Post by Commissioner Erick on Jun 2, 2019 15:22:38 GMT -5
Tampa Bay Rays (62-29) @ Colorado Rockies (51-40)
TAM: Madison Bumgarner (9-6, 3.74)
COL: Jordan Montgomery (6-5, 2.91)
After a surprisingly rough start to 2021, Madison Bumgarner got a lot of press for beginning to throw RV parties with fans before games. Since the parties began, Bumgarner has been spectacular, but now Tampa Bay Rays officials want him to stop.
It's a curious saga that has overshadowed a dominant stretch by the Rays that they'll look to continue against the Colorado Rockies.
Trying to piece together information, the RV tailgate parties happened after May 10th. Bumgarner hadn't been pitching well against an admittedly tough schedule and hurt his back after a May 4th game against the Dodgers. He was pulled one batter into his next start with a back injury that landed him in the Disabled List.
To show his appreciate for Tampa Bay's fans, to let off steam after a frustrating start, and to make good with a fan base despite struggling, he brought his RV to Tampa Bay's May 14-May 17 series with the Oakland A's and did some grilling and hanging out with Rays fans outside Tropicana Field. While he didn't drink, he provided beer—and to show he's a team player with the Rays corporate higher ups, Tropicana Orange Juice—and really fostered good feelings with the fan base. It's not a coincidence that once word got out of the tailgating, every Tampa Bay game has had higher attendance than in the series versus Oakland.
Bumgarner returned from the back injury and was brutal in a road start in Detroit, allowing seven runs in 5 innings against a bad offense. He came back home and was okay in a blowout win over Miami, and then struggled in a loss in Detroit. Bumgarner wasn't pitching well, but the pregame parties kept happening, and the team started winning. In fact, almost in spite of Bumgarner, the team won 14 of 20 games from the time Bumgarner started the RV parties through the time he was still slumping.
Once his back healed and buoyed by the good energy that was surging through the Rays organization, Bumgarner started to look like an ace again. Before his June 5th start, he had an ERA of 5.95 and a 3-6 record. He took the ball in Minnesota that night and went 8 innings without allowing an earned run. He allowed just two hits, an unearned run, and struck out 13 batters. The Twins came back to win in the ninth, but it was the best Bumgarner had looked in an eternity.
Bumgarner followed that up with a Complete Game in a home start against Houston. He again allowed a solitary unearned run, gave up 12 fly balls that were able to find the gloves of Tampa Bay's excellent outfield defense, and looked back to his Cy Young self. He allowed four runs in a blowout win over Seattle in his next outing, and then spent four starts alternating no-run and two-run outings, striking out at least 11 and allowing no more than one walk during the four-game stretch.
Rays fans have been engaged, just short of selling out home games for the past month. The team has won, including putting together a 22-game winning stretch that allowed them to surge to an AL East lead. Finally, fan interest in Tampa Bay is the highest it's ever been.
One would think this would be a cause for partying on, but during the All-Star Break notice came down from a team source to cut out the parties. Bumgarner didn't bring his RV into the parking lot, leaving fans a little confused and befuddled. What was once a source of joy for the Rays community has now come to a head.
There are a few leads in figuring out where the command to stop the parties came from. The main theory is it came from Bench Coach Dave Bialas. It's no secret that Bialas and Bumgarner don't have the best relationship. Bialas frequently talks about Houston, Texas as a wonderful city, something that frustrates Bumgarner concerning his rivalry with Houston as a member of the Texas Rangers. Bumgarner also believes Bialas is too easy on some members of the team considering his desire to pitch deep and try to go when injured.
Other theories involve Willy Adames. Adames has been described as selfish and may be jealous of the attention Bumgarner gets, when his own popularity is only low. Adames was only hitting .221 before the break and really struggled in June during peak partying, but he hit .339 in April and had a five hit game in the team's first without the tailgating. Perhaps, Adames needs the most professional of environments to succeed.
Most believe that this is simply a case of ownership not wanting to be held liable for any accidents. They milked the spectacle for some popularity for awhile, and now that fan interest is high, they don't need any more distractions.
They took care of business against a bad Baltimore team after the break, but heading to Colorado to face a Rockies team with its sights on the NL West crown is a whole other challenge. This will be a big series to see how together the Rays are.
Questions for the GM's:
For Graham Stratford, what's your whole take on the Bumgarner RV party situation?
There are 16 left-handed pitchers Nolan Arenado has faced 15 or more times. He's homered against all but two of them, with Bumgarner being one (Daniel Norris is the other). How important is it for Bumgarner to control Arenado in this matchup?
Is there any kind of way you've managed your team this year compared to last year?
For Erick Blasco, Bumgarner's quite a special pitcher. Will you change your strategy in any way to face him?
Today is the first day Charlie Blackmon is able to come off the DL. Will you deploy him immediately against Bumgarner?
Word is Evan Pietronico will be sent down, while Jordan Patterson will remain on the club with Blackmon being activated. What did you see from Pietronico this year?
