Forum: Talk Rays

By TONY FABRIZIO

BALTIMORE It’s a beautiful sunny afternoon at Camden Yards. The Rays, after falling short Saturday night, will try to set their franchise record for msot road wins (41) and take two out of three in their second-to-last series of the season with the Orioles.

Tampa Bay begins the day 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings and 7 1/2 ahead of the Red Sox in the wild-card race. New York hosts Toronto and Boston hosts the Chicago White Sox today.

Ben Zobrist gets a start at first base today for Carlos Pena, who has the day off. Dioner Navarro is catching because John Jaso caught Saturday night, and manager Joe Maddon generally avoids starting Kelly Shoppach against right-handed pitchers. (Shoppach is batting .238 against lefties and .133 against righties.) Jaso is in the lineup as the DH.

Wade Davis and Chris Tillman take the mound in a rematch of a meeting the Rays won 8-1 here July 17.

Here are today’s lineups:

RAYS

John Jaso, DH
Ben Zobrist, 1B
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Matt Joyce, RF
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
B.J. Upton, CF
Dioner Navarro, C
Jason Bartlett, SS
—
Wade Davis, RHP (11-9, 4.29)

ORIOLES

Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Ty Wigginton, 1B
Luke Scott, DH
Felix Pie, LF
Corey Patterson, CF
Craig Tatum, C
Cesar Izturis, SS
Josh Bell, 3B
—
Chris Tillman, RHP (1-4, 7.92)

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By TONY FABRIZIO

BALTIMORE The Rays haven’t done anything yet today, and they’ve already lost a half-game to the Yankees in the AL East standings and added a half-game to their cushion over the Red Sox in the wild-card race.

The Yankees beat the Blue Jays 7-5 in an afternoon game, and the Red Sox lost the opener of a doubleheader against the White Sox, 3-1. So entering tonight’s game against the Orioles, Tampa Bay trails New York by two games and leads Boston by 7 1/2.

The Rays won the opener in the three-game series 4-1 on Friday night, and if they win tonight, they’ll set a franchise record for road wins with 41. At 40-25, the Rays have the best road record in the majors - and the best by an AL club on this date in five years.

Although Dan Johnson has been heating up of late, Rays manager Dan Johnson is giving newly acquried Brad Hawpe the start at DH tonight against righthander Jeremy Guthrie. Maddon said he will continue to make a day-to-day decision between Johnson and Hawpe when the Rays need a lefthanded DH.

“We picked up Brad for a reason, and I think he needs a chance to show (what he can do),” Maddon said. “There were other teams involved, and he chose us. So I think it’s incumbent upon us to throw him out there to see how this thing is going to work.”

Hawpe made his Rays debut against the Blue Jays on Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Johnson is hitting only .161 with two home runs and 11 RBIs,  but he had driven in at least one go-ahead run in three of his last four games.

Here are tonight’s lineups:

RAYS

John Jaso, C
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Matt Joyce, RF
Brade Hawpe, DH
B.J. Upton, CF
Jason Bartlett, SS
—
Jeremy Guthrie, RHP (8-13, 3.94)

ORIOLES

Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Ty Wigginton, 1B
Luke Scott, DH
Felix Pie, LF
Matt Wieters, C
Julio Lugo, 3B
Corey Patterson, CF
Cesar Izturis, SS
—
James Shields (13-11, 4.73)

 

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By TONY FABRIZIO

BALTIMORE The Rays take the field for tonght’s series opener with the Orioles knowing they need to win to stay 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

The Yankees played earlier today and beat the Blue Jays 7-3 for their seventh consecutive victory. Boston’s home game against the White Sox has already been postponed by rain, so if the Rays win tonight, they’ll be seven games up in the wild-card standings.

There wasn’t any major Rays’ pre-game news. Manager Joe Maddon said he started Reid Brignac at shortstop to give Jason Bartlett “a deuce,” or two days in a row off. Matt Joyce gets the start in right field and Dan Johnson at DH.

On the Orioles side, manager Buck Showalter reacted to Rays’ pitcher Matt Garza saying he plans to “shove it down” the Orioles’ throats tonight in retribution for giving up four home runs the last time he faced them.

“There’s a lot of people that feel that way they just don’t say it publicly. So what’s the difference?,” Showalter said.  “Certainly you got a pitcher that was a real break from the norm. Pitchers do have a memory, plus guys that pitch once every fifth day like that. I think it’s something a lot of guys feel. I think the difference is from what you tell me, and what I’ve been exposed to, he just did it publicly.”

Here are the lineups:

RAYS

John Jaso, C
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Matt Joyce, RF
Dan Johnson, DH
B.J. Upton, CF
Reid Brignac, SS
—
Matt Garza, (13-7, 3.53 ERA)

ORIOLES

Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Ty Wigginton, 1B
Luke Scott, DH
Felix Pie, LF
Corey Patterson, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Cesar Izturis, SS
Josh Bell, 3B
—
Keith Millwood, RHP (3-14, 5.34)

 

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By TONY FABRIZIO

BALTIMORE Although Matt Garza comes off one of the best months of his career, the righthander will carry a chip on his shoulder into tonight’s start against the Orioles.

Garza (13-7, 3.53) gave up four home runs to the Orioles when he last faced them at Camden Yards on July 20, including two to Luke Scott and three consecutive homers in the second inning in an 11-10 loss.

“They went back-to-back-to-back, and Luke Scott (hit two), so I’m going to make them feel really uncomfortable in the box,” Garza said. “So they know, this (stuff) doesn’t happen. ‘Don’t get used to it.’

“I’m just going to go in there, hair on fire like I have been, and just go after them and say, ‘hey, you got me the first time. Well, I’m going to shove it down your throat this time.’”

Garza had an inconsistent stretch during the middle of the season but he finished August with a 1.27 earned-run average – third in the majors behind Seattle’s Felix Hernandez (0.82) and Boston’s Clay Buchholz (1.03).

It was the second best monthly ERA in Rays history, behind Scott Kazmir’s 1.22 in May 2008.

Garza says now that he wasn’t at full strength physically for a while.

“Just because of stuff that was bothering me, my hips where tight, hammies were a little pulled, slight strain … but just had to keep going,” he said. “I knew what our chances were with me out and with me in, so I just gamed up and went ahead. But right now I feel great, feel healthy again, and I’m just going to go out there and keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Garza actually is 8-1 lifetime against Baltimore with an ERA of 3.14 in 11 starts, marking his most wins and best record against any opponent. This season, he is 2-0 (he got a non-decision in the 11-10 loss) with a 3.63 ERA in three starts.

But the Orioles have played better since plucking veteran manager Buck Showalter from the ESPN broadcast booth. They went 17-11 in August for their first winning full month since June 2008.

“They’re a bunch of young guys, and they’re just out there to make a mess of everything, which is fine,” Garza said. “You expect that from them. But I owe them a lot of payback for the type of outing I had last time against them.”

Although Hurricane Earl is churning well off shore in the Atlantic, it does not appear that the storm will have a major impact on tonight’s game. The latest forecast for game time calls for only a slight chance of rain and temperatures in the low 80s.

 

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The Tampa Bay Rays and the Montgomery Biscuits (AA, Southern League) have extended their player development contract (PDC) for four more years, effective through the 2014 season.

“We’re extremely excited to continue our partnership with the Rays,” said Biscuits Co-Owner Tom Dickson. “We’re proud to be affiliated with one of the finest organizations in all of baseball, and look forward to hosting some of its fine young talent for at least another four seasons.”

“We are proud to be partners with the Biscuits in developing our young players,” said Rays Director of Minor League Operations Mitch Lukevics.  “Many of our current major leaguers have called Montgomery home over the past seven years, and we look forward to continuing our relationship into the future.”

Of the more than 200 players to play for the Biscuits in their seven seasons of existence, 36 have reached the major leagues with Tampa Bay.

The Rays roster currently has 11 former Biscuits including a pair of 2010 All-Stars, third baseman Evan Longoria and left-handed pitcher David Price, and two Biscuits standouts from 2009 who were promoted on Wednesday, right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and outfielder Desmond Jennings.

The Biscuits won back-to-back Southern League Championships as a Rays affiliate in 2006 and 2007.

“While growing the Biscuits brand, we’ve continued to grow the Rays brand in our region as well,” added Biscuits General Manager and President Greg Rauch.  “This has become a Rays region, and we’re following them in their quest for an American League pennant.”

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Rafael Soriano was named the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award for August.

This Major League Baseball award recognizes the most outstanding relief pitcher during each month of the regular season as voted on by a panel from Major League Baseball.

Soriano recorded a 0.84 ERA and led the Majors with 10 saves during the month of August, successfully converting each of his save opportunities. In 10.2 innings pitched, Rafael allowed just four hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a .108 batting average.

