tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415495389593184054.post6192613403044950640..comments2023-08-01T06:54:01.806-04:00Comments on Rays The Stakes: Defining MomentsDirtbagFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16627654731665164713noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415495389593184054.post-51422938015583013582009-05-27T23:38:42.830-04:002009-05-27T23:38:42.830-04:00now is the perfect time to panic. here's why:
yo...now is the perfect time to panic. here's why: <br /><br />your number two starter and your closer are on the DL--maybe because of injury but more likely because of total ineffectiveness. <br /><br />your leadoff hitter is, not to put too fine a point on it, hitting about as badly as any everyday player in the big leagues.<br /><br />everybody except for your left fielder, who bizarrely refuses to leadoff even though he's a one-man offensive Juggernaut, a couple of utility players, and your infielders, are having "disappointing" seasons so far. and your middle infield is injured. <br /><br />the other teams in your division did not suck last year, and are better this year.<br /><br />you cannot beat teams out of your division that do, in fact, suck.<br /><br />this team is, right now, mid nosedive. i hope they can pull up. i'm starting to have doubts.Dustin Fridkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13009605586630608005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415495389593184054.post-73008768894200418712009-05-27T12:08:05.231-04:002009-05-27T12:08:05.231-04:00Rev:
When exactly should we push the panic button ...Rev:<br />When exactly should we push the panic button if not now? August?DirtbagFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627654731665164713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415495389593184054.post-79574830526601110002009-05-27T10:59:02.198-04:002009-05-27T10:59:02.198-04:00The shake-up happened last week when Joe sent Perc...The shake-up happened last week when Joe sent Percy & Kaz packing. That and bringing up Price was supposed to be the shake-up for this lethargic team. The Rays can get back on track, their starting pitching is good enough to ensure that. If Price, Garza, and Big Game start getting you good starts, then this team can still be competitive.<br /><br />Have faith! It's not even the all-star break yet!Michael Weberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17244491667018071619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415495389593184054.post-77663760762256888322009-05-27T09:39:56.646-04:002009-05-27T09:39:56.646-04:00I think the change at the lead-off spot was coming...I think the change at the lead-off spot was coming, but Bartlett's injury put an end to that.<br /><br />Hopefully Burrell will be ready (soon)to hop in and be a spark plug...DirtbagFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627654731665164713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415495389593184054.post-65425671173417985262009-05-26T22:50:58.197-04:002009-05-26T22:50:58.197-04:00i totally agree. this year's devil rays squad is ...i totally agree. this year's devil rays squad is making last year's rays look like they caught lightning in a bottle. but they didn't. they were, and are, a good team. they're simply under-performing, and last night (to say nothing of freaking tonight) is a great example. they just can't hit on all cylinders. sometimes the offense is hot. sometimes it isn't. sometimes starting pitching is lights out; sometimes the bullpen is on. rarely is everything good in the same game. this team reminds me of the 2005 devil rays. some days, they beat the red sox. other days, they look as bad as or worse than the worst teams in the league. having seen this team live up to its potential last year, it's hard to watch.<br /><br />i am loath to get too down on maddon, but i have to say this again. it is someone's responsibility to make sure this young team performs the way it should. that someone is papa joe. if this team continues to fail--arg! it's so irritating that they can't win even as jason bartlett has an unbelievably hot start to the season, zorilla kills the ball, gross is hitting, and longoria continues to be a freaking beast--and the blame has to fall, ultimately, on the recently-extended skipper. joe maddon, it might be about time for a sweet lou-style meltdown. let's call guys out, bench some "stars," and shake things up. the time to get serious about this was a month ago, but, having tried to wait it out, there's no shame in starting right freaking now. let's see some legit concern, some action, some sense that the rays are as concerned as rays fans about the direction this team is headed!Dustin Fridkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13009605586630608005noreply@blogger.com