Home Run Derby

So Wednesday night, Coco Crisp slid cleats up into second base trying to break up a double play – and got a handful of crotch while he was at it. 

The Rays thought that tactic was a bit excessive as TB Manager Joe Maddon yelled at Crisp Wednesday … so everyone expected that Crisp would be the target of a plunking on Thursday Night. 

Tampa Bay didn’t waste any time Thursday … Coco Crisp leads off the second inning.  With a 1-0 count … Rays pitcher James Shields sends the message … right on Crisp’s thigh.  And then tries to leave one on his face after Crisp charged the mound.

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Crisp took it to the mound, where Shield was waiting for him with a right cross.  Coco got a swing in before getting tackled by Rays catcher Dioner Navarro.  And then Jonny Gomes and some other Rays got their licks in on Crisp.

First off – what the hell was Crisp thinking?  Shields didn’t throw at his head … take your bvase and let Maddon and Shields get tossed or fined or suspended.  Now Crisp will be out eight games (okay - five or six after appeal). 

Add in the fact that David Ortiz is gone for a month and Jacoby Ellsbury tweaked his wrist later in the game (day to day) and the Red Sox’ outfield could look interesting for a few days.

Meanwhile – the Rays continue to look anything like your father’s Devil Rays squad.  Even in the final game of another Sox Sweep at Fenway … The Rays sent the message tonight. 

Mess with one of us … and you mess with all of us.

Ken Griffey Junior almost had Home Run #600 this afternoon.

There’s a lot of talk that baseball isn’t paying attention to Griffey’s quest for 600.  Don’t tell that to Phillie Phans … who seemed to be rooting for Griffey to do it this afternoon.

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