Rays Beat Rangers Behind Scott Kazmir; Move Within Three of Wild Card

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 21, 2009 11:17 PM EDT

Before the game the Rays playoff chances were at 13.5%. After the victory (and before the Boston score went final) the odds were up to 15.4%.
Scott Kazmir was quite efficient tonight, including a handful of sub-10 pitch innings against a pretty good lineup. His overall line isn't too pretty: 4 K, 2 BB, 13 FB, 1 HR. 9% whiffs on a little over 100 pitches. I can't really argue with the start because he didn't get a chance to strike many batters out, the Rangers were swinging often tonight and the only negative is the fly ball amount.
File Gregg Zaun throwing out Julio Borbon under "the best results are sometimes the most unlikely".
Dustin Nippert needs to take the Lance Cormier class of allowing home runs. The curve to Zobrist was down and in, albeit not enough, and the pitch to Pena was outside, albeit high enough for Pena to extend and elevate.
I don't have much else to say and I've spent the last five minutes wasting time for CoolStandings to update, so have at it.
Sexy update: The Rays playoff odds are up to 18.5%. Let's gain another 5% tomorrow please.

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efficient Kaz was nice

Ben Zobrist appears to be back and remember that MVP post I did a week ago or so, even though the HR/RBI numbers aren’t as sexy both Bartlett and Zobrist aren’t making it easy for voters to just throw their names away. JP was sexy although seemed to lose focus for a second on Blalock (talk about unexpected results).

Even in victory I have to say WTF once again to Joe’s usage of the bullpen. We have 2 Loogy’s, a good set-up man, and a LH Closer who is more than capable of getting 4 outs. Why was Grant Balfour, a fastball RH pitcher doing in the game against Josh Hamilton a LH fastball hitter. While I don’t like having either loogy on the roster, either guy, Wheeler, or Howell would have been a better match-up. I know it prolly isn’t the cast but it is almost like Joe is mocking AF’s decision on having 13 pitchers + 2 loogy’s by his bullpen usage.

by Dbullsfan on Aug 21, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Great game Kaz

even able to win despite Balfour’s stellar performance

by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2009 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

JUSTIFICATION

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by PlayOnWords on Aug 21, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

whateva

Broken bat blooper, weak chopper and ahead on hamilton…. hes the guy i want in there.

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 22, 2009 2:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

OT: Hanley Ramirez is having one hell of a 2nd place MVP season

.360/19/85 .995 OPS

by Dbullsfan on Aug 21, 2009 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

2nd place to Lincecum you mean, right?

by lailaihei on Aug 21, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

And to think that's as a SS with low RBI opps

by Transplanted on Aug 21, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Beckett for Hanley might be one of the biggest

win/win trades ever, especially if Florida can get into the playoff’s this year because with their pitching they could be trouble in the playoff’s.

by Dbullsfan on Aug 21, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

It is 6 years from 2003 and 12 from 1997

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For the lulz

by SRQman on Aug 22, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

SSS, I know

But I wonder if Maddon and Hickey are starting to realize that our SP perform better with Zaun behind the plate. He clearly calls a better game.

by acablue on Aug 21, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

well for the most part Navi will only play against LHP

and that shouldn’t be very often.

by Dbullsfan on Aug 21, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

A rookie righty tomorrow

The Rays should take that one. But then again, this team tends to lose the most winnable games.

by acablue on Aug 21, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

Tommy Hunter is very good and has already shut the Rays down once

by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

yea TH is really good, it is far from a definate win.

Garza is pitching though right? that gives me confidence. Even though Shields has the nickname, Garza seems to be beast in important games.

by Dbullsfan on Aug 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

We should have signed him when we drafted him

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by Brickhaus on Aug 22, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions

OT:Free Zo or anyone--is Carlos Hernandez on the DL?

by sternfan1 on Aug 21, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

I haven't heard anything but I don't talk to the same guys as much now that I've moved out west.

by Dbullsfan on Aug 21, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Wrist injury, I believe

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by Imperialism32 on Aug 22, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Coolstandings has updated

Now that Boston has lost our playoff chances are 18.5%

Need a lineup? No problem...just give me paper, pen, scissors, a hat, and a blindfold

by jqueipo on Aug 22, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

I like these numbers better

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php

by sternfan1 on Aug 22, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

It seemed to me

that many of those fly balls were pop-ups. There were a few hard hit fly balls and line drives, but not many. The Rangers did help him by swinging early quite often, but Kazmir was around the plate all night and but for some bad luck might have finished the 8th inning. He got all 4 Ks in the middle innings, and one was a thing of beauty on a change-up that froze the batter. He also pitched out of a 2nd & 3rd one out jam beautifully.

I was very worried about leaving Balfour in to face Hamilton. Shouse was already warmed up, so that was not an issue and with 2 outs, I thought Howell ought to have been in the game. Thank goodness for the caught stealing.

by bobr on Aug 22, 2009 1:25 AM EDT reply actions

Glad we have 3 lefties to face Hamilton

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Aug 22, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Balfour needed a K in that situation, but as usual

he runs the count to 3-2 and has to throw a hitable pitch

by sternfan1 on Aug 22, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

hell yeah

and they will lose if they overlook Hunter tomorrow. No one should be saying tomorrow is a sure-win

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

by Gone Phishing on Aug 22, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions

is JP's comin out song 'paper planes' yet?

no one on the corner has swagger like us
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by daveh33 on Aug 22, 2009 3:14 AM EDT reply actions

After last night's game...

Zobrist has tied Pujols in WAR. That’s amazing.

by sattp on Aug 22, 2009 8:40 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Did the Rays win the war while losing the battle?

Getting Zaun and not Martinez may have been a blessing in disguise

Martinez’s handling of pitchers and pitch selection has never bwwn his strong suit

by sternfan1 on Aug 22, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

I was thinking about this yesterday. I want to wait until Zaun has a few more ABs in a Rays uni before comparing the two.

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

by kericr on Aug 22, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Let's trade one of these relievers to a contender not named

TEX, BOS or DET (we play them) for the PTBNL, then call up a bat Joyce or find one in a waiver deal

by sternfan1 on Aug 22, 2009 10:17 AM EDT reply actions

Just something to think about for the statmasters

while i understand most advanced stats, i’m having this problem when it comes to relievers mainly

Because they get to work so few innings compared to a SP, isn’t it more difficult for them to lower their FIP, and tRA etc?

I’m thinking of Wheeler v Balfour

My suggestion is that while Balfour has the better numbers, Wheeler is tainted by a couple huge implosions. Balfour rarely implodes, but also is rarely the lights out type that Wheeler is on more occasions

Does this make sense? I hope so

by sternfan1 on Aug 22, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions