Sep
30
ALDS Game Thread: Rays @ Rangers
ByIt’s future Yankee C.J. Wilson against future Yankee killer rookie Matt Moore. This should be a lot of fun. Game starts a little after 5pm ET and can be seen on TBS. Talk about it here.
169 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
Moore either strikes out 12 in 6 or gives up 6 in 2.
I think Moore will go 5 strong, may 5IP 1ER then the Rangers will knock around the Rays bullpen a bit.
5-2 Rangers today but the Rays win it in 4 or 5.
I think he goes 4 or 5 innings. Lots of strikeouts, lots of walks. Rangers win behind a great game by Wilson.
I was wondering if/hoping there would be a thread for this game. Nice moment w/ the kid throwing out the first pitch.
How I envy Tampa’s amateur pitching scouts…
So do I but u know you’ll hear the same old saying. “All those guys are number 1 draft picks”
This kid throws 97 like he’s taking a stroll through the park.
Sean Rodriguez leading off? Really?
Whatever happened to doing what GOT you here? Jennings/Upton/Longoria/(Joyce,Zobrist)/Damon/(Zobrist,Joyce) is what they’ve been using most of the last month. Why change it???!
I’m convinced some managers want to do weird things just to look smart.
Jennings has been in a massive slump of late. He’s 0 for his last 20 or something.
Yep. 0 for his last 24, and he hit .160 and had an OBP of .258 in the month of September.
And Rodriguez has been in a slump for… well… his career. .223/.323/.357 in 2011, .229/.307/.367.
That’s the Rays’ leadoff hitter in the ALDS? Really?
Sorry, that’s .229/.307/.367 for his career.
.260/.360/.422 vs lefties career.
The move isn’t great but you can make an argument I suppose.
Look at his numbers against lefties. Crushes them.
They’ve faced lefties in September, right? Why do something -completely- different the instant the regular season becomes the postseason?
Because Maddon is a madman.
The Yankees basically did the same thing with Cano hitting third. There’s never a bad time to make improvements.
I’m not sure if Cano batting 3rd is an improvement.
I have my money on Texas re-signing Wilson. But I say the Red Sox will make a huge push for him. Pitching killed them in September.
I think they might go after Reyes and trade their shirtstop prospect for pitching.
Well, of course they could trade Jose Iglesias for anything they want! Peter Gammons says he’s the best!!!
I don’t think they go hard in FA after the epic failure of Lackey. Theo will probably go for quality depth. Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Bedard/DiceK and Lackey is good enough when you have the best offense in the game.
See you say that…but they literally just got finished proving that wrong.
What part about acquiring quality depth was confusing?
I don’t think the Red Sox wouldn’t sign Wilson just because of Lackey’s failures. Dice K had Tommy John, so he’ll miss a good part of next season, Bedard is a Free Agent, and I seriously doubt they’ll bring him back due to his injury issues.
So it turns out the heroic, gritty little-engine-who-could, the Greatest.Team.Evah.Assembled were nothing more than a bunch of fat, outta shape drunks, who were too arrogant to take any kind of advice.
It’s a shame that a good decent man like Francona gets scapegoated because Golden-Boy’s spread sheets didn’t account for character and chemistry.
As if the next manager will have better luck dealing with head cases.
It’s amazing how quickly the media narrative changes.
From “Best Team EVER!” to arrogant, unmotivated and complacent “They became the Yankees!!”
“They became the Yankees!!”
———————————
Except for the part where the Yankees win.
What’s Moore’s deal? how was he an 8th round draft pick?
Probably the same reason why Betances was late round pick, signability issues
I’m confused. Which team is the Red Sox?
The one on the golf course.
The one with the pitching staff guzzling beer.
They’re postseason starts in November, the only season their good at is in the Hot Stove League.
Tony Reagins resigned….woah.
Black Friday with Tito and Tony. Who’s next
JOHNNY DAMON!
Johnny Rocket!!!
Wow, Johnny Damon!!
Wow Johnny!
Damon clobbers a 2 run dinger off Wilson 2-0 Rays
Yup I want no part of CJ Wilson pitching for this team at an AJ Burnett price for the next 5 or 6 years.
hopefully he gets shelled today and that ensures Cashman stays far away. Take a flier on Darvish instead is the must sign someone.
*if he must
can’t type.
