Thursday, May 28, 2009

Rays/Twins Preview & Isringhausen is a BUM!!

The Tampa Bay Rays come home after being on the road the last 7 days, but things really got bad after being swept in Cleveland in a 4 game series that finished up with a 2-1 loss today. But that doesn't tell the half of it. The Rays were 7-3 coming into the series against Cleveland and were starting to resemble the 2008 AL Champions that they were. But management is a reason why this season has probably turned to the dark side for this up and coming Rays team. Huh?? What?? Oooohhh - Why is the question? Three words...JASON DERIK ISRINGHAUSEN!!! Any team with this guy on their roster - THEIR ACTIVE ROSTER NO LESS - is a team of destiny - destined for the cellar!! Isringhausen is well known in Cardinal Country. He is known for a couple things in St. Louis. He is known for helping the Cardinals win the World Series in 2006 - he got injured in mid-late August and that allowed Adam Wainwright to take over the closers role...which in turn meant that Izzy couldn't pitch...and ironically the Cards were able to finish off games in the 9th and the rest is history. The other thing Izzy is known for is helping the Cardinals set a Major League Baseball Record for blown saves in a season. So I am really trying to understand this.

Why?

Why would management go out and sign a 36 year old bum that couldn't pitch a 1-2-3 inning against a bunch of high schoolers. I understand if you are a....wait a minute...no I don't!!! There is no reason for this guy to be pitching in the majors or the minors anymore. Izzy helped the Rays blow a 10-0 lead on Monday in Cleveland. But truth be told - Izzy had a pretty good stat line by his standards...0.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 BB, 0 K - 23 pitches and 9 for strikes...ARE YOU SURE!!!! He needs to be arrested for impersonating a Major League Pitcher.

And I'm serious - it is those kind of losses that will stick with your team for a month or 2 - look - it is already happening. They went on to lose the remaining 3 games of the series against the lowly Indians.

Now the Rays need to regroup and will look to do so starting Friday night in Tampa against the Minnesota Twins and MVP candidates Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. The Rays are 11-10 at home, while the Twins have been dreadful on the road, 5-14. Pitching Probables

Scott Baker will be on the mound in the opener for the Twins against James Shields.

Saturday's game will be a matchup of future southpaw aces Francisco Liriano going against Rays phenom David Price.

Sunday's Matinee will be Nick Blackburn for the Twins against the Rays Matt Garza.
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