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Rank Relief: The Rays finally score some runs and can’t hang on.

May 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
rank relief 5.6-1

Fernando Rodney gets a long look at JP Arencibia blast the game winner.

The Rays score 7 runs in the 3rd inning against the struggling Blue Jays and seemingly would have the game in hand if they could manage the next 6 innings.  Well beginning the very next inning, the Blue Jays begin to slowly claw their way back despite being a bad team despite acquiring many former All-Stars this off-season.  It got to 9th inning with the Rays clinging to a 1 run lead.  The usually recently reliable Fernando Rodney was in to close the game.  He emphatically did not.  See below:

rank relief 5.6-2

He almost made it through the inning, but the free swinging JP Arencibia ran into a fastball and deposited it somewhere in the outfield where presumably nobody was sitting in the Trop.  Rodney was always an adventure closing until last year.  We’ll see if this signals a move back to the median.

Filed Under: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With: ,

Rank relief: Alliteration edition…Wieters walksoff

April 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

#wieterswalkoff

The Rays haven’t been off to a hot start and they couldn’t right the ship vs. the Orioles tonight.  Jamey Wright worked a clean 9th inning and trotted out to hopefully do the same in the 10th.  But this time he had to face the top of the Orioles lineup.  After he gave up a single to the light hitting Nick Markakis, he was relieved by Brandon Gomes.  Manny Machado attempted to bunt Markakis over to second, and accidentally ended up on first base.  Adam Jones then seemingly hit a game winning doubel but Nick Markakis had a little base running trouble and couldn’t get home.  So bases loaded, Gomes hung a slider and Matt Wieters deposited it in the bleachers.  Details below:

rank relief4 4.18

A grand slam walk off is a fun affair for all involved (except Brandon Gomes) and its fun to watch grown men jumping around home plate (unless you’re Kendrys Morales).  Funny thing is Jamey Wright actually got the lost since he gave up the single to Markakis, who was technically the winning run.

Filed Under: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With: , ,

2013 Tampa Bay Rays Team Preview

March 18, 2013 by 2 Comments

It’s really hard to not like the Rays if you are just a fan of baseball.  They do more with less than pretty much any team in the league.  They have the worst ball park in the majors, they play in front of sparse crowds most nights (19k on average – lowest in the league), and still manage to compete in usually the toughest division in baseball year   in and year out.  They haven’t finished lower than 3rd in the AL East since 2007.  Their highest paid player is David Price who signed for a one year arbitration deal of $10M.  There only long term contracts are Evan Longoria and Matt Moore who both are likely under market value.  They aren’t afraid to trade away great players or even just simply let them go in FA (see Carl Crawford and BJ Upton).  They have managed to keep the farm system stocked for years.  They are what every smaller market team wishes their team could be like. (given financial constraints)  This past offseason they parted with two major contributors in James Shields and BJ Upton, both of whom were in line for market priced pay days the Rays couldn’t afford.

What did they do to replace that production?

Major Off-Season Moves:

  • Acquired OF prospect Wil Myers from Royals
  • Signed 2B Kelly Johnson
  • Acquired SS Yunel Escobar
  • Acquired 1B James Loney

This looks about like what the Rays would do.  Traded for one blue chip prospect in Wil Myers.  He’ll likely be a superstar for the Rays while they control him and he’ll either sign him to a team friendly extension or trade him for more prospects.  The rest of the signings look like mildly liked veterans that the Rays could get for discounted prices and hope to hit on a few of them.  Kelly Johnson is a solid player and will allow Ben Zobrist to play full time in the OF.  Yunel Escobar didn’t endear himself in Toronto after an unfortunate makeup incident.  He’s talented, but comes with some baggage.  I’m not so sure the talent will come to fruition in Tampa.  James Loney will play first, but will likely platoon a decent amount while Ryan Roberts slides over to fill in.

Let’s get tot he rest of that lineup. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Diamond Hoggers Season Previews, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Davey Johnson’s comments confirm he is indeed; a red-assed individual

June 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Not sure if you heard about the whole hullabaloo last night during the Rays-Nationals game in Washington. We had the game on live, and Joel Peralta had just strolled out to pitch the 8th inning in a game the Rays were up 5-4.

That’s when things got hairy. Davey Johnson had prior knowledge of Peralta doctoring his gloves with a foreign substance and had the home-plate umpire go out and shakedown Peralta. Peralta was found to be guilty and promptly ejected. And the poker game continued on into today with Johnson’s quotes, namely his thoughts on Rays manager Joe Maddon.

“I don’t know him that well, but I thought he was a weird wuss anyways.”

Listen to this guy. Calling people ‘weird’. Calling his fellow managers wussies. I love it.

You know what’s even better? We had someone sneak a hidden camera into the Nationals clubhouse a few weeks back. Here’s what we found:

I don’t know Davey Johnson all that well either, but I feel like we had him pegged spot-on a few weeks back when we called him a red ass and said that was the exact reason that we loved the guy.

I also imagine that there are a lot of normal people out there that Davey fails to find the color in and deems them as ‘weird’. He has the temperament of a grandpa that has missed his nap.

Filed Under: cheatin' lyin' fucks, grudges, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Washington Nationals Tagged With: , ,

R.A. Dickey is so much fun right now

June 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Look at this man. Does he look like he belongs amongst this pantheon of gladiators of the game’s greatest? No. He looks like he would be taking out your trash at the end of the week from underneath your office desk.

But Robert Alan Dickey is on some kind of run right now.

I’ve been along for the ride; every fluttering, sputtering step of this journey. That’s because in the midst of the most unsuccessful period of fantasy baseball team ownership in 13 years, Dickey has been my guiding light.

Even if the unlikely run comes to an abrupt halt here soon, I’ll still never forget what R.A. Dickey contributed to try and keep my lowly, under-performing squad out of the cellar. Because I’ve never finished in the cellar. And in this year where Felix Hernandez and C.C. Sabathia look to torture me with mediocrity; Dickey must know that I was owed something.

The date was May 26th, and I was in New Jersey at my in-laws. Before heading out to dinner I was trolling the waiver wire looking for a pitcher to stream. I saw that Dickey had the Padres the next day and had struck out 11 hitters against the Pirates his last start. I was desperate.

Since that date, Dickey has unleashed one of the most magical runs I can remember over the course of my lifetime. Last night he fired a one-hitter in Tampa in a 9-1 Mets win. Since I’ve added Dickey to my roster, he’s gone 32.2 innings with a 4-0 record, 39 strikeouts, not a single earned run on the ledger, a 0.55 WHIP, 13 strikeouts to every walk allowed. He’s striking out a cool 10.74 batters per nine.

Dickey now owns the New York Mets all-time scoreless inning streak. His Cinderella run might find him starting on the mound in the All-Star Game in a month. If the ride ends tomorrow, and it’s likely to come to a screeching halt sometime soon; we’ve already been given way more than we could have ever asked for from this unlikely hero.

In a game filled with blazing fastballs and physical specimens, there’s Dickey. He’s built slightly better than your average middle-aged office working paladin. And hitters are completely helpless against what he’s got right now.

R.A. Dickey is awesome, and that word doesn’t even give him his full due.

Filed Under: New York Mets, Old Pitchers, shutouts, Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With:

Chris Sale, Matt Moore Match-up for Strikeout Showdown on Memorial Day

May 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Around the time you were throwing your burgers and beer soaked brats on the grill to officially kick-off the summer, Chris Sale started summer for all of us by striking out 15 Tampa Bay Rays. Matt Moore countered with 10 of his own.

The reason this was special was it figures to be the first of several match-ups between two American League power pitchers that goes into the next decade. Both of these guys are young, and there will be more showdowns like this. Also, if you look at Sale closely; does he not resemble a young Randy Johnson? Just a little bit?

It also matched a season-high equaled by Max Scherzer (15 strikeouts of his own a few weeks back). When someone gets 15 K’s as a starting pitcher, it’s big news. It’s headline grabbing. You get ESPN alert texts about it.

The White Sox also won the game 2-1, which is good for all South Side fans.

Filed Under: Chicago White Sox, Memorial Day, Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With: ,

My 2011 ALDS & NLDS Predictions Post

September 30, 2011 by 2 Comments

Arizona DiamondBacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Diamond Hoggers’ Prediction: D-Backs over Brewers in 5

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Diamond Hoggers’ Prediction: Phillies over Cardinals in 4

 

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers

Diamond Hoggers’ Prediction: Rays over Rangers in 4
Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

Diamond Hoggers’ Prediction: Tigers over Yankees in 5

Filed Under: Arizona DiamondBacks, Detroit Tigers, League Division Series, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Postseason, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Texas Rangers, Yankees Tagged With:

If Tampa doesn’t become a baseball town now, it never will

September 29, 2011 by 1 Comment

They really did it. They battled back from the depths of Hell in a matter of nine innings, a 7-0 deficit with their ace shelled to come back and win 8-7 in 12 innings on Evan Longoria’s line shot that crept just over the left field fence.

Last night was baseball Heaven and it all ended in Tampa. I cannot believe the odds they overcame to get where they now are. I can’t believe how it unfolded. They were one out from lights out, bar closed when Dan Johnson stepped to the plate and drilled one into the right field stands.

The folks in Boston have to be reeling today–using sick days type of reeling–a place you never want to be as a sports fan. They didn’t think there was any way that Boston’s season ended last night.

