Frauds of the AL East: The Rays and Orioles

HIGH AND TIGHT

Time for a little venting...

I have seen all I need to see of the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. To wit:

THE RAYS: I have this thing about MLB sandbaggers. Namely, the parasites in the progressive tax system that is revenue sharing who won't spend the money on baseball.

Back in college, I had a frat brother from Tennessee named Steve. Steve was about 6'5", and in a D-3 school in the late 1970's was a back-up center on the basketball team. When the media guide came out, it read that "Steve focuses on defense". Steve read this, laughed, and said, "that means I don't score".

During Yankees' run to the 2009 World Championship -- yes, I still call it that -- much was made of the Twins and Angels being "fundamentally sound" and "playing the game the right way". Then, I saw them play under pressure. I was not impressed. You saw the games. What it really meant is they don't hit all that much.

I coined a phrase for this: They are strong in the fundamentals, except when they're not.

After the Rays handed the game to the Yankees today -- and I mean handed it to them -- I am sure they are going to drop out of the race, and soon. "Big Game James", who tries a pick-off at 3rd? With 2 out? And the bottom of the order up? I want to read that book.

I have also seen quite enough of B.J. Upton. His 7th inning today was one for the ages.

Remember late last season when the Yankees' Greg Golson threw Carl Crawford out at 3rd from short RF on a fly out to end the game? Crawford and Joe Maddon both exclaimed "we do that all the time!" Well, then you're always wrong.

THE ORIOLES: Does this team even try against the Red Sox? Is their team ERA 14? Buck Showalter manages every game against the Yankees like the 7th game of the World Series -- I can't imagine why he's never been there. But against Boston and Tampa, not so much.

His team is a disgrace, and so is he. ESPN beckons.