Recap: ROCCO!!!!!!!!

by P Brady on Aug 22, 2008 11:54 PM EDT

via www.fangraphs.com

I intend to express this game in a haiku:

Edwin Gets Off Free

Rocco hits a homer, yay

The Sox Bullpen Sucks.

Random Musings:

Edwin Jackson's new nickname is Houdini.
Rocco Baldelli is back, baby.
Grant Balfour's fastball is best used in this relief ace role we've got him in.
Ben Zobrist is flashing his pop once again(Sidenote: Feel free to debate in the comments how many homers he'd hit in 600 PAs.)
J.P. Howell, is fine, besides that one mistake.
Jason Hammel's Curve is DEVASTATING, but lets not go too far with his talents.
White Sox show why they NEED to hit so many homers. Bad Bullpen(Besides Jenks) + Hilarious Defense = Fun.

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Comments

Kazmir goes tomorrow

Please Kaz. Pretty fucking please, don’t pitch like shit. I’ve stopped cheering for you to pitch well, I’m just cheering for you to not pitch like ass.

by kericr on Aug 23, 2008 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

a W gets us 5 out of 5 SP's to double digit wins

That has to be a 1st for us, then the following day Sonny will try the franchise record for wins.

by joeybw on Aug 23, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Who da thunk Kaz would be last?

by sternfan1 on Aug 23, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

to be fair, he did miss a month of the season.

formerly websterjtc; always 9 = 8

by walkoffwalk on Aug 23, 2008 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

but he has pitched like ass a lot.

formerly websterjtc; always 9 = 8

by walkoffwalk on Aug 23, 2008 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

That's an understatement and a half.

Prior to this year, the record was two in one year.

Rays 10 game winners:
1. Rolando Arrojo
2. Albie Lopez
3. Tanyon Sturtze
4. Victor Zambrano
5. Mark Hendrickson

Guess who the other 5 are?

by GomesSweetGomes on Aug 23, 2008 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

How did Tanyon Sturtze win 10 games?

That guy is back in the majors and I don’t think he was good enough to pitch in AA.

by joeybw on Aug 23, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

and who are the other 5?

I think Kazmir is one but you said prior to this year so I don’t know about the rest of the staff.

I would guess Kaz and Shields are 2 of them.

by joeybw on Aug 23, 2008 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I was including this year for the second part

by GomesSweetGomes on Aug 23, 2008 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Well then

Our current starting 5 are the other 5

by joeybw on Aug 23, 2008 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't mind the HR by JP as much as the BB

seems like he’s been walking guys more lately

by sternfan1 on Aug 23, 2008 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

probably just rusty

All the sudden, Maddon seems to trust Hammel more than Howell

by joeybw on Aug 23, 2008 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

stifness in his back and legs

per the times.

by LeftRight on Aug 23, 2008 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Not too long ago

We were getting concerned about JP’s innings count. Maybe the coaching staff is concerned too and have been trying to save him for the stretch drive?

I wouldn’t say Hammel is more trusted. I haven’t seen him used as much in clutch situations as he has in mop up roles.

by RayFanNY on Aug 24, 2008 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

wow bbtn didnt show rocco's HR during our highlight

but they did say that against the top division teams (cubs,angels, chisox) we are now 14-6 amazing add in the red sux and we are 20-12!

Longo=ROY. Friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. Gabe Gross= clutch.

by RaysOfHope on Aug 23, 2008 12:36 AM EDT reply actions

Ben Zobrist in 600 PA's would probably only hit around 15 HR's IMO

So now wouldn’t be a bad time to sell high. The guys over at Viva El Birdos would give us Joe Mather for him. I would do that deal in a heartbeat.

by raysrule07 on Aug 23, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Why?

Mather is having a much more flukey season than Zobrist. I don’t get the Mather love at all.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Aug 24, 2008 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Is Rocco a total FA after this season?

If so, do the Rays attempt to sign him?

by sternfan1 on Aug 23, 2008 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

Zobie in 600 PA's

.245/.315/.420/.735
25 HR’s

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 23, 2008 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

There has been a sea change in Zobrist

since last year when he was simply being overpowered at the plate. I still think his ceiling is as a useful reserve, but after last year I was not so sure even of that. It looks more and more as if he has developed since then. He always hit some doubles in the minors as well as showing outstanding plate discipline. Now he is translating a bit of that up here.

by bobr on Aug 23, 2008 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Rocco

Is indeed a Free Agent. I think whether he is resigns depends upon:
1) His health and play the rest of this season
2) What happens with Floyd (club option), Hinske (Free Agent), and Gross (Arb)
3) How well Ruggiano plays the rest of the way and if the FO would be comfortable with Ruggiano in right next season.
4) Whether they try to sign an RF/DH in the off season. There are plenty available including: Dunn, Burrell, Ibanez, Abreu, and possibly Giles (club option for the Pads)
5) What Rocco expects to be offered in free agency.

I cannot believe there will be much of a market for Rocco. I would not be surprised to see the Ray sign him to a minor league contract.

by MetsRaysFan on Aug 23, 2008 1:00 PM EDT reply actions