Longoria "okay"

The Rays could have suffered an even worse loss than the 2-1 walkoff defeat Thursday, as rookie sensation Evan Longoria, who leads the team in homers and RBIs, was struck on the back of his right wrist by a J.J. Putz pitch during an unsuccessful ninth-inning rally.
Longoria stayed in the game in obvious pain, but X-rays were negative and Longoria, while sore and with his wrist wrapped, said he felt “okay.’’

Comments

[Edgar]

Dom you are 100 percent correct. Bring up Ruggiano; he has talent. Even if Baldelli does not comeback; the team has to move on. If he comes back that is good. Rays are on a mission to take over 1st place and beat the Red Sox and the Yankees.

[Rocky]

It is great that it is preseason in football and everyone is still talking about baseball and the RAYS. But lets keep in mind that unlike in football, a loss in baseball is going to happen every 2 or 3 games. It is not the end of the world or the season. If the Rays can continue to win 3 of 5 the rest of the year, we will be playing in October. Go Rays, lets win tonight and Rocco will play this weekend and Price is not far behind.

[Gene]

Agree with zeke, et al, it is about the abilities of what you have. for whtever reason, CC has resisted learing to bunt. Now is NOT the time to develop new skills. Hopefully someone in the organinzation can get him to make this an off season priority. Agree that the second inning is not the time to have a power hitter bunting in a tie game. Joe Torre, and probably many others have said, you win a third of your games no matter what you do, you lose a third of your games no matter what you do, its what you do with the last third that makes a difference. We got one we didn't deserve on Wednesday and lost one we shouldn't have Thursday. I'm ready for the weekend! Go Rays!

[The Data]

Telling someone to bunt over Navy is hardly a no-brainer...ESPECIALLY in the top of the second inning.

A runner will score from second with nobody out around 64% of the time. A runner will score from third with one out 67% of the time. Hardly a dramatic gain, and by no means a 'no brainer'.

Especially when you consider it was only the second, and there was no guarantee that one run would have won the game (It wouldn't, and 2 wouldn't have gotten it done either). There is a cost involved in giving away outs. The numbers tell us that when a runner is on second with nobody out, the team usually scores 1.18 runs that inning, while when the team gets a runner on third with one out, the team usually scores 1.00 runs that inning.

In short there is a time and a place to play for one run. On the road, in a scoreless game in the top of the second inning, with a 4+ ERA pitcher taking the mound for your team is not that time.

[zeke]

first time entry but have viewed for long time. Figured I would throw some fuel on the fire. The Rays are basically a National League team playing in the AL. They lack power but have abundant speed. They have trouble scoring men in most situations. They have good starting pitchin and good representation in the bullpen. Their main problem has been on offense, defense is solid. Therefore, as some have mentioned, this team should sacrifice much more than they do and get runner is scoring position. A man on 2nd with nobody out and the other team has their best on the mound is a no-brainer; get him to 3rd with one out! I believe data will show that a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs will score the majority of the time, either on a ground ball or fly ball. I have seen this same incidence several times and this coach usually refrains from sacrificing. That could be because he knows his team and individual players abilities much more than us but tht is what the minors are for, to develop basic skills such as bunting. As I said, this team is more like a national league team than an american league team as most AL teams don't have the speed the Rays do.

[Scott G.]

I wouldn't have bunted with Heinske up in that situation that early in the game. I (like Madden did) would have taken my chances with him hitting a ground ball to the right side to advance Navi. Besides Heinske might have gotten a hit while trying to advance Navi and we would have been up 1-0 with no one out. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way as Feliz Hernandez made some great pitches to strike out Heinske.

The Rays will be fine in this series as they now have Seattle's ace out of the way.

[Ray F]

Complaining about losses is a direct effect of winning. I don't fault everyone for having their opinions.

Usually, it's the people that have been complaining about the same thing all season (ex. bunting) and during a loss if the coach would have done the one thing a certain blogger has complained about, the team may have won.

Armchair quarterbacks have careers that span decades. They will never go away. We're all guilty of looking at the TV and saying bunt, only to watch the guy ground into a double-play and then say- "Shoulda bunted."

[Re: Craig]

I agree. Why is everyone so negative? Did you not just survive through 10+ years of losing with this team? Why does one loss open the flood gates every time? The baseball season is really long... losses happen all the time.

[Baldelli]

Dave, you're an idiot. Go back to work.

[Craig]

Preach it, Harold. I agree with your comments - they are either fans of other teams, or just grumpy morons who are compelled to p!ss and moan. I doubt that many of these people have ever had a glove on.

Fact - the Rays have EXCEEDED all expectations this season. If they were to lose every game from here on out, I would still be at the Trop cheering for this team. But that's just the way true baseball fans roll.

You girls can go back to your whining now. I'll start:

BJ SUCKS

ALL OF THE PITCHERS SUCK

MADDON SUCKS

RAYMOND THE MASCOT SUCKS

MY LIFE SUCKS!!!

[Dave]

The 30 minute rule is convenient from a psychological perspective but still doesn't cover what I feel is managing the current situation. Hernandez is a tough pitcher and Yes I believe we should play small. I feel we wasted Sonnenstines effort by not moving guys up and I would have pinch hit for Floyd when we had 1st and 3rd and 1 out. Perfect time to do a squuze - Seattle had Putz on the mound who is slow and either Gross or Aybat could have layed down a sac. Wheeler's meatball in the 9th was simply a bad pitch and a great hit. Go Rays - get a win tonight.

[Harold]

Man
the negativity that comes out on these blogs is amazing. the crap that was on here BEFORE the start of wednesdays game, The Crap whenever we lose...
i bet if the Rays won every figgin game some of these donkeys would still find something to complain about. My guess is that these complainers read alot but never played. Anybody that ever played even at the little league level wouldnt talk so much trash about lineups and bunting everyday.
I love the line from Dom
Quote;You can't win games with more pitchers.

No further comment required.
OUT

[ljp]

gettint shut down by Felix Hernandez is nothing to be concerned about.

[Ray F]

I agree. Don't forget they played the day before and had to travel to the west coast to play. I was actually expecting a blow out. I think if we get 3/4 we'll be sitting pretty. The Sux play Chicago and the Stankees play the Angels so we have a good chance to be 5 1/2 games up by Monday.

I have to admit I saw the season sinking away when Longo was plunked.

[Mike S.]

I'm with JT on this one. When the Ray's win, everyone gets a pat on the back. When they lose, y'all wanna get rid of the coach. Man, ya should use Maddon's rule... ride the high for 30 minutes if they win, ride the low for 30 minutes on a loss... then MOVE ON.

[JT]

Wow. It amazes me how quickly people turn on the coach after ONE LOSS. The Rays have the third best record in baseball, and they are doing it with weak bats.

This team reminds me of the 91 Braves. They have 3 things that are primarily responsible for their winning: 1) pitching, 2) team chemistry, and 3) pure desire. Give Maddon a break. He's done a good job so far, and he's a lot better strategic manager than Bobby Cox.

[Scott]

We blew this game in the second inning when Navey led off with a double, if Maddon has any brains he would have told Heinske to bunt him over to third, Zobrist walks then Aki lifts a ball to left field we score a run. How hard is it for these guys to lay down a BUNT????? If I'm not mistaken, you couldn't get out of little league unless you were able to put down a bunt. Pathetic coaching, learn from the National League, bunt people over.

[Dom]

Gross helped to win the night before and he gets platooned. The outfield gets only 1 hit combined. Management better wake up! We need hits! You can't win games with more pitchers. Bring up Ruggiano and forget about Baldelli. This is really getting ridiculous.