TRIVIA: Madison Bumgarner is second all time in career postseason strikeouts. Who is first?
TAM: Madison Bumgarner (9-6, 3.74)
COL: Jordan Montgomery (6-5, 2.91)
After a surprisingly rough start to 2021, Madison Bumgarner got a lot of press for beginning to throw RV parties with fans before games. Since the parties began, Bumgarner has been spectacular, but now Tampa Bay Rays officials want him to stop.
It's a curious saga that has overshadowed a dominant stretch by the Rays that they'll look to continue against the Colorado Rockies.
Trying to piece together information, the RV tailgate parties happened after May 10th. Bumgarner hadn't been pitching well against an admittedly tough schedule and hurt his back after a May 4th game against the Dodgers. He was pulled one batter into his next start with a back injury that landed him in the Disabled List.
To show his appreciate for Tampa Bay's fans, to let off steam after a frustrating start, and to make good with a fan base despite struggling, he brought his RV to Tampa Bay's May 14-May 17 series with the Oakland A's and did some grilling and hanging out with Rays fans outside Tropicana Field. While he didn't drink, he provided beer—and to show he's a team player with the Rays corporate higher ups, Tropicana Orange Juice—and really fostered good feelings with the fan base. It's not a coincidence that once word got out of the tailgating, every Tampa Bay game has had higher attendance than in the series versus Oakland.
Bumgarner returned from the back injury and was brutal in a road start in Detroit, allowing seven runs in 5 innings against a bad offense. He came back home and was okay in a blowout win over Miami, and then struggled in a loss in Detroit. Bumgarner wasn't pitching well, but the pregame parties kept happening, and the team started winning. In fact, almost in spite of Bumgarner, the team won 14 of 20 games from the time Bumgarner started the RV parties through the time he was still slumping.
Once his back healed and buoyed by the good energy that was surging through the Rays organization, Bumgarner started to look like an ace again. Before his June 5th start, he had an ERA of 5.95 and a 3-6 record. He took the ball in Minnesota that night and went 8 innings without allowing an earned run. He allowed just two hits, an unearned run, and struck out 13 batters. The Twins came back to win in the ninth, but it was the best Bumgarner had looked in an eternity.
Bumgarner followed that up with a Complete Game in a home start against Houston. He again allowed a solitary unearned run, gave up 12 fly balls that were able to find the gloves of Tampa Bay's excellent outfield defense, and looked back to his Cy Young self. He allowed four runs in a blowout win over Seattle in his next outing, and then spent four starts alternating no-run and two-run outings, striking out at least 11 and allowing no more than one walk during the four-game stretch.
Rays fans have been engaged, just short of selling out home games for the past month. The team has won, including putting together a 22-game winning stretch that allowed them to surge to an AL East lead. Finally, fan interest in Tampa Bay is the highest it's ever been.
One would think this would be a cause for partying on, but during the All-Star Break notice came down from a team source to cut out the parties. Bumgarner didn't bring his RV into the parking lot, leaving fans a little confused and befuddled. What was once a source of joy for the Rays community has now come to a head.
There are a few leads in figuring out where the command to stop the parties came from. The main theory is it came from Bench Coach Dave Bialas. It's no secret that Bialas and Bumgarner don't have the best relationship. Bialas frequently talks about Houston, Texas as a wonderful city, something that frustrates Bumgarner concerning his rivalry with Houston as a member of the Texas Rangers. Bumgarner also believes Bialas is too easy on some members of the team considering his desire to pitch deep and try to go when injured.
Other theories involve Willy Adames. Adames has been described as selfish and may be jealous of the attention Bumgarner gets, when his own popularity is only low. Adames was only hitting .221 before the break and really struggled in June during peak partying, but he hit .339 in April and had a five hit game in the team's first without the tailgating. Perhaps, Adames needs the most professional of environments to succeed.
Most believe that this is simply a case of ownership not wanting to be held liable for any accidents. They milked the spectacle for some popularity for awhile, and now that fan interest is high, they don't need any more distractions.
They took care of business against a bad Baltimore team after the break, but heading to Colorado to face a Rockies team with its sights on the NL West crown is a whole other challenge. This will be a big series to see how together the Rays are.
Questions for the GM's:
For Graham Stratford, what's your whole take on the Bumgarner RV party situation?
There are 16 left-handed pitchers Nolan Arenado has faced 15 or more times. He's homered against all but two of them, with Bumgarner being one (Daniel Norris is the other). How important is it for Bumgarner to control Arenado in this matchup?
Is there any kind of way you've managed your team this year compared to last year?
For Erick Blasco, Bumgarner's quite a special pitcher. Will you change your strategy in any way to face him?
Today is the first day Charlie Blackmon is able to come off the DL. Will you deploy him immediately against Bumgarner?
Word is Evan Pietronico will be sent down, while Jordan Patterson will remain on the club with Blackmon being activated. What did you see from Pietronico this year?
TRIVIA: Madison Bumgarner is second all time in career postseason strikeouts. Who is first?
