Oscar Gamble Society

The Tampa/Boston game last week will go down as one of the best comebacks in playoff history. Should it have ever happened? You would think that a 7-0 lead is large enough for any playoff calibur or AAA bullpen to close out, but Balfour, Wheeler, and Howell couldn’t get it done.

In the closing game against Boston, after Matt Garza pitched a gem for 7+ innings, David Price took the ball with two outs and bases loaded in the 8th. Price was the fourth pitcher of the inning, and struck out JD Drew after Bradford, Wheeler, Howell couldn’t retire the side. Price then pitched the 9th for the save. Kind of a big spot, but couldn’t you argue that Price is the best reliever on the Rays? You can’t really consider Dan Wheeler to be a closer, he is a journeyman. The closer for much of the season, Troy Percival was hurt and not on the roster. JP Howell had a nice year, but his fastball tops out at 88. Chad Bradford is a ROOGY, and 51 years old. I actually thought they might bring in Sonnenstine, since he was on five days rest, and had the requisite “Playoff experience.” Watching Price pitch, Maddon obviously made the right call, and begs the question as to why he wasn’t used more in the series.

I understand that he is a rookie, that didn’t make his major league debut until September 14, but it would not have been unprecedented for Price to assume the closer/top setup role in the playoffs despite the lack of experience. Francisco Rodriguez pitched all of 5 2/3 innings in 2002 regular season before carrying the Angels to a World Series victory. Mariano Rivera was anything but a hosehold name in 1995 when he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless against the Mariners with 8 K’s. Will David Price have the same kind of career as K-Rod or Mariano…. I doubt it only because Price will be in the rotation next year. My point is that in 5 years, when we look back at the 2008 Rays, David Price will likely be established as the best pitcher on the team, and by far the best available bullpen option.

So, why is he being called an “Unlikely Hero???” Let’s take it a step further. David Price was the #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. He was the player of the year at Vanderbilt as a Junior, the year he was drafted. This is not an unknown commodity. Can you imagine if the Portland wins a Western conference title led by #1 overall pick from 2007: Greg Oden? Would there be a single person watching a playoff game that would have never heard of him? Mind you, Oden only played one year of college ball, and that only happened because he was born one year too late. Had he graduated High School a year earlier, he would have gone straight to the pros without playing college ball….
So, in 2013 when you are watching David Price win a Cy Young, think back to how Joe Madden received WAY too much credit for pitching his top guy with the season on the line.

I love Brad Lidge.  We share a first name.  I’m partial to German death metal (although they don’t play it on the PA system when I’m going into work, damnit).  He is a former Astro.  He throws 98 (I throw 68).  Love the guy.  He did great things in Houston.  And he was filthy this year.  Filthy.  Didn’t blow a save.

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The latest news on Brett Favre is disturbing.  Who knows how much of the story is true, but it doesn’t matter.  Even if he didn’t spend the full 90 minutes on the phone with the DET staff, and despite the reality that the Packers still won the game with ease, Favre is at fault, or is he?  Favre is acting like a 3-year old (and yes, I have some experience here with the analogy).  He didn’t get his way, so he is basically throwing a tantrum.  Is that his fault?  Is it more an indication with the way professional athletes, namely superstar athletes are treated throughout their lives?  Certainly, since 1995, when Favre led an up and coming team to the NFC Championship game, Favre has been coddled…..by his coaches, by the media, by the fans….  When Thompson decided that he wanted to go with Rodgers instead of Favre, because he believed that Rodgers gave the Packers a better chance to win in 2008, Favre couldn’t handle it.

He needs the Packers and Aaron Rodgers to fail.  It is not enough that he has shown with the Jets that he is still a capable QB.  When Rodgers went out with all the hype on opening Monday Night against a very good defense in Minnesota, and carved them up in a near perfect performance, Favre was noticably pissed.  Didn’t matter that the Jets won… he was more concerned with the Packers, and Rodgers failing.  How will it look if Rodgers takes “his team” to the Super Bowl… we’ll have to wait and see, but it doesn’t surprise me in the least that Favre is giving his all to sabatoge TT And AR….