The Orioles' record-setting success in one-run games continued on Tuesday as they eked out a 1-0 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Both teams combined for just four hits in the game, with Chris Davis' solo homer accounting for the only run. James Shields was the tough-luck loser as he threw a complete game two-hitter while striking out 15 O's batters. The Yankees' 12-inning victory over the Red Sox tonight means that New York still holds a one-game lead over Baltimore for first place in the AL East.
Here's the latest from around the majors as we head towards the last day of the regular season…
- Picking up Carlos Ruiz's club option for 2013 is "a formality," said Phillies GM Ruben Amaro tells CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury, though the club will still wait until after the World Series to make it official. The 33-year-old Ruiz delivered a career-best .327/.397/.542 line in 416 plate appearances, making his $5MM option a foregone conclusion to be exercised.
- Mariners players are happy that Safeco Field's fences will be moved in next season, reports MLB.com's Greg Johns, both for their own sakes and to help the team in acquiring free agent hitters. "Every time a guy gets on first base, that's all they talk about, how terrible this place is to hit," said Justin Smoak. "Everybody hates hitting here…I'm sure there are a lot of guys out there that have declined coming here because of that reason. This should definitely change some things. Everybody is excited about it."
- Safeco Field's adjustments will also impact Mariners pitchers, to the point that Fangraphs' Dave Cameron wonders if the M's could non-tender Jason Vargas. MLBTR's Matt Swartz projects that Vargas will earn $8.1MM in his third trip through the arbitration process, a high price for a pitcher who has had severe home/road splits in three of his four seasons in Seattle. This season, Vargas has a 2.74 ERA in 14 starts at Safeco and a 4.78 ERA in 19 road starts.
- Joey Gathright has tested positive for amphetamines and will face a 50-game suspension when he signs his next contract, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Gathright last played in the Reds organization before being released by their Triple-A team in July.
- Gordon Blakeley, a long-time scout and special assistant to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, is reportedly interested in leaving New York for a position with the Red Sox, reports ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes.
- The Rays and Angels fell short of the postseason due to injuries and unexpected rises from the Orioles and Athletics, but MLB.com's Matthew Leach also points the finger at both teams' failed low-cost signings. Luke Scott and Carlos Pena provided little offense for Tampa Bay, while LaTroy Hawkins and Jason Isringhausen didn't help stabilize the Halos' bullpen.
Joey Gathright…I didn’t know you needed PEDs to be a good pinch runner.
take a bump, take a base
Pathetic Choking Red Sox!
Thanks a lot.
You’re still mad over this season? I was over it in July.
I’m not a Sox fan.
Im an Orioles fan and you guys really choked last night away big time for us.
So thanks.
The Red Sox laid down for you last week, what more can you ask from them?
Didn’t the Orioles spoil it for the Red Sox last year ,, Hmmm Lets See . That would be a Yes. What goes around comes around
“What goes around comes around…” Maybe
So you rather see the Yankees go on and maybe win a WS then?
I’m rather torn between wanting Buck, with his former Yankees pedigree lead the scrappy O’s to the title and the Yankees.
LOL. They ain’t done much better in NY.. Using the 3 best relievers in the 6-8th IP, then Bailey, who has been having troubles of late blows it in the 9th.. It’s like Valentine wants to finish the season on an “0-fer”
Seems as if Valentine, with a 2 yr contract doesn’t care one way or another. Monday night he sat Ellsbury, who is 5/15 against Sabathia and last night he let Iglesias hit in an important spot in the game. I thought he’d pinch hit and bring in Aviles, but no.
Ellsbury has some “mystery injury” that had him miss a week and he has just now gotten back to playing again. As for Iglesias? There is some injury to Podsednik that forget what actually is.. Remy said he had picked up a bat in the dugout yesterday before Iglesias stepped to the plate, but Pods was supposed to still be not available to play yesterday.
Boston *should* have Lin starting in the OF and that way have Nava available late in games to PH since kalish is now out for the season. The team just doesn’t have any lefties left and the RH are Gomez (swings at everything) Aviles, who I think is a goner anyway after the year and likewise swings at everything, plus is acting like Aceves now, Retread AAAA C Quiroz with 2 career MLB AB’s and can’t hit at AAA even and Valencia.
It was like.. They might as well let Iglesias hit in my mind if they weren’t going to pinch hit with Lin and Valentine doesn’t seem to like him for some reason.
Valentine just sticks with guys far too long.. Aceves as the closer, Padilla as 8th IP setup.. Both of those guys cost the team at LEAST 10 wins combined. he learns slow and has made mistakes and now the Bailey thing and has not even been using Atchison, one of the better relievers who was FRESH last night.
Not lay down against their biggest rivarly?
Being called “chokers” by Orioles fans in the post Weaver managerial tenure is sure something.. A team with a “stranglehold” on last place.
Boston just wants to visit it for a year (or 2) and will gladly return it when Baltimore unwisely dismisses Duquette.
This will be Jason Vargas’ third and final trip through the arbitration process after settling on a $2.45 million salary in 2011 and a $4.85 million salary in 2012.
From the other post:
“It was on this day in 1908 that Addie Joss of the Cleveland Naps threw a perfect game against the Chicago White Sox. Joss basically had to be perfect to secure the 1-0 victory, as opposing pitcher and fellow Hall-of-Famer Ed Walsh recorded 15 strikeouts in the game.”
History repeating itself?
First off why did Joey Gathright get drug tested when he played for independent team after being released by Reds… Thought Jason Vargas is going to command big bucks…
Does it really make sense to non-tender Vargas when he is among the top 10 pitchers in innings pitched in the entire MLB? It’s not like the Mariners staff is thoroughly dominating either. Teams need innings from their starters. I would keep Vargas, although I would doubt that he actually makes $8.1MM.
Not if Seattle can move him to another team with a huge home park 1st and get them to pay him. Problem? Many are low payroll teams like Seattle.. Like the Padres and A’s. LAD might bite on him and are already down Billingsly next season. they *might* give up cents on the dollar to acquire him, but don’t expect any kind of bonanza return for a guy with such obvious home/road splits that are due to his mammoth home stadium.
When do they have to tender him a contract by? Beginning of November or December?
December. Unfortunately it will be before the winter meetings. They will have time to shop him though before having to tender a contract however.
Then heck yeah, if they got time shop him. If $8.1MM can’t be spent on Vargas, get something that can be useful for them right now. A right-handed bat with a little bit of pop (12-15 HR’s) would suit them I’d think. Maybe, just maybe, the Twins could deal Trevor Plouffe for Vargas and a C+ or B- prospect. Of course Trevor Plouffe has more than 15 HR, but I don’t see him really hitting 24 HR every year.
Unfortunately? the Twins are probably 1 team with a huge park that is tired of SP like Vargas.. they have had a rotation full of SP exactly like him for years and most have been 3-4SP and what they need is a #2 at least. Blackburn, Baker (hurt now and maybe a non tender) Pavano, Marquis.. Twins have been that route with control/junk ball pitchers and might be looking for someone else, tho agreed they dearly need rotation help.
So that’s how Gathright was able to jump over those cars.