Brian Roberts Slams Rays Despite Large Strike Zone

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:18 PM EDT Comment 57 comments

This is the type of loss that hurts more than it should. James Shields pitched okay, the offense scored runs, and somehow the Rays lose. The common theme is wastefulness.
Want an exhibit as to why designated closers are wasteful? Look at Lance Cormier entering when he did instead of J.P. Howell. I can understand why Grant Balfour isn't ideal - he has control issues at times - or Dan Wheeler, or Russ Springer, or any of the dozen LOOGY - more on them in a moment - but Howell is the ideal man in that situation and we didn't use him. We haven't noticed things like this on a nightly or weekly basis, but when it happens it makes you want to name Russ Springer closer and put Howell back to roving.
Two LOOGY are wasteful. Joe Dillon provided little and played fewer times than I have for the Rays, but he did give Joe Maddon a right-handed corners option off the bench. Tonight he used Carlos Pena and Gabe Gross aggressively and with Willy Aybar being subbed out, it left the Rays in dire straits once the Orioles called upon a lefty with Gross/Pena back-to-back. This isn't a results thing either. Dillon versus a lefty is a superior match-up than Gross. Defensively Zobrist could slide out while Dillon takes over at second.
Wasted at-bat by B.J. Upton in the 9^th. I'm still trying to process whether I like the bunt attempt - Upton was 5-10 heading into this game on bunt hit attempts, that's stunningly good -- or not. On one hand: He's very, very good at it. On the other: he has to execute better, which he usually does.
Easy out wasted by Evan Longoria. He's fantastic defensively 95% of the time and the only reason his errors are frustrating is because they always pop up on the routine looking plays. I'm fully convinced if Nolan Reimold hit a slow roller down the line Longoria nails him.
Speaking of nailing, I have no idea if Carl Crawford gets thrown out at home by Felix Pie or not, but Kevin Kennedy is correct in stating Pie has a decent arm. Didn't matter too much in the end either way.
So Pat Burrell's OPS is around .730 now and above .807 in the second half. That's about .070 points below last season's number. I'm not saying we should be happy with his performance or that he's lived up to expectations, but his SLG is .505 in that time. That's encouraging if for no other reason than to show his power is still there. I think the relationship can be reconciled if he just starts walking more.
We talk about robot strike-callers a lot. I'll let this plot of Roberts' grand slam at-bat speak for itself:

Numlocation_php_medium

0 recs | Comment 57 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

This summary is the summary of why TB is probably gonna miss the playoffs

Not to sound anti-team, but it highlights all the problems of why we’re losing games we didn’t last year

by Transplanted on Aug 20, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very nice write-up

Agree with every point.

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am in awe of that plot.

Five balls. Five.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

pitch 2 is probably the best pitch in the AB

and it was a ball vs 3 & 5 which were strikes, go fig

by Transplanted on Aug 20, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

was the pitch zobrist was called out on in 8th a strike?

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Appears so.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

damn. a really good pitch.

is the technology at the point we could have robot strike callers now?

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gameday updates pretty quickly and that's with human input on play-by-play.

I would guess the pitch data itself is pretty much instant, meaning you could have the call buzzed down or whatever within 3-5 seconds of the pitch.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How do they adjust so quickly for the different heights of the batters?

I t

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They have operators who manually adjust the heights.

One of our users actually ran the Trop’s gameday system last year, I’d have to see if he could explain it better.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder how precise this is?

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The heights? I'm guessing about as accurate as the senior citizen umpire bent over for three hours at a time.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad today’s umps have no accountability, they can pretty much be awful, and not have any recourse against them with that union they have. NFL seems to have at least a bit of recourse for poor officiating. In the 70’s-80’s there were alot of good umpires, who actually got most of the calls right, but today they simply get away with calling it wherever they fell appropriate on any given day instead of the letters to knees standard that should be applied. Why bother having a rule on it since they don’t enforce it..Selig….

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was a nasty pitch

even if Keenedy was right that he missed his location

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good to see your boy kick it into gear again

i thought he might be worn out

by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2009 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He went through a power slump

The beauty was his OBP didn’t suffer unlike most of the Rays power. It was msotly a product of fewer flyballs hit thanks to a 30+% LD rate in July.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Closers FTW

by Marky Mark's Third Nipple on Aug 20, 2009 11:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Maddon is no revolutionary with bullpen usage

JP is the closer and that sucks.

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we just need another good LHP

at least the 9th is no longer an adventure

by Transplanted on Aug 20, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Billy Wagner is awfully appealing at this point if the Mets pick up the bill on this year and his buyout.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why would they do this?

He’s not useful to them? We’d probably have to give them something pretty decent. I don’t know if Jaso would get it done. Also, has he cleared waivers?

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're the Mets.

Toss them someone with a flashy batting average and they’ll be sold.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

a latino hitting over .275 and you're gold

Regressing to the mean streets of St. Pete

by stpetelawyer on Aug 20, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

too bad we already got rid of hughes.

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although, he's also a 38-year-old reliever with 8 million coming his way next year or a 1 mil buyout.

He’s not of that much value to a non-contending team at this point.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if he's really back

i could see someone like red sox or yanks holding onto him at 8 mil next year.

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We already tossed our flashy batting average guy to get Zaun.

Just finished reading the recap. Is it just me, or does it seem like every single time he gets a chance to, Shields goes into meltdown mode?

Team gives him the lead in the previous half-frame and he lets the leadoff hitter on? Meltdown.
Two out hit? Meltdown.
Fielding Error? Meltdown.
Missed strike call resulting in a walk? Meltdown.

Some people may think that Shields hasn’t pitched poorly this year; my eyes disagree with that. From what I’ve seen, he’s let his temper let far too many games get out of his control this year.

