Archive for the 'Andy Sonnanstine' Category

Jun 22

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss A Jaso Sighting, Sonny’s Pay, And Tipping The Cap

Andy Sonnanstine, Josh Sale 2 Comments »
Rays 7, Indians 0
Brewers 5, Rays 1 (click image for boxscore)

The GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.

THE GOOD: John Jaso. He had 2 hits. That’s it.

THE BAD: Tip The Cap. Zack Greinke entered the game with a 5.23 ERA, but he has not been a 5.23 ERA pitcher. In fact, he might be the unluckiest pitcher we have ever seen. His K-BB ratio is over 7 (3 is good) and he has pitched more like a pitcher with a 2.50 ERA. In the end, you just tip your cap and be grateful that the Rays actually got 4 hits…JP Howell. Geez. After we celebrated the return of the Dude we all loved. He goes out and can’t retire any of the 3 batters he faced.

THE TELLING: Johnny Damon started in left field again…Andy Sonnanstine has pitched 1 inning in the last 18 days. During that stretch, he was paid ~$91,000.

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

Jun 08

Postgame Shot Of Joe: Cobb Punches Sonny’s Ticket To Bullpen

Alex Cobb, Andy Sonnanstine, David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Johnny Damon, Wade Davis 2 Comments »

If there was any debate that Sonny should not see another start in a Rays uniform again short of an outbreak of the Ebola virus, rookie Alex Cobb slammed the door shut on this (not so much of a) debate.

The rook was solid, on the road no less, against some solid sticks, outdueling Dan Haran. Even after a shaky first inning, he dodged bullets and got a ground ball for a double play. Any time you give up three hits in an inning without allowing a run, it’s your night.

Cobb was helped by ageless Johnny Damon’s three extra-base hits.

Kyle Farnswoth has damned near made Rays fans forget MFIKY. The way this closer in theory could totally make fans forget MFIKY is if he wildly untucks his jersey after finishing off a save. Guy just mowed down the Halos in the ninth.

Solid, solid, solid win by the Rays. Your new Rays rotation should be David Price, Big Game, Hellboy, Wade Davis and Cobb.

Say hello to the pen, Sonny.

Jun 04

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss A Good National Anthem, And A Game Lost

Andy Sonnanstine, Dewon Brazelton, Pearl Jam 3 Comments »
Rays 7, Indians 0
Mariners 7, Rays 0 (click image for boxscore)

The GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.

THE GOOD: The National Anthem. Mike McCready performed the national anthem prior to the game. That was the only thing worth watching all night (VIDEO).

THE BAD: Andy Sonnanstine. We don’t think it is an exaggeration when we say the Rays probably have Read the rest of this entry »

Jun 03

Postgame Shot Of Joe: Derek Shelton Stinks

Andy Sonnanstine, BJ Upton, David Price, Evan Longoria, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, John Jaso, Kelly Shoppach, Matt Joyce, Reid Brignac 6 Comments »

Joe was going to sign off on his allegiance to Sonny in this missive. The words of how good of a pitcher Sonny (is alleged) to be from the likes of Don Zimmer and Tony La Russa as well as the memory of his studly pitching in 2008 make Joe hope for, pine for, Sonny to return to that form.

But it is not meant to be and after tonight, Joe’s done with Sonny. But you know what, Sonny could have thrown damned near the game of his life and it wouldn’t have mattered.

The Rays offense is horrible.

With the exception of Matt Joyce, this is a team worthy of Montgomery the way they hit. As usual, Joe points to the guy responsible for the hitting: Derek Shelton.

Joe can sort of give Dirtbag a pass as he missed so much of the start of the season. There are no more excuses for Bossman, Briggy and the two lummoxes the Rays have for catchers.

Jason Valdez (!) of all people tossed a four-hit complete game shutout. Sickening. Yeah, he had some decent defense behind him robbing the Rays of one extra-base hit, but still, that was one potential extra-base hit.

For the Rays to put together any kind of winning streak with this putrid offense, David Price, Big Game Shields and Hellboy will have to throw no-hitters and hope the Rays can score in extra innings.

Jun 01

Temper Your Excitement: Sonnanstine To Remain In Rotation For Now

Alex Cobb, Andy Sonnanstine 1 Comment »

Remember when we all thought the rainout in Detroit, coupled with the promotion of Alex Cobb, had saved the Rays (and us) from any more Andy Sonnanstine starts? Not so fast.

In what appears to be a move to get both James Shields and David Price on the mound for the June 14-16 series against the Red Sox, Sonnanstine will now pitch on Friday against the Mariners. This will move Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis back a day. They will pitch Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with both throwing on an extra day of rest.

This means the Rays are going to be short a man in the bullpen (with Sonnanstine becoming the 6th starter) and a man short on the bench (with Casey Kotchman still nursing a sore ankle) for the time being.

May 31

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Joyce Bashing A Lefty, Big Dub’s Big Dud, And The Return Of Cobb

Alex Cobb, Andy Sonnanstine, Brandon Gomes, Matt Joyce, Sean Rodriguez, Wade Davis 10 Comments »
Rays 7, Indians 0
Rangers 11, Rays 5 (click image for boxscore)

The GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.

