Notes from the Friday D-Rays - Red Sox Game

by Sports Indeed

[1] 1. We started talking about the possibility of J.P. Howell throwing a no-no in the second inning. When he still had not given up a hit after three innings we seriously wondered if it was the longest a D-Rays pitcher had carried a no-no all season.

2. There were substantially more Red Sox than Devil Rays fans. Many of them were wearing absurd, green Sox paraphernalia which made us hate them even more. Some took it the full nine yards, and had the green Sox jersey along with the green hat which was propped on the head in some sideways fashion. We can say with confidence that every single one of these guys is a douche bag.

3. Women love them some Red Sox. Female Sox fans outnumbered female D-Rays fans at least 5-1. We are fairly certain that none of these women actually like or know anything about baseball they just enjoy being trendy. We vowed to never date a girl who says she likes the Red Sox.

4. When Maddon came in and took out Howell we were not happy. What were the chances that the bullpen could hold that lead at 1-0? Maybe 1 in 50? Probably more like 1 in 100. We found out later Howell was on a 90 pitch count, but still couldn't Maddon have used some flexibility when he had only given up one hit through 5+?

5. Manny Ramirez does not hustle down the line. Perhaps because he is weighed down by his extraordinarily long hair. But he does hit the ball just ridiculously hard.

6. It is really easy to tell that BJ Upton is new to centerfield. He took the worst path possible to the ball on Ramirez's double. And trust us, it takes Manny a while to make it to second.

7. Brendan Harris has the best intro song of any D-rays hitter by far - GnR's "Welcome to the Jungle".

[2] 8. They cover up the devil ray "touch tank" in the eight inning. But why? Are they trying to simulate night for the Rays. Seemingly light can still get through the sides of the tank. Very odd.

9. We decided that D-Rays chances of coming back in the bottom ninth down 7-1 were somewhere between 1-1000 and 1-100,000. Probably closer to the latter.

Gotta love the Rays.

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RomiezzoLegend

879 days ago

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1. I remember when a DRay's pitcher pitched a no no until the 8th inning. I think it was Dewon Brazelton, but I'm not sure, and it was 2-3 years ago.

2. I'm wondering why the DRAYs mascot always makes fun of Wally or Remy so much because of that; too many Red Sox fans. :P

3. I dunno what the heck those women are doing. Most of them are over 70 anyways, so they gotta be outta their minds. Many of them might even think that the Devil Rays still exist and they're just sitting somwhere else, since it's indoors. jk.

4. Maddon is an idiot. He's doing a lot for the Devil Rays, in a bad way. First, he took out Howell. OK, he had a 90+ pitch count, but then he took out Casey Fossum when he walked a batter in the 8th inning. And we used to say that the Boston Red Sox were the "American Idiots".

5. He hits the ball really hard, you're right, but when was the last time he hustled down the line as a Red Sox player? As an Indian, I think he hustled a little bit more, at least. I wish we could get more hustle, and possibly some more baseball instinct from him.

6. I didn't see that play, cuz I watched the game from the 6th onward. Ramirez making it to second with Upton's speed. Man, he must've ran around the field looking for the ball before taking a 15 second stroll and then gettting the ball to make him go to second.

7. I love that song. Guns and Roses is awesome, Welcome to the Jungle is a classic song.

8. Don't ask me why, it's your field.

9. In all of my years of watching baseball, mostly the AL East, I haven't seen the Devil Rays score six run in the bottom of the ninth. It's hard enough for them to get 6 runs in any inning with the lineup that they have. They can do it, but it's rare, if not impossible. jk. They've played 1500 games, so you're on the right track there...

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RomiezzoLegend

879 days ago

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And BTW, I LOVE the Rays. Their mascot is hilarious with his act that he did. Even if I AM a Red Sox, I love a guy with a sense of humor. I feel that if I laugh at any other team, I should be fair and share the laughter with my own team. When he was on the bike, reading the book, and kicking the bobblehead doll. AND what was that crap dropping down on Orsillo and Remy in the 8th/9th inning? They look up, and they see him again!! LMAO.

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Sports IndeedSoccer Kid

879 days ago

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It's always fun when the Sox come to town. You should try to make It down for a game sometime. The Trop sucks, but the rest of Tampa-St. Pete is fun and ticket sare very cheap. And Yes, Raymond the Sea Dog is a great mascot. Although I wonder if anyone else realized he is a sea dog.

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RomiezzoLegend

879 days ago

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He is? I never knew that. lol. Either Florida hates Boston, or loves Boston. Remember what the Marlins mascot did to him a few years ago. lool. I'd love to make it for a game sometime. The only problem is that I live overseas 11 out of 12 months.

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MegECass110AAA-er

878 days ago

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Raymond is phenomenal, I wish my hair was as beautiful as his.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

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The Trop doesn't suck that bad. They cover up the Ray tank because the owners of the Rays (some nearby animal conservatory/aquarium) mandate that they don't get too stressed out - also why only so many people are allowed there at anytime.

Maddon is not an idiot - he is a very intelligent and deeply thoughtful man and I promise you he has a (almost too) logical explanation for everything he does. He plans and figures his bullpen usage days ahead of time, he rationlizes maneuvers and calculates risk very well. When you ask him after the game why he dod something, he will tell you exactly why and you will be surprised by his amount of complete thoroughness.

If he had decent pitching, you'd be calling him a genius.

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RomiezzoLegend

879 days ago

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Well, why would he take out Fossum then? Because he walked one guy?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

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he uses Fossum in one lefty-lefty matchups because well, Fossum is his only lefty! (not a good thing in the AL EAST) Besides, do you want Fossum to pitch MORE?

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Sports IndeedSoccer Kid

879 days ago

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So I see you are a Maddon supporter Manny. But don't you think it is problematic to plan your bullpen usage days ahead of time, in case someone gets real hot -- a la Howell last night? Maybe he over-analyzed the situation and did not go with what everyone else in the stadium realized -- our only chance was to stick with Howell.

I don't like trop too much, but you are right the stadium itself isn't that bad. I guess the worst part for all of us is that we live in Tampa and it is a really long drive to St. Pete. It is tough to make it for a 7 o clock game after work. I also think we would be better off with an outdoor Tampa stadium and maybe one on the water (a la Pac Bell), which one of the options the Trib proposed in their article.

Thanks for the info on the Touch tank, Interesting stuff.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

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I'm actually putting together a piece about Maddon really soon - And yes, I do like him. He's the kind of manager I could have played for and he treated me really well every time we've crossed paths...

I have seen him physically distraught after terrible losses and he always finds a way to accentuate the positive and remain upbeat.

Here's the Thing about Maddon - he genuinely is more concerned with the long term health and stability of his young players than whatever is going on that moment. Let's be honest, he HAS to take care of every pitcher he has because injuries are tearing them up - He has THEIR best interest in mind, not that day's game. JP Howell (who is a bit of a whackjob) is better off pitching MORE games later this season than more pitches that night.

For Instance - I was at the game when Edwin Jackson was 0-9 had 4 2/3 innings of 1 run ball going but he had a cramp in his pitching hand and was clearly bothered by it. Maddon came out and took him out even though he was one out form his first win of the season.

After the game we all asked him what the deal was and Maddon put it bluntly - he is more worried about Jack's season and career than his day. He has to coddle his pitching staff. He doesn't want to lose a guy for the season over getting one more out in the fifth inning of a game that (guess what) isn't going to mean the difference between the playoffs or not.

Maddon is in an unenviable position - he is trying to change a culture of losing. His team motto is "No regurgitation - Tell me what you now, not what you've heard" - Tough to do when the fans still act like it's 1999. Every Rays game is a win if the game was only 6 innings long, right?

If you want a reaason why Joe Maddon is doomed to failure with the Rays (I don't think he is) - but he's a lifelong (NFL) Cardinals fan - that's never a good sign, is it? =)

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

879 days ago

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It's tough being a rays fan when we are always more worried about future than our present. I am so sick of being a team playing for future. I want a team that tries to win now. But I guess this is best for the long term. I got no problem with maddon - sometimes i think he is a little too positive -- but i worry he might not make it past next season if we don't see a pretty drastic improvement next year.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

879 days ago

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Drastic Improvement will come in the form of continuing exactly what they are doing, letting the talent develop, get more pitching (Sternberg WILL spend money this off season), bring in a clubhouse leader-type/solid vet with a strong enough presence to take pressure off the youngsters (These Rays are youth leading the youth) and STAY HEALTHY.

This team can score runs quickly and easily. Offense is not their problem - other than Greg Norton (who must have pictures of someone) everyone still has growth potential: Evan Longoria and Reid Brignac are going to be up next season. Jeff Niemann, Mitch Talbot and David Price will be on the mound by next season (if not earlier)

THERE IS REASON TO HOPE!

The longterm foundation of the team - CC, BJ, DY (all need better nicknames) Elijah Dukes (I haven't given up), Kaz, Shields - these guys are 21-26 years old. And getting better

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Dolph72Varsity Captain

878 days ago

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It sure must have been a slow sports day in Raysville if these are the observations you have come up with. Someone should start a contraction rumor...

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MegECass110AAA-er

878 days ago

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Never date a girl who says she likes the Red Sox, huh? You must be referring to any stupid bitch wearing any pink Red Sox gear , there is a 95% chance she's a bandwagoner.

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