Aug 23
This comes to us via Bugs and Cranks…
In an ESPN.com poll from Friday, respondents were asked: What will be the season-ending outcome for the Red Sox and Yankees? They were given 4 options…
- Both make playoffs
- Both miss playoffs
- Red Sox in, Yankees out
- Yankees in, Red Sox out
As you can see in the results, 5% of respondents feel both the Yankees and the Red Sox will make the playoffs. In other words…5% of people that respond to ESPN.com polls are idiots.
Here we go again…In order for both the Red Sox and Yankees to make the playoffs, the Rays would have to miss the playoffs, somehow finishing behind the Yankees in the standings. The Rays have a 10.5 game lead on the Yankees with 35 games remaining (the Yankees have 34 games left). If the Rays won just 17 of their 35 games, they would finish with 95 wins. In order for the Yankees to win 95 games they would have to finish 27-7. It is just not going to happen.
This is why the Rays have a 96.6% chance of making the playoffs and the Yankees are only at 2.6%. And the 3.4% chance the Rays miss the playoffs? That is taking into account the possibility that both AL Central teams and the Red Sox pass the Rays. A much more plausible scenario than the Yankees passing the Rays.
SportsCenter: AL Gets 5 Playoff Teams? [Bugs and Cranks]
Aug 23
THE GOOD:
Rocco Baldelli hit his first major league home run since May ’07.
THE BAD: Edwin Jackson. How in the world Jackson got through 6 innings with only 2 runs is either an indictment on the White Sox offense or the Rays just got lucky last night.
THE TELLING: For all the good things that have happened this season, the Rays really haven’t been the recipients of too many breaks. And we don’t remember another game this season the Rays won in which they really didn’t deserve the W. Last night the Rays did not deserve to win. In 6 innings, Edwin Jackson walked 5 batters and allowed 7 hits. 12 base runners in 6 innings and only 2 runs. How does that happen? The White Sox had the leadoff batter on base in each of the first five innings and yet only 1 of those runners scored. The Rays caught a huge break. And things weren’t going any better on the offensive side of the ball. In the second inning the Rays had not one, but two runners called out at home. So when the Rays finally fell behind 2-0 in the 4th inning, we thought the game was over. It just looked like one of those nights.
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- JP Howell pitched for the first time in 6 days due to stiffness in his back and legs. Howell says the grind of his first full major league season led to fatigue and he is now feeling much better. [Tampa Tribune]
- Buster Olney speculates on what David Price’s role would be with the Rays if and when he is called up. Price says he doesn’t care and would be willing to “be the batboy, if that’s what they need.” [ESPN]
- Joe Maddon will not have a strict pitch count on Scott Kazmir. The idea is to keep Kid K from worrying about mechanics and pitch counts and just concentrate on the batters. In his last start, Kazmir was able to work 6 innings as Papa Joe let Kaz accumulate 114 pitches. [MLB]
- John Romano takes a look at the perception of BJ Upton’s lack of effort and says what many of us have been saying for a while…That the game is so easy for Upton that it masks his effort. Romano also wants to lay some blame on the previous front office for rushing him through the minors. [St. Pete Times]
Aug 23
Durham 6, Louisville 2. Ben Hendrickson won his 10th game, striking out 7 in 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk…Dan Johnson was 2-4 with 2 doubles and a walk…John Jaso finished 1-4 with a walk and an RBI…Jonny Gomes was 0-5 with a strike out.
Tennessee 1, Montgomery 0. Mike Prochaska allowed only 1 run in 8 innings on 7 hits and no walks. He struck out 3.
Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 1; ppd rain).
Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 2; ppd rain). The D-Rays have now had their last 6 games postponed or cancelled due to rain or a wet field.
Columbus 2, Charleston 0 (gm 1). Jesse Darcy pitched a 2-hit shutout improving to 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA. He did not strike out a batter and did not issue a walk…Maiko Loyola finished 2-3.
Columbus @ Charleston (gm 2; ppd rain)
Hudson Valley 10, Oneonta 1.
Princeton 7, Johnson City 0. Tim Beckham did not play.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- 5 of the Rays 6 Arizona Fall League participants will be from the Montgomery roster including James Houser, Ryan Reid, Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall and Matt Spring. Houser was originally scheduled to participate last fall, but was unable due to his on-going suspension. No word yet on who the 6th member will be, although it will likely be a pitcher. [Montgomery Advertiser]
- The Bulls’ magic number to clinch the South Division is now 4 with 10 games remaining on the schedule. [Durham Bulls]
- The Biscuits now trail Mississippi by 3.5 games with 10 to play. [Montgomery Advertiser]
