One thing became glaringly obvious following the transition from Spring Training to the regular season: the Rays are strapped for left handed bench depth. On a few different occasions this season, Tampa Bay has faced less than favorable matchups in key situations late in a game, yet they haven’t been able to do anything to change it. Tampa Bay might have a solution in veteran switch-hitter Wilson Betemit.
Author Archives: Schmitty
Rays 5/15/14 Starting Lineup, More On Zobrist, Etc
Jennings CF
Forsythe DH
Longoria 3B
Myers RF
Rodriguez 2B
Loney 1B
Escobar 2B
Guyer LF
Hanigan C
Bedard LHP
The New What Next: Rays vs. Halos — A Series Preview of Sorts
I wouldn’t say the Rays are out of the weeds just yet — after all, they’re still down a couple of pitchers and Ben Zobrist is out for the time being, while he mends from a bone dislocation in his left thumb. Yet, I can’t help but feel a sense of cautious optimism. Generally speaking, the pitching staff seems it may have turned a corner, and over the last week or so the team has started to play like the vintage Rays — their wins Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday speak to that. Tampa Bay still hasn’t shown it can win more than a few games here and there, so the next step for the Rays is to string together wins with consistency. They’ll attempt the to do just that in Anaheim, where they’ll face the Los Angeles Angels (or as Neil deGrasse Tyson called them, The The Angels Angels) in a four-game weekend series.
Ben Zobrist Dislocates Left Thumb
Ben Zobrist was pulled from the game Wednesday afternoon after an errant steal attempt in the fifth inning. With one out and David DeJesus in the box, Ben Zobrist attempted to swipe second base. DeJesus struck out and Ben was tagged out for an inning-ending double play. Zobrist grabbed his thumb in pain as he slid.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Come From Behind to Beat Mariners, 2-1
Just under three hours after Masahiro Iwakuma’s first pitch, the Tampa Bay Rays evened up the series at one game apiece, thanks to a 2-1 come from behind victory against the Mariners. The contest had all the trappings of a pitching duel; a pair of pitchers at the top of their game, an incredibly tight one run lead, and a late inning rally against Fernando Rodney. David Price put together a one-run, complete game gem — striking out 12 (all on his fastball) along the way. His final line: 9 IP/6 H/1 ER/0 BB/12 K/108 pitches (81 strikes, 75% K%). Iwakuma was great, but Price was better. Suffice it to say, Late Night with the Rays ended with adulation and exhaustion on the part of those of us who stayed up to watch. That being said, below is a recap of the ninth…because, you know, I’m tired and at work.