ALDS Best of 5 GDT: Game 1 Bosox @ Rays 8:07 EST

[connorp]

What a stupid ballpark.

 

On the flip side, pop ups become interesting when you aren’t rooting for either team

[HealthDream007]

On the flip side, pop ups become interesting when you aren’t rooting for either team

 

True, but I think that novelty would wear off. Plus I wouldn't want this in a playoff game.

[Abomination]

I'd take the difficulties with the popups any day over cheap Yankee short porch home runs.

[connorp]

Jays would’ve represented so much better than Sox

[Ray]

f*** the Trop, but it is absolutely mind boggling how good this Rays team is on a

 

-checks notes-

 

$70M payroll.

 

Just unbelievably, disgustingly good. I hate em’, but I gotta respect them.

[Brownie19]

Mr. October is back. HR and he steals home? f***ing insane!

[Laika]

f*** the Trop, but it is absolutely mind boggling how good this Rays team is on a

 

-checks notes-

 

$70M payroll.

 

Just unbelievably, disgustingly good. I hate em’, but I gotta respect them.

 

How can anyone NOT love and respect the Rays?

 

Succeed on a peanuts payroll

Always innovating

Very fun team, packed with talent

Bringing baseball back to Montreal

[glory]

Honestly, if the Rays were in a better market that had more (or any) fans, I might hate them less. Maybe. But combine all the crap together (horrible stadium, no fans, makes the game slower/more boring to the point where MLB has to change rules, no interest nationally, beat the Jays regularly, etc, etc), and there is not a single thing that is likable there. Every other market (except Oakland and Miami probably) would be packing the stadium to watch a team like that. Build a 100 win team in Toronto, and you'd have to push people away from the stadium on a random Tuesday evening.

 

With that said, if they start to develop more exciting talent (Franco, Arozarena, Baz, etc), then that would be better than the generic platoons, openers, and all that other stuff.

[Brownie19]

Honestly, if the Rays were in a better market that had more (or any) fans, I might hate them less. Maybe. But combine all the crap together (horrible stadium, no fans, makes the game slower/more boring to the point where MLB has to change rules, no interest nationally, beat the Jays regularly, etc, etc), and there is not a single thing that is likable there. Every other market (except Oakland and Miami probably) would be packing the stadium to watch a team like that. Build a 100 win team in Toronto, and you'd have to push people away from the stadium on a random Tuesday evening.

 

With that said, if they start to develop more exciting talent (Franco, Arozarena, Baz, etc), then that would be better than the generic platoons, openers, and all that other stuff.

 

It's really too bad Pittsburgh can't replicate what TB does. They can't afford a big payroll, but that city has a rich baseball history, and INCREDIBLE stadium and supportive fans (I think). If they could do what TB does, they might be one of the most likeable franchises in baseball.

[Spanky99]

It's really too bad Pittsburgh can't replicate what TB does. They can't afford a big payroll, but that city has a rich baseball history, and INCREDIBLE stadium and supportive fans (I think). If they could do what TB does, they might be one of the most likeable franchises in baseball.

 

I for one am hoping for this with the revamped FO the Pirates have put together. Cherington's got this, I hope.

[Spanky99]

How can anyone NOT love and respect the Rays?

 

Succeed on a peanuts payroll

Always innovating

Very fun team, packed with talent

Bringing baseball back to Montreal

 

I don't love em, but I respect em.

[glory]

It's really too bad Pittsburgh can't replicate what TB does. They can't afford a big payroll, but that city has a rich baseball history, and INCREDIBLE stadium and supportive fans (I think). If they could do what TB does, they might be one of the most likeable franchises in baseball.

 

Agreed. The Rays roster on the Pirates with that stadium/fanbase would be incredible.

 

Tampa is just the wrong market. If Montreal truly embraces baseball again when they do that 50/50 split, then that might be enough for me to stop hating the Rays too. I think for me it's the stadium and lack of fanbase. They don't deserve a team that good. All the other stuff sucks too, but I'd probably overlook that if it was a baseball hotbed.

[intentional wok]

The Sox trying to play math nerd shiftball against the Rays and then getting home stolen on them might be my favourite thing of the year.

[Brownie19]

The Sox trying to play math nerd shiftball against the Rays and then getting home stolen on them might be my favourite thing of the year.

 

I saw some others complaining about this too (probably Goose and Eck). I mean, it was an incredible and risky move by Randy and it worked out....but he didn't walk home - everything worked out perfectly for him (and credit to him for getting to where he needed to be and timing it perfectly with the double toe tap the pitcher does). But if he's thrown out at home with runners on 2nd and 3rd - that's a pretty bad move.

 

If Devers holds him on and Lowe shoots one through SS (where Devers was) to score two runs, then people would be like "why the f*** are you holding him on and giving up defensive positioning just to prevent him from stealing home, which is super risky and a low percentage play anyway"?

 

The risk only became worth the reward once Lowe got 2 strikes against him. I don't think that's a situation where you harp on the 'analytics ruining baseball'.

[Spanky99]

I saw some others complaining about this too (probably Goose and Eck). I mean, it was an incredible and risky move by Randy and it worked out....but he didn't walk home - everything worked out perfectly for him (and credit to him for getting to where he needed to be and timing it perfectly with the double toe tap the pitcher does). But if he's thrown out at home with runners on 2nd and 3rd - that's a pretty bad move.

 

If Devers holds him on and Lowe shoots one through SS (where Devers was) to score two runs, then people would be like "why the f*** are you holding him on and giving up defensive positioning just to prevent him from stealing home, which is super risky and a low percentage play anyway"?

 

The risk only became worth the reward once Lowe got 2 strikes against him. I don't think that's a situation where you harp on the 'analytics ruining baseball'.

 

Mr. October 2.0 definitely timed that up for 2 strikes, smart play and executed perfectly. And you're correct, there's always two angles to look at from that play. Was an insane baseball play, don't agree with IW.

[intentional wok]

I have no idea what you guys are clacking your nerd goggles together about.

[Spanky99]

I have no idea what you guys are clacking your nerd goggles together about.

 

lol

[Omar]

I saw some others complaining about this too (probably Goose and Eck). I mean, it was an incredible and risky move by Randy and it worked out....but he didn't walk home - everything worked out perfectly for him (and credit to him for getting to where he needed to be and timing it perfectly with the double toe tap the pitcher does). But if he's thrown out at home with runners on 2nd and 3rd - that's a pretty bad move.

 

If Devers holds him on and Lowe shoots one through SS (where Devers was) to score two runs, then people would be like "why the f*** are you holding him on and giving up defensive positioning just to prevent him from stealing home, which is super risky and a low percentage play anyway"?

 

The risk only became worth the reward once Lowe got 2 strikes against him. I don't think that's a situation where you harp on the 'analytics ruining baseball'.

 

I think Cash gave him the green light based on the score and where they were in the game. The player, the score, the shift, the pitcher....everything aligned. Doubt we'll see that again.

[Stangstag]

How can anyone NOT love and respect the Rays?

 

Succeed on a peanuts payroll

Always innovating

Very fun team, packed with talent

Bringing baseball back to Montreal

 

Because they lack star power/franchise players?

 

I mean yeah right now they have Franco, but they likely trade him in a few years.

 

- Traded Snell

- Traded Archer (good trade but still)

- Traded Longo

 

The only guy they’ve really held onto is... Keirmaeir, and he’s far from being a “star”

[Stangstag]

Lowe is a great player, hope they hold onto him. I liked the trade for Cruz

[Brownie19]

Because they lack star power/franchise players?

 

I mean yeah right now they have Franco, but they likely trade him in a few years.

 

- Traded Snell

- Traded Archer (good trade but still)

- Traded Longo

 

The only guy they’ve really held onto is... Keirmaeir, and he’s far from being a “star”

 

I mean....they traded Archer and Longo at the most opportune time and Snell isn't a star. He's a guy who had 1 good year. We traded Stro in a similar fashion.

[TheHurl]

Agreed. The Rays roster on the Pirates with that stadium/fanbase would be incredible.

