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Rays Tie O’s, 4-4, Our Daily Photo Contest, Etc

March 27, 2014 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Goodnight Charlotte Sports Park, see you again next year. (Photo courtesy of Marc Topkin)

Goodnight Charlotte Sports Park, see you again next year. (Photo courtesy of Marc Topkin)

The Tampa Bay Rays walked onto the dusky field at Charlotte Sports Park for the last time of the spring Wednesday evening, and walked away with their fourth tie of the Grapefruit League season, this time matching the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 4-4. Wednesday night’s contest could easily be summed up thusly:

  1. By calling it the Matt Joyce and Spencer Edwards offensive show.
  2. David Price let the Orioles take advantage of him with two outs, in his last outing before Opening Day.
  3. Grant Balfour, Juan Carlos Oviedo, and Brandon Gomes put together solid outings.

All four of the Rays runs could be attributed to two men — Tampa Bay’s defacto DH Matt Joyce, and a speedy minor leaguer named Spencer Edwards. Joyce, in the leadoff spot, started the game by laying down a beautiful bunt to the left side of the infield, beating the shift. James Loney moved Joyce to third on a liner to center, while Evan Longoria brought him home on a shallow sac fly to Nelson Cruz to right. Of interest, Joyce challenged Cruz for the first of two plays at the plate. Evan Longoria plated his second RBI on a soft single to Nelson Cruz, scoring Matt Joyce from third. Cruz attempted to gun Joyce down at the plate, but sailed an errant throw well over the head of Matt Wieters. The Rays were undoubtedly testing the arm of Nelson Cruz, and beat of the Orioles’ right fielder on both occasions — something Joe Maddon assuredly took stock of.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Wil Myers was hit by a Darren O’Day pitch. Though he was fine, Maddon chose to pinch him in lieu of a speedy minor leaguer named Spencer Edwards. Wilson Betemit was next at the plate and sent a liner to center field, scoring Edwards from first. Then Edwards walked and quickly stole second with one out in the bottom of the ninth — subsequently making his way to third on an errant throw. The young outfielder came home on a Ray Olmedo fielder’s choice and an error, knotting the game at four.

When Rays ace David Price was on, he was great. However, he had a hard time at putting the Orioles away with two outs, in his four innings of work. Posting a 4 IP/5 H/3 R/1 BB/5 K line on 73 pitches (49 strikes), Price relinquished a pair of fourth inning, two-out runs, thanks to an RBI double by former Ray Delmon Young, and a Steve Lombardozzi single to left field. All told, all of the southpaw’s runs came with two outs. Price said he felt good with his outing, though he wasn’t pleased that he let the innings get extended with two outs.

Grant Balfour, Juan Carlos Oviedo and Brandon Gomes followed Price, and were excellent. The three combined for three innings of two hit/two strikeout ball, while Gomes continued his streak of excellent Spring Training pitching — inducing a weakly hit Chris Marrero ground out, and an inning ending double play by JJ Hardy. Gomes showed why he earned his spot on the Opening Day roster.

The New What Next

RHP Alex Cobb will make his final start of the spring Thursday, when the Rays travel to Sarasota to play the Orioles. Cobb pitched seven innings against the Orioles on Saturday and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out 12.

Rays 3/27/14 Starting Lineup

(Photo courtesy of Roger Mooney/Tampa Tribune)

(Photo courtesy of Roger Mooney/Tampa Tribune)

Noteworthiness

We’ll be giving away some swag daily, leading up to Opening Day. All you have to do is name the Ray pictured (below), by way of a comment here or on our Facebook page, or by sending your answer to: belowaverageraysfansite@gmail.com. Be the first to do so, and you’ll win something — be it a Raymones shirt or a sticker. It’s as simple as that! You’ll be prompted to send us your address so we can send you your prize.

The only caveat: your pictured clue will be the eyes of the player or member of the coaching staff, nothing else. Good luck!

Name this Ray, and win a sticker.

Name this Ray, and win a sticker.

Hot-Stove: Rays Sign Four Players to Minor League Contracts, Extend Invites to Spring Training

January 23, 2013 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

 

Jamey Wright with the Dodgers in 2012

Jamey Wright with the Dodgers in 2012

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Rays have signed four players to minor league deals; outfielder Shelley Duncan and right-handed pitchers Jamey Wright, Juan Sandoval, and Juan Carlos Oviedo. All four have been extended invites to Spring Training.

 

Shelley Duncan posted a .229 BA/.306 OBP/.427 SLG/.732 OPS slash line over the course of six seasons with the Indians and Yankees respectively. With a .988 fielding percentage, and a 22.4% K%/10.6% BB%, it could be assumed that Duncan represents bench depth more than anything else.

