Jason Bartlett's Costly Error Dooms Rays
by Erik Hahmann on May 19, 2009 10:39 PM EDT
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PrintThere were two outs in the top of the 11th inning. A ground ball was hit right at Jason Bartlett, whom I praised just yesterday. Of course Bartlett can't field it cleanly and is charged with an error. Matt Holliday is up next and effectively ends the Rays night when he launches a hanging pitch from Joe Nelson into the left field seats. A beautiful start from James Shields is wasted. Notice the blue dot here. Not good.
via brooksbaseball.dustinkikuchi.com
To quote Bull Durham ""It's a simple game. You see the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball....Got it??!!"(h/t Jason Collette) Tonight the Rays seemingly did none of those things when it mattered. *sigh*
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Tough loss.
Just gotta forget about it, and focus on picking up the next two for a nifty 6-2 homestand.
Hmm
that’s interesting, we look so sloppy some times. It must be Kapler’s playing deceiving me
by Transplanted on May 19, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
We have the best left side in the majors, the best right fielder, one of the better 1B/CF, and a few good bench gloves.
So, no.
by R.J. Anderson on May 19, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
This.
Not MVB’s fault. The team as a whole had it’s chances and nobody came through.
M.V.Z. Most Valuable Zorilla!
It's Topkin's fault
He said his steak got cold. How rude of his wife.
Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!
Deja Vu
Tonight: 4 pitch strikeout for a pinch-hitting Gross leading off the 8th vs Bailey w Zo on the bench still
4/25 4-1 As lead over the Rays. Bailey enters for the As with the bases juiced and two outs. Gross enters to pinch hit with Zo still on the bench. Result: 4 pitch strikeout
bigger question
Why start Kapler at all with Zobrist swinging well from both sides unless they felt Zobrist needed a rest after the long game yesterday
by Transplanted on May 19, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Strike zone sucked prior to the error
I thought the HP ump blew it in the sequence prior to the lead runner getting on base. He K’ed him and ended up giving up a BB that shouldn’t have been.
Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!
For the 15th time, the umpire missed two pitches that inning.
One was a ball called a strike and one strike called a ball. He didn’t squeeze our pitchers.
Tools Whore
The situational hitting on this team blows rights now.
I’m not talking about hitting w/ RISP either. It doesn’t have to always be hits. But how many times are we going to K with one out and a guy on third, or none out and a guy on first and second, all the while with guys taking long swings and looking like they’re trying to hit the restaurant?
You may not always get a hit, but the ball has to be hit in those situations. If you hit it and no one moves up, well, you had a chance. But these K’s, my god, enough.
That happened about 4 separate innings tonight
At least!!! And it was the heart of the order not executing. Bailey is a good kid with a bright future, but obviously, you got to get a run in there. Hard, hard loss to take knowing that all it took was ONE RUN to win the game. You can’t strike out knowing that contact will probably win the game. Just exasperating.
Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!
Bartlett's error dooms Rays?
Longo’s K’s along with every other batter with 1 out and a man on 3rd doomed the Rays, It should have never gotten to the point in which Jason made the error in the 11th.
I’m in total agreement that the TB ballclubs situational hitting is total shit and has been all season long. For that matter even getting a 2-out hit with RISP is something that doesn’t happen this season at all in clutch situations.
When did I know the Rays were going to lose? That’s right, the round man came into catch and 4 – runs cross the plate and he strikes out to end the game.’
The time is NOW Joe….. The time is NOW!
by ConnorManning on May 20, 2009 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions
It was a bad game all around offensively
We haven’t had one of these in quite some time.
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 20, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I blame our offense
We had multiple chances to score and end the game, especially late. There should have never been an 11th inning for all of this shit to happen in. Bartlett hurt us, along with Nelson, but the offense collectively takes the hit for this one.
2009 Rays Baseball: God Damn It, Guys
Blaming Barty for the loss is like saying
we lost cause they ran out of peanuts to sell
This one is squarely on the offense, especially Longo and BJ who failed several times with a runner o 3B and less than 2 out
4-10 v LHP with two more on tap
And what’s sad their names aren’t Sabathia or Santana
We suck at situational hitting
We keep hammering it and many continue to ignore it. We play horrible fundamental baseball when we are up to bat. It is frankly embarassing. Of course a “K” is worth the same as any other out right? hahaha of course that is the biggest crock of bs there is. There were a few times where all our player had to do was tap the ball into fair territory and we would have won the game. What really sucks is it was our best players that failed at the most critical of junctures. Nothing we can do but move on to the game tonight.
Aybar did a nice job hitting the ball to the rght side with Barty on second
almost was rewarded with a hit too. He had to work hard to get that pitch over that direction. I recall he excelled at this last year too.
Aybar rarely has a bad PA
Navi is a wreck. Can you believe how shallow they played him in LF?
We need a C
don't blame bartlett,
blame the THREE DAMN TIMES we had a man on 3rd with 1 out, and we struck out each time. any of those sacs could have won the game before the 9th.
TB has:
Scored 15.9% of all baserunners, good for 5th in the AL, LgAvg is 15.2%
Scored 50.8% of baserunners on 3B and <2 Outs, good for 7th in the AL, LgAvg is 50.5%
Scored 41.5% of baserunners on 2B with 0 Outs, good for 8th in the AL, LgAvg is 43.2%
The thing that really stood out to me is that we are near the top in chances for all of these categories. We are 4th in BR, 1st in <23B, and 1st in 02B.
THIS TELLS ME THAT WE ARE SUCCEEDING AT ABOVE LEAGUE AVERAGE RATES, BUT BECAUSE WE GET SO MANY CHANCES THERE ARE MORE CHANCES TO FAIL. WHICH MEANS MORE CHANCES TO BITCH AND MOAN THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS OR THAT. SHUT THE FUCK UP!
You guys make it sound like we’re supposed to go 162-0. It’s mid-May, we’re essentially at .500. Only you guys would say we can’t drive runners in after a 4-game winning streak where we outscored our opponents 32-18. Only you guys would pick out the one game where we categorically failed and attempt to say that this snapshot is indicative of the entire season.
Our scoring frequency:
Runs..08..09
0-2..26.5%.22.0%
3-5..40.1%.34.1%
6-10.27.2%.31.7%
>10…6.2%…12.2%
We are scoring more runs, period.
If you want to check my math go to HERE
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 20, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
This is true
It was a big struggle early in the year. It was a huge struggle last night. The majority of the season it has not been an issue though certain players have failed more than others. The fact the game was 0-0 makes it stick out like a sore thumb though.
by FreeZorilla on May 20, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice work, but not really what the gripe is about
We aren’t complaining about driving runners in or more specifically driving runners in from third with less than 2 outs in general. There are many different situations within that set up.
We are talking about the scenario with a man on third less than 2 outs where the 1 run is far more valuable than usual.
The Rays have been a part of numerous games that were high scoring or blow outs that frankly the value of one run is nowhere near high enough to compare.
It is comparing apples to oranges. If the run value changes significantly enough then the batter should change his strategy to fit the changing value. If it isn’t high enough then the batter just treats the AB the same as nearly every other AB, which makes the data worthless for this sort of comparison.
The worst outcome possible in that scenario is a strike out. The detriment of a strike out is increased significantly in such a scenario. It is by far the worst sort of out.
Well guess what team leads the AL in strike outs (2nd in ML)? The TB Rays
Due to that fact we are going to fail far more often than most teams in such a situation where contact is literally all that is required.
A strike out is no different than a normal out in most situations, but this is not most situations.
For example..
You can’t really compare what a hitter does with a man on 3rd with 1 out in a 5-1 game in the 8th compared to a 0-0 game in the 8th. It would be two totally different strategies at the plate.
And with your overall numbers…they make sense. We have 4 of the top hitters in the AL this year. We should be putting up tons of runs.
Oh I get your point. It's not like Livan Hernandez is on the bump in the 2 times this has happened this year, though.
The opposition manager is in the same boat. He knows he needs a strikeout. They bring in their version of Balfour and mow us down. In an example like this, super high leverage, one run will win it, I will take an exceptional strikeout pitcher that knows he cannot give up anything outside of an IFFB. Longoria is very good, but if it’s him against Andrew Bailey (11+ k/9, 93%+ Strand rate, .123 avg against, .165 Babip) I would say Longo strikes out 6/10 times. I would really like to see the numbers on this situation all season, I’m sure you can put it together, because I think we have succeeded more than we have failed.
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 20, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree
There is certainly a component involved with the opposing team knowing they need a strike out. It is not a one way street. I also do not expect us to never strike out in those situations. It happens. You brought up the Longo at-bat. My main gripe with that specific at bat was his process. If he has the right process and he strikes out then so be it. However take a look at his swings. They look very long and it appears like there was literally no change in his process this at bat compared to his previous at bats. Of course we do not know what is in his head or the little tiny adjustments that the naked eye watching the game live may not pick up, however his swing looked like the typical long (and great) swing that it usually is. We didn’t need a 3 run home run in that situation. The difference between a ground ball and a 550 foot perfectly aimed bomb is pretty small. So why set your process to get the one result that is far tougher to achieve? That is my gripe. If he went up there with the adjustments and mindset to just put the ball in play and he still struck out then I’d have no problems at all. That happens, but it just appears that we just do not adjust our approaches correctly. Of course watching on tv (or even worse live) is probably the worst way to judge this sort of thing. I’m certainly not blind of that fact.
Perhaps it is more of an issue of not wanting to change the swing (if that is what happened)
Maybe Longo feels like his swing is very good right now and doesn’t want to tweak it at all in case he can’t get back to that comfort level. I find it pretty hard to believe that our guys don’t understand the situation and know how to adjust. This is the Show. Maybe I’m wrong, but who knows. Here is Bailey’s pitch chart from last night (courtesy of Brooks Baseball):
I find it incredible how he almost never through a first pitch strike, but then pounded the zone everywhere on his second pitch. Then his 3rd pitch went either way. Very tough guy to hit and he is enjoying a lot of success right now. I think that is my main point in these situations. It is not that our batters are trying to hit a homer when all we need is a groundball, it is that they are being overmatched and beaten by pitching. That happens. You would prefer it to not be 3 guys in a row, but that’s the breaks sometimes.
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 20, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Longo
in 17 ABs, he has 15 RBI with a runner on 3rd and < 2out. He’s leading the MLB in RBI. He deserves some slack. Here is a rundown of the Rays in situations with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs. The ratio is RBI:AB. This helps to forgive Longo for a failed opportunity based on his usual slugging.
—3 <2 outs
PLayer RBI-PA
Zobrist 9-4
Burrell 5-4
Hernandez 5-4
Pena 14-13
Aybar 3-3
Kapler 2-2
Bartlett 10-11
Longo 15-17
Gross 5-6
Aki 8-11
Crawford 5-8
Navi 2-9
Upton 1-7
Aki Crawford, and Upton should be able to hit for contact in those situations. 1-7 is awful.
by FreeZorilla on May 20, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice data
I wasn’t really bashing Longo. It is hard to complain about the MVP of the league so far this year. It was more of an example.
Upton has been horrible.
Uptons 7 AB (9 PAs) Results
1 Foul Out to 1st
1 Sac Fly
1 Fielder’s Choice Out at Plate
4 K Swinging
1 K Looking
1 BB
somehow....
This is Kazmir’s fault…i just haven’t figured out how yet….
by death taxes and longoria on May 20, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions
Bartlett's error might have been costly: Insight and Analysis from tbird
We learned something tonight—Maddon has no faith in Wheeler anymore. He has him on a very short leash and tonight brings in “Homer” Nelson with a runner on base. Nelson has given up like 5 HR’s in 14 innings and has been hit very hard. If Izzy comes through and Bradford gets healthy and Price comes up, Nelson will go, perhaps Wheeler goes or gets traded and who knows about Balfour. As for tonight’s game, offense sucked, Shields was brilliant and deserved a win. He was obviously pissed when he was pulled and being a pitcher myself, I cannot blame him one bit, regardless the outcome. Something appears “wrong” with Longo as he just doesn’t look right, both in the field and especially at the plate. Bartlett has been fantastic at the plate but his play in the field has been spotty at times and that error tonight probably cost us those 4 runs and Aybar gets a “walk off” homer.. All speculation of course and it was what it was. I am in total agreement with the angst directed to Maddon as I think he micromanages and overmanages, usually bypassing long proven strategies like a sac bunt or hit and run, especially when you are at home, runners on base, late in the game and you’ve had offensive troubles all night long..Frustrating is not the right word but we can’t print how we feel…
Posted by: tbird | May 19, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Until Next Time,
The Sports Chief
by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 20, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
The Times reports Kazmir has it all figured out
less mechanics, more pitching. Had a great bullpen session. Blah blah. Every start its a different formula of pitching vs mechanics. Makes me long for the crowd excuse. No more stories, just get it done. Has Maddon or Kazmir ever addressed velocity?
by FreeZorilla on May 20, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I read a pretty good article comparing him to Verlander last year
JV went through all kinds of mechanical problems, lost about 1.5MPH and his command/control was not good.
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 20, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
link to this article?
It would be an interesting read. Verlander certainly did have his struggles in 08 and in late 07. Whatever the Tigers pitching coach is doing right now, it is tough to argue with the results.
by Jason Collette on May 20, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
To be honest I haven't read much of Grey, but this seems like good, factual stuff
After looking back over it, it mentions the comparison more at a glance, but a decent read. LINK
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 20, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
no reason not to believe in Kazmir,
he’s like a golfer with the yipps. your swing starts to suffer, and you start thinking way too much about the mechanics while you swing, which only leads you to screw up even more. any golfer knows you can’t think about the swing while you’re doing it, you just have to do it. same for pitching, he’s thinking about his mechanics while he’s throwing the ball, and needs to just let go and trust his arm. we’ll see tonight if he truly has had a breakthrough, i certainly hope he’s correct.
by davidsmarch on May 20, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
no reason not to believe in Silva,
he’s like a golfer with the yipps. your swing starts to suffer, and you start thinking way too much about the mechanics while you swing, which only leads you to screw up even more. any golfer knows you can’t think about the swing while you’re doing it, you just have to do it. same for pitching, he’s thinking about his mechanics while he’s throwing the ball, and needs to just let go and trust his arm. we’ll see tonight if he truly has had a breakthrough, i certainly hope he’s correct.
by R.J. Anderson on May 20, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Jason Bartlett's error fucked up Jeff Niemann's early perfect game bid too
He sucks, DFA him
AC/DC + Tampa Bay Rays = Big Balls on a Budget
Oh no!!
Topkin will say something about you!! How dare you insult Topkin’s Boy!!!
Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!
Hate Topkin
But respect you:)
Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!
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