I.S.T. - Rays & Rangers -- ALDS 2011

[Frayed Knot]

Rays make the surprising move (partly due to their desperate run at the end) to go with promising rookie Matt Moore in game 1.
The 22 y/o lefty made his ML debut just two weeks ago and has appeared in 3 ML games to with 1 start and a total of 9.1 innings under his big league belt.

C. J. Wilson [16-7; 2.94; 1.187 in 34 starts] goes for the Rangers
The soon-to-be 31 y/o LHP is now 31-15 since being moved from the pen at the beginning of last year (a cautionary tale about pigeon-holing guys into roles too early) and started 4 games [1-2; 3.70] in last year's post-season alone.

5:07 EDT first pitch

[Benjamin Grimm]

Is Wilson the guy who tweeted about Jose Reyes?

And is he also a free agent to be?

[Frayed Knot]

Yes, I think so.
No, not until after 2012 anyway.

[G-Fafif]

Calling the game on ESPN Radio...Gary Cohen!

[Gwreck]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Is Wilson the guy who tweeted about Jose Reyes? And is he also a free agent to be?

Yes and Yes.

Wilson is the best available free-agent pitcher on the market this offseason. (Unless Sabathia opts out of his Yankees contract and becomes a FA).

[Frayed Knot]

Gwreck wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Is Wilson the guy who tweeted about Jose Reyes? And is he also a free agent to be? Yes and Yes. Wilson is the best available free-agent pitcher on the market this offseason. (Unless Sabathia opts out of his Yankees contract and becomes a FA).

Yeah I guess he is.
The list I looked at which showed him as a FA in 2012 but they meant that as free at the end of the 2011 season

Meanwhile, it's 8-0 Tampa mostly on the strength of HRs by Damon (2R), Shoppach (2R), and Shoppach (3R)
Wilson got tagged for all 8 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings while the rookie is tossing a 2-hit shutout.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

G-Fafif wrote: Calling the game on ESPN Radio...Gary Cohen!

Lest you get too excited, he's calling the game with Aaron Bleepin' Boone, who spent a good two minutes of gametime opining that the Rangers' pitching stockpile is a direct result of "Nolan Ryan's emphasis on pitching." (NOTE: Not a single pitcher on the postseason roster-- nor in the high minors, in any sort of vaguely "major-league ready" state-- was drafted and/or signed as an amateur while Nolan Ryan has been principal managing partner OR team president.)

[G-Fafif]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Calling the game on ESPN Radio...Gary Cohen! Lest you get too excited, he's calling the game with Aaron Bleepin' Boone, who spent a good two minutes of gametime opining that the Rangers' pitching stockpile is a direct result of "Nolan Ryan's emphasis on pitching." (NOTE: Not a single pitcher on the postseason roster-- nor in the high minors, in any sort of vaguely "major-league ready" state-- was drafted and/or signed as an amateur while Nolan Ryan has been principal managing partner OR team president.)

Too late. I've been excited for several innings (cue FMan).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wilson can bite my big yellow heiney.

I hope he tweets about how professionally he'll absorb this humiliating beatdown.

[G-Fafif]

OMG, I practically Metgasmed listening to the postgame highlights: "OUTTA HERE!"

Deepest rarely spoken desire: Gary gets a Vin Scully deal down the road and simulcasts TV and radio for decades to come. Howie can join him for some of it. Keith can join him for some of it. I don't care who joins him. Gary on radio is the only thing better than Gary on TV.

Not counting pizza.

[Fman99]

G-Fafif wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Calling the game on ESPN Radio...Gary Cohen! Lest you get too excited, he's calling the game with Aaron Bleepin' Boone, who spent a good two minutes of gametime opining that the Rangers' pitching stockpile is a direct result of "Nolan Ryan's emphasis on pitching." (NOTE: Not a single pitcher on the postseason roster-- nor in the high minors, in any sort of vaguely "major-league ready" state-- was drafted and/or signed as an amateur while Nolan Ryan has been principal managing partner OR team president.) Too late. I've been excited for several innings (cue FMan).

