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Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Frayed Knot Oct 05 2010 01:43 PM

An In-Series Thread for the two team who start things off tomorrow at 1:30 EDT And you know you're listening to ESPN radio when the update guy says that the 'Major League Baseball 2010 Tournament' starts tomorrow. Almost surprised that he didn't say that baseball is finally down to the Elite Eight or who the head coaches had named as starters. Full Sked - all games on TBS: Wed - @ TB - 1:37 PM Thur - @ TB - 2:37 PM Sat - @ Tex - 5:07 PM * Sun - @ Tex - TBA * Tues - @ TB - TBA Game 1 = Cliff Lee vs David Price - Tampa won 4 of the 6 games this season - Evan Longoria has been cleared to play after missing much of the final week with a strained quad.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 05 2010 02:23 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule.

HahnSolo Oct 05 2010 02:30 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Think I read that the Rays beat Lee three times this year.* (*very strong chance that this is inaccurate)

Gwreck Oct 05 2010 02:55 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

True. 2 of those starts (1 with Seattle, 1 with Texas) were losses that Lee probably deserved to lose. The third was an early season game when Lee was in Seattle. He pitched a complete game but lost 2-1.

metirish Oct 05 2010 02:59 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Girardi's devious plan to avoid Lee is coming together, manager of the year surely.

G-Fafif Oct 05 2010 03:52 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg.

Ashie62 Oct 05 2010 10:54 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. This could be the best series.

MFS62 Oct 06 2010 08:18 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

G-Fafif wrote: Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. One day, a feisty senior citizen is going to kick your ass for that kind of age joke. I wouldn't be me because I was laughing too hard. Later

Ashie62 Oct 06 2010 09:50 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

G-Fafif wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. Turning off the air conditioning may help also.

Ceetar Oct 06 2010 09:51 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

MFS62 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. One day, a feisty senior citizen is going to kick your ass for that kind of age joke. I wouldn't be me because I was laughing too hard. Later Is it safe to assume that once one stops laughing at jokes like this you become the butt of them?

MFS62 Oct 06 2010 10:04 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Ceetar wrote: MFS62 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. One day, a feisty senior citizen is going to kick your ass for that kind of age joke. I wouldn't be me because I was laughing too hard. Later Is it safe to assume that once one stops laughing at jokes like this you become the butt of them? At work I already am the butt of them. But that one was really funny. So I'll leave kicking his ass to someone else. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 10:11 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

G-Fafif wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. I'm trying not to laugh, because laughing might worsen any one of the several commuting-related injuries I've accrued over the last several months. Ashie62 wrote: This could be the best series. I don't dispute that. But it's got more gay dames than an Indigo Girls-headlined DIY Fair.

TransMonk Oct 06 2010 11:40 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

I vowed to myself on Sunday afternoon that I would only passively pay attention to the playoffs this October because I don't care about any of these teams. But, here I am at 1:37 EST with Yahoo!'s Game Channel up on my computer at work. I can't help it. I love baseball.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 11:54 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Ha. Frenchy's starting.

Ashie62 Oct 06 2010 11:56 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. I'm trying not to laugh, because laughing might worsen any one of the several commuting-related injuries I've accrued over the last several months. Ashie62 wrote: This could be the best series. I don't dispute that. But it's got more gay dames than an Indigo Girls-headlined DIY Fair. True, but it allows me to slack further at work, if that is even possible.

Gwreck Oct 06 2010 12:11 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ha. Frenchy's starting. Has the first RBI of the 2010 postseason too. Geez.

TransMonk Oct 06 2010 12:13 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Hey, I'm pulling for him. I hope he doubles every time up.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 12:14 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Gwreck wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ha. Frenchy's starting. Has the first RBI of the 2010 postseason too. Geez. First pitch. Nahon!

Frayed Knot Oct 06 2010 12:35 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Nine hits combined thru two innings off the aces. Lee has escaped in part thanks to getting 5 of his 6 outs via Ks - two of them w/bases loaded in the 1st 2-0 Texas on rib-eyes by in-season acquisitions Francoeur and B. Molina

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 12:36 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Tampa's Finest are posting a most Metsian 1-for-6 (with that one hit being a non-run-scoring infield single) with RISP through 2 innings.

HahnSolo Oct 06 2010 12:38 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Frayed Knot wrote: 2-0 Texas on rib-eyes by in-season acquisitions Francoeur and B. Molina "Told ya so!" Signed, NY mainstream sports media

Frayed Knot Oct 06 2010 12:44 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Nelson Cruz says, "let's make that 3-0"

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 12:49 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Young, Hamilton, the reanimated bones of Vlad, Nelson Cruz (grr), Kinsler... I'd forgotten what a rich, creamy center that Rangers lineup has. Cantu's batting eighth.

Frayed Knot Oct 06 2010 12:50 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

MLB (I assume it was them who ordered this) has changed the ground rules in Tampa's dome for the post-season. The catwalk 'rings' above the playing field used to be in play as long as they were hit in fair territory (dead ball if hit in foul). But now everything is a dead ball no matter which ring is hit or where it's hit.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 12:54 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Frayed Knot wrote: MLB (I assume it was them who ordered this) has changed the ground rules in Tampa's dome for the post-season. The catwalk 'rings' above the playing field used to be in play as long as they were hit in fair territory (dead ball if hit in foul). But now everything is a dead ball no matter which ring is hit or where it's hit. Double, right?

Frayed Knot Oct 06 2010 12:58 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

No, [u:1ws7th7b]everything[/u:1ws7th7b] is now a dead ball if it hits any part of any catwalk. Prior to that the ruling varied depending on which ring was hit and where. HR Molina 4-0 Texas

Frayed Knot Oct 06 2010 01:33 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Odd game so far: 13 hits (9 for Tex) with 16 Ks (8 each) thru just 5-1/2 Key is just one hit off Lee since he gave up singles to the 1st, 3rd & 4th hitters he faced - but then got out of it with 2 consecutive Ks. 5-0 stRangers

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 02:26 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

It's a veritable ex-Met jamboree here in the 8th, with O'Day handing off to (LOOGY? Really?) Darren Oliver, in front of an outfield including Frenchy and Nelson Cruz, as Alex Cora looks on... from his recliner.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 06 2010 02:44 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Ninth inning getting interesting, with two walks to start... then less interesting, with a lineout and two Ks. (Although the Rays do have some useful bench/bullpen toys.) 1-nuttin', Norrises.

metirish Oct 07 2010 02:01 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Rays' Baldelli out of Rangers series with fatigue.......he has some sort of syndrome or malady right?

HahnSolo Oct 07 2010 02:12 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Wow, if the Rays had any fans, they'd be making their ways to the exits.

Edgy DC Oct 07 2010 02:15 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

I predict Baldelli will be a 2011 Met. Book it.

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2010 02:29 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

metirish wrote: Rays' Baldelli out of Rangers series with fatigue.......he has some sort of syndrome or malady right? You didn't used to be able to shuffle players in and out of the roster within a playoff series. Not sure when they started allowing them to do so. I also don't really like that rule because, while it's probably legit for Baldelli - yes, he's dealt for years with some sort of affliction - I can see teams abusing it just to get new players in for what they think are better matchups later on in a series.

seawolf17 Oct 07 2010 02:33 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Frayed Knot wrote: metirish wrote: Rays' Baldelli out of Rangers series with fatigue.......he has some sort of syndrome or malady right? You didn't used to be able to shuffle players in and out of the roster within a playoff series. Not sure when they started allowing them to do so. I also don't really like that rule because, while it's probably legit for Baldelli - yes, he's dealt for years with some sort of affliction - I can see teams abusing it just to get new players in for what they think are better matchups later on in a series. Didn't someone do that at some point in the last few years? That rule change is relatively recent, and I vaguely remember a team (the Cardinals?) making a shifty mid-series injury replacement.

