Honestly, let’s be real here for a minute. Does anyone remember the last time the Rays tried to take an extra base off of Hunter Renthrow?
Fairly certain this was just cosmic interference to prevent the Rays from further humiliation from their own outfielder throwing them out again from the Charles River.
Yeah… it’s a crummy rule. But have you read the baseball rule book? One of the best things about baseball is that every single day something seems to happen that has happened maybe once or twice ever and sometimes never before. Can’t count the number of baseball people that were like “wtf baseball” when this is as clearly written out in the rule book as any rule.
But I don’t feel bad at all because I have watched the Rays play baseball in the Trop for my entire life. That house of horrors is a daily newsletter of “why is there a metal beam there?” The literal color of the ceiling just shouldn’t even be a thing not to mention it’s existence in Tampa Bay. This poor team has to play there and maybe Montreal just doesn’t let them leave because people want baseball there and they clearly don’t in Tampa.
I’m rambling because I’m awake in the middle of the night because of my kids and I can’t sleep because thinking about this game. I haven’t written lately due to things being crazy with work for me but when I continue perseverating on a game I have to just write so I can go back to sleep.
The other reason I feel no remorse for that bounce is because, and I may be the only one who feels this way, the Red Sox and Rays have played the most lopsidedly unlucky vs lucky games I have ever seen. Rays get dinky dunk hits like I’ve never seen before. The Sox hit rockets and the Rays end up with the ball in their glove and runs on the board. It’s nauseating. Eventually baseball evens things out. Sometimes in small ways. Sometimes in big ways. I’ll take app the Trop and lucky Rays karma I can get.
Goodness what a game.
Seeing Pivetta run off that mound after striking out the last batter in 3 straight innings is something that I’ll remember forever. That dude was electric. He was the dude last night. Up until Vázquez was the dude.
I admittedly have grown tired of Vaz being in this lineup this year. I have high regard for catchers and their influence on the game is undeniably one of the most important and not rewarded there is. As much as I wanted him to make better tags and hit better during the Sox malaise this summer, he just shows up when it matters the most. Just big time at bats. Knows when to hunt a fastball. Redsoxstats had been begging for innings for someone to get an early fastball. Vaz did not miss and he put that ball and everyone else on the dang moon.
Let’s not forget Kikè doing crazy things. That guy is built for October too. Watching him on the Dodgers show up in October was one of the most exciting parts of his game. Watching him in October added to my confusions as to how was he not an every day player.
Marathon Monday and the Sox are playing at home. I am excited.
Postscript. I love Schwarber.