I expected the Rays to have trouble with Cole Hamels. What was unexpected was that the Rays never really seemed out of that game. It’s like they didn’t play bad, they just never got that one break to put them over the hump. The breaks seemed to go to the Phillies.
Kazmir didn’t pitch bad. The defense wasn’t bad. BJ’s assist was quite awesome actually. Mr. Hamels did make several of the Rays hitters look bad though, and that made all the difference.
Since it was kind of a meh loss, let’s just talk about the non-important stuff.
Did the green screen behind home plate bother anyone else?
How cute was Carl Crawford saying he was batting left-field?
The fans should have been way louder when the Rays were batting in the ninth, and what’s up with letting Ryan Howard catch that foul ball. I know he’s a big boy, but come on, take one for your team!
Thanks Barty for the free taco, but you don’t need to buy my love.
On to game 2. Let’s hope Shields has a much better outing, and that his offense helps him pick up a win. He’s due. Go Rays!!
Oh and I’m calling it right now. The Rays are going to break Lidge’s streak at some point. Just like BJ broke that kid from Oakland’s streak.
As far as Lidge’s streak: Many have tried, none have succeeded.
Several Philly media members have criticized the Rays’ fans for allowing Howard to catch that foul ball.
For the record, there’s one m in Hamels.
and almost everybody has trouble with him. The key for the Phils are these next 3 pitchers… Myers, Moyer and Blanton.
Wondering if the Rays didn’t play their “World Series” against the Red Sox? Maybe last night’s game was a wake-up call? We’ll see.
Upton needs to run out his gounders. I know that’s been a problem with him this season. It sets a bad example for his teammates. That’s basic stuff and he should know better.
I imagine the result would have been different if Utley had been able to lay that bunt down a few pitches before he launched one into the right-field seats.
I have to say, Tropicana Field isn’t getting very good reviews from the media here. Mostly, they’re saying it’s a dump. Maybe we’re spoiled because Citizens Bank Ballpark is such a gem? Domes are so 70s. And that artificial turf? It has a glaze to it.
Anthony – I notice the spelling of Hamels today when I was reading something else. D’oh, sorry about that.
Remember you’re visiting a Rays blog where we love Bossman Jr. and have been to the Trop many times. It is not a bad place to watch a ballgame, and the turf is actually more like carpet. The Phillies better watch out for rug burns!
In Philadelphia, Upton would be roundly booed for not running out ground balls. Rollins was benched earlier in the year for just that, and the next game back he got the boo treatment. Fans here expect players to make the effort worthy of their salary.
When they tore down Veterans Stadium 4 years ago, we said goodbye to plastic grass. It’s a shame that in a place that has warm weather practically all year that they have to resort to the artificial stuff. I understand the stormy weather concerns, but what about a retractable dome? Even Milwaukee has one of those.
The major issue in today’s newspapers is, why would the scoreboard people play the scene from “Meatballs” where Bill Murray chants, “It just doesn’t matter” during the game? It doesn’t matter? Is that how they fire up the fans in St. Petersburg?
Play that in Philly and we’d set the ballpark on fire.
Upton has also been benched, and Maddon has seemed to handle him well. We are just a little sensitive to this because certain media members in the area have led an all out assault on BJ even when it’s uncalled for.
Many are hoping the Rays keep working on the new stadium proposals. There is nothing like watching baseball outside. The Phillies spring training site is an excellent place to watch a game. Rays fans are just tired of everyone ripping on the Trop right now.
Didn’t see that on the scoreboard. Odd.