Baseball Thread Number 8: Cal Ripken says the playoff hunt is fun

Wouldn't go that far yet. A lot of teams are complacent after a run like that.

The Rays have a lot of solid, young pieces in place. They need some better pitching, and some down years from NYY/BOS, but their window is still open for a few more years.

 

Rays' pitching is not simply bad; it's terrible.

0-2 count, followed by an RBI-single.

0-2 count and the batter walks.

J.P. Howell has thrown two pitches tonight that didn't make it 55 feet. There are at least four pitchers on this roster that belong in AAA. Don't know how they've won as many games as they have.

 

Well, the offense picked up the slack.

 

Interesting stat I heard last night ...

Atlanta's Peter Moylan hasn't given up a home run since opening day 2008 (the walk-off shot by Ryan Zimmerman), a span of 82 appearances and 65.2 innings.

EDIT: And Mike Gonzalez hasn't allowed a home run in ... one pitch ... to Wes Fucking Helms ...

 

The Rays used 8 pitchers in last night's 9-inning loss to the Sox. After the starter went 4 innings, most of the relief guys went 2/3 of an inning. It was a weird boxscore to read.

 

What's up with Huston Street?

 

Major traffic tie-up because a city bus hit a taxi.






Actually, he apparently changed his delivery. Sets up on the right side of the pitching rubber rather than the left.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2009-08-28/huston-street-big-part-rockies-revival

 

And this is the day the Braves playoff hopes died.

 

Atlanta's not good enough to win a single game in the playoffs, but I'd hardly say its hopes are dead. At least for the wild card -- Philly can't be caught.

4 games out on Sept. 2? Not insurmountable by any means. Gotta win tomorrow, though. That's a big one.

 

No, it's not. The Rays got a nice fetch for Kazmir, and with all the talent they have stockpiled in Double-A and Triple-A, they're going to be good for years to come.

 

YGBFKM just wants to believe someone else from last year's AL playoff field is going to be sucking on the straw of suck for the next decade.

 

What do you know about good, you're a Royals fan?

The Rays do have some talent, but no way they make the playoffs on a consistent basis playing in that division. No way.