[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Aki’s Last Day In Pittsburgh, Cold Bats And Rodriguez’ Numbers
Akinori Iwamura, Dioner Navarro, Jason Bartlett, Sean Rodriguez June 17th. 2010, 6:48am
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: Good Starts. After a game like that, about all we can hang our hat on is that the Braves are a good squad and the Rays weren’t going to sweep. And while things are tightening up in the East, the Rays still have the best record in baseball.
THE BAD: 2-Out Scoring. The Braves first 3 runs all came with 2 outs in the 3rd. With the way the Rays were hitting, that inning was the end of the game…Gone Cold. The 8 starting hitters went a combined 3-26 with 1 double, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts.
THE TELLING: Dioner Navarro played for the first time since June 9, pinch-hitting and getting an RBI double…Jason Bartlett was back in the lineup after being activated from the DL. He was 0-2…Sean Rodriguez went hitless for the first time in 16 games.
WHERE THEY STAND: The Rays are 41-24, tied with the Yankees for first in the AL East and 3 games ahead of the Red Sox in the Wild Card. After 65 games in 2008, the Rays were 38-27.
THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…
- Wade Davis talks about last night’s loss. He used the word “sucks” a lot (video). [The Heater]
- The Pirates have designated Akinori Iwamura for assignment, meaning they have 10 days to trade him or they will have to release him. [MLB Trade Rumors]
- RotoProfessor takes a closer look at Sean Rodriguez’ numbers and projects what he could do over a full season. [Roto Professor]
- The Rays announced the signings of a bunch of draftees from the 13th round and later. [MLB]
DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Check out Rays Prospects for boxscores and more detailed recaps. [Rays Prospects]
- DURHAM: (no game scheduled)
- MONTGOMERY: Alex Torres struck out 7 and walked 2 in 5 innings. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits…Nevin Ashley was 2-5 with a walk and 2 RBI.
- CHARLOTTE: Nick Barnese allowed 1 run in 5 innings with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts…Tim Beckham was 0-5 with 2 strikeouts.
- BOWLING GREEN: Aaron Dott took the loss after giving up 8 runs (7 earned) in just 3 innings…Chris Murrill was 103 with a walk and stole his 26th base.
Related posts:
- [THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Crisp’s Revenge, Wheels Gone Bad And Cold Bats
- [THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Good Signs For The Bats, Playoff Probabilities And Reaction To The Dude’s Injury
- [THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Rodriguez Finally A Ray, Joyce’s (Lack Of) Splits And JoeMa Taking One For All Teams
You know, Montgomery’s top 4 starters have only given up 8 home runs in 48 starts covering 253 innings. That’s mighty impressive.
I guess it is just piling on to point out the absolutely brutal call against Blaylock in the top of the 6th? Umps might not like or want instant replay but keep making calls like that and you are going to get it. The game went from 3 – 1, runner on 3rd with 1 out and the heart of the line up coming to the plate to 3 – 0 and Hinske’s HR in the bottom of the inning basically ending the game. /rant.
Today would be a fine day for Shields to back up the notion that he’s the No.1 starter. I’d love to see it.
I told you those redneck, steelmill boys aren’t going for anyone called:
AKINORI IWAMURA
Hell…. they can’t even say it… plus they don’t speak Japanese…
But Aki will go home to play…. with about $8mil of their money!
Shields is not Rays #1 pitcher..he’s fighting it out with Davis for last…
80 mph fast balls and change ups tonight…start ducking…