lose out on the playoffs by one game, but an extra game on an off-day could hurt them more if they were in a playoff run, much like it did us in 2000); restarting a game that was one out, one possible pitch, away from being official is really dumb in my opinion.
Just my 2 cents. :-)
Re: I presume that Arizona
I will say this, that if Sunday's starters just get bumped up, I'll be pretty upset. I'm going to Sunday's game, and I'll admit it's in large part to see Felix Hernandez pitch in person. If he ends up getting the Saturday night start I'll be more than a little annoyed. I'll still be going to my first game of the year, which is great, but I really wanted to see the kid. Hopefully they just have a spot starter. Of course, this is all assuming Saturday and Sunday go off without a hitch, which is like planning what island I'm going to buy assuming I win the lottery.
Amazing that the Minors RESUME games, not
Hello Ryan,
I agree with you - the whole situation stinks all the way around.
As I mentioned in my "Minors Tonight" thread, the Lake County Captains had their game with the West Virginia Power suspended in the third inning due to snow, with the Captains down 1-0.
They are going to resume the game tomorrow at 4:05 PM, before their regularly scheduled game.
Tell me, why do the Majors make us replay games when the Minors don't? All-in-all, I think it's a dumb rule and gave the Mariners a free pass in a game they would likely lose if the game had become official and then called.
Like I said before, I hope we take 3/4 or 4/4 from them, and knocking around Felix on top of that would be icing on the cake. I hope it happens.
Just my 2 cents. :-)
Re: Amazing that the Minors RESUME games, not
No one going to buy tickets to a 4 inning continuation.
I guess you could still ask whether they sell enough new tickets to the make-up games. But you could see that they probably never would sell enough in a minor league situation.
Re: Imaginary Game Four
Does this mean that Adam Miller might get a call-up and a start in the next couple of days to help out the rotation?
by alabamatribe on Apr 6, 2007 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
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Plus, he's had 2 scheduled starts cancelled already, so the forecasted weather and his luck may translate into a Home Opener late next week.
by The DiaTriber on Apr 6, 2007 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
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by alabamatribe on Apr 6, 2007 10:43 PM EDT reply actions
That might not be a bad thing!
As Jay mentioned in the game thread, Westbrook pitching on short rest might actually be a positive, as sinkerballers often benefit from short rest because they don't rely on velocity, whereas a power pitcher like CC would probably benefit more from normal or longer rest.
Re: Imaginary Game Four: Indians 4, Mariners 0 (4
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says Victor headed to DL
mentioned Byrd was on the mound blowing on his hands and not exactly ready to pitch before Grover came out. I didn't see it (or listen to it). Sound right?
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Well, he wasn't exactly stalling. He was blowing on his hands the entire game.
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by mkwng @ Let's Go Tribe! on Apr 6, 2007 11:54 PM EDT reply actions
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- The fact that this game was ever even started was insane. In no way were those baseball conditions, and the Indians get what they deserve due to the obvious ineptitude of the people in their front office who made the decision to start the game.
- MLB needs to learn that you cannot have a team's only visit to a place like Cleveland be in the first week of the season. The real possibility that there is no baseball played all weekend makes this a really bad situation. A few things could happen: Seattle goes to Cleveland on an off day, or, a worse situation for MLB, these games have to be made up at Safeco, which is not fair to the Indians.
- Hopefully Victor Martinez is okay, but his injury shows why your front office was stupid for starting this game to begin with.
- Although it was only one out away from an "official" game, I think that the right decision was made. Decisions should be made with the idea that we want to play nine innings, not on if we can get the game in on a technicality. That being said, I do agree with your points about suspension vs. cancellation. These innings were played, why do they need to be played again? That being said, I'll count my blessings and not complain too much about it.
by marinerfan on Apr 7, 2007 12:00 AM EDT reply actions
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by Kos @ Let's Go Tribe! on Apr 7, 2007 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
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The batter complained earlier in the count so you really can't fault Grover.
