MVZ? Ben Zobrist Homers Rays To Victory Over Nationals
by Tommy Rancel on Jun 13, 2009 9:55 PM EDT
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PrintIt's almost becoming a meme around here, but Ben Zobrist hit another late inning home run to put the Rays ahead. I've wrote about Ben twice this week and the Zobrist code is going strong. In 194 plate appearances this season, Zobrist has set career highs in home runs (13) and RBI (38). Going back to last year, he has hit 25 home runs in just 421 PAs. A few weeks ago there was a post slightly suggesting Zobrist for MVP, but right now is there anybody better American League? He is neck and neck with Kevin Youkilis for the OPS lead, but his versatility and above average defense has him atop the AL in WAR. It seems that the only question surrounding a trip to St. Louis is not whether he will be a part of the team, but what position will he be listed as. Last time I checked "late inning lightning" is not recognized as an official MLB position.
Zobrist's blast may have been the biggest and most important of the night, but the Rays exploded on the Washington bullpen for seven runs over the final three innings. The same bullpen that could cost Manny Acta his job, surrendered those seven runs on eight hits and one walk. Gabe Gross continues to produce with a two run shot that really put the game on ice. In the past week or so we've really see the Gabe of the day platoon start to come around. Gabe Kapler has homered off lefties in back to back games and since May 22nd Gross is hitting .311 with an OPS over .900 in 54 plate appearances. We all love Matt Joyce, but the Gabes are doing extremely well right now.
Seven of the Rays nine starters scored a run in tonight's game and everyone but Carl Crawford got a hit. While Zobrist, Gross and Pena led the way with homers, Reid Brignac collected three base hits for the first time in his major league career. We don't know if Brignac will be the one sent down when Jason Bartlett returns, but he is starting to show signs of being capable of hitting at the major league level.
Overall, it was a great night for the Rays sans the Jason Isringhausen injury. They got excellent starting pitching from Andy Sonnanstine. The offense pounded a weak bullpen and both the Blue Jays and Yankees lost. The Rays now sit two games above .500 for the first time this season, just one game out of third place and three games behind in the wildcard race. With James Shields on the mound tomorrow anything less than a sweep of the 16 win Nationals is unacceptable.
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Zorilla is amazing
our offense is crazy good right now and we be even better when Barty comes back, i sure hope they split 2nd between Briggy and Aybar
Free Winston Abreu
you're new
read this, otherwise you won’t survive here for long.
We need Robots....The time is now Bud, Stern, and Goodell.
Seriously, Officiating Sucks in this Country
Actually, there is one thing that the link above doesn't mention for new people.
You have no right to be a dick here. Random nothing responses followed by being a grammar Nazi is trolling, which is a good way to get you perma-banned. Post better.
"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."
I did a double take here because I didn't remember acblue from LL being a dick.
RD over and out.
by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 13, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Lookout Landing
And this is who he’s referring too. He posts here every once in a while.
"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."
one stat not being talked about
.428 on base percentage, so he is showing a lot of patience at the plate.
Actually, I think we were at .500 with MVB
RD over and out.
by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 13, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
But the losses since he left have been lacking grit.
RD over and out.
by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 14, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Also, I was taking for granted if he played every day--we lost on his two days off.
So we’re 25-23 when MVB is playing. 8-8 when he’s not.
RD over and out.
by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 14, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Bartlett is the most productive hitter we have so far.
"Don't test the cannon"! screamed Matt Garza after b.J. Upton throws another failed attempt of scoring by a tag-up!
Everybody loves Kapler until he's in the lineup every day.
Even a blind squirrel will find a nut once in a while.
no
I’ve always backed Kapler. I made an incredibly long fan post about it. I like Gross even more. Joyce needs to put up a .360 wOBA with 5-7 runs defensively to better them even if Gross’ offense slips (I’m assuming the defense is stagnant with career averages and that Kapler progresses the way the BABIP and former HR/FB rate said it should)
by Navi's_Navy on Jun 14, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Furthermore, there is a large vocal group of people here who never liked Kapler.
"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."
unfortunately the voters in their wisdom don't consider WAR, OPS or any such metrics
AL MVP will likely be a race between youkilis, bay and teixeira. makes me want to heave, but it’s the unfortunate reality
You know, I consider myself a bit of a loaner.
Tools Whore
"the hangover" reference?
"Don't test the cannon"! screamed Matt Garza after b.J. Upton throws another failed attempt of scoring by a tag-up!
I tend to think of myself as a one man wolf pack...
But when my sister brought Doug home, I knew he was one of my own. And my wolf pack, it grew by one. So were two…so there was two of us in the pack. I…I was alone first in the pack, and then Doug joined in later.
A reporter once asked Rickey Henderson if he talked to himself, "Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I’m trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?"
by Zobrist on deck on Jun 14, 2009 3:53 AM EDT reply actions
I'm surprised people around here keep suggesting Brignac
Is the one sent down when Bartlett comes back. What purpose is it again that Joe Dillon serves? And I don’t think him not clearing waivers is a reason to keep him on the 25-man, before he was called up who here ever spoke a word of him?
Its a matter of consistency
Maddon obviously wants Briggy to play everyday and at his own position and with Bartlett back why wouldn’t you send him down to keeep him playing SS. I know there is times where he has come up and played 2nd but I think any reasonable manager (except Girardi) wouldn’t hinder there prospect’s development
by Gone Phishing on Jun 14, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
You know I was passing by...
I understand that there are plenty more important stats that we look at here at DRB but I noticed that BenZo’s ABs, HR, Hits and games played were very similar from last year as a part time player to this year. Of course his OBP, SLG and BA are much higher from last year, its just shows that Ben had the power LAST year, but not the consistency and ability to play everyday. Here is the link to the “useless” stats Zorilla stats
thats not the issue
the sample last year was… well small
Nothing in his minor league track record (other than an improvement of 120 AB/HR to 60 AB/HR to 30 AB/HR) indicated power like this. That is why some people are still skeptical
by Navi's_Navy on Jun 15, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Once again
Obviously it helps that Maddon gets to pick a couple of all-stars himself, but it will hurt him in the player vote that he doesn’t actually show up on the MLB leaderboards because he doesn’t have enough plate appearances.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
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