This game was frustrating because the Rays really seemed to outplay the A’s. It just felt like they would put that run up there first. Let’s play the blame game.
James Shields pitched a helluva game, but his offense couldn’t help him out. They deserve the lions share of the blame. They had a runner on third in three separate innings with only one out, but there was not one single measly ground ball or sac fly in sight. The 3 and 4 hitters put up zeros.
Jason Bartlett had a very untimely error in the 11th. I blame this on Staats and Kennedy for going on and on about how great he is. Yes he has been supremely awesome this year, but let him quietly go about his business. Just because I write poems about him…
I guess Nelson deserves a little bit of the blame since he threw the meatball that Holliday put in the seats.
I would also like to give a big fat slice of blame to Joe Maddon. What possessed him to bring in Navi? That was the turning point in the game. Gross struck out, and then all of a sudden Shields couldn’t find the strike-zone. I understand that those things could have happened with Herny in the game but…I think he messed up the flow you know.
Oh JP and Willy don’t deserve any blame. JP shut them down, and Willy is really looking good. The Rays need to find him a starting job. Oh, and I’ll take Zobrist over Kapler any day of the week.
Tough loss but they aren’t going to win every game and there are quite a few more. Go Rays!
