**Seattle Mariners 2024 Season Thread ** | 6-8 | v. Cubs & Reds |

[Sinner]

 opposite field into the deep part of the park too. And on an 0-2 pitch...

at the power in the shot... 

 

[651akathepaul]

I knew Beaven would serve one up to Albert.
That play right there is enough to convince me that Seager is our 2nd baseman for the future.

 

[651akathepaul]

Smoak just looks more confident up there. Radiant.

 

[651akathepaul]

Beleagured. Again.

 

[Sinner]

You've got to be %&$^ing me.

 

[elpablo21]

....

 

[Sinner]

*sigh*

 

[elpablo21]

Figgins and Olivo are both in the lineup today..lol

 

[Sinner]

We are so getting swept... &!^$*ing Angels...

EDIT ~ Great bunt by Figgy! My man. 

 

 

EDIT 2 ~ Yikes-K by Ichi. 

EDIT 3 ~ Brendan Ryan. 

 

 

[651akathepaul]

Oh, God. Someone needs to make a gif of that fan missing that HR.

 

[elpablo21]

Shhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit He murdered that

 

[DsLee]

I seriously did not see the Angels coming into SafeCo, and doing us this whole series...
Silver Lining: The Rainiers throwback is nice.

 

[elpablo21]

The homestand started with so much promise too...

 

[bomb squad records]

Ichiro looks awful. He can not stay in that 3rd spot any longer. Guy is a double play machine right now.

 

[Sinner]

Whoa.

Jaso DH,
Figgins LF,
Ichiro RF,
Montero C,
Smoak 1B,
Seager 2B,
Liddi 3B,
Saunders CF,
Ryan SS,

Millwood P

 

[elpablo21]

[h1] [/h1]

[h1]Manager Eric Wedge says he won't change course just to satisfy fans[/h1]
"All right," Eric Wedge said, settling back into his office chair for the daily pregame media chat. "Let's have at it. " And for the next...

By Bud Withers

Seattle Times staff reporter

Eric Wedge
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"All right," Eric Wedge said, settling back into his office chair for the daily pregame media chat. "Let's have at it."

And for the next 15 minutes, Wedge, the Mariners manager, had at it. In what was part stern lecture, part pep talk, he took on critics of his lineup choices, preached fan patience as well as player discipline, and generally seemed to give off the vibe that he's feeling the pain of the Mariners' growing process as much as any outsider but that he can't give in to it.

"Where most people get into trouble, they give in to that (expletive)," Wedge said, referring to the notion of deviating from the course to satisfy fans. "You can't do that. You've got to be tough enough, you've got to be disciplined enough to stick to the plan, be convicted with what you're doing, regardless of what anybody says."

Wedge and the M's have been criticized by an increasingly disgruntled fan base on a wide variety of issues, from the retention of Chone Figgins; to giving catcher Miguel Olivo games behind the plate instead of Jesus Montero or John Jaso; to the continued use of Ichiro in the No. 3 spot in the order.

"You're not going to have a consistent lineup until you know what your players are capable of doing," Wedge said. "They're too young. So for all the yahoos out there that say you should play the same people every day, that you haven't had a consistent lineup, you don't know (expletive). Period. Because you can't do that until you know what you have."

As an example, Wedge returned Alex Liddi to the lineup in left field for Sunday's series finale against the Angels. Liddi fluffed a fly ball Wednesday against the Rangers, but his grand slam won the game. Then he looked lost the next two days at the plate, striking out six times and showing what Wedge said Saturday was an inability to immediately adjust.

So Wedge sat him down Saturday. But he talked a day later about a bright future if Liddi can master first, third and left field.

"Let's get through this," Wedge said of Liddi in left, crossing his fingers. "We tackled first base this spring with Alex, now we tackle left field."

Wedge used the Liddi development — which the manager said might include holding him out of the lineup when fans think he should play every day — as emblematic that sometimes the M's might have to sacrifice short-term gain for long-term results.

"If people don't understand that, then frankly, I don't care," he said.

The M's have dropped into the cellar in the American League West, going 21-29 after 50 games. At the 50-game mark in 2011, they were 25-25.

"If we progress to the point next year at this time as we have to this point — and most people won't understand because they look at wins and losses and nothing but that — then that's going to be a good thing," Wedge insisted. "The startup (in a career) is one thing, but once you get past that and you're playing in the big leagues a little bit, what you can do with the next full year's progression, that's pretty real."
Winding up his pitch, Wedge said with a grin, "That's my speech for the next 10 days. Chew on that

##!# this guy

 

[651akathepaul]

Holding on to Figgins still doesn't make sense though.

 

[elpablo21]

This dude Millwood. Unbelievable

Edit:

 

[Sinner]

^ missed the game... what happened? What did he do?

 

[elpablo21]

Originally Posted by SinnerP

^ missed the game... what happened? What did he do?

Just surprised how well he's been pitching. 2 runs in his last 27 innings pitched.

Don't know why he was taken out the game so early today

 

[651akathepaul]

No worries. Wedge knows what he's doing. 

 

[elpablo21]

Originally Posted by 651akathePaul

No worries. Wedge knows what he's doing. 

Wedge on his Haters gon' Hate steez

Nice bomb by Jaso, didnt think it would carry

 

[elpablo21]

No Figgins, No Olivo, No problem?

 

[651akathepaul]

Well, I slept through that.

Woke up and saw 10 runs. Had to rub my eyes.

 

[Sinner]

I missed the game too and boom.

Still, random guys producing is great, but not necessarily the best thing as we're still looking for consistency.

And yeah, I have faith in Wedge. I like that he doesn't give a &*$# on what ppl think he should do. Do what's best for winning and I'm down with that.