Posts tagged ScottKazmir at FanHouse

Even though a lot of people would agree that the Tampa Bay Rays are very good, there have still been a lot of doubters out there who don't think they'll be able to hold off the Boston Red Sox all season. Those doubters have gotten a lot louder in the last few days with things starting to fall apart in Tampa.

First the Rays were dealt the blow that they'd likely be without Carl Crawford for six to eight weeks (also called the season), and things didn't get much better yesterday afternoon. That's when the team found out they were going to be without probable Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria for a while as well, as Longoria was placed on the disabled list with a fractured wrist.

That's 30 home runs and 128 RBI that has vanished from their lineup -- not the kind of production you can just replace easily. Their four-game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East seems a lot smaller this morning.

People were already wondering how the young Rays would deal with a pennant race late in the season without having any real experience, and now the pressure is going intensify that much more. The Rays play 26 of their final 45 games away from Tropicana Field (including the last eight games of the season). They're 45-17 at home, and also have six more games against the Red Sox . Boston on the other hand gets to play 25 of their final 43 games at home where they're 40-16.

For the first few months of the season, the Tampa Bay Rays were the darlings of baseball. While most people thought the Rays would be a vastly improved team this season, nobody was expecting the quick turnaround they've undertaken to get to the top of the AL East.

Still in the last few weeks, a lot of the hype surrounding the Rays seems to have died down. Even though they're still leading the AL East, the Manny Ramirez situation in Boston and the moves the Yankees made combined with the lack of moves in Tampa have once again knocked them off the front page. That doesn't mean Tampa is going to lose it's grip on the division, and thanks to some research done by Mark Simon of ESPN Research (which may or may not have included reading this post at OMDQ back in February), there are some signs that the Rays may end up winning the World Series this season. It turns out there are a lot of similarities between this Rays team and the 1969 Mets.

From Buster Olney's blog:

How are the 2008 Rays similar to the 1969 Mets?

On the 1969 Mets, the ace starter was 24-year-old Tom Seaver
On the 2008 Rays, the ace starter is 24-year-old Scott Kazmir
The 1969 Mets had a 61-101 record 2 years prior to winning the World Series (1967)
The 2008 Rays had a 61-101 record 2 years ago (2006)

Joe Maddon is not known for his fiery managerial style. That's a good thing. Typically, managers think they all have to be Lou Piniella to "motivate" and "focus" their millionaire players, which rarely seems like it actually works. (Even when it does "work," it's usually coincidence.)

Still, Maddon barked at his team for a while the other night (HT: Walkoff Walk), one of those in-house chats that leak out and get called "fiery." Scott Kazmir believes it "really needed to be said," though what needed to be said is still up in the air. Joe, can you clarify?

"I think it had to be said,'' Maddon explained. "I've done it on an individual basis, and I still believe that's the right way to do it. But at some point it had to be done within the group, because you can lose a pennant by one game, and I've been there. Every game matters, every game counts, every play counts. The assumptionists of the world, I would like to eradicate. I want to eradicate assumptionism.''

Wha? The Rays have been something of a revolution in the AL East this year -- no longer will the tyranny of large payrolls stamp its boot on the neck of the weak -- so I suppose it makes sense that Joe Maddon is talking like a slightly insane revolutionary. "Eradicate assumptionism?" I don't even know what it means, but you usually don't hear language like that unless it's followed by the sound of machine guns firing into the sky. Down with the assumptionist menace!

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Remember not too long ago when Pedro Martinez was the most dominant pitcher in baseball? His rise started way back in 1997, in his last season in Montreal, but where he really took off was in Beantown.

The seven seasons Pedro spent pitching for the Red Sox in Boston were pretty amazing. He went 117-37 while there, and aside from his 3.90 ERA in 2004, he never had an ERA over 2.89. Think about that for a second, and while you're doing that make sure you remind yourself that Pedro only missed a significant amount of time once in his time in Boston, making only 18 starts in 2001 (and going 7-3 with a 2.39 ERA in those starts).

How many other pitchers have been dominant over that length of time? Bob Gibson from 1963-70? Sandy Koufax? Sandy had some good seasons while with the Dodgers, but I would only say he dominated in his final four years there.

No, Pedro was the greatest pitcher I've ever seen, and I say was because the Pedro we've seen pitching for the Mets the last few seasons is not the Pedro I remember.

Will he be able to rekindle the spark tonight?

Spot Jobs gambles by picking five spot starters for the week and five usual starters to avoid. The success rate is usually around 50%, but the risk level is always through the roof. Obviously, though, you always start Brandon Webb (when healthy) and sit Dave Bush.

Five Down

Randy Johnson, DBacks, @ Boston -- As I assumed would happen when he was going well, he's in the middle of a free-fall. He's done. I wouldn't start him again the rest of the season anyway, but getting the Red Sox in Fenway is a rough task for anyone. Do not let him destroy your ERA and WHIP just for a few Ks.

