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Armed And Dangerous: Bullpen Stars Once Again

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

Star Of The Game: Rays' Bullpen

Last season, it was one of the most motley crews ever assembled in major-league history (6.16 ERA, worst since the 1950s). This season, the Rays' bullpen has been strictly lights out. Scott Kazmir, despite early pitch-count troubles, got into the sixth inning. From there, it was closed out by Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Chad Bradford. In two playoff games, Tampa Bay relievers have retired 18 of 23 batters (61/3 innings, one run allowed on a homer, no walks, nine strikeouts). "They don't have a legit closer, and I see they have lefty, righty, lefty in the bullpen," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That's why they have the brightest men I've seen in the game right now."

Key Decision

Or maybe it was a non-decision by Guillen. Trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, White Sox manager stayed with starter Mark Buerhle. B.J. Upton led off with a triple to center field. Carl Crawford was next. White Sox lefty Matt Thornton was ready. Nothing. Crawford smacked an RBI single on the first pitch, icing the game. Buerhle was done - one batter too late. No regrets from Guillen. "He's my best guy, and he was throwing well," Guillen said. "The only ball hit hard that inning was the ball Upton hit. I can sleep tonight - and the rest of my life - real good."

Play Of The Game

The Rays were trailing by one run in the fifth inning, looking to patch something together against Buerhle. Jason Bartlett drilled a one-out single, and Akinori Iwamura followed with a two-run homer to left-center field on a 1-1 pitch. Iwamura was hustling and legging around second base when the home run horn sounded. Then he clapped his hands and slowed to a trot. It was Rays 3, White Sox 2 - a lead Tampa Bay wouldn't lose. "What you're seeing is a guy who is in the moment all the time," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He's always prepared. I believe he's going to continue to get better."

Quirky Play

Rays reliever Chad Bradford entered for the ninth inning close-out. He got to 2-2 on Chicago's first batter, Jermaine Dye, barely missing a strike-three call. Then the odyssey really began. Foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul. On the 13th pitch, Dye finally put it in play. It glanced off the glove of SS Jason Bartlett, who recovered, then threw high to 1B Willy Aybar. Dye was called safe by first-base umpire Ron Kulpa after Aybar's sweep tag. The Rays' dugout erupted in rage - justifiably so. Replays showed Aybar tagging Dye's backside, about two steps before the bag. Regrettably, baseball's new replay system doesn't cover such a play. No matter. Bradford got a double-play ball, then a strikeout to end the game.

Critical Moment

Howell inherited two runners - Balfour allowed leadoff singles to Dye and Paul Konerko - when he entered in the seventh inning. Howell needed only 10 pitches to get the White Sox out, 1-2-3. In the eighth, although he allowed a two-out single, Howell struck out the side. "I love when I bring him in a game or go out there and talk to him, he gives me a little smile," Maddon said. "Then I know everything's going to be fine. Once again, he's shown why he's so invaluable to our success this year."

Crunching The Numbers

The White Sox came into the American League Division Series with an eight-game postseason winning streak. Now it's a two-game losing skid and some hideous numbers are piling up. The White Sox are 4-18 this season while playing on turf. They left 12 runners on base and were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. In two games, they are batting just .235 (4-for-17) with runners in scoring position.

Our Take

The Rays already had a pronounced homefield advantage at Tropicana Field. That will only continue to grow - and it will get even louder - as the postseason run moves on. Somebody claimed Friday night's setting was the third loudest game in major-league history (Do they really measure that stuff?). It was certainly the loudest the Trop has ever been for baseball. Tampa Bay had baseball's best home record (57-24). The next game at the Trop - and there will be a next game, guaranteed, either Game 5 on Wednesday night or an ALCS meeting - could be the Rays' 60th home win this season. There were some snickers when Maddon starting calling this place "The Pit." Nobody is laughing now.

Compiled by Joey Johnston

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