Jul 08
I will make an appearance on ESPN Radio 1230 in Bakersfield tonight at 9:40pm. You can listen live by going to their website.
Archive for July 8th, 2009
Jul 08
Up until first pitch, use the comments section to predict who you think will be the Sunburst Player of the Game. (be sure to use a valid email address while leaving the comment). The commenter that correctly predicts who we will name the Sunburst Player of the Game the most times prior to the all-star game, will win two tickets to a second-half game. Runners-up get their choice of a t-shirt. [Click HERE for rules]
Check Marc Topkin’s blog for the starting lineups.
Jul 08
Jul 08
[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Pat Burrell Bailing Out A Horrific Offensive Showing
Dan Wheeler, Evan Longoria, Pat Burrell 18 Comments »
Time to bring back the GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: Big Home Run. The Rays entered the game losers of 4 straight, but it could easily be argued that the walk-off home run was bigger for Pat Burrell, who needed a hit like that to get him out of his season-long funk. Will he now go on one of his patented tears? The way the Rays are hitting recently, they need it…James Shields. The defense helped but it was another typical James the Greater start, with just 1 run allowed in 7 innings…BJ Upton. His throw to nail Aaron Hill at home to end the 8th may have saved the game…Dan Wheeler. He continues to put up zeroes. Two more perfect innings increases his scoreless appearance streak to 13.
THE BAD: Where’s the Beef? 4 hits overall. Only 2 in the first 9 innings. Only 2 hits in 6 innings off a kid making his big league debut. And if that was bad, wait for this one. No hits off of Shawn Bleepin’ Camp in three innings. How does one of the best offensive teams in baseball get shutdown for three innings by Shawn Bleepin’ Camp? And the top 4 batters were the biggest culprits. Two, maybe three all-stars, and they combined to go 0-19 with a walk and 7 strikeouts.
THE TELLING: Jeff Niemann will start Friday with Matt garza going on Sunday and James Shields on Saturday.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Pat Burrell.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- The Rays were sporting “Vote for Los” t-shirts prior to last night’s game. [Rays Revolutionary]
- Joe Maddon had some rare stern words concerning the Rays performance in Texas and made it clear that the Rays are not thinking wild card. [The Heater]
- Evan Longoria says his hamstring is feeling “100% better.” [St. Pete Times]
- John Romano says the biggest culprit this season has been the starting pitching. [St. Pete Times]
- Rays Revolutionary has some pics from the opening of a cycling studio owned by Pat Burrell’s wife. [Rays Revolutionary]
- Power Rankings, Trop It Like It’s Hot-style. [Trop It Like It's Hot]
Jul 08
Durham 8, Gwinnett 3. Andy Sonnanstine made his second triple-A start and gave up 3 runs in 7 innings on 6 hits and a walk. He struck out 4…Reid Brignac went 2-5 and drove in 2…Matt Joyce was 1-3 with a double and a walk…John Jaso was 2-4.
Birmingham 7, Montgomery 6. Brian Baker struck out 7 and walked just 1 in 6 innings, but gave up 4 runs on 8 hits…Desmond Jennings did not start but pinch hit in the 9th and singled.
Charlotte 2, Sarasota 1 (12). Matt Hall singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th. He finished 2-4…Jesse Darcy worked 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and no walks. He struck out 5…Emeel Salem was 2-4 with a walk and Cody Cipriano went 0-5.
Bowling Green 3, Augusta 2. Nick Barnese did not allow a run in 5 innings, and now has allowed just 1 run in his last 23 frames. He gave up 5 hits, walked 3 and struck out 3. He is now 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 7 starts…Tim Beckham was 0-3 with a strikeout and Jake Jefferies drove in a run and was 1-3.
Hudson Valley 3, Staten Island 2.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Yesterday marked Charlie Montoyo’s first game back after his son Alex’s successful open-heart surgery. [Triangle Offense]
- John Mollicone, from Fordham University, was named the SAL play of the week. [Bowling Green Hot Rods]
- Rashad Eldridge missed his 3rd straight game with a sore oblique. [Montgomery Advertiser]
