Texas vs Tampa Bay - ALDS IST

[Frayed Knot]

An In-Series Thread for the two team who start things off tomorrow at 1:30 EDT

And you know you're listening to ESPN radio when the update guy says that the 'Major League Baseball 2010 Tournament' starts tomorrow. Almost surprised that he didn't say that baseball is finally down to the Elite Eight or who the head coaches had named as starters.

Full Sked - all games on TBS:
Wed - @ TB - 1:37 PM
Thur - @ TB - 2:37 PM
Sat - @ Tex - 5:07 PM
* Sun - @ Tex - TBA
* Tues - @ TB - TBA

Game 1 = Cliff Lee vs David Price

- Tampa won 4 of the 6 games this season
- Evan Longoria has been cleared to play after missing much of the final week with a strained quad.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule.

[HahnSolo]

Think I read that the Rays beat Lee three times this year.*

(*very strong chance that this is inaccurate)

[Gwreck]

True. 2 of those starts (1 with Seattle, 1 with Texas) were losses that Lee probably deserved to lose. The third was an early season game when Lee was in Seattle. He pitched a complete game but lost 2-1.

[metirish]

Girardi's devious plan to avoid Lee is coming together, manager of the year surely.

[G-Fafif]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule.

Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg.

[ashie62]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule.

This could be the best series.

[MFS62]

G-Fafif wrote: Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg.

One day, a feisty senior citizen is going to kick your ass for that kind of age joke.
I wouldn't be me because I was laughing too hard.

Later

[ashie62]

G-Fafif wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg.

Turning off the air conditioning may help also.

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. One day, a feisty senior citizen is going to kick your ass for that kind of age joke. I wouldn't be me because I was laughing too hard. Later

Is it safe to assume that once one stops laughing at jokes like this you become the butt of them?

[MFS62]

Ceetar wrote: MFS62 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. One day, a feisty senior citizen is going to kick your ass for that kind of age joke. I wouldn't be me because I was laughing too hard. Later Is it safe to assume that once one stops laughing at jokes like this you become the butt of them?

At work I already am the butt of them.
But that one was really funny.
So I'll leave kicking his ass to someone else.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

G-Fafif wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg.

I'm trying not to laugh, because laughing might worsen any one of the several commuting-related injuries I've accrued over the last several months.

Ashie62 wrote: This could be the best series.

I don't dispute that. But it's got more gay dames than an Indigo Girls-headlined DIY Fair.

[TransMonk]

I vowed to myself on Sunday afternoon that I would only passively pay attention to the playoffs this October because I don't care about any of these teams.

But, here I am at 1:37 EST with Yahoo!'s Game Channel up on my computer at work. I can't help it. I love baseball.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ha. Frenchy's starting.

[ashie62]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And congrats to the Rays and Rangers for nabbing the not-so-coveted Tony LaRussa Honorary "Nobody Wants to See That Crap" Division Series schedule. Market those first two games as Early Bird Specials and they'll have no problem drawing a crowd in St. Petersburg. I'm trying not to laugh, because laughing might worsen any one of the several commuting-related injuries I've accrued over the last several months. Ashie62 wrote: This could be the best series. I don't dispute that. But it's got more gay dames than an Indigo Girls-headlined DIY Fair.

True, but it allows me to slack further at work, if that is even possible.

[Gwreck]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ha. Frenchy's starting.

Has the first RBI of the 2010 postseason too. Geez.

[TransMonk]

Hey, I'm pulling for him. I hope he doubles every time up.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Gwreck wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ha. Frenchy's starting. Has the first RBI of the 2010 postseason too. Geez.

First pitch.

Nahon!

[Frayed Knot]

Nine hits combined thru two innings off the aces.
Lee has escaped in part thanks to getting 5 of his 6 outs via Ks - two of them w/bases loaded in the 1st
2-0 Texas on rib-eyes by in-season acquisitions Francoeur and B. Molina

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Tampa's Finest are posting a most Metsian 1-for-6 (with that one hit being a non-run-scoring infield single) with RISP through 2 innings.

[HahnSolo]

Frayed Knot wrote: 2-0 Texas on rib-eyes by in-season acquisitions Francoeur and B. Molina

"Told ya so!"

Signed, NY mainstream sports media

[Frayed Knot]

Nelson Cruz says, "let's make that 3-0"

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Young, Hamilton, the reanimated bones of Vlad, Nelson Cruz (grr), Kinsler... I'd forgotten what a rich, creamy center that Rangers lineup has. Cantu's batting eighth.

[Frayed Knot]

MLB (I assume it was them who ordered this) has changed the ground rules in Tampa's dome for the post-season.
The catwalk 'rings' above the playing field used to be in play as long as they were hit in fair territory (dead ball if hit in foul). But now everything is a dead ball no matter which ring is hit or where it's hit.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frayed Knot wrote: MLB (I assume it was them who ordered this) has changed the ground rules in Tampa's dome for the post-season. The catwalk 'rings' above the playing field used to be in play as long as they were hit in fair territory (dead ball if hit in foul). But now everything is a dead ball no matter which ring is hit or where it's hit.

Double, right?

[Frayed Knot]

No, [u:1ws7th7b]everything[/u:1ws7th7b] is now a dead ball if it hits any part of any catwalk.
Prior to that the ruling varied depending on which ring was hit and where.


HR Molina
4-0 Texas

[Frayed Knot]

Odd game so far: 13 hits (9 for Tex) with 16 Ks (8 each) thru just 5-1/2

Key is just one hit off Lee since he gave up singles to the 1st, 3rd & 4th hitters he faced - but then got out of it with 2 consecutive Ks.


5-0 stRangers

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It's a veritable ex-Met jamboree here in the 8th, with O'Day handing off to (LOOGY? Really?) Darren Oliver, in front of an outfield including Frenchy and Nelson Cruz, as Alex Cora looks on... from his recliner.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ninth inning getting interesting, with two walks to start... then less interesting, with a lineout and two Ks. (Although the Rays do have some useful bench/bullpen toys.)

1-nuttin', Norrises.

[metirish]

Rays' Baldelli out of Rangers series with fatigue.......he has some sort of syndrome or malady right?