A first-time All-Star in 2010, Soriano made five consecutive appearances without allowing a base-runner from August 9th – 21st, collecting five saves with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings pitched.

The 30-year-old right-hander closed out games in three consecutive days on August 21st – 22nd at Oakland, and on August 23rd at Angel Stadium, striking out the side on nine pitches in the ninth inning. Soriano became the first pitcher to strike out the side on nine pitches this season and the first to do so while converting a save since LaTroy Hawkins accomplished the feat for the Chicago Cubs in 2004.

The San Jose, Dominican Republic native leads the Majors with 40 saves (two ahead of San Francisco’s Brian Wilson) and his 95.2% (40-for-42) save percentage also ranks best among Major Leaguers.

Soriano, who is in his first season with the Rays, ranks third on the club’s single-season saves list behind Danys Baez (41 in 2005) and Roberto Hernandez (43 in 1999). Rafael, who also won the award in May and July, joins Trevor Hoffman (4 times) and Joe Nathan (3 times) as the only relievers with three career Delivery Man of the Month Awards.

Prior to 2010, no pitcher had ever been honored multiple times in the same season dating back to the award’s inception in 2005.

Other relievers receiving votes included Joakim Soria (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 SV, 13.0 IP, 2 BB, 13 SO) of the Kansas City Royals; Brandon Lyon (0-1, 2.45 ERA, 9 SV, 18.1 IP, 8 BB, 13 SO) of the Houston Astros; San Francisco’s Brian Wilson (1-1, 0.69 ERA, 7 SV, 13.0 IP, 5 BB, 13 SO); and Philadelphia’s Brad Lidge (0-0, 0.73 ERA, 8 SV, 12.1 IP, 1 BB, 12 SO).

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ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG—Things can only get better for Brad Hawpe in a Tampa Bay Rays jersey.

Right?

According to the blog “Stats & Info,” Hawpe is just the fourth player since 1900 to go 0-for-4 with four strikes in his debut after changing teams.

Stats & Info credited the Elias Sports Bureau for the research.

Hawpe, who left the bases loaded in the eighth and stranded six runners during the Rays 2-1 win against the Blue Jays, joins Willy Taveras of the 2007 Rockies, Ernie Whitt of the 1991 Orioles and Harmon Killebrew of the 1975 Royals.

The blog also dug up this nugget about David Price, who earned his 16th win of the season Wednesday:

“David Price continued to dominate the Blue Jays this season improving to 4-0 with a 0.58 ERA against Toronto. Wednesday Price mixed things up. After Blue Jays hitters swung-and-missed only three times on his fastball last time out on June 9, Price went to his off-speed stuff more often this time. He threw only 63 fastballs on Wednesday, his fewest total in any start this year. Mixing in more off-speed stuff helped make Price’s fastball more effective. He recorded 11 swings-and-misses on his fastball, his highest against Toronto this season.”

For more, go to http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/5743/hawpes-debut-historically-bad.

 

 

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Catcher Dioner Navarro returned to the Rays this afternoon and starts tonight against the Blue Jays

ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG— Joe Maddon didn’t waste much time getting some of the new faces in the lineup.

Dioner Navarro, Desmond Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson and Rocco Baldelli were added to the roster earlier today as the rosters expanded to 40.

Navarro and Jennings are in the lineup as is Brad Hawpe, who was added to the roster after Tuesday’s game.

Jennings will make his major league debut.

The switch-hitting Navarro will bat right-handed against Toronto righty Shaun Marcum.

Grant Balfour was also activated from the disabled list but might not be available tonight since he threw 20 pitches this afternoon in a simulated game.

In other news, Maddon said Jeff Niemann felt fine after Tuesday’s rough start, Hellickson will be used in the bullpen this month and Don Zimmer will serve as another bench coach during home games.

The Rays are looking for David Price to help them win the rubber game of this three-game series tonight on David Price Figurine Night.

Here are the lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Fred Lewis LF
John McDonald 3B
Jose Bautista RF
Vernon Wells CF
Adam Lind 1B
John Buck C
Aaron Hill 2B
J.J. Arencibia DH
Mike McCoy SS
—
Shaun Marcum (11-7, 3.61)

RAYS
Upton CF
Jennings RF
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Rodriguez 2B
Hawpe DH
Navarro C
Bartlett SS
—
David Price (15-6, 3.01)

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By TONY FABRIZIO

ST. PETERSBURG The Rays and Yankees have been tied for first place in the American League East for the last eight days. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the longest stretch two teams have been tied for first this late in the season in major league history.

The teams will meet head-on Sept. 13-15 here at Tropicana Field, but tonight, the Rays will host the Blue Jays in the middle game of a three-game series, and the Yankees will play the Athletics at home.

Here are tonight’s Blue Jays-Rays lineups:

BLUE JAYS

Fred Lewis, DH
DeWayne Wise, RF
Jose Bautista, eB
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, 1B
John Buck, C
Aaron Hill, 2B
Travis Snider, LF
John McDonald, SS
—
Ricky Romero, LHP (10-8, 3.54)

RAYS

B.J. Upton, CF
Jason Bartlet, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Kelly Shoppach, C
Ben Zobrist, RF
Dan Johnson, DH
—
Jeff Niemann, RHP (10-4, 3.67)

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By TONY FABRIZIO

ST. PETERSBURG There won’t be an official announcement today, but the Rays are expected to call up pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, outfielder Desmond Jennings and catchers Dioner Navarro and Jose Lobaton on Wednedsay when active rosters are expanded to 40 players.

Additionally, newly acquired designated hitter/utility man Brad Hawpe is expected to join the team, and veteran outfielder Rocco Baldelli will be selected from Triple-A Durham, which will require a roster move.

Lobaton may be headed to the disabled list, which could allow the Rays to add a player to the postseason roster later.

 

 

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By TONY FABRIZIO

Rays designated hitter/infielder Dan Johnson today was named Most Valuable Player of the Triple-A International League today, and his Triple-A Durham Bulls teammate Jeremy Hellickson and manager, Charlie Montoyo, were named Most Valuable Pitcher and Manager of the Year, respectively.

The winners were selected by the league’s managers, coaches, media and club representatives.

Johnson won on the strength of his league-leading 30 home runs and 95 RBI. Hellickson’s 2.45 ERA leads the circuit.

Montoyo’s Bulls have the League’s best record (84-52) and have already clinched their fourth straight IL South Division championship. Durham is the
first franchise to win at least three of the League’s four Special Awards since Norfolk swept the honors
in 1995.

Here is more from the International League’s news release:

Most Valuable Player – Dan Johnson, Durham

Dan Johnson has been named the International League Most Valuable Player for 2010. Though he has
been with the Tampa Bay Rays since the beginning of August, Johnson still leads the IL in home runs
(30), RBI (95), slugging percentage (.624), on-base percentage (.430), and walks (75). The heart of the
League’s highest scoring offense in 2010, Johnson came out of the gate strong this season and never
looked back. In 19 April games, he hit .333 with 8 homers and 23 RBI, igniting a stellar season for
Johnson and the eventual IL South Division champion Bulls. Johnson was elected to his first Triple-A
All-Star Game this July, where he won the Home Run Derby. The versatile 31-year-old has split time
this season as Durham’s first baseman, third baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter. It was third
base, where he has played the most games, that he was elected to the postseason All-Star Team.
Johnson is the fourth Durham Bull since the club joined the League in 1998 to be named Most Valuable
Player, following Steve Cox (1999), Toby Hall (2001), and Kevin Witt (2006).

Most Valuable Pitcher – Jeremy Hellickson, Durham

After a brief stint with the Bulls last season in which he was named MVP of the Triple-A National
Championship Game, Jeremy Hellickson continued his dominance this year, his first full season at the
Triple-A level. Hellickson was on pace to win the League’s Pitching Triple Crown when he was
promoted to Tampa Bay at the beginning of August. His 2.45 ERA still leads the IL, while he remains
near the top in wins (12) and strikeouts (123). Hellickson surrendered just 103 hits and 32 earned runs
in 117.2 innings of work for the Bulls, with opponents hitting .238 against him. The right-hander was
particularly tough on left-handed batters, who hit just .208 off of Hellickson. He made his Major
League debut on August 2 versus Minnesota, and picked up the first of three consecutive wins for the
23-year-old. Hellickson is the first ever member of the Durham Bulls to be named IL Most Valuable
Pitcher.