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

by kericr on Aug 20, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, my eyes tell me the same thing.

He’s been very garza-esque this year

by RaysTheRoof on Aug 20, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Flashy ERA it is.

Farewell Jason Cromer.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also more on Shields tomorrow. I'm going to bed.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 20, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deal

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree 100% on Shields

Sorry, posted something similiar below, didn’t see this thread, but agree completely. That last walk he totally melted down when he had him 0-2. His smirk and anger remind of Garza. Too talented not to get that under control for both of them, hope they rectify that. Garza game 7 was nails after the Pedroia homer, wish he had that composure this season.

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The bigger issue is why he only threw 1 CH after it went 0-2

Team was plain better in 2008 too anyway, they didn’t make so many stupid mistakes

by Transplanted on Aug 21, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now that is so true

they are clearly not the 2008 defense. If Longo didn’t make that error, then the walk is a moot point because it is already 3 outs. Easy plays turned into 4 runs instead of 3 outs…frustrating, seems like it’s gone on all year. Still not as bad as Julio Lugo at SS for the D-Rays….

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, but you know they're better than that

That’s what kills you, they’re good and do dumb things, instead of being bad and accepting it.

11UER in Shields’ 26 starts this year, is more than his 9 in his 33 last year

11-15 in his 26 starts(22-11 last year), 5 games were lost due to defensive errors at least and a few others where they just failed to get the job done.

by Transplanted on Aug 21, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong farm system for batting averages, maybe Velazquez?

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, not to say I told you so,

but he is left-handed pitching. And he is young, so…

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

by kericr on Aug 20, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"you're" doesn't fit here

FAIL

by Marky Mark's Third Nipple on Aug 21, 2009 4:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

It's supposed to be "you're." That's part of the joke.

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

by kericr on Aug 21, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

eh We tagged him for 4 in < than 6, thats good

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We lost to inexperienced left-handed pitching. It doesn't matter that we got to him; losing to this type of pitching is status-quo for this team.

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

by kericr on Aug 21, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess

I thought the knock had bene that we don’t hit inexperienced lefties. The problem has been a lack of consistently good baseball, particularly on the road. The failure has been divded pretty evenly through all segments of the team not named Zobrist, Bartlett, Crawford, Niemann or Howell.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Three things...1: I warned you either Tillman or Matusz was going to win a game for the O's

Two: coming into the game Brian Roberts was hitting less than .100 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs…less than two outs over .400. From what I understand Lance Cormier has been having a pretty decent season, I don’t think it necessarily was a bad move to bring him in at that point.

Three: “…Kevin Kennedy is correct in stating Pie has a decent arm.” …Ha! They really should have sent him…Felix’s biggest problems occur while throwing. He gets confused, throws to wrong bases, and on top of that is hardly accurate…besides Carl Crawford > Felix Pie.

by Tetris on Aug 20, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You couldn't have put that ball Cormier threw closer to the middle of the plate if you tried

by acablue on Aug 21, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree more with the need for bench

Players, Dillon wasthe one that crossed my mind tonight too in that situation, he would have been a much better choice. Kinda useless to have 13 pitchers and no bench. Springer another over 40 guy that should have retired, why…why…Percy, Shouse, Springer..driving us crazy. Bad part is Springer might be decent, but he sure hasn’t shown it yet, so no confidence in him as a fan.

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BJ Bunting seemed like a good choice

at the time, and if he does it right it is a brilliant choice. Unfortunately he didn’t so it looks stupid, but I like the effort for him to try and make something happen instead of just hoping for a possible good at bat, he tried to make it a good at bat. I’ll take the effort and hope he tries again but succesfully next time.

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 12:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shields walk was what really started the slide

The 2 walks in the inning started the slide, but the 2nd one with 0-2 on Pie, then Shields got stressed out on ball 3 and totally lost his composure, and that created the whole Cormier issue. If he doesn’t walk him, and gets him out, the rest is a moot point. Niemann sure seems composed, it is amazing, wish Shields and Garza could get that composure in tight situations, so close, yet so far away.

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shields walked Wiggington on purpose

the reason Niemann has better composure is because his team generally doesn’t act like the Devil Rays with him on the mound

by Transplanted on Aug 21, 2009 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It looked like Shields was overthrowing his FB all night

Everything was up and away to lefties. Really frustrating to see that.

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 21, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He pitched around Wigginton for sure, but

he let it bother him, and it led to disaster on Pie it seemed. Niemann getting defensive help, surely helps him out, but he doesn’t walk his way into jams like Shields does

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wiggington had 0 impact on the Pie AB

he didn’t even bother trying to get him out, and lack of confidence in your defense has been a major issue for the team this year

by Transplanted on Aug 21, 2009 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, he had a dominant strikeout between the two

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Aug 21, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was at the game, and watched

him meltdown after having the 2 runners on. He did great to get the K, and had Pie, and just melted down and stressed himself out. He knew he was getting yanked regardless of an out or not, it was his last batter. Perhaps Wiggington walk didn’t bother, but having two on sure seemed to bother him in that last batter. Either that or just knowing he wasn’t finishing off Pie. Either way, lack of defense sure doesn’t help, but if he doesn’t walk him again, it’s a moot point in that situation

Rays/Lightning/USF Bulls/Steelers

by SportsRoadhouse on Aug 21, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That grand slam pitch

is one of the meatiest meatballs you could ever dream up.

It really seems like luck and all the unquantifiable things are evening themselves out from last year. If whoever would have pitched in that situation (Balfour?) had grooved a pitch like that to Roberts last year, it might have been a foul ball or a popup instead of a slam.

by untexan on Aug 21, 2009 2:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs