Impressions from Opening Day

[Frobby]

- We really left McClanahan off the hook in the first inning and that set the tone for the game.   
- Generally speaking, a lot of poor swing decisions.   Starting with Santander’s AB in the first inning.   
- I will say though that the ump was very generous on pitches off the corner towards the RH batter’s box.   For both teams.  
- I thought Means looked like his old self.   He missed his spot badly a couple of times, but it only resulted in singles, which was good to see.   He had lots of hitters off balance.  
- Tampa won the game by doing Tampa things.   Long at bad by Choi in which he spoiled several good pitches before drawing a walk.  An infield single on a chopper most guys don’t beat out.  A sac fly on a pretty decent pitch.   
- Overall, it was great to have some baseball to watch.   I actually taped the game and didn’t find out the result until I watched it tonight.   Willpower!   Didn’t like the result but it was a pretty crisp game.  

[interloper]

I really liked the pitching.

You have to love Baker and Perez. Palmer talked about when Perez strikes guys out it's always the high heater, and that's exactly what he did. Great mount presence too, which I always love in a pitcher.

Thought Lopez pitched pretty well. The walk was unfortunate, but I give the credit to Choi with a ridiculously good AB. Swinging bunt single, etc. But hitting 99 and I think he'll be fine.

Losing 2-1 against Tampa in the Trop isn't really anything to be all that disappointed in. 

[interloper]

I liked Chirinos back there. Made a really nice block.

Also cool to see the review get announced in stadium and reversed in our favor. 

[waroriole]

Tate was also really good in his one inning. Just gave up a single to Franco on a nice bit of hitting. 
 

If you’re gonna give a guy a second inning, don’t just pull him after a lead off single. 

[Aristotelian]

25 minutes ago, interloper said:

 

Thought Lopez pitched pretty well. The walk was unfortunate, but I give the credit to Choi with a ridiculously good AB. Swinging bunt single, etc. But hitting 99 and I think he'll be fine.

 

I did not watch but according to the box score Lopez had two walks. Does look like he got squeezed on ball three of the second one. 99 is exciting though. 

[wildcard]

Mancini looked thinner to me.  I wonder if will affect his power.

[Keygans]

Disappointing to leave runners on base as always,  otherwise good stuff from the pitchers.    

[SteveA]

1 hour ago, interloper said:

I liked Chirinos back there. Made a really nice block.

Also cool to see the review get announced in stadium and reversed in our favor. 

I was watching in a bar with no sound on the TV.  Sure seemed to me like the replay umps gave us a gift on that one.

[interloper]

52 minutes ago, waroriole said:

Tate was also really good in his one inning. Just gave up a single to Franco on a nice bit of hitting. 
 

If you’re gonna give a guy a second inning, don’t just pull him after a lead off single. 

Forgot about Tate. He looked really poised and the stuff was great.

[interloper]

Just now, SteveA said:

I was watching in a bar with no sound on the TV.  Sure seemed to me like the replay umps gave us a gift on that one.

They must have had an angle we didn't have because I agree. 

[Can_of_corn]

Just saw this and since it is kinda on topic and this thread is getting traffic.

 

Rays declared the game a sell out.

[SteveA]

5 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Just saw this and since it is kinda on topic and this thread is getting traffic.

 

Rays declared the game a sell out.

Yeah I saw Roch call it a sellout in his morning blog  yesterday and then I watched it on TV and thought he must have been wrong.  But he was probably just going by the "information" the Rays gave him.

I get you can block off sections and not sell them and still call it a sellout.  But to me the most basic definition of a sellout is that if someone walks up 15 minutes before the game and tries to get a ticket to get in and they cannot (not counting the secondary market).  Was that REALLY the case yesterday?  I find that hard to believe.

[luismatos4prez]

Chirinos looks like a great defender, but an easy out at the plate. I'd still take him over Severino though.

Gutierrez's defense is still strong, even if he can't hit either. If we're going to be bad, let's at least get the games over fast.

Lopez didn't look bad, the Rays just put together some great at bats and hustled. Gotta tip your cap.

Urias and Mateo are interesting. It will be fun to see what they do with everyday ABs.

Mike's ability to identify interesting arms on the waiver wire is encouraging.

[NelsonCruuuuuz]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

Just saw this and since it is kinda on topic and this thread is getting traffic.

 

Rays declared the game a sell out.

Did you go to the game Corn?

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, NelsonCruuuuuz said:

Did you go to the game Corn?

No.

I have no interest in going to a game in a dome.

Also folks aren't wrong when they say what a pain it is to get to for most of the population.