7/6 @ Tampa Bay Rays

[Youk Of The Nation]

Chris Sale vs. Jacob Faria

 

 

This should be no contest. I look forward to Sale dominating. f*** the Rays, and f*** Joe Maddon. Yeah, I know he's not their manager anymore, but f*** him anyways. f*** Showalter too, as long as I am cursing out the most obnoxious managers in baseball.

[Maxbialystock]

I love the no contest idea, but worry about the lack of sleep, especially against Faria, a 6'4" 23 year old righty with 5 of 5 quality starts last month, a total of 32.1 innings and an ERA of 2.23 against the Orioles twice, Tigers, Jays, and White Sox. 3 of those 5 starts were away games. To date our lineup has not demonstrated an ability to overcome good starting pitching. Didn't we go hitless for the first five innings last night?

 

So far this year the Sox have won 5 of 7 against Tampa, all 7 games at Fenway, so this is our first trip to Tropicana, one of the worst ballparks in MLB. They are dead last of 30 teams in attendance averaging 14,955--despite a winning record, especially at "home." Oakland is 29th with 18,498.

[Spudboy]

The Trop may be a terrible dump but I still would like to attend a game there for the experience.

 

Cow bells at organized events should be a crime.

[S5Dewey]

The Trop may be a terrible dump but I still would like to attend a game there for the experience.

 

Cow bells at organized events should be a crime.

 

It is a dump. I took a "victory tour" the year I retired and got to every city in the ALE except Toronto and the Trop is by far the worst one.

[Emp9]

I'd be fine with a split. That win streak helped us a lot and since the Min. Series, we're already 2 wins more than I personally thought we'd have. Rays gain nothing on a split.

[Jasonbay44]

The Rays always have such weird teams that look like s*** on paper but have random guys go off.. like Logan Morrison. This guys been mediocre his whole damn career and this year already has a career high in hr

[Slasher9]

The Rays always have such weird teams that look like s*** on paper but have random guys go off.. like Logan Morrison. This guys been mediocre his whole damn career and this year already has a career high in hr

 

tampa bay is not too far from all the miami "clinics".....

[Slasher9]

The Trop may be a terrible dump but I still would like to attend a game there for the experience.

 

Cow bells at organized events should be a crime.

 

was there for a game 6-7 years ago for a day game. beautiful weather and then had to go inside to watch baseball. it's a dump and their fans suck but they have a pretty excellent shrine to Ted Williams and they let Manny run the bases after the game so I got to go down on the field with him which was kind of cool....

[Kimmi]

Chris Sale vs. Jacob Faria

 

 

This should be no contest. I look forward to Sale dominating. f*** the Rays, and f*** Joe Maddon. Yeah, I know he's not their manager anymore, but f*** him anyways. f*** Showalter too, as long as I am cursing out the most obnoxious managers in baseball.

 

You forgot Scioscia.

 

I think this young pitcher is going to be tough, but I think Sale and our offense will be up to the task.

 

Advantage - Sox.

 

Let's go!

[Station 13]

Ugh the trop still exist. Can't wait to hear the vuvuzelas, drums, cowbells, music blasting tonight from the basement dungeon.

[Maxbialystock]

I'd be fine with a split. That win streak helped us a lot and since the Min. Series, we're already 2 wins more than I personally thought we'd have. Rays gain nothing on a split.

 

Makes sense.

[Kimmi]

Ugh the trop still exist. Can't wait to hear the vuvuzelas, drums, cowbells, music blasting tonight from the basement dungeon.

 

And the Rays announcers are annoying as heck.

[Maxbialystock]

And the Rays announcers are annoying as heck.

 

Yes, but my mlb.com/tv package let's me pick the feed, which means NESN.

[bosoxmal]

Only a 2 1/2hr drive from my home in Ft. Myers. My wife and I drove up there once for a Sox-Rays game. That was enough.

 

BTW. Anyone want to make a guess as to when Lin takes over 3rd, full time?

[Jasonbay44]

And the Rays announcers are annoying as heck.

I feel like every AL east team has annoying/s***** announcers. Only ones I can ever tolerate somewhat are Jays. I can't stand Yankees/Orioles/Rays announcers, they blow.

[Spudboy]

Ugh the trop still exist. Can't wait to hear the vuvuzelas, drums, cowbells, music blasting tonight from the basement dungeon.

 

But what ever happened to that wonderful individual that sat behind the plate and yelled "DAMON, DAMON" the entire game.

 

I miss him. NOT.

[Maxbialystock]

I feel like every AL east team has annoying/s***** announcers. Only ones I can ever tolerate somewhat are Jays. I can't stand Yankees/Orioles/Rays announcers, they blow.

 

Any time I was in the middle of the country, I could usually get the Cardinals games and the announcers seemed fine to me. Now I'm in the DC area and often get the Orioles radio announcers, and I think they are fine too. Definitely not homers. That's what I also like about Eckersley. Yes, sometimes he talks too much, but invariably he gives credit to the other team for a good play.

