Jul 09
For a minor league baseball team, there is no such thing as bad publicicty, so the Hudson Valley Renegades must have been loving this commotion caused by their “Ball-Less Baseball” night.
In fact, the commotion reached all the way to the pages of this week’s Sports Illustrated, in their ever popular “Sign of the Apocalypse” feature. But not for their promotion. Rather, it was for the County’s (over)reaction.
Officials in Dutchess County, N.Y., warned the Class A Hudson Valley Renegades that a planned ladies’ night promotion “violates the New York State Human Rights Law … and the [federal] guarantee to equal protection.”
The second lady from the left in the above photo is Staten Island Yankee’s assistant GM, Jean Afterman, and third from the left is Tyler Tumminia, of Hudson Valley’s ownership group (the promotion was her idea). Do they look worried to you?
And if you are curious, here is a photo gallery from the night.
Hudson Valley Promotion Asks Fans Not To Bring Balls To The Game [Rays Index]
Sign Of The Apocalypse [SI.com]
Jul 09
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 09
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: Ben Zobrist. Remember that mini-slump that Bruce Banner was in last week? Yeah, not so much anymore. Zorilla awoke with 3 hits and a walk, inlcuding a go-ahead 3-run home run in the 4th inning and the walk-off single in the 9th…Upton’s Mad Dash. Stealing home is the most exciting 2 seconds in baseball and Upton did it last night for the 3rd time in his career. This time he broke on a pickoff throw to first base…Pat Burrell. Did the walk-off home run 2 nights ago wake him up? 2 more hits last night, including a double suggest it might have…Deep Lineup. The Rays 6-9 batters went a combined 9-16 with 3 walks…Deep Patience. The offense had been struggling, but 6 walks on Tuesday and 8 walks last night suggests that they weren’t pressing. And as long as this team doesn’t expand the strike zone, they will be fine. There is just too much talent.
THE BAD: Scott Kazmir. There were some good signs last night. He worked into the 7th for just the 3rd time this season. He had a 7-pitch inning. He seemed to be throwing his slider with confidence. But he gave up 9 hits, including 2 home runs…Grant Balfour. He had been much better recently even if his velocity is not all the way back. But last night he allowed 1 inherited runner to score and then gave up 2 more of his own to allow the Jays to tie the game in the 7th.
THE TELLING: The Rays are now 17-13 against the AL East. The Red Sox are the only other team with a winning record (22-9) in the division…
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ben Zobrist.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- BJ Upton’s steal of home was not spontaneous. It was planned. Upton and Tom Foley came up with the idea, something Joe Maddon knew nothing about. [St. Pete Times]
- We have a noon game today and it is David Price versus Roy Halladay and Joe Maddon would like to see Price take a step back and simplify things. [Tampa Tribune]
- Brian Shouse will throw a simulated game on Friday. [The Heater]
- Still think the Rays can’t hit lefties? Based on the number of lefties opposing managers keep sending out against the Rays, they still believe it. Well, let’s hope they don’t read Dock of the Rays. [Dock of the Rays]
- Rays All Day makes a case for the Rays pursuing Victor Martinez…We would never say no to Martinez, but we think the Rays fancy Jeff Clement. [Rays All Day]
- The Rays Party takes a look at Ben Zobrist’s hit chart from last night and sees maybe the next Chipper Jones. [The Rays Party]
Jul 09
Gwinnet 7, Durham 5. Jason Cromer gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in 6 innings…Reid Brignac had his 6th multi-hit game in the last 10 and 4th 3-hit game over that span. He finished 3-5 with 2 doubles. He is hitting .299…Matt Joyce also had 3 hits, going 3-4 with a walk and driving in 2. He scored 3 runs and stole his 11th base…John Jaso finished 2-5 with 2 RBI.
Montgomery 6, Tennessee 3. Jeremy Hellickson gave up 3 runs (2 earned) in 6.2 innings. Hellboy struggled with his control, walking 2 and hitting 3 batters. He also surrendered a 2-run home run…Desmond Jennings went 3-5 with his 7th triple and 7th home run. He scored 3 times and stole 2 bases…Rashad Eldridge was back for the first time in 5 games and was on base 4 times with a single and 3 walks. He also stole his 13th base..
Charlotte, Jupiter. Darin Downs struck out 5, but gave up 2 home runs and 3 runs total in 6 innings…Shawn O’Malley went hitless in 4 at bats with 3 Ks, but did draw a walk…Cody Cipriano was 2-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBI.
Bowling Green 6, Charleston 2. Matt Moore allowed just 1 run in 6 innings. He struck out 6 and walked none. He has now allowed 0 or 1 run in 6 of his last 7 starts…Tim Beckham did not play…Keyong Kang hit his 2nd home run and Michael Sheridan added his 10th…John Mollicone, from Fordham, went 1-4 with an RBI.
Hudson Valley 2, Staten Island 1. Alexander Colome struck out 9 and allowed just 3 baserunners, a double and two hit batters, in 5.2 innings.
Pulaski 3, Princeton 0.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