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2010 02:36 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

The time lapse between the institution of new rules in sports and the teams trying to figure out ways to circumvent and abuse them is usually measured in nano-seconds.

HahnSolo Oct 07 2010 02:36 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

We couldn't replace Cliff Floyd...or activate El Duque. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

seawolf17 Oct 07 2010 02:38 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

HahnSolo wrote: We couldn't replace Cliff Floyd...or activate El Duque. Not that I'm bitter or anything. I'm still pissed that Willie used Floyd to pinch-hit in that spot. If I ran into Willie on the street, the first thing I'd say would be "Really? Cliff? Ugh."

Edgy DC Oct 07 2010 02:40 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

The rule was relaxed to some extent because of the Mets, actually, when a rainout forced them them to juggle their rotation and got caught without their scheduled starter.

HahnSolo Oct 07 2010 02:44 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

seawolf17 wrote: I'm still pissed that Willie used Floyd to pinch-hit in that spot. If I ran into Willie on the street, the first thing I'd say would be "Really? Cliff? Ugh." I was more thinking that Cliff got hurt in like the second inning of game 1, and we played a man short the whole series. Plus, if you remember, game 1 had been rained out, eliminating the off day between games 2 and 3...and MLB would not let either team adjust their roster to account for the off day. Both teams would likely have tried to add another pitcher. ***Or what Edgy said.

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2010 02:52 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

See that would have been a little different as any adjustments could have been made before game 1 started. MLB, in that case, just stubbornly stuck to their previous deadline even after the rain delay. Now, it seems, they've gone from that extreme to one where they let teams make rosters changes with players who have already appeared in the series. Now I'm sure there's some kind of requirement in that rule where the team has to show cause as to why they should be allowed to make a switch but, at the same time, it's not like Tampa just became aware of Baldelli's potential problems last night.

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2010 02:54 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

In the meantime, Tampa is getting one hit thru 7 and trailing 6-0

Zvon Oct 07 2010 03:08 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Rays' Baldelli out of Rangers series with fatigue.......he has some sort of syndrome or malady right? Segments from Wiki: Baldelli underwent extensive medical testing to determine the reasons for his muscle problems and worsening fatigue after even brief workouts. Doctors discovered some "metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities" and began trying to design a medical plan to improve the condition. During the 2008-09 offseason, further medical testing indicated that Baldelli suffers from a form of channelopathy, which makes his condition less serious and more treatable than the previous diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channelopathy (I just turned on the game. Was reading this thread. Don't know if the broadcast detailed his ailment)

smg58 Oct 07 2010 03:40 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

So I'm rooting for the Rays, Reds, Giants, and (of course) the Twins. At this point, I'll settle for one of the four avoiding a sweep.

Valadius Oct 07 2010 05:12 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Catcher Dioner Navarro whines about not getting put on the playoff roster, ditches the team. [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Dioner-Navarro-ditches-Rays-after-being-dumped-f?urn=mlb-275353

Edgy DC Oct 07 2010 05:39 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

He's a true Yankee.

Ashie62 Oct 07 2010 08:12 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Texas @ MFY's..that should be good.

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2010 08:40 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Ashie62 wrote: Texas @ MFY's..that should be good. Sure. Follow up the Twins with the only team who can match them when it comes to getting beat by the Yanx (1-9 during post-season).

Ashie62 Oct 07 2010 09:22 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Frayed Knot wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Texas @ MFY's..that should be good. Sure. Follow up the Twins with the only team who can match them when it comes to getting beat by the Yanx (1-9 during post-season). It is a new year.

metirish Oct 09 2010 04:44 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

I knew nothing about the Rangers beyond their manger, Lee, Hamilton and some other good hitters, certainly didn't know that their starting pitching was this good after Lee. Good pitching game through five. As I write this Ron with the quick hook of Lew, five walks through five and he's gone....two hits ...

