Beckett on Looper...

[Arnie1941]

Nice Beckett quote in Sun-Sent' today...

 

"I'd throw (Looper) back out there 10 out of 10 times. He's our closer and he's going to be great for us down the stretch."

[miami15]

I thought Beckett would be upset!

[Ramp]

I thought Beckett would be upset!

he is mature.

[AJBurnett34]

here is a great article on loop.

 

Posted on Mon, Sep. 15, 2003

 

 

 

Looper: 'I basically blew it'

Closer yields five runs in ninth; lead down to 1 ?

BY KEVIN BAXTER

[email protected]

 

Beckett

overshadowed by

loss

 

Three outs.

 

That's all that stood

between the Marlins

and keeping their 2

?-game lead in the

National League

wild-card race

Sunday. And with

the ball in the hand

of closer Braden

Looper, who hadn't

given up a run in

September since

2001, manager

Jack McKeon

already could taste

that victory cigar.

 

Then it all went up

in smoke as the

Atlanta Braves

scored five ninth-inning runs to steal an 8-4 victory and snap a

seven-game Marlins winning streak before a crowd of 18,725 at Pro

Player Stadium.

 

''This is one of the first times I can remember in a long time that we

haven't been able to close it out after we got the lead in the ninth inning,''

said McKeon, whose club hadn't lost a game it led in the ninth since May

30. ``It's tough when you've got it right there and you just can't hang

on.''

 

Looper, who hadn't allowed a run in his past seven appearances, was

more succinct.

 

''I basically blew it,'' he said.

 

Pitching for the seventh time in eight games, Looper (6-4) gave up a

career-high five runs on four hits and two walks, saddling him with his

fifth blown save in 33 chances and his first since July 23 in Atlanta. And

although his fastball had lost a few miles per hour since Saturday night,

Looper refused to blame it on fatigue.

 

''I've pitched a lot. But that's the way you want it to be as a player,'' said

Looper, whose fastball was clocked at 94 mph, 2 to 3 mph slower than

usual. ``You want to be in there when the game's on the line. I want the

ball in that situation. I just have to make better pitches.

 

``Today I just didn't get it done.''

 

Not that Looper was given an easy task. With the Braves resting several

of their regulars, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox had a bench full of talented

pinch-hitters to call on in the ninth, so the first four batters Looper faced

were all former All-Stars.

 

Vinny Castilla started the rally with a single, then pinch-hitters Chipper

Jones and Javy L?pez loaded the bases on a single and a walk. After

Rafael Furcal tied the score with a sacrifice fly, a walk to Gary Sheffield

reloaded the bases for Robert Fick, who hit a two-run single.

 

Andruw Jones followed with a two-run triple before McKeon called in

left-hander Michael Tejera, who ended the onslaught by retiring Johnny

Estrada, the ninth hitter of the inning, on one pitch.

 

''The way these guys have been pitching, you knew sooner or later

[ugueth]Urbina and [Looper] were going to have a bad outing,'' McKeon

said. ``We kept hoping it wouldn't happen.''

 

But it did -- and at a most inopportune time. The Marlins' lead over the

Philadelphia Phillies, their closest pursuer in the wild-card race, is down to

1 ? games heading into a three-game series in Philadelphia starting

Tuesday.

 

McKeon bristled when asked if he has been following the Phillies' progress

down the stretch.

 

''I get tired of answering that question,'' he fumed. ``We can read the

papers. We can see television. We see what's happening. [but] we're not

sitting around wasting our time following it. What good does it do us? We

have to go out and concentrate on winning each game. We can't worry

about what the Phillies do. We don't care how the Phillies are doing.''

 

They will this week.

 

''It's head-to-head. This is what it all comes down to,'' center fielder Juan

Pierre said. ``We've got probably the biggest series of the year coming

up.''

 

Lost in Looper's implosion was a splendid effort by right-hander Josh

Beckett, who gave up a three-run first-inning home run to Sheffield, then

held the Braves scoreless. He retired 11 in a row at one point and struck

out a season-high 11 before leaving after seven innings. Derrek Lee had

three hits, including his 30th home run of the season, and his 21st stolen

base.

 

And that counted for something.

 

''That's a great hitting club,'' Cox said. ``You're not going to hold them all

the time.''

 

Added Castilla: ``That was . . . one of the best clubs in the league. We

were three outs away from a sweep.''

 

Link

[g8trz2003]

Added Castilla: ``That was . . . one of the best clubs in the league. We were three outs away from a sweep.''

 

I like it.

[AJBurnett34]

yea and Bobby cox said we are one of the best hitting clubs in the league right now. It is true you know.... :mischief

[g8trz2003]

and to think we were supposed to have a terrible offense this year (EVERYONE feared our offense would suck this year).

[Ramp]

and to think we were supposed to have a terrible offense this year (EVERYONE feared our offense would suck this year).

:lol @ naysayers

[Shamrock]

and to think we were supposed to have a terrible offense this year (EVERYONE feared our offense would suck this year).

Who could have predicted Lowell's career year?

[Wild Card]

Who could have predicted Lowell's career year?

I do know that all the "experts" said he only had 25 home run power.

 

They're so smart.

[geemoney]

I do know that all the "experts" said he only had 25 home run power.

 

They're so smart.

Everyone always said, and even Lowell has admitted, that he's more of a doubles guy. His stats seem to bear that out, other than this year of course.

[miami15]

Well, if Mikey stayed healthy the rest of the way, I don't see him with any more than 37 hrs.

37 hrs is good, but the second half showed the Mike Lowell the critics thought they were talking about.

But nontheless, 12 homers in the 2nd half is pretty awesome for a 3ber these days!!!

[AJBurnett34]

Mike is a double's guy. I remeber in 2000 and 2001 he always use to hit doubles and drive in runs. I remeber he always had 30-35 doubles each year. Now he is starting to evelate the ball more and the pitchers are giving him his pitch.( Low and inside)

[g8trz2003]

Who could have predicted Lowell's career year?

i feared a crappy offensive season too. Although, I did think we would turn some heads, I never imagined our offense being this good.

[Nielsosky]

Everybody feared something or another, although when Burnett was injured I feared more a crappy pitching staff than offense, but what's so amazing is that just like every other surprise team (see 2002 halos, 2003 royals), every Marlin (except Armando Almanza) has decided to have a career year, and shrug off the skepticism.

[Nielsosky]

here is a great article on loop.

 

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Posted on Mon, Sep. 15, 2003

 

 

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Looper: 'I basically blew it'

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Closer yields five runs in ninth; lead down to 1 ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? BY KEVIN BAXTER

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? [email protected]

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Beckett

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? overshadowed by

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? loss

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Three outs.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? That's all that stood

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? between the Marlins

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? and keeping their 2

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?-game lead in the

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? National League

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? wild-card race

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Sunday. And with

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? the ball in the hand

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? of closer Braden

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Looper, who hadn't

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? given up a run in

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? September since

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2001, manager

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Jack McKeon

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? already could taste

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? that victory cigar.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Then it all went up

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? in smoke as the

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Atlanta Braves

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? scored five ninth-inning runs to steal an 8-4 victory and snap a

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? seven-game Marlins winning streak before a crowd of 18,725 at Pro

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Player Stadium.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''This is one of the first times I can remember in a long time that we

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? haven't been able to close it out after we got the lead in the ninth inning,''

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? said McKeon, whose club hadn't lost a game it led in the ninth since May

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 30. ``It's tough when you've got it right there and you just can't hang

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? on.''

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Looper, who hadn't allowed a run in his past seven appearances, was

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? more succinct.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''I basically blew it,'' he said.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Pitching for the seventh time in eight games, Looper (6-4) gave up a

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? career-high five runs on four hits and two walks, saddling him with his

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? fifth blown save in 33 chances and his first since July 23 in Atlanta. And

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? although his fastball had lost a few miles per hour since Saturday night,

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Looper refused to blame it on fatigue.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''I've pitched a lot. But that's the way you want it to be as a player,'' said

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Looper, whose fastball was clocked at 94 mph, 2 to 3 mph slower than

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? usual. ``You want to be in there when the game's on the line. I want the

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ball in that situation. I just have to make better pitches.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ``Today I just didn't get it done.''

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Not that Looper was given an easy task. With the Braves resting several

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? of their regulars, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox had a bench full of talented

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? pinch-hitters to call on in the ninth, so the first four batters Looper faced

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? were all former All-Stars.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Vinny Castilla started the rally with a single, then pinch-hitters Chipper

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Jones and Javy L?pez loaded the bases on a single and a walk. After

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Rafael Furcal tied the score with a sacrifice fly, a walk to Gary Sheffield

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? reloaded the bases for Robert Fick, who hit a two-run single.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Andruw Jones followed with a two-run triple before McKeon called in

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? left-hander Michael Tejera, who ended the onslaught by retiring Johnny

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Estrada, the ninth hitter of the inning, on one pitch.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''The way these guys have been pitching, you knew sooner or later

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? [ugueth] Urbina and [Looper] were going to have a bad outing,'' McKeon

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? said. ``We kept hoping it wouldn't happen.''

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? But it did -- and at a most inopportune time. The Marlins' lead over the

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Philadelphia Phillies, their closest pursuer in the wild-card race, is down to

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 ? games heading into a three-game series in Philadelphia starting

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Tuesday.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? McKeon bristled when asked if he has been following the Phillies' progress

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? down the stretch.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''I get tired of answering that question,'' he fumed. ``We can read the

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? papers. We can see television. We see what's happening. [but] we're not

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? sitting around wasting our time following it. What good does it do us? We

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? have to go out and concentrate on winning each game. We can't worry

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? about what the Phillies do. We don't care how the Phillies are doing.''

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? They will this week.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''It's head-to-head. This is what it all comes down to,'' center fielder Juan

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Pierre said. ``We've got probably the biggest series of the year coming

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? up.''

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost in Looper's implosion was a splendid effort by right-hander Josh

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Beckett, who gave up a three-run first-inning home run to Sheffield, then

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? held the Braves scoreless. He retired 11 in a row at one point and struck

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? out a season-high 11 before leaving after seven innings. Derrek Lee had

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? three hits, including his 30th home run of the season, and his 21st stolen

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? base.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? And that counted for something.

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ''That's a great hitting club,'' Cox said. ``You're not going to hold them all

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? the time.''

 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Added Castilla: ``That was . . . one of the best clubs in the league. We

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? were three outs away from a sweep.''

 

Link 1) How did Mckeon let him stay in long enough to allow 5 runs?

2)Why did he bring in Tejera?

3)We are still going to win the wild card(no question mark)!