Showing posts with label tampa bay (devil) rays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tampa bay (devil) rays. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Live Blog Game 5 World Series Rays-Phillies
For all of tens of fans not in Philly or Tampa Bay watching this game:
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Live Blog Game 4 World Series Rays-Phillies
Once you're finished at the NFL Live Blog, come and chat here:
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Jim Rome Just Discovered the Rays
I'm not sure why I would ever watch Jim Rome is Burning, but I did today. I'm not sure why. Anyway, Rome had this to say about the Rays.
Nice. A joke that hasn't gotten old, but incorrect in this case if you keep reading.
No, Jim. That's exactly who they were. They were the team who finished fourth in the American League in home runs hit. In a pitchers' park. Doesn't that sound like a team that hits a lot of home runs?
They hit almost as many home runs as the Texas Rangers. I don't think anyone is confusing the Rangers with a small ball team.
And power and patient hitting.
But not the power.
They were fourth in home runs and 13th in batting average. So a relatively large number of their hits left the park (in a pitchers' park) and they had a relatively low number of other hits. They were, however, sixth in on base percentage. Does this or does it not paint a picture of a patient team that scores a lot of rums on homeruns? Sort've like an Earl Weaver team.
Guess what team was LAST in the league in sacrifice hits. That's right: the Rays. If the fact that they scored three runs on outs last night is an idication of small ball, every team is small ball! Including patient, power-hitting teams like the Rays.
Beyond all that, the Rays are a renowned progressive front office and anyone who follows sports FOR A LIVING should be aware of this. As in: not a team that embraces small ball.
The Rays have a lot of talents, they can win even when they're not hitting home runs because they have speed and a great defense and pitching. That doesn't make them a small ball team.
The fact that a major member of the sports media is so unfamiliar with a team playing in the World Series that he makes things up that are flat-out and obviously wrong should be an embarassment.
The Rays are who we thought they were,
Nice. A joke that hasn't gotten old, but incorrect in this case if you keep reading.
not the guys who were trying to knock over the monster in Fenway.
No, Jim. That's exactly who they were. They were the team who finished fourth in the American League in home runs hit. In a pitchers' park. Doesn't that sound like a team that hits a lot of home runs?
They hit almost as many home runs as the Texas Rangers. I don't think anyone is confusing the Rangers with a small ball team.
That's not where these guys live, they were built to do it with pitching, speed and defense,
And power and patient hitting.
and it was all on Game 2 of the World Series.
But not the power.
They don't wait for someone to pop a three runner, they play small ball, not long ball.
They were fourth in home runs and 13th in batting average. So a relatively large number of their hits left the park (in a pitchers' park) and they had a relatively low number of other hits. They were, however, sixth in on base percentage. Does this or does it not paint a picture of a patient team that scores a lot of rums on homeruns? Sort've like an Earl Weaver team.
Guess what team was LAST in the league in sacrifice hits. That's right: the Rays. If the fact that they scored three runs on outs last night is an idication of small ball, every team is small ball! Including patient, power-hitting teams like the Rays.
Beyond all that, the Rays are a renowned progressive front office and anyone who follows sports FOR A LIVING should be aware of this. As in: not a team that embraces small ball.
The Rays have a lot of talents, they can win even when they're not hitting home runs because they have speed and a great defense and pitching. That doesn't make them a small ball team.
The fact that a major member of the sports media is so unfamiliar with a team playing in the World Series that he makes things up that are flat-out and obviously wrong should be an embarassment.
Relevant Video is Relevant
If having a progressive, sabermetrically-inclined front office isn't enough for you to want to root for the Rays, then maybe building an entire fan experience around the fact that you want to be able to play this video at games is.
More Cowbell - The most popular videos are here
How is that not awesome?
And yes, I made this post just because I felt like posting that clip. But I would like to think I tied it in nicely.
P.S. Any of you notice that videos weirds out posts? Things like comments don't show up. Oh well.
More Cowbell - The most popular videos are here
How is that not awesome?
And yes, I made this post just because I felt like posting that clip. But I would like to think I tied it in nicely.
P.S. Any of you notice that videos weirds out posts? Things like comments don't show up. Oh well.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Live Blog World Series Game 2 Phillies-Rays
Welcome to Game 2 of the World Series. Brett Myers and James Shields are the pitchers. More "goodness" from Joe and Tim.
Gameday
Live Graph
- Hmm, I think I've seen this before.
- Good to see Mark Grace get the "overuse 'must-win'" memo.
- Nice rendition by Los Lonely Boys on the anthem
- Hey, it's Dallas Green. I remember when he was the manager for the Mets. My grandfather (RIP) used to talk so much crap about him, lol.
- Diving into a pool with Christie Brinkley = WIN!
- And Joe calls out Timmy for his Captain Obviousness. :)
- Jonny "Zangief" Gomes with the microphone. Neat.
- Pretty nice play by Longoria. Fine scoop by Pena. Should be interesting to see if Longoria can limit some of the sketchy throws he's had since he came back from his wrist injury.
- "1 of top 5 curves" in the game. Not that I'm disagreeing with it but says who?
- Rays drive in two with consecutive RBI groundouts. 2-0 Rays. Howard prevents Crawford reaching on a hard hit groundball.
- Why does Bob Melvin sound like Boomhauer from "King of the Hill" in those ads?
- Bad read by Upton on that ball. It would have been tough to get it on a good read given his position and the speed of the ball off the bat.
- The called third strike looks so bad even if it's just a matter of taking a tough pitch.
- Feliz with a bit of misfortune on the line drive.
- Good positioning from Jimmy...bad attempt at a joke by Timmy
- Um, huh? Did Danley change his mind or am I missing something? Also, where is the side view?
- Another opposite field single for Upton. Good throw from Werth to nail Baldelli. 3-0 TB
- More fail by the Phillies with runners on as well as good pitching from Shields.
- Sorry about that delay. I'm trying to following the IndyCar Series online (www.indycar.com). Of course, when you have Gameday and two flash players for timing and scoring and streaming, this can happen.
- SQUEEZE!
- Great play by Baldelli on the throw. Werth drifted just a bit too far on a play right in front of him.
- Good job by Myers and Ruiz to exploit that hole of Longoria's.
- Floyd showing off that blazing speed. Still out by a couple of steps.
- Phillies fans, turn away!
- Even though they've gotten 4 runs off of Myers, the Rays haven't exactly stressed him out in this game.
- As far as the issue of African-Americans in baseball, I would think that expanding and revising the draft, in addition to establishing more academies, would help in that regard.
- I know that I mentioned Howard's struggles against lefties this year. Even so, I would not go as far as to warrant a platoon.
- Endurable is a word, huh? Good to know. :) (this is a sincere note if you thought otherwise)
- Another Friedman mention.
- side rant: I just love how mom just says "that's it" for no reason whatsoever. It's like having another Tim or Joe in your household.
- For some reason, that whole exchange sounded like something from "Major League".
- Price is trying to go bullpen ace on these Phils.
- Ruiz again!
- Hmm, that did look like a brush of the jersey. Costs them a baserunner as Rollins pops out.
- Howard grounds out to end this. 1-all as it goes to Philly.
Gameday
Live Graph
- Hmm, I think I've seen this before.
- Good to see Mark Grace get the "overuse 'must-win'" memo.
- Nice rendition by Los Lonely Boys on the anthem
- Hey, it's Dallas Green. I remember when he was the manager for the Mets. My grandfather (RIP) used to talk so much crap about him, lol.
- Diving into a pool with Christie Brinkley = WIN!
- And Joe calls out Timmy for his Captain Obviousness. :)
- Jonny "Zangief" Gomes with the microphone. Neat.
- Pretty nice play by Longoria. Fine scoop by Pena. Should be interesting to see if Longoria can limit some of the sketchy throws he's had since he came back from his wrist injury.
- "1 of top 5 curves" in the game. Not that I'm disagreeing with it but says who?
- Rays drive in two with consecutive RBI groundouts. 2-0 Rays. Howard prevents Crawford reaching on a hard hit groundball.
- Why does Bob Melvin sound like Boomhauer from "King of the Hill" in those ads?
- Bad read by Upton on that ball. It would have been tough to get it on a good read given his position and the speed of the ball off the bat.
- The called third strike looks so bad even if it's just a matter of taking a tough pitch.
- Feliz with a bit of misfortune on the line drive.
- Good positioning from Jimmy...bad attempt at a joke by Timmy
- Um, huh? Did Danley change his mind or am I missing something? Also, where is the side view?
- Another opposite field single for Upton. Good throw from Werth to nail Baldelli. 3-0 TB
- More fail by the Phillies with runners on as well as good pitching from Shields.
- Sorry about that delay. I'm trying to following the IndyCar Series online (www.indycar.com). Of course, when you have Gameday and two flash players for timing and scoring and streaming, this can happen.
- SQUEEZE!
- Great play by Baldelli on the throw. Werth drifted just a bit too far on a play right in front of him.
- Good job by Myers and Ruiz to exploit that hole of Longoria's.
- Floyd showing off that blazing speed. Still out by a couple of steps.
- Phillies fans, turn away!
- Even though they've gotten 4 runs off of Myers, the Rays haven't exactly stressed him out in this game.
- As far as the issue of African-Americans in baseball, I would think that expanding and revising the draft, in addition to establishing more academies, would help in that regard.
- I know that I mentioned Howard's struggles against lefties this year. Even so, I would not go as far as to warrant a platoon.
- Endurable is a word, huh? Good to know. :) (this is a sincere note if you thought otherwise)
- Another Friedman mention.
- side rant: I just love how mom just says "that's it" for no reason whatsoever. It's like having another Tim or Joe in your household.
- For some reason, that whole exchange sounded like something from "Major League".
- Price is trying to go bullpen ace on these Phils.
- Ruiz again!
- Hmm, that did look like a brush of the jersey. Costs them a baserunner as Rollins pops out.
- Howard grounds out to end this. 1-all as it goes to Philly.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Live Blog World Series Game 1 Phillies-Rays
I'm BAAAACCKK!
Well, I didn't really go anywhere. I took a break from the live blogs but with the World Series starting, I'll be here to put in my two cents. I, or one of my colleagues, hope to add a more convenient live blog system some time soon if not for the World Series some other day.
I know you are all ready. :D
Live Graph!
Gameday
- I've been waiting to say this: Beautiful weather under the dome!
- Ooo, montage. I'm a sucker for these "through time" pieces. When you add baseball to it and you just sock it to me right there.
- Again, they may not have predicted a playoff spot, let alone a World Series appearance, but a couple of systems did forsee nearly 90 wins from these Rays. Stop saying as though they were going to win 75.
- Mark Grace was not one of those systems. ;)
- Haha, the return of the Taco Bell promo.
- Mini-rant: you know what I can't stand more than anything? Media types who complain about certain teams being in the championship game/series because they aren't sexy enough or they haven't heard of most of the players or the fact that they won't get good enough ratings. Screw them!
- Hmm, I heard that music before. They played that during the '82 World Series recap montage (don't know what I'm talking about? check out Game 7 of the '82 Series on MLB.TV if you have a subscription)
- *stands up*
- The Backstreet Boys are still around? The hell?
- Is this just my TV or does Joe Buck look kind of...pasty?
- Woot, Michael Jack Schmidt! (and he just killed it by mentioning "Ryan Howard" and "MVP" in the sentence without saying "was in 2006")
- Honestly, I did not know the Simpsons were up to TOH 19.
- Keys to the game : WIN! I think most of the ones FOX have could be summed up like that.
- At least the scouting report is decent. Once again, if anyone at the YES Network is watching, that is how you do a scouting report. SCOUT THE PLAYER!! It isn't that hard.
- New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys. Did we get sent to the '90s?
- Um, huh?
- That is why you don't bunt, Chase! (91.9 mph fastball down the middle, 3.8'' break [distance from top of arc and the chord connecting release point and breaking the strike zone], 16.1'' pFX [distance between location of pitch and same pitch thrown with no spin]) 2-0 Phils
- Kashmir? edit: he said it again!
- Camera is that way, Crawford.
- Phillies fans just about had a heart attack right there.
- I know a certain someone who is shocked that Feliz has taken 5 straight pitches (my comrades would know who ;) ).
- Victorino sure wants some of that taco.
