Catching woes, 4/22/12 starting lineup, etc.

According to Rays beat writer Marc Topkin, the Rays need some serious help behind the plate. Because of it, they may be in the market for another catcher. According to me, duh. Odds are they’ll be looking later not sooner though. A lot of that will be predicated on how strongly Lobaton comes back next month when he’s expected to come off the DL. Honestly, who didn’t see this coming? This is a position the Rays have been in since the days of Navi.

Tampa Bays pitchers have had issues early, yet just how much can be attributed to the catchers is unknown. One thing is fairly obvious: with concern to Jose Molina, the pitchers have to adjust to him, not vice versa. Could the way Molina sets up (the angle and positioning behind the plate) have had some effect of both the starting rotation and the pen, and their early pitching woes? Joe Maddon seems to think “it might”. One thing is obvious. Molina has made a great many mound visits so far, and it seems obvious that there’s some disconnect there.

Ironically, MLB Trade Rumors posted this morning that the Rays might be interested in using Wade Davis as trade bait at some point this season. Though they quoted (below) a National League scout as saying the pen could use another piece, insinuating that perhaps Davis would be used in a trade for another arm in the bullpen, I’d have to wonder if the same would be true in the search for a catcher.

If the Rays pitching is clicking as expected, Wade Davis will be trade bait at some point this season.  So far though, in his current role as long man, scouts love what they see.
A longtime National League scout who has been keeping an eye on the Rays this season says that the club could use another bullpen piece.

Who could be available at some point this season? Topkin thinks A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox, Geovany Soto of the Cubs and Kurt Suzuki of the A’s. Personally, I like the thought of having Soto behind the plate. He’s good defensively, has the power to hit 20 homers, and is fairly cheap. That’s neither here nor now though.

Meanwhile, both Jeff Niemann and Francisco Liriano will continue their hunt for their first victory of the season, today. Liriano (0-2, 11.91 ERA) has given up 17 runs (15 earned) in 11.1 innings so far this season. He’s walked nine, struck out eight, and the opposing batters are hitting .407 off of him. Tampa Bay will presumably be entering today’s game with the mindset of hitting Liriano hard and early, forcing Ron Gardenhire to lean on his beleaguered pen. On the flip side, NIemann (0-2, 4.5 ERA) hasn’t really performed as well as he could, giving up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks, including two home runs. To his credit, Niemann has struck out 11 in 10 innings of work. Niemann has had progressively better outings since spring training. I still contend that Maddon pulling him after only 87 pitches the other night against the Jays had more to do with with Maddon playing the match-ups more than it did with a poor start. Then again, with a 7-7 record in daytime starts and a 5.50+ ERA between 2009 and now, lord knows what could happen with Niemann. The starting lineup is below. As always, Let’s Go Rays!

Tampa Bay Rays (8-7) Starting Lineup:

Jennings LF

Zobrist RF

Pena 1B

Longoria 3B

Keppinger DH

Upton CF

Rodriguez SS

Gimenez C

Johnson 2B

Niemann P

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