No, DT would have had the pitcher try a hit and run and he would have missed the sign and the baserunner would have been called out at second. It seems that happens about every fourth game anyway, why not with the pitcher?

Pete, This is confusing. Why wasn't Maddon just told to redo the card? I mean, look, he obviously didn't mean to start two third basemen. Clearly a mistake.

If the card was being accepted the way it was made out, then why wasn't he allowed to play two third basemen in the field? Well, because the rules stipulate a team is to have nine players in the field, no more.

But since that's the case, the umpire simply should have disallowed one of the two penciled in at the Hot Corner, and told Maddon to make the card out properly. That makes more sense than how the rule is currently enforced, IMHO.

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Pete's reply: I agree with you, but the rules allow for the opposing manager to challenge an incorrect player in the batting order. Eric Wedge obviously did that and was entitled to make the Rays put their pitcher in the batting order. Maddon is a long-time friend of mine, but it's on him and he's not complaining about it. Might have been a bigger issue if the Rays had lost the game because of it.

No, it wouldn't have turned out the same; Joe Maddon actually knows what he is doing.

Schmucker:
Would you tell Connolly that we appreciate him telling us about Mora's intestinal status today, but we were more interested in the status of his hitting. A major slip up on his and the Suns part......

I love the Dave Trembley 'Team First' concept and I believe he is perfect to build a ball club out of our young players, but I see him as the Orioles' Ted Marchibroda. Ted was a steady hand that guided a transitioning franchise on the field and built a professional tradition for the Ravens that has stayed through mutliple coaches. Trembley will be instrumental in developing the team into one that does it the right way and puts team first but in the end someone else will take us to the next level.
At that time I would love to see Trembely be put in charge of the minor league system.

Aubrey Huff extended his hitting streak to eight games with an eighth-inning single. ... Melvin Mora'shitting streak ended at seven games.

Seems like Mora took some imodium...

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Pete's reply: Now stop that. Nothing gets by you guys.

As long as Daniel Cabrera is not the pitcher that needs to hit...

Just goes to show you. Good teams find ways to win, bad teams find ways to lose.

"Poor Dave Trembley. He plays the game by Hoyle,..."

Whoa there cowboy, you're not blaming all of the Oriole misfortunes on Chris....

hey peter, just wanted to send along birthday wishes to #5. happy 72nd Brooksie!

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Pete's reply: Good call there. Saw Brooks last week and he looked great.

Jeff V - or he would have swung through it , straining a bodypart and been placed on the DL .

Here's what I have yet to see explained in any stories about this - why was Evan Longoria the player that HAD to be removed? Why not remove Ben Zobrist, the other DH? Why did he have to take out his best player? Two guys were listed as DH - who decides which one is benched and replaced with the pitcher?

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Pete's reply: Two guys were listed at 3B and Zobrist took the field, so Longoria was out.

This is taking Tony Larussa's concept of batting the pitcher 8th instead of 9th to a whole new level. What I actually find amazing with pitchers inability to hit, usually on American Legion and High School teams, the SS or CF who bats 3rd is usually the best pitcher as well! So why do all these pitchers suck at striking the ball. In fact, many in the Orioles organization wanted Cal Ripken to pitch in lieu of being an everyday player!

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Pete's reply: The reason pitchers seldom hit well in the majors is because they don't focus on hitting after they get drafted. There are exceptions, but being a great high school hitter doesn't mean a thing against major league pitching, and it's difficult to do both things well at the highest level.

Just to clarify it even further for those who are confused, the game was in Tampa. The Rays played the field in the top of the 1st with Zobrist at 3B. Longoria, thinking he was the DH, stayed in the dugout.

Between the top and bottom of the 1st, the Indians manager went to the umpire and told him that the Rays line-up card had two 3B in in. Zobrist had already played, so Longoria was DQed, and the pitcher had to hit.

The rule is clear, whether we like it or not. When there is no DH listed, the pitcher has to hit. The Rays were able to get Longoria into the game later on a double switch but he did not really do anything.

Would things have turned out the same?

If we were playing the Indians as well, then yes, yes it would. Remember, the Indians can't win even when Cliff Lee shuts down the other team.