Rays Complete Sweep Behind Dominant Price, Push Sox Well Back In East
by Ben Buchanan on Jul 7, 2010 10:24 PM EDT
in Game Stories
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PrintIn four games, the Sox have gone from near the top of the world, to feeling right about at the bottom.
Sure, we'd already lost Pedroia et al. before that last game against the Orioles, but the Sox were hanging in there against all odds, nearly surpassing the Yankees for the lead for the first time since they were 1-0.
But oh, what a difference four games can make. And they were so perfectly set up, too. For the Red Sox, their two worst starters and a rookie. For the Rays, Garza, Niemann, and Price. The sweep wasn't destined, but it wasn't exactly far-fetched either.
The Sox put up a fight in the first two games, losing by just one run each time, but it was hard to say that about the first eight innings tonight. David Price pretty much threw only fastballs, and only a few Sox--noticeably Mike Cameron--seemed able to even make solid contact. Tim Wakefield, on the other hand, threw only knuckleballs, and it was catcher Kevin Cash that struggled to make any contact on them. Four balls were missed, including three wild pitches symptomatic of Wakefield's control-less six walk night. Add in a few opportune hits, and that's six easy runs for the Rays.
The Red Sox finally found their bats in the last inning with David Price finally out of the game. A combination of Balfour, Choate, and even Matt Garza allowed three hits, a walk, and two runs, actually bringing Kevin Youkilis to the plate as the winning run. A hard-hit line-out to center field ended the Red Sox rally, though, and the Rays finished the sweep with a 6-4 win.
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Not the end of the season, but unfortunately it was the wrong team to be playing, at the wrong time, and the wrong pitching matchups. Let's hope for better results in Toronto!
What is best in life? To crush the Yankees, see them driven before you,
and to hear the lamentations of their fans! - Conan the Bostonian
Why people keep thinking that the Rays are good? Let's break down their lineup
Zobrist: Last year was a fluke and he’s more of a 2-3 WAR kind of player
Crawford: Good player but his BABIP will come down to earth
Longoria: Elite player but his power has been dropping for the 3rd consecutive year
Pena: Done and I’ll be not surprised if he goes Richie Sexson on them ‘cause of his 3 true outcome skill set
Rodriguez: Poor contact skills with some pop, reminds me a lot of Bill Hall
Bartlett: See Zobrist last year and subtracts the defense
Jaso: a slap hitter with good late discipline
Upton: A healthy Mike Cameron with less power
Joyce: LOL
When we’ll get healthy, they’re out of the race
"A couple years ago I had 60 at-bats, I was hitting .170, everyone was ready to kill me too. What happened? Laser show." Dustin Pedroia
by bloodysock04 on Jul 7, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
At full strength I think the Red Sox are a superior team, but I think it was more about the pitching this series. Their ability to hit ours and our inability to hit theirs.
What is best in life? To crush the Yankees, see them driven before you,
and to hear the lamentations of their fans! - Conan the Bostonian
Shall I remind you that we out hit them tonight? 11 hits to 5
Plus 5 of our 11 went for XBH and only one of theirs was an XBH! It’s been luck on their side: WP with runners on 3rd, timely errors etc
"A couple years ago I had 60 at-bats, I was hitting .170, everyone was ready to kill me too. What happened? Laser show." Dustin Pedroia
by bloodysock04 on Jul 7, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Carl Crawford’s BABIP is not so far off his norm to be unsustainable given his increased power. Carlos Pena’s BABIP, however, is more funky and more likely to return.
And you ignore that they are both one of the best teams defensively and on the mound.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Jul 7, 2010 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
What about the fact that they're basically at full strength
While the Sox are very clearly not? These games didn’t end up being blowouts—and the Sox lineup wasn’t what it was even two weeks ago.
Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell
by lone1c on Jul 7, 2010 11:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
We gave their fans (if they have any) diarrhea: With AAA players in the lineup
"A couple years ago I had 60 at-bats, I was hitting .170, everyone was ready to kill me too. What happened? Laser show." Dustin Pedroia
by bloodysock04 on Jul 7, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
yes if the Red Sox can get healthy, I think they're definitely a better team
that’s a big if at the moment. We can’t play too long with everyone gone or we have few games at the end of the season to make it up.
Look at his batted ball data: He's been hitting more and more GB
Their rotation is not better than the Sox (when healthy): Lester is better than Price, Buchholz is better than Garza, Beckett is better than Shields, Lackey is better than Nieman, Matsuzaka is better than Davis
Their defense neither:
Youk is a better defender than Pena, same goes for Pedroia and Rodriguez, also Beltre and Scutaro compared to Longoria and Bartlett! Drew is better than Zobrist…For the other OF positions they have the edge because of the injuries of Cameron and Ellsbury
"A couple years ago I had 60 at-bats, I was hitting .170, everyone was ready to kill me too. What happened? Laser show." Dustin Pedroia
by bloodysock04 on Jul 7, 2010 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
That's my point, at this moment in time the Rays are a better "team", due to Red Sox injuries.
