Seattle Mariners come to town 08/06-08/08

[WastinSomeTime]

To the 11th

Hard to believe when you see that Seattle has 11 hits and we have 4.

 

[Kelleyman]

Profar after the double not getting the breaks. Near HR and now miscue at 1B

 

[Kelleyman]

Beltre does not look right at the plate IMO

 

[Kelleyman]

1B holding Drew so IKF shoots it through the whole but of course

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Seems ages ago Choo was an all star.

 

[Kelleyman]

Hate to see Gallo swing for fences with no outs and Wille looked a bit anxious for the big stage last two ABs. We almost stole this one

 

[donaldson79]

Hamels giving Cubs just what they needed

 

[donaldson79]

ARLINGTON - The education of Willie Calhoun, major-league hitter, continued on Monday.

With Seattle starting left-hander Wade LeBlanc, Rangers manager Jeff Banister held Calhoun out of the lineup. When the Rangers tore into the Mariners’ bullpen in the seventh inning, Banister had the right moment to bring on Calhoun.

The Rangers had scored three runs to tie the game at 3. Calhoun batted for Carlos Tocci with the bases loaded and one out against right-hander Alex Colome. It was a chance for the Rangers to break the game open.

“Those will be the situations going forward if he’s not in the game, there’s a possibility he’s going to pinch-hit,’’ Banister said. “He’s the type of hitter we’re going to roll out there.”

The favorable matchup did not produce a lead. Calhoun lunged at a high 95-mph fastball and popped up to shallow left field, forcing Robinson Chirinos to hold at third. The Rangers left the bases loaded when Shin-Soo Choo struck out.

(It is unlikely a pinch-runner could have scored on Calhoun’s out. A pinch-runner also would have put the Rangers in an uncomfortable position. Banister had both catchers - Chirinos at designated hitter and Isiah Kiner-Falefa - in the lineup.)

The Rangers had only two more at-bats with a runner in scoring position. Calhoun popped up to the infield with one out in the 12th inning, and Choo followed with his fourth strikeout to complete a 4-3 loss at Globe Life Park.

Calhoun’s failure to get the run in during the seventh was a significant moment. For the Rangers, it was more of a teaching moment.

Pinch-hitting is a difficult job usually assigned to older players. Calhoun has minimal experience at the task.

A top prospect because of his bat, Calhoun rarely hit off the bench in the minors. He had two at-bats as a pinch-hitter this season with Triple-A Round Rock.

“That’s no excuse,’’ Calhoun said. “I have to get him in there.’’

In a small sample, Calhoun has been an effective pinch-hitter. He is 2 for 4 with one RBIs. The rest of the club is 5 for 33 with five RBIs.

The Rangers envision Calhoun hitting off the bench at times during his career. They believe pinch-hitting appearances now will help him in the future.

“I’m going to learn from this and get better,’’ Calhoun said.

Twitter: @gfraley

 

[donaldson79]

This is a classic example of why the time has come to no longer let the home plate umpires call balls and strikes. Plus, I esimated that approximately 7%-10% of the calls last night were incorrect. That should be unacceptable to any of us.

Umpire Angel Hernandez admits his game-ending Strike 3 call on Anthony Rizzo was wrong

 

[WastinSomeTime]

This is a classic example of why the time has come to no longer let the home plate umpires call balls and strikes. Plus, I esimated that approximately 7%-10% of the calls last night were incorrect. That should be unacceptable to any of us.

Umpire Angel Hernandez admits his game-ending Strike 3 call on Anthony Rizzo was wrong

Surprised Angel admitted he was wrong. Give him some props for that even though I can't stand the guy

 

[Duane1952]

This is a classic example of why the time has come to no longer let the home plate umpires call balls and strikes. Plus, I esimated that approximately 7%-10% of the calls last night were incorrect. That should be unacceptable to any of us.

Umpire Angel Hernandez admits his game-ending Strike 3 call on Anthony Rizzo was wrong

Angel is one of the worse umpires in baseball. There is a reason they will not let him umpire in the post season.

 

[DT LUNA]

Angel is one of the worse umpires in baseball. There is a reason they will not let him umpire in the post season.

If he is that bad then why is he allowed to work any games

Umpires should have job reviews. Replays that get overturned should be kept on each one if not already. They can't be perfect but a high number of reverse decisions would indicate someone needs to be replaced. Accountability is certainly something that should be required. Angel is a good example.

 

[Duane1952]

If he is that bad then why is he allowed to work any games

Umpires should have job reviews. Replays that get overturned should be kept on each one if not already. They can't be perfect but a high number of reverse decisions would indicate someone needs to be replaced. Accountability is certainly something that should be required. Angel is a good example.

That's a good idea, but their union will prevent that from happening. They blew a gasket last year when that umpire got suspended for what he said about Beltre.

 

[DT LUNA]

That's a good idea, but their union will prevent that from happening. They blew a gasket last year when that umpire got suspended for what he said about Beltre.

Wouldn't you think their union would want to improve the quality themselves.

 

[romeo212000]

Wouldn't you think their union would want to improve the quality themselves.

Lol. I don’t think you understand unions.

 

[donaldson79]

Angel is one of the worse umpires in baseball. There is a reason they will not let him umpire in the post season.

And I think the same about Joe West, yet he's in the post season constantly.

 

[Duane1952]

Wouldn't you think their union would want to improve the quality themselves.

You would think. It seems like when an umpire makes to the majors, it's a lifetime appointment. They stay no matter how bad they might be, until they retire or die. That umpire that tossed Beltre for moving the batting circle was ridiculous. He was only doing what everybody else was doing and is still doing. He should of least got suspended for that. They didn't do anything to him.

 

[Duane1952]

The Rangers claim Zac Curtis off waivers from the Phillies. DFA Brandon Mann.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Lol. I don’t think you understand unions.

You can go ahead and switch off that ignorant avatar.

 

[donaldson79]

You would think. It seems like when an umpire makes to the majors, it's a lifetime appointment. They stay no matter how bad they might be, until they retire or die. That umpire that tossed Beltre for moving the batting circle was ridiculous. He was only doing what everybody else was doing and is still doing. He should of least got suspended for that. They didn't do anything to him.

Couple of things. (1) I agree with you and you're 100% correct on the umpires have jobs for life. (2) But, Beltre was thrown out for being disrespectful, and he was, not for being outside the batting circle, but for picking it up and moving it. Players routinely stand outside the circle. In fact few do stay in the circle. But, they don't pick it up and move it, like Beltre did. (3) I thought it was funny actually. But when you have fun at the umpires expense, sometimes there's a price to be paid. (4) We have idea no idea what lead to this umpire getting into it with Beltre re: the circle. I suspect, and that's all it is - a suspicion - there was more to this than what we actually saw.