Joe Maddon Remains Optimistic As Rays Bullpen Struggles

As the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen let yet another game get away last night, manager Joe Maddon was tucked away in the clubhouse after being ejected by home-plate umpire Marty Foster.

After Foster called out Sean Rodriguez who was trying to score on a bunt in the second inning, Maddon came out to express his displeasure and was ejected for the second time this season.

Maddon and Foster have a history of disagreement with one another. On April 8 in Texas, Foster called out Ben Zobrist looking to end the game on a pitch that appeared way out of the strike zone. The veteran umpire later apologized for missing the call.  As the video replays and image above show, Foster will likely apologize for the missing this call as well. Big deal.

The Rays bullpen gave up the lead for the for the 13^th time in 18 losses, yet Maddon went on record saying the this group would be one of the best in the American League by the end of the year.

Jason Collette of The Process Report writes, The bullpen’s 30.3 percent strikeout rate leads all bullpens since April 25th while the .432 BABIP is 51 points higher than any other team. Much like the terrible offensive woes of the first two weeks, this too shall pass.

I’m glad guys like Jason are around to pull guys like me back from the ledge as I’m not quite as optimistic as Maddon. Cork Gaines at Rays Index writes “This bullpen sucks. Plain and simple.”

Thats probably a little closer to the way I’m feeling 32 games into 2013.