Maddon Men (on the Brink): Rays-Phils Gamer VI

Right now, the Rays are feeling a lot like Pete Campbell right after Peggy Olsen dropped that bomb on him last night—coincidentally, that came at just about the same time that the Phils and Ryan Howard were pounding the boys from Tampa out of Game 5 of the Series. If the Rays don't turn things around and quick, they're gonna be gone like Duck, and there won't be any Draper-style surprise returns for them until next season. The bad news for Tampa is they face Cole Hamels, a stone-cold customer, who will be showing no sympathy. He goes against Scott Kazmir, who pulled a Rumsen in the ALCS but looked good last time out. Get your martini ready, it's a seller's market and this might be the end of the ride. Comment away.

Comments

[Nick-YF]

so you're saying I should I really start watching Mad Men.

[YF]

This is not how the Rays wanted to get this started. Real tight strike zone, a couple of walks, an hbp and then Victorino with a big hit to make it 2-0. A typical for Kaz, he throws too many pitches, and tries to strike his way out of it. Looked like he had, but didn't get the call and now he's down 2. Ouch.

[YF]

Oh, and yes, Nick, watch Mad Men!!!

[YF]

WTF?!? Pena tries to bunt for a hit and then slides into first, out. So many wrong things there i don't know where to count. But 2 is a good start.

Speaking of 2, Longeria the 2nd out on Hamels's 2nd pitch of the 2nd. WTF RAYS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[YF]

BB for Dioner. Progress!

[YF]

Baldelli pops to 2nd. Bah.

[SF]

You know, some of us use a Tivo/DVR and aren't caught up on Mad Men yet and don't visit YFSF TO GET THE SPOILED RESULTS OF TV SERIALS.

Thanks for that.

[YF]

Hamels a k for kaz, great, but never good when the pitcher leads off the 2nd.

[YF]

calm it down, nothing's spoiled. just a few hints.

rollins f9.

[YF]

Kaz out of the 2nd, no damage.

[YF]

Rays easy pickin's for Hamels in the 3rd. Back to you, Kaz.

[YF]

Ping pong. To the Rays.

[YF]

2b off the wall for pena. and that's why you don't bunt!

[YF]

longoria single through the left side plates pena. 2-1.

[SF]

Tim McCarver, describing that double by Carlos Pena over Werth's glove, forgets the concept of "perspective". The ball went over Werth's mitt, not next to it. Unless, of course, the camera is off to the side, in which case the ball LOOKS like it went to the side.

[SF]

That 1-0 pitch looked pretty good...

[SF]

That 3-0 pitch was WORSE than the 1-0 pitch.

[YF]

dp ends the fun. but it's a game.

[SF]

Eh, I just realized I can't watch this - I honestly don't give a shit what happens.

There's just not much compelling in watching the Rays play in the rain in miserable Philadelphia. I think I have a new episode of "Storm Chasers" on the DVR...there's much more exciting rain in that show than in this one.

Nighty night, YF!

[YF]

sf is back! huzzah. guess i won't drop anymore references to draper's secret past as a male prosti....never mind!

[YF]

And he's gone faster than a Rays rally! No love of the game, SF??? For SHAME. A baseball snob, you are. So wrong.

[YF]

Ruiz singles in front of Hamels. Here comes the bunt.

[YF]

AND HE TAKES IT OFF THE PITCHING HAND!!!! Wow! That could be the worst bunt attempt ever.

But he shakes it off, gets the 2nd attempt down, and is now on base with a FC.

Replays show the ball pegged Hamels right on the finger. Oh man, can't imagine that feels good. WOW.

[YF]

Phils have to be shitting bricks right now. It's raining, and their stud is out there on the pads so they can't even ice it down while the home team bats.

[SF]

Forget that, not watching Storm Chasers. Catching up on Mad Men, still five episodes back, Jimmy Barrett just told off Draper...

[YF]

Hamels running there. He's flexing his fingers constantly.

Not sure why they weren't checking him at the base. Make him dive back and jam that sucker into the bag, why not?

And Rollins is a bb, as Kaz does his usual hole-digging routine.

[YF]

Look, I'm all for Mad Men, but this is actually exciting right now.

[YF]

Neato. Ball fouled back and lodges right into the screen.

