ALDS Game Thread: Rays @ Rangers

September 30, 2011 by Mike Axisa 169 Comments

It’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.

http://twitter.com/Carlosologist_7 Carlosologist

Moore either strikes out 12 in 6 or gives up 6 in 2.
Cy Pettitte

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.
- Guns of the Navarone
  
  I think he goes 4 or 5 innings. Lots of strikeouts, lots of walks. Rangers win behind a great game by Wilson.
Chen Meng Wang

I was wondering if/hoping there would be a thread for this game. Nice moment w/ the kid throwing out the first pitch.
JobaWockeeZ

How I envy Tampa’s amateur pitching scouts…
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  So do I but u know you’ll hear the same old saying. “All those guys are number 1 draft picks”
Guns of the Navarone

This kid throws 97 like he’s taking a stroll through the park.
V

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.
- Greg
  
  Jennings has been in a massive slump of late. He’s 0 for his last 20 or something.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Yep. 0 for his last 24, and he hit .160 and had an OBP of .258 in the month of September.
  - V
    
    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?
    - V
      
      Sorry, that’s .229/.307/.367 for his career.
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        .260/.360/.422 vs lefties career.
        
        The move isn’t great but you can make an argument I suppose.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Look at his numbers against lefties. Crushes them.
      - V
        
        They’ve faced lefties in September, right? Why do something -completely- different the instant the regular season becomes the postseason?
        
        Greg
        
        Because Maddon is a madman.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        The Yankees basically did the same thing with Cano hitting third. There’s never a bad time to make improvements.
        
        V
        
        I’m not sure if Cano batting 3rd is an improvement.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

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.
- Greg
  
  I think they might go after Reyes and trade their shirtstop prospect for pitching.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Well, of course they could trade Jose Iglesias for anything they want! Peter Gammons says he’s the best!!!
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  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.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    See you say that…but they literally just got finished proving that wrong.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      What part about acquiring quality depth was confusing?
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    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.
Jesus Freak

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.
- Guns of the Navarone
  
  It’s amazing how quickly the media narrative changes.
  
  From “Best Team EVER!” to arrogant, unmotivated and complacent “They became the Yankees!!”
  - Jesus Freak
    
    “They became the Yankees!!”
    ———————————
    
    Except for the part where the Yankees win.
Cy Pettitte

What’s Moore’s deal? how was he an 8th round draft pick?
- S
  
  Probably the same reason why Betances was late round pick, signability issues
Yes That One

I’m confused. Which team is the Red Sox?
- Yank The Frank
  
  The one on the golf course.
- Jesus Freak
  
  The one with the pitching staff guzzling beer.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  They’re postseason starts in November, the only season their good at is in the Hot Stove League.
Cy Pettitte

Tony Reagins resigned….woah.
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  Black Friday with Tito and Tony. Who’s next
Cy Pettitte

JOHNNY DAMON!
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Johnny Rocket!!!
Chen Meng Wang

Wow, Johnny Damon!!
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

Wow Johnny!
Greg

Damon clobbers a 2 run dinger off Wilson 2-0 Rays
JobaWockeeZ

Yup I want no part of CJ Wilson pitching for this team at an AJ Burnett price for the next 5 or 6 years.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  hopefully he gets shelled today and that ensures Cashman stays far away. Take a flier on Darvish instead is the must sign someone.
  - Cy Pettitte
    
    *if he must
    
    can’t type.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    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.
    - Cy Pettitte
      
      that’s ideal but they might have a hard time sitting on their hands 2 years in a row.
      - The Big City of Dreams
        
        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
  - Brian S.
    
    +1 on Darvish. Cashman knows what has to be done.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  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>
  - CBean
    
    Texas.
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      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.
      - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        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.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        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.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        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.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      Yup, since they lost with Lee they’ll probably overpay so they can stay relevant.
- Guns of the Navarone
  
  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.
Greg

Damn that ball carried.
Greg

RBI single by Joyce. Rays 3-0
Jesus Freak

Wait a minute, ESPN told me the Rangers where unbeatable.

How can this be happening!?!
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  ESPN also told me Justin Verlander is unbeatable too!
  
  /ReallyHopingThey’llBeWrongAGAIN
swishers fauxhawk

42 pitches in the first inning. No biggie.
- Greg
  
  Actually that was the second.
  - swishers fauxhawk
    
    Yeah, I’m a bit disoriented.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    42 pitches through two innings, 33 in the second inning alone.
David N

Gameday has Moore’s fastballs with some serious movement on them – is that accurate?
Cy Pettitte

I would give my firstborn for Moore in pinstripes.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Unless your first born has ace like stuff or a lightning quick and really good baseball skills I think Tampa is going to pass.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    lightning quick bat****
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  That first born better shit gold then.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  I second your sacrifice.
- Sarah
  
  What if we gave them Jesus + your first born?
Yes That One

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.
- David N
  
  Yeah, I put the Brewers as my second choice team and the Rays third, but I may rethink that.
Chen Meng Wang

Hahahahahahahahahaha really?! They’re putting this on Tito?! Like really?! I thought that Boston’s ownership/baseball people were smarter than that…
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  “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/story/manager-terry-francona-expected-to-part-ways-with-red-sox-092911
  - http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
    
    so, either ownership made the call or Theo is a total doosh… actually both seam plausible
    - Sarah
      
      Everything I’ve read/heard makes it sound like ownership made the call.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    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.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  I think it’s because of God, injuries, and ESPN for overhyping the Red Sox.
  