- Not a great sequence by Kazmir. Last thing he needed was the bases loaded with Rollins up. If they steal, so what?
- The arm of Bossman Junior strikes!
- MLB Network, FTW!
- Before I was enlightened to the fact that making a huge deal about small sample sizes is a fool's errand, I got googlyeyed with Willy Aybar's cup of coffee for the Dodgers. Though he hasn't come close to matching that, he seems to be a pretty solid player.
- Stop denying us free tacos!!
- The mother of all holes, ladies and gentelmen.
- In the bottom of the third in the 3rd inning, FOX has mentioned Sternberg and Friedman more often than TBS did their entire postseason broadcast schedule.
- Bases loaded for teh Bossman. GIDP again for teh Bossman.
- A low forehand lob from Feliz. Oops, wrong sport. 0_o
- 3-nil Phils on the groundout. *smacks self again*
- I wish those were box seats so I can make an apropos joke there. ;)
- "You reach it with your arms and not your legs." Quoi?
- That was awful even by your standards, Tim. "Ray-naissance man"?
- Famous instance of people getting out of the way on a timeout: '93 World Series Game 6 when time was called and Rickey, Darren Daulton, and the ump all got out of the way as if Mitch Williams were about to throw a grenade.
- So it has nothing to do with Myers but there's a dropoff between Hamels and the rest of the staff? That does kind of imply an indictment on Myers, et al.
- FREE TACOS!!!! probably not going to get any but I just like saying "taco".
- Aki in the gap. 3-2 Phils
- LOOK AT HIM GLIDE!! Sorry. *blush*
- Clank by Howard followed by redemption on the throw to pick off Pena.
- Looks as though Longoria has legitimate beef (according to Pitch F/X). I'll have to re-check to see if Welke has been calling that pitch all night.
- Lefties make Howard cringe. :/ Interesting that his platoon split has gotten more lopsided over time. (edit: since he played a full season in '06: Howard v. Lefties)
- Bowl cut alert!
- Heh, a slider and a curve from Balfour that inning. Sometimes, it seems to slip under the radar whenever he throws one.
- Sick stuff from Madson. Upton had a decent pitch to drive on 0-1 but nearly screwed himself into the ground.
- Time for TEH LOOGY!!
- Lidge vs. TB's 3-4-5 hitters. Should be fun to watch. :D
- Lidge ownership. Phillies lead the series 1-0. Join us for Game 2.
Well, I didn't really go anywhere. I took a break from the live blogs but with the World Series starting, I'll be here to put in my two cents. I, or one of my colleagues, hope to add a more convenient live blog system some time soon if not for the World Series some other day.
I know you are all ready. :D
Live Graph!
Gameday
- I've been waiting to say this: Beautiful weather under the dome!
- Ooo, montage. I'm a sucker for these "through time" pieces. When you add baseball to it and you just sock it to me right there.
- Again, they may not have predicted a playoff spot, let alone a World Series appearance, but a couple of systems did forsee nearly 90 wins from these Rays. Stop saying as though they were going to win 75.
- Mark Grace was not one of those systems. ;)
- Haha, the return of the Taco Bell promo.
- Mini-rant: you know what I can't stand more than anything? Media types who complain about certain teams being in the championship game/series because they aren't sexy enough or they haven't heard of most of the players or the fact that they won't get good enough ratings. Screw them!
- Hmm, I heard that music before. They played that during the '82 World Series recap montage (don't know what I'm talking about? check out Game 7 of the '82 Series on MLB.TV if you have a subscription)
- *stands up*
- The Backstreet Boys are still around? The hell?
- Is this just my TV or does Joe Buck look kind of...pasty?
- Woot, Michael Jack Schmidt! (and he just killed it by mentioning "Ryan Howard" and "MVP" in the sentence without saying "was in 2006")
- Honestly, I did not know the Simpsons were up to TOH 19.
- Keys to the game : WIN! I think most of the ones FOX have could be summed up like that.
- At least the scouting report is decent. Once again, if anyone at the YES Network is watching, that is how you do a scouting report. SCOUT THE PLAYER!! It isn't that hard.
- New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys. Did we get sent to the '90s?
- Um, huh?
