There isn’t much to say about Sunday’s 4-2 loss at The Trop. The Tampa Bay Rays followed that familiar (and somewhat sickening) pattern we’ve become all too accustomed to: Score one or two runs early, give up the lead, get close enough to taste victory — but not close enough to actually win, then give up one or two runs late in the game when the Rays have all but a snowball’s chance in hell to win against the back-end of the opposing teams bullpen. It happened twice in this series, and countless times in the last 122 games. (Editor’s note: countless is an exaggeration. I’m sure those times could be quantified)
Source: FanGraphs
If winning series is the name of the game, the Rays failed miserably. They allowed the Yankees to take two-of-three when they could have swept the Evil Empire — their first home series loss to the Yankees since June 2013. Let me put it this way: The Rays NEEDED to win the series, period. Regardless how inconsistent the Detroit Tigers have been of late, I really don’t see Tampa Bay’s offense pairing well against Detroit’s pitching staff in the upcoming series.
…And so it goes.
Noteworthiness
So this happened:
With the above screen shot in mind, if I learned anything from my time at Wrigley, it’s that you don’t walk into the visitors’ stadium and act like a jerk-off who is owed some debt of gratitude. Cheer on your team and chat with your neighbors — sure, why not?! However, you’d better expect to be put in your place if you step out of line and act like a blowhard. If we conducted ourselves in that blustering, swaggering manner in the Bronx, Boston, or anywhere else, we’d be laughed out of the stadium.
Moreover, on Saturday, when Jake McGee came in high and tight on Jeter, the number of guffaws and groans from the schmucks around me was practically inconceivable. I say practically, because I fully anticipated a marked level of numb-skullery from the Yankees faithful. I literally heard, “You don’t do that,” and “you’re not supposed to try and hurt the batter,” from the couple behind me. Would they applaud Dellin Betances if he did the same to Matt Joyce or Evan Longoria? I dare to speculate, yes. And that’s okay, it’s all part of the game. Additionally, the last time I checked, knocking a player off the plate is an accepted action in baseball — regardless if it’s coming at the expense of Jeter. The reaction above only bolsters the stereotype of the prototypical jerk-off Yankees (Phillies, Red Sox, Dodgers could also be inserted) fan.
In the end, I agree with Maddon. At least someone had the gumption to publicly chide them for their obnoxious showing at The Trop.