Priapism, see your doctor! The guy in the Cialis fuck-tub warned me about that.

[Fman99]

G-Fafif wrote: OMG, I practically Metgasmed listening to the postgame highlights: "OUTTA HERE!" Deepest rarely spoken desire: Gary gets a Vin Scully deal down the road and simulcasts TV and radio for decades to come. Howie can join him for some of it. Keith can join him for some of it. I don't care who joins him. Gary on radio is the only thing better than Gary on TV. Not counting pizza.

Holy shit, this is how we get Wayne Hagin deported to Albania or some other godless place where he can't hurt me anymore. I love it.

[metirish]

Jesus Christ, Moore looks like he just turned 15 and a rough cloth is all he needs to "Shave".

[MFS62]

Maybe the WFAN-atics were right, and the Mets should have traded for Kelly Shoppach.

Fman, you are destined to a life of torture. You aren't getting rid of Wayne Hagin that easily.

Later

[smg58]

Shoppach's batting average has been abysmal the past few seasons. He could not have afforded losing home runs to CitiField.

So how was Moore allowed to pitch? There's supposed to be a rule about needing to be on the roster before September 1, but there's always a loophole when you want one.

That being said, Maddon deserves credit for bucking the conventional "wisdom" that says you need experience in a spot like that.

[Gwreck]

I think the rule is that you can replace an injured player (who was on your roster on August 31) with another player from within your Major/minor league organization, provided that player was in your organization by August 31.

Moore also started partially because Rays starter Jeff Niemann is hurt.

[metirish]

Tampa leading 3-0 mid 4th......TBS with the mandatory shots of Nolan Ryan every time something goes awry for Texas.

[metirish]

A great at bat by Napoli as he drives in two and the game is tied at three...a HBP with the bases loaded brought in the first un.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'm not sure, but I think Derek Holland is the guy who stole my Bad Company jean jacket and some smokes from my locker in 1981-- I just can't prove it.

[Ceetar]

4-2 Rangers mostly from pulling Price if I understand Twitter correctly. (Hey, I'm on vacation, who's following now-Mets junior circuit that closely?)

Listened to Gary Cohen for a bit. Was nice to hear him still/again. (That amateur b-ball thing he does doesn't count) Now that I'm back in my hotel I may mute TBS and put the radio on anyway.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Price DID give up the lead (on a two-out, two-run BOMB to Mike Napoli).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm in Indy now watching at a bar but found Gary on my drive over. Place is packed for Colts game, slutty Coors Light girls with giveaways. Gonna order some wings. I'm very easily amused.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm in Indy now watching at a bar but found Gary on my drive over. Place is packed for Colts game, slutty Coors Light girls with giveaways. Gonna order some wings. I'm very easily amused.

Wings and Breasts are enough to get me to watch football when I'm killing time.

(Still wouldn't order the Coors though)

[Ceetar]

No AM radio in my hotel room. I'd stream on my phone but I'm using it's 3G for internet for the laptop.

Feliz in. two on, two out for the Rays down by 1.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Coors Lite girls disappeared after pregame, Jager Girls getting ready now. I would never order a Coors Lite, having Bells 2Hearted Ale now. Wow

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rangers win on nice 543 DP

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Coors Lite girls disappeared after pregame, Jager Girls getting ready now. I would never order a Coors Lite, having Bells 2Hearted Ale now. Wow

Jealous. no Bells in NY (or CA I don't think..)



My 12.5% Germanness supports Jager (and Jager girls) though.

[G-Fafif]

Third HR of the day for Beltre. Rangers up 4-2. Gary gave only two of them OUTTA HERE as one was too no doubt about it to resort to catchphrases (true sign of a pro, not forcing it).

[TransMonk]

Tropicana Field is even ugly on MLB Gameday.

[metirish]

Who's doing the game with Gary?