Ben Zobrist Hits Homer, Game-Winning Single

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 8, 2009 11:33 PM EDT Comment 21 comments

More photos » by Brian Blanco - AP

This is a hard game to analyze for Scott Kazmir. When 50% of your balls in play are of the fly ball variety, odds are a few are going to sneak over the fences. It happened twice tonight and that really saps an otherwise decent start. We saw how feisty the Jays hitters are when it comes to fouling pitches off just last week, but Kazmir managed to seduce their bats into the same amount of misses as Garza and Niemann combined. Kazmir was at his absolute worst in the 4^th inning, tossing 29 pitches and recording only 14 strikes - in the 5^th he would throw 17 pitches and get 13 strikes, and in the 6^th he would throw 16 pitches and get 11 - as easy as it is to blame the umpire for being a bit too tight with his zone, the calls look correct, Kazmir was barely missing, but missing nonetheless. His fastball sat around 90-92 with very good movement, he mixed in his change and slider when needed. It's hard to look at his 7+ tRA and feel like he pitched that poorly.
Carlos Pena seems like the type of person to vote for Ian Kinsler or Brandon Inge out of principle.

The success rate for attempted steals of home is surprisingly high. Injury is usually the reason teams don't attempt it, I suppose when 3/4ths of the play is taking place 90 feet away, the risk for injury significantly lowers. I'm not sure if Dave Martinez made the call for B.J. Upon to go if comfortable or not, but the play worked thanks to Upton's speed, Crawford's keen ability to draw a throw, Brian Tallet's unawareness, and a nice slide on Upton's part. It wasn't long ago he was thrown out after a catcher put the plate on lockdown, and while Raul Chavez tried doing the same tonight, Upton made sure to follow through with his palm, placing it on the plate as he raised.

Smash Mouth is like a replacement level version of the Barenaked Ladies.

Only in baseball can two teams take 11 innings and combine for four runs, then score more than eight apiece the next night. With Price and Halladay going tomorrow, I'm going to assume we're getting more of game one than game two.

Last night, we entered the 8^th at the 2 hour mark. Tonight, we were in the 8^th through the 3:40 mark. Only in baseball.

Did Brian Shouse get lost in luggage? This team has handled 40-year-old pitchers on the DL with the grace of 40-year-old pitchers.

Scott Downs is J.P. Howell with more mileage. I have no problem with showing some love towards Downs, mostly because nobody else does. Downs was drafted by the Cubs in 1997, dealt to the Twins in 1998 for Mike Morgan, traded to the Cubs (with Rick Aguilera) for Kyle Lohse and Jason Ryan, trade to the Expos for Rondell White, released by that franchise, signed with the Jays, was finally converted to relief, and is the best reliever in the AL during this season. That's a heck of a journey. Can you imagine the trade talks Andy MacPhail and Terry Ryan had that second time around?

AM: Uh, we'll give you Lohse if you include this kid Downs...

TR: What was that?

AM: Downs, we like him.

TR: Well yeah, you drafted him two years ago.

AM: What?

TR: Two years ago, you drafted him. You traded him to us a few months ago, remember?

AM: No, I'm talking about Downs.

TR: I...okay, fine, whatever. I guess I owe you one for Morgan exploding.

Just think, game three begins 13 hours from when the bottom of the 9^th started. Hooray getaway games that start at noon.
If tomorrow is Roy Halladay's last start as a Jay against the Rays, I can honestly say I will miss him. Not in the sense that I liked facing him, but that I enjoyed watching him. It's a lot like when the Orioles dealt Erik Bedard. It's been fun Roy, and I hope you pitch well...just not that well.

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Its cool that Zo made the title and all, but nowhere in the article?

Maddon said in his post game presser that it was all Foley, and it was discussed a few weeks ago for that type of situation

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jul 8, 2009 11:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought Crawford was going to try and steal home in the 9th. He probably could have.

by Erik Hahmann on Jul 9, 2009 8:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

i think they learned a lesson from the first inning

they were expecting it too

by b-rad270 on Jul 9, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you see how big of a lead Crawford had? Rolen wasnt keeping him on at all.

by Erik Hahmann on Jul 9, 2009 9:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

This.

I was at the game and Rolen was giving him all kinds of room to mirror his distance from the bag. It would have been an easy steal, if you ask me.

Jeter Sucks.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jul 9, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My friend and I were rooting for it as loudly as possible.

I suppose it worked out, but has there ever been a walk off stolen home base?

by Suttree on Jul 9, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

walk off steal of home plate...

I think that would be awesonme

Rays baseball + Colorado Football= amazing

by raysfan81 on Jul 9, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

With Price and Halladay going tomorrow, I’m going to assume we’re getting more of game one than game two.

I’m going to go ahead and disagree. I think he’ll be hit around by the Jay’s hitters tomorrow big time. (though I don’t want him to obviously)

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Jul 9, 2009 12:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Love the afternoon game at work

speeds up the day

www.bucem.com - SBNation's source for all things Buccaneer

by Buc Wild on Jul 9, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way.

If I didn’t just take 5 days of vacation last week I’d be at this one. I wonder if the Rays are missing on a bunch of walk-up ticket sales for a Halladay vs Price match-up. I’m probably giving the fans in this area too much credit, sadly.

Jeter Sucks.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jul 9, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i love me some Downs.

love love love.

and another love of mine, Brignac: 3-5 with 2 2B tonight.

by daveh33 on Jul 9, 2009 1:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait, Brian Shouse is still on this team?

What?

by Zach Attack on Jul 9, 2009 2:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Where is he?

by Raymondo on Jul 9, 2009 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smashmouth is nothing like your Barenaked Ladies

The problem is that all of Smashmouth’s hit songs sounded a certain way. Kinda scary, but the rest of the albums aren’t horrible.

Want a comparison? Smashmouth is a replacement level NoFX.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 9, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I heard they suck live.

OH FUCK YES YOU FUCKING MANBEAST FUCK ME ALL NIGHT LONG

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 21, 2009 3:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions 1 recs

by HAHAHA OH WOW on Jul 9, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't call me white.

by Suttree on Jul 9, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard. They suck.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Jul 9, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smashmouth's pop songs are great.

If you appreciate them for what they are, catchy, pop tunes.

/currently has Buzz Ballads burnt copy in car CD player

by rglass44 on Jul 9, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smash Mouth "Virgin Girls" = Good Song

I know nothing else about them, but I’ve burned some shubbery with that song in the 8 track.

"What the hell is a Labradoddle?"

by davelrogers on Jul 9, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Smash Mouth sucks more dicks than a virgin girl.

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 9, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a hard game to analyze for Scott Kazmir . When 50% of your balls in play are of the fly ball variety, odds are a few are going to sneak over the fences.Checking credit card processing duration and available domain names.

by leo44 on Jul 14, 2009 8:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs