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I would be excited just by that feat in itself, but the kid out did even my expectations by then hitting a triple, then getting another RBI double to post 5 RBI on the day, which was the more than enough to help you team post a 11-7 win in Tampa against your AL East nemesis. But still this is gnawing at my frontal lobe Joe, why you did not let the kid try for it. I know the Rays new mantra of W.I.N. or “What’s Important Now”, but to me yesterday, it was letting the kid have a chance to put a firm stamp on his competition this Spring by going above and beyond even your wildest expectations and securing a rare feat, even in the Spring, of a cycle.
I am just perplexed here Mr. Maddon. I really do not know what to say mostly because I know the Spring Training season is the time to try new and unique situations or plays, but this one really has me so befuddled I almost couldn’t write this today. Here is a player basically about to come out of his cocoon stage and become a regular season butterfly for the Rays, and he gets sat down for a pitch-hitter right when he is about to secure what is considered an almost impossible feat.
And I know I am not the only one to consider this situation, and I might read a bit more from local news accounts within the next day or two, but personally, I am a bit bewildered beyond belief.
I guess my realization that it is the Spring has to be my mind’s justification for this happening because I know you were not snoozing during the game and knew the scenario that was playing out on the field.But hidden underneath all of this was the spike of emotion that somehow suddenly seemed to be lacking in your team until they finally rebounded in the top of the eight inning to secure this second win of the Spring for the Rays. I guess there is a lot more to managing that I can see from my seat here within the stands today. But I also see Rodriguez’s missed opportunity yesterday to have a “career” moment as a small blip on the oversight meter that you might have dropped the ball on this one.
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I am more upset with the idea that it could furnish a seed of doubt within a young player’s mind who is tearing this competition between himself and Reid Brignac to shreds, and maybe that is something the Rays brass do not want to see settled so early in this Spring battle. But then again, I am only a fan and not a member of your dugout crew and do not know if there was a secondary reason for this based on match-ups or even the slightest hint of a situational movement by you to pop Perez up there at that moment.
So now that I have written my rave and gotten it out of my system, I hope if the same situation happens again in 2010 that we let the guy hit for the chance. Missing the opportunity might be just as bad as striking out in that pressure situation yesterday. Both can pop seeds of doubt or inconsistent decisions deep into their mindset that can blossom and turn this battle into a one-sided affair. But now in my moment of getting it all out, I am again resigned to believing you know what you are doing at all times in the dugout.
For I have a lot of respect and admiration for what you have done since you took the reins in 2007 to change to psyche and the foundation of Rays baseball through your theories, actions and game day quotes that have inspired, motivated and amused us while you have been at the helm. No Captain Joe, I am not calling for mutiny or even a vote of the crew as to that course of action with regards to Rodriguez and his shot at the cycle.There has to be a gem of wisdom in there somewhere, and even if I do not agree with your action, I will come to accept the move in time. Still, I wanted to see what Rodriguez would have done against the Yankee reliever. Who knows, maybe Rays Manager Joe Maddon made the right decision……maybe.
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4 replies on “I Don’t Know Joe…..”
I wondered the same thing. I know it was hard to lose Kazmir, but Sean Rodriguez was awesome to watch. And he really could have hit for the cycle, I believe that. So why not let him try? What difference does the score make in spring training when a kid is that close to a major milestone? Hopefully, he’ll have many more chances – just not against the Yankees again, please. :)
– http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
Well this is all I have to say.
There is no real way to be pleased.
Unless of course he hits for the cycle.
But if he kept him in and he didn’t get that last hit needed, I’m sure your day wouldn’t have gone as well.
Yes you would’ve said he had a good game, but now you have something to argue.
And as a fan I know that gives me strength.
I think that what you can take out of this is the fact that Rodriguez had a heck of a game, and that Joe Madden might not have made a right move, but at least it’s ST.
Great post by the way.
Ted
http://tribewithted.mlblogs.com/
Ted,
I know as a former professional athlete, you want your Coach, Manager to have that faith in you to get that last dig in, that last hit, that defining moment in the game.
I just feel S-Rod got robbed of a chance to separate himself from Brignac and make it his job to lose.
And maybe there is the mindset there by Maddon that he did not want to pop him up there right now when things can still go south.
Best thing is both still have a minor league option…..worse case scenario.
Rays Renegade
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Jane,
At the moment it happened, I was a bit besides myself.
But with time, I am willing to give Maddon some room to play since it is the Spring, but still I would of liked to see Sean Rodriguez at least get the chance to complete what he started there.
I also noticed real fast that the game changed at that point too.
Had nothing to do with the at bat, but right after that inning, the Yankees began their comeback attempt.
Guess Maddon has his reasons, but I wish some media member had the balls to ask why……Well, I would have asked, and hoped Maddon respected me for wanting to answer the public’s questions on the action.
Rays Renegade
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