What is best in life? To crush the Yankees, see them driven before you,
and to hear the lamentations of their fans! - Conan the Bostonian
Also, they're an injury away of one of their good players (we're speaking of 2 here 'cause the rest of them are average or slightly above) from being irrelevant
And guess what? Those 2 have suffered some injury record:
Crawford was sidelined with elbow problems this year
Longoria was injured in the past 2 seasons
"A couple years ago I had 60 at-bats, I was hitting .170, everyone was ready to kill me too. What happened? Laser show." Dustin Pedroia
by bloodysock04 on Jul 7, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
If this series were played after the All-Star break
It would have had a completely different complexion, as Buchholz would have been on the mound, and Martinez behind the plate. The untimely injury to Youk in the rubber game didn’t do the Sox any favors, either, as it basically took two bats out of the lineup.
It’s unfortunate, but with the team almost literally at only half-strength, their options are unfortunately rather limited. I can’t even really feel all that pissed about the sweep.
Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell
by lone1c on Jul 7, 2010 11:06 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I agree
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 7, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
hard to call it even 'half strength'
In the middle game it was more like 40% strength, when only 4 of 10 players (after Youk got hurt) were on the opening day starting lineup or rotation. The rest were all call-ups or bench players.
We started the third game with 5 call-up/bench players.
But it’s slightly worse than that when you weigh the significance of the particular injured players. Victor & Tek have been a HUGE statistical advantage for us this year, as they’ve dominated their position (Catcher) offensively. Suddenly, those guys have been transformed into Kevin Cash! AAGH!
Pedroia, obviously, is a critical piece both defensively and offensively and it seems every game since he’s been out you see multiple plays where he would have made a difference. And don’t get me started on the impact of not having Becket all this time and even missing just one Buchholz start is obviously painful, as this series showed.
Right on… let’s not forget the Sox are basically getting back an All Star team very soon. Beckett, Buchholz, Pedrioa, V Mart, Varitek… and hopefully Ellsbury. That’s better than every trading deadline deal ever made!
true
lets just hope they dont fall back too far first
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Thats what Im hoping
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
2.5 back from the WC and either 3.5 or 4.5 from the Yanks
Not too bad in light of everything….just got to get healthy and get on a roll
well that sucked
Ryan Shealy time!
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 7, 2010 11:12 PM EDT reply actions
Two games lost by 1 run.
Given the horrific pitching matchups and the fact that >half of our lineup is on the DL, this series should have been much less close.
Adrian Beltre is why we can't have healthy outfielders.
+1
A setback perhaps, but neither inexplicable nor unexpected. Even with over half the games played, 2.5 wins is nothing. The mere sight of Pedey with the protective boot off, and the Commish will award us that 2.5 on spec.
Wait 'til next/this year?
"Laser show. So relax."
by nuthinboutnuthin on Jul 8, 2010 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Ryan Shealy is the savior.
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 12:03 AM EDT reply actions
wow
OK your calling people stupid at the same time your trying to make yourself believe the Rays are not good.
Face it fellas – all three AL east teams are good and the best will win.
good luck
Thanks.
And yeah that dude calling me stupid… dont know his problem, his logic didnt even make sense
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I had a lot more problem with the D than with Wake's pitching
Scutaro had a couple of brutal throws that could have gotten us out of an inning, Bill Hall’s inexplicable attempted bare-handing of that toss to turn a double play…Wake really got stiffed a few times out there.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Bill Hall went to the Julio Lugo school of Defense
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I feel a little uncomfortable
every time I see Daniel Nava tug at the sleeve of his jersey in the batter’s box, ala Lugo. I just keep thinking, “Nothing good can come from that.”
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I think Ichiro!
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I keep getting flashbacks of Brian Downing when I see Nava do that
Try this visual:
Probably used steroids to get those guns, but he definitely hit better than Lugo …
He's versatile and can suck at many different positions.
We’re really not that lucky to have him. He’s a 0.2 WAR, so he really isn’t better than any other replacements.
"If I was being paid $30,000 dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400."- Ted Williams
"man, this team they just suck so bad"- gizmosandy
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
aaaaaactually
the way our roster is currently, the ability to be replacement level at a bunch of different positions is priceless. If we had even moderate health, you’d be right, but as is, having a guy that just takes up one roster spot and can play 5 positions, even if some are badly, is worth a lot.
THE SEASON IS OVER!!!!!
"If I was being paid $30,000 dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400."- Ted Williams
"man, this team they just suck so bad"- gizmosandy
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
LOL
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Youk said he promised to fling his bat away in disgust every time he popped the ball up if he won the voting.
He doesn’t already?
Join the Lacrosse community at theprolaxblog.blogspot.com
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions
btw that was from Extra Bases. Posted too soon!
Join the Lacrosse community at theprolaxblog.blogspot.com
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"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
btw that was fro Extra Bases. Posted too soon!
Join the Lacrosse community at theprolaxblog.blogspot.com
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/
"That place was for diehard sports fans. I only follow my team when they're in the playoffs" - Homer Simpson
by bestbostonsports on Jul 8, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
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