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]
Fernando Perez is a man of many different looks and styles. His latest, is a very thick Fu Manchu, popularized in the early 70′s by several stars of Blaxploitation flicks such as Richard Roundtree and Ron O’Neal. Of those films, it was “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” by Melvin Van Peebles that is largely credited with the beginning of that genre. The making of that movie was recently covered in a biopic “Baadasssss!” by Van Peebles’ son Mario Van Peebles.
While this is not worthy of “Separated at Birth” status, we do like to think of Nando as “Baadasssss!”
[Update] Marc Topkin is reporting that Rodney will receive a 3-game suspension for throwing the ball into the press box.
[9:00am] On Saturday, the St. Pete Times wrote about an incident involving Fernando Rodney following Friday’s game at the Trop against the Tigers.
Tigers closer Fernando Rodney said he was acting on emotion when he celebrated Friday’s win with an unusual and dangerous maneuver: throwing the ball from the field into the press box…The ball bounced near several working writers. No one was hurt.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland, most likely in between puffs of a cigarette, tried to poo-poo the incident (scroll to bottom).
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” Leyland said. “Obviously there was no intent to do anything wrong. I’ve seen 30 balls thrown into the stands during batting practice every night. I’ve seen third-base coaches throw them into the stands over the dugout.”
Yes folks, Leyland just compared underhanding a ball to a 12-year old behind the duguout to firing a ball 150-feet into the press box. Why didn’t this guy try that defense.
Luckily for the reporters, Rodney’s aim was about as good as normal.
Detroit Tigers reliever celebrates win over Tampa Bay Rays by tossing ball into press box [St. Pete Times]
Carlos Peña becomes first Tampa Bay Rays player to reach 100 RBIs in three seasons [St. Pete Times]
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
click above image for boxscore
THE TELLING: The Rays are now 7.5 games back in the Wild Card, tied with the Mariners for 3rd place…The Rays now how 3 rookies in their starting rotation.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Carlos Pena was hit by a pitch, breaking two fingers and is out for the year. Marc Topkin provides some quotes. [St. Pete Times]
Chris Richard has been promoted to replace Carlos Pena, making his first appearance in the big leagues since April, 2003 when he played 19 games with the Rockies. Marc Lancaster has some quotes from Richard. [Rays Report]
Tony Fabrizio wonders if JP Howell is being overused. [Tampa Tribune]
Marc Lancaster writes that the Rays will not make any significant changes to the bullpen in the final weeks. [Tampa Tribune]
Marc Topkin argues that the Scott Kazmir trade may help the Rays keep the rest of the roster intact for the 2010 season. [St. Pete Times]
Joe Posnanski argues that baseball should offer gold gloves for each of the outfield positions and that Carl Crawford would be the runaway choice in left field for the AL. [SI.com]
Driveline Mechanics breaks down Wade Davis’ mechanics. [Driveline Mechanics]
Norfolk 4, Durham 3. Jason Cromer pitched 4 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits and no walks…Desmond Jennings went 1-5…Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce each went 0-4…John Jaso was 3-4 with a pair of doubles. The Bulls finished the regular season 83-61, winning the IL South by 2 games behind Gwinnett in the IL South division as the Wild Card winner. They will face Louisville in a first-round, best-of-5 playoff series beginning Wednesday.
Montgomery 7, Mobile 5. Matt Spring’s 8th home run, a 3-run shot in the top of the 9th, proved to be the game-winner…Brian Baker went 5.1 innings and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks…JT Hall hit his 6th and 7th home runs and Matt Fields hit his 5th…The Biscuits finished the season 66-74, 27 games back in the Southern League South Division (that the Southern League has North and South divisions will never cease to amuse us).
Charlotte. No games scheduled. The Stone Crabs begin a best-of-3 divisional playoff series against Ft. Myers tonight.
Lexington 5, Bowling Green 1. Tim Beckham went 1-4 and Jake Jefferies was 0-4. Bowling Green finished the second-half of the season 30-38, 10.5 games back. Beckham finished the year hitting .275/.328/.389 with 5 home runs and 13 steals. Jefferies hit .261/.326/.359 with 8 home runs.
Hudson Valley. Finished their season 38-37, 8.5 games back in their division.
Princeton. Finished their season 36-31, 10.5 games back in the East division.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
Mitch Talbot, who had been out since May with a shoulder injury, threw 3 innings over the weekend and is slated to start game 2 of the playoffs for Durham. [Triangle Offense]
It is like 2006 all over again. The Rays can’t win a game but can lean on the fact that they have some of the best prospects in baseball. Desmond Jennings and Jeremy Hellickson come in 1 and 2 in the latest Prospect Hot Sheet. [Baseball America]
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]