[Spudboy]

Any time I was in the middle of the country, I could usually get the Cardinals games and the announcers seemed fine to me. Now I'm in the DC area and often get the Orioles radio announcers, and I think they are fine too. Definitely not homers. That's what I also like about Eckersley. Yes, sometimes he talks too much, but invariably he gives credit to the other team for a good play.

 

You are the only person on this board that lives in the DC area ( MASN? ) that does not mind the Baltimore announcers.

 

Maybe I am confusing the TV and radio crews, I am not sure. But Baltimore announcers are known to be huge homers, I believe.

[Kimmi]

Yes, but my mlb.com/tv package let's me pick the feed, which means NESN.

 

My Extra Innings tv package almost always gives me the home feed. I could watch mlb.tv on my computer, but I'm usually doing other things on the computer while the the game is on.

[Maxbialystock]

Betts

Pedroia

Bogaerts

Moreland

Ramirez

Benintendi

Bradley

Leon

Lin

 

Same lineup--except Leon for Vazquez--as last night, which did not go well. One of the few times Farrell has had 5 lefty bats against a righty starter this season. This lineup is also pretty optimal (for the Sox) on defense.

 

Going by that book Kimmi mentions, I'm fine with Betts and Pedey 1st and 2d even though Betts's power says he should be 4th. Bogaerts 3d just might work since that is not a key hitter and Bogaerts these days seems to have a problem (my opinion, probably wrong) with pitch recognition.

 

If Kimmi's book is right, Moreland and HanRam have no business batting 4th and 5th. moonslav says JBJ needs to be hitting 5th, and this time I agree.

 

But here's the good news. The bottom of the order, 6th thru 9th--Beni, JBJ, Leon, and Lin--just might be better than the top of the order, and the top ain't that bad.

 

Farrell likes to alternate lefty-righty-etc, but tonight he starts with three straight righties and finishes with four straight lefties.

[Kimmi]

I feel like every AL east team has annoying/s***** announcers. Only ones I can ever tolerate somewhat are Jays. I can't stand Yankees/Orioles/Rays announcers, they blow.

 

Very much agree. Buck Martinez has an annoying voice, IMO, but the Jays announcers are tolerable.

[Kimmi]

You are the only person on this board that lives in the DC area ( MASN? ) that does not mind the Baltimore announcers.

 

Maybe I am confusing the TV and radio crews, I am not sure. But Baltimore announcers are known to be huge homers, I believe.

 

Yes, I think he's talking about radio announcers. The tv announcers are the worst.

[Spudboy]

Yes, I think he's talking about radio announcers. The tv announcers are the worst.

 

I was hoping you would clarify this.

[Spudboy]

I find most announcers for other teams are big time cheer leaders and bag-lappers.

 

I did not say all, just most of the ones I have actually heard.

 

The ESPN crews suck donkey dicks as well.

 

I have been shockingly impressed with A-Rod. Lol.

[Kimmi]

I find most announcers for other teams are big time cheer leaders and bag-lappers.

 

I did not say all, just most of the ones I have actually heard.

 

The ESPN crews suck donkey dicks as well.

 

I have been shockingly impressed with A-Rod. Lol.

 

They are to a certain extent, but some crews are much worse than others. Some crews are pretty good.

 

It should tell you how bad some of the crews are when I'm thankful that the game is on ESPN or FOX so that I don't have to listen to the away feed.

 

One nice thing about the Trop is that we know we won't have a rain delay.

[dgalehouse]

My Extra Innings tv package almost always gives me the home feed. I could watch mlb.tv on my computer, but I'm usually doing other things on the computer while the the game is on.

 

DIRECTV gives a choice of feeds with the baseball package. Also the pre and post game shows. Most cable companies do not , unless it is a light schedule and they have open channels available.

[Jasonbay44]

I find most announcers for other teams are big time cheer leaders and bag-lappers.

 

I did not say all, just most of the ones I have actually heard.

 

The ESPN crews suck donkey dicks as well.

 

I have been shockingly impressed with A-Rod. Lol.

 

A lot of them suck, but there is a few crews I've had no issues with/liked. Royals, Twins, Giants, Reds, Brewers, Cubs, Rockies, Tigers, Phillies, Dodgers (were obviously better with Vin, but still not bad), D-backs, and a few others I'm forgetting were all at least decent.

 

Orioles, Mariners, White Sox, Cardinals (when McCarver is calling games), Rays, Yankees are among worst IMO.

[Jasonbay44]

Yes, I think he's talking about radio announcers. The tv announcers are the worst.

 

Yeah the radio guys aren't bad, the main guy seems pretty unbiased/good. The TV guys are among my least favorite in the league.

[Bellhorn04]

I actually enjoyed a couple of games I saw on MLB Network with Bob Costas and John Smoltz.

[Jack Flap]

Xander noo!!!1