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Should we be surprised? >>> An SF1 Joint

Spts-shelton_tiny by Top Gun Numba 1 on

We have just witnessed our Rays no-hit for the 2nd time this season. To add insult to injury it was done by former Ray Edwin Jackson who has ben trashed on this site more than myself if that is possible.

This team which came out of spring training blazing has gone into a horrible tailspin, losing four series in a row, and playing barely five hundred ball at home.

I think for the most part, the offense is to blame. But should we be so shocked by this?

Without getting into all the fancy stats, that show this team should go 162-0 every year, i'll try and make it pretty simple so that the guy in his living room drinking a PBR can understand.

Let's look at the basic line up we see day to day.

Jason Bartlett--Last year was a fluke, a huge fluke, outlier as my saber friends like to call it

BJ Upton--It's over Johnny. No matter what advanced stat the number crunchers come up with, you and i can plainly see he can't and won't produce, three years running now

Ben Zobrist--Last year he mashed to the tune of OPS numbers reserved for Pukols and A-Rod, this wasn't happening again

Carlos Pena--Albeit one week he's been a complete bust, but he showed signs of this the last couple years, in that his OPS has been going down

Pat Burrell--Who didn't see this coming from last year? It's now pretty obvious he can't/won't DH

Dioner Navarro--One good season a career doesn't make, he was a risk to bring back

This leaves Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac. I know i've left off a few, but their AB's have been few and far between, although we're still waiting on Gabe Kapler to "crush LHP"

So to summarize my piece, the results this offense gives us should be much less a surprise, but what we should have expected.

The Rays will continue to be competitive as long as they place on emphasis on pitching, but this team lags far behind their big brothers where the bats are concerned

aside to TGN--thanks for posting and feel free to correct typos [Editor's note: Nope]


This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

Comment 130 comments  |  15 recs  | 

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PtB and Navi aren't really on the team anymore.

Also, O/u 15 recs?

I am an artist and I have been drinking.

by P Brady on Jun 26, 2010 12:21 AM EDT reply actions  

I gotcha covered big bossman.

I hope you understand how provocative and irritating a statement such as "baseball is played on the field not on paper" is. It is the kind of moronic critique that anti-sabermetric neanderthals use (along with the unfunny "mother’s basement" canard) to debunk what they do not understand.

by kericr on Jun 26, 2010 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

To be fair, they played enough to contribute to this mess.

I hope you understand how provocative and irritating a statement such as "baseball is played on the field not on paper" is. It is the kind of moronic critique that anti-sabermetric neanderthals use (along with the unfunny "mother’s basement" canard) to debunk what they do not understand.

by kericr on Jun 26, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

I've seen RaysFanGio banned for less.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:22 AM EDT reply actions  

not............really

I hope you understand how provocative and irritating a statement such as "baseball is played on the field not on paper" is. It is the kind of moronic critique that anti-sabermetric neanderthals use (along with the unfunny "mother’s basement" canard) to debunk what they do not understand.

by kericr on Jun 26, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

The poor spelling is enough.

It’s not like he’s been warned.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

This only helps me.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

Almost used the term regression!

Jason Bartlett—Last year was a fluke, a huge fluke, outlier as my saber friends like to call it

Ben Zobrist—Last year he mashed to the tune of OPS numbers reserved for Pukols and A-Rod, this wasn’t happening again

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 12:26 AM EDT reply actions  

Because you are echoing a lot of sentiment that has been hashed over and over on this site.

Bartlett – His regression was pointed out here: http://www.draysbay.com/2010/5/11/1466845/why-jason-bartlett-should-not-bat
Upton – http://www.draysbay.com/2010/5/27/1489692/b-j-upton-overload-a-hypothesis
Zobrist – Was obviously not going to repeat 09
Pena – RZ profiled it today.
Burrell and Navi both were covered a LOT this year.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

My piece was not to retell these same stories

but to let you know, this offense is what it is, and there’s probably not going to be any great uprising in the future

by sternfan1 on Jun 26, 2010 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

This post was nothing but a rant that deserves it's own comment section in the Heater.

This isn’t letting me know anything other than what you see. And frankly, I don’t think what you see carries any merit.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

I expected average production from Pena/Bartlett/Upton, not blazing hot bats

There’s no excuse for a collective Suck% near the top of the MLB list.

But Pena at the very least has found his power again lately.

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 12:39 AM EDT reply actions  

Entering tonight Upton was still above average.

I don’t know why he constantly gets lumped in with Pena — who’s definitely been down — and Bartlett — who’s close to his true talent level this year than last.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

Why he, an obvious troll, is still allowed on this site is beyond me.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

I've tried.

And been over-ruled by non-mod moderators.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions  

"and when you get demodded"

I am an artist and I have been drinking.

by P Brady on Jun 26, 2010 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions  

I tried to turn in my mod powers remember?

But they just keep bringing me back….

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

I was the best mod.

I am an artist and I have been drinking.

by P Brady on Jun 26, 2010 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

What?

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

I'm beyond glad I turned that down.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Typical SF1 response.

That is, when someone makes a valid point he ignores it completely.

Sign lady must die.

dude, this one's over and so is the season
by sternfan1 on Jun 19, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by EminenceFront on Jun 26, 2010 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

.008 wOBA separates Pena and Upton

The Bartlett comment is true, but he is a hair above league average for his career. 79wRC+ this year. Its reasonable to expect far better without bringing 2009 into the equation.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jun 26, 2010 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions  

Upton plays CF, Pena plays 1B.

If Upton’s around .330 and Pena’s at .322, that’s not acceptable for Pena.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

This is the perfect sf1 post

because you can tell he put his heart and soul into this epic trolling. First off, he tried so hard to not fuck up typing (which he always does because he’s an old fart) that he made one-sentence paragraphs which are just silly. Secondly, he still fucked up typing (Pukols?). Third, while there may be some valid points hidden amongst the garbage writing that is this post, he mashes it together with so many pathetic unsubstantiated trolls that they are just overshadowed by the sheer idiocy of it all.

I’m really glad this got posted though, it makes me smile after all the frowning that was involved in this odd, odd no-hitter (which I stopped watching after the 3rd inning, so whatever).

Finally, PLEASE learn how to use the term “albeit” properly, as you obviously have no clue what it means since this is the second time you’ve misused it horrendously.

by pudieron89 on Jun 26, 2010 1:41 AM EDT reply actions  

God I love this site.

The team still stinks, however.

"I have a formula for excitability actually." - RJ Anderson

by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 26, 2010 2:06 AM EDT reply actions  

This post needs more recs

2010 Rays Baseball: Shut up, Mr. Rosenthal. We're not giving up.
2010 FSU Baseball: 2010 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

by JMB on Jun 26, 2010 2:36 AM EDT reply actions  

Live Free or Die Hard

And if one has a problem using stats to prove a point, then use your eyes.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 26, 2010 6:27 AM EDT reply actions  

Why i wrote this post

First off, it was done out of total frustration with how the season is going. It was a chance to vent. It was also for me at least, a way to explain the offense, which i assumed was just in a deep sleep.

Also it was written for Joe Fan, if that guy reads DRB. While i enjoy many of the advanced stats i read on this site, i can’t help but think many fans were thinking wOBA or WAR while watching that fiasco last night.

As for the typos i apologize, as yes i know who Albert Pujols is

I won’t do many, if any more of these, but thanks for letting me vent

by sternfan1 on Jun 26, 2010 8:42 AM EDT reply actions  

I didn't hate it. It's your opinion.. you're certainly entitled to it.

You make better points when you have time to think things out… as opposed to a one-liner in a GDT or recap post. Not that those aren’t fun…. I think angry replies to your posts make up about 25% of the activity on here. And that’s not a bash at the site… that 25% is a lot of freaking activity.

by Hatfield on Jun 26, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

This whole "advanced stats say we'll never lose" troll doesn't even make sense.

We’ve been saying 90 wins all along. 90 wins means 72 losses. How is that unreasonable?

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

Or that Cleveland area schools

were failing our children around the turn of the last century.

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jun 26, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

You even misspell/misuse that

Unless you’re running some merry assortment of a hundred Roman soldiers, you’re still an idiot. This is what I wanted and expected out of you last night, but apparently the Rays can’t even bring out the type of emotions in you that your own inadequacies do.

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jun 26, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

you got a response, lucky

i guess i should just be more inflammatory next time. actually i have an inkling feeling that the bigger post earlier was just a failed reply.

by pudieron89 on Jun 26, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

I feel sorry for you

It must be difficult being an ‘addicted’ fan for two of MLB most under achieving teams

by sternfan1 on Jun 26, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Says the Indians 'non-fan'

It’s okay SF1, you get prissy when someone gets on you about your third grade intellect, I can take another Cubs joke and not whine like a little girl.

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jun 26, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

I know...

that’s why I shared the video with you

Boom. Outta Here.

by Ryan Gilliss on Jun 26, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

ICED

Therefore, I should be ignored completely, because I’m a blithering idiot.

When John Jaso strikes out twice in a game, he becomes Kohn Kaso, which is Spanish for "with cheese."

by kericr on Jun 1, 2010 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Jun 26, 2010 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

This shouldn't be surprising to anyone

All it takes is a few minutes to look at the talent and skill sets of our players and you’d see this is more likely to happen to this team than most. It doesn’t take a rocket scientistic, an excel whiz, or some superscout to figure it out. It is clear as day.

Just like we shouldn’t be surprised if the Rays dominate the next 2 days scoring 16 runs total. That is baseball, and our team skill set exaggerates that trait.

At the end of the day (well season) we will be right up there. Will we make the playoffs? Nobody can say with certainty, but we will be right there.

Go Gators!!

by matthan on Jun 26, 2010 10:23 AM EDT reply actions  

We are a low contact (3rd worst in the league), low BA (bottom 3rd in the league), and high K (third in the league) team...combine it with notoriously streaky players...

Days like this should be expected (albeit not to this degree).

However those traits can be overcome by other things and still result in a very good offense. They are a part of the puzzle, not the only thing in the puzzle.

Go Gators!!

by matthan on Jun 26, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

I don't see that happening. Last night

the Yankees are pretty much dominated by a stiff like Vincent Padilla, yet found a way to win 2-1. That’s what good team’s do, find ways to win. We’re not a good team since May 1. We find ways to lose. That’s the intangible i’m talking about in this example

by sternfan1 on Jun 26, 2010 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

We walked 8 times.

It’s not like they went up there hacking.

Besides Blalock, that is.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

7 walks in 3 innings is horrific.

Niemann out-pitched Jackson last night and it’s not particularly close.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

If Niemann had thrown 150 pitches, he might've

But Jackson wins this hands-down. Quantity over quality, mon ami.

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes. It's always good when your starter walks more than he strikes out.

If Wade Davis had 7 BB through 3 IP I would hope Maddon would pull him no matter what the hits column says.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 26, 2010 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

intangibles are nice because you can pose them in a way

that they can’t be refuted. damn this team’s lack of heart!

by pudieron89 on Jun 26, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

tl;dr

Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.

by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT

by Doug09 on Jun 26, 2010 12:42 PM EDT reply actions  

We need to convert this "post" into World Cup Soccer talk.

2:30 is almost here!

Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.

by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT

by Doug09 on Jun 26, 2010 1:37 PM EDT reply actions  

Uruguay won this morning

If we win today, I like our odds for reaching the semis.

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

Not off to a good start, already gave up an early goal.

Maddon's Mission
Make you want to kill him, then make you want to love him. Sly.

by Jonah Keri on Jun 19, 2010 10:31 PM EDT

by Doug09 on Jun 26, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Got completely outplayed in the first half

I don’t know why people keep saying our defense is great. We have two guys back there that can play (Cherundolo and Bocanegra), and the others are just a revolving door of fail. That weak back line is the reason we’re losing now, and the reason we keep giving up these damned early goals.

It’ll probably take another miracle play from Donovan to tie it up.

Interestingly enough, it seems the refs are very relaxed out there today. Very few fouls called on either team as far as I’ve seen. It’s a nice change from what we’ve been having…

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

...and we have OVAHTIME

1-1 with 30 mins to play

Maybe I’m a fool, but I’d love to see a penalty shootout.

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Not now

Fuck Ghana.

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

By 2014 this country had better train some truly talented defensemen

Or I’m really not going to give a damn.

Howard’s good, but not that good.

In my day lots of messy tissues over her

by sternfan1 on Jun 18, 2010 6:30 AM PDT

by IntrepidX on Jun 26, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

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