7/18 Post-Game: Tampa Bay Rays @ Kansas City Royals

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 18, 2009 10:28 PM EDT

290718107_rays_royals_134791770_lbig_medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Willy Aybar with .300 WPA tonight. Wowza.

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Sorry for lack of WPA chart.

Working on recap.

http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?gameid=290718107

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 18, 2009 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

Just got home from work

GREAT win. Did Kazmir actually touch 95 MPH tonight? I heard he did.

Also, Jennings’ promotion to Durham has to be imminent. 2-2 with a 2B and 2 BB tonight. He’s been red hot to start the second half.

Hello.

by killa3312 on Jul 18, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

It was wierd

Reasonable PC? Only 3 Ks?

WHO IS THIS MAN?

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 18, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I just checked out his gameday pitch by pitch

He was indeed throwing that hard. This is tremendously encouraging news.

Hello.

by killa3312 on Jul 18, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he's finally fixed his mechanics

Healthy Kaz+ Shields + Garza + non-emo Niemann + Improving Price = INSANITY

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 18, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Trey Hillman

Did Joakim Soria die or something?

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 18, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

He must believe in traditional closer roles.

by untexan on Jul 18, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Boots: 4-4 and calling Todd Kalas "Papi"

I’d call that a good day.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jul 18, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

This game made me feel better

about losing the Oakland series. Don’t think many people were expecting the Rays to dig out a W considering they were up against Greinke.

by untexan on Jul 18, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

I want a full report on Kaz's injury but great game again

1. James Shields 2. Scott Kazmir 3. Matt Garza 4. David Price 5. Jeff Niemann

by joeybw on Jul 18, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

That was a GREAT game. Reminded me of 2008

After the starter leaves, the Rays break apart the weak bullpen. Nice.

Also, great small ball work there as well. No crazy swinging for the fences by anyone, and a GREAT catch by BJ at the end. Woo.

My only wish was that Longoria was a little more patient there with the bases loaded. But we got the win regardless.

by plasticman on Jul 18, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

Also what's this about Kaz and cramping?

by plasticman on Jul 18, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions

OT: This might suck

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=munson_lester&id=4336261

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 18, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Major League Sports are a government defined monopoly

Check out the USFL case. Courts upheld that NFL was a monopoly, but only awarded a dollar in damages.

by plasticman on Jul 18, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

That is to say, I think the negative effects of this case are already in effect

It’s funny that they characterize the Roberts’ court as pro business in a possible ruling for the NFL… that would be BAD for business, lots of them! From American Needle, to anyone who wanted to print logos, to anyone who wanted to compete against pro-sports.

by plasticman on Jul 18, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

another interesting monopoly case

was back in the 20’s Federal Club vs. Natl. League, this case allowed MLB to have a monopoly b/c it was not as defined by the Sherman Anti-Trust Act as interstate commerce. With the modern nearly all encompassing definition of interstate commerce you would have to think this ruling could easily be over turned now with the right situation and case (this is also part of the reason congress likes to interfere with the MLB like with the steroids investigations).

Kaz/Shields/Garza/Sonny/Price/Davis/Hellickson-necessitate a drool cup or a 7 man rotation

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jul 19, 2009 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't that only hold true for MLB?

I thought the anti-trust exemption only pertained to MLB. IIRC, they later admitted that the ruling wasn’t exactly right, but no one was willing to overturn it.

by tallyray on Jul 19, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe so

that’s how Congress is able to hold it over the heads of MLB and get them to show up to hearings/ opportunities to grand stand.

Kaz/Shields/Garza/Sonny/Price/Davis/Hellickson-necessitate a drool cup or a 7 man rotation

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jul 19, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

not that threats of subpoenas don't work either*

Kaz/Shields/Garza/Sonny/Price/Davis/Hellickson-necessitate a drool cup or a 7 man rotation

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jul 19, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Kaz looked great as fuck.

I would have been pissed had we lost, that one inning where they took the lead was so unlucky for us.

Great for Boots to redeem himself and get the lead. PTB also with the big hit.

Swav or Die
For the lulz

by SRQman on Jul 18, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

That was fun

Quite a few Rays fans at the game, including a group sitting right behind me. Saw people wearing jerseys for Crawford, Longoria and Pena.

Last time I was at a Rays game in KC, it was Carlos Beltran bobblehead day, Jorge Sosa was the starting pitcher, the Rays lost 10-0 to fall to ~40 games below .500 and not a Rays fan in sight.

My how things have changed.

by RATW on Jul 18, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

Do you live in KC? How is the stadium? I hear they made lots of improvements...

by plasticman on Jul 18, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn't ask me but

I really enjoy the stadium. I was never in the old one but this one has nice concourses and lots of room. The Diamond Club looks really nice. The big screen is amazing and the fountains are great to watch.

Swav or Die
For the lulz

by SRQman on Jul 18, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Cool. From what I've seen in pictures it looks beautiful. Would love to check it out in person sometime.

by plasticman on Jul 18, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

The big change is the outfield

In the outfield, they added seats around the fountains, shops/kids activities/restaurants from foul line to foul line, a party deck and updated the scoreboard.

They managed to update the stadium to match the new parks without destroying what already worked at Kauffman.

The only downside is the area around the stadium: Kansas City is an example that just because you build a baseball and football stadium, related development won’t necessarily spring up nearby as a result.

by RATW on Jul 19, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Meant to add: Filling in the outfield makes the stadium as a whole feel much more intimate

It’s a good thing.

by RATW on Jul 19, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I went to the "old" Kauffmann a couple years ago

when I was up there to see USF playing at Kansas. What they’ve done in the outfield is night and day from what that place used to be. When I was there they were still clinging to the scoreboards and light-bulb message boards from the 70s, and the video screen was relatively tiny. Hardly any outfield seating. The only thing about it that was better was that the fountains were much more noticeable and active.

by untexan on Jul 19, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions