Coming off their World Series appearance last year, the Rays were expected to be one of the best teams in baseball yet again in 2009, but two months into the season, they have yet to be a factor in the AL East race. It’s not for lack of trying. The Rays have the second-best Pythagorean record in all of baseball (behind the Dodgers). They are second only to the Yankees with 5.57 runs scored per game, and have been better than average at keeping runs off the board, ranking sixth in the AL in least runs allowed per game.
What’s gone wrong is some bad luck in one-run games (they’re 6-11 in such contests), and some bad luck in April. Since the beginning of May, the Rays gone 19-14, winning at a .576 clip. That despite the litany of other things that have gone wrong for them.
Expected to be a boon to the offense, designated hitter Pat Burrell landed on the DL in early May with a neck problem having hit just one home run and slugged .315 to that point. Second baseman Akinori Iwamura was lost for the season two weeks ago after tearing his anterior and medial collateral ligaments on a collision at the keystone. Slick-fielding shortstop Jason Bartlett was off to a fluky start, hitting .373/.418/.596, but he sprained his ankle in the same game, landing on the DL.
The Rays new and improved right-field platoon of lefty Matt Joyce, acquired from the Tigers in the offseason, and righty Fernando Perez never got off the ground when Perez dislocated his wrist in spring training, ending his season. The Rays then inexplicably kept Joyce in Triple-A for most of the first two months of the season while persisting with the unexceptional Gabe Gross (.256/.362/.400) as the strong side of that platoon.
The Rays have finally called up Joyce, who hit .315/.408/.530 for Durham, as well as his Triple-A teammate David Price, who was supposed to fill the rotation spot vacated by the man the Rays traded for Joyce, Edwin Jackson. Price was kept down because of arbitration and innings limit concerns, but now that he’s here, he’s replacing the injured Scott Kazmir (quad), not Jackson or Jackson’s early-season replacement, rookie Jeff Niemann. Then again, maybe that’s just as well. Kazmir posted a 7.69 ERA before hitting the DL, and Andy Sonnanstine, who will start Monday, has posted a 7.07 mark.
As for Price, after a shaky, abbreviated first outing, he dominated the Twins for 5 2/3 innings his last time out, striking out 11 against just two walks while allowing just one run on five hits. He takes on CC Sabathia this afternoon in what should be a thrilling pitchers duel. Over his last five starts, Sabathia has gone 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA. In those five starts he’s averaged nearly eight innings per start, and held opponents to a .187/.242/.259 line.
Francisco Cervelli will continue to catch Sabathia this afternoon. Jorge Posada will DH. Evan Longoria, who leads the majors with 55 RBIs, is expected to return to the Rays lineup after missing a couple of games with a tight left hamstring.
Tampa Bay Rays
2009 Record: 28-28 (.500)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 32-24 (.571)
Manager: Joe Maddon
General Manager: Andrew Friedman
Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): Tropicana Field (102/103)
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Matt Joyce (minors) replaces Pat Burrell (DL)
- Joe Dillon (minors) replaces Akinori Iwamura (DL)
- Reid Brignac (minors) replaces Jason Bartlett (DL)
- David Price (minors) replaces Scott Kazmir (DL)
- Jason Isringhausen (DL) replaces Troy Percival (DL)
- Randy Choate (minors) replaces Brian Shouse (DL)
25-man Roster:
1B – Carlos Peña (L)
2B – Willy Aybar (S)
SS – Ben Zobrist (S)
3B – Evan Longoria (R)
C – Dioner Navarro (S)
RF – Matt Joyce (L)
CF – B.J. Upton (R)
LF – Carl Crawford (L)
DH – Joe Dillon (R)
Bench:
L – Gabe Gross (OF)
R – Gabe Kapler (OF)
L – Reid Brignac (SS)
R – Michel Hernandez (C)
Rotation:
R – James Shields
L – David Price
R – Matt Garza
R – Andy Sonnanstine
R – Jeff Niemann
Bullpen:
R – Joe Nelson
L – J.P. Howell
R – Grant Balfour
L – Randy Choate
R – Dan Wheeler
R – Lance Cormier
R – Jason Isringhausen
15-day DL:
SS – Jason Bartlett (sprained ankle)
DH – Pat Burrell (neck inflammation)
C – Shawn Riggans (shoulder tendonitis)
LHP – Scott Kazmir (quadriceps strain)
RHP – Troy Percival (shoulder tendonitis)
RHP – Chad Bradford (elbow surgery)
LHP – Brian Shouse (strained elbow)
60-day DL:
2B – Akinori Iwamura (ACL, MCL, and ankle)
OF – Fernando Perez (dislocated wrist)
Projected Lineup:
R – B.J. Upton (CF)
L – Carl Crawford (LF)
R – Evan Longoria (3B)
L – Carlos Peña (1B)
S – Willy Aybar (2B)
S – Ben Zobrist (SS)
L – Matt Joyce (RF)
R – Joe Dillon (DH)
S – Dioner Navarro (C)
Rays Rising Alert: baseball prospectus, which is a lot of fun and a lot of smart has the Rays as the #3 team in baseball this week. (Dodgers 1st, BoSox 2nd, Yankees 6th behind Cards and Phillies). They note that Rays have the AL's best run differential now.
You don't have to agree with the exact rankings to at least note that it is WAY too early to get smug or dismissive of last year's champs.
nice preview cliff.
i figured the rays must not have been doing too well in 1 run games which is why their actual record wa below their pythag but i am glad to see it was confirmed by cliff's research.
[1] defintely agree - would be nice to get some separation from the rays to help ward off if they come on strong in the latter part of the season
I wonder if the Rays will put Price in the bullpen. I bet he'd make a great eighth inning guy... or maybe even a closer!
: )
[3] hey at least they actually need a closer
willy aybar is batting 3rd?
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO psyched for this game and pitching matchup.
let's get it ON!
[4] What, you don't like Randy Choate?
[7] I'll take, "things that sounds dirty, but aren't" for $500, Alex!
CC needs to "bring it" today! I hope he can beat Price this afternoon. They "owe" Tampa and Boston these days...
[7] i actually was surprised to learn he was even still pitching in the majors
LOL @ testing "Granpa" in the OF early!
Must be trying to get him tired or something...
Not bad; he's throwing strikes.
will be interesting to see how the yanks approach price - more on the agressive side or patient, grind it out side.
It's like a "mirror match" this.
jeez gabe kapler is still around?
oh michael kay starts with the price as closer question.
[15] Heh heh...
: )
Patience, I hope. Make him throw strikes, please...
am i misremembering - or was crawford tried in cf and was a butcher? if he could play cf it would really increase his value (to the yanks next year)
well the 1st inning has lived up to a pitcher's duel!
[18] I don't think Crawford was a butcher in CF. I believe Upton was simply better there.
Nice, was that a change-up?
[19] thanks .
good lord rex ryan has some fat stubby hands.
[15] i certainly don't mind kay telling yankee fans that a contending organization that knows what it's doing developing young players and actually needs a closer doesn't even think twice about putting its best pitching prospect into the pen.
[17] Yo, Chyll. Shante was not on my hip-hop radar in the 80's. I had to youtube her and nothing rang a bell. : / Lots of southpaw nastiness on the bump today.
Kay's hatred of Eric Mangini is legend (in his own mind)...
I hate not being able to get this game. Probably more than hating Pavano pitching well for the Indians.
[22] oh definitely.
ah a pitcher's best friend
Woohoo defense!
[25] Ma and Pa Pinstripe on MLB Gameday Audio ftw, RBJ...
: )
Woohoo Alex!
yeah alex - crushed that @#!$
Boom. Sweet.
[23] Really?? She had one of the biggest hits in the mid 80's with "Roxanne's Revenge", the answer rap to UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne", which wasn't even about her (and set off the long battle between her and the Real Roxanne, which was hilarious on it's own). I kinda think she minimized her own presence by being petty; even Biz alluded to this on his track "The Vapors". BTW, they're making a movie called "The Vapors" all about the Juice Crew, with Keke Palmer playing Shante.
Oh, now who didn't see that blast coming since last inning?
be wonderful if that helps get his timing going
Price blinked first!
: )
The Vapors = The Gas Face
LOL
[36] is that "=" an "is" or "gets"?
being a bullpen coach seems like a pretty good gig, if you can get it.
[37] That "=" is a "yields," chemically speaking of course...
Mohegan Sun has replaced Guiseppe Verdi as the most annoying of the recurring YES commercials...
[40]
WASPY singers "Can't Touch This"
I would pay for a sub 2:30 1-0 final in this game!