The timeline of last night just added to things. As Jonathan Papelbon blew the Red Sox save and 9th inning lead with two outs, the Red Sox scurried off the field and Terry Francona scrambled quickly into the clubhouse. The Red Sox didn’t even have time to turn on their monitors and pull for the Yankees to save them (imagine the thought for a second of that). Television sets turned over to Evan Longoria at the plate in Tampa, and he provided the Rays with the biggest moment in their franchise history–and arguably one of the biggest moments in modern day baseball history.

It was the only time that a clinching home run was ever hit to send a team to the postseason in the team’s final regular season game. Last night alone should be enough reason for Major League Baseball to leave the playoff field as it is, and I believe they will.

The focus of this post has to shift away from last night momentarily and back to Tampa as a baseball city. They didn’t even sell out last night’s historic event. Many of them left before they could see this epic 7-run avalanche in the 8th and 9th innings and of course the historic line shot home run.

It’s time for Tampa to realize the gem they have and start appreciating what is in their back yard in the way of a good baseball organization. They have arguably the best young centerpiece and best manager in baseball.

I saw good prevail over evil last night. A lot of people would disagree with me, and that’s fine. But too often in sports the big market wins out. Not last night. The baseball gods had other ideas.

I’m convinced that this team can accomplish anything, having been through the depths they’ve been to and living to tell about it. I hope the town they play in can fully realize what took place and get their hands around the type of history that went down on their home field last night as they clinched the Wildcard spot.

Occurrences like we saw last night happen no more than once in a lifetime. It was why baseball is special and the moment belongs to Tampa and it’s fans forever. The only way to make it last and all the more meaningful is to get behind this team and become a legitimized baseball town.

Filed Under: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With:

The Last Save that Papelbon Shall Ever Blow for the Red Sox

September 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Approximately 1 or 2 minutes later:

Not a good time to be a Masshole is it?

Filed Under: Red Sox, Storybook Endings, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Wild Card Tagged With: ,

Wild Card Scramble Wednesday

September 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We’ve got quite a turn of events that will go down tonight. There is a good chance that in the final hour–with 161 games down and just one to go–that two teams season’s come to an abrupt end.

The Cardinals dream stayed alive last night. The Braves lost to the Phillies 7-1 in Atlanta. St. Louis battled back from a 5-o deficit early on in Houston to win 13-6 and move into a tie for the NL Wild Card with Atlanta.

Over in the American League, the Rays got a big home run from Matt Joyce to beat the Yankees 5-3. The Red Sox hung on to a narrow 8-7 win and escaped with nothing but their dignity in Baltimore.

Three of tonight’s games will be on ESPN or ESPN2. We’ll learn whether or not there will be one, two, or zero ‘winner takes all’ games tomorrow.

This should be a wonderful display of what the sport is all about tonight and into tomorrow. We’ll post about as much of it as we possibly can. Everyone enjoy themselves. Go Rays, go Braves.

Filed Under: Atlanta Braves, pennant chase, Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

How to Hit for the Cycle: What was Zoby Thinking Last Night In the 9th?

July 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Our buddy Franco from over at Next Level Ballplayer is friends with Ben Zobrist. Last night when Zoby was going for the cycle and needing ‘only a double’ in the 9th inning, Franco fired him a text. Here is a story about Zoby’s (pictured above) quest for the elusive cycle.

Clearly, hitting for the cycle is one of the coolest things that a batter can do in the game of baseball. From the fans perspective it’s fun to watch and cheer for, because of the rarity of it. Nothing can spice up a 12-1 game in the 8th like a home player one hit away from the cycle. The last big league cycle I can think of was when Cargo did it last year in dramatic fashion- A walk off bomb to complete his cycle against the Cubs.

Last night Mr. Zorilla, entered the 9th inning against the Yanks 3 for 3 with a triple, HR, single, and walk. After an eight pitch at bat that included 3 foul balls, Zoby settled for a walk and leaving the ballpark a double short of the cycle. I’ve always wondered what those players are thinking when they come up late in the game with their cycle on the line… Curiosity got the best of me so I texted Zoby late last night. The following convo ensued:

Franco: A duck fart down the line is all you needed! True or False- You were trying to hit a double in the 9th inning tonight?

Zoby: False. Trying not to. It doesn’t work when you try to!

Franco: So you’re telling me your cycle philosophy is- “Make the cycle come to you” ?

Zoby: Exactly

Franco: Fantastic. I’m gonna right an article for NextLevelBallplayer.com tomorrow teaching aspiring ballplayers how to hit for the cycle (This was a joke!)

Zoby: Haha, go for it.

So there you have it. The key to hitting for the cycle is NOT to try to hit for the cycle. I hope you ballplayers at home are paying attention!

