SB Nation Tampa Bay - Jeff Niemann Throws Worst Start Of Season, Rays Lose 8-0https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2011-09-07T02:31:45-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21724202011-09-07T02:31:45-04:002011-09-07T02:31:45-04:00Jeff Niemann Throws Worst Start Of Season, Rays Lose 8-0
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<p>There are a lot of games played during the baseball season. A <i>heck</i> of a lot. The season is normally referred to 162 games long, but it’s true depth and breadth is much more than that — it’s 2,430 games, not including the playoffs. And during the course of these 2,000+ games, there are so many some truly magical moments that happen. Events happen that have never occurred before in the history of the game, and memories are forged that will last a lifetime.</p>
<p>And then, there are nights like tonight. Some games aren’t special, aren’t magical, and are just one painful moment after another. Games like these are the ones I try to forget by the time by head hits the pillow…but considering I normally write these recaps right before heading to bed, that doesn’t happen very often. Not to say the game couldn’t have been special <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/NewbergReport/status/111259270217089024" target="_blank">to someone else</a>. But man, this was certainly a night to forget for <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rays</a> fans.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Niemann</span> didn’t look right from the very beginning of the game, allowing a lead-off home run to <span>Ian Kinsler</span> and walking <span>Josh Hamilton</span> later in the first. He labored through the first few innings of the game, throwing 68 pitches through three innings, and by the time he left in the middle of the fifth inning, he’d allowed six total runs (and one inherited baserunner came around to score too). <span>C.J. Wilson</span> was cruising, en route to a complete game, 5-hit shutout, so those seven runs put the game comfortably out of reach.</p>
<p>This is Niemann’s second poor start in a row, as he allowed five runs in five innings his last time out. It’d probably just a random blip in his season and he’ll straighten things out soon, but at the same time, tonight was Niemann’s worst start of the year. And even during the stretch during the beginning of the season when he was struggling, Niemann never had two games back-to-back where he allowed five or more earned runs. I want to believe these few starts are nothing to worry about, but with Niemann’s injury history, I find myself jumping at even the slightest shadows. </p>
<p>Here’s to short memories. I’m ready to forget this game already.</p>
<p><b>Game Notes:</b></p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">What to make of <span>Jake McGee</span>? He’s seemed to have fixed his velocity issue from earlier this season, but his results have necessarily improved. Tonight, he struck out three <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a> in his one inning or work…but he also allowed two hits and a walk, and let one run score. One of these days everything is going to click for him, or at least, you have to hope it will.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">The rest of the bullpen members out of the ’pen brought back memories from early this season: <span>Juan Cruz</span>, <span>Cesar Ramos</span>, and <span>Brandon Gomes</span>. They worked a quiet 3.1 innings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">This all feels a little surreal, but during the third inning the Rays broadcast had a preview for an upcoming charity event that’s happening at the Trop. For some reason, the plug involved one of the Rays’ wives dressed up in a <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/707302/mysterywife_medium.png" target="_blank">full-body suit and refusing to give her identity</a>. It was weird, to say the least.</span></li>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2011/9/7/2409749/jeff-niemann-throws-worst-start-of-season-rays-lose-8-0Steve Slowinski2011-09-06T15:13:05-04:002011-09-06T15:13:05-04:00James Shields Pitches 11th Complete Game, Rays Beat Rangers 5-1
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<p>The Rays and Rangers face off in a three-game series in St. Petersburg.</p> <p><span>James Shields</span> can't be stopped. This was his 11th complete game of the season, the most by a pitcher in over ten years. Heck, since the 1994 strike, only three pitchers have thrown more than 11 complete games in one season: <span>Curt Schilling</span> (15, 1998), <span>Pedro Martinez</span> (13, 1997), and <span>Randy Johnson</span> (12, 1999). Shields is having a historic season, and it's been an absolute joy to watch.</p>
<p>As I've been in and out all day, we're going to do this bullet point style:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rays</a> jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, courtesy of an <span>Evan Longoria</span> home run. This was Longo's 25th homer of the season in only 470 plate appearances, meaning he's on a 35-homer pace for a full season. Of course, since he missed time earlier this year due to injuries, he won't get that many home runs, but he's still making quite a push.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">In the fourth inning, the Rays were able to tack on a couple more insurance runs. <span>Scott Feldman</span> walked the bases loaded, and then <span>Casey Kotchman</span> ripped a groundball up the middle for a single, driving in two. <span>John Jaso</span> followed the single by grounding into a double play, ending the inning, but the Rays still managed to squeeze out a run thanks to a bit of hustle from <span>Sean Rodriguez</span>. <br><br>Jaso's grounder went right to first base, so it was natural for <span>Mitch Moreland</span> to step on first for the force and then throw to second to get the easy tag out. But Rodriguez was hustling (kinda) down from third and managed to score before the second out was made. It's not like Rodriguez was all out sprinting and dove headfirst into home pate, but still, he could easily have cruised down the line and not taken advantage of the opportunity. While the double play stunk, scoring once more took a bit of sting out of it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Shields just barely made this complete game, coming in at 124 pitches. I find it ridiculous that this was the first time this year his complete game has been in jeopardy due to his pitch count. Most pitchers need to throw around 120+ pitches if they're going to finish a game, but Shields has been economical to the tee. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">And so the debate ranges: James Shields or <span>Ben Zobrist</span> for the Rays' MVP? Honestly, you can't go wrong picking either player. Both of them have been two of the Rays' top players this season, and the Rays wouldn't be where they are right now without both of them. Ben Zobrist has been the Rays' best position player, and James Shields has been their best starting pitcher. <br><br><span style="line-height: 9px;">Where would the Rays' offense be without Zobrist? And how would the Rays' rotation stack up without Shields? It's getting tougher and tougher for me to go with Zobrist over Shields, but I'm sticking with him; the Rays' offense would be considerably weaker without Zobrist, and their middle infield would be a veritable black hole. But you can make defensible arguments for both players, so I certainly can't fault anyone for thinking it's Shields.</span></span></li>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2011/9/6/2408361/james-shields-pitches-11th-complete-game-rays-beat-rangers-5-1Steve Slowinski