BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: Rays (64-55) @ RedSox (73-46), Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 7:10pm

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Rays (64-55) @ RedSox (73-46), Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 7:10pm

TBR: Jeff Niemann (28, RHP, 7-4, 3.43)
BOS: Erik Bedard (32, LHP, 4-7, 3.55)

The Primer Chimp Posted: August 16, 2011 at 01:00 PM | 141 comment(s)
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1. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:08 PM (#3901375)

Sucks that we have to face Shields today because of Sunday's rainout in the Bronx.

2. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:12 PM (#3901379)

####### awful job pitching to Jennings after getting ahead 0-2.

3. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:17 PM (#3901386)

Almost every single pitch is staying up in the zone.

4. Jay Seaver Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:24 PM (#3901394)

The radio guys say nobody calls James Shields "Big Game James" any more. Why is that, as it actually seems appropriate this year.

5. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:26 PM (#3901398)

3 warning track flyouts in the first inning.

6. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:37 PM (#3901414)

Shoppach was out at first. Already a blown call today in the top of the 2nd.

7. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:42 PM (#3901423)

And now a line out. Every single batter has hit the ball hard against Shields with nothing to show for it.

8. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:55 PM (#3901434)

Y'know, don't get me wrong I like Lester and he's a very good pitcher, but for whatever reason I really thought he'd have made another step forward by this point in his career and put himself among the elite, rather than just outside it.

9. Jay Seaver Posted: August 16, 2011 at 05:59 PM (#3901437)

Currently raining in Burlington. This could screw up my going to the nightcap any number of ways.

10. Jay Seaver Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:05 PM (#3901441)

Sounds like Ellsbury creamed that one.

11. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:06 PM (#3901442)

Y'know, don't get me wrong I like Lester and he's a very good pitcher, but for whatever reason I really thought he'd have made another step forward by this point in his career and put himself among the elite, rather than just outside it.

Heh, I was thinking today that for a guy with pretty elite numbers he never seems to have those real easy games. It's perception I'm sure but it frustrates me. He just seems to have a lot of games where he has to fight more than you'd expect.

Jacoby Ellsbury on the other hand is America's greatest natural resource and should be treated as such.

12. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:06 PM (#3901443)

Shields has thrown some really really nasty change ups today.

13. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:09 PM (#3901449)

With Lester I think it's his control. If he could pare his BB rate down a bit that would probably help a lot, plus sometimes he just seems to throw more pitches than he "should" have to.

And Ellsbury is The Greatest Native American Hero.

14. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:11 PM (#3901453)

Els has 3 more homers than Gonzalez in about the same # of PAs. That's...not what I expected.

15. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:23 PM (#3901474)

Lester takes note of my comments, strikes out the side but takes 20 pitches to do it. :)

16. Jay Seaver Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3901488)

Six-pitch inning for Lester - appreciated!

17. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:37 PM (#3901493)

Perusing bbref, Lester has apparently only pitched into the 8th inning 27 times in his entire career. That seems low (145 career starts so that's about 20%), but is it low?

18. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: August 16, 2011 at 06:46 PM (#3901503)

They're playing very relaxed baseball, meaning, they aren't pressing. They're going out there and playing loose, and whatever happens, happens, and most of the time, what happens is that they win. I think they're unstoppable, at this point, roster configured as it currently is. If Buchholz comes back healthy, they'll crush everyone in the post season. It'll barely be competitive.

19. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:10 PM (#3901528)

Damn, Reddick just missed adding a homer there.

20. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:14 PM (#3901530)

Booing Damon is dumb, at this point. He couldn't start for the Red Sox today, so who cares what team he's on?

21. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:15 PM (#3901531)

Booing Damon is dumb, at this point. He couldn't start for the Red Sox today, so who cares what team he's on?

He did decline the trade last year when they could've used him.

22. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:27 PM (#3901549)

What did Maddon do to lose the DH?

23. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:29 PM (#3901552)

Damon hit for Elliot Johnson, so Sean Rodriguez had to move to SS, and Zobrist had to move from DH to 2B. Damon took over in LF with Fuld's spot in the order becoming the pitcher's spot.

24. Jay Seaver Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:29 PM (#3901553)

Zobrist went into the field.

25. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:32 PM (#3901557)

Thx.

26. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:33 PM (#3901559)

That looked like a clear hit into CF. Pedroia came out of nowhere to catch that. Incredible play.

27. Jay Seaver Posted: August 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM (#3901561)

Sweet, and the bullpen is in good shape for the nightcap.

28. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:28 PM (#3901799)

Why do the NESN cameramen always pan up so the balls to left look likethey are going out or offthe wall? The angle on the ball Pedroia hit made it seem like it was much higher.

29. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:34 PM (#3901802)

And replay shows that the great catch was in fact not a catch at all. Of course it seemed fishy that it made two impact sounds (one the ball, the 2nd Jennings hitting the wall). Hard to imagine how those sounds could've come from a ball being caught.

30. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:38 PM (#3901804)

#### off Varitek. If you can't make a play on that you have no business on the field.

31. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:39 PM (#3901805)

Nice throw Jed.

