A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Posts tagged Lee

This Weeks Thoughts – Who to Root For?

Oct21
2010 2 Comments Written by Jessica

I haven’t posted since that fateful night when the Rays season came to an end.  I could go on and on about how much I miss the Rays, but that’s not going to change anything.  Since it’s the off-season, I’ll probably cut back to weekly posts of any baseball thoughts that have crossed my mind. 

I’ve been sorta watching the championship series’, but it’s definitely not as much fun when your team is home watching it with you.  Up until last night I hadn’t even had an urge to root for any of  ”those” teams.  However the fans in San Fransisco swayed me.  They are so stoked about their team.  It took me back to 2008.  Right then and there I decided to root for the teams that hadn’t been there because I want their fans to have that feeling.

With the Rangers it wasn’t an easy decision.  I like a lot of the players on that team but they did just beat our Rays.  Plus I still want Kinsler to drop and give me twenty for skipping to first base on his devastating home run.  Given a choice between them and the Yankees it is pretty easy though.  I think the Yankees have had their share of success.

The Phillies have also had their share of success.  I am a big fan of Roy Halladay, and would love to see him take on Cliff Lee in Philly but  I can’t help root for the Giants.  It took me a bit to get to that point though since every time Pat Burrell shows up on my TV I wish I had a BB gun.

Other thougths…

A fan is a fan is a fan.  Quit flooding my twitter account with tweets ripping other fan bases.  It all happens everywhere.  There are not only empty seats in Tampa but in Atlanta and New York too.  Rays fans don’t deserve a playoff team because their fans were spotted leaving a playoff game.  However Rangers fans were filmed carrying their antlers and brooms to the exits, and Yankees fans were leaving in droves.  It happens everywhere people.  Bandwagon fans, imbecile fans, arrogant fans are prevalent all across MLB.  It sucks but we need to learn to live with them because they help keep our teams afloat.

When it comes to the Rays should we take an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it attitude” because the won the AL East?  I mean Derek Shelton was the hitting coach of a team that won 96 games.  So why do I still wish we could trade him for the Blue Jays hitting coach?

How many platoons is too many?  The Rays have used the platoon very successfully, but at what point is it a detriment to the team?  In the ALDS the Rays were two completely different teams depending on the handedness of the opposing pitchers.  One team was way better than the other.  This might have something to do with Cliff Lee and his super awesomeness, but it still made me wonder if the other guys would have been better.

I mean clearly everyone wanted Jaso over Shoppach.  I’m not the best one to ask on that one, since I think batting Shoppach is like batting the pitcher.  He is usually pretty good defensively, but had a very rough game five.  I wish him well, but I hope to see all Jaso all the time next season.  What about Joyce, Johnson, Brignac?  Will they be platooned forever without getting at bats against the other side or will they get a chance to be full-time guys?

Yes the Rays could have picked Posey, but they didn’t.  They still made several really good picks, Longoria, Price, Upton etc.  Not to mention Tim Beckham is still very young.  Here’s hoping he works hard and makes some noise when he finally reaches Posey age, 23.  He’s not a bust yet people.

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Game 1 aka Buzz Kill

Oct06
2010 4 Comments Written by Jessica

This started off as such a great day.  Good coffee, everything was going smoothly and it was playoff day.  Things couldn’t get much better.  That is until this guy arrived…

Mr. Buzzkill

The game started off okay.  Price was a little amped, but that’s pretty common for him.  He worked out of trouble in the first.  Things looked good for the Rays in the bottom of the inning when they were able to load the bases with one out, but they failed to bring in a run.  Major buzzkill.

I’m tired, so here are some of my thoughts from the game.

Carlos Pena got thrown off his game in his first at bat and didn’t recover at all.  I love his defense but I don’t know how Maddon can keep him in the line-up tomorrow.

My love for Rocco Baldelli is well documented.  However I was extremely surprised that he made the post season roster.  I secretly hope he recaptures the magic and proves his worth, but he looked awful today.

David Price has had huge success living off his fastball.  Today I found myself longing for him to mix it up.  He was occasionally leaving it up, and the Rangers know exactly what to do with a fastball.  I guess I just wish he would have given them  more to think about.  He’s a hummer, maybe a chucker like James will have better luck?

Take a look at the Rangers line-up.  Did you really think it would be Francoeur and Molina doing the damage.

What ever happen to the Rays way of manufacturing runs?  Zobrist had a lead-off double in the 2nd inning.  The next two batters were Shoppach and Rodriguez.  Isn’t their goal a ball hit to the right side to move Ben?  Why was there no bunt?  I mean to me Shoppach is like having a pitcher bat anyway.  Good pitchers can bunt.  Shoppach struck out and Sean lined out.
The eighth inning also had Jaso lead off with a single.  BJ was up next.  Is it too late in the game to bunt him over?  BJ struck out badly.

