Rocco: Back in time to help break the wins record.
by P Brady on Aug 10, 2008 7:24 PM EDT
29 comments
To anyone who thought that we would slump into our 71st win, guess not. Without Carl, Bartlett, or Longo, we put a beatdown on the stink trench that is the Mariners pen. Willy Aybar hit 2 HRs and showed why he can be an effective 23th man as a CI. Edwin Jackson only let up 1 ER despite having a 1:1 K:BB ratio, helped by forcing a good amount of groundballs.
If Rocco Baldelli can put together a .270/.350/.450 line while playing 80% of vintage Rocco defense a few games a week, he's going to be a very good piece for us down the stretch. Only playing 5 Innings today, we'll see how many innings on the field he'll play the rest of the week. But the loss of Crawford is much less of a gutpunch with the additional of The Former Castaway(Patented Nickname).
Some more random musings:
- Shawn Riggans has to be a top 7 Backup Catcher.
- Jason Hammel is on the clock.
- Hinske in LF was much less painful than I'd thought it would be.
- Gross = Designated Rocco Replacement?
- Jeff Clement = Terrible Defensive Catcher or Terrible Defensive Catcher?
- Instant Replay in the playoffs please.
0 recs |
29 comments
Email
Print
Comments
welcome back rocco! wow i just saw that catch on espn amazing!
boston 4 1/2 games behind us and new york 8 1/2 games behind us and im loving it, lol rocco looks like the old rocco today, too bad he shaved though, is everyone else on the team that was growing beards going to shave them?
Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. Rays=WS champs 08! fiddler cat=best way to show your excitement. BJ UPTON IS NOT LAZY! ! ! Gabe Gross=caption clutch.
by RaysOfHope on Aug 10, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It looked like it hurt
He was wincing after the catch. He’s clearly not healthy, but it’s great to see him able to fight through it!
Tools Whore
Sign Bonds!
by Tyler on Aug 11, 2008 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Edwin's K/BB ratio is now 1.30
His career K/BB ratio entering today was 1.33.
by R.J. Anderson on Aug 10, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh and more flyballs than career average.
Quite frankly I’m amazed he hasn’t imploded yet.
by R.J. Anderson on Aug 10, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maddon must be well aware of this, and that's hasn't let him implode. He's had him on a quick hook in close games, even with low pitch counts.
9 = 8
by websterjtc on Aug 10, 2008 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's actually had a quick hook
with pretty much everybody.
I think he just really likes relying on the pen.
by Vin on Aug 10, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea...and maybe he wants to get them out before the regression?
9 = 8
by websterjtc on Aug 10, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sorry but that makes no sense
I hate to break the news to you but that is probably the managers primary and main responsibility. Of course they should remove a pitcher before they start to get shelled. That is not regression at all. Any pitcher on this planet is going to get shelled after awhile, the best managers take them out prior to that.
by matthan on Aug 10, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
anyone noticed he's giving up more flyballs, too?
my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance
by Sky Kalkman on Aug 10, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if Gross = designated rocco replacement; then we need Ruggiano up here to be designated hinske replacement.
9 = 8
by websterjtc on Aug 10, 2008 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
who DHs when Bartlett's back to fielding?
my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance
by Sky Kalkman on Aug 10, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if it's aybar, he should probably play the field ahead of hinske
and if it’s a righty, i wouldn’t mind starting Gross in the outfield, DHing Hinske, and sitting Aybar until either a lefty comes into the game or Maddon thinks Baldelli’s had enough.
Floyd is not needed anymore. i cannot think of a lineup that’s better with Floyd in it than not in it.
my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance
by Sky Kalkman on Aug 10, 2008 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Floyd is not needed anymore. i cannot think of a lineup that’s better with Floyd in it than not in it.
So damn true.
Armchair GM time: Floyd DFA, call up Ruggiano
After 2 starts from Price – call him up, DFA Hammel
Hammel can only be trusted in blowouts and that type of pitcher does not belong on a contending team.
by Jason Collette on Aug 10, 2008 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't see them losing Hammel with less than a month left...