I'm still pissed though and losing Martinez to the DL adds salt to the wound!
by TribeLoverInNewYork on Apr 7, 2007 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions
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by marinerfan on Apr 7, 2007 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
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- Mariners fans don't get to talk about other front offices' "ineptitude," in particular the Indians'. On its worst day, our front office gives up a marginal starting second baseman. On an average day, your front office gives up two good players and $12 million for a marginal starting second baseman -- and then makes him the DH. So you can drink a tall glass of "shut the hell up."
- Other than field conditions, there is no defense for not getting in an official game. The rules allow for games to be official lasting less than nine innings, and those games enjoy equal status with other games. Not completing that game is costly to all parties, but least of all the Mariners. So you can drink a tall glass of "shut the hell up."
- The Mariners were gloating, understandably, and the Indians were pissed, understandably. The fact is, the Mariners were ahead in the count for almost that entire half-inning -- and only complained about the weather once they were behind in the count with two outs.
- You don't get to tell us about Mike Hargrove either. Please. Shut up right now.
- You are a guest here, rooting for another team. Since trolling is not allowed here, the onus is on guests such as you to avoid being obnoxious, and let me assure you, you have not done that.
- Missing out on this game is only marginally costly to the Mariners. For one thing, they were very probably going to lose it. More importantly, the Mariners almost certainly won't be fighting for any playoff spot, possibly not even for their dignity come September.
Meaning, Grover employed gamesmanship to erase a Loss and force a replay in a game that is very likely meaningless to his team, and very likely meaningful to the opponent. All of which would be fair game if the tactics and timing weren't so questionable. And it's the Indians that suffer the loss in ticket sales, too.
So I really would strongly advise you to drink that tall glass down, right now.
If you're wondering what the appropriate reponse to this would be, something along the lines of "Sorry, I didn't mean to come off like such an a-hole" would do nicely.
I trust I have made myself clear.
by Jay on Apr 7, 2007 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
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by Scott @ Let's Go Tribe! on Apr 7, 2007 2:30 AM EDT reply actions
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Also, if I'm an ump and I'm in that situation, I make the teams sit there until 1 AM waiting for a chance to play, because you are only one out away from an official game. Yeah, it wouldn't make the fans happy but when you are THAT close, why cancel entirely?
Re: Imaginary Game Four: Indians 4, Mariners 0 (4
Re: Imaginary Game Four: Indians 4, Mariners 0 (4
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Schwab still complaining
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"Maybe Byrd doesn't realize that the weather was the only reason his team was ahead."
"Do you think any of those like half-dozen long Mariner fly balls stay in the park if they aren't being pushed to the ground by a metric ton of falling sky?"
"If I'm running in a track meet against five other guys, and we all suddenly get bit by cobras, and everyone falls down and starts convulsing and I slowly manage to crawl my way to the finish line first, that doesn't make me the best runner - it makes me a guy who was best able to withstand being bit by a cobra."
I am not sure if we were watching the same thing, but then I felt better when I realized the Mariners suck and Grover is their manager.
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Weather and field conditions affecting a game outcome are nothing new, although this game was of course highly unusual. Cold temperatures alone significantly affect the game, as does glare from the sun, but I'm not aware of either factor ever delaying a game.
He basically says that the weather caused everything good the Indians did and everything bad the Mariners did.
by Jay on Apr 7, 2007 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
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by Jay on Apr 7, 2007 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
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Re: Imaginary Game Four: Indians 4, Mariners 0 (4
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Re: Imaginary Game Four: Indians 4, Mariners 0 (4
They should have done it one more time!
I agree with your main point, but if the radar was correct, there was a large opening right when they called the game off, certainly long enough to make this game official.
Again, I don't know why they were so worried about trying to play 5 innings; play as long as you can to make this game official, see what happens, and go from there. After all, when games aren't started in the first place, does an umpiring crew worry about, "Oh, we can't start the game now, even though we have a 1-hour opening, because we'll never get 9 innings in"? No umpiring crew does that, so why did they do it here?
If they had just waited another 5 minutes, the radar seemed to indicate that the weather would clear up and we could have had this an official game, one that wouldn't have to be made up or continued. Now, we've got to worry about making up two games, not just one.
Just my 2 cents. :-)
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