A match-up featuring two very good starting pitchers against two very bad lineups figured to be an arm-wrestling match between armless men. If you don't know how that's possible, you should have watched the game. Dan Haren and Felix Hernandez both scattered inconsequential base runners over seven shutout innings apiece. Of course, you can always count on the bullpen to screw things up.
Alberto Callaspo and Howie Kendrick hit back-to-back doubles in the top of the eighth to score the first run of the game, but the Angels' rally was cut short by, what else?--stupid baserunning. Kevin Jepsen then coughed up the lead on a flyball and a couple of cheap hits by some random Seattle farmhands. The guy has absolutely no luck on balls in play, but after watching him walk two in the inning, it's hard to feel bad for him.
By the way, could you ask for a better debunking of the "win" than this game? Two quality pitching performances by the starters, and who gets the win? Brandon League, who needed a baserunning gaffe to escape the eighth with only one run allowed. I wonder if League's win tonight makes Mariner fans feel any better about losing Brandon Morrow...
Game Thread Roll Call: angelsfan7, HalosFanInNorCal, RexTookMyStash, halofolife, stolenbases, ryanfea, red floyd, angelskid2210, ladybug, sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher, LanaBanana, LeeUnitxxx, 3rd Echelon, sothball, angelslogic, Halos2011champs, Suboptimal, Quinlan's Goofy Swing, Quad Fin Rider, Figgi4life, Robviously, gyoung08, mathisrocks5, mikvitu, mattwelch, cath619, Wally's World, LAASurfin, DAD OF VLAD, K3YEROUT, Halowood, raskul, rspencer, SCHalo, Funke5ive, Epic Dean, salmonforever, MH252525, mjhsieh, wumbug, sherik, Clutch, maze88, AndyHogan14, phoenix15, Angels_48, hbhalofan
Total Users: 47 • Total Posts: 1035
0 recs | 58 comments
jepsen is a weenie.
clover_black - August 31, 2010
+1
Teixeira Who? - September 1, 2010
Did Jepsen fail?
ReggieBullits - August 31, 2010
Absolutely!
He did more than just fail, he harmed Mathis’ CERA!
Quad Fin Rider - August 31, 2010
Isn't that success in that case?
Clutch - August 31, 2010
Haren's performance is attributable to Mathis.
Blame for Jepsen’s performance is solely attributable to Jepsen. Mathis is premium, after all.
The_Question - August 31, 2010
But... but... Mathis is PREMIUM!!!!
red floyd - September 1, 2010
Too much
to ask for a good, consistent bp?
phoenix15 - August 31, 2010
The BP gave good consistent bp to the M's
red floyd - September 1, 2010
Jepsen is definitely at fault here since he's the old veteran
and since you can’t blame our premium catcher who’s still developing.
Quad Fin Rider - August 31, 2010
These lames should be docked pay...
Sosh and Reagins included.
Fuck it……..Free Q !
Funke5ive - August 31, 2010 via mobile
I hate both these guys
Where is the both option? Why are we playing a catcher that can barely hit .200? He proved enough tonight that it isn’t for his glove.
Zookeeper - August 31, 2010
Damn guys
lay off Mathis. He’s our premium catcher who’s developing.
phoenix15 - August 31, 2010
Another poor showing Jepsen......
norcaliangelsfan - August 31, 2010
My vote for BOTG,
Jepthis. And the One West Bank commercials. Calgon take me away.
halofolife - August 31, 2010
I'd love to be presented with Jeff Mathis' head,
but it would take the jaws of life to extract it from Scioscia’s ass!
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - August 31, 2010
I blame Mathis
Because with Mathis it just dont add up
PLAY NAP NOW
DAD OF VLAD - August 31, 2010
This is one of your most coherent and utterly truthful posts ever.
And for this, I am giving you a rec fine sir, good one DOV. BTW, maybe it isn’t all that great, but after a bad loss, and numerous shots of Jack, it looks friggin’ awesome to me.
halofolife - August 31, 2010
Here here DOV.
DOV transformation post.
RexTookMyStash - August 31, 2010
I'd Rec you but I'm on mobile.
But that looks like something that someone should put in a poster to take to a home game. Lol
maze88 - August 31, 2010 via mobile
Jepsen is the second coming of Kyle Farnsworth.
Wally's World - August 31, 2010
Jepsen makes me pine for Esteban Yan!
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - August 31, 2010
Yan can say that again.
