American League Champions!
No, that team in the World Series was not the same team we saw from May through the ALCS. I leave the Major League season frustrated, disappointed and totally 100% PROUD of my team!
Here's what they're saying...
St. Pete Times:
Rays miracle season over, but its effects will last - http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article881466.ece#comments
World Series: Remember the Tampa Bay Rays' good times - http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article881459.ece
Rays have less time to prepare for next season after World Series run - http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article881410.ece
Tampa Tribune:
Dream Ends, But It Was a Summer to Remember - http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/30/na-bell-tolls-for-rays-bell-tolls-for-rays/
Maddon Never Wavered - http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/29/300044/w1-maddon-never-wavered/sports-rays/
Rays Come Up Short On Game's Biggest Stage - http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/30/300033/w1-rays-come-up-short-on-games-biggest-stage/sports-rays/
Showing posts with label Scott Kazmir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Kazmir. Show all posts
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
It just keeps getting worse...
Now Evan Longoria is on the 15-day DL with a fracture in his wrist. What was thought to be just a bruise that would have had him back in the lineup today has turned into a 15-day trip. Longoria will be eligible to come off the DL August 23.
It's looking more and more likely that Carl Crawford is done for 2008.
What does this mean for the Rays?
They play 3 @ Oakland and 3 @ Texas before returning home for 3 with the ML-leading Angels. Then they get a day off before heading to Chicago for the Central-leading White Sox.
Longoria will be eligible to come off the DL at the end of that Chicago series. Hopefully he's able to play by then.
To finish August they get 6 games at home against Toronto and Baltimore and then we hit crunch time in September. Aside from a 4-game visit from Minnesota and a 4-game trip to Detroit to end the season, all of their games in September will be intra-divisional games. They have 6 each (3 home and 3 away) with both the Yankees and Red Sox. Those 12 games will likely decide the division and who gets to play in October.
It's time for players like Akinori Iwamura, B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena to step up and play like we know they can. Aki and Pena have been showing signs of breaking out over the last two or three weeks. The batting averages of both have been steadily climbing, and Pena's driving in runs again.
Pitching and defense has carried them all year. It will need to continue to be that way. They need Scott Kazmir to recapture his form from April and May and Shields, Jackson, Garza and Sonnanstine to continue pitching as they have been. The bullpen needs to keep it up - Wheeler, Balfour, Howell and even Trever Miller to continue pitching well. And they need Troy Percival to time-warp back to 2001 and start blowing hitters away.
They need Jason Bartlett back at shortstop - they're infinitely better up the middle with him in there.
Their best player this year has been Longoria.
Their best player in club history has been Crawford.
Missing them both at the most important time in club history... either it's disaster, or they step up and finish what's been the best story in baseball this summer.
It's looking more and more likely that Carl Crawford is done for 2008.
What does this mean for the Rays?
They play 3 @ Oakland and 3 @ Texas before returning home for 3 with the ML-leading Angels. Then they get a day off before heading to Chicago for the Central-leading White Sox.
Longoria will be eligible to come off the DL at the end of that Chicago series. Hopefully he's able to play by then.
To finish August they get 6 games at home against Toronto and Baltimore and then we hit crunch time in September. Aside from a 4-game visit from Minnesota and a 4-game trip to Detroit to end the season, all of their games in September will be intra-divisional games. They have 6 each (3 home and 3 away) with both the Yankees and Red Sox. Those 12 games will likely decide the division and who gets to play in October.
It's time for players like Akinori Iwamura, B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena to step up and play like we know they can. Aki and Pena have been showing signs of breaking out over the last two or three weeks. The batting averages of both have been steadily climbing, and Pena's driving in runs again.
Pitching and defense has carried them all year. It will need to continue to be that way. They need Scott Kazmir to recapture his form from April and May and Shields, Jackson, Garza and Sonnanstine to continue pitching as they have been. The bullpen needs to keep it up - Wheeler, Balfour, Howell and even Trever Miller to continue pitching well. And they need Troy Percival to time-warp back to 2001 and start blowing hitters away.
They need Jason Bartlett back at shortstop - they're infinitely better up the middle with him in there.
Their best player this year has been Longoria.
Their best player in club history has been Crawford.
Missing them both at the most important time in club history... either it's disaster, or they step up and finish what's been the best story in baseball this summer.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Well that's great... and that sucks!
Just when the Rays were winning 3 of 4 in Seattle to post a franchise-record 71 wins (with 45 games remaining I might add!), the nicks and bumps were starting to add up.
Evan Longoria has missed the last three games in Seattle after being hit on the back of his right wrist on Thursday.
Jason Bartlett has been limited to playing DH over the last week due to a bruised index finger.
