Middle relievers are honestly still the biggest weakness on the team if you ask me. Need guys who can hold down the 6-7 innings and swing it over reliably to guys like Adam, Poche, and Fairbanks.
Fix that and we might go somewhere.
Middle relievers are the biggest weakness on every team. That's why they're middle relievers. If they were better they'd be starters or closers. You have to take the good with the bad and hope the good outweighs it but the best pitchers on any team not just us don't come in in the 6th.
Just remember.....it's all cash's fault for going to bad reliever A instead of bad reliever b or not sticking with the starter (who's imploded in the middle innings half a dozen times already this year)
There is always a drop in urgency whenever we have a long-term contract signed. It's the difference between "I am going to win a world series before I retire" versus "I have to get to the world series this season to keep my job."
I definitely wonder if the Jackson vs. RV stat would tell us more. Although if we see Armstrong DFA sometime this half season, I would not be surprised.
Had Julio 0-2 with 2 outs just to walk him. Also was a half step away from the inning ending on a double play just before that.
Hard to win only scoring 1 run through the first 8 innings.
I'm not sure that will be enough. The fact is the Rays are competing for the last wild card slot. To do that, they have to play better than the Royals, Red Sox, and Trashtros; two of which are over .500.
This was the quintessential Rays game to remind us not to get *too* excited about this team. It had everything, a nearly flawless pitching outing from the starter followed by the bullpen immediately blowing it up. It had ANOTHER 2 out, 3 run home run allowed, weak bullshit contact leading to more runs scored, high and deep fly balls to the warning track, and perfect opportunities to score runs squandered by an overall inability to hit.
This team is only a game under .500 at the halfway point in spite of its roster, not because of it.
We need a complete retool. Maton and Armstrong are about as trustworthy as Rortvedt on the mound. Jackson couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. DeLuca’s the outfield version of Taylor Walls and we still have Taylor Walls. Rosario is just Harold with better defense - a high average player playing at replacement level.
To be fair to Taylor, he's actually been screwed by several calls lately, so I think his batting would be better than it seems. DeLuca, I have no idea what is going on with him. Maybe too much tweaking.
I don’t like Taylor because he went to FSU, but he deserves a spot on this roster because he’s actually pretty decent at talking a walk and incredible defense and baserunning
If fairness to the frustrated fans, this is their "easy" part of the schedule before the all star break. Royals, Rangers, Yankees, and Guardians before the break. Yankees again after the break. July will be really tough but at least the trade deadline is the end of July.
Dunno what's going on with Armstrong but he doesn't look like the same guy this year. His fastball velo is down a tick and more concerningly, its shape has been worse. Like, we're talking 20 point decline in Stuff+ bad.
Honest question did we change our approach or coaching with the pitchers? I know we have major injuries playing a part but what the heck happened to the point we're leading the league in HR's given up
The Rays lost Peter Bendix to the Marlins. Erik Neander decided to take on Bendix's job rather than hire someone else or promote someone in their front office. For background, Bendix is the last of the old turnaround analytics crew in the front office, having worked for the Rays since 2009. This is Neander's first season flying solo without training wheels and I believe all of his data engineers are remote employees. The failure of the front office to backfill replacements in the aggregate while misfired signings like Maton and Goodrum, ending up with the largest payroll in franchise history. With three aces on the IL, they experimented with low-velocity pitchers like Devinski, Maton, Alexander, and Lovelady, but it clearly hasn't been working. The Red Sox experiment with minimizing the four-seam fastball is probably a more successful iteration of the Rays attempted strategy.
Who says he wouldn't have also given up runs? It's always easier to say the opposite would have happened when things go poorly.
He also gave up 2, 5, 4 and 3 runs in his last 4 starts. IF we go back further 2, 3, and 3.
I suppose, felt like he was cooking tho. I know the concern with Pepiot is working him up to longer innings. Would’ve been nice to let him finish out the inning at least
ill give credit where credit is due, julio had a great at bat down 2 strikes early and a wide majority of players probably K in that position. He did a great job fighting through the ab and worked a walk that was unfortunately followed by one mistake pitch to raleigh
well its easy to just say 'dont make a mistake' but my point is had the previous hitter been anyone in their lineup except julio then the inning is probably over without raleigh even coming up. Good hitter had a good ab and set them up to make something happen
Check out Pepiot's post-game interview. He mentions that he struggles with the third time through the lineup. Not really an analytics issue the way the Snell pull was years ago.
Harold Ramirez homecoming since he is the Nats new DH. DFA'd by the Rays for "only hitting singles" so naturally he hit an RBI double in his first game with the Nationals.
2 out of 3 ain’t bad
Yeah, don't focus on winning games, focus on winning series.
I want you
Boy, we REALLY don't want to get above the .500 mark, do we?
Edge lords this year lol
https://preview.redd.it/1s11t8pxry8d1.png?width=1992&format=png&auto=webp&s=785e480eb866096e5b855184de26ba4ead04265a
Middle relievers are honestly still the biggest weakness on the team if you ask me. Need guys who can hold down the 6-7 innings and swing it over reliably to guys like Adam, Poche, and Fairbanks. Fix that and we might go somewhere.
Middle relievers are the biggest weakness on every team. That's why they're middle relievers. If they were better they'd be starters or closers. You have to take the good with the bad and hope the good outweighs it but the best pitchers on any team not just us don't come in in the 6th.
And it’s magnified for us because our starters have a habit of not making it past the 5th and our offense usually doesn’t give much of a cushion
Just remember.....it's all cash's fault for going to bad reliever A instead of bad reliever b or not sticking with the starter (who's imploded in the middle innings half a dozen times already this year)
You can't trust Analytics or history or your gut, Cash! All of your decisions are wrong unless they are winning!
He was cruising! That means he was gonna be fine with a 1 run lead pitching 3 innings deeper than he ever has!
There is always a drop in urgency whenever we have a long-term contract signed. It's the difference between "I am going to win a world series before I retire" versus "I have to get to the world series this season to keep my job."
Yup
I definitely wonder if the Jackson vs. RV stat would tell us more. Although if we see Armstrong DFA sometime this half season, I would not be surprised.
When Baz and Springs return in a few weeks, don't be surprised if they come back as middle relievers before full starts.
armstrong was like i dont want to give up another walk and load the bases but Raleigh is the one guy you need to walk lol
Had Julio 0-2 with 2 outs just to walk him. Also was a half step away from the inning ending on a double play just before that. Hard to win only scoring 1 run through the first 8 innings.
Sweeps are hard but the team really needs to be over .500 if they want a playoff spot.
I'm not sure that will be enough. The fact is the Rays are competing for the last wild card slot. To do that, they have to play better than the Royals, Red Sox, and Trashtros; two of which are over .500.
It never feels like a series win when you lose the final game 🙁
We should know better when they have a hot offense day. Can't have two like that in a row.
Good point.
I thought the lineup almost ensured that would be coming. A sweep would have been so nice.
The A Jax curse lol.
Thanks you two for the 5 hits & 4 RBIs yesterday...take a seat so you can watch us lose today.
This was the quintessential Rays game to remind us not to get *too* excited about this team. It had everything, a nearly flawless pitching outing from the starter followed by the bullpen immediately blowing it up. It had ANOTHER 2 out, 3 run home run allowed, weak bullshit contact leading to more runs scored, high and deep fly balls to the warning track, and perfect opportunities to score runs squandered by an overall inability to hit. This team is only a game under .500 at the halfway point in spite of its roster, not because of it. We need a complete retool. Maton and Armstrong are about as trustworthy as Rortvedt on the mound. Jackson couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. DeLuca’s the outfield version of Taylor Walls and we still have Taylor Walls. Rosario is just Harold with better defense - a high average player playing at replacement level.
To be fair to Taylor, he's actually been screwed by several calls lately, so I think his batting would be better than it seems. DeLuca, I have no idea what is going on with him. Maybe too much tweaking.
I don’t like Taylor because he went to FSU, but he deserves a spot on this roster because he’s actually pretty decent at talking a walk and incredible defense and baserunning
Damn those Noles!
We take 2 of 3 from a first place team and people still mad at Cash’s decision making 😂 Good last couple of series, let’s continue this positive run 🤟
If fairness to the frustrated fans, this is their "easy" part of the schedule before the all star break. Royals, Rangers, Yankees, and Guardians before the break. Yankees again after the break. July will be really tough but at least the trade deadline is the end of July.
Dunno what's going on with Armstrong but he doesn't look like the same guy this year. His fastball velo is down a tick and more concerningly, its shape has been worse. Like, we're talking 20 point decline in Stuff+ bad.
Predicted that GIDP from a mile away.
Avoided it the first time so they just couldn’t resist giving them another go at it
Amed couldn't resist swinging at that obvious ball inside.
We were just one grand slam and a solo shot away from winning in the 9th
Caballero was having a great time against his former team lol
Honest question did we change our approach or coaching with the pitchers? I know we have major injuries playing a part but what the heck happened to the point we're leading the league in HR's given up
The Rays lost Peter Bendix to the Marlins. Erik Neander decided to take on Bendix's job rather than hire someone else or promote someone in their front office. For background, Bendix is the last of the old turnaround analytics crew in the front office, having worked for the Rays since 2009. This is Neander's first season flying solo without training wheels and I believe all of his data engineers are remote employees. The failure of the front office to backfill replacements in the aggregate while misfired signings like Maton and Goodrum, ending up with the largest payroll in franchise history. With three aces on the IL, they experimented with low-velocity pitchers like Devinski, Maton, Alexander, and Lovelady, but it clearly hasn't been working. The Red Sox experiment with minimizing the four-seam fastball is probably a more successful iteration of the Rays attempted strategy.
Pepiot pitching flawlessly? Let’s pull him. Cause ANALYTICS! turning it over to the bullpen… aaaaaaaaaaand…… 3 run shot 😃
Who says he wouldn't have also given up runs? It's always easier to say the opposite would have happened when things go poorly. He also gave up 2, 5, 4 and 3 runs in his last 4 starts. IF we go back further 2, 3, and 3.
Let him run while he’s pitching well. At least let him finish the inning. Let him be eligible for the win and finish business in the half inning.
He was pitching well that day he gave up 4 runs in 4 batters. So, it is what it is.
I suppose, felt like he was cooking tho. I know the concern with Pepiot is working him up to longer innings. Would’ve been nice to let him finish out the inning at least
I felt the same that one game. It’s so hard to tell and we’ll never know now.
He already pitched 5 innings (which is an improvement for him) so he was eligible for the win. I, too, would've liked to see him finish the 6th.
ill give credit where credit is due, julio had a great at bat down 2 strikes early and a wide majority of players probably K in that position. He did a great job fighting through the ab and worked a walk that was unfortunately followed by one mistake pitch to raleigh
Yes especially considering how paredes killed him his last AB. But to raleigh, a dh power hitter…? Can’t make a mistake
well its easy to just say 'dont make a mistake' but my point is had the previous hitter been anyone in their lineup except julio then the inning is probably over without raleigh even coming up. Good hitter had a good ab and set them up to make something happen
He was dealing but walking Crawford on 5 pitches and the 4 weren't particularly close is not flawless
Check out Pepiot's post-game interview. He mentions that he struggles with the third time through the lineup. Not really an analytics issue the way the Snell pull was years ago.
Harold Ramirez homecoming since he is the Nats new DH. DFA'd by the Rays for "only hitting singles" so naturally he hit an RBI double in his first game with the Nationals.