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

• Bobby V calls out Rays coaches
• Rays @ BoSox: On Bobby V, Maddon and the organist
• Rays-Red Sox, Round II: Can Rays afford a beanball war?
• Robinson product Gibson advances to NCAA track finals
• Panini previews Gold Standard autographs
• UD unveils Military Machines inserts for 2012 Goodwin Champions set
• Rays @ BoSox: Guyer out for the season, Jennings close to returning and lineups
• USF softball: It’s game day
• Weekly Tampa Bay fishing report
• Rays at BoSox: Rivalry renewed
• Karen Cooley returns as Zephyrhills girls swimming coach
• USF beats Pitt, stays alive
• The Nerds head north
• Jeffrey Shank out as Gulf boys basketball coach
• Berkeley Prep captures Academic Team Champion Award - again

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 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011

Rays @ Yankees: In Moore they trust

Posted Sep 22, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 22, 2011 at 03:22 PM

ROGER MOONEY
NEW YORK You think Matt Moore could see this happening back in April when he was pitching for the Montgomery Biscuits?

That he could see himself making his first big league start at Yankee Stadium in the middle of a playoff chase?

“I can’t quite say that I did,” Moore said. “I guess that’s just an advantage of playing in this division. I get to experience two of the greatest ballparks in the country in a week. It’s just exciting times right now.”

The Rays are turning to the rookie left-hander to save the season tonight in the finale of this four-game series against the Yankees after losing the first three.

The Rays enter the night tied with the Angels for second place in the Wild Card chase, 2 ½ games back of the Red Sox.

A win and the Rays head home two games out of the last playoff spot with six games to play.

A loss and they are three back, meaning they would basically have to go undefeated during the final homestand to reach the postseason, and even that won’t guarantee October baseball.

The Rays still believe they have a shot at the playoffs, which is why Moore gets the start over Jeff Niemann.

Manager Joe Maddon said Niemann’s back was stiff after his five-inning outing last Saturday in Fenway Park. So the Rays have pushed Niemann back to Saturday, and moved Moore, who pitched three innings last Saturday, to the biggest game of the season.

Maddon also calls Moore his new tool and is anxious to turn him loose against a Yankees lineup that probably won’t include many front line players since they clinched the division title Wednesday night.

Moore, who never pitched above Class A until this season, said he will approach tonight’s start just as he had the ones he made for Montgomery and Durham earlier this season.

That’s he made two appearances with the Rays during his first week in the big leagues helped, he said.

“I think what happened in Baltimore, getting in the mix definitely prepared me for Boston, and definitely the work that went into Boston, how comfortable I got in the second and third innings I threw, hopefully that can carry over here,” Moore said.