Rays Lose Series, Fall To Yankees 7-3
We're six games into the season. There's 156 games to go. Just keep that in mind. There's no reason to go into panic mode just because the bullpen and offense didn't look so sharp the past two nights and the Yankees won the series.
I'm not going to dwell on this loss too much. The offense was lackluster, scoring just one run after the first inning. James Shields labored through 5.1 IP, throwing 103 pitches and allowing 2ER in the process. Not Shields' best start, but it certainly could have been worse. After Alex Rodriguez flew out to center field, Robinson Cano laced a double down the right field line. With Jorge Posada due up next Shields' day was done, and he was replaced by Randy Choate. Even though it was just the 6th inning, it was this at bat, and this decision, that changed the outcome of the game.
I don't understand it. I really don't. Why in the world would you bring in Randy Choate, a lefty specialist, to face switch-hitting Jorge Posada when Lance Cormier was also warm in the pen? It's not like Posada has a significant platoon split, his numbers are excellent from either side of the plate. I know that Curtis Granderson and his utter inability to hit lefties follows Posada in the batting order and having Choate face him would be ideal. But if you're behind by the time you get to Granderson the point is then moot. Choate had also thrown 24 pitches the night before, which is a lot for any LOOGY. Bringing in Cormier, and his ability to get out righties and lefties, in this situation would have been the correct play. Instead, Maddon decided to go with Choate, who on his second pitch served up a fastball in the middle of the plate which Posada promptly deposited it into the left field seats. That home run gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead and seemed to take the life out of the Rays.
If Maddon has explained his reasoning behind this move then I've yet to hear it. I thoroughly enjoy having him as the manager of the Rays, but sometimes he makes decisions that baffle the mind while leaving the seemingly obvious move on the table.-The Rays did put up a little bit of a fight in the bottom of the 6th, loading the bases while down just two runs. That brought B.J. Upton to the plate. After seeing A.J. Burnett walk Carlos Pena on five pitches you would think that a little bit of patience would be in order. Apparently B.J. didn't seeing as how he swung at the first pitch, popping it up to end the inning and effectively the game.
-Maddon's decision to bring in Choate was infuriating. Ben Zobrist bunting in the first inning was stupid. I don't care that he moved Carl Crawford over, or that Crawford would later score on a ground out by Pena. There were no outs. You're the number three hitter. You. Do. Not. Bunt. Giving away outs in the first inning of a game against the best team in baseball isn't the smartest strategy.
As I said in the opening, there's no need to panic. 156 to go.
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Not gonna lose any sleep over this one. Yankees beat Boston 2 out of 3 in Fenway as well and the Boston lost to the Royals.
Yankees just that damn good top to bottom and rotation. That said, I like Randy Choate, but I’ve seen him way too much so far. As the only lefty in the pen he should be used to get the most significant LEFTY of the game out. He shouldn’t be used to turn a switch hitter around or against a righty before the tough lefty. Its lhb or bust with him.
To me it seems Maddon is using Choate the way he should be using Cormier. The good news is once Joaquin Benoit is ready (like tomorrow I hope) and Howell is back, these decisions should be a lot easier for Maddon to make.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 11, 2010 7:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
At least Benoit has been more than encouraging at Durham
Missing two of your best arms, being overtaxed, and facing the Yanks is a lethal combo
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A guys with a career 4.5 FIP and we are already anointing him one of our "best" arms
I like Benoit and think he should made the club originally, but I think calling him one of our “best” arms is a huge stretch
That is somewhat misleading....
3 of his last 4 seasons were FIP’s of 3.17, 3.37, and 3.95
He's spent a lot of his career starting.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I love Benoit, I really do
I just don’t think he’s earned the right to be called one of our “best arms” yet
I'm not saying he is?
I’m saying his career FIP is inflated.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Just got back from the game.
A few things stand out:
1. Pat got a hit and the entire section I was in was shocked, pretty funny.
2. About halfway through the game, the immense yankee cheering was rather overpowering and pathetic.
3. After that first inning, the game just went stale in the crowd. Really quiet (unless there was a yankee chant).
4. I wish shields would have found the strike zone.
All in all, not the best game to go to for the first of the year. Maybe next time it’ll be better.
Oh, and was shields just barely missing with some of his pitches?
Its hard to tell from the 300 section what the hell is going on on high/low pitches. Inside/outside you can gauge.
And, using Choate = epic fail. I’m not even sure wtf was going on there.
Shields got the calls he deserved. Nothing glaring.
by Erik Hahmann on Apr 11, 2010 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
In section 137
I was fairly annoyed by what some of the Yankee fans around me were doing during the 9th inning.
If I had ever wondered why Yankee fans were so despised across baseball, I had seen at least one reason why…
by FloridaownsFSU on Apr 11, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I haven't checked today's called strike zone yet
Games 1 and 2 this series were heavily favorable for the Rays. I am having a blast with this project. Robots FTW
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Exactly how I feel Erik
One concern is that it’s only 6 games in and there have been way too many baffling moves by Maddon for my liking.
I really hope this changes quickly
It's so easy to blame the manager when things don't go well
Joe Torre was considered a horrible manager in STL, NYM, and ATL, but look what happened when he got to the Yankees
Players make plays—Choate Cormier, Eckstrom are not very good
Well did Torre become good
or did his players become good.
I would argue the latter.
Plus you are exactly right. Ekstrom is not very good, but yet he brought him in in a 1 run game.
Choate isn’t good against righties, but yet he puts him in versus righties.
Good pkayers make managers look good
what do you want Maddon to do when your ace can’t get anyone out in the 6th?
Shields hasn't got out of the 6th inning in either start
and he’s not nearly the pitcher he was in ’08
Dont be old Stern, please...
It’s been 2 friggin starts. He gave up 2 runs today against the best team in baseball. One of those runs came after he was pulled. His results were very solid today.
Yep, but he didn't do his job
knowing that our middle relief is awful he needs to go innings
Holding the Yankees to 1 run in 5 1/3 when he left the game is terrible
How dare we ever expect our bullpen to be able to get some outs or our offense to score more then a couple runs
The offense
Its not a reasonable expectation to expect our pen or any pen to keep the Yanks scoreless for 4 innings
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Not use players in ways that give them a high chance of failure
when other much better options are available.
I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
If he brings in Cormier instead of Ekstrom on Thursday and Cormier gets beat. I don’t think anyone would be complaining about the move. Same with Cormier or another reliever today versus Posada. Questionable moves at best
Yes they would
Not to the same degree, but quality of the pen would be just as hot a topic
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As you say Erik, it's only six games, but in TB when you talk about how important fast starts
are and where flash crowds are normal, this was a terrible series—all the hype now has to be recharged
Zobrist bunting isn't the epic fail you make it out to be, I don't think
His run value above average (if you say his true wOBA is 390, which i think is somewhat fair) is .052 per PA. The run expectancy was 1.189 (ignoring CC’s speediness, which makes this less of a foolish move, and ignoring the 1-0 count, which makes this more of a foolish move), and so i’ll just pretend those two things cancel each other out (even though they don’t) because I can’t easily account for it.
Zobrist has a career bunt rate of 38.5%. This is only in 13 attempts, but given that league average is 31%, and Zobrist is of above average speed, I think it’s safe to say his BUH rate would be 35% (if anyone has a better approximation method in mind, let me know). So, the expected run expectancy was 1.189+.052=1.241 if we let Zobrist hit. If he bunts, then there’s a 35% chance of a hit which would have runners on first and third (1.904 RE) and a 65% chance of runner on third 1 out (.983 RE). There’s a chance that he messes up the bunt, and CC is unable to advance, but since he’s already on second, this is really quite unlikely, especially considering his plus speed. So, the average run expectancy after bunting is .35*1.904+.65*.983=1.305, which is slightly higher than if we let him hit.
Perhaps I’m off by some, but I don’t think I’m off by too much. Either way, sac bunting was certainly not a terrible move.
by benderbrodriguez on Apr 11, 2010 8:28 PM EDT reply actions
He wasn't bunting for a hit, he was sac bunting.
You don’t do that in the first, not against the Yankees, not for one run. It was bad.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Either way, I don't want Zo bunting in that situation
If he was trying to get a hit I’m not as mad, but dear God…it’s the first inning against the Yankees. Hit the darn ball.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Apr 11, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
It was a vague text and did not include players names or the word sac
These are the problems you face when your dad reads your blog
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by FreeZorilla on Apr 12, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
He was batting lefty, it didn't look like he was dragging it.
And he didn’t push it towards third. Maybe he was, definitely didn’t look like it though.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought ARoid was playing back...
And he just wanted to get it down, ala Pena…But it was a shitty bunt. I could be wrong though. That would be epic fail if it was a sac.
Definitely a bad bunt either way.
I guess I hold Zobrist’s bunting abilities in higher esteem. If this were Crawford, it would be equally as likely that he just failed at getting a good bunt down for a hit attempt.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Same here
It looked like he was going for the hit, but if he didn’t then that it wasn’t a total failure. It just looked like he showed bunt much closer to the point you would for a hit rather than a sac.
Which even if the plan was to sac, it still makes sense to go for the hit when they aren’t lookin bunt
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 9:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Choate and the bunt were unacceptable.
The Ekstrom thing is a victim of circumstance. He’s used him exactly how he’ll use him since. I don’t know why people are still caught up on that.
Those two moves today though? Can’t do it. Just can’t. I expect more out of Maddon and I really hope it was Zobrist’s idea to bunt.
All things being even ...
I think the Rays take two out of three in the series. But the Yankees were able to skip their fifth starter, come back with Nos. 1 and 2, and it paid off.
(And, maybe, just maybe, we’re still searching for a little of the fire that a player like Jonny Gomes brings).
Kapler is like the best clubhouse guy in the majors.
It’s too bad he’s too smart for the redneck population to embrace him.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, no. It's not too bad.
Because then he’d overrated. Like Jonny Gomes. And Rocco Baldelli.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Who overrated either of them?
Safe to say we’d be far better off with Gomes as our dh. I don’t think anyone ever thought that he was a good player
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 9:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Gomes is cheaper and better than Pat
I don’t blame the Rays for the move, but it’s clear Pats skills have declined
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 9:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Baldelli hasn't played in a game in over six months and still isn't healthy.
What reason is there to believe this actually happens? Kapler, Aybar, Blalock, and countless others not only make more sense, but they can actually play baseball right now.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
HARF HARF
Seriously, I’ve not heard of this and unless it was reported by someone with some prestige, the bullshit alarms are going nuts right now.
Topkin probably floated it.
Baldelli and Bartlett are easy quotes for him. Sheffield must be too, shocked he hasn’t floated him yet.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Love the bipolar stance on Bradley/Sheff
Bradley = headcase, what kind of nut compares himself to Kanye West?
Sheffield = local guy! He’s never admitted to quitting on his team or anything.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
This is amazing.
More intriguing is the idea of Rocco Baldelli returning, maybe in a platoon of sorts with Willy Aybar. Baldelli, 28, is working out and taking batting practice regularly at the Trop. (He resumes his minor-league “special assistant” duties when the Rays go on the road.) And though his shoulder still isn’t right, he could hit in a big-league game today. And, be sure, he wants to play again.
Seriously?
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I could hit in a big league game today too.
Doesn’t mean I should or will get the chance.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously, whenever Topkin starts talking about Baldelli, it's just pipe-dream bullshit.
He’s not hearing any sources saying they’re thinking about running Baldelli out there. He WANTS it to happen, so he floats it. Baldelli might be a 5th or 6th option, which they’d never ever reach because if it got that bad, they’re out of the playoff race already and they wouldn’t waste money on him.
.
More intriguing is the idea of Ted Williams returning, maybe in a platoon of sorts with Willy Aybar. Williams, 91, is working out and taking batting practice regularly at the Trop. (He resumes his museum "namesake" duties when the Rays go on the road.) And though his head still isn’t right, he could hit in a big-league game today. And, be sure, he wants to play again.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
RJ wins the thread. Time to close up.
"I have a formula for excitability actually." - RJ Anderson
by ReasonableDoubt on Apr 11, 2010 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
...
More intriguing is the idea of Barry Bonds returning, maybe in a platoon of sorts with Willy Aybar. Bonds, 45, is working out and taking batting practice regularly at the Trop. (He resumes his “all-time home run champion” duties when the Rays go on the road.) And though his steroid pipeline is a little dry right now, he could hit in a big-league game today. And, be sure, he wants to play again.
The Baldelli thing is beyond stupid
However that doesn’t take away from the fact that Pat is entering real thin ice
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 11:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Gays have a thing for him
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 8:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
And your redneck comment was extra productive
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 9:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
By the way, if you want to know why I left, try asking me.
It was about morals versus money. I chose the former.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I asked why you left when I noticed you left
I try not to get too far involved in draysbay politics, but you were the best contributor here. Honestly I never liked the way you treated others and posted within a thread, but you were easily the best I’ve seen with actual articles
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 9:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Maybe it's because I have a rough demeanor as well
I love the way R.J. treats people in comments’ sections.
by FloridaownsFSU on Apr 11, 2010 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm okay with it as well. He was the boss. It just creates and encourages a certain culture
If someone wants that sort of atmosphere then they should be okay with it when other people are acting that way. It’s a two way street. Cliques break down.
From an outsiders point of view it’s rather interesting and entertaining. From someone on the inside with more emotion tied up it can be far more dangerous. It’s human nature
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 11:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My worry is the offense compared to the other factors
Now it’s 6 games in so it’s all very relative…
However we’ve had two to three good innings out of 54. That isn’t going to cut it. BJ and PTB have looked bad. We’ve been unable to string things together.
Of course it’s just 6 games, but 5 of those 6 games were below avg to bad offensive showings.
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 8:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I guess it's a combination of me expecting more and his truly bad showing today
Either way, 5 out of 6 games weren’t good
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 9:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
When did I ever say that?
Reading comprehension should come before anything remotely resembling writing
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 11:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Rationally in a heartbeat
http://www.draysbay.com/2009/9/2/1012642/wade-davis-promoted-will-make#20604959
Just curious to why
I have a mancrush on BJ so I wouldn’t either. But rationally I’d do it in a heartbeat.
I haven’t looked, but doesn’t Jacoby have less service time?
Jacoby is better on offense now
And defensively it is a wash.
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Reaching safely once a game is all that matters offensively?
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 11:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Navi has been seriously more patient at the plate and the results have been nice
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This.
I have liked his approach so far this year. Such crap luck he had when he had the solid contact and they doubled up Pat.
Yea almost doubly crappy when Granderson robbed him a 2nd time but it was ruled a hit
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Watching PtB run the bases has been awesome this far.
I cherish it every time because I never know when he’ll be on base again.
Wake Up
The Orioles could have swept the opening series. The Yankees, with the exception of Friday made the Rays look bad. The Navarro/Burrell combination is dreadful. Sonnestine looks like Sonnestine. Shields looks very mediocre. Maddon..well, what can you say. This team is sleep walking as they did at the beginning of last year. Upton looked as if he’d rather be someplace else today. How can a team this good play this badly? This is painful to watch.
by Frankie1747 on Apr 11, 2010 9:38 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
wow.
"Hot Tub Time Machine might be the best movie ever!" -Nobody on Earth
by Passionate Apathy on Apr 11, 2010 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha yeah, easily the best part was throwing that in at the end. Most of the rest was reasonable, but then BOOM GOES THE BJ
FREE SPEACH is a myth. There is no such thing as 100% free speech. You cannot go into a movie theater and say "FIRE"!…"What? I have freedom of speach!" Bull. Doesnt work that way. Any real lawyer will tell you that.
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Apr 11, 2010 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Blaming Navi is a real stretch
I try to be the first to blame anything on him, but this is a bit much.
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by FreeZorilla on Apr 11, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
....
I have no words.
I can’t wait until our first FanPost along these lines…
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Apr 11, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Right there with you.
By far the highlight of my intro to DRB has been some of the masterpieces that grace the right hand side of the page.
He's always going to have trouble against the Yanks.
He just doesn’t have the same margin for error on his fastball that Price and Garza do.
Last year the complaint was the Rays only win blowouts
They win a few close games this season and people complain they should have lost.
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by FreeZorilla on Apr 12, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Blalock
Why hasn’t he been playing in Durham?
Good question
There is a log jam of 1B for sure in Durham. The one game he played was at 3B and he has a shoulder condition. Here are Durhams 1B name-PA-OPS
Blalock-5-1.100
Shealy 12-1.208
Richard 14-1.065
DJohnson-12-.750
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by FreeZorilla on Apr 11, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Benoit 1 1/3 inngs of perfect ball in Durham today
3 K’s no hits no walks no runs. 9 K’s in 3 1/3 innings total in two games for Durham with no earned runs allowed while allowing one hit and a walk. So far so good from Benoit.
On the one hand I'm psyched, but on the other a little disappointed
Dioner Navarro walks >10% of the time
http://www.draysbay.com/2010/3/29/1389056/the-improbable-prediction-contest#33438018
Name BB%
Evan Longoria 5.30%
Reid Brignac 0.00%
Ben Zobrist 4.80%
Carlos Pena 6.30%
Dioner Navarro 10.00%
Jason Bartlett 9.10%
Kelly Shoppach 11.10%
B.J. Upton 10.50%
Willy Aybar 0.00%
Carl Crawford 19.00%
Pat Burrell 20.00%
Sean Rodriguez 0.00%
Gabe Kapler 20.00%
BB% courtesy of Fangraphs, when Craw leads the team in walks, we’re probably not showing enough patience.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Apr 11, 2010 9:58 PM EDT reply actions
Yay,
Thank you Hitting Coach.
I was the head of the Eric Berry bandwagon- Im sad to say its over.
Puffy Rod's Bandwagon continues forever.
New head of the Matthew Barnaby Bandwagon!!!
If anything, just proving that hitting coaches don't make much of a difference, unless they're Jaime Cevallos.
This lineup is maddeningly inconsistent. Not because they can’t get a hit sometimes, just because their approach never stays the same.
Take some fucking pitches, boys.
That's what i want too.
But to see navi being productive somehow is a good thing.
I was the head of the Eric Berry bandwagon- Im sad to say its over.
Puffy Rod's Bandwagon continues forever.
New head of the Matthew Barnaby Bandwagon!!!
I'm more concerned with Zobie, Longo, and Pena not getting the walks, it's probably a statistical anomaly
but our 3/4/5 hitters should have more than 3 walks in 56 PA’s. I’ll see if I can take a look at this and let you know my findings tomorrow.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Apr 11, 2010 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Longo didn't get a walk until game seven last year.
Not that it excuses what’s happening, but it’s not unheard of for him to got a week without a walk.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 11, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I wouldn't jump the gun on a hitting coach just yet
He has only been around the team for a few months, coaching dozens of players. I’m not going to say he will make a positive, negative or no impact but it is highly improbable to see significant changes overnight. It’ll take time
Go Gators!!
by matthan on Apr 11, 2010 11:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What is their productive out percentage?
FREE SPEACH is a myth. There is no such thing as 100% free speech. You cannot go into a movie theater and say "FIRE"!…"What? I have freedom of speach!" Bull. Doesnt work that way. Any real lawyer will tell you that.
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Apr 11, 2010 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
That's top 10 in the al east
FREE SPEACH is a myth. There is no such thing as 100% free speech. You cannot go into a movie theater and say "FIRE"!…"What? I have freedom of speach!" Bull. Doesnt work that way. Any real lawyer will tell you that.
by Top Gun Numba 1 on Apr 11, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Somewhere Steve Henderson is laughing
It was the problem all week. How many times did we see a Ray ahead on the count especially with runners on then swinging their way out of a inning. Let’s hope things improve tomorrow.
For the love of God, PLEASE somebody fire Jim Hickey.
No, I’m serious. Hickey needs to go.
And burn those light blue jerseys while you’re at it. Bring back the dark blue.
Now blogging on the OTHER sports in Orlando: http://www.sportcluborlando.com
I thought I might like the light blue Sunday jerseys.
After seeing them in game action, I don’t really care for them. Had nothing to do with the actual performance, just looked weird.
Smurfy!
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Apr 12, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I think they'll look better in an outdoor stadium during a sunny day
The lighting in the Trop made them look almost like a weird shade of gray on TV. Better lighting and I think I’ll like them better.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Apr 12, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Fixed link
Also, the Yankees know the rules by now and need to shut the fuck up. They’ve only played ONE HUNDRED AND TWO (102) games here.

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