Joel Peralta

Born on this date, Joel Peralta.

"I got to the team (Rays) in 2011 and we lose our first six games. On the plane to Chicago, Joe (Maddon) starts passing around shots of liquor, then gets up in the front, takes the microphone and says, 'Here's a toast to the best 0-6 team in the history of baseball.' I knew then that I was in a different place."

Davey Johnson

 

Born on this date, Davey Johnson.

"I thought he was a weird wuss anyway......I'm not going to get into a shouting match with him." - on Joe Maddon after a pine tar dispute involving Rays pitchers

Joe Maddon

On this date in 2005, Joe Maddon is named the manager of the Rays.

"I love you!' - to umpire Ted Barrett who told him he would eject him if he said one more word during an argument

(Ejection followed)

Joe Maddon

On this date in 2008, Joe Maddon of the Rays is named the AL Manager of the Year.

"Regardless of what they say, that rule is not in the book where you can change a double to a foul ball, as far as I know. That is baseball anarchy when you're making stuff up on the field just like that." - arguing a call overturned by the umpires

Joe Maddon

On this date in 1999, Joe Maddon takes over as the manager of the Angels from fired Terry Collins.

"Frustrating is a great word for today. It happens, and you've got to move it along and get ready for the next day. Nothing you can do about today except put your favorite collegiate jersey on and get on the airplane. It's a long ride. The card game will be festive. We've got two really good bottles of wine for the trip also." - (2013)

Do you know anybody that doesn't love Joe Maddon?

You know that soft-serve ice cream machine in the clubhouse?

It can do swirls now!

"I think the bunt is an overrated play"

You could double his salary and it wouldn't be enough.

Davey Johnson

Born on today's date, Davey Johnson.

"I thought he was a weird wuss anyway......I'm not going to get into a shouting match with him." - on Joe Maddon after a pine tar dispute involving Tampa pitchers

Joe Maddon

On this date in 2005, Joe Maddon is named the manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"I'm not really a conventional 'wisdomist'".

"Why the hell not?!"

"Let's do it!"

Overhead every game in the Rays dugout.

Hey, do they have a starting pitcher on the playoff roster who hasn't made his major league debut yet? Can't baby 'em you know.

(more) Profound clubhouse thoughts

"They just beat us tonight."

3 out of 5 stars on the "cliche-meter": For those who missed the game entirely. Also effective as a "what more do you want me to say, now go away" quote. Every manager needs this one when there are just too many questions and he needs to get to the post-game spread.

Fast forward to tomorrow

Diggin' the Rapture.....very much!*

*I know I am going to make sure to take one last glorious look at my collection before I go to bed tonight. But that's just me.

"But we're in New York"

"We're also close to the theater district and more power to them."

Rays manager Joe Maddon on a disputed hit-by-pitch call where a ball skipped past batter Jorge Posada's shin and he instantly headed to first base.

Carl Crawford was hit by a pitch yesterday against the Blue Jays

Anybody surprised?*

Crawford did not charge the mound and took his base. Rays manager, Joe Maddon did not order retaliation and the game went on.

Problem solved. Successful conflict resolution.

Professional diplomats got nuthin' on ballplayers.

*See yesterday's post.

The Blue Jays take issue with Carl Crawford

There is an article in the Toronto Star today by Morgan Campbell which is titled "Running Rays diss Blue Jays" with a sub-headline of "Tampa speedster's steal of second in blowout a sign of disrespect, but Gaston will let it go".

All of this concerns Carl Crawford's steal of second base last night in the eighth inning with the Rays up by five runs. The article describes this steal by Crawford as "disrespectful" because presumably the game was so lopsided and out of reach for the Blue Jays that a steal attempt by the Rays was unnecessary.

"I just let it go," Cito Gaston said, pausing a moment before elaborating. "(Rays manager Joe Maddon) runs his team the way he wants to. I run mine the way I want to. Just as simple as that."

To begin with, I like Cito Gaston. He generally uses a set lineup. Usually his best guys are on the field and he doesn't tinker nor try and make himself bigger than the game or the team.*

That said, I think the Blue Jays are a bit off base here. Is a five run lead that insurmountable anymore at any point in the game?

Did the Blue Jays pull their position player starters by this time in the game? No.

Did the Blue Jays have a position player pitching which is a classic and even comical sign of surrender? No.

Were the Blue Jay pitchers throwing everything down the middle at that point just to speed the game to it's conclusion so to end the massacre? No.

Do the paying fans deserve and expect a competitive game for all nine innings in a game that is not all that lopsided? Yes.

In this offensive era of baseball, a five run lead in the eighth inning is still a contestable game and I think the Blue Jays need to be ready to contest any type of play out there.

I know as a fan, if my team was down like this, I would not think it was over. Things sure would not be looking good of course, but it is not over. It just isn't.

Sorry Cito!

*We have the direct opposite type of manager in Detroit unfortunately.

Why ya wanna look like someone else?

In an effort to keep his team loose, Rays manager, Joe Madden has dyed his hair from white to black.

Per AP: "I felt we were way too uptight around here. More than anything, we have not been really relishing in victory and I think we've been like too painful in defeat. We've just got to go out there and play. Understand, it's a game. We got to the World Series last year by being kind of free-spirited about the whole thing. The black hair is symbolic of all those different items."

In theory, I have no problem with this. Whatever it takes.*

In practice in this instance, I don't know why anybody would want to do anything to make themselves look like Tom Arnold.

Just sayin.

*He should just let it grow out instead of dying it back later or washing it out. That "half and half" look, while trashy, is gonna look really cool.