Although he's been okay and able to play, catcher Shawn Riggans was nearly impaled by a fastball just after Longoria was hit.
The worst news, however, was that Carl Crawford has a tendon injury in one of his fingers which landed him on the 15-day DL today. It could be 6 to 8 weeks before he returns, and the injury may have ended his season.
From the St. Pete Times website TampaBay.com:
The Rays are officially calling Crawford's injury "right middle finger tendon subluxation'' and head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield said to was too early to predict how much beyond the 15-day DL period Crawford will be out until he sees team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan today in St. Petersburg. "I wouldn't even put a timeframe on it right now until our doctor sees him,'' Porterfield said.
The good news for Tampa Bay today was that Rocco Baldelli (yes, THAT Rocco Baldelli) played in his first major league game in over a year. Baldelli missed the last 124 games of 2007 and the first 116 of 2008, but today he went 1 for 4 with a single and an RBI in his return to the lineup. He also made a diving catch in right field before leaving in the sixth inning.
So pitching and defense - which have carried the Rays all year - will have to continue to do the job as they wait for Longoria to return and hope that Crawford can make it back.
The good news is that Carlos Pena's bat seems to be heating up (.324 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in his last 10 games) as well as Aki Iwamura (.356 in his last 10).
Even better was Edwin Jackson's start today where he went 7 innings giving up 7 hits and only one run on a solo homer. That followed Friday night's outing by James Shields where he seemed to break out of his road woes - going 6 2/3 innings and giving up only 3 earned runs to lower his season ERA to 3.65.
The Rays also picked up Chad Bradford from Baltimore earlier this week - releasing Al Reyes to make room on the roster. Bradford brings a 2.34 ERA in 42 1/3 innings of work this year and his submarine style gives the bullpen a different look for the opposing lineup.
Finally there is 22-year old David Price the Rays' top pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt. Price has rolled through the minor leagues with an 11-0 record and 1.87 ERA at classes A and AA. The hard-throwing lefty has allowed only 70 hits in 91 2/3 innings and has struck out 92 while walking only 23.
Word on the street is that Price will be called up in late August. Anyone who saw him play in spring training knows that Price has the best stuff of any pitcher in the Rays' system - including Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza.
Price could be the final piece to the puzzle that puts the Rays into the post-season for the first time - if there's a healthy position player remaining on the roster by October!
Evan Longoria has missed the last three games in Seattle after being hit on the back of his right wrist on Thursday.
Jason Bartlett has been limited to playing DH over the last week due to a bruised index finger.
Although he's been okay and able to play, catcher Shawn Riggans was nearly impaled by a fastball just after Longoria was hit.
The worst news, however, was that Carl Crawford has a tendon injury in one of his fingers which landed him on the 15-day DL today. It could be 6 to 8 weeks before he returns, and the injury may have ended his season.
From the St. Pete Times website TampaBay.com:
The Rays are officially calling Crawford's injury "right middle finger tendon subluxation'' and head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield said to was too early to predict how much beyond the 15-day DL period Crawford will be out until he sees team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan today in St. Petersburg. "I wouldn't even put a timeframe on it right now until our doctor sees him,'' Porterfield said.
The good news for Tampa Bay today was that Rocco Baldelli (yes, THAT Rocco Baldelli) played in his first major league game in over a year. Baldelli missed the last 124 games of 2007 and the first 116 of 2008, but today he went 1 for 4 with a single and an RBI in his return to the lineup. He also made a diving catch in right field before leaving in the sixth inning.
So pitching and defense - which have carried the Rays all year - will have to continue to do the job as they wait for Longoria to return and hope that Crawford can make it back.
The good news is that Carlos Pena's bat seems to be heating up (.324 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in his last 10 games) as well as Aki Iwamura (.356 in his last 10).
Even better was Edwin Jackson's start today where he went 7 innings giving up 7 hits and only one run on a solo homer. That followed Friday night's outing by James Shields where he seemed to break out of his road woes - going 6 2/3 innings and giving up only 3 earned runs to lower his season ERA to 3.65.
The Rays also picked up Chad Bradford from Baltimore earlier this week - releasing Al Reyes to make room on the roster. Bradford brings a 2.34 ERA in 42 1/3 innings of work this year and his submarine style gives the bullpen a different look for the opposing lineup.
Finally there is 22-year old David Price the Rays' top pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt. Price has rolled through the minor leagues with an 11-0 record and 1.87 ERA at classes A and AA. The hard-throwing lefty has allowed only 70 hits in 91 2/3 innings and has struck out 92 while walking only 23.
Word on the street is that Price will be called up in late August. Anyone who saw him play in spring training knows that Price has the best stuff of any pitcher in the Rays' system - including Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza.
