5/12 Post-Game: Tampa Bay Rays @ Baltimore Orioles

by R.J. Anderson on May 12, 2009 10:11 PM EDT

Please send all of your Adam Jones related hate mail to Sir Bill Bavasi. Just look how fucking tickled he is at your pain:

I feel like a Mariners fan, circa last year.

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Adam Jones isn't our only problem though.....

Swav or Die.

by SRQman on May 12, 2009 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

Tonight was a perfect example

of why this team sucks this year.Bad SP, good bullpen.

And 7 shut don innings by the O’s pen

this offense can’t compete in the ALE

by Raymondo on May 12, 2009 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

Pretty Demoralized

This just isn’t the same team as last year. All statistics and metrics aside (don’t smite me R.J.); we just don’t have the fire we had last year.

Funny how the Defensive replacement (Benzo tonight) made a key mistake that cost us runs. That seems to be a reoccurring theme.

This just sucks.

by BigBadBossman on May 12, 2009 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

The ag o' tricks Maddon employed last year

made him look like a genius, this year our ‘soccer mom’ manager is falling way short

by Raymondo on May 12, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

*bag

by Raymondo on May 12, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it’s more unlucky than anything else, but you would think that one would put their best defensive lineup on the field when a guy like Sonny is pitching.

Its just frustrating. That is not the only reason for the losses though

by BigBadBossman on May 12, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know what "soccer mom" manager means.

But I’m guessing it’s a shot at his demeanor, which is pretty stupid. It doesn’t take a hard ass to manage well.

by R.J. Anderson on May 12, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm pissed off RJ

We all had high expectations for this team, but we all over rated them badly, especially the SP

by Raymondo on May 12, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I think most thought that the SP corp was due for at least a slight regression...

…because aside from early absence of Kaz, we had a completely intact front 5 in 2008. The real disappointments early have been Burrell and Upton. You’ve essentially insulated 3 guys who are raking with a guy who isn’t getting on anymore, and a guy who hits singles. If you had told me in March that Upton would have a .274 OBP and that Burrell would be slugging .315 in mid-May, I would have laughed in your face. It’s not we overrated either player, but on what we knew. It’s that neither have done the job for which they are being paid. That fucking sucks.

Upton leading off is a liability and needs to stop until he can hit an inside fastball.

by Lurch's Lobbyists on May 13, 2009 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Me no right good, "It's not that we overrated either player, based on what we knew..."

by Lurch's Lobbyists on May 13, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Tough few days to be a central Flrida sports fan

by Raymondo on May 12, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

Fuck you, Magic

Now I REALLY want to burn something down

2009 Rays Baseball: God Damn It, Guys

by JMB on May 12, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

nothing good can happen tonight

pisses me off

2010 Rotation: 1. Shields 2. Kazmir 3. Garza 4. Price 5. Davis with Hellickson knocking on the door, it keeps getting better and better

by joeybw on May 12, 2009 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

One of the problems I see with this team is

The Good/Bad contrast-some guys are just being awesome this season and then the rest just freaking fail.

by Transplanted on May 12, 2009 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

For the most part this offense

is awful

Yeah we score 5 runs in the second and then allow that cast of characters to throw zeros?

C’mon

Shake this team up Andrew

Start with soccer mom

by Raymondo on May 12, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

What's really awful

We’re only .5GA of Baltimore now, so if we lose tomorrow, we’re back in dead last.

by Transplanted on May 12, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

And if we win tomorrow, it's a 4-3 road trip.

by twenty5psi on May 12, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

SCREW YOUR LOGIC

by steve-o1285 on May 12, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Fuck this shit

I’m playing WoW

2009 Rays Baseball: God Damn It, Guys

by JMB on May 12, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

When can we put a saddened player as our banner image

by Sylar on May 12, 2009 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

I can't wait to laugh at all you crybabies in 2 months

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 12, 2009 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

These threads are getting very disturbing

by steve-o1285 on May 13, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

The Rays would not get it going until they should remove Upton from the leadoff position and put Bartlett in their

This Joe Maddon has to be the biggest moron in MLB. When this team is up 5-1 and Sonny finds to way to blow it, YOU TAKE HIM OUT ASAP!!! Maddon has to go and Sonnanstine should be remove from the rotation. O’s manager has some sense to take Henderickson out and Maddon leaves Sonny to get rocked for 7 runs. Two games in a row he has blown games. Niemann is a long reliever at best. The Rays would not get it going until they should remove Upton from the leadoff position and put Barlett in their. This is driving me insane. I am telling the Rays need a real manager to shake up this team. Maddon’s 2009 managerial sytle will NOT win a divisional title, wild card, or WORLD SERIES title.

