Phelps and Nuno in the same series? It may be just what the Rays need.

Le sigh.

Tee it up, Phelps. Tee it up.

What is the frustration level with Cashman around here?

I thought his moves in the offseason, post-Cano, were about as good as they could have been, given the overall circumstances, but I blame him for the circumstances.

On the one hand, you pay for a long time for a run like we had, on the other hand, that's way too long ago for dispensation, no?

Can I go back to hating David Phelps now?

[6] Yes.

Damn, where would we be without Gritner?

Also, [7] thanks, that's a great relief.

So no one's biting on Cashman and his responsibility for this slop, I take it.

Don't give up the tie, David

[9] I mean, I guess Cashman is responsible for the personnel, yes, always.

Personally, I'm happy to talk about personnel moves and general managing in the winter. But now we have actual baseball, so the front office stuff doesn't interest me much.

[10] He's wearing a tie? I didn't notice that.
Isn't that kind of eccentric?

[12] Heh. Maybe we can tie his shoes together so he can't go out and pitch.

Thanks Tampa

[11] It's all I can think about when I see Roberts at second base, the lack of exciting young players on the field (obvious occupational hazard for this team, but the draft picks, I mean, wow), and the AAA pitchers littered across the rotation. The latter isn't really his fault, with the three major injuries on the staff, but as the season creeps along and games feel tossed into the L heap with crappy SP, I think about it. Of course, I like to look to assign blame, so ymmv.

Huh, I thought he did incredibly well with the pitching. The team has eight ML-capable starters, of whom three are on the DL. I think the starting pitching is third best in the AL, after Seattle and Oakland. Whose starters do you think are better?

[15] Need to run out the dog, but we're counting Nuno and Whitley as major-league capable, and Phelps as more than hanging on by his fingernails to that status?

I have zero belief in the two former and little in the latter, but I also tend to skip their recent games because I've gotten busy over here. Aren't they kind of terrible?

No, none of them is terrible (although I hate Phelps). They aren't good -- that's why I said 'capable'. But those are the 6th, 7th, and 8th starters, so that seems pretty good to me.

Look, the team is over .500, and they can't score runs. The pitchers are keeping them in the picture.

[17] They've had good games, more inconsistent than bad.

Phew!

Whew.

[17] Phelps is obnoxious. He's a mix of Hughes and Kennedy all rolled into one.

Wow, Phelps came within an out of a "quality start"

Oy

Phew!

steal, brian!

no. please don't bunt.

well, we just gave away an out...

steal 3rd, brian!

though, i'm not as comfy stealing 3rd with a lefty at the dish...

[26] thelarmis! I hope your wedding went well!

Oh fer...

ugh

nancy's brother ruins the no-no.

i hate the shit sox and the fens.

[30] bummer. was excited for that. Though, it reinforces that we should have performed better against that crap team.

[27] thanks, seamus!

i have to say...it truly was a perfect wedding. i've played hundreds of weddings and this was the BEST wedding i've ever been to in my life! and my grandma - who watches over me - made sure the rain stayed away. it was such an incredible day/night!!! : )

100mph

stop with the friggin' walks!!!

4-out save with the Alabama Hamma.

damn it. alas.

[32] That's so great man! Congratulations!!! I'm super excited for you and your wife and your future together!

fuckin' free passes.

stoopid sacrifice bunts.

Dammit!

[37] thanks man!!! : )

fuckin a. stop with the bs. shut them down and score 17 runs damnit!

Gotta get Sparky to the vet for his dental cleaning in the am. Night all.

ok, that's step one. Now go get those runs.

[41] this!

[42] g'night rbj!

ok that's a start ellsbury.

steal 2nd.

or, my dad just said: "we really need a home run."

ok, that!

Or, strike out swinging! That also works!

c'mon buys. Get those guys across.

it does work. but not very well.

awful. just awful.

oh boo.

Carlos Beltran must get a lot of hits in games I don't watch, because if he didn't he would be batting .096.

[52] i feel the same.

I don't think I can do this with these guys. A seven year old doesn't make that ridiculous mistake on the base paths. They're not very good and they're stupid. Terrible combo. Ellsbury not scoring there is unforgivable and I don't think I can forgive.

Wow. That I did not expect.

Nice AB by Roberts rewarded, with interest.

I'll be damned.

Uh.
We better score again, though, because we're kind of out of pitchers.

[58] Ichiro makes his long-awaited pitching debut?

Wow, Kelley made me eat those words. Mowed through the tough part of the Rays' order.

Sigh.

This one goes to eleven.

[63] i know that reference. i get things.

Why wouldn't you go to Thornton here, who had such a good inning the other night? You've committed all these resources - don't you go with the guy who's an actual major league pitcher?

we've handed out 8 walks and 2 HBPs.

and there it is...

FUCK.

And that was classic fucking Rays. I *hate* playing this damn team. They fucking Ray'd us.