THE GOOD: Matt Joyce. Joyce was 2-4 with an RBI on a night when the Rays needed a lot more than 1 run. But what was “good” was that Joyce’s two hits came off of lefty Derek Holland. It was just the fifth start of the year against a lefty for Major League Baseball’s leading hitter.

THE BAD: Wade Davis. Did Andy Sonnanstine steal Big Dub’s jersey? Davis faced 22 batters. 12 of them picked up hits and 14 of them reached base. In the end, Davis gave up 7 runs and didn’t finish the third inning. And that’s it. Sure the Rays had the tying run at the plate in the 6th inning. But with 2 outs, the Rays still only had about a 10% shot at winning the game at that point. Coming back from Davis’ mess would have taken a minor miracle…Oh Wait. There was one more. The defense. Actually, just Sean Rodriguez, who committed 3 errors at shortstop, just a day after we heard he would start to see more playing time at the position. It also marked the first time this season that the Rays committed more than one error in a game.

THE TELLING: As expected, Alex Cobb was
Read the rest of this entry »

May 30

Sonnanstine Out Of Rotation; Cobb Expected To Start Tuesday

Alex Cobb, Andy Sonnanstine 5 Comments »

Marc Topkin is reporting that the Rays are ecpected to recall Alex Cobb from Durham and will start for the Rays tomorrow. The move means Andy Sonnanstine’s time in the rotation has finally come to an end. Sonny can now get back to doing what he does well, cleaning up messes left by other pitchers. [The Heater]

May 26

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss A Rain-Out, Silly Faine Comments, And A New Pitcher

Andy Sonnanstine, Jay Buente 8 Comments »

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: Rained Out In Motown. This means one less Andy Sonnanstine start will count in the Rays’ final record. The game will be made up on June 13 which was on off-day between a series in Baltimore and a home series against the Red Sox.

THE BAD: Jeff Faine. I don’t have a problem with Jeff Faine skipping Josh Freeman’s workouts. I do have a problem with Faine using Freeman’s workouts as an opportunity to spew NFLPA propoganda. And that is all these comments are. It is Faine saying the workouts are not a substitute for the real thing. And there is no real thing because the owners have shut the league down. In the end, Faine, who is the Bucs rep in the NFLPA, is causing his own team more harm than he is helping the players’ union.

THE TELLING: The Rays picked up pitcher Jay Buente off waivers from the Marlins and assigned him to triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster, Rob Delaney has been designated for assignment...Elliot Johnson was placed on the DL, with Reid Brignac activated from the bereavement list to fill the roster spot…This was the Rays third postponed game of the year…

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

May 24

Andy Sonanstine Is The Bastard Child Of Casey Fossum

Andy Sonnanstine, Casey Fossum 1 Comment »

They say that the darkest hour is just before the dawn. That could accurately describe the Rays rotation in 2006 and 2007 which featured some of the worst starting pitching in recent baseball history. While most of us assumed those days were behind the Rays, one of the pitchers has returned.

In 2006 and 2007, Casey Fossum started 35 games for the Rays with an ERA of 6.20.  About the only way Fossum could have been worse, is if he were right-handed.

Enter Andy Sonnanstine.

If we compare Sonnanstine’s last three seasons to Fossum’s final two seasons with the Rays, we see some scary similarities…

One other thing these two pitchers have in common: an 87 mph fastball.

With Jeff Niemann on the DL, Sonnanstine will make his fourth start tomorrow. When asked about trying to get Sonnanstine back on track, Joe Maddon suggested Read the rest of this entry »

May 18

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Dirtbag’s D, Killer Ks, And Johnson’s New Role

Andy Sonnanstine, Elliot Johnson, Evan Longoria, Johnny Damon 8 Comments »

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: Evan Longoria. Somebody recently described watching Dirtbag play defense as a “religious experience.” To that we say, “Amen.” Last night, with the shift on, Longoria started at shortstop and ran down a ball in foul territory, sliding for, oh hell, just watch it here…Let’s Not Get Greedy. OK, we always want to beat the Yankees. But a split and maintaining a two-game lead is just fine. Not perfect. But it works.

THE BAD: When Ks Kill. Next time somebody tells you a strikeout is no worse than any other out, point to last night’s 6th inning. With the Rays still trailing by just 1 in the 6th, the Rays loaded the bases with just 1 out. The Yankees took out Ivan Nova who promptly struck out both BJ Upton and Casey Kotchman. Just about any contact by Upton scores at least 1 run in that spot. The Yanks would score twice in the next half-inning, effectively ending the game…Return of the Long Ball. We all know James Shields is susceptible to the home run. And last night, Alex Rodriguez went deep off of Shields twice. Both were solo shots. But with the offense only picking up 4 hits in the first 7 innings, it was 2 runs too much…Failed Replay. OK, the Rays were still going to lose the game, but Kelly Shoppach was robbed of a home run when the umpiring crew went to the replay and for some reason failed to overturn his flyball out that clearly hit the catwalk.

THE TELLING: The Rays were not expected to land in Toronto until 4am…Joe Maddon confirmed that Andy Sonnanstine will start Friday’s game.

THE JUNKYARD DOGS WEBTOPIA…

Previous Entries Next Entries