I bet the Yankees don’t sign either pitcher (Wilson or Darvish) and they wait until next year when guys like Hamels, Cain, Haren, and Shields with good secondary options like Ervin Santana, Danks, Floyd, McCarthy, and even Guthrie, are Free Agents.
that’s ideal but they might have a hard time sitting on their hands 2 years in a row.
And risk losing out on all those guys. You have to think a couple will fall to them but this past off season was suppose to have guys like Doc, Lee, Beckett, Cain, and Verlander
+1 on Darvish. Cashman knows what has to be done.
Well, you said he’s not going to Boston, if he doesn’t go to New York like you wish, where do you think he ends up>
Texas.
Agreed. I want no part of him, as he’s already 30 and is going to want at least 5-6 years, and I don’t want him going to Boston just in case he proves he can be good for that long…so stay in the AL West or go to the NL.
Same here. Besides, Texas isn’t going to let him go, in my eye, they can’t afford to lose an ace back to back years. Sure they have other good starters like Holland, Harrison, Ogando, etc, but he’s their number 1.
CJ Wilson isn’t an ace. He IS a fan favorite, though, and a home grown player that’s been a big part of two playoff runs. Dallas has good sports fans, you DO have to motivate them, unless you’re the Dallas Cowboys in which case they’ll show up regardless, the Stars and Mavs all found success at the booth when they had success on the rink and court, respectively. The Rangers will find the same success if they continue to field competitive teams.
He’s an ace. 31-15, 427.1 innings, 3.14/3.39/3.72 ERA/FIP/xFIP, 7.92 K/9, 3.52 BB/9, 10.5 WAR last two seasons. And he pitches his home games in a bandbox. Ace.
Yup, since they lost with Lee they’ll probably overpay so they can stay relevant.
He’s still a hell of a pitcher. If the price is right I would love to have him. But like you mentioned, the price won’t be right.
Damn that ball carried.
RBI single by Joyce. Rays 3-0
Wait a minute, ESPN told me the Rangers where unbeatable.
How can this be happening!?!
ESPN also told me Justin Verlander is unbeatable too!
/ReallyHopingThey’llBeWrongAGAIN
42 pitches in the first inning. No biggie.
Actually that was the second.
Yeah, I’m a bit disoriented.
42 pitches through two innings, 33 in the second inning alone.
Gameday has Moore’s fastballs with some serious movement on them – is that accurate?
I would give my firstborn for Moore in pinstripes.
Unless your first born has ace like stuff or a lightning quick and really good baseball skills I think Tampa is going to pass.
lightning quick bat****
That first born better shit gold then.
I second your sacrifice.
What if we gave them Jesus + your first born?
I sure hope the Yanks go on to the WS and win but if they don’t, I’m rooting for those scrappy Rays. It’s hard not to like them.
Yeah, I put the Brewers as my second choice team and the Rays third, but I may rethink that.
Hahahahahahahahahaha really?! They’re putting this on Tito?! Like really?! I thought that Boston’s ownership/baseball people were smarter than that…
“That would be totally irresponsible and shortsighted,” Epstein said. “As an organization we have to look at our successes and failures, and what happened in 2011 — we take full responsibility for it. All of us collectively look at it as a failure. I’m the general manager, so I take more responsibility than anybody.
“But I know we don’t believe in scapegoats, particularly blaming Tito for what happened in September. We all failed collectively. We’re all together in this; we’ve got to live with that. We’re not pointing fingers at any one person in particular.”
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....sox-092911
so, either ownership made the call or Theo is a total doosh… actually both seam plausible
Everything I’ve read/heard makes it sound like ownership made the call.
Wow…he looks really bad now…I think after these comments and actually firing him there is a 75% chance he goes to Chicago now.
I think it’s because of God, injuries, and ESPN for overhyping the Red Sox.
/A-Gon’d
And the schedule. Tito didn’t do enough to make the schedule easier for AGon and (not)friends.
Haha forgot about that. And the funny is the last time they didn’t play a game on the east coast was on August 25th against the Rangers, yet the Yankees had a shit schedule in September.
Ruining the narrative.
“Any team that is supposed to go to the playoffs and doesn’t it’s because of injuries”
Really A-Gon? It cant be your 1-2 starters going 2 for the month of September? Or maybe your set up man shitting the bed for an entire month? Or could it be your 4th ace (Lackey) being AJ Burnett but worse?
those crazy Rays
Damn CJ Wilson is choking!
lol texas
Kelly Shoppach! 3 run bomb.
Wow Tampa is all over CJ Wilson right now…
6-0, ballgame over. Wish we could have faced this joke of a pitching staff. Remember how we destroy Holland?
this is hilarious
Wait, I thought Texas was supposed to have the killer offense…I’m confused.
But loving it.
6-0 Rays. What have I missed during my drive home from work?
2 run homer by Damon
RBI single by Joyce
3 run homer by Shoppach
Thanks for the fill in.
Matt Moore is blowing it past the Rangers?
Pretty much
Narratives: Mat Moore isn’t going to be able to knock it in his second career start. CJ is going to be tough on the Rays. Rays don’t have enough Offense. Texas has a world beating offense
Whats actually happened: Matt Moore has been Nasty. 2run bomb by Johnny, 2run single by _____, 2run bomb by Kelly Schoppach.
I sort of like that the kid is Nasty.
I don’t…we have to face him for the next few years….
Pray for some regression.
Of course there will be some regression, but this kid is still legit.
It’s fun now. For the next few years having to face him…not so much.
Heh heh. I wish the Germans had a word that means taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others…
…Price and Niemann are the only first rounders in that rotation but continue on TBS.
They sure as hell weren’t complaining when Cliff Lee was getting those high strike calls.
41 pitches so far for Moore.
And 61 for Wilson.
And after just one at bat, 69 pitches. Rays are making him work.
Exactly
Since when does Mo do commercials?!
He’s done some in the past.
Taco Bell and Nike come to mind.
I remember the Nike one but it slipped my mind, not the Taco bell one…it just doesn’t seem his style.
It’s the one where Girardi brings him in to finish off some burrito or something because the other guy doesn’t think he can finish it.
Pretty stupid, but yet kind of funny at the same time.
Hahahaha, oh yeah I remember that, then Joe pats him on the butt and Mo tells him good job i got this or something.
didn’t he do Canali ads?
I just tuned in, I gotta say I expected Moore to have given up 6 runs and Wilson to have pitched the shutout.
Do you work for ESPN?
Oh don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see the Rays win this, I just overestimated CJ Wilson.
That murmur you hear is the sound of CJ Wilson’s agent crying softly…
Now he’s just out right bawling…
While Matt Moore’s agent is already rubbing his hands together with greed, counting the years till his free agency.
How does that work? Has his clock started already or does he not have enough experience. I’m completely clueless about the workings of contracts before free agency.
I have no idea, honestly. Something about a certain number of years of club control, arbitration, blah blah. Someone will know more. It’s a long ways off.
Aaaaand that soft murmur is now turning into full fledged sobbing.
Right now, “CJ Wilson — Yankee” seems only slightly more likely than “Michelle Bachman — US President.”
Shoppach again!
Kelly Ruth Shoppach
Damn. KShop goes deep again.
We could have faced this trash pitching staff if only Texas had lost another ballgame down the stretch. CJ’s done. We’ve crushed Holland every time we’ve faced him. Rays got a great draw, we got Verlander.
Blame the Angels. After they fell out, they stopped playing hard, rolling out their rookie pitchers and a bunch of position players with a sub .200 BA. Something the Orioles certainly didn’t do.
I know we aren’t supposed to root for teams, etc., etc., blah blah. But there is some merit to this.
Both the Rays and the Yanks are stronger against lefties, with the Yanks MUCH stronger against lefties. The Rangers pitching staff looked, on paper, to be a pretty good matchup for either team.
Now the Rangers could win this in four. Stranger things have happened. Like, two days ago.
But right now, it looks like the Angels may have screwed us…
I cannot believe you guys want Tampa to win this…imagine our Righty line-up against this guy?
Yankees have to get past Detroit first.
I understand that but it seems there is a very pro Ray vibe on the board…I disagree with it.
I don’t care who the Yankees play IF (big if) the Yanks move on. I’m just enjoying this silent Rangers crowd.
I live here in Rangers territory, and the fans think their team is the best EVER. So if the Rays knock them out in 3, well, the silence at my office will be sort of amazing.
Yup. Knock the arrogant Rangers fans out first, then worry about Tampa.
Yeah. I don’t live in Texas but reading message boards it seems to me like they’re really obnoxious. Their whole Claw and Antler act is getting very old.
the last time the Yankees were in town, my family went to the game. During the 2nd inning, I go out to get a drink and some Rangers fan sees my Yankees shirt and goes “You know you’re going to lose this game, right?” To which I responded, “It’s the second inning. I like our chances.” His response was “Hello scoreboard?” It was like 2-0 Rangers at the time, and that’s the game where Jeter had 2 HR and Cervelli had a grand slam.