Green lights are bad.  At least when your pitcher grooves a fast ball right down the middle and his opponent sends that ball packin.  This happened twice by the way.

I missed Sean’s error.  Was it bad?

Ben Zobrist was the bright spot today.  He hit a  home run and a double not to mention a hard liner in the ninth.

Chad Qualls was also really good.  He reduced the big Rangers bats to measly ground balls.

Red lights are bad.  The contrast in styles was never more evident than in Dan Johnson’s at bat.  The Rangers had been green lighting their sluggers all day.  Dan Johnson got ahead 2-0 in the count and proceed to take a fastball right down the pipe.  He got another pitch to hit at 3-1.  He ended up walking.  Some think that’s great.  I would have to like to see him swinging. 

Glass half full – it’s only one game and no matter how bad the Rays looked, we all know they are capable of big things.

If you want to read something a little more positive on the Rays, I did a guest blog post over at Oh, It’s Those Girls.  I try to convey why the Rays are a lovable team.  Her blog is stellar.  Hopefully the Twins fans won’t mind me mucking it up for a bit.

Go Rays!

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Christmas was sorta lame this year…

Jul31
2009 1 Comment Written by Jessica

This trade deadline felt like Christmas.  There was a lot of anticipation.  There was a lot of speculation.  The spirit of giving was in the air.  However in the end, the other kids got all the cool gifts.  Oh well, what are ya gonna do.

First Cliff Lee went to the Phillies.  He would have made a nice addition to the Rays, but I guess they wanted too much from the farm.  That makes those Phillies pretty tough.

Ditto for Roy Halladay.  I’m not sure what it would have taken to land him.  Think Toronto just couldn’t bear to part with him?

I put Joe Mauer on my list, but I knew that was a pie in the sky idea.  He’s not going anywhere.  I doubt Minnesota will deal with the Rays any time in the near future anyway.  Garza and Bartlett are just too good.

Victor Martinez is heading to Boston.  The Rays could have used him, but he doesn’t always make the right impression around here.  I’m not sure if I wanted him, but I sure as hell didn’t want Boston to get him.  It’s like Jason Bay all over again.  I wonder if Mr. Friedman is pissed or if the Rays decided they didn’t want VMart?

Jake Peavy would have been nice.  Glad the Rays are done playing the White Sox this regular season.

There were other trades but I’m tired of focusing on what we didn’t get.  Let’s focus on what the Rays already have.  They have a very solid team.  If they were to play up to their potential, I put them up there with the best.  So no more slacking, everyone contributes.

Sidney Ponson helped the Rays focus on that tonight.  There was actually offense and pitching together, it was beautiful.  Let’s see it again tomorrow.  Go Rays!

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Game 111 – Indians vs. Rays

Aug04
2008 2 Comments Written by Jessica

Tough assignments and a meeting with the president of the BJ Upton fan club.

Well the Rays had a tough assignment tonight facing Cliff Lee without Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett.  Final score Cleveland 5 – Tampa 2.  Let’s hope they can win one tomorrow, I mean c’mon, everyone else has beaten the Indians.  Why can’t the Rays?

Before the game this evening BJ Upton caught up with the president of his fan club.  Stanley Rosenbagger.

Stanley:  Hey BJ, thanks for signing those 500 balls for the little leaguers.
BJ:  No problem.  My hand is all cramped up, but it wasn’t too long ago that I was one of them.
Stanley:  I have some bad news.
BJ:  What’s up?
Stanley:  We’ve had some complaints.
BJ:  Really, about what?
Stanley:  They say you’re too nonchalant.
BJ:  Homey say what?
Stanley:  Yep, you appear lazy.
BJ:  I’m not lazy.
Stanley:  I know, but you did jog down to first a couple of times.
BJ:  Those were brain farts.  I’m not lazy.  Besides, Mr. Maddon calmly reminded us that we better get our asses movin.
Stanley:  People who don’t know you very well think you’re lazy in the field too.
BJ:  Seriously?  I’ve worked my butt off trying to learn that position.
Stanley:  You just make it look too stinkin easy dude.  They’ve had to bust their humps for everything in life, and you’re gifted.  They don’t see how hard you work at it.  They wish they could be half as cool as you.
BJ:  I am cool.
Stanley:  Some radio host even lumped you in with Young and Dukes.
BJ:  Aw man, that’s not fair.
Stanley:  Don’t worry they’re mental midgets.  Smart people don’t care what they say.
BJ:  So what do I need to do about all this?
Stanley:  Nothing.  Just keep being your awesome self.  There’s nobody your true fans would rather have.  The others will hopefully appreciate you someday.
BJ:  I am awesome aren’t I.
Stanley:  Some have compared you to God.  Oh, that chick from Her Rays recommends that you do more hot photo shoots and maybe some dance moves in the dugout.
BJ:  I’ll keep that in mind.

 Go Rays!!

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