[RIGO!] World Series Game 2: Random Thoughts Thread, Game On!
Rays Index Game On, RIGO October 23rd. 2008, 8:15pmNo live blog…but let’s throw this up as a place to throw out some random thoughts, grumblings and bad jokes.
Related posts:
No live blog…but let’s throw this up as a place to throw out some random thoughts, grumblings and bad jokes.
Related posts:
I am so tired of the media dumping on the Trop
How far has Gabe Gross fallen. Rocco Baldelli is starting tonight even though he rarely started against righties since coming back and has never faced Myers
My pick for Todd Kalas Pimp Daddy Player of the Game is Cliff Floyd who has 3 career home runs off of Myers
interesting that the Phils are not going with Matt Stairs at DH considering he is one of the few guys on the roster that has ever even faced Shields and he has a home run.
My TKPDPotG is BJ Upton. Dude was killin it last night and is ready to break out. 2 home runs tonight.
I’m with Elijah on this one. B.J. is ready to bring the hugeness tonight.
It would be nice to see a Rays starter get through the 1st 2 batters in less than 10 pitches
that would be nice…but i’ll take 3 consecutive outs
swing and miss on the change is a good sign early
So are you not happy with the Rocco choice, Prof?
not at all. it is just odd. Maddon seems to just be hoping that somebody will step up in right field and it is pretty obvious he has little confidence in Gross right now
i can tell i haven’t watched a lot of Phillies games this year…When the hell did Brett Myers eat one of the bat boys. Dude is huge.
Doesn’t BJ’s swing look tenative? — Nevermind
what a great jump by Upton.
sometimes it is good when the other team hits the ball hard. if he hits that any softer it is 2 runs
39 pitches in 2 innings is not so good
The Prof LOVES BJ!
that’s what she said
I also love The Fat Catcher
why don’t they show the swing from the other side of the plate? and who else hates mccarver?
The punch out walk is Kerwins way of saying Philly balk
everybody hates mccarver
2 outs. gotta send Baldelli. took a perfect throw.
nice bowl over attempt baldy!
Baldelli didn’t have much of a chance there, I think Ruiz has about 70 pounds on him.
God … I hope the Roc is OK …. Everyone should love the Roc!
Myers has very similar splits between righties and lefties. Thus, Gross offered no advantage (maybe defense) over Baldelli.
Aki: talk about quietly doing a ton for the Rays
Um, Prof?
We’re up by three.
So why did our hitters throw that inning away?
Its starting to rain
i think it’s time for james to make an adjustment for howard
Tim McCarver makes me think I could be a sportscaster. Which, if you knew me, no way in hell.
tim mccarver makes everyone think they can be a sportscaster :p
Here is Howards spray chart courtesy of our buddies in beantown: http://boston.inside-edge.com
/bostonScoutingReportRosters.aspx?
Team_ID=22
Evening… I guess one could say about Baldelli being thrown out it took a perfect through – however the Rays lead MLB in getting thrown out at the plate.
Did you hear about how Baldelli’s legs start to burn about the 7th inning. No wonder he is exhausted.
Booo hisssss – bunts are evil! I thought Maddon knew this. At least it was a safety squeeze.
sacrifices are evil. Maddon loves squeezes
leadoff walks suck
Shields change is much MUCH better tonight than game 6 of ALCS
Shields is already up around 75 pitches. probably will be done after 6
Everyone was all gooey about Hamel last night. James doesn’t look all that bad.
Everybody Loves Baldy! Who’s tired?
that double play by Rocco helped Shields’ pitch count. Only 80 now. Might get into the 7th afterall.
the rays need to hit more
too many dramatic top of the innings cept’ 1st
let’s be frank as a batter evan has been PATHETHIC in the series so far (here’s hoping maddon straightens him up on the trip to philly)
plus, man where were these rays in game 1? was Hamels that good? (even though it was a close game)
This is great – found the FOX fan cam on the MLB website – now I can watch the game – though the video cutting is erratic.
Yes – Longo is “due”, but so is Pena and Upton. Rays should be blowing the Phillies pitchers out of the water.
that short hop by Upton probably saves a run…same with the deflected ball stopped by Aki in 4th
I love how I’m seeing someone always backing up BJ – was that Rocco?
theyre outhitting us…not good
yep Rocco. Zobrist had one last night also on a ball that got by Upton
can a brotha’ get a 1-2-3 inning rays defense?
Wasn’t that a great defensive game by Zobie? Third time playing RF! Has he played other OF positions?
they can get more hits and 1-2-3 innings then us…not good enough for me, we’re up 4-0 and im still biting my nails
darn alcs game 5
Zobrist actually played 21 games in the OF this season. not sure how many of those were starts though and 14 were in LF
Prof, doe this game worry you at all?
No HRs.
Not a huge amount of runs so far at home,
I’m a little worried about going into Philly.
