Back to the Rays Report

Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

 @RMooneyTrib
 TBO_Rays
Send us your questions

More Links:

• Schedule/Results
• Player Stats
• Team Stats

Most Recent Entries

• Rays @ O’s: Rays on FOX game of the week
• Seffner Christian’s Hanson picks Liberty
• Current Baseball America prospect list boasts five locals
• Rays @ O’s: Hellickson returns to mound to start trip
• Former Newsome tennis standout, Hersh, named POY
• Bishop McLaughlin sophomore OH Alyssa Mathis commits to San Diego State
• Rays v BoSox: Price looks for 2nd win, Escobar moved to 5th in order
• Area athletes sign and commit to colleges
• Steinbrenner announces athletic signings
• Mitchell P/INF Chris McCormick commits to PHCC
• Three Hudson girls soccer players, including first the Division I scholarship, to sign Friday
• Connors holds serve in autobiography
• Allergies might be behind Price’s poor start
• Holy Names’ Martin picks TCU
• Rays v BoSox: Jennings returns, Rays looking for 6th straight W

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012

Rays designate Matsui

Posted Jul 25, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Jul 25, 2012 at 01:18 PM

BALTIMORE—The Hideki Matsui experiment is over.

Matsui, 38, was designated for assignment Wednesday to make room for newly acquired third baseman Ryan Roberts.

Roberts, 31, was acquired in a trade with Arizona late Tuesday night after being designated for assignment.

Struggling shortly after signing with the Rays on April 30, Matsui was hitting .147 with only two home runs and seven RBI. His two home runs were in his first three games and he had not had a hit since July 1.

He never adapted to his pinch-hitting role, going 1-for-10. He also had left 25 of 26 runners on base in July (21 at-bats).Roberts hit .250 (63-for-252) with six home runs, 34 RBI and six stolen bases in 83 games for Arizona this season.  He played primarily third base (60 games, 57 starts) and also spent time at second base (eight games, six starts) and left field.  He is 6-for-18 (.333) as a pinch-hitter.