At this point I can’t see the FO losing Hammel or cutting Floyd loose with so little time left before rosters expand. I have no problem with Floyd since his option won’t be picked up, but I doubt they let Hammel go for nothing.
by tallyray on Aug 10, 2008 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
do you think Hammel has potential to improve going forward (2009, not this year)?
and given that Price should probably be in the bullpen, would you have him adjust in the minors?
my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance
by Sky Kalkman on Aug 10, 2008 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gross should have been starting for a while...
Gross in LF and Hinske DH should have been happening for a while. Floyd should be benched and just brought in as a PH. The team seems content on keeping Floyd and now they just need to have him be the pinch hitter and once-a-week DH. He doesn’t hit lefties or play the field. At least Gross does one.
FWIW, Gross is batting .238/.326/.446 as a starter and .148/.324/.185 as a sub.
For some reason Aybar has not played the OF this year and I doubt that changes with two months left. I’m not sure why he wasn’t tried there earlier but it has yet to happen.
by tallyray on Aug 10, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Have you checked the 3rd order record?
I think that approach, which may be more accurate than Pythagorean records, indicates the Rays are pretty close to where they should be.
In any case, while your post may have some information, somewhat oversimplified but still worthwhile to consider, its tone is nasty and ill-mannered. You seem to be responding to some imagined slight and come across as a childish whiner.
by bobr on Aug 10, 2008 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
woooooahhhh
71 wins, awesome! it doesn’t feel like that long ago that this team was in last place and just stockpiling #1 picks, does it?
(...and now that CC is down, is there any chance the Rays add in LF the last person to make #71 a noteworthy number?)
by das411 on Aug 10, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans
BELIEVE in 08!
by SRQman on Aug 10, 2008 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congratulations on the franchise record!
May there be many more this season.
by Omerta on Aug 11, 2008 2:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Next stop: first .500 season!
Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.
by Orlando Rays on Aug 11, 2008 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at the game.
Floyd is a vet, and a presence in the club house we will need in the playoffs.
Hammel is gone when price can come up.
Rocco made an routine play look hard. Not good, don’t get to excited.
Gross has a cannon arm, and a left handed bat. Don’t expect him to go anywhere.
We still need another true right hander with power, or at least a guy that can hit anything.(bonds)
by putupyourDUKES on Aug 11, 2008 4:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
sign floyd to a coach's contract
my blog // calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy // past results do not guarantee future performance
by Sky Kalkman on Aug 11, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some dude on the LJ baseball community...
...said he is unimpressed with the Rays.
Considering when he said we will “lose the division for good” (first game of the 9/23 doubleheader), I can tell he was a Yankee fan. Big words from a fan of a team that’s 8 1/2 GB, just got swept again, and came a hair’s breadth from losing a third starter.
I decided not to dignify his insult with a response, and let his stupidity stand on its own “merits”.
Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.
by Orlando Rays on Aug 11, 2008 8:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Some dude who has his own show on WFAN
Said ‘talk to me in August’ all year long. So don’t worry so much about what some random blogger has to say.
by GomesSweetGomes on Aug 11, 2008 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you have to call in and let him know that's it's August now
by stpetelawyer on Aug 11, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with that approach
Is that you justify his existence in the process. Traditional media types LOVE people complaining, so long as they are the ones who get to air the complaints.
by GomesSweetGomes on Aug 11, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
About your Random Musings
Shawn Riggans is going to force the Rays to either trade him or Jaso, and if he goes, the team that gets him is going to give him a chance to start. His play this year has been that impressive.
Hammel has no business being on the post-season roster. The way I understand it now, he would have to be DFA’d for this to happen. He has pitched OK, but not good enough to play for this team in October. At the same time, I think he’s going to make it because I think the Rays keep thinking he’s more valuable than he really is. Even a team that needs a starting pitcher isn’t going to give you much because he’s a fringe #5.
I would hope that LF Hinske is OK. That’s the place where I seem him least likely to mess himself.
I kinda hope that the Rays are get to the point where they rely on Rocco the same way they rely on Hinske (7 innings) and not as much as they went with relying on Gomes (as soon as a righty appeared on the mound).
See above about Shawn Riggans.
I am in favor of an extra ump over instant replay. I might be OK with replay to see if a ball it is a home run or not, but I never want to see replay used to determine if a ball is fair or foul, if a player is safe or out, if a pitch is a strike or a ball. Instigating replay for any purpose starts the ball rolling on a bad, bad precedent.
by kericr on Aug 11, 2008 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
