Texas came to play
Before the series started, we knew both teams felt a sense of urgency. With Oakland continuing to win, you can't afford to coast along and lose many games if you want to be playing meaningful series in September. Yet when the dust settled, it is hard to argue that Seattle has already given up on the season. Oakland is surging. Anaheim is hot. Texas just took 4 games from a division rival. Seattle has almost certainly locked up 4th place, barring an unforeseen miracle.
Willie quotes notwithstanding, the effort and results against Oakland and now Texas seem to point to this team having mailed it in. Their record against opponents in their own division is the worst in baseball.
You have a manager who plays his veterans as much as possible, yet the veterans are not getting the job done. This Texas series was really important, if for no other reason than simply fan interest as Seahawks football looms. A clean sweep has even the most enthusiastic fans now beginning to wonder if the Huskies will win a game, or if the Seahawks can avoid the curse of losing Super Bowl teams.
If we thought Hargrove would even play them, at least September brings exanded rosters. Yet with Ichiro running on fumes the last 2 months, Mike couldn't find a way to get him a day off. What are the chances he plays unproven kids in September when he is likely feeling he is fighting to save his job?
So a few things to think about while we watch this team go through the motions.
1) Is Ichiro putting pressure on the team to keep his streak alive and not take a day off, or his Hargrove simply an idiot?
2) Has Hargrove already lost his job, or will his attempt to save it play into his strategy in September?
3) Will this team continue to play inconsistent (swept, sweep, swept) or simply go into the tank ala Baltimore and lose so many games in September 90 losses is a possibility?
I really wish expanded rosters meant expanded coaching staffs. I wouldn't mind seeing someone else take a crack at this thing, but it looks like that won't happen until '07 at the earliest...
Before the series started, we knew both teams felt a sense of urgency. With Oakland continuing to win, you can't afford to coast along and lose many games if you want to be playing meaningful series in September. Yet when the dust settled, it is hard to argue that Seattle has already given up on the season. Oakland is surging. Anaheim is hot. Texas just took 4 games from a division rival. Seattle has almost certainly locked up 4th place, barring an unforeseen miracle.
Willie quotes notwithstanding, the effort and results against Oakland and now Texas seem to point to this team having mailed it in. Their record against opponents in their own division is the worst in baseball.
You have a manager who plays his veterans as much as possible, yet the veterans are not getting the job done. This Texas series was really important, if for no other reason than simply fan interest as Seahawks football looms. A clean sweep has even the most enthusiastic fans now beginning to wonder if the Huskies will win a game, or if the Seahawks can avoid the curse of losing Super Bowl teams.
If we thought Hargrove would even play them, at least September brings exanded rosters. Yet with Ichiro running on fumes the last 2 months, Mike couldn't find a way to get him a day off. What are the chances he plays unproven kids in September when he is likely feeling he is fighting to save his job?
So a few things to think about while we watch this team go through the motions.
1) Is Ichiro putting pressure on the team to keep his streak alive and not take a day off, or his Hargrove simply an idiot?
2) Has Hargrove already lost his job, or will his attempt to save it play into his strategy in September?
3) Will this team continue to play inconsistent (swept, sweep, swept) or simply go into the tank ala Baltimore and lose so many games in September 90 losses is a possibility?
I really wish expanded rosters meant expanded coaching staffs. I wouldn't mind seeing someone else take a crack at this thing, but it looks like that won't happen until '07 at the earliest...
posted by Tom at
11:57 AM