Haha, I would’ve found the guy and been like umm…scoreboard? after the grandslam.
What’s even more annoying is that other teams do it too.
I lived there in the late 90′s when the Yanks regularly rolled over them in the post season. Was always so nice.
Ok so do the Rays deal Shields in the off season to make room in the rotation for Moore? Or do they deal someone else?
I think next season its
Shields
Price
Davis
Hellickson
Moore
Niemann long guy out of the pen.
They could keep Shields. I bet their rotation looks like this next year:
1.Price
2.Shields
3.Hellickson
4.Moore
5.Niemann/Davis
Shields is a FA after next season, so if they don’t have the money it’d make sense to trade him.
If Shields is a free agent after next season that changes everything…they probably get some blue chip prospects for him and there rotation has Niemann and Davis in it
This. One of the saddest/more impressive things with the Rays is that they wholeheartedly understand the realities of their situation.
Because of that, I think they know they have no chance of resigning Shields if he has a good season, so they trade him for blue chippers who will be there to replace Moore/Jennings et. al when it becomes their turn to get paid…
He is for sure.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....gents.html
And as you see there are also plenty of other very good starting pitchers along with quality fallback options. But yeah, the Rays could get a nice haul in return. I’d guess if he gets traded he’ll get traded to the NL. Should be interesting to see. But as a baseball fan it’d be nice to see him stay in Tampa. Yes the Yankee fan in me wants to see him gone, but it’d be nice if he stayed.
I think Kansas City is interested in acquiring a “veteran” starting pitcher to sort of fortify their rotation with all the youngsters.
I’d love to see the Yankees acquire Shields. Imagine a 1-2 of CC and Shields… Maybe a 3 team trade so KC gets some veteran starting pitching… AJ Burnett maybe?
I don’t think I want to see a Yanks-Rays trade for Shields.
The premium the Yanks would have to pay to convince someone as smart as Friedman to trade Shields to his main competitor rather than somewhere else would be HUGE.
Like Herschel Walker huge.
You gotta run it through a 3rd team, and you need someone crafty enough to make that happen. Something like the Blue Jays did this summer.
Haha that would have to be like
Yankees get Shields
KC gets AJ, cash, Romine
Tampa gets KC A prospect, Betances, Noesi, Laird
I get why you’d say that but at the same time I don’t think trading Shields would hurt Tampa too much competitively because they have Hell-Boy and Moore just waiting to break into the starting 5. Plus Price? You can handle Davis and Niemann being mediocre with those three.
At this rate we won’t face a lefty until David Price. Our righty lineup with Montero, Jones, Teix and Swish hitting right handed is so good. It’s a shame it won’t get used more often.
Sacrifice that runner over, Ron Washington, and get that 1 run. You’re only down 8-0.
Oh shit, hope Girardi didn’t see that.
hmm..they seem to be bunting with there best hitter at the plate…”ROBBIE, ROBBIE COME TO MY OFFICE REAL QUICK I want to to discuss strategy for the game tonight, if you come up with a runner on first, lay down a bunt.”
Boston needs a manager, why not trade Girardi for Hedi Watney and let Tony Pena manage???
*Heidi
I like this plan.
Only If Heidi’s contract gets reworked to include her being at the corner of the screen in a bikini at all times throughout the game
May I offer another clause? We don’t have to watch Varitek fucking her.
Oh, I just assumed that there would be clause making it a void of contract to sleep with him period
What the hell was that Josh?
A new logical bunting situation- Your best hitter at the plate, runner at 1st, down by 8 runs. Great managing.
Old school managing wins games. Whenever you can sacrifice outs down nearly double digits, you have to do it. You just have to.
Even in a sea of awful managers in baseball (in terms of logic and legitimate strategic thinking), Ron Washington is among the worst. Unquestionably.
Over on MLB channel, Francona holding farewell press conference.
They shouldn’t have put the extra half hour between these ballgames. This game will be over by the top of the hour. Schedule the game for 8:07. Now we all have to wait another half hour for no reason.
Both of Boston’s non asshole players/coaches are gone after this year…
I knew I didn’t want Tampa in the playoffs.
pre-game show on YES