Filed Under: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With:

The Reds find a way to Big Game James and the Rays

June 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

[Box Score]

[Cincinnati.com] [Rays Index]

Reds fans might just look back on Ryan Hanigan’s 3-run home run off James Shields in the fourth frame of yesterday’s game as being one of the biggest hits of the year for the Reds.

Yesterday’s win was a big, big win on the heels of a very tough heartbreaking loss. And taking two out of three on the road from a very good ballclub was no short order for the Reds. Coupled with the Brewers 5-2 loss in the Bronx, the win allowed the Reds to pull within 2 and 1/2 games of first place in the National League Central.

I knew this would be a tough win for the Reds. James Shields was on his game. He struck out 10 different Reds hitters, or not actually. Four of those times, Jay Bruce was the culprit. It was his first Golden Sombrero of memory, and he’ll be getting christened sometime soon by our friends over at The Golden Sombrero.

Freddy Lewis had a huge hit in this one, a line drive single to left field that scored Johnny Gomes and the run that would stand up to be the winning run.

Francisco Cordero entered the game in the bottom of the 9th and locked down things for his 16th save. Cordero has been remarkably solid this season–minus that night in Philadelphia that Ryan Howard hit a ball that still hasn’t landed and the Reds ended up losing in 19.

The Reds come home for a very big series at home against the Cleveland Indians with a chance to once again make some hay. It’s time to make a move in the standings and build some momentum before the All-Star break.

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Interleague Play, Sombreros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With: , , , , ,

Evan Longoria walk off homers the Reds in the bottom of the 9th

June 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

[Box Score]

[Cincinnati.com] [Rays Index]

This game had a playoff style atmosphere from the beginning. In a night of huge pitching match-ups around Major League Baseball (Cliff Lee/Josh Beckett, Tommy Hanson/Michael Pineda, among others) this one probably did the finest job of living up to the billing.

Johnny Damon’s solo home run off Johnny Cueto was the only mark that the Rays could muster against the Reds ace for the first seven innings. The Reds battled against David Price who was more than on his ‘A’ game, and got a triple off the center field wall by Drew Stubbs and then tied the game a batter later on an Edgar Renteria RBI single.

Later in the inning, Renteria stole second base on an 0-2 pitch to Joey Votto. Votto then doubled a few deliveries later to put the Reds up 2-1 and knock Price from the game.

Johnny Damon hit a pitcher’s pitch from Bill Bray into the shallow left center area that fell just out of the reach of Chris Heisey’s glove to give the Rays a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning.

The Rays then brought on their closer, Kyle Farnsworth in the top of the 9th inning. Farnsworth entered the game with a 1.99 ERA and 17 saves in 18 opportunities. That’s uncharacteristically good for Farnsworth, and as I told my friend that I was watching the game with ‘at some point the guy is going to play to the back of his baseball card, he’s due to blow a save’.

Jay Bruce led off the inning and worked the count full, and then connected on a mammoth blast to dead center field that tied the game at 3.

The excitement wouldn’t last long. Evan Longoria hit an inside fastball from Logan Ondrusek into the seats in left field in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Rays the victory.

At some point, the Reds are going to have to stop doing this. They’re now 11-17 in one run ballgames. The summer is flying by, and these were victories that the Reds were collecting at this time last year. They now sit narrowly at one game over the .500 mark at the exact halfway point; and they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 3.5 games in the NL Central. They’re now officially in 4th place with the Pirates taking over third.

Some might say that it’s only 3.5 games, and yes a big week from the Reds could have them knocking on the door of first place. But a poor week or even a poor two-week stretch could definitely put them out of things for good at this point. Every night is pivotal and the floundering Reds have everyone waiting on them to get hot and it just isn’t happening.

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, walk off wins Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

“I’m just trying to hit for average and they keep throwing it in my wheelhouse”

April 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

That’s what Ben Zobrist had to say yesterday after his 8 RBI ballgame via text message to our buddy Dave at Next Level Ballplayer. Oh, and then he took a 10 minute power nap, had a cup of coffee, played a game of spades in the clubhouse with teammates and went out and drove in 2 more runs and homered again in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

Here is the thing, you drive in 10 RBI in a day, and you’re going to make Diamond Hoggers every single time. We don’t care how we have to fit it in. Then you start texting a buddy of ours with a humble mentality about it and you’re a real lock for the site. Honestly, I went home and decided I’m trading for him in MLB the Show 11 in every single franchise. What a precious player Ben Zobrist is. And yes, I was lucky enough to have him in the lineup for one of my fantasy teams yesterday.

What a day for Ben Zobrist. Diamond Hoggers salutes you–and you’re going to make us look like geniuses when you win comeback player of the year in the AL!

Filed Under: Milestones, Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tagged With:
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