FOX has forgotten about Hamels!!! What's he doing with his hand?

Another full count, now to Werth, means runners will be in motion.

[YF]

Weth staying alive.

Hamels still flexing that hand. Will he be able to throw strikes?

Kaz on about his 2000th pitch, bbs Werth to load 'em.

[YF]

Kaz to Utley now, with the game on the line.

Utley waves at a slider low and away. 0-1.
low heat. 1-1.
long pause.
bounced slider. 2-1. that thing didn't reach the plate.
hanging slider for a ball inside. 3-1.
yikes. fastball count now. hitter's delight.
kaz gets the call on heat inside. 3-2.
start the carousel, here they come.....
utley out 4-3.
Kaz works out of it. Huge.

Now. CAN HAMELS THROW STRIKES WITH A SORE HAND.

[YF]

don't be shy, folks!!! join in the fun--it might be the last gamer for a long time!!!

[YF]

And Hamels back at it. To Baldelli.

ball 1
ball 2
hanger right down the middle, rocco pops it to short, and it gets blown out of rollins's glove for an e. real tough weather out there.

speed on first, barlett up.

[YF]

wicked slider gets to 0-2 on Bartlettt.

Great 443 dp from utley!!!!

[YF]

Phils giveth. Phils taketh away. Brilliant defense from Utley to tag rocco running and get bartlett at first.

[YF]

kaz ks. hamels looks good, but if he hangs one next inning to pena or longo he might not get a cheap pop.

[YF]

Kaz throwing strikes but gets nothing but balls, and walks 2 to leadoff the inning. he's gone. awful strike zone.

[Sam-YF]

Nice work there by Balfour to escape Kazmirs jam in the 5th...

[YF]

Indeed Sam. And after 3 hours they play baseball again. K for Iwamura on a ball??? What?

[YF]

Crawford a ground out.

[Sam-YF]

i hate when the ump becomes the story, he's been terrible.

[YF]

upton little hump back liner drops in front of rollins, who can't grip the ball to make a throw.

[YF]

Mud out there. Especially around 2nd. Big argument about tampa not running given the field, but why run now with pena up.

[YF]

What is Buck talking about? Suggests Maddon should have the game stopped because of the rain??? His team is losing and it's official!!!!!

[YF]

And Upton makes everyone look stupid, steals 2nd by A MILE.

[YF]

aside from the crappy umping, this is great, old-school baseball, in the rain.

[YF]

ring larner would have loved this game.

[YF]

Pena single to left! Upton comes home and it looks like he might be toast but he accelerates around third and beats the throw!!!! 2-2.

[Sam-YF]

Pena ties it!

Immediately after a dumb comment by McCarver where he says that the bats are wet but the ball isnt. Find that kinda hard to believe....

[YF]

Phenomenal play by Upton on the pads. He really picked it up, and a great slide around Ruiz to get in.

Passed ball and Pena to 2nd, but Longoria drills one to deep center, caught by Victorino,

Tied!

[YF]

I was tuning mcc. out for the wet ball/bat comment. what?!?

[YF]

RAIN DELAY. NOOOOOOO!!!!!

Bob Dupuy: the conditions have deteriorated. with a tie game, it was an obvious decision.

[Sam-YF]

He said there was an advantage to the pitcher since the bats are wet but the ball isnt. Go figure...

[YF]

"radar shows this rain going on well into the night" says dupuy, so we have a suspended game, and god only knows when it gets picked up.

baseball saw the chance to get out of this without philly winning by default on a shortened game, and they grabbed it as fast as they could.

rain also scheduled for tomorrow, so maybe this thing doesn't pick up till wednesday?!?

[YF]

"since the bats are wet but the ball isnt."

makes. no. sense.

okay, we can all watch jon stewart. this thing ain't happenin' again for at least an hour, and i'm guessing more than 24.

[Sam-YF]

Indeed YF. Pick this one tomorrow or Weds.
Bizarre, but thats why we love this game....

[YF]

The good news for the phils is that they could get an extra day or 2, and be able to run hamels back out there on 4 or 5 days rest if it goes 7.

[SoxFan]

If this rain keeps up for the next week or so, Bud Selig should just declare the World Series a tie and have co-champions in Tampa and Philly.

Bud likes ties. Remember the 2002 All-Star game.