Manager-of-the-Year – Charlie Montoyo, Durham

Durham skipper Charlie Montoyo is the 2010 IL Manager of the Year. The defending National
Champions have clinched a fourth straight IL South Division title under Montoyo, on the strength of
the League’s best record (84-52) and largest lead (15.0 games over 2nd place Gwinnett). Durham has
the highest scoring offense (720 runs) , the stingiest pitching staff (3.51 ERA), and the top defense
(.984) in the IL this season, as the Bulls prepare to meet the champion of the IL West Division in the
postseason playoffs. In July, Montoyo led the IL All-Stars to a 2-1 victory at the Triple-A All-Star
Game. He is now the first skipper since Durham joined the International League in 1998 to receive
Manager of the Year honors.

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By TONY FABRIZIO

ST. PETERSBURG Still tied for first place with the Yankees, the Rays will move from a heated three-game series with the contending Red Sox to a three-game series with a Blue Jays team that swept them earlier this month in Toronto.

Wade Davis (10-9, 4.41) will take the mound for the Rays in tonight’s opener against lefty Brett Cecil (11-6, 3.80), who beat the Red Sox and Yankees in his last two starts.

Manager Joe Maddon’s lineup has only two lefty hitters - Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena - along with switch-hitters Ben Zobrist and Willy Aybar, who are batting down in the seventh and eighth spots. Sean Rodriguez, who is hitting.330 against lefties, gets the start at second and bats sixth.

Newly acquired utility man/designated hitter Brad Hawpe took early batting practice at Tropicana Field and will play at Bradenton tonight for Class A Charlotte. Relief Grant Balfour, who is battling to return from an intercostal strain, will pitch at Bradenton.

Here are tonight’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS

Fred Lewis, DH
Mike McCoy, SS
Jose Bautista, RF
John Buck, C
Adam Lind, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
DeWayne Wise, CF
John McDonald, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
—
Brett Cecil, LHP (11-6, 3.80)

RAYS

B.J. Upton, CF
Jason Bartlett, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Ben Zobrist, RF
Willy Aybar, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
—
Wade Davis, RHP (10-9, 4.41 ERA)

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ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG—Carl Crawford drilled a two-run homer to right-center field during the sixth inning of Sunday’s Rays-Red Sox game that tied the score at 3-3.

It was the 100th home run of his career.

He is now the eighth player since 1900 to have at least 100 home runs, 100 triples and 400 stolen bases.

He joins Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Lou Brock, Frankie Frisch, Kenny Lofton, Paul Molitor and Tim Raines.

Crawford has 100 career triples and 403 stolen bases.

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James Shields is better against the Red Sox at the Trop than he is at Fenway Park

ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG— The Rays and Red Sox play the rubber game of this series tonight in the first ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game at the Trop since April 9, 2000.

The Indians crushed the Rays 17-4 that night, which is probably one reason it took ESPN 10 years to come back.

Of course, Rays fans remember the last Sunday night game at the Trop—Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS. A much better night in Rays history than April 9, 2000.

It’s James Shields against John Lackey.

A Rays win and they remain tied for first place with the Yankees in the AL East while dropping the Red Sox to 6 1/2 back in the Wild Card race. A Red Sox win and their playoff pulse beats a little harder.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX
Marco Scutaro SS
J.D. Drew RF
Victor Martinez C
David Ortiz DH
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mike Lowell 1B
Daniel Nava LF
Darnell McDonald CF
Yamaico Navarro 2B
—
John Lackey (12-7, 4.51)

RAYS
Jaso C
Zobrist 2B
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Joyce RF
Johnson DH
Upton CF
Bartlett SS
—
Shields (12-11, 4.76)

 

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ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG—Carl Crawford is back in the lineup, the stomach virus that forced him to miss Friday’s game apparently has run its course.

The Rays will try to even this three-game series against Boston’s Cy Young Award candidate Clay Buchholz. Matt Garza, who is very good against the Red Sox, gets the start for the Rays.

Garza is 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA and one save for his career against the Red Sox. Plus, he beat them twice in the 2008 ALCS.

His last start didn’t go so well, though. Garza lasted three innings on July 5 and allowed four runs on seven hits. The Rays came back to win 6-5, and Garza’s short outing allowed him to come back two nights later and pick up the save as the Rays completed a three-game sweep.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX
Marco Scutaro SS
J.D. Drew RF
Victor Martinez C
David Ortiz DH
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mike Lowell 1B
Daniel Nava LF
Ryan Kalish CF
Bill Hall 2B
—
Clay Buchholz (15-5, 2.26)

RAYS
Jaso C
Zobrist 2B
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Joyce RF
Johnson DH
Upton CF
Bartlett SS
—
Garza (13-7, 3.62)

 

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