Larry LaRue writes about the technical aspects of Jorge Campillo being sent back to Tacoma. Only on paper, I assume Jorge is back home in Mexico right now.
Category: Mariners (Page 2 of 4)
I couldn’t help but think artistdogboy was going a bit over the edge describing his reason why the Mariners suck:
One thing really bugs me about the Seattle Mariners. It’s not the bad trades; bad draft choices, signing of washed up free agents, lack luster starting pitching, bullpen meltdowns, non-production of slugger Richie Sexson or retaining ineffective general managers.
It’s the phony rightwing family values image promoted by Mariner management that permeate every decision and move the club makes.
The annoying happy talk pre game code of conduct announcement you hear when you entering the ballpark is indicative of the problem.
Then again, this kind of makes sense:
What surprises me is most of the attendees at the park go along with it like the bunch of no nothing johnny come lately Seattle baseball fans that they are. They’re more interested, most of the time. in getting the god dam wave started then paying attention to what’s happen on the field of play.
Most of what he’s getting at was pointed at strongly by Steven Wells earlier this summer.
We do need more sports punks in the United States. More people that take sports seriously not just as a consumer, but as a fan. Sports have fans, products have consumers.
I do agree that Mariners management is fine with fans sitting back, paying $17 for third level seats and way to much for beer. Eventually, I think we’ll get to this step, but maybe first tackling what artistdogboy is talking about.
Even though I’m not much for watching Mariners lately (too many MLS, EPL, World Cup and Eufa Champions League games recorded), I did watch the few innings that Jorge pitched a couple of days ago. So, I was watching when he flattened Vlad the Destroyer with an inside pitch which resulted in his four game suspension. Crap.
I’m just noting the suspension and that this guy has very little luck when called up to the big team. Two years ago he suffered a near career ending injury while pitching his first major league start and now this. I also agree with John Hickey of the PI that the punishment was too severe.
Its easier to suspend a long reliever with no track record than one of the top five hitters in the league on a play off team, I guess.
Although, there is something to be said about the LaRussa rule that may have been in effect during the game. Johjima had been hit earlier in the game, so it might have been up to Campillo to hit back.
These aren’t your daddy’s Cardinals
Tony LaRussa’s World Series Ethics
I know many of you have been wondering when I was going to write something about the promotion of the Mexican junkballer to the big team. So, here it is.
During spring training and into the regular season, I was tracking Jorge. He seemed to have a his ups and down: going from an explosion of an outing (couldn’t seem to find an out) to finally settling into a groove. Towards the end of the summer in Tacoma, he even dropped down below a 3.00 ERA.
And, now that the Mariners season is just about gone (not much a chance for a post season) they finally bring up Jorge. He missed most of the fight, and as a long reliever, he won’t have much of a chance to contribute. Maybe he can use this opportunity to fight for a starting spot next year.
For the last few weeks I’ve been referring to this Sunday as “going to see Griffey.” I’ve asked several of the people I know that also regularly go to Mariners games whether they’re “going to see Griffey.”
At least one is going to see him on the day we’re going up. She bought tickets in center field so she can be near him.
I remember exactly when I heard that he was leaving, I was working at a bank at the time, just before I’d graduated college as was headed back to being a reporter. I was setting up an employee event at a golf club, and I heard it over the radio. The folks there drug out a boom box and set it up so we could listen to the coverage.
Since then, my memories of the Mariners have been colored by the absence of Griffey. 2001 happened despite not having Griffey (or A-Rod or Randy Johnson).
Our falling down the stairs since then has been paralleled by Griffey’s own trip down the stairs.
With starters dropping like flies in Seattle (Weaver gone, Ramirez down), the Ms look like they’re going to call up a new starter any time now. From the M’s own scouting page on Tuesday’s game against the Angels:
Mariners: While the Mariners have yet to announce who will replace Horacio Ramirez, who went on the disabled list on Friday with left shoulder tendinitis, Campillo is a leading candidate. He went seven innings for Triple-A Tacoma in a no-decision on Thursday against Las Vegas, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five. The 29-year-old Campillo, who made his Major League debut Sept. 26, 2006, with Seattle, is 2-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 10 starts with Tacoma. He has walked 19 and struck out 42 in 62 1/3 innings.
Detect-o-vision provided the link, and their readers provide a comment:
I don’t think there will be a big difference between Campillo and Feierbend right now, and I can’t wait to see Feier pitch in the big leagues. However, Jorge’s window of opportunity to prove himself with this organization is very, very small so I hope he gets the call. If he doesn’t start next Tuesday, he won’t get another chance with the M’s ever again unless a third guy goes down this year.
Which is right, I hope he gets his chance now. And, if he’s gas arm Jorge, then I’ll settle for that when he’s released. But, its better he gets his chance as a starter now and we just really find out what he’s worth.
You might have noticed that I haven’t written all that much since the first few weeks of the season about our friend Campillo, but its mostly been because when I have noticed him, its been gas arm time, which isn’t very encouraging. But, he has had some quality starts. Let’s hope one of those comes on Tuesday.
Jorge Campillo and Ryan Feierabend have been capable, though not necessarily blow-away arms that demand to get called up. Jorge Campillo’s 20/10 K:BB in 30 innings indicates a heavy reliance on his defense, and his 2.70 ERA will inevitably rise by about a run as he continues.
While Jeff Weaver implodes in Seattle, Jorge Campillo out duels the prize jewel of the Giants organization. While I heard very little about Jorge during spring training, the blogs are starting to buzz with Campillo in Seattle talk:
I love Campillo; when we last were talking past M’s scouts about him, they didn’t. I dunno if they’ve about-faced on him. I doubt it.
Jorge has 3 starts so far, two against Tim Lincecum, has an ERA of 2+ and good peripherals. More to the point, he has about as good a parachute change as I have ever seen on a RHP, a true Trevor Hoffman-level change, one that keeps muscle-bound roiders off his butt. And he is more than willing to compete with that change-speed arsenal.
When we last checked, Mike Hargrove did not buy into Jorge Campillo, to say the least. Is he tired enough of Jeff Weaver yet, that you could talk to him about Campillo? You tell me :- )
I also like how the News Tribune mentions Campillo in the last graph, though he basically beat the subject of the story.
Jorge Campillo pitched in Fresno last night against a phenom, so its not so bad that he was on the losing side of a 2-0 loss. Two games so far in the minors, 13 innings, 2.77 ERA. Not bad considering the M’s pitching staff outside of King Felix and Washburn seems to be falling apart.
USS Mariner seemed to be mocking Jorge’s wicked fast fastball.
McCovey Chronicles, which went to Fresno for the game, had kind words.
While the M’s starting staff has either blown up or been snowed out of the past few days, Jorge gave six strong innings last night in Sacramento. He pitched six innings, gave up five hits, two runs (both earned) and struck out three.
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Emmett O'Connell
@emmettoconnell@olympiatime.com
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