32. Dan Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:40 PM (#3901806)

Yes, bad throw too (goes without saying). But it seemed like Varitek still have have made the play on that. It was a short hop but it was on line.

33. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:42 PM (#3901807)

That blown call by the umps earlier was special - the two noises gave it away - they should plunk Jennings for being a ####### cheat

34. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:43 PM (#3901809)

Ehh, that was 98% on Jed. Even if Tek picks it clean it's going to be tough to get the tag down.

35. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:44 PM (#3901811)

That's a tough play for a catcher. The catchers mitt is actually quite awkward to catch anything other than a pitch with. Would've been nice to see him make it but Lowrie has to make a better throw.

36. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:46 PM (#3901812)

I missed these 2 runs but can I assume they were all infield hits - or bloops?

37. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:48 PM (#3901813)

This is annoying now - Bedard won't go any longer than 5 innings

38. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:50 PM (#3901814)

It feels like a week since we scored first in a game.

39. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:55 PM (#3901819)

Great - so the highlights tab shows the non catch.

####### cheats #### me sideways - that's why I always hates Hideki Matsui - ####### cheat tried to play Bellhorn's homer in Game 6 as a rebound off the wall.

Yes - I hold grudges

Another day, another fantastic Crawford at bat as well

40. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 16, 2011 at 11:57 PM (#3901821)

Jennings will steal anyway

41. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:09 AM (#3901823)

I thought that was foul for some reason off the bat

42. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:11 AM (#3901825)

Hey, these still exist?

43. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:12 AM (#3901826)

Hey, these still exist?

No. This isn't the game chatter you're looking for.

44. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:13 AM (#3901827)

Wow I thought he got him.

45. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:14 AM (#3901829)

Now would be a pretty cool time to remember how to hit home runs, Adrian...

46. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:15 AM (#3901830)

Or you could just continue pounding the ball into the ground like Casey Kotchman.

47. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3901834)

Is Kotchmans BABIP through the roof this year?

48. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3901835)

Holy ####. Around the horn on a triple play??

49. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:22 AM (#3901836)

Second triple play in MLB in as many days!

50. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:23 AM (#3901837)

Is Kotchmans BABIP through the roof this year?

100 points over his career average, despite no change in walk rate, ground ball rate, etc. Basically his grounders are finding holes and more of his flyballs are linedrives, whether due to scorer's calling them liners since they fall in or him not getting under them quite as much.

51. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:24 AM (#3901838)

Presumably soon, another guy will come up and hit a long fly ball to Because.

52. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:25 AM (#3901840)

How awesome was the triple play? Was on the phone when it happened !!

53. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:26 AM (#3901841)

How awesome was the triple play? Was on the phone when it happened !!

I dug it, last time I saw one live was Furcal's UATP. Last Red SOx one I recall is the one Hatteberg hit into. He later atoned for it by hitting a grand slam.

54. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:28 AM (#3901845)

Hey another line drive right at a fielder.

55. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:29 AM (#3901846)

I rememeber that Furcal one - was it a Sunday night ESPN game?

56. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:30 AM (#3901847)

Jonah Keri is supposed to be on NESN tonite.

57. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:30 AM (#3901848)

I rememeber that Furcal one - was it a Sunday night ESPN game?

Yup.

58. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:30 AM (#3901849)

It's kind of depressing that the Red Sox paid $142M for Crawford and now the Rays have a better left fielder anyway.

59. Hugh Jorgan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:35 AM (#3901854)

Is crawford getting close to hitting the ball at all today? Triple play was very, very cool.

60. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:36 AM (#3901856)

It's kind of depressing that the Red Sox paid $142M for Crawford and now the Rays have a better left fielder anyway.

Like I was saying...

61. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:39 AM (#3901859)

Jonah Keri is supposed to be on NESN tonite.

In the booth? Or post-game?

62. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:39 AM (#3901860)

Clear strike 3 to Damon there

63. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:41 AM (#3901861)

Jennings is going to be really good - I'm gonna wait and see how Crawford goes next year - he can't be any worse than the #### he has presented this year

64. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:45 AM (#3901864)

Crawford is lousy. He swings at the worst pitches. If we hadn't signed Crawford, and had just gone with what we had, what would've happened? We probably would've started Cameron/Ellsbury/Drew, realized Drew and Cameron sucked earlier, and then we'd have gone with Reddick, anyway. But who would be the left fielder right now?

Actually, you know what...we would've traded for Beltran.

65. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:46 AM (#3901866)

I'm pretty sure the Sox won a double header in 2004 when Pedro threw a complete game vs. Tampa.

66. ray james Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:50 AM (#3901869)

Bedard has actually pitched a good game. It's too bad there haven't been more runs.

67. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:52 AM (#3901870)

If Reddick can change his approach at the plate - then maybe Crawford will as well.

That's what I keep telling myself anyway

68. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:55 AM (#3901871)

Crawford had a better approach from the start of 2009 through the ASB last season. Then he stopped walking. I wonder if there's something wrong with his eyesight or something, because he's always been a hacker at the plate but not like this.

69. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:57 AM (#3901874)

In the booth? Or post-game?

Some show after the postgame hosted by some blonde.

70. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 17, 2011 at 12:58 AM (#3901875)

I HATE THE TALKING BABY GIMMICK SO MUCH

71. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:01 AM (#3901879)

Give Ellsbury $142M, he's got much more of a shot to be worth it.

72. ray james Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:01 AM (#3901880)

Ellsbury's unreal.

73. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:02 AM (#3901881)

This is ridiculous. He actually has a shot at 30.

74. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:03 AM (#3901882)

Adrian Gonzalez continúes to pound the ball into the ground.

75. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:06 AM (#3901885)

How much money would you win if you had said in March that Jacoby Ellsbury would lead the team in home runs (not Gonzalez, not Youkilis, not Ortiz), and SBs (not Crawford)? It could happen...

76. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:06 AM (#3901886)

Have I ever said anything bad about Ellsbury? I take it all back. I hope the press and the Sox take back their hints about him last year.

If you're bummed that Lester hasn't taken a bigger step forward, you're spoiled. I don't mean to be harsh, but there's just no other explanation. He's a better pitcher now than he ever was in the minors ad over the past 4 years, he's in the top 10 in WAR for pitchers.

77. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:07 AM (#3901887)

Haven't been watching--how has Bedard been? At least he's already better than most of our deadline pickups.

78. ray james Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:11 AM (#3901889)

Bedard was fine. Threw strikes and commanded fairly well. Got burned by some bad defense early.

79. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:14 AM (#3901892)

I saw this on SOSH and thought it was interesting: if someone claimed Crawford at this point, would you pull him back?

Also the talking baby is as funny as Remy and Orsillo, so not at all.

80. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:17 AM (#3901894)

The only team I'd pull him back from on a claim would be the Yankees, because you know if they let him go to NYY, he'd bust out and start hitting homers in bunches into the short porch, while playing GG defense in their expansive LF.

81. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:17 AM (#3901896)

If you're bummed that Lester hasn't taken a bigger step forward, you're spoiled. I don't mean to be harsh, but there's just no other explanation. He's a better pitcher now than he ever was in the minors ad over the past 4 years, he's in the top 10 in WAR for pitchers.

No, I'm really not spoiled. I didn't even say I was bummed...just an observation that he seemed (to me anyway) *thisclose* to becoming clearly one of the best 5 pitchers in the game, and that's still where he seems to be.

It is what it is, and we'd be lucky (and I'd be happy) if he does nothing but continue to be this pitcher for another 6 or 7 years. I'm not complaining.

82. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:20 AM (#3901898)

Maybe the Nats would claim Crawford, so they'd have a matched set.

83. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:22 AM (#3901899)

Benji--I understand what you're saying. I'm thrilled beyond belief with how well Lester's turned out--he's an ace who stays healthy and pitches well in big games--so it was hard for me to relate to the previous post on him.

84. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:22 AM (#3901900)

Also, I apparently missed it: why is Papi sitting?

85. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:23 AM (#3901903)

jesus - his obp is 2#######88

86. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:23 AM (#3901905)

Opposing pitcher just need to remember to throw Crawford junk in the dirt. He can't lay off.

His obp is back down to .288. He's been dreadful this whole year.

87. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:24 AM (#3901906)

Bursitis in his heel or something like that.

Crawford is just..... I don't even know what to say at this point.

88. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:24 AM (#3901907)

Not anymore.

They're booing him too and, sadly, it's not an unreasonable reaction.

89. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:25 AM (#3901908)

Aviles looks like the lousy hitter that his stats say he is.

90. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:26 AM (#3901910)

Also, I apparently missed it: why is Papi sitting?

Late scratch for the afternoon game due to illness, IIANM.

91. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#3901912)

The Michael Jordan Hanes commercials are ####### uniformly terrible.

92. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:28 AM (#3901914)

Navarro with KC: .429 .556 .571

93. Dan Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:28 AM (#3901915)

They're booing him too and, sadly, it's not an unreasonable reaction.

I heard the booing too, and while I wouldn't take part in it, it's hard to blame people at this point.

94. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:29 AM (#3901917)

I'm usually the only chatting about the commercials. Glad there are some others here willing to complain about them!

95. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:30 AM (#3901919)

Jeter's second-half resurgence is really starting to piss me off.

96. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:30 AM (#3901920)

@93--my feelings exactly.

How did he hit so well for so long? Did he know how to lay off horrible pitches then? Why can't he now?

97. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:31 AM (#3901921)

I hate Damon at bats. He's right up there with Matsui and Abreu and Jeter for interminable ABs.

98. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:31 AM (#3901922)

I have to say though Darren, the Sox talking baby ad is terrible, but I really like (a couple of) the eTrade ones.

99. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:33 AM (#3901923)

I remember that Valentin triple play. He was so nonchalant about it that it didn't seem real.

100. Darren

Posted: August 17, 2011 at 01:34 AM (#3901924)

Some of the etrade ones made me laugh. But these are stilling that bit and doing it worse. That's a recipe for suck.

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