Posted by: Edgar Rivera | May 12, 2009 at 08:57 PM

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 12, 2009 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

Stop being a self-appointed keyboard analyst

And continue this discussion at TampaBay.com.

by R.J. Anderson on May 13, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

The only discussion I'll continue at TampaBay.com is the discussion I have with the reporter after they write a story about how I sexed your mom so good she exploded

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 13, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Heart & Hustle

by ReasonableDoubt on May 13, 2009 7:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Will someone please print this awesome burn out, and wear it on a t-shirt?

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 13, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

With R.I.P and a picture of RJ on it?

by Suttree on May 13, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Preferably a giant white t-shirt that says ANDERSON FAMILY REUNION

And cartoons of people bbqing

Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 13, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ should no longer be leading off

At this point BJ should be pulled in any game we are losing late in the game (esp if there are runners on base). He is a major offensive liability. His defense has been great, but he cost us a run yesterday too.

by matthan on May 13, 2009 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

That would be so good for his confidence.

/dry’d

by Suttree on May 13, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure the constant inability to turn on an inside fastball is just as good for his confidence

by Lurch's Lobbyists on May 13, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

So, let's turn a physical problem that's going to go away with time into a mental one

by having his manager display a lack of faith in a young player’s ability to turn it around.

by Suttree on May 13, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

What are you his therapist?

Anyway, I’m not promoting benching him because at the very least he has a great glove…but he should be moved down in the order. A .274 OBP out the lead-off spot after 106 ABs is unacceptable. 8-hole that please.

by Lurch's Lobbyists on May 13, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I love how a blog focused on advanced statistics uses "confidence" as a reason to keep BJ leading off

I’ll play along even though I think we shouldn’t be making decisions based upon someones confidence. The truth of the matter BJ knows he is sucking. He knows he isn’t slugging or getting on base at a meaningful clip. Him sucking this badly is what will destroy his confidence. He should be intelligent enough to realize that if he gets demoted in the line up it is a function of his play and he should be smart enough to know his play sucks.

However the Rays shouldn’t be worried about making players happy and restful. They should be worried about winning games.

by matthan on May 13, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

What difference does it make whether he struggles batting lead off or struggles batting 6th?

by Suttree on May 13, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

1. Pressure
2. Less PAs for our currently worst or 2nd to worst hitter
3. A player with a far higher OBP (or OPS for that matter) will hit in front of Longoria and Pena

The difference isn’t large, but we’ve lost a lot of close games. A Bartlett plate appearance instead of an Upton plate appearance could have easily meant an extra run or two.

I mean christ why don’t they just hit pitchers 1st in the NL. I mean after all why does it matter?

by matthan on May 13, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait. So, I bring up psycholigical implications, get ridiculed for it,

and then you’re allowed to do the same? NICE.

Eventually, over the course of the season, having a proper lead off hitter makes a difference, something like 1 extra run a game. However, since you’re so insistent on focusing on what’s happened recently, BJ’s struggles in the lead off spot are largely irrelevent. Take yesterday. When he grounded to third to end a rally, he wasn’t the lead off hitter. He could have easily been the 8th or 9th, batting behind two other guys, and driven into that play.

BJ’s offense is going to turn around, drastically, in the next few weeks, and when that happens, all this bitching and moaning about his sucking in the lead off spot is going to be completely irrelevant.

by Suttree on May 13, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Lead off hitters get more plate appearances.

And also if it doesn’t matter then why do you care where he hits?

I have no problem with BJ Upton hitting leadoff when BJ Upton is playing about as half as well as BJ Upton could play. If you haven’t noticed BJ is playing very poorly. Why not demote him (in the lineup) while he is horrible and then promote him when things turn around?

by matthan on May 13, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

That being said

Why don’t the Yankees hit Mark Teixeira lower in the order. A guy hitting third in the order should NOT be hitting .191.

I say move Tex to 7th in the order and promote Melky Cabrera to 3rd. The guy is hitting .333! And you know his RBIs would increase if he was hitting third in that lineup.

by steve-o1285 on May 13, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This, particularly for the extra snarkiness.

It’s impossible to determine when exactly somone will break out of a slump and go on a hot streak, or when a hot streak will end. If you believe in a player’s true talent and production level, then jerking the lineup around after one month is useless.

by Suttree on May 13, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions