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Saturday, March 08, 2008

MLB: Rays: David Price justifies hype in spring debut

As beat writers frantically Google Jon Landau’s name to get the quote right…

Rays left-hander David Price entered Saturday’s Grapefruit League game against the Yankees in the seventh inning. Seventeen pitches later, Price left the mound to a standing ovation at Legends Field—the Spring Training home of the Yankees.

Price, the No. 1 pick of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, reached a 2-2 count against Francisco Cervelli, the first hitter he faced, before drilling him with pitch No. 5. The stylish left-hander then struck out the next three hitters he faced in order, topping out at 99 mph in the process.

...Veteran Brian Anderson smiled when asked about Price.

“If I could take that stuff out there—Cooperstown, here we come,” Anderson said.

Repoz Posted: March 08, 2008 at 11:26 PM | 22 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. birdlives is one crazy ninja Posted: March 08, 2008 at 11:43 PM (#2708896)

topping out at 99 mph in the process.

He wasn't throwing like at Vanderbilt.

2. DKDC Posted: March 08, 2008 at 11:47 PM (#2708897)

He did look quite impressive, although it was against Duncan, Lane and Betemit.

The YES gun had him at 97-98.

3. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: March 09, 2008 at 12:21 AM (#2708911)

Didn't they just rename it Steinbrenner Field? If they'd renamed it AutoZone Field, the media would certainly have fallen right in line.

4. BeanoCook Posted: March 09, 2008 at 12:34 AM (#2708920)

Price should have looked for the ground ball double play. Dumb youth.

5. pthomas Posted: March 09, 2008 at 12:52 AM (#2708923)

How come there are no "stylish" right handers?

6. Greg (U)K Posted: March 09, 2008 at 01:08 AM (#2708927)

are you implying that Paul Byrd isn't?

7. shattnering his Dominicano G Strings on that Mound Posted: March 09, 2008 at 01:45 AM (#2708935)

Could he honestly make it up by July or August? It doesn't seem that the Rays push players up that quickly. But, if Price is 'as advertised,' perhaps he's the exception?

8. Marcel Posted: March 09, 2008 at 02:08 AM (#2708952)

If he pulls a Lincecum and absolutely dominates in AAA, I don't see how thay could justify not calling him up. Especially if Jackson/Sonnanstine/Howell or whomever else is struggling. They're trying to sell their team as young and competetive right now, and to do that they have to field the best 25 players they have.

9. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: March 09, 2008 at 03:39 AM (#2708975)

How bout them Heels, Kev? You see the game?

10. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: March 09, 2008 at 03:57 AM (#2708987)

I dunno, but my reverse psychology instincts are beginning to kick in. Duke sure seems to be dependent on having a pair of hot three point shooters, but OTOH if they can get those same referees in the ACC and NCAA that they had tonight, they got a shot. Even "Coach K" Vitale was admitting tonight that they got away with murder on Hansbrough. When was the last time you saw defense like that resulting in no trips to the line?

I've been a Carolina fan since I was 12, and I don't think I've ever seen a tougher Tar Heel than Hansbrough. And that includes Jordan. Just keep his nose away from Gerald Henderson.

11. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: March 09, 2008 at 04:11 AM (#2708997)

Right. Like I said, they're too dependent on hot three point shooters. You saw that tonight in the final stretch.

Kupchak?

Tough enough, but not Tyler tough. Leon Douglas of Alabama completely outplayed Kupchak in the NCAA regionals in his senior year and closed out Carolina's season. I was so disgusted with that game that it took his all-rookie team spot for me to believe he'd ever make a good pro. Maybe it's just because Carolina's on TV now more than they used to be, and I've seen him play so often, but I honestly think that in terms of heart, Hansbrough's right up there with the likes of Russell, Moses Malone, and Iverson. (Note that I said "heart," not necessarily anything beyond that.)

12. Walt Davis Posted: March 09, 2008 at 04:18 AM (#2709000)

Warren Martin.

For overall ACC, Randolph Childress, especially against Duke. I thought he had enough toughness and attitude to overcome the bit of talent he was missing and have a nice NBA career ... nope.

13. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: March 09, 2008 at 04:18 AM (#2709001)

If they can't even win at home with the refs in their pocket [and with Lawson still not 100%], what is going to happen when they're out west with Pac-10 refs?

Let's just say I'm looking forward to it.

14. Lassus: Posted: March 09, 2008 at 05:42 AM (#2709030)

To get back to Price, I just this minute watched the encore of the game on YES. It may have been against Duncan, Lane, and Betemit, but damn if he didn't make them look like AA ballplayers, the lot of them. And they all gave him the look as they walked back to the dugout.

The "daaaaaaaaaamn" look. Good show.

15. still hunting for a halo-red october (in Delphi) Posted: March 09, 2008 at 10:23 AM (#2709065)

If they can't even win at home with the refs in their pocket [and with Lawson still not 100%], what is going to happen when they're out west with Pac-10 refs?

Pac-10 refs? You mean those guys who think that a clean block is a shooting foul?

Sincerely,
a sad Stanford alumnus

16. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: March 09, 2008 at 11:30 AM (#2709069)

Yeah, Stanford, I'm looking forward to seeing what those same refs might do to Duke. Very much so. I want to see the original colors of Coach K's hair.

17. RollingWave Posted: March 09, 2008 at 12:39 PM (#2709092)

of course, Betemit's career line against lefty in over 220 PA is 232 /.281 /.353 ... so he's pretty AA when it comes to hitting lefties :P

still though, it looked very very impressive. I'd be surprised if he wasn't up before this season ends.

18. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: March 09, 2008 at 06:47 PM (#2709308)

Red October, there was body contact. Sometimes contact worse than that is allowed, sometimes contact less than that is called. But there was contact, it was mid-air, and the shooter went backward as a result of it. Based on precedent, it could have gone either way.

And how about that "foul" Chase Budinger committed on Lopez a few weeks back?

Incidentally, I would bet on the Pac 10 refs favoring Duke over any Pac 10 school. You haven't really seen bad officiating until you've seen the Pac 10 refs in action. In that UCLA-Stanford game, there were 5-10 questionable-to-bewildering calls (against both teams), at least.

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MLB: Rays: David Price justifies hype in spring debut

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