- That is why you don't bunt, Chase! (91.9 mph fastball down the middle, 3.8'' break [distance from top of arc and the chord connecting release point and breaking the strike zone], 16.1'' pFX [distance between location of pitch and same pitch thrown with no spin]) 2-0 Phils
- Kashmir? edit: he said it again!
- Camera is that way, Crawford.
- Phillies fans just about had a heart attack right there.
- I know a certain someone who is shocked that Feliz has taken 5 straight pitches (my comrades would know who ;) ).
- Victorino sure wants some of that taco.
- Not a great sequence by Kazmir. Last thing he needed was the bases loaded with Rollins up. If they steal, so what?
- The arm of Bossman Junior strikes!
- MLB Network, FTW!
- Before I was enlightened to the fact that making a huge deal about small sample sizes is a fool's errand, I got googlyeyed with Willy Aybar's cup of coffee for the Dodgers. Though he hasn't come close to matching that, he seems to be a pretty solid player.
- Stop denying us free tacos!!
- The mother of all holes, ladies and gentelmen.
- In the bottom of the third in the 3rd inning, FOX has mentioned Sternberg and Friedman more often than TBS did their entire postseason broadcast schedule.
- Bases loaded for teh Bossman. GIDP again for teh Bossman.
- A low forehand lob from Feliz. Oops, wrong sport. 0_o
- 3-nil Phils on the groundout. *smacks self again*
- I wish those were box seats so I can make an apropos joke there. ;)
- "You reach it with your arms and not your legs." Quoi?
- That was awful even by your standards, Tim. "Ray-naissance man"?
- Famous instance of people getting out of the way on a timeout: '93 World Series Game 6 when time was called and Rickey, Darren Daulton, and the ump all got out of the way as if Mitch Williams were about to throw a grenade.
- So it has nothing to do with Myers but there's a dropoff between Hamels and the rest of the staff? That does kind of imply an indictment on Myers, et al.
- FREE TACOS!!!! probably not going to get any but I just like saying "taco".
- Aki in the gap. 3-2 Phils
- LOOK AT HIM GLIDE!! Sorry. *blush*
- Clank by Howard followed by redemption on the throw to pick off Pena.
- Looks as though Longoria has legitimate beef (according to Pitch F/X). I'll have to re-check to see if Welke has been calling that pitch all night.
- Lefties make Howard cringe. :/ Interesting that his platoon split has gotten more lopsided over time. (edit: since he played a full season in '06: Howard v. Lefties)
- Bowl cut alert!
- Heh, a slider and a curve from Balfour that inning. Sometimes, it seems to slip under the radar whenever he throws one.
- Sick stuff from Madson. Upton had a decent pitch to drive on 0-1 but nearly screwed himself into the ground.
- Time for TEH LOOGY!!
- Lidge vs. TB's 3-4-5 hitters. Should be fun to watch. :D
- Lidge ownership. Phillies lead the series 1-0. Join us for Game 2.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Did That Just Happen?
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays?* In the World Series?
Congratulations Rays! It's a triumph of sabermetrics over. . .
. . . older sabermetrics!
*That was on purpose, shut up.
Congratulations Rays! It's a triumph of sabermetrics over. . .
. . . older sabermetrics!
*That was on purpose, shut up.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The pinnacle of geekdom
Longoria iuvenis vim ostendit quem globum lunae capissit ... Artus auriolus Sonnanstinis alba ad thecam nigram designatam torquet.
Props if you can translate and correct my Latin. Oh, and if you can point out the sexual innuendos, for there are two. EDIT actually the whole second sentence is one big innuendo. Oops.
Translation will be posted ... at some point. For now, I will retire my prose composition skillz and kill all thoughts of somehow transforming those floating sentences into ... verse.
QUICK! RUNANDHIDE!
[Who else has someone composing Latin prose about baseball?]
Props if you can translate and correct my Latin. Oh, and if you can point out the sexual innuendos, for there are two. EDIT actually the whole second sentence is one big innuendo. Oops.
Translation will be posted ... at some point. For now, I will retire my prose composition skillz and kill all thoughts of somehow transforming those floating sentences into ... verse.
QUICK! RUNANDHIDE!
[Who else has someone composing Latin prose about baseball?]
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