38 year-old right-handed reliever Jamey Wright saw 67.2 innings of work last season with the Dodgers, where he posted 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 1.507 WHIP. Those he faced posted a .270 BA/.350 OBP/.326 SLG/.676 OPS slash line, with Wright inducing ground balls 67.3 percent of the time. Ahem, we all know how well ground ball pitchers do with the Rays infield.

30 year-old Juan Carlos Oviedo is coming off of a post Tommy John surgery inducing injury, while appearing in only three minor league games in 2012. You may recall that Oviedo was disciplined for identity fraud prior to last season. For what it’s worth, Oviedo has a 4.34 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in seven big league seasons. Because of his injury he’ll more than likely miss the bulk of the 2013 season. Oviedo’s deal with the Rays includes an option for the 2014 season because of it.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, “Sandoval, 32, had a 2.97 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in the Mexican League last season.”

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Rays have finally announced the date of the 2013 Fan Fest which takes place at the Trop. The popular event is scheduled for Saturday, February 16th, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission and parking are free! You can find more information on Fan Fest here.

Hot-Stove: Tampa Bay close to a deal with SS Yunel Escobar (Updated)

December 4, 2012 By belowaverage Leave a Comment

Former Jay and current Rays SS, Yunel Escobar

Former Jay and current Rays SS, Yunel Escobar

Update: Rays beat writer Marc Topkin tweeted that the Rays have acquired former Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar late last night. Topkin also confirmed what we speculated, “With Escobar as the every day SS, the Rays will restore Zobrist to the multi-position role, playing OF, 2B and some SS.” We’ll have more on this acquisition later. -Schmitty

According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, Tampa Bay is close to a deal with the Marlins recently acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar. In return, the Rays are exoected to send middle infield prospect, Derek Dietrich, to Miami.

The 30 year-old shortstop hit .253 BA/.300 OBP/.344 SLG/.644 OPS in 608 plate appearances for the Blue Jays 2012. His season wasn’t without controversy. Escobar was suspended for three games in September after displaying an “unacceptable message” on his eye black. He was subsequently shipped to the Marlins as part of the November blockbuster trade.

Sure there are some lingering questions about Escobar’s, ahem…maturity, especially following the eye black incident and the suspension that followed. However, this could be a good move for the Rays. With Escobar as the primary shortstop, Tampa Bay has more flexibility with a player like Ben Zobrist. This could, effectively, solve the outfield conundrum, with Zo platooning at second base and right field, Desmond Jennings shifting to center, and Matt Joyce shifting to left field, platooning the position with Sam Fuld. And the Rays, presumably, wouldn’t have to give up any starters to get him. Win/win?

Whaaaaaaa…A Caption Contest

June 8, 2012 By belowaverage Leave a Comment

Alright kids, have at it! Leave your comments below!

The Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez reacts after striking out with the bases loaded in the 5th inning. (Tim Farrell/The Star-Ledger)

Also, enjoy our lil tweet conversation with Bob Costas.

Costas tweet following the Price/A-Rod 11 pitch battle: “The booing A-Rod’s hearing is not knowledgeable booing. That was a heck of a battle & Price just happened to win it.”

Our tweeted response to good old Bob: Naw, they’re just sore (read: jerks) fans, booing A-Rod for an error that led to a run, and two K’s at the hands of Price.  Plus, isn’t “just happened to” a bit nonchalant? and You aren’t giving credit to the Rays Price for his part in that battle!


Jingle jingle

February 23, 2011 By belowaverage 4 Comments

rrrr…rrrr.rrrr..rrrr………………..rrrr.rr…rrrrr..rrrrr…VROOM…sputter..sputter……rrrrr…rrrr..r.rr….rrrr…VROOOM..BANG..Sputter…sputter…..rrrrr..rrrr..VROOOM.VROOM..VROOOM…..And away we go!

Well, I went back and re-read my last post.  Apparently I said something about being around during the offseason.  Apparently that was a lie.  Anyway, baseball’s back and so are we.  Nothing quite as invigorating as waking up from a long cold season of football and basketball (zzzzzzzzz….) to the fresh smell of blooming trees, fresh cut grass, and Manny Ramirez hair-stink to get you back in that spring fever/spring training mood.  Obviously quite a bit has transpired over the last few months, and we would be fools not to wholeheratedly regurgitate what all the more committed pundits have had to say during our hiatus (Did you hear Crawford went to the Red Sox?!?!).  Stay tuned for recaps, predictions, unwarranted bitching, warranted bitching, and all the scathing humor that has made us the undisputed champions of Rays fan sites!

So as to start the year off on the right foot, lets begin with a combo Two Minute Hate / Caption Contest:

Ok all….you know how to do it.  Just hit Comment and give it a whirl.  I’ve got a sweet pair of silver and blue Rays sunglasses just ready to go out in the mail to the wittiest of all……

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