Royals 7, RAYS 4: Offensive offensive performance
By Scott Caruso | July 8th, 2008 | Posted in Game Recap
That’s, of course, meant to be read as “uh-fensive off-ensive performance” as in “that smell was offensive.” That’s exactly what the Rays offense was yesterday afternoon, and they’ve got no one to blame but themselves for that loss. Tons and tons and tons of wasted opportunities put Dan Wheeler in the position to lose this game in the 10th, and though he definitely blew chunks when he was given the chance to try and keep the game tied, that doesn’t absolve the offense from their absolutely dismal performance with runners on base.
Let’s look at some numbers, shall we?
All told, the Rays left 12 men on base, which is bad enough to begin with. But then consider how many of those men were left on base after getting on with zero or one out, and it looks even worse. Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena were the worst offenders, combining to leave 14 men on base during their at-bats, but Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist left 4 runners on base between the 2 of them. So, though there were only 12 men left on base when innings were over, Rays baserunners actually stranded 33 different runners on base. There were 5 different innings where the leadoff man reached base and didn’t score - including innings where Aki and Dioner hit leadoff doubles. Unacceptable. In the second inning, the Rays loaded the bases with no one out and couldn’t scratch home a single run thanks to a pair of weak pop-outs by Crawford and Pena and then a strikeout by Longo.
Any way you slice it, the offense spit the bit yesterday.
Enough negativity, though. The Rays had won 7 straight games before that - a few of them in dominating fashion - so they were bound to lose one eventually. Losing, of course, is now the exception rather than the rule, and if the Rays can win 7 out of every 8 games, I think they are going to be okay.
2 big road series coming up to close the first-half of the season. If the Rays can take both from the Yankees and then grab 3 out of 4 from the Indians, it gives them that Big Mo’ going into the All-Star Break. Stumble, and they could find the Red Sox right on their heels again.
Stop for a second, and re-read that last paragraph. Did you honestly think we’d be saying that about this team this year? I’m already finding myself taking for granted how bad we’ve been for so long that I need to stop and appreciate just how good things are right now. Enjoy it, Rays fans, because you never know how long the ride’s going to last.
Tags: Royals
July 8th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Curse of the ESPN Power Rankings…
“Dan Wheeler (1.82 ERA) hasn’t allowed a home run in his last 18 appearances, spanning 16 1/3 innings pitched.”
July 8th, 2008 at 9:52 am
The best part of this is that we are disappointed in the Rays performance of yesterdays game after going (55-33) and loosing a game 7-4, to Kansas City, which snapped its seven-game winning streak and even more so after winning six out of seven at home and we’re still disappointed. I love it, it’s great because we are that hungry. This season if you can recall, was our hope to do better than .500 and we are at .625 and leading all of baseball and we’re still disappointed. Go Rays and I applaud the fans too.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Haven’t lost a 9-inning regulation game in more than two weeks. Down to the last at-bat, Pena and Hinske homer. Those are signs of winning teams.
I’d also quibble with the comment not in dominating fashion. They were in total command for the first 3 games of the Royals series and had big-time blowouts in Miami and Pittsburgh.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Regarding yesterday’s game: wouldn’t it have been nice to maybe sacrifice over one of those leadoff doubles to have a man on third with one out? I admit that I come from a history of following a National League team, but sometimes it pays to play small ball for a run or two–it would have made a big difference in yesterday’s game. I heard, unconfirmed, that the Rays are dead last in the AL in sacrifice bunts. Maybe it is another weapon they should add to their arsenal.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I’m not sure what you’re quibbling about, Gus… I said that they won a few of the 7 straight in dominating fashion.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Isn’t it great we’re complaining about finally loosing a game. For 10 years now we complained about never winning a game. Give me 6 of 7 and I over joyed. We’re in first. No bitching from me. I am just sitting back and enjoying the hell out of this. Can’t wait till tonite to see them spank the Yankees. I just questoned the intentional walk to set up the double play when Wheeler is not a ground ball pitcher.
What the heck 1 mistake out of seven games. Hey doesn’t the world series go 7 games.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
So I expected a sweep and was very disappointed when we didn’t complete 2 sweeps in a row but you cannot win them all.
I can’t wait to sweep the Yankees in New York and then win a series against the up and coming Indians.