[33] Ha. Ok, "Roxanne, Roxanne" I remember. I was just a young 'un in grammar school in the early 80's. And that was before Yo! MTV Raps. Deal away, C.C.
[41] I'm confused with folks who are "impressed with the hotel room"...
I would be impressed with the Butler in the hotel room!
: )
[37] Ah. Not really a fan of Juice Crew, though they yielded great talent individually. I was a huge BDP, Zulu Nation and Native Tongues fan. Chuck Chillout + Red Alert > Marly Marl + Mister Magic.
[45] amen to that chyll. have you ever been to the true school hip hop nyc park jams?
good make price work a bit
take that rays - yanks can be aggressive on the base paths too!
c'mon, JD, let's get the run in!
[45] My youtube travels led me to "The Show." There is a famiiliar name that pops up in those lyrics.
damn - would have been nice to take adavantage of the walks
nice nice sequence of pitches there by price to get Teix
[41] I actually liked Hammer with his first album because he was so different from what was big out West at the time. I remember actually being impressed by "U Can't Touch This" when I first saw it on Yo! MTV Raps, but I'm a Rick James fan as well. It went all downhill after calling out MJ on "Turn This Mutha Out", then we had to see "Pray" and "Have U Seen Her"; the corniness became too obvious by then.
[43] Yeah, me too. But my big bro deejayed a little and knew the big guys who would become the founders/proprietors of the Zulu Nation, so I was indoctrinated into rap music early on. Ironically, I was in the wilds of the Mid-Hudson Valley when I fully embraced it when a friend gave me "King of Rock", "Fat Boys" and "Escape", all on wax, then my oldest sister gifted me with "Criminal Minded" and "Yo! Bum Rush The Show"...
Odd. Why is Kay talking about what we're talking about with Hammer? Is someone in the both reading Banter right now?
[52] Someone in the YES booth can read?
Gasp!
: )
[46] No I haven't, but there are a lot of instances where you either run into an old school rapper at a function or just out and about. I know that Grandmaster Flash leads tours around Harlem and the Bronx to some of the historic hip-hop spots (don't know if he still does that) and D-Nice has a video series going where he interviews artists from back in the day to show what they've been up to (my buddy macedonia put up the link at Serious Consideration). You're never too far away from it; I ran into a guy who is cousins with Heavy D and invited me to a cookout/get-together of old school and golden age rappers from NY on the idea I could produce a documentary, but we lost touch.
[49] Slick Rick lived within walking distance from where I live. His production company is listed in the Yellow Pages here too. Doubt he ever hangs out here anymore, but I'll bet he has family here still.
Well.... once again I am relegated to using Gameday, as Fox has blacked out all day games, EVEN though they have no games broadcast until 4:00.
Actually, I'll watch the Red Sox, while working, and rely on yuz guyz for all the news that fit to print... or to blog.
I see ARod continues to be un-clutch, with an early solo HR. The dude is just so selfish. Was it a real blast, or what? (I'm asking... tell me)
Looks like a decent lineup, with Matsui grabbing some bench.
And Hoss, I agree [1] that TB is a fine team, but I don't know if they will be as good this year as last. That worst-2-first thing is hard to reproduce (well... a first-2-first thing). Also, losing Kazmir has hurt a lot. Anyone know the status on Kazmir?
Oh Christ.... I'm watching last night's Sox game. Friggin NESN must broadcast their games about 4 time a day. Jeez........ Well at least I know they're gonna lose.
Navarro not having a good day. Do we still regret trading him or is that only sometimes?
nice running alex.
[54] yeah through a degree or two i have encountered some old school guys. since i didn't grow up in nyc i missed all th park jams - so am going to go one this summer - maybe the one with red alert and bambaata
[57] haha - was just thinking that - he is not having a great start to 2009
Great job by Robbie, that!
okay - run in - cano hit it well - aybar made a nice stop but shoud have thrown home
[58] cone with the right read of the play there, if aybar didn't double clutch, he would have had alex dead to rights at home.
[55] Ball bounced on the bullpen fence on a fly and over; Mike Harkey grabbed a nice one-handed rebound.
Is that an unearned run since Alex went to 3B on the error?
oooh, this is good news (hopefully) from Petey
Brian Bruney may be a little closer than we first thought. He is scheduled to throw two 15-pitch simulated innings tomorrow. Then they’ll decide what’s next. But if he gets through that OK, he may be only a week away.
[57] looks like they have Michel Hernandez as the backup catcher, as well. i have his Yankees prospect baseball card from a few years ago.
i don't know about those Verdi commercials, but i know about the composer. it's funny: Giuseppe Verdi = Joe Green!!! : )
he also had middle names: Fortunino Francesco. would that be: Fortunate Frankie?! ; )
i think that SB, leaves Alex 20 away from 300...and the 300-300 club i love so much!
[63] THANKS! Er.... and just where would be the bullpen fence? like the back wall of the BP?
[58] Great choice; though I hope they don't play down to the kids.
Little Bit of Luck is jumping the shark. Who was it that said they were creeped out by the image of a 400 lb. midget?
Bah!
CC just blinked...
: /
[65] i liked this part best:
“My elbow is fine,” Bruney said.
Bleh. Don't throw that pitch again.
blah zobrist - come back nasty cc
11 homeruns for Zobrist. Eleven? really?! christ.
jesus crist damon that was a horseshit throw even for you
aaaaaaah. WTF!?!?!?! Johnny!
Apparently, all of that running the Rays made "Granpa" do early paid off?
Pfft!
Navarro has a career OPS of .685. That's not terrible for a C, but not that great. I don't know how his D skill are, but Cervix looks better already.
[66] Oops, Guiseppe Franco.
[67] Front wall, actually.
Oh boy, defense being lulled to sleep. That's why I don't like pitcher's duels so much...
Crap. That was fast.
bollocks.
nice strikeout pitch - just have to get the runs back
hmmm, that 2nd run was earned on CC. i thought the 2-base error would make it unearned. what do i know...
Back to the ole drawing board...
*sigh*
[81] Johnny will amend.
I've heard Biz used in better instances, though you can't argue with the message. I just wish it wasn't so corny.
They really don't want to let go of the Cavemen concept, huh?
Little bingo for the Melk.
I also see that A-Rod's second run was in fact not earned...
Way to pick the team up Melky!
Now let's get 'em home!
[83] melky came out sketchin'!
That's what we need right now, Melk. Who wudda thought he'd be a sparkplug this season?
A sacrificing cervix .... nice.
Frankie Brains, best bunter on the team.
Good bunt. Love it.
Take your time getting healthy, Molina. : )
get him home Cap'n.
He's been nothing short of a beast since not only being sent down last year, but also having his job seriously threatened this spring...
[90] wow. : o
Mom .... I found this Cervix in the minors .... can we keep him .... huh huh ... can we can we?
[87] i know. weird...
[96]
I talk an innuendo streak, but in real life I'm the nicest person you'd want to meet.
Never did drugs. Never smoked a cigarette. Hold doors open for people. Say "please" and "thank you" often.
Freebie!! Save for Melky's face. Ouch!
Woohoo!
ZOMG! We got a run on a break!
run in - melky getting smacked though
not navarro's finest hour
[99] sure ya are! ; )
Navarro is officially NOT having a good game. Now Melky isn't either, ouch.
Ice Ice Melky ...
all praise be to dioner!
[99] i'm actually very similar! : )
[103]
Alright .... I WAS a bit of a precocious kid.
I once tried out a new word I learned (schnook) on my 4th grade teacher.
I spent some time in the Principal's office after that. :-)
well, they took that 2nd ER off of CC's line.
buuuut, it appears as though they charged Price w/ an earnie for Melky's run. they'll prolly fix that, too...
[106]
What can I say .... I'm clever ... I love playing around with words, puns, sponnerisms.
I call myself a "cunning linguist" :-P
[99] "Hold doors open for people. Say 'please' and 'thank you' often."
I always do those things!
And you call me "weird?"
*sniff*
heh heh
[107] Just for "schnook"?? Man, they kept calling Foghorn Leghorn that in a Loony Toons piece. What school did you go to?
[107] i was sooo naive (still am, really), that in 6th grade, the evil kids had me try out a new word on the math teacher. i had NO idea what the word meant, as i never heard it. the kids laughed and the teacher was mortified. i was a in shock.
i'm all the things you said in [99], except i used to be an evil cigarette smoker. that was a looooong time ago. i abhor them now and am as anti-smoking as Joe Jackson (the singer, not dead ballplayer) is pro-smoking. i've never tasted coffee, however!
[110]
I don't call you weird ... I call you kindred spirit!
"What school did you go to?"
Our Lady of Perpetual Punishment
So much for the pitcher's duel...
I LOVE Joe Jackson (the singer), but hate him because of his stance on smoking.
Yes, I know its a free country .... but MY vices don't impact other people like 2nd-hand smoke does.
Aybar goes BOOM!
Wow!
That's not a very good job, CC... really!
[5] the baseball gods were not amused ...
what the fuck just happened?!?!?!?!? : /
I swear, these guys (the pitching) suck at "home!"
I went to St. John's University (I made up the Jewish quota .... LOL), and they had George Carlin do a concert on campus. A packed house laughed its ass off ... UNTIL Carlin whipped out (ahem) every which way of describing a sex act.
The exodus from the arena was startling.
[116] i agree. JJ lives in Berlin nowadays. i'm one of the biggest worldwide JJ collectors. at least for cd's. i'm dear friends with the biggest one in the world, who also happens to live in Berlin. Joe has been trying to put together a big pro-smoking festival there, but my friend won't help him b/c of his anti-smoking stance. good for him! Joe, is mostly seen dressed as a woman, under his...uh, her psuedonym of Dale De Vere. true story! : /
[121] "The exodus from the arena was startling."
Apparently not as much as "discussing" sex acts in a comedy performance on the St. John's Campus...
: )
For the jetstream conspiracy theorists .... gametime temp 71, win out to RF at 5 mph
it was a SEXODUS!
diane - how'd i do?! ; )
[124] "win out to RF"
sounds about right! ; )
Bah! Drawing Board Time again...
I sure hope Melky isn't out of pens and pencils!
were they making a stink about CC hitting Dillon, since he homered before? are we gonna see anuva styoopid 6-game suspension by Bob Watson???
heart of the lineup here. Price at 92 pitches. let's make a major move right now!!!
[125] Movement of Jew People. : )
[125]
Touche .... (or is that tushy?)
not a good start, Tex....
[130] LOL
Dollars to donuts, the Jewish "contingent" stayed put!
: )
[131] a potchke on the tuchus, is more like it!
Alex = OBP.
guess he doesn't miss boBBy all that much...
price just passed the century mark.
let's hope we see Choate today and treat him accordingly!
crap Robbie.
i wanna see April Swish right now...
Brignac anagrams to BRACING
Zobrist doesn't anagram to anything ...
C.C. deserves a hefty Kangaroo Court fine for this start. Seriously, coughing up 2 leads is anti-acelike. Crap. Still hopeful, though.
[137] i meant Jorgie. i got a batter ahead of myself. these things happen when you're typing at yourself... : ~
pitch 4 looks outside...
wow, nice patience by Robbie.
NOW...i'd like to see April Swisher...
why are there bong sounds during a pitching change? did i miss something?
[138] or CRABING
i hate Ben's sobriquet of Zo-rilla. feh.
hey , no more David Price. wahoo!!!
[138] "Zobrist doesn’t anagram to anything …"
But is sure sounds like a northeastern Rabbi saying where he is going for "that most special of ceremonies"...
"To 'Zo Brist'!"
: )
I'm not happy about CCs performance, but shouldn't one of his runs be unearned?
[145]
Everything is better when its sits on Zobrist?
[146] box score has him at 4 er.
[146] 1 of them is. he's given up 4 ER.
[145] That reminds of an old nickname, "Stretch." Ha. How come you don't hear that one anymore? I guess it'd be changed to Ess-Tretch. ala A-Rod and I-Rod, K-Rod, etc....
shit. well, this game is sucking...
[148][149] SI.com had 5, that's why I asked, but they changed it. This happened a couple days ago too, with Wang, except they had too few ERs for a while.
[150] My fav Latin ballplayers' phrase is "een de gain"... for "in the game"...
: )
alex, looking spry today!
[150]
Some friends of mine call me stretch (I'm 6'3" .... ) ... I don't mind that much.
[154] Yeah, he took all of us by surprise with the SB attempt that led to the Yankees' second run!
One of my Scrabble acquaintances knocked out Phil Hellmuth in a World Series of Poker event last night .... he's made it to the final 3 tables out of 1,600+ players.
I'm following live blog updates of the event now.
[155] a 6'3" Jewish woman? wow!
[157] nice! hellmuth seems a complete tool. your friend must be in the money now, which has to be a pretty good feeling.
Just once .... I'd like to see them foul up the playing of the recording of G-d Bless America .... perhaps get it mixed up with "Me So Horny" or somesuch ...
that was a pretty nice inning. now...let's score some goddamn runs. thank you, please!
[155] I stopped making fun of tall people way back when I was 12. I had asked an adult friend of my family who was 6'6", "How's the weather up there?" He responded, "I have a phone between my legs. Why don't you call and find out!"
Needless to say, I was instantly cured of my "height bias"...
: )
I don't think I'd be truly comfortable driving around in a pinstriped Yankee mustang.
[159]
go to the WSOP and do a search for "Jim Geary" ... he's already cashed in one event this year
FOUR errors by Tampon.
Ball-four in to pitch. hopefully this is a portend of things to come!
[163] Agreed... I'd have the exterior covered with the navy blue, and keep the interior intact...
But I'd also replace the transmission and engine with those in the Cobra V-8, and I'd at least have Derek Jeter sign the dashboard and seal it into the surface, too. I mean, he is a "Ford Man" after all...
Vroom Vroom!
: )
God I hate John Sterling!
That call by Kay was Sterling-esque
[168]
Raissman ripped Sterling again yesterday .... seems to be a vendetta now.
i hate this game.
[170] Well considering all we have today is the WCBS radio broadcast because of the nice folks at FOX and MLB, we thought it was tied...
He's really got to stop doing that!
David Pankin sounds just like Joe Pesci
Hmmm .... I wonder if I can scan Retrosheet quick enough to find if any team has finished a game with a linescore of 5-5-5.
[173] If that's true, best not to tell him to "Go get your shine box!"
: )
That was Joba-flopesque .... and not Pavano flop-and-hurt-butt esque.
we have 2 goddamn hits today. TWO!!! thazzit...
[173] Along those lines, I think Mike Francesa sounds like a combination of "Richie" from "Harlem Nights" ("How are you darling, there?") and Rosie O'Donnell!
Bizarro line scores
5-5-4
3-2-1
WOW!
Woohoo Tex!
Okay, that's one...
Make that 4-3-1 :-)
yeah, so, that Teix fella, he's really fucking good.
not bad for a guy hitting under .200 at the start of May
[170] A stoppable force meeting a movable object... two wrongs making a right.
CC Sabathia
J.P. Howell
B.J. Upton
A.J. Burnett
initials initials initials
[184][185] Trudose!
That one before was his pitch...
What is Mr. Kotter doing playing RF?
Oh .... Kapler!
Upper deck shots in the ol' place were cool. But I kinda dig that reaching the new one will be more prodigious. Still waiting on that first one.
Wow, that would have been a strike on most days...
I'm sorry, but three hits is terrible at this pernt in any game for them!
Just what is it with the Yankees after rainouts since '04 anyway?
[191] I suppose most suspect Tex will do it first, but I've got five on Swish...
Posada still running. Why not a pinch runner?
was that 2nd pitch to robbie really a strike?
I don't care how it comes, just as long as we get it...
I smell "make-up call" coming...
So ... why no pinch runner?
[198]
that first "strike" to swish was the make-up call
Nice job by Swisher again.
[198] Maybe not...
That is a goddamn fine ab by Swish.
Need a fly ball, Melky.
Ha, lucky. Melky has got some kinda karma going.
Screw you Maddon.
See? Hustling is contagious...
Tie goes to the runner, eh?
alright, tie game. we really need anuva run here!!!
Uh-oh, looks like Girardi is in "genius" mode!
This better work; they might end up walking him...
well, i guess that's why no pinch runner for Po - he's goin' behind the dish...
woulda been cool to see Gardner come in for the suicide squeeze! ; )
Nice camera shot there with Matsui and Jeter back-to-back...
Melky really just avoided the goat horns ...
They really need to halt their losing streak to Tampa!
Awesome pitch there.
Bleh!
Girardi's brilliant move ... ah well
Bullshit call... there yo go, Maddon...
It blows that the only pitch out of 5 that was a strike, Matsui watched it. b double o
...
oh, Mo.
I guess we don't want to win today, huh? :(
good pitch .... better swing .... awesome placement
Rivera in tie games .... something about that ....
That's enough for me guys...
Take care until next time!
goddamn fucking shit.
excuse me.
[226] I was saying that all last year and into this year. I just shake my head sadly when they send him into a tie game...
i'm beginning to think PJ had the smart idea ...
no, Mo, no!
oh, swisher *caught* that.
phew, i couldn't tell.
keep it here at 6, Mo. we've got the top of the order vs...Choate, perhaps!
Abreu wouldn't have caught that. Too close to the wall.
Yikes. That almost took Mo's head off.
double-plus un-good.
sigh .... OK ... til tomorrow ...
Well, you don't see that too often. But he should've never been put in there now to begin with.
kirkjian has a nice article on Ross Ohlendorf over at the 4-letter network's website.
man, it's soooo uncomfortable taking Mo out, mid-inning. i HATE that feeling...
let's not forget - it IS possible we face Randy Choate next ups. CHOATE!!!
Mo's ERA is over 3. yuck. : /
Well, this got out of hand quickly.
This just in..Damon is embarrassing. This game officially sucks a#@.
Wow, this is just sad.
ah, forget it...
Soul's been sucked out of this game. G'nite.
Single, Single, Single, Grand Slam. Solo shot. Piece of cake.
C2 shoulda started that inning.
this game sucks...
Wow... just checked in.
Ugly.
Mo in for an IBB and 2 hits? Shit happens I guess
(but to MO?)
Shit. I guess it's good this wasn't televised. At least I got some work done.
Is this what life without Mo might look like?
[247] i'll call, single, double, single, homer!
[248] Seriously. You're questioning bringing in Mo in a tied game at home? I think your skins are too tight.
[250] so far, so good!
=)
Possible?
Possible??
dammit, Teix. I SAID A SINGLE!
Wow, can they really come back again?
CONCEIVABLE?????????
Keep the line moving, Alex.
tie the game, Alex!!!
aaaaaah, that was a hanger alex.
c'mon, come through.
[251] hey, leave my skin outta this! CC was at 101 pitches. i wasn't really upset about Mo coming in. it was just the results and hindsight. loosen your skin when reading the comments! : p
[251] oh, i see - "skins". HA!!! that's awesome, OYF!!! i always have a drumkey handy, so i'll tune 'em down a bit!!! : )
gah.
c'mon JoPo, make with the PAIN!
CRAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
terrible, terrible, terrible job A-Rod.
uh, shins aren't the new knees, blue.
Shit. Strike 1 looks ankle high on Gamecast
FUCK! AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Four balls ALL LOW!!!!!!!!!
are these really strikes?
hughes warming up...
Are these pitches as low as Gamecast says???
Gamecast show ALL 6 pitches about 4 inches low.
yeah, 'coz that's Ball 6.
Ball 7! Work a BB Jorge!
crap, i thought Cletus got that one.
well, it rides on RIPPER.
NUTS!
We're getting Choate after all.
jorge should've gotten 2 bases on that 7-pitch walk!!!
RIPPER vs Choad
Two men enter, 1 man leave.
[276] excellent! it'll be a tie game in no time!!!
Cano swings at a ball in the dirt....
It's going to have to be over the backstop for Robbie not to swing.
[280] i'm not surprised. but after that last AB, it might have been called a strike! : /
crap.
two balls smoked to center ... but right to upton.
bugger.
fuck, shit, piss and hell.
Well, that was a heartbreaker.
Would have been a tougher loss without the almost-comeback. Yanks shouldn't lose to a depleted Rays team w Sabathia pitching. Rivera meltdown will do that though.
Anyway, almost. Jorge got jobbed by the ump; A Rod continues to try to do too much in big spots. It is what it is.
Must. Fix. The. Pen.
[284] Tomorrow's thread title...
[286] It's a judgement call on Jorge's AB. I'm not sure if there should have been 4, 5 6 or 7 balls called. But really... I am TIRED of these terrible HP strike/ball calls. Do these Umps have another job? Something else that tires them out? Damn! Whether we get the calls or not, I'M TIRED OF TERRIBLE CALLS.
[287] Must fix Mo?
dammit. jon lester is PERFECT thru 5. i repeat: PERFECT. 9 K's, too. c'mon Tex-Ass!!!!
still perfect thru 6. 10 K's. : /
let's go ran-gers!! !!!
Fatty homered. i guess his eyes are okay.
terrible day in baseball thus far. : /
thank you Michael Young! double to deep center. there goes the no-no & perfecto! whew.
now, Andruw Jones has walked. good stuff!
still, Lester is throwing a beautiful game. 8-0 sawx. hopefully the shutout is next to go...
[292] et al.
Let it go. It's a rough day in baseball...obsessing over individual performances by the SOx will only aggravate the ulcer.