St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter came into Wednesday with just two wins in 16 starts this season and had been victimized at times by poor bullpen support.
On one hand, with the short-handed pen in flux, one can understand why manager Tony La Russa left his starter in Wednesday night for a season-high 132 pitches in the complete game, 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
On the other hand, Carpenter is being ridden hard. The veteran right-hander has thrown over 120 pitches in each of last three starts. In his entire previous seven years with the Cardinals, he threw that many pitches in a game only four times.
132 pitches is Carpenter’s second-highest pitch count ever, with his career high of 134 achieved during his sophomore season of 1998. Carpenter was 23 years old at the time.
Now 36 years of age, Carpenter has never gone more than three full seasons as a major leaguer without suffering some type of injury. He remained off the disabled list for most of 2009 and all of 2010 when his 35 starts led Major League Baseball.
In his prior life with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1997 through 2002, a much younger Carp threw 120 or more pitches 14 times. With his now seven such starts with the Cardinals, his career total is 21 games of at least 120 pitches.
Interestingly, Wednesday night was the first of Carpenter’s five 125-plus pitch games in which he was the winner.
Thanks to researcher Tom Orf, here are Carpenter’s previous 20 starts in which he threw 120 or more pitches.
| Rk | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | Pit | Str | GSc | BF | AB |
| 1 | 6/2/1998 | TOR | BOS | L 3-11 | GS-8 ,L | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 134 | 79 | 39 | 33 | 31 |
| 3 | 8/16/1999 | TOR | SEA | L 5-7 | GS-7 ,L | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 131 | 70 | 40 | 34 | 24 |
| 4 | 7/13/2000 | TOR | PHI | L 5-8 | GS-8 ,L | 7 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 129 | 79 | 29 | 34 | 32 |
| 5 | 8/26/1998 | TOR | KCR | L 2-7 | GS-8 ,L | 8 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 126 | 85 | 46 | 34 | 34 |
| T6 | 6/23/2011 | STL | PHI | W 12-2 | GS-7 ,W | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 124 | 80 | 69 | 27 | 26 |
| T6 | 6/17/2011 | STL | KCR | L 4-5 | GS-8 ,L | 8 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 124 | 83 | 50 | 36 | 32 |
| T6 | 10/6/2001 | TOR | CLE | W 5-2 | GS-8 ,W | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 124 | 82 | 65 | 31 | 27 |
| 9 | 6/14/2000 | TOR | DET | W 8-1 | GS-8 ,W | 8 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 123 | 71 | 61 | 38 | 32 |
| T10 | 9/26/2006 | STL | SDP | L 5-7 | GS-7 ,L | 7 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 122 | 75 | 33 | 34 | 31 |
| T10 | 8/26/2004 | STL | CIN | L 0-1 | CG 8 ,L | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 122 | 80 | 82 | 28 | 27 |
| T10 | 6/9/2001 | TOR | FLA | L 1-6 | CG 9 ,L | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 122 | 73 | 50 | 42 | 33 |
| T10 | 5/6/2000 | TOR | CLE | L 6-8 | GS-8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 122 | 70 | 41 | 32 | 28 |
| T10 | 7/16/1998 | TOR | CHW | W 5-2 | GS-8 ,W | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 122 | 80 | 75 | 29 | 27 |
| T15 | 6/3/2000 | TOR | FLA | L 1-2 | GS-7 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 121 | 72 | 66 | 29 | 25 |
| T15 | 5/6/1999 | TOR | OAK | L 2-3 | CG 9 ,L | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 121 | 82 | 69 | 33 | 31 |
| T15 | 9/1/1998 | TOR | KCR | W 2-1 | GS-7 ,W | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 121 | 76 | 68 | 27 | 23 |
| T18 | 9/3/2005 | STL | HOU | W 4-2 | CG 9 ,W | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 120 | 78 | 69 | 36 | 33 |
| T18 | 6/24/2004 | STL | CHC | W 4-0 | GS-8 ,W | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 120 | 82 | 76 | 31 | 30 |
| T18 | 7/1/2001 | TOR | BOS | L 0-4 | GS-8 ,L | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 120 | 79 | 59 | 29 | 26 |
| T18 | 5/1/1999 | TOR | SEA | W 9-3 | GS-6 ,W | 5 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 120 | 71 | 38 | 29 | 24 |
Only time will tell how many more such outings Carpenter has remaining in his talented right arm. While the Cardinals hold an option on his services for 2012, the $15 million price tag may prove prohibitive.
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It does not make a lot of sense to ride Carpenter this hard. He may break down and will be needed later in the season.
One reason it is being done is because the team has been wasting roster spots on useless relievers, Franklin (finally now released) and Tallet. This has been lousy roster management by Mo and TLR.
Maybe now that Carpenter has a couple of wins in a row, he won’t feel compelled to do it all on his own. If the bullpen can get straightened out a bit, he might hand over the ball without a fistfight.
Valdes didn’t look so sharp his first time out, so I’m not sure that they will toss Tallet out yet.
Congratulations to Brandon Dickson, if he is the one to receive a promotion. Dickson has done it the old fashioned way, hard work. Its not easy to reach the majors after being passed over in the amateur draft, but Dickson has taken the ball for years and eaten minor league innings. He has earned a chance.
I have no problem whatsoever with what TLR did leaving CC in to finish the game. I’ll bet Carpenter himself has no problem with it, either. He was throwing well, and even better, it seemed, in the latter innings. What’s he got…one more start and then the AS break? He can rest up then.
While I love Tom Orf’s pencil-pushing, I wished he’d have inserted the complete numbers from last night’s game in the above table…just as a better side-by-side comparison all up and down the list. I’ve admitted a degree of naivete before, so here’s another one…what the smokes is a “GSc?”
Those 85 strikes in #5 ranked game is IMPRESSIVE! I wonder what the record for the most strikes thrown by one pitcher in a game is?
One last point for now…Westy, you made a comment a couple of nights ago, on a slick fielding play by Punto, that Schumaker would not have made that play. Well, I’ll counter that on that “shuffle” play Skip made to get the runner at first…Punto would not have made that play. And I like Punto…a lot! Furthermore, the “All-Knowing” ESPN made it their #1 Web Gem on Sports Center, or Baseball Tonight last night. Slick, huh?! Schumaker’s a pro!
If I heard right, I think of the 132 pitches he threw last night 90 were strikes. I will see if I can find that info.
Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In Play strikes: C Carpenter 24-15-22-30
WOW!!! That’s INCREDIBLE!! Thanks, Leebo…91 strikes in one game by one pitcher is nearly “other-worldly!” 91:41 strikes to balls ratio is hard to beat…and I doubt few in this “modern era” HAVE beat it.
I agree Mouse that Skip made a fine play there……………….. he got, and needed to put some velocity on that flip……….. he is well deserving of all our adoration and hat waving, sea of Red cheering…………..
I had thought to do a Pecos Bill style speculation on how Nick might have handled it……….but he was playing shortstop………….. which is fine with me …………………..
There are some interesting speculations/revelations about Franklin over at the Post………. the least not being that they still had an option on him ?????? There are strong undercurrents in this story…….but this is real time………and he is a nice guy……… so lets leave it………for a month or so.
Option? Are you kidding me? Frankie had too much pride to put himself on the DL, you think he is going to voluntarily accept a minor league assignment?
Until Albert’s return, the Cards will have to fight to stay in the race. They have to grab wins whereever any can be found.
The good news is they have taken care of business in Baltimore, which they had to do, because next stop is Tampa, where wins are harder.
One benefit to losing is it compels Mo and TLR to make roster adjustments. We shed Bautista and Franklin because we had to try to field a more competitive team.
I’m an old school fan, so I appreciate Carp’s work ethic. Pitch counts are for sissies.
Seriously, I was not worried about Carp. He may be a beast, but he isn’t stupid.
The team can stay in the race without Albert just fine if they play good fundamental baseball and the pitching holds up. The attitude that Albert is the savior of this team is getting old for me. Until a few weeks before his injury, Albert’s biggest accomplishment was breaking the record for GIDPs. Hero worship makes me nauseous.
Crdswmn-Bravo .Bravo.I must admit that i figured your anti-TLR bias would make you automatically condemn TLRs leaving Carp in to finish.I think you are right in saying Carp knows when is enough.
With the Cards, Carpenter has twice suffered season ending injuries owing to problems with his nervous system miscommunicating with muscles they control. He also had a shoulder operation in Toronto.
The first nervous system misfire was in Sept 2004 and did much to help the Red Sox sweep the Cards in the world series that year.
The second time the problem arose must have been in 2008 when they tried to accelerate his return from TJ surgery.
So even though Carpenter is a large man, he is also human and has frailties, including a chronic and unusual one in terms of signals to muscles. This one could be vulnerable to heavy workload.
Carpenter has to shoulder a big load already, no matter what. Its probably prudent that he not be pushed further than need be, because the team does not make timely improvements to the bullpen roster.
Wainwright is a big kid too. Best pitch a curve. This puts torque on fingers, unsurprising Wainwright suffered a finger injury one summer, knocking him out. Pitching puts stress on the body, no surprise too Adam is now out again.
Some like to hero worship Wainwright and Brendan Ryan, and disparage Pujols, and celebrate a serious injury to Buster Posey. I do not celebrate unnecessary injuries. I generally respect players, on any team. Pujols has had a great career and I would respect him in any uniform, even as I respect Brendan Ryan, now in another uniform and with more modest career attainments.
“Carpenter has to shoulder a big load already, no matter what. Its probably prudent that he not be pushed further than need be, because the team does not make timely improvements to the bullpen roster.”
Jumbo is wise ………………….. Carpenter’s seeming ” life or death ” struggle yesterday probably had more of a story than just a win or loss………… he wants to remain a Cardinal……….hang with his friends until retirement………… I might hazard a guess………….
Maybe Carp does want to stay in St. Louis but I doubt he wants to stay bad enough to risk injury to himself. If my memory serves me, in the offseason, Carp stated publicly that he would not veto a trade if the club thought it necessary to trade him. Doesn’t sound like desperation to me.
Thats simple………..pre-season…………..and 2-7 in July…………..now 3-7……… the man killed an elephant……pass the condiments and let him eat it…………
Be fair WC, that record is not all Carp’s fault. He had help from his teammates.
I just don’t see the sense in Carp risking injury to himself this late in his career when he is less likely to bounce back from it.
Neither do I……………………..he must be an emotional guy………………… all I’m saying CRD is…… its a game……. its played by men………….. its territorial…………..and its not just played on the field……
Chris goes into the break……crippled….. for what ever reason……….. he is going back into the pit with all the other carnivores………. TLR and associates are trying to make it difficult to mess with them….by those that might have other “criteria” for gauging success……………
Jumbo you crack me up.
I know I have gotten flack for supporting Brendan Ryan (though I would hardly call it hero worship), but supporting Wainwright is bad too? And when did I disparage Pujols?
I NEVER celebrated Buster Posey’s injury. I did, however, criticize his post injury behavior. And, if you really knew what you were talking about Jumbo, you would know that I went on a tirade after Albert’s injury about the a celebration of HIS injury by others.
If I disrespected players Jumbo why in heck would I write an article, to be published on the internet, asking fans not to disparage players and their families? Really Jumbo you make no sense sometimes.
SS Ryan Theriot
RF Jon Jay
LF Matt Holliday
DH Lance Berkman
3B David Freese
CF Colby Rasmus
C Yadier Molina
1B Tony Cruz
2B Skip Schumaker
Lets see if this one happens……….. Seems a stretch from here……. Molina is catching too many innings………….why not Punto at first….Cruz behind the plate? Or move Freese over and fill third?…………
I understand giving Berkman a rest from playing 1B. I guess Cruz is at 1B instead of Hamilton because the pitcher is a lefty. Dont’ want to overdo it with Punto coming back from a forearm injury. I don’t think TLR is ready for Cruz catching Garcia quite yet. Besides, Molina has been catching a lot less innings this season than last.
All in all not one of TLR’s crazier lineups imo.
It is creative. I am only interested in calling him out if he is being different for the sole purpose of putting his stamp on something for his own self satisfaction or whatever. But that is hard enough to determine isn’t it? I suspect it happens but as I have said I don’t know enough to call it. Crdswmn, you think he also gets a lot of flak just because he has a law degree and lawyers get a bad rap?
crdswmn – you might want to check the catching innings statement. Dont know how many he had at this time last year but he’s on pace for more than last year.
Hold the fort down for me. I will have to miss the first couple of innings because I have to be somewhere for a while.
Would your activity involve sticking pins in dolls of the orioles’ outfielders’ throwing arms?
Cruz has played 3b and caught, has he had much time at first? I guess players bring all equip with them (i.e. first base gloves)?
Nevermind. The color guys answered that for me
wow! Heckuva play by freese! That even made tony smile
Second time not as good
I’m back now.
Happy to see we are ahead already.
Defense has kinda been wow! Or woah!
Good of you not to mention Holliday has the long pants today.
I was going to say I was worried bc he got a hit and now we prob won’t see them for awhile
Bet Cruz is making Laird nervous.
Matusz has been throwing batting practice. Love it.
First place here we come.
Jaime needs a couple efficient innings.
Jaime is a guy that can’t seem to stand prosperity. Hope he regroups for the 5th.
So far, So bad.
Maybe just being a newbie.
Nice inning. Solid D really helps.
yikes
We will see the pen tonight. Curious who will have what role. Will we see a lefty?
Bring on the new guy.
This game is going into the toilet really fast.
I like the looks of Cruz at 1B. Seems to be a good all around ballplayer. Much handier than a standard issue backup catcher. He might hang around.
I think Dave Duncan needs to have a long talk with Jaime about pitching on the road. There must be an explanation for it.
I think he is alergic to chocolate and mint. It affects his throwing
The mint on his hotel room pillow
You think it is a case of bigheaditis?
He is hard to read, y no hablo español muy bien.
Good thing we kept adding on. Something we haven’t been doing so much.
Berkman, 20 homers before the break. Starting All-Star outfielder. Twilight zone.
I’m sure if you check the comments from last winter, I knew it all along.
Wonder if Bian has Lance on his fantasy team.
Heck, after watching him, I thought Lance was done as recently as spring training.
No, I do not own him on any of my fantasy teams but am doing fine anyway.
I saw something interesting on a Brewers blog earlier today. There was a conversation about why the Brewers are so good at home and so bad on the road. This is what one Brewer fan posted:
“The Yankees announcers insinuated that the Brewers steal signs at home
I wouldn’t think anything of it, except i saw a gif of Lucroy getting hit in the crotch with a pitch from a camera angle I’ve never seen before (out of right-center field).”
I am not the kind to accuse any team of less than honorable conduct, but it is food for thought.
Its only cheating if they get caught.
True.
if another team knew or suspected wouldn’t there be a way to test that or even exploit it?
Apparently the exploit is to show curve, then hurl fastballs at Lucroy’s junk.
Lmao
What a freaking joke. It takes one to know one.
Just recently, the Yankees’ video coordinator was suspended after he was outed by Keith Olbermann, who noticed him signaling opposing teams signs to Yankees on-deck hitters. Because he did this, Olbermann was fired by the Yanks from being their Oldtimers’ Day announcer.
Yeah, that went through my mind too. But then the Yankees have always been arrogant and shameless.
I wouldn’t have posted it if it had just been an accusation by the Yankees. I just thought it was interesting because a Brewer fan didn’t dismiss the idea outright.
I pointed this out in real time during a brewers game. Braun is a big user. The catch is, the runner on 2nd prematurely headed back to the bag, ahead of his stepping out…………. it was a deliberate action. I also pointed out that Molina didn’t redo the signs………the pitch was slider….for a double or a Hr…can’t recall………….. its standard practice for base runners to contribute……….. but when its done so obviously……..makes me think that was a decoy move, just to shield Braun asking for time from being to conspicuous ………….. it appeared to signal Braun that a sign had been given……….. not what the sign might have been necessarily …………. Braun stepped back and checked his bat grip in front of his face……….. he probably was looking beyond towards their dugout somewhere…………. they appear to be good at it.
I’m just placing this here for the record, to be reviewed at a later date. Volunteered information of this nature usually has a purpose…………. Brian, if you could shed any light on why he had an option left at this stage of his career, that would be great.
The Cardinals actually retained an option on Franklin that they could have exercised. However, Franklin indicated little appetite for going to the minor leagues to rediscover the form that had eluded him for three months.
“Ultimately it would have been take an assignment down to Memphis,” Mozeliak said. “That doesn’t address the part of him just wanting to get away and help himself. The only option we were left with was to release him.”
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_10a460ea-1865-57de-a7c5-c8a2e7ec85c4.html
I don’t see any purpose other than to explain facts.
Veterans having options remaining is very common. When players are added to the 40-man right when they are called up and never return to the minors, they don’t use any options. For example, Albert Pujols has all three option years remaining.
The rub is that after three years, the player must first clear waivers and after five seasons, the player can request free agency rather than accept being optioned out. Most of the time, they end up trying their luck elsewhere.
You can read more here.
In this particular case, Franklin would clear waivers because no other team would want to assume his salary commitment. He did not want to pitch in Memphis, but if the Cards wanted to play hardball, they could either force him to accept the assignment or he would have to declare free agency
and forego the remainder of his salary. Since they released him,the Cards ended up paying him anyway, but they also cleared a 40-man roster spot in the process. Kind of a parting gift and to avoid bad PR, I guess. Plus if Franklin didn’t want to be in Memphis, he likely wouldn’t be any good there, anyway.Thanks Brian……….thanks for finding a particular purpose…..also, your particular case paragraph is congested with assumptions…….. it will make a good model for discussion when its time comes.
You are welcome. I could have relieved some of the congestion with the use of ……..s
that would help……. they work especially well when used……….at the right……..place……..
Pujols still has 3 options remaining.
As was pointed out to me in an email, in the case if Franklin had been assigned to the minors, he would have been paid even if he declared free agency rather than report.
This move almost never happens Brian………. there are many surprising factors in this story…..that don’t make very good blog fodder………… the reason that the union has these protective rules……is to prevent abuse……………….. they could just put a player in low A on a bus, just to attempt and invalidate his contract should he not cooperate……….. they did not have options that would have resulted in an invalid contract, should he have chose not to go down………….. if he has tenure, all they can do is release him ………… thats why there is a two year limit I think, on using unrestricted options.
1. Theriot, SS
2. Jay, LF
3. Holliday, DH
4. Berkman, RF
5. Freese, 3B
6. Rasmus, CF
7. Molina, C
8. Hamilton, 1B
9. Schumaker, 2B
A comment about hero Lance’s legs patrolling the artificial surface seems appropriate………. Punto absent again…………. Skip could of……and should of started in RF….Punto at second…….. Berkman on the dirt……………………. This tells me Tony is managing AP even though he doesn’t appear to be involved………….. the other alternative……….he knows we aren’t going to win this game and will manage the BP appropriately …………. Molina in a slump ….marches on………..
I’d expect Lance to play deep and just keep everything in front. No diving.
That seems to be how Matt has been positioning as well in LF recently (not that it matters tonight).
Nice to see Hamilton take the field.
Holiday just seems to be trying to beat his scouting report…………. he commits early and trys to turn the low and away pitch……… if he just bent his knees……on the first pitch at least….probably changes allot of things………..
These guys are just staring out at Westbrooke……..I fail to see why he has to labor his pitch count. ……………..Keep it around the plate…..especially early in the count when they are swinging hard,,,,,
That new turf is pretty neat. It has ground rubber like soil between synthetic grass-like blades. It is a really fast surface and very soft/springy. It doesn’t catch cleats like old turf carpet. I playee rugby on aa field like that at k-state a few times. Balls have a natural bounce to them. It still cuts skin though
Damn rights……….. I played on the early astro turf……….burn your skin right off if you aren’t protected…. this field turf ifs much nicer….safer…. less burn to I think…the blades of artificial grass are much longer and the rubber pelts roll like bearings…….a little anyway……..
It would behoove us to rack up runs while we can, if recent performance of our starter conti ues. Westbrook looking pretty good. Hopefully the wheels stay on. He is taking your advice WC and throwing strikes
Perfect example………that runner isn’t moving if its not 3/2 …..he doesn’t end ip on 3rd……..
Westbrooke doesn’t need to alter his game…….have you seen one swing that didn’t find bat…….. force them to commit…………… he is just shortening his liability……guaranteeing a 5/6 inning appearance.
BB, the stirrups return!
Real ballplayers sporting pants bloused at the knee should never be asked to play indoor carpet ball. Repulsive.
Momentum starts to shift………… we are setting their starter up to go deep…… Jay tries to fly one……Holiday does bend his knees and catches a hanger………Berkman too aggressive with a runner in position………..when a single might do…….. Freese just missed it……..
Westbrooke finally breaks out another pitch…………. nice…………old change up……….
Hope they have strong coffee in the dugout with Westbrook pitching. Is he paid by the hour?
Can’t help but thing that Hamilton is getting his chance these days, and really isn’t impressing……..
He takes the same AB every time……….. try to crank……then back off and try to sneak one through the infield……………. wish life was that easy……… he just doesn’t look like a 1st base stick.
I think the socks look silly as they they are not stirrups. I have no problem with anyone who likes the socks but please quit calling them stirrups. I would love to see guys wear stirrups as that was what I wore back in the day.
Good point LB……….those things are like rugby socks………….. 77 through 4……… 51 by their guy..
It’s better than pants dragging. I think they are large/wide stirrups as sometimes I see the white at the bottom. Nothing wrong with rugby socks
Here is a photo of when some of the Rays were wearing Brendan Ryan-like 2-in-1 stirrup socks last season.
I forgot about that. Maybe they should still be wearing them.
If you are a Cardinal starter………..thats the type of crap you deal with……….. Jay can’t sacrifice? You should here their color man go off on him……. Matt first pitch………Tony was sacking Jay so that they would walk Holiday and pitch to Berkman………….. Holiday wants to hit the smash……..not the rbi single…. Rays are so sure Tony/Theriot is going to hit and run they cover it………….. they’re thinking..is TLR sleeping over there…………..
Westbrooke is doing a hell of a job……….but the BP is coming……….. these guys are all just out to lunch trying to pad their power number………….put Punto in……move skip out to right…..sit Jay down…..when every he isn’t pressing for playing time………he just stinks.
Jay liked that 3 run homer yesterday.
I did too
Colby is already Morphing back………… and it is obvious why RC………… he is late…never gets it there..let alone in time to make a swing plane adjustment………….. do you know what draws him back? I do…….with out a doubt……… and that is a two sided dialog………and this how he is requesting it.
Who was that wearing #28 that blasted that home run?
Go back and watch the replays of his AB’s…….. slow-mo……see why………
Jim hayes interviewing Colby, I’ll take it from the source WC
What did he say?
Said he was looking for a slider and it was over the plate. Jim asked him about power #s and he said he changed a few things with his swing trying to get his hands back working a rythm. Looking for base hits not necessarily hrs. Good thing I am used to the accent
Theriot looking to show surprising power…………… skip swinging away……… Hamilton……the big cuts…… this is all MM nonsense……….no roll players………and Westbrooke is going to get it handed to him eventually……………. the Yankees would have scored 15 off this guy by now………..
This is exaclty the type of game you hand to Lynn……..just give him the ball and tell him to finish it………..whats Tony going to do………..try to match up using the junk………..
Okay now this game is interesting.
Too much cowbell
Colby gets a little more push and drops the hands……….. a bit earlier….(not soon enough for me)..far enough to drop the hands ………..and kaboom…………
I missed all the excitement. A bunch of ejections? Whaaa?
4 Rays were ejected. Maddon, Howell, Price and Johnson.
Ricky H thought howell was just throwing a ball back he didn’t like and ump took it the wrong way. Hostile environ and he ppprob couldn’t hear the pitcher over all the cowbells :-/
Replay shows he didn’t check the ball, just slapped it back so nevermind
Has there ever been a game where enough field players were ejected that bp guys had to play positions or a team was left short-handed?
Lance Lynn caught the bullpen disease.
Its a tough game CRd…
Welcome to the Bigs LL………………. that double by Longoria was a good pitch and a nice swing…… Didn’t like the shake off off Molina and unloading your 96 mph fastball….that only goes 92 today… up and center cut………….. Salas?
Theriot scales back his awesome power and takes the lowly single…….what a prince. I wish MH would save us this bottom of th 9th with a hit……..
That was a good 2 strike adjustment by MH………..he tried to pick up that run……good play by the ss.
Law and order by Salas………… can’t be patient when he ripping the zone……….that was a good win….
Good mid game adjustments by Westbrook………. he stopped wasting his time and he got to that critical 7th inning…………. good win for him………..
http://news.yahoo.com/york-times-sells-half-red-sox-stake-204720806.html
This is one of the ways you handle the finances for a team……….. good old units…..
Pirates lost, Reds lost. Brewers losing but only 3rd inning.
Does anybody know if Oquendo sent Freese in the second on Yadi’s floater to center, or did he blow through the sign?
He’s not exactly fast, but he was pushing it rounding third. Like the play in Springfield when he blew it out.
Oquendo sent him.