Price could be the final piece to the puzzle that puts the Rays into the post-season for the first time - if there's a healthy position player remaining on the roster by October!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
All over the board
On the morning of "the matchup" between Padres future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and Rays current Walk of Shamer Scott Kazmir, I bring you a hodge podge of thoughts.
Maddux is the epitome of consistency, while Kazmir has been maddeningly inconsistent. Kaz has outings where he beats Cy Young winner Johan Santana in Minneapolis (throwing 8 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out 6 and walking none) and then he has a game like his last outing in Toronto (5 innings, 2 runs, walked 5 while striking out 4).
In 13 starts, Kaz has pitched 5 or less innings 5 times. Every time but one he's thrown over 100 pitches (and that one was 96 pitches).
IMO Kazmir's problem is not throwing strikes, it's getting cute after he gets two strikes on a hitter. I cannot count the number of 1-2 counts he's turned into walks over the last two years.
Maybe he'll learn from Maddux tonight how to be more economical with his pitches. Greg will never be considered a strikeout pitcher. Yes he's struck out over 3,200 in his career, but remember that he's pitching in his 21st season. That's under 150/year - not exactly Nolan Ryan or Roger Clemens numbers.
Maddux has made his career by painting the edges and keeping hitters off-balance. His four Cy Young awards have been earned by allowing his teammates to help him by making plays behind him.
I can recall in the mid-90's while watching the Braves on TBS seeing Maddux throw one 3 and one 4 pitch inning in the same game! Kazmir rarely throws less than 3 or 4 pitches to any one batter.
It should be a fun game to watch. The DVR is set!
If Kazmir can get deep into the game, he will be working with a revamped Rays bullpen.
Maddux is the epitome of consistency, while Kazmir has been maddeningly inconsistent. Kaz has outings where he beats Cy Young winner Johan Santana in Minneapolis (throwing 8 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out 6 and walking none) and then he has a game like his last outing in Toronto (5 innings, 2 runs, walked 5 while striking out 4).
In 13 starts, Kaz has pitched 5 or less innings 5 times. Every time but one he's thrown over 100 pitches (and that one was 96 pitches).
IMO Kazmir's problem is not throwing strikes, it's getting cute after he gets two strikes on a hitter. I cannot count the number of 1-2 counts he's turned into walks over the last two years.
Maybe he'll learn from Maddux tonight how to be more economical with his pitches. Greg will never be considered a strikeout pitcher. Yes he's struck out over 3,200 in his career, but remember that he's pitching in his 21st season. That's under 150/year - not exactly Nolan Ryan or Roger Clemens numbers.
Maddux has made his career by painting the edges and keeping hitters off-balance. His four Cy Young awards have been earned by allowing his teammates to help him by making plays behind him.
I can recall in the mid-90's while watching the Braves on TBS seeing Maddux throw one 3 and one 4 pitch inning in the same game! Kazmir rarely throws less than 3 or 4 pitches to any one batter.
It should be a fun game to watch. The DVR is set!
If Kazmir can get deep into the game, he will be working with a revamped Rays bullpen.
- Gone are Tim Corcoran and Chad Orvella - they of the combined 9.24 ERA.
- Gone from the rotation is Jae Seo who was sent down to Triple-A Durham.
- Moved to the pen from the rotation is Casey Fossum.
- Added to the pen from Durham is Chad Hammel who was 4-5/3.42 as a starter there this year. He will provide help in long relief.
- Throwing in extended spring training today is Jay Witasick who was recently released by Oakland although he'd produced well in their pen (1-0, 3.60, 14 hits and nine walks in 15 innings). Expect Witasick to be added to the bullpen today or tomorrow and (hopefully) Shawn Camp will be sent down.
- New to the rotation are J.P. Howell (obtained in the Joey Gaithright trade last year with KC) and Andy Sonnanstine who "allowed just two runs on solo homers while striking out 10 - including a team-record seven straight from the second through the fourth - and not walking any, throwing 99 pitches." (St. Pete Times) in his last outing against the Marlins in Miami.
Things are looking up in Tampa Bay. The team is 28-33, and with just two less blown saves would be 30-31 and in second place in the AL East (and James Shields would be 8-0 instead of 6-0). Hopefully these changes to the pitching staff will allow them to close out games better and climb into wild card contention.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Rays Wi.... CRAP, not again!!
So the Devil Rays rap out 17 hits and score 11 runs. They put an "insurance run" on the board in the top of the ninth, thanks to Carl Crawford beating out a dropped third strike, stealing second, going to third on a shallow fly ball, and then scoring on a single.
With how reliever Gary Glover had sailed through the eighth inning, I headed out to check on construction of my new deck. I mean 11-6 is insurmountable, right? WRONG!