RexTookMyStash - August 31, 2010
I don't have the stomach to say it again.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - August 31, 2010
EXACTLY!
That is EXACTLY what I was going to say once I finished reading the comments in this thread. PERFECT comparison.
I’ve concluded that Jepsen is not “unlucky.” His BABIP is as high as it is for a reason: when he manages to throw a strike, it’s right down the middle, with no movement. He has enough velocity to get guys out in the minors. That’s the difference between AAA and the major leagues. In the majors, that shit don’t work.
Jason Bulger is similar: throws hard but straight.
jjackflash - August 31, 2010
I wonder if the players ever read blogs such as these.
RexTookMyStash - August 31, 2010
If Mathis doesn't already suffer from self-esteem issues,
He would after reading our posts!
halofolife - August 31, 2010
NOOO. Pappa Sosh won't let Jeffy anywhere near a computer or newspaper.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - August 31, 2010
I can see Sosh,
Tucking little Jeffey into bed at night, “Papa, do I suck”? “Of course not kiddo, but whatever you do, stay away from HH, and any Angels fans with an ounce of baseball intelligence”.
halofolife - August 31, 2010
I think we have another children's story here. Quick, to the Halo cave!
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - August 31, 2010
Well...
186 DUST…
maze88 - August 31, 2010 via mobile
What was the base-running blunder in the 8th?
Fred Fredrix - August 31, 2010
THE 2010 SEASON
DAD OF VLAD - August 31, 2010
Kendrick broke for third on a grounder to short with one out
Got tagged out and set up a double play.
Suboptimal - August 31, 2010
If I recall correctly
There was a guy on 1st so he had to go. What he could have done is stopped and made the 3rd baseman come tag him so we still would have 1st and 2nd but with two outs. So yeah it was still a bone head mistake.
angelskid2210 - September 1, 2010 via mobile
true, Howie on 2nd, Abreu on 1st.
Howie had to go but he didn’t have to run into tag. Lopez was far enough away from the bag that he could not have gotten the force at 3rd and turn 2.
Howie ran into tag (or out of baseline avoiding tag) and Lopez was able to complete double play.
Had Howie just stopped running, worse case is he is tagged out.
SoCalWine - September 1, 2010
What does it matter?
He woulda got stranded anyway.
aces666high - September 1, 2010
It is hard to believe that this is basically the same team that went all the way to the ALCS last year
They don’t look anything like the same team but look almost all the names are the same.
kbrown2225 - August 31, 2010
SPIER AND GMJ are gone
DAD OF VLAD - August 31, 2010
I’m sure
Q was on that postseason roster as well.
phoenix15 - August 31, 2010
After the last three games, I don't ever again care to hear about
Mathis’ superior defensive skills. I stopped counting the number of pitches that popped out of his glove. And after going 0-8, it’s time “Papa Sosh” gave him a much needed “time out” on the bench.
angelslogic - August 31, 2010
never
our premium, developing catcher hitting near the Mathis line is always #1.
phoenix15 - August 31, 2010
Super nintendo, Sega genesis. . .
when I was dead broke I could never picture this.
Funke5ive - September 1, 2010
For those playing the home game:
red floyd - September 1, 2010
How does Papa Sosh have such a hard on for Mathis and such a floppy for Brandon Wood?
Wood never had half the chances Mathis has/is having.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - August 31, 2010
At this point, I think Wood has had enough chances
It’s just that Jeff Mathis has had too many.
The_Question - August 31, 2010
Jepsen , another Scot Shields .
YIKES. Not looking good for next year .
Ed@northridge - September 1, 2010
If Only
If Jepsen could somehow turn into Scot Shields, circa 2002-2008, for 2011-2017, I think we’d all be thrilled.
jjackflash - September 1, 2010
Considering that version of Shields was one of the best relievers of the time, I would be thrilled for sure
~MMP~ - September 1, 2010
Precisely
which is why I don’t get the “yikes” over the prospect of Jepsen becoming Scot Shields.
jjackflash - September 1, 2010
I meant to say the Scot Shields of the past 3 years ....
That really is yukky .
Ed@northridge - September 1, 2010
Why does Jepsen get a free pass?
If Rodney had given up 2 hits, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning of a game we were winning 1-0 in the 8th inning and instead ended up losing 3-1, everyone would be calling for his head. Jepsen does it and he “has absolutely no luck on balls in play.”
