Look closely at the Charlotte Stone Crabs’ lineup card (above). Listed as the Opening Day starter is LHP Drew Smyly. As I previously wrote, Smyly will start his rehab stint with the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs in their Florida State League opener on Thursday. Kevin Cash told Bill Chastain (MLB.com) that the team wants …
Author Archives: Schmitty
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Cash Tallies Win Number One!
As the idiom goes, the third time’s a charm; a saying that held true for the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday night. Jake Odorizzi took the hill against the Baltimore Orioles and allowed only three base runners in 6-2/3 superb innings of work. Meanwhile the relievers were able to preserve the lead, allowing the Rays to earn a combined 2-0 shutout win — the first of the Kevin Cash era.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall Short of Baltimore, 6-5
The Tampa Bay Rays looked to bounce back Tuesday, after the less than auspicious start to the 2015 season. And while they appeared to battle both the Baltimore Orioles and a severe case of deja vu, after allowing six early runs to cross the plate, the team — led by Nathan Karns — refused to hang-up their hats and accept another disappointing loss. Ultimately falling short, Tampa Bay certainly made things interesting by coming within a run of the powerful Orioles.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall in Opener, 6-2
It would be a safe assumption that most of us are thankful, first and foremost, for the return of baseball. It’s been a long offseason, and feels good to catch a game at the Trop, or listen to BA and Dewayne call the game in the comfort of your own living room. That being said, the icing on the cake would have been an Opening Day tally in the win column. That, unfortunately, wasn’t the case, as the Baltimore Orioles took advantage of costly mistakes, and beating the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 6-2.
The New What Next: Rays vs. O’s — A Series Preview of Sorts
It’s been opined by more than a few, the Rays appeared to be in restructuring mode early in the offseason, yet they made several present-day improvements to put themselves in position to win in 2014. Matt Silverman put together a team that — in an ideal world — is deeper offensively, more athletic, and improved defensively. And while they were fairly successful during Spring Training (as it relates to wins and losses), the true test of the team’s mettle begins Monday, when the Baltimore Orioles enter the Trop for a three-game set.