Roy Oswalt, Astros, vs. Rangers -- I don't trust him anymore, and the Rangers lead the majors in runs scored. He's already disappeared from "must-start" territory, so why would you let him go against a team that mashes like Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Milton Bradley, and company?

Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox, @ Houston -- That last debacle of a start was enough to scare me temporarily, and the Astros definitely have the potential to take advantage of mistakes in that park. I like him for one sit and then he's back to a must-start.

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Los Angeles Angels (42-29) vs. New York Mets (34-35) - 10:05PM Est.

Now that Willie Randolph has finally be freed by the evil, classless, New York Mets, his replacement Jerry Manuel gets his first shot at pissing off Mets fans everywhere tonight. Will Jerry make it through 7AM Wednesday morning, or will he be dispatched in the middle of the night?

I mean, the Mets actually won last night, and they still fired Willie in the middle of the night. What would have happened had they lost? Would he have been publicly flogged in Times Square?

Besides, is Jerry Manuel really going to be any better? I had the "honor" of watching him manage my White Sox for five years, and although he won the manager of the year award in 2000, the rest of his tenure was basically known for being extremely boring. Though, maybe that's what Omar Minaya wants.

One of my favorite things to do on YouTube is search for incredibly lame commercials from other local markets that star famous athletes. Whether it's Joel Zumaya shilling for Comcast Cable, or every athlete in Washington trying to sell you a car, I find them all entertaining.

So when I saw this commercial of Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir coming to the aid of two Rays fans (the Rays have fans! Who knew!?) having trouble with their grill, there was just no way I couldn't share it with you. There's no need to thank me, I do it because I love you.

(Via Big League Stew)

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Los Angeles Angels (40-26) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (38-27) - 3:35PM Est.

Looking around today's schedule there just isn't a better matchup than the one in Los Angeles this afternoon, whether you're looking at it based on the strength of the two teams playing, or at the starting pitching matchups. The Angels and Rays will finish their three-game set in Anaheim with the rubber game this afternoon.

Neither of today's starters were available to their team to start the season, but ever since John Lackey and Scott Kazmir have rejoined their teams rotations they've both been the dominant aces their squads need to contend.

Today they square off against each other for the first time.

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Bad news for Boston fans Monday night. The Red Sox will place designated hitter David Ortiz on the disabled list after an MRI revealed the slugger had a torn tendon sheath in his extensor carpi ulnaris -- a muscle in the wrist. Ortiz is certain to miss at least a few weeks, though the Boston Herald has reported that he will miss at least a month and could face season-ending surgery.

Manager Terry Francona did not indicate the injury was quite that serious, though he will confer with Ortiz, GM Theo Epstein and the team's medical staff tomorrow in Boston.

Big Papi struggled in April, but he was his usual slugging self in May putting up a line of .318/.409/.617 (AVG/OBP/SLG) over the last month. No team in baseball is prepared to replace that kind of production, but the Red Sox are deeper than any other organization in the game and are prepared to make do while Ortiz gets healthy. Francona said after the game that reserve first baseman Sean Casey would likely see additional time while Ortiz is sidelined, but the most likely lineup Francona will put out there will probably feature Manny Ramirez at DH and Jacoby Ellsbury, Brandon Moss and maybe even Bobby Kielty or Kevin Youkilis splitting time in left field.

When asked about seeing more time as a designated hitter, Ramirez said "I love it. I love to DH," though he then went on to joke that if he played there too much it might hurt his chances at getting the Gold Glove he so covets. "It's nice to give him a blow and still keep his bat in the game," said Francona of playing Ramirez at DH.

If the Red Sox were merely losing Ortiz for a few weeks, there wouldn't be much to worry about, but Big Papi's injury is just at the top of a long list of concerns for the reigning champs.

Boston will miss Ortiz, but they'll do a very good job of filling the void in the short-term

Spot Jobs takes a look at fantasy baseball gambling via sitting a usual starting pitcher for the week and/or starting a usually unused starting pitcher.

Five Up

Ted Lilly -- He's struggled on several different occasions this season, including his last start against what was left of the Rockies' lineup. Still, the wind was screaming out and only one HR appeared it would have left without said wind. Now he gets the Padres in San Diego. Last time he faced them he picked up a win while striking out 11. Now they are in spacious Petco. He's an absolute must-start.

Glen Perkins and Boof Bonser -- No AL squad has scored less runs than the O's. Perkins was dealing until the hiccup at Yankee Stadium last Friday, so you can expect a bounce-back this Wednesday. For Boof, it's a huge gamble because he's been awful. I've just got a hunch he'll make good on his chance this week.

Jered Weaver -- He's struggled to fulfill his promise since a stellar rookie campaign. He's also only 4-6 for the first place Halos. This week, though, he visits the anemic Mariners offense in Safeco. I like him to deal and pick up a win.

Johnny Cueto -- Coming off a good outing, he figures to have success in punching out some Marlins Friday.