 

Tampa is just the wrong market. If Montreal truly embraces baseball again when they do that 50/50 split, then that might be enough for me to stop hating the Rays too. I think for me it's the stadium and lack of fanbase. They don't deserve a team that good. All the other stuff sucks too, but I'd probably overlook that if it was a baseball hotbed.

 

I do believe that Tampa deserves a chance to have the team in Tampa before we say it's the wrong market. The situation they have is complete s***. The fanbase is growing, their TV ratings 5 year increase is bigger than every team in baseball. It is kind of like Toronto putting a really s***** stadium in Brampton (35 minute drive in zero traffic, as much as 2 hours in rush hour). No one from Tampa would go to St. Pete's for any other reason (and most are afraid of the crime there). People can talk about the front office ruining baseball by skimping on player spending. I would be happy with them continuing their business as usual, but just pay the lease penalties (about $3M a year for many years) and build their own stadium.

[glory]

I do believe that Tampa deserves a chance to have the team in Tampa before we say it's the wrong market. The situation they have is complete s***. The fanbase is growing, their TV ratings 5 year increase is bigger than every team in baseball. It is kind of like Toronto putting a really s***** stadium in Brampton (35 minute drive in zero traffic, as much as 2 hours in rush hour). No one from Tampa would go to St. Pete's for any other reason (and most are afraid of the crime there). People can talk about the front office ruining baseball by skimping on player spending. I would be happy with them continuing their business as usual, but just pay the lease penalties (about $3M a year for many years) and build their own stadium.

 

The Jays in Brampton would probably still get 50k if they were a 100 win team. At the least they certainly wouldn’t have a shitload of empty seats for a home playoff game like Tampa did last night.

[Stangstag]

I mean....they traded Archer and Longo at the most opportune time and Snell isn't a star. He's a guy who had 1 good year. We traded Stro in a similar fashion.

 

Difference is we traded Stro during a rebuild phase, Tampa trades good/star players while they’re competitive.

[Stangstag]

I do believe that Tampa deserves a chance to have the team in Tampa before we say it's the wrong market. The situation they have is complete s***. The fanbase is growing, their TV ratings 5 year increase is bigger than every team in baseball. It is kind of like Toronto putting a really s***** stadium in Brampton (35 minute drive in zero traffic, as much as 2 hours in rush hour). No one from Tampa would go to St. Pete's for any other reason (and most are afraid of the crime there). People can talk about the front office ruining baseball by skimping on player spending. I would be happy with them continuing their business as usual, but just pay the lease penalties (about $3M a year for many years) and build their own stadium.

 

I don’t think they deserve anything. Look at the Marlins and their attendance. Better location won’t fix the attendance problem. Its a convenient excuse Tampa fans like to use.

 

I hope they get a new stadium though. The quicker they get a new stadium, the quicker they’ll realize attendance is still a problem and the team will get relocated.

[Stangstag]

The Jays in Brampton would probably still get 50k if they were a 100 win team. At the least they certainly wouldn’t have a shitload of empty seats for a home playoff game like Tampa did last night.

 

So true. You’d have less “banker bro” types at the games but you’d get all the locals from Mississauga/Brampton and probably more regulars from places like Oakville, Barrie, Burlington, Hamilton, etc.

[glory]

I don’t think they deserve anything. Look at the Marlins and their attendance. Better location won’t fix the attendance problem. Its a convenient excuse Tampa fans like to use.

 

I hope they get a new stadium though. The quicker they get a new stadium, the quicker they’ll realize attendance is still a problem and the team will get relocated.

 

I don't know if Montreal is the solution, but I really hope whenever they start the 50/50 split that Montreal sells out every game. It will be easy to contrast rowdy and younger Canadian fans showing up to games versus a bunch of senior citizens in St. Pete sitting on their hands while the stadium has to give away free tickets just to get 10k into that shithole. The Tampa owner seems to want to get out as well, so hopefully it happens sooner than later.

[Spanky99]

[Spanky99]

This game definitely not going the way I thought it would.

[Spanky99]

lol... Luplow with a huge slam!