well, a very up and down night from the Devil Rays. We got to see our first taste of Edwin Jackson and there was very good and very bad. The walkathon in the early innings was painful to listen to that's for sure, but the 11 straight retired definitely showed his potential. Is he another Kazmir? Who knows? Kazmir certainly had his share of bad starts and he's still not perfection, but he's getting there.
Was it a good idea to bring him up? I'm sure lots of people will debate it. I don't see a huge problem with it, especially since Jackson knew going in that it was just for one start. I think it was good to give him a taste of the big leagues. I think, or I hope, Jackson walked away thinking, I need to improve and I can make it up here as well.
Definitely the Wiggington home run made me sit straight up in bed, very exciting to have a 3 run game tying home run, but the bottom of the ninth was the usual. I can see Orvella giving up a lead off single, but the call on Perez being off the bag and therefore the winning run safely to second place is just so typical of the Rays.
Typical of the fact that the Rays never get the calls, never. The umpires must have it in there head, that because this is the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays they can be pushed around. Remember the first player to get punished for steriods last year? That play in the bottom of the ninth was a "neighborhood" play. This of course means that it is routinely given to the out if the 2nd baseman/ss is close, in the neighborhood. I would have no problem with what happened, if that is what always happened. But it doesn't. That would never, I repeat NEVER happen to Derek Jeter, or Alex Gonzalez. Devil Rays pitchers can be tossed for hitting batters in the SAME GAME that other teams pitchers have hit us with no repercussions.
Remember a few games back when Crawford got kicked out of the game for tossing his hat on the field -- something he did only in the most outlandish out of the way fashion. See if Manny or Sheffield ever have that happen to him
Edwin is going to be one of those "Top tier" pitchers in a couple of years. I would see him in the same class as Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. If you didn't know you can write comments on your own post. Added you to my favorites.
Last edited by lionsman57 on April 23rd at 1:15 PM.
Hey, grew up in Deckerville Michigan. Listened to the Tigers since I was a young kid. Ernie Harwell, Paul Carey -- that's where my baseball love comes from. My sister lives down here in Tampa and she still loves her Tigers. I'm glad they are off to a good start, even a little envious. Edwin Jackson I believe was definitely a great trade for Danys Baez our former closer. Baez was an ok closer, but we need starting pitching badly.