Stick with Wheeler. it is 9-1-2…righty, switch, righty. and the Switch (Rollins) is about the same from both sides of the plate
likely see Price if Utley gets up (4th batter)
i don’t like that rocco had to sit down before going out to the field. he should come out and rest
i’m surprisingly calm about this game…they just look like they are cruising right now. couple of breaks and close calls. but no runs. good baseball even if not a lot of hits. think this bodes well for game 3.
Stella got her groove back. only thing missing is the home runs
hopefully that was the only cardiac moment…
If the Rays can score runs without having to hit home runs, I think that’s a good thing.
Then when they decide to drop some bombs on the Phillies’ pitching staff, that’ll be better.
with Rocco having just batter.. surprised Fernando or (gasp) Gabe Gross is not in RF to give Rocco a break. but i guess they have the day off tomorrow so rest then
Why does Maddon tempt fate with Wheeler?
wheeler is screwing things up…again
Wheeler? lead is safe right now and 2 of first 3 are righties. Not saying it is right. But that is the thinking
I can’t tell – anyone warming up?
i know he walked the lead off guy but Wheeler’s pitches look as good as i have seeen in a while. Lots of good movement and they are down in the zone
I say this because after Werth is NL’s version of ARod (lefty though) and some other lefty.
Say Wheeler – who does not look bad – gets Werth – leave him in? Only 2 runs could be scored….
i dont think so. has close to 30 pitches
hopefully price lights em’ up the way he has in the alcs
a 4-0 lead, 7 outs from tiying the series…too nervous
i hope the rays play like this in philly all we need is 1 road win to take it back to st.pete
You are correct – good call, did not see pitch count – and there is your answer. Crowd seemed to appreciate Wheeler’s performance. One of the nice features about this coverage on the internet is that we see the entire pitching change. Maddon was talking to most of his infielders on a one-by-one basis.
Now for a complaint – the advertisement time is getting ridiculous! I was away for 10 minutes between innings and only missed one batter.
Balfour is now warming up
Intentional non-intentional? Or is he wild?
wild
Price is mad at himself. never seen this side before. Not quite Balfour mad. more annoyance.
i wonder what he’s screaming into his glove.
good stuff from price there after walking the 1st
the bad? theyre still otuhitting us and getting out of the bottom easily, im sick of these dramatic top of the innings
Myers only has 76 pitches
let’s all thank Fox for giving us the ever-important bullet point regarding what BJ stands for
home umpires have been erratic so far this series, not good
wonder if they would have bothered telling the world what CC stands for in Sabathia’s name. Not likely.
im really PISSED w/ how easy they defend and how dramatic our top of the innings have been,i cant say that enough
6 more outs, 4-0 lead and i’m still not confident, it feels like its a 1 run game to me and im hoping theyll improve when they get to philly
Luis. Love ya dude, but you crack me up. I am trying to imagine you ordering food at a restaurant and then worrying for the next 15 minutes that it is either going to come out as the wrong food or it will be overcooked. maybe pace near the table a little. a little random commentary to the neighboring tables about how worried you are and how maybe you should just go to McDonalds
homer, not good
im freaking out
We’ve got 3 runs to work with. Balfour closing?
lol ya prof im very pessimistic when my team has the pressure to win
you should have seen me during the lightning’s comeback down 3-2 to win the stanley cup, hehe i was about to have a heart attack lol
Luis buddy – have a nice glass of Pinot or maybe Joe can recommend a good Merlot.
The game is essentially over – coming back from 7 run deficit is a once in a 5 year event. Coming back from a 3 run deficit… well, that happens more frequently.
I think they are playing, between innings, your Seven Nation song, Prof.
3 more outs and we go back to philly w/ anything possible at a tied series needing just 1 road win to take it back to the trop
i know they can.
i know they can.
i know they can.
Is Jonny Gomes drunk?
That entire conversation with Sonny reminded my of every conversation I have ever had with a really drunk person and you just sit there agreeing and giggling and hoping the other person gets distracted by something shiny
Gomes drunk? What did I miss?
Gomes mic’d in the dugout talking about people visiting from europe and being freaked out about the mohawks and such
wtf was that?!
Howell and Bradford both starting to warm up
Longo booted that one just for us… Got to make it exciting.
…. Phillies still have a chance…. its not over yet…. oh… nevermind.
too dramatic getting guys, got outhit i believe, and 4-2 felt like 4-3, horrible errors
that said we win and we go into philly w/ the series tied, hopefully we’ll still at least 1 there
how funny does that reporter look dwarfed in between shields and price
Apparently Myers has a strange split in that he has had more luck with lefties than righties (while Hamels has done better against righties.) So Maddon decided to hold out Rocco from last night’s game since he could not play two straight and insert him tonight. I think it is more a strategic decision based on splits than it is a lack of confidence in Gross although I am sure that is also a factor.
Actually, the split is quite substantial-righties have over 100 points of OPS better than lefties do against Myers this year and are substantially better for his career as well. And lefties have hit substantially better against Hamels both this year and for his career. (Although Maddon did not turn Zobrist around as some thought he might.)
Joe Sheehan at BP offers reasonable arguments as to why my view of what Maddon did in RF (and why) is wrong.