There isn’t much to say about the Rays — as a whole — in their 8 – 5 loss to the Yankees. The swarm was in full effect in the first inning when Tampa Bay started the game in fevered fashion by scoring four runs and going 3-3 wRISP – quickly knocking the Yankees’ starter Chris Capuano out of the game after 1/3 of an inning, and 36 pitches. Capuano was charged with all four runs.
Author Archives: Schmitty
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Spoiler Alert — Loney, Rays Beat Yankees 4-3
I previously alluded to the idea that the Rays had two reasons to go out Tuesday night and play like they still have a chance in September:
1. To play the role of spoilers.
2. To end the season on a strong, high note.
If Tuesday night’s 4-3 win against the Yankees was indicative of anything, it would be the former.
Rays 9/9/14 Starting Lineup, Etc
Rays 9/9/14 Starting Lineup Zobrist 2B DeJesus DH Longoria 3B Loney 1B Myers RF Joyce LF Escobar SS Kiermaier CF Hanigan C Archer RHP Noteworthiness Evan Longoria’s 12 career home runs at this Yankee Stadium are the most by a visiting player in the park’s six-year history. Rays starters have a 3.46 ERA this season …
The New What Next: Rays Head to the Bronx For Three — A Series Preview of Sorts
The end is nigh. The Tampa Bay Rays will follow their recent 4-6 home stand with their penultimate road trip of the season. First stop New York, where the Rays are set to start a three game series against the Bronx Bummers.
Tampa Bay has been relegated to two roles for the remainder of the 2014 season:
1. Spoilers
2. A team that can finish the final month of play strongly
As it relates to task number one, the Rays took two-of-three from the Orioles this weekend past. However, at 3-4 with a -10 run differential, the Rays haven’t really played that well in September. To be fair, at 3-3 over their last six games, neither have the Yankees — a team who is struggling to stay relevant down the final stretch.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: A “Pictures Are Worth 1,000 Words” Recap
In other words, the game was par for the course for Joel Peralta and the Tampa bay Rays. And in light of the handling of the Rays by the Orioles, urm…Nelson Cruz, something popped in my head:
If you’re looking at the end of this season as a testing ground for the 2015 season — like I am — a picture of who is expendable emerges. I wouldn’t be surprised if a trade involving Matt Joyce and SeanRod comes to pass. Also expendable are Cesar Ramos, Jose Molina (no brainer), and Joel Peralta — which is sad since he’s played an integral role in the bullpen and the clubhouse for the last few years. When Matt Moore comes back, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Hellickson moved into the long reliever role.