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 10 2010 07:36 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Well, well. Longoria's playing in this series? Whaddaya know. (3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, through a quad strain.) Game 1 redux to finish it off Tuesday night.

HahnSolo Oct 11 2010 07:11 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Hate the day off here. Am I wrong in thinking that they did not have these travel days before? Never mind that it screws up the rotation for the winning team in the ALCS, but I thought the idea was to speed up the playoffs? Was also surprised to not see more being made of Washington's positively-Jerry-like bullpen usage in game three.

Frayed Knot Oct 11 2010 07:33 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

HahnSolo wrote: Hate the day off here. Am I wrong in thinking that they did not have these travel days before? Never mind that it screws up the rotation for the winning team in the ALCS, but I thought the idea was to speed up the playoffs? For a while - even after going to the 2-2-1 format in best-of-5 series - they tried keeping it to one travel day but I think that ran up against players' union complaints. I remember a Yanx/Oakland series where they had to fly coast-to-coast with no day off after game 5 was forced by an Oakland win. I believe there's not been another one of those since. The other culprit is, of course, television. What TBS doesn't want in the early rounds is 4 games scheduled on the same day to the point where over-lapping games would essentially draw viewers from themselves. That's why one series (Phils-Cin this year) has its 5 games scheduled with 3 off-days built in. In the LCS & WS, FOX wanted more days in between so they could maintain various parts of their standard prime-time sked. I believe they've eliminated one of those extra days this year with an eye towards paring it down to the standard 2-3-2 next season with only travel days in between. Was also surprised to not see more being made of Washington's positively-Jerry-like bullpen usage in game three. Agreed. He was burning through his pen back when he still had the lead and was in real trouble by the 9th inning. He even had Cliff Lee warming at one point. Totally over the top.

HahnSolo Oct 11 2010 08:04 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

You know, now that I think about it, in 2005, the Angels played a game 4 in YS on a Sunday night, then flew cross country for game 5 in Anaheim on Monday, then had to fly to Chicago to play game one of the LCS on Tuesday night. I'm sure rain was the cause of that bunching of games, but that's going overboard the other way to cave in to TV, I'm sure.

Valadius Oct 12 2010 06:13 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

The Rays are a bunch of iPad farm game dorks: [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AvenNaiCiMuYKEIenzdUUkk5nYcB?slug=jp-rayswefarm101110

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 12 2010 09:09 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Congrats to the Rangers. All Cliffy there. Plus the Rays aren't all that great offensively.

Frayed Knot Oct 12 2010 09:11 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Lee with another gem. First ever playoff series win for Texas So long Rays - both from this series and to your team as it is currently structured. FAs (Crawford, Soriano, Pena) and money will make this a different team next year - and if they had trouble drawing this season ... Home teams 4-11 overall in this first round btw.

Valadius Oct 12 2010 09:50 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

And with that, every team in baseball has won at least one playoff series (Les Expos took advantage of the halved 1981 season to beat the Phillies before losing to the eventual champion Dodgers). The Rays clearly spent too much time planting virtual crops.

MFS62 Oct 12 2010 09:53 PM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

I listened to the game on the radio. They said that in the entire history of the post season, prior to this game, a pitcher has pitched seven innings or more with 10 Ks and no walks only six times. And Lee had done it three of those times. Now it must be four of seven for Lee. What a great mid year pickup for the Rangers. Later

G-Fafif Oct 13 2010 01:53 AM Re: Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

Is there anything Jeff Francoeur CAN'T do? Not according to the latest beat reporter hypnotized by his all-around Frenchiness, Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News: Loosest of loose bunch of pregame Rangers was Jeff Francoeur, who started in right field after sitting out last three games. His looseness didn’t translate into much production on the field (he was 0-for-4 and grounded into a double play), but it did help keep the team in the right frame of mind. What came first: the Rangers' looseness and frame of mind entering the deciding game of a playoff series or the Rangers having gotten to the brink of winning a playoff series? The answer: Jeff Francoeur is a great guy to have around.