You’ve always heard about that implausible Hollywood script that gets rejected because even it is too unbelievable for the land of make-believe?
Welcome to the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. Despite the lowest payroll in the AL East, a manager who manny dismissed as just “a portly little man with funny glasses,” and a bullpen pieced together from other teams’ cast-offs, has-beens, and never-weres, the Rays keep on inventing new ways to win, and with each passing day find themselves closer and closer to clinching a playoff spot.
Big D: B.J. Upton had not one but two key defensive plays in the 2nd inning last night that might’ve completely changed the complexion of the game. James Shields was struggling through the first couple of innings, and Torii Hunter ripped a line drive to the left-centerfield gap. B.J. sprinted over and cut the all off, firing a strike to Aki at second to hold Hunter and second. Then, a few batters later, B.J. threw an absolute strike to home plate on a base-hit up the middle to cut Hunter down at the plate.
When B.J. first picked up the ball, I didn’t think he had any chance at all to get Hunter and started cursing him for not hitting the cut-off man. Then, the ball is in Navarro’s glove and his swiping Torii for the out. I can’t even begin to describe how great that throw was. One of the finest from center field I’ve ever seen.
Fired Up: Papa Joe got himself ejected – and rightfully so – when B.J. was the center of “controversy” after being tagged “out” after he ran through first base. Apparently, the umpire thought that Upton had turned to run towards second base, which he absolutely did not do, and when he was tagged, the umpire called him out.
Perhaps the worst call I’ve ever seen in my life, and certainly a built-in excuse for the Rays had they lost the game. Good thing this team doesn’t believe in excuses.
Big Willy Style: That’s twice in the past week that Willy Aybar has come up with the big hit in the late innings. I don’t know where he’s going to play when Evan Longoria comes back, but you’ve gotta think that Maddon is going to find a way to get him into the lineup, right?
Settling Down: After two very wobbly innings, James Shields really settled down and gave the Rays (and the bullpen) exactly what it needed with 8 innings of great baseball. Lesser pitchers probably melt-down after getting banged around the park like he did in the first two innings
Another Sweep? Could the Rays really pull off ANOTHER sweep against one of the top-dogs of the American League? Just one more game and that’s exactly what they’ll do.
Now if only the Orioles could beat the Red Sox….
Tags: Angels
August 20th, 2008 at 10:10 am
For the crew chief to defend the call so arrogantly brings back every negative feeling fans have about the baseball umpires union and unions in general. Instead of saying he took a false step to get away from the baseball and we missed that (which is the truth), they hunker down and lie with impunity. “I’ve called guys out for less.” Who the hell are you, Clint Eastwood?
Good to know that idiot is behind the plate today.
Rays continue to amaze. Clearly have found something with Aybar.
Hate to mention it, but Upton’s not running hard on the infamous inflied single until the very end and had a killer strikeout with the bases loaded down one. Good thing is that his drama distracts the rays from the historic season they are having.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:29 am
You need to praise him for the great throw he made to home also.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Bossman can field CF like a mother, no doubt. I almost think part of his problem is that he has a turbo speed gear when he really needs it that makes him look like he is loafing when he runs “normally”. Again, last night’s grounder is instructive.
Thing that worries me long-term about BJ is his history with fielding difficuly in the infield. Not even Ozzie Smith could help him in the infield, and you know the Rays tried everything. So I’m not sure how the Cliff Floyd mentoring is going to work out. But you hope he sees the stakes and raises his game. He has a higher ceiling than anybody but Longo.
Also think his power problem may be related to the shoulder issue he had in Baltimore to open the season and he has been playing through that. Just a hunch on the shoulder, but he’s not the same hitter he was last year power-wise.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
BJ’s running style is never going to look like he’s hustling to you fans. Last night on the bad call he was hustling. You couldn’t have seen a better throw to the plate that he made last night. I just with people would look at hims as 3/4 there not 1/4 empty. Of course that’s fans and most of them would rather pounce on a negative rather than praise a positive. I am also beginnint to ponder juse how important CC and Longo are to this team. Don’t get me wrong they are a big reason we are where we are, but I am now wondering if we haven’t underestimated Willie and Gross. Now they are playing regularly you are seeing just how good they are. I am just wondering if their talents have been mis judged and now wonder just how much better we are with CC and Longo. I know we are better but to what degree. Without them we have closed the gap on the road and we’re still dominating a home.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
The whole key to this team is healthy starters and a great bullpen; you had neither of them last year, and the results were a disaster. Over the course of a small sample, very few everyday players are going to make or break you. Pitching and defense are there every day.
“You fans” — are you an employee or something?