Comments on: Erik Bedard knocked around in audition for possible trade http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/30/erik-bedard-knocked-around-in-audition-for-possible-trade/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: hittfamily http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/30/erik-bedard-knocked-around-in-audition-for-possible-trade/comment-page-1/#comment-171616 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:09:46 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=75250#comment-171616 He was wild. Very, very wild. He didn’t really get knocked around, he just couldn’t find the plate. He got through the first despite a walk then a hit by Zobrist, but the second inning was a disaster. After a leadoff hit by Kotchmann, he struckout Kelly Shoppach, then it fell apart. Joyce walked, Rodriguez walked, loading the bases for rookie phenom Desmond Jennings. Jennings fouled off a few, before taking a full count walk, scoring Kotchmann. Damon then hit one up the middle scoring 2. Bedard’s day was done thanks to 3 consecutive walks, then a single. After his replacement balked, Longoria grounded out which scored Jennings. Zobrist then closed the book on Bedard with a 2 run homer, scoring Damon for Bedard’s 5th ER.

4 walks and 3 hits in 1.1 innings. I thought they pulled him a little early, as 2 of Jennings balls were borderline strikes.

Niemann was very impressive for the Rays, never finding himself in trouble. He struck out 11 in 6.2 shutout innings, taking a 1 hitter into the 6th. He’s healthy and pitching great. His trade stock should be skyrocketing if the Rays choose to move him. Jennings was impressive again, although the box score says otherwise. He went 0 for 3, but walked with the bases loaded. Sean Rodriguez led off the 3rd with a double, and the right handed hitting Jennings moved him to third with an unselfish groundout to first. The groundout, along with the full count walk to start the scoring, indicates he has matured in the minors much more than one should expect of a rookie. He should be fun to watch for a while.

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