Joe Maddon didn't send Glover back out to work the ninth. Instead, with closer Al Reyes "unavailable" due to recent workload Maddon went with Chad Orvella who proceeded to go WALK-DOUBLE-DOUBLE-2 RUNS IN.
Orvella was "relieved" by Shawn Camp who went WALK-force out-DOUBLE-2 RUNS IN.
The score was now 11-10.
Former starter Casey Fossum then took over and allowed a game-tying DOUBLE.
This brought in Tim Corcoran who intentionally walked Frank Thomas, then threw a wild pitch to Troy Glaus which left first base open with only one out. So he intentionally put Glaus on base.
Finally, Corcoran walked in the winning run.
Game - Set - Match - SportsCenter highlight.
As Carl Crawford told the St. Pete Times, "I've been through it. As you can see, I don't look surprised. ... We were definitely thinking we could win it, but in the back of your mind and you've gone through this for six years, naturally you think it's going to happen again."
That's the scary part of a game like this to me. I expect the Rays bullpen to fail. It's been pretty much the norm for ten years except for the 2005 season. The problem is that young stars like Crawford, B.J. Upton, and Delmon Young are having their hearts ripped out.
How long before they start causing clubhouse problems? How long before they start demanding a trade and not showing up to spring training?
There are so many young offensive stars - Crawford, Young, Upton, Iwamura, Dukes - that all they need is some help in the bullpen.
There is no way that 11 runs and 17 hits should not win a Major League baseball game - especially with a five-run lead going into the ninth inning.
I blame Maddon for not leaving Glover in after he only threw 13 pitches (10 for strikes) while striking out two in the eighth. I've got little leaguers who can throw 60 pitches, but Gary Glover can't start the ninth after throwing only 13? BS!! Put him out there, Joe!
I blame management - specifically Gerry Hunzeker for not trading for some decent middle relief to allow them to get to Al Reyes.
How about James Shields and Scott Kazmir and the number of wins they've had blown by the "bullpen" in the last two years? Think that's frustrating??
Keep Reyes and Glover, dump EVERYONE ELSE!
Give Seth McClung another shot.
Pull up some of those "promising young arms" in the minors and get them some MLB work!
DO SOMETHING!! Turn that "cow-pen" into a true bullpen.
With how reliever Gary Glover had sailed through the eighth inning, I headed out to check on construction of my new deck. I mean 11-6 is insurmountable, right? WRONG!
Joe Maddon didn't send Glover back out to work the ninth. Instead, with closer Al Reyes "unavailable" due to recent workload Maddon went with Chad Orvella who proceeded to go WALK-DOUBLE-DOUBLE-2 RUNS IN.
Orvella was "relieved" by Shawn Camp who went WALK-force out-DOUBLE-2 RUNS IN.
The score was now 11-10.
Former starter Casey Fossum then took over and allowed a game-tying DOUBLE.
This brought in Tim Corcoran who intentionally walked Frank Thomas, then threw a wild pitch to Troy Glaus which left first base open with only one out. So he intentionally put Glaus on base.
Finally, Corcoran walked in the winning run.
Game - Set - Match - SportsCenter highlight.
As Carl Crawford told the St. Pete Times, "I've been through it. As you can see, I don't look surprised. ... We were definitely thinking we could win it, but in the back of your mind and you've gone through this for six years, naturally you think it's going to happen again."
That's the scary part of a game like this to me. I expect the Rays bullpen to fail. It's been pretty much the norm for ten years except for the 2005 season. The problem is that young stars like Crawford, B.J. Upton, and Delmon Young are having their hearts ripped out.
How long before they start causing clubhouse problems? How long before they start demanding a trade and not showing up to spring training?
There are so many young offensive stars - Crawford, Young, Upton, Iwamura, Dukes - that all they need is some help in the bullpen.
There is no way that 11 runs and 17 hits should not win a Major League baseball game - especially with a five-run lead going into the ninth inning.
I blame Maddon for not leaving Glover in after he only threw 13 pitches (10 for strikes) while striking out two in the eighth. I've got little leaguers who can throw 60 pitches, but Gary Glover can't start the ninth after throwing only 13? BS!! Put him out there, Joe!
I blame management - specifically Gerry Hunzeker for not trading for some decent middle relief to allow them to get to Al Reyes.
How about James Shields and Scott Kazmir and the number of wins they've had blown by the "bullpen" in the last two years? Think that's frustrating??
Keep Reyes and Glover, dump EVERYONE ELSE!
Give Seth McClung another shot.
Pull up some of those "promising young arms" in the minors and get them some MLB work!
DO SOMETHING!! Turn that "cow-pen" into a true bullpen.
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