Jepsen now has an ERA over 5 and a WHIP approaching 1.5. These numbers are remarkably similar to his numbers from last season (4.94 ERA and 1.50 WHIP). Why the hate for Rodney and the love affair with Jepsen?
Brody - September 1, 2010
Jepsen sucks.
There, another grumpy addition to your hate wagon.
Downing Rules - September 1, 2010
Here's why
1. Jepsen is cheap. Rodney is expensive.
2. Jepsen is young and has a future. Rodney is old and in decline.
3. Jepsen strikes out about 10 batters per 9 innings. Rodney strikes out just slightly over 6.
4. Jepsen walks too many guys. Rodney walks guys even more.
5. Jepsen prevents line drives. Rodney does too, but not as well.
6. Jepsen induces lots of ground balls. Rodney does too, but not nearly as many.
7. Jepsen has an unsustainably high BABIP at .348. Rodney has a rather fortunate BABIP at .284.
Jepsen is better than Rodney at everything except ERA. But ERA fluctuates so much over the relatively small number of innings that relievers pitch in any given season that it’s really a bad measure of comparison. 50 innings is really nothing. Jepsen still has to work on his command, but there’s a lot more reason to be confident about him going into 2011 than there is with Rodney.
Suboptimal - September 1, 2010
BABIP & Line Drives
I’m shocked to read that Jepsen “prevents line drives.” My impression, from watching him (and I suppose the numbers don’t back up my belief), is that he gives up a lot of hard hit balls ( line drives, I’m assuming), and that’s why he has such a high BABIP. As I’ve stated elsewhere, it sure looks to me like Jepsen just throws a straight fastball. In the major leagues, those turn into line drives, and base hits, at a pretty good clip.
This is not a defense of Rodney, by the way.
I just don’t think Jepsen is very good, or ever will be. He throws hard, but without movement, and with poor location.
jjackflash - September 1, 2010
This overstates the case
Over two seasons now, Jepsen has pitched in nearly 100 innings (99 and a 1/3 to be precise). During that time, he has accomplished the following:
— ERA of 4.98
— ERA+ of 92 in 2009 and 84 this year
— WHIP of 1.48
— BB/9 of 3.71
— K/BB of 2.37
— Batting average against of .275
— On-base percentage against of .343
— Slugging percentage against of .348
— OPS against of .691
— WAR of -0.3 in 2009 and 0.0 this year
These numbers are not good. Although I want Jepsen to succeed as much as anyone else on this blog, it is getting more and more difficult with time to attribute all of this to bad luck.
I am not taking up a defense of Rodney or seeking to start a debate about his relative value to this team. In my opinion, the time for that discussion has come and gone. I agree with you that although Rodney has posted a significantly better ERA than Jepsen over the past two seasons (4.18 compared to 4.98 for Jepsen), he has numerous flaws. Among other things, he has surrendered far too many walks, struck out far too few hitters, and given up a relatively high slugging percentage and OPS. His comparisons to Jepsen in these categories are unfavorable, and he compares even less favorably to the elite closers and setup men in this league.
At the same time, however, it is an overstatement to claim that Jepsen is better than Rodney at everything except ERA. According to Baseball Reference, Rodney’s WAR the last two seasons, in contrast to Jepsen’s, at least has been positive — 0.5 in 2009 and 0.9 thus far this year, compared to Jepsen’s WAR of -0.3 in 2009 and 0.0 thus far this year.
For whatever reason(s), over a prolonged period of time, Rodney’s ERA+ has been significantly better than Jepsen’s — 105 in 2009 and 110 this year for Rodney, compared to 92 and 84, respectively, for Jepsen. The same is true for batting average against during that same timeframe — .246 for Rodney, compared to .275 for Jepsen. Finally, with regard to the issue of walks, it is notable that Rodney’s WHIP and on-base percentage against are nearly identical to, and in fact slightly better than, Jepsen’s WHIP and on-base percentage against during this timeframe.
What is the takeaway? One conclusion is that we have two mediocre pitchers slotted to pitch the 8th and 9th innings of games. This, of course, is concerning heading into next year. At the same time, I would urge you to reconsider whether it is fair or appropriate to dump all over Rodney when every other pitcher in our bullpen, including Jepsen, has been equally if not more flawed this season.
Brody - September 1, 2010
You are comparing Mathis and Napoli again...
shit compared to shit is still shit.
Downing Rules - September 1, 2010
Jepsen is premium
SoCalWine - September 1, 2010
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