8/24 @ TB, Porcello v. Andriese, and MVP78 is finally on the playoff express

[Maxbialystock]

I just noticed that he has lost the Fire Farrell Trade Pedroia DFA Buchholz mantra and has, like others before him, elected to return from the dark side. I've been there myself because 64 of my years were under the curse of the bambino. What's that line near the end of Casablanca? "With MPV78 on our side, I'm sure our side will win?"

 

To be honest, I would have been fine with firing Farrell a couple of times this season. I would have traded Pedroia for a #1 starter in a heartbeat, but otherwise not. But I never could see the sense in paying Buchholz to pitch for someone else.

 

As for tonight, I love Porcello's chances, but am chastened by last night's win, which necessitated an error for our guys to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.

 

Anyone know something about Andriese?

[Slasher9]

here's what i know.

we are going to win tonight. we are going to score 11 runs.

tonight is the rocking chair game i was looking for.

max mojo streaking.

 

Fire Buchholz- Trade Farrell - DFA Pedroia

[Maxbialystock]

here's what i know.

we are going to win tonight. we are going to score 11 runs.

tonight is the rocking chair game i was looking for.

max mojo streaking.

 

Fire Buchholz- Trade Farrell - DFA Pedroia

 

Words to conjure with.

[Bellhorn04]

As for tonight, I love Porcello's chances, but am chastened by last night's win, which necessitated an error for our guys to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.

 

Max, Max...it's major league baseball...it's subject to forces of random variance that are beyond our comprehension...and every W is as good as every other W.

[mvp 78]

Another game at that dump? Can we move them out of the division?

[d-money]

Got the right guy on the mound tonight. Hope he keeps it up. Go sox!!!!

[Bellhorn04]

Another game at that dump? Can we move them out of the division?

 

I can put up with the ugliness as long as we're beating them about 70% of the time.

[Slasher9]

Another game at that dump? Can we move them out of the division?

it is really quite terrible. i have actually gone there for a game. the area calls for a retractable roof stadium. they could have had it done already if fans would actually show up and support the team.

[mvp 78]

it is really quite terrible. i have actually gone there for a game. the area calls for a retractable roof stadium. they could have had it done already if fans would actually show up and support the team.

 

I've read that the traffic is horrible there and that the stadium is just in a horrible spot for people to get to. They apparently have decent tv ratings. It's hard to get this silver hairs down there to show up.

[Spudboy]

it is really quite terrible. i have actually gone there for a game. the area calls for a retractable roof stadium. they could have had it done already if fans would actually show up and support the team.

 

Aren't the Rays tied into a contract with the city or county until 2000 or 2025 or something? The issue is that bridge traffic makes it hard to draw fans from the "mainland". They want to build a new stadium in the county where Tampa is. They need to be released from the St. Pete contract first, I believe.

 

I still want to go to the Trop for a game. It looks fugly (except for aerial views ) but I've never seen the Sox anywhere but Fenway and I've never seen a game in a dome.

[Maxbialystock]

Max, Max...it's major league baseball...it's subject to forces of random variance that are beyond our comprehension...and every W is as good as every other W.

 

They are indeed.

[Kimmi]

As for tonight, I love Porcello's chances, but am chastened by last night's win, which necessitated an error for our guys to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.

 

If I recall correctly, the Rays were only able to score their run because of a ball that got away from Leon, allowing the runner on first to advance to second. This subsequently kept the Rays out of a DP on a hard hit grounder to 3rd by the next batter, then allowed the runner to score on a hit by the next batter. He would not have scored if he had remained on first.

[Maxbialystock]

I could not contribute to the thread last night because I was playing poker which I do monthly. I did, however, watch the game on my ipad.

 

I'm not so sure the ballpark is the real issue on attendance. True, the Rays are dead last in MLB at 17K/game and 3K/game below the next best team (Oakland). But not far above in 27th place is Miami @ 22k/game, and I think they have a pretty good ballpark, good accessibility, and--wait for it--the 4th largest urban area in the USA at 5.5M. The Tampa Bay population is 4.3M.

 

Floridians just don't like baseball that much.

[Kimmi]

Anyone know something about Andriese?

 

Andriese leads the American League with four balks.

[Maxbialystock]

If I recall correctly, the Rays were only able to score their run because of a ball that got away from Leon, allowing the runner on first to advance to second. This subsequently kept the Rays out of a DP on a hard hit grounder to 3rd by the next batter, then allowed the runner to score on a hit by the next batter. He would not have scored if he had remained on first.

 

Box score shows no PB and that the 1 run was earned. The 2d run against the Rays was unearned.

[Kimmi]

I previously said that I would be okay with a 2-2 split with the Rays.

 

I've changed my mind.

 

Find a way to get it done and WIN!!!

[Slasher9]

I still want to go to the Trop for a game. It looks fugly (except for aerial views ) but I've never seen the Sox anywhere but Fenway and I've never seen a game in a dome.

 

5-6 years ago we took a vacation down to Clearwater. it was ~ 60 minute drive to the Trop from there. completely worth it as tickets are cheap and it's baseball. plus Manny got to run the bases after the game and i got to go down on the field with him.

i would recommend clearwater as a vacation spot anyways. plus you are so spoiled having been only to Fenway that you need to go and see some other stadiums to realize how good you have it!!!!

[Kimmi]

Box score shows no PB and that the 1 run was earned. The 2d run against the Rays was unearned.

 

It was a wild pitch that got about 10 feet away from Leon. That was the difference between the Rays scoring and not scoring.

[Kimmi]

I can put up with the ugliness as long as we're beating them about 70% of the time.

 

Bring back the good old days when the Devil Rays were doormats.

[Spudboy]

5-6 years ago we took a vacation down to Clearwater. it was ~ 60 minute drive to the Trop from there. completely worth it as tickets are cheap and it's baseball. plus Manny got to run the bases after the game and i got to go down on the field with him.

i would recommend clearwater as a vacation spot anyways. plus you are so spoiled having been only to Fenway that you need to go and see some other stadiums to realize how good you have it!!!!

 

I have been to one other MLB stadium for a game.

 

The Vet in Philly circa 1986 or 1987. Pittsburg at Phillies. I saw a skinny Bonds play left.

[Spudboy]

Bring back the good old days when the Devil Rays were doormats.

 

Or at least bring back the days when there were all types of plunkings and cleared benches!!!!

[Thunder]

Cy Young on the hill + My baseball practice = Win. Dance. Repeat. x3

[Slasher9]

I have been to one other MLB stadium for a game.

 

The Vet in Philly circa 1986 or 1987. Pittsburg at Phillies. I saw a skinny Bonds play left.

 

the "new" philly stadium (citizens bank park) is quite nice. i saw a juiced up barry bonds crush one over the Mcdonalds sign in the upper deck in RF.

[Wade Boggs]

Lineup...

 

 

Pedroia 2B

Bogaerts SS

Ortiz DH

Betts RF

Bradley CF

Leon C

Holt 3B

Shaw 1B

Benintendi LF

[Station 13]

the sweet spot for Betts is 2nd or 3rd, they will be FORCE to pitch to him. If they put him on, he steal bases. Also he will get a chance to bat in the 1st inning. He has 10 HR leading off an inning, so a fast start is also nice.

[mvp 78]

Fenway is great.

Olympic Stadium was weird.

Oakland Coliseum is fun enough with decent food and pre 9/11 you could bring in coolers full of stuff.

AT&T Park is highly overrated. The glove in LF is the most obnoxious thing ever.

Dodger Stadium is the best stadium I've been to. Great sightlines. Can still watch the game while grabbing food and beer. Love that place. The traffic to/from is horrible though.

[Thunder]

My order of awesomeness, of the stadiums I've been to:

Fenway

New Yankee Stadium - Most of the concourse looks like either a museum or a 5 star hotel... Give them credit.

Oakland Coliseum - Rays vs A's in 2010, walked up to the gate got seats behind the A's bullpen down LF line, everyone was nice

Progressive Field - Nobody was there on a warm April evening in 2008 to see the Sox win 3-0, but the tour took us through the clubhouse and onto the field on a game day

Old Yankee Stadium - Don't remember much, but seemed overrated

[Maxbialystock]

Camden Yards is great inside and outside and drove a number of other ballpark designs that followed.

 

Nationals Park is one of them. Not so great on the outside, but great sight lines inside.

 

Fenway has the some of the worst sight lines anywhere down the right field line. I mean terrible/rotten/frustrating. So bad I'm thinking a setting up a contest. Winner gets a ticket deep down the right field line at Fenway. 2d place gets 20 tickets in the same place. 3d place is a season ticket in the same place. I'm not going back to Fenway, but it's still beautiful on TV.

 

Royals ballpark in KC is also good, but can get really hot in the summer. Braves ballpark (Turner Field) in Atlanta is also nice.

 

Shibe Park in Philly in the 50's wasn't bad. Griffith Stadium in Washington in the 50's was OK, but a great adventure for my first MLB experience, age 14, Senators v. Guardians.

[Maxbialystock]

the sweet spot for Betts is 2nd or 3rd, they will be FORCE to pitch to him. If they put him on, he steal bases. Also he will get a chance to bat in the 1st inning. He has 10 HR leading off an inning, so a fast start is also nice.

 

Wake up. They are pitching to Betts. He has walked 4 times this month vs. 9 times in July, 7 times in June, and 9 times in May.

 

I'm not saying cleanup is his best spot, but am saying it's not the wrong spot for him with all those dingers and rbi's.

 

On August 16 he batted clean up and drive in all 5 runs in a win over the Orioles. In the 7 games since then he has 0 rbi's, but the Sox won 5 of 7 and all were road games. So far this year Betts has 57 rbi's at home and 32 on the road.

[Spudboy]

the "new" philly stadium (citizens bank park) is quite nice. i saw a juiced up barry bonds crush one over the Mcdonalds sign in the upper deck in RF.

 

Cool.

 

On that day I decided that I did not like Bonds and I'll tell you why.

 

Between innings he was in short left playing catch with the left field ball girl. Now this girl could catch and throw. Bonds was hurling balls that would short hop in front of her and the ball would squirt pass her. She would have to run back and retrieve it.

 

Meanwhile, Bonds would be making fun of her and yucking it up with his shortstop. Big man. Gets off on making a young girl look foolish.

 

So at every opportunity while the juice head was on fire with his bombs, I would tell this story to anyone who was impressed by Bonds.

 

I think it's the least I could do for the cause of justice.