  /A-Gon’d
  - Sarah
    
    And the schedule. Tito didn’t do enough to make the schedule easier for AGon and (not)friends.
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      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.
      - Sarah
        
        Ruining the narrative.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    “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?
Cy Pettitte

those crazy Rays
Karl Krawfid

Damn CJ Wilson is choking!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

lol texas
Greg

Kelly Shoppach! 3 run bomb.
Chen Meng Wang

Wow Tampa is all over CJ Wilson right now…
Tyrion Lannister

6-0, ballgame over. Wish we could have faced this joke of a pitching staff. Remember how we destroy Holland?
Cy Pettitte

this is hilarious
David N

Wait, I thought Texas was supposed to have the killer offense…I’m confused.

But loving it.
Sarah

6-0 Rays. What have I missed during my drive home from work?
- Greg
  
  2 run homer by Damon
  RBI single by Joyce
  3 run homer by Shoppach
  - Sarah
    
    Thanks for the fill in.
    
    Matt Moore is blowing it past the Rangers?
    - Greg
      
      Pretty much
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  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.
  - Sarah
    
    I sort of like that the kid is Nasty.
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      I don’t…we have to face him for the next few years….
      - Sarah
        
        Pray for some regression.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        Of course there will be some regression, but this kid is still legit.
    - David N
      
      It’s fun now. For the next few years having to face him…not so much.
Yes That One

Heh heh. I wish the Germans had a word that means taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others…
JobaWockeeZ

…Price and Niemann are the only first rounders in that rotation but continue on TBS.
Karl Krawfid

They sure as hell weren’t complaining when Cliff Lee was getting those high strike calls.
Greg

41 pitches so far for Moore.
- David N
  
  And 61 for Wilson.
  - David N
    
    And after just one at bat, 69 pitches. Rays are making him work.
    - Greg
      
      Exactly
Chen Meng Wang

Since when does Mo do commercials?!
- David N
  
  He’s done some in the past.
  
  Taco Bell and Nike come to mind.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    I remember the Nike one but it slipped my mind, not the Taco bell one…it just doesn’t seem his style.
    - David N
      
      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.
      - Chen Meng Wang
        
        Hahahaha, oh yeah I remember that, then Joe pats him on the butt and Mo tells him good job i got this or something.
- http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
  
  didn’t he do Canali ads?
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

I just tuned in, I gotta say I expected Moore to have given up 6 runs and Wilson to have pitched the shutout.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  Do you work for ESPN?
  - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
    
    Oh don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see the Rays win this, I just overestimated CJ Wilson.
Guest

That murmur you hear is the sound of CJ Wilson’s agent crying softly…
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Now he’s just out right bawling…
  - Sarah
    
    While Matt Moore’s agent is already rubbing his hands together with greed, counting the years till his free agency.
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      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.
      - Sarah
        
        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.
- Guest
  
  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.”
Greg

Shoppach again!
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Kelly Ruth Shoppach
Sarah

Damn. KShop goes deep again.
Tyrion Lannister

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.
- Sarah
  
  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.
- Guest
  
  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…
Chen Meng Wang

I cannot believe you guys want Tampa to win this…imagine our Righty line-up against this guy?
- Karl Krawfid
  
  Yankees have to get past Detroit first.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    I understand that but it seems there is a very pro Ray vibe on the board…I disagree with it.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  I don’t care who the Yankees play IF (big if) the Yanks move on. I’m just enjoying this silent Rangers crowd.
  - Sarah
    
    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.
    - David N
      
      Yup. Knock the arrogant Rangers fans out first, then worry about Tampa.
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      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.
      - Sarah
        
        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.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        Haha, I would’ve found the guy and been like umm…scoreboard? after the grandslam.
      - The Big City of Dreams
        
        What’s even more annoying is that other teams do it too.
    - http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh
      
      I lived there in the late 90’s when the Yanks regularly rolled over them in the post season. Was always so nice.
Sarah

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?
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  I think next season its
  Shields
  Price
  Davis
  Hellickson
  Moore
  
  Niemann long guy out of the pen.
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  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.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    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
    - Guest
      
      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…
    - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
      
      He is for sure.
      
      http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/04/2013-mlb-free-agents.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.
      - Sarah
        
        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? ;-)
        
        Guest
        
        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.
        
        Sarah
        
        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.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        Haha that would have to be like
        
        Yankees get Shields
        KC gets AJ, cash, Romine
        Tampa gets KC A prospect, Betances, Noesi, Laird
      - Chen Meng Wang
        
        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.
Tyrion Lannister

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.
Tyrion Lannister

Sacrifice that runner over, Ron Washington, and get that 1 run. You’re only down 8-0.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Oh shit, hope Girardi didn’t see that.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  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.”
  - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
    
    Boston needs a manager, why not trade Girardi for Hedi Watney and let Tony Pena manage???
    - Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
      
      *Heidi
    - JMK
      
      I like this plan.
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      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 ;)
      - JMK
        
        May I offer another clause? We don’t have to watch Varitek fucking her.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        Oh, I just assumed that there would be clause making it a void of contract to sleep with him period
Greg

What the hell was that Josh?
Tyrion Lannister

A new logical bunting situation- Your best hitter at the plate, runner at 1st, down by 8 runs. Great managing.
- JMK
  
  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.
Jesus Freak

Over on MLB channel, Francona holding farewell press conference.
Tyrion Lannister

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.
Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Both of Boston’s non asshole players/coaches are gone after this year…
pat

I knew I didn’t